What Happened To Sandra Bland?


s phi s said:
I wish I had the answer, but am committed to doing my part as a black officer to let our youth know that there are still some people that wear the badge with integrity that want to help our people.
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That's good to know. An ex-cop here in Tulsa is doing something similar.

I play softball with a bunch Tulsa County sheriff's deputies (that whole department is in deep shit right now as it relates to the Eric Harris death), and we got into a discussion about the perception of the law enforcement in the wake of all these highly publicized incidents.

And one of them made mention, like you, that there were a lot of good officers out there that do not act like the ones we see in the news. I told him that it would help if the good officers spoke out more publicly against officers and law enforcement practices that compromise public trust. He agreed.

About a week ago, I and a couple of other reporters where I work were asked to give our opinion on how the public perceives local law enforcement in the wake of Harris' death. And we said that among racial lines, minorities pretty much said that incident confirmed to them that law enforcement does not value them.

I've been to community meetings -- made up of mostly minorities -- where those in attendance have expressed similar sentiments about policing.
 
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s phi s said:
I thought the same thing. I have driven that stretch more times that I care to remember as a prospective student that had only been driving a couple of years, then as a student, then an employee and alum. It has never been lost on me that this could have been me or any of my friends in this same boat. The one thing I AM proud of, though, is that my brothers and sisters up there have shown the nation that we can disagree and protest without violence, and actually (at least on its face) get answers to some tough questions. Although it's far from over, so far, we have shown the world that civil disobedience can still get you answers (even if they are not the answers we want) without doing unnecessary damage to property and possibly putting more of "us" in the crosshairs of those who we are protesting.

I also still think back to my very first ticket. Hadn't had my license for 6 months when I was pulled over by two HPD officers and ticketed for running a stop sign in my neighborhood that wasn't even there. I had driven my mom's new Buick Century to the corner store, and was on my way back home when I was stopped. First word they said to me was "Whose car are you driving?" I figured out then what the stop was about, but remained calm, took my ticket, fought it in court and it was dismissed.

Not the only time I have been stopped like that either. People see me now as an officer and assume that I have never had the "black" experience with police, and that I automatically think all police are above board. I know better. I wish I had the answer, but am committed to doing my part as a black officer to let our youth know that there are still some people that wear the badge with integrity that want to help our people.
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Very nice sentiments, but with all due respect, if that officer had just given Sandra Bland the warning and walked away, there would be no need to protest. And our brothers and sisters who survived the Civil Rights era have already shown us and this world that non-violent protests do work and result in action (i.e. the Civil Rights Act of 1964). They protested peacefully, and while some did end violently, they were NOT the perpetrators of the violence. So yes, we all know how to be peaceful and non-violent. I'm proud that my brothers and sisters have already shown us that, contrary to ignorant belief, we are peaceful and aren't always violent, even today we not only show peace, but we give and offer peace.

It may be true (probably is) that there are officers in this country "that wear the badge with integrity and want to help our people". It's a shame that more incidents involve the many that don't but instead use the badge (along with the gun more so now) to intimidate and abuse the little authority given to them. It's a shame that many of those who fought for Civil Rights during the 50's and 60's didn't come across officers who "wear the badge with integrity ". I've heard folks say "different time" but it's the same thing as back then: Black people getting killed by white officers. The only thing that's changed is the date, time, year, and technology. Black people are today still getting killed at the hands of white officers. I agree that many of us, especially our Black youth, need more education about the law and our rights, and I thank God that my church holds conferences like this every year. Yet, you can be educated, peaceful, and observant of the law to the fullest.......come across a crooked cop and it may be the last thing you do in life.

I'm glad you are committed to doing your part as a black officer to let our youth know that there are still some people that wear the badge with integrity that want to help our people. What about protecting our youth? What about doing something to get those crooked cops off the force and off the streets? Black lives may matter, but when it comes to the code, blue is what matters.......and it is still being more protected than the lives officer swear "to protect and serve".
 



96lioness said:
Very nice sentiments, but with all due respect, if that officer had just given Sandra Bland the warning and walked away, there would be no need to protest. And our brothers and sisters who survived the Civil Rights era have already shown us and this world that non-violent protests do work and result in action (i.e. the Civil Rights Act of 1964). They protested peacefully, and while some did end violently, they were NOT the perpetrators of the violence. So yes, we all know how to be peaceful and non-violent. I'm proud that my brothers and sisters have already shown us that, contrary to ignorant belief, we are peaceful and aren't always violent, even today we not only show peace, but we give and offer peace.

It may be true (probably is) that there are officers in this country "that wear the badge with integrity and want to help our people". It's a shame that more incidents involve the many that don't but instead use the badge (along with the gun more so now) to intimidate and abuse the little authority given to them. It's a shame that many of those who fought for Civil Rights during the 50's and 60's didn't come across officers who "wear the badge with integrity ". I've heard folks say "different time" but it's the same thing as back then: Black people getting killed by white officers. The only thing that's changed is the date, time, year, and technology. Black people are today still getting killed at the hands of white officers. I agree that many of us, especially our Black youth, need more education about the law and our rights, and I thank God that my church holds conferences like this every year. Yet, you can be educated, peaceful, and observant of the law to the fullest.......come across a crooked cop and it may be the last thing you do in life.

I'm glad you are committed to doing your part as a black officer to let our youth know that there are still some people that wear the badge with integrity that want to help our people. What about protecting our youth? What about doing something to get those crooked cops off the force and off the streets? Black lives may matter, but when it comes to the code, blue is what matters.......and it is still being more protected than the lives officer swear "to protect and serve".
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With all due respect, I agree with the fact that the officer should have given her the warning and walked away. You are absolutely correct. That would have short circuited this entire conversation. But we can't go back and undo what has been done. I mentioned that simply to make note that many think that every time we have an event that happens (which is occurring much more frequently) that the only way we get our point across is through rioting, looting, and destruction. I'm simply praising us for being above that. I understand the sentiment and frustration that leads to it, but still can't agree with destroying our own community to protest somebody "destroying our community".

Again, respectfully, I say that I don't really disagree with you on the 2nd point either. Personally, I am only one man, an individual, who only has the power to do something about what is in front of me. I wish I had the answer to tell you that I could make the entire system "right", but I don't. I can not say that I have PERSONALLY done something to get a crooked officer off the street, because I have NEVER in my career come across a situation that would require such action. I can tell you that there are 2 former officers that I know that were punished criminally for their actions in their role as officers. They didn't work with me, or even in the same county (knew them both before any of us were hired as officers). They tarnished the very thing that I worked hard to obtain. The stuff they did made it harder for me to do my job. They didn't shoot and kill anybody, but they broke the law nonetheless, and were punished. One will never work in law enforcement again, and the other is serving a 10 year sentence. Both of these guys are black. So now when the public looks at me, they see guys like them, and I have to overcome that. It is what it is, and I understand the beast that I am up against.

Again, as one man, I can't change the world or everybody's opinion. All I can do is make a positive impact on what's in front of me. I can tell you that not even all law enforcement officers subscribe to this whole "blue code". I will tell you straight up, I KNOW what it feels like to be laid off. I KNOW what it feels like to try to support a family while drawing unemployment. I know how hard I worked to get myself out of that situation, and I'll be DAYUMED if I end up in jail or jobless again for trying to cover for somebody else's bad deeds. I know that everybody is not like me, but I also know that I am not like them either.

Granted, by the authority given to officers, they deservedly are placed under an increased level of scrutiny. But by the same token, do we blame the teacher in the classroom next door when a teacher gets caught having sex with a kid? Are we blaming the principals who hired them? True enough, it's not apples to apples, but you trust teachers with your kids, right? I'm just saying. Scrutiny is one thing, and I, for one, welcome it. A witch hunt is something entirely different.

:)
 
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s phi s said:
With all due respect, I agree with the fact that the officer should have given her the warning and walked away. You are absolutely correct. That would have short circuited this entire conversation. But we can't go back and undo what has been done. I mentioned that simply to make note that many think that every time we have an event that happens (which is occurring much more frequently) that the only way we get our point across is through rioting, looting, and destruction. I'm simply praising us for being above that. I understand the sentiment and frustration that leads to it, but still can't agree with destroying our own community to protest somebody "destroying our community".


Again, respectfully, I say that I don't really disagree with you. Personally, I am only one man, an individual, who only has the power to do something about what is in front of me. I wish I had the answer to tell you that I could make the entire system "right", but I don't. I can not say that I have PERSONALLY done something to get a crooked officer off the street, because I have NEVER in my career come across a situation that would require such action. I can tell you that there are 2 former officers that I know that were punished criminally for their actions in their role as officers. They didn't work with me, or even in the same county (knew them both before any of us were hired as officers). They tarnished the very thing that I worked hard to obtain. The stuff they did made it harder for me to do my job. They didn't shoot and kill anybody, but they broke the law nonetheless, and were punished. One will never work in law enforcement again, and the other is serving a 10 year sentence. Both of these guys are black. So now when the public looks at me, they see guys like them, and I have to overcome that. It is what it is, and I understand the beast that I am up against. Again, as one man, I can't change the world or everybody's opinion. All I can do is make a positive impact on what's in front of me. I can tell you that not even all law enforcement officers subscribe to this whole "blue code". I will tell you straight up, I KNOW what it feels like to be laid off. I KNOW what it feels like to try to support a family while drawing unemployment. I know how hard I worked to get myself out of that situation, and I'll be DAYUMED if I end up in jail or jobless again for trying to cover for somebody else's bad deeds. I know that everybody is not like me, but I also know that I am not like them either. Granted, by the authority given to officers, they deservedly are placed under an increased level of scrutiny. But by the same token, do we blame the teacher in the classroom next door when a teacher gets caught having sex with a kid? Are we blaming the principals who hired them? True enough, it's not apples to apples, but you trust teachers with your kids, right? I'm just saying. Scrutiny is one thing, and I, for one, welcome it. A witch hunt is something entirely different.
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You almost threw me off, but I see what you did.:)


Regarding your comment about you being one man & that you can’t change the world: it only takes one small pebble, tossed in the water to cause a ripple effect. Effective and affective action starts with one committed person, dedicated to bring positive change. You say you know other officers who share the same stance with you; if it’s something you’re passionate about and truly believe in, get them involved. Don’t let the fact that you’re only one man be what’s limiting you or the fact that you may be outnumbered in your stance (if it is your stance). This is one of my favorite quotes:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”-Margaret Meade

Think, dwell, meditate on it, that is, if this is something you’re really committed to.

As far as teachers having sex with students, I don’t know any child or teacher that has unjustly died behind that. Respectfully, again, I’m not talking about teachers having sex with students now; I’m talking about the many suspicious, unexplainable, countless deaths and unjustified arrests/incarcerations going on at the hands of white officers. And no, what was done cannot be undone. Sandra Bland is dead. My point is that this never should have happened in the first place. It should not have happened to Eric Garner or countless others, nor should it have happened back in the 50’s and 60’s. My point is that it still happening! I really do respect you sharing with us your training & experiences as a law enforcement officer. I notice, however, that you also spend quite a bit of time posting what we as civilians should do to prevent unjustified incarceration, physical abuse, or death at the hands of white officers. What I don’t recall is any comments on what is being done about the crooked cops you work with. I know you just mentioned in this post about 2 officers, but I guess you’re blessed to work that long amount of years as a law enforcement and not ever come across a crooked cop (either in your precinct or a friend/co-worker in a different one). And I’m a little startled at how you’ve never shared information on the training you’ve received on how to handle a crooked fellow law enforcement officer. This is what the public needs to know. We’ve tried being peaceful, but folks are still getting killed. We’ve obeyed the law, but brothers and sisters are still ending up dead. We’ve reached out and educated ourselves on the law (becoming lawyers and judges) but are still unjustly arrested, incarcerated, beaten, and/or killed. If you want to be the committed officer you say you are, help us get a clearer, better understanding of what the police departments are doing about these no-good, underhanded, crooked cops.

I hope you know (from reading my posts) this is not a reflection on you personally or your service and knowledge as a law enforcement officer.:)
 
Not being funny but when I get a ticket I don't say shit and this usually how it goes:

1. Hello sir.
2. Sir you were going xx in a xx. License, registration, and insurance please.
3. Here you go.
4. Thank you I will be right back.
5. (at this time I'm either getting a ticket or a warning) Sir here is your ticket and here is the number to contact about the amount of the fine.
6. Thank you have a good day.

Hell I then contact them about how to keep it off my record etc....
 
I gotcha. I don't take comments personally, and truly appreciate the dialogue. All I can speak on, though, is my experiences both in life and my profession. My comment wasn't made to downplay the potential for me as an individual to spark something larger. It was made simply to say that I just do what I'm supposed to do the right way, and what happens from there falls into place.

Specifically speaking, my department has a policy that requires us intervene (when possible) and report officers who violate policy and law. Failure to do so is an implicit participation in the violation itself, and we are subject to the same discipline. I can't speak on other department's policy, because I simply don't know.

As far as teachers, I recognized that it's not an apples to apples comparison, yet I stand behind the spirit in which the comparison was made.

As far as talking about what civilians can do in police encounters, I simply try to correct the many misconceptions about what officers can and can't do. It's not saying that officers don't have the responsibility to temper themselves. Many people get themselves in a pickle because they are misinformed about what they can and can't do, and what officers can and can't do.

On a larger scale, (and this is just my personal opinion), I believe that as a people, we are more concerned with making videos go viral and throwing around conspiracy theories on the internet than effecting movements that create real change. We are bound by law. What changes law? Action+ money. When something like that happens to whites,v they form political action committees, put money on it, and get laws changed. We make videos and tell everybody to make it go viral. Ok now everybody saw it and talk about it.... Then what.

Whether it sounds like it or not, I really don't disagree with your fundamental points. The question is when will it change and how?
 
Kendrick said:
If that Walter Scott video hadn't been filmed by a pedestrian, the South Carolina officer who killed him probably gets away with a murder.
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Quite possible. Good thing there was video. I would like to think, though, that the investigation would have turned up the fact that the shots hit him in the back, and the end result would have been the same, albeit not nearly as swift. Then again, much stranger things have happened.
 
s phi s said:
I gotcha. I don't take comments personally, and truly appreciate the dialogue. All I can speak on, though, is my experiences both in life and my profession. My comment wasn't made to downplay the potential for me as an individual to spark something larger. It was made simply to say that I just do what I'm supposed to do the right way, and what happens from there falls into place.

Specifically speaking, my department has a policy that requires us intervene (when possible) and report officers who violate policy and law. Failure to do so is an implicit participation in the violation itself, and we are subject to the same discipline. I can't speak on other department's policy, because I simply don't know.

As far as teachers, I recognized that it's not an apples to apples comparison, yet I stand behind the spirit in which the comparison was made.

As far as talking about what civilians can do in police encounters, I simply try to correct the many misconceptions about what officers can and can't do. It's not saying that officers don't have the responsibility to temper themselves. Many people get themselves in a pickle because they are misinformed about what they can and can't do, and what officers can and can't do.

On a larger scale, (and this is just my personal opinion), I believe that as a people, we are more concerned with making videos go viral and throwing around conspiracy theories on the internet than effecting movements that create real change. We are bound by law. What changes law? Action+ money. When something like that happens to whites,v they form political action committees, put money on it, and get laws changed. We make videos and tell everybody to make it go viral. Ok now everybody saw it and talk about it.... Then what.

Whether it sounds like it or not, I really don't disagree with your fundamental points. The question is when will it change and how?
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Really, I appreciate your patience and taking the time to post with me, I really do.

As I've stated many times before, I'm not a law enforcement officer, nor do I work in or have ever worked in law enforcement. But I don't have to be one or work in that field to know that every law enforcement department in this country has a code of ethics or a code of conduct or a code of integrity or a code of discipline or all of those (I have a close schoolmate that has been with the Tulsa Police Department since he graduated from UAPB so I've picked up a few terms). I'm almost 100% positive that each law enforcement department in this country has policies outlining the consequences of officers who violate these codes of ethics/conduct/discipline/integrity. The question: is the policy being adhered to? Are these officers practicing/following their departmental policy? Are these officers walking the oath they solemnly swore by? Just because you have a policy in place does not mean the officers will abide by it. Once that badge is on the chest and that gun is in the holster, something rotten takes over and when something unlawfully goes down on the officer's part, it's so much easier to come up with the "I feared for my life" line rather than practice that solemn oath. I'm not saying all officers have this mindset, but unfortunately many, many of them do.

I will never forget when Rodney King was beaten by those 4 LA cops. I remember thinking, "It's a good thing someone captured that on video" because I still wonder what would have happened to those cowards had it not been. I agree with Kendrick; it's good that people record and video the actions of these cops, because (believe it or not) some people just want the truth about these officers exposed because their "version" of the truth is skewed, flawed, compromised, and wrong. And if I'm not mistaken, "real change" has taken effect because of viral video (dash cam, body cam, cell cam). So, money isn't the only thing that brings about change (you may not believe that but it's true); regarding all the deaths of people (particularly Black males) at the hands of white cops, it was video that brought about change.

We are all responsible for following the law(law enforcement and civilian alike). No one is above the law. If anyone should know this, it's the officers that have sworn to "protect & serve." As I've said before, civilians are being & becoming more educated on the law and their rights. That's how civilians are bringing about change. The question I pose is: how much guts do these police departments have to stand up to the many lawless cowards in their department that go out patrolling the streets? When do they say, "Enough is enough"?
 
At Prairie View A&M, Sandra Bland's arrest, death reopen old wounds

PRAIRIE VIEW — One college student here says she’s seen law enforcement use pepper spray twice to shut down parties.

Another remembers a night when a police officer made her and her friends exit a car, suspecting they had stolen it and doubting they were college students.

“We were just going to get Taco Bell,” said Taylor Woodson, a senior graduating from Prairie View A&M University in August. “They’re really strict — and they’re a little racist.”

The arrest and death of Sandra Bland, a 28-year-old black woman whose case has made national news, has reopened old wounds and spurred memories for many students at Prairie View A&M. The arrest happened off campus, but Bland was an alumnus set to start a new job at the school.

Several students at Prairie View said last week that they feel safe on school grounds and trust campus police. But many said that feeling of security ends when they leave campus — an issue that precedes Bland’s death.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/stat...ra-bland-s-arrest-death-reopen-old-wounds.ece
 
s phi s said:
Quite possible. Good thing there was video. I would like to think, though, that the investigation would have turned up the fact that the shots hit him in the back, and the end result would have been the same, albeit not nearly as swift. Then again, much stranger things have happened.
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I would like to think that police officers do not put the "blue code" above human life or that they don't claim ignorance to a fellow officer's unethical behavior.
 
This is some of the 'stuff" my grands warned me of before I attended, from the article:

Waller County had more lynchings of black people between 1877 and 1950 than all but two other Texas counties, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization that advocates for fair treatment in the legal system.
“It’s always been a highly charged area where black people really had to know their place in order to survive,” said state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, a Houston Democrat who graduated from the university in 1964.
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Something in the back of my head tells me walker and montgomery county weren't too far behind.

cut-n-shoot, texas. Enough said. smh
 
Kendrick said:
And one of them made mention, like you, that there were a lot of good officers out there that do not act like the ones we see in the news. I told him that it would help if the good officers spoke out more publicly against officers and law enforcement practices that compromise public trust. He agreed.
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Need good prosecutors and judges to speak out and hold these guys accountable as well.
 
pvdogteam said:
She was trying to call my line bro? Oh my that is scary, he is the last person I would call because he always lays his phone down somewhere and doesn't answer, I guess she called because he lives near PV, literally a few hundred yards from where she was arrested, that is so sad. I know he feels awful wow
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The story I heard was that she was living with him. Not sure how true it is.
 



Storm96 said:
The story I heard was that she was living with him. Not sure how true it is.
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That could be true, Sarge didn't mind letting people live with him, he too short and old to date her, but letting her hang out there I could see that. Wait a minute PV is in the country so he could have dated her and nobody would know, no telling
 
Kendrick said:
The part about her being dead in the mugshot has been debunked through videos released by the Waller County Jail.
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Oh ok

I guess she's the 1st person that wore an orange jail suit to take her muggshot, cuz none of their other suspects are in them?

just saying
 
Bighead said:
Oh ok

I guess she's the 1st person that wore an orange jail suit to take her muggshot, cuz none of their other suspects are in them?

just saying
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There is video of her before and after she changed into the orange jumpsuit, and of her taking her mugshot. Multiple people talked to her as well.
 
skyvolt2000 said:

So now black men are being blamed for her death.
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I don't think black men are being blamed...I think they are referencing the aggressiveness of Sandra etc....to me its bullshit. She could mouth off all she wanted and when the officer made the decision to issue her a warning he could have laughed it all off.

Sandra probably would have called the police department and complained...officer would have been talked to...

Cops should have more restraint and control over their emotions. It's like my father would tell me concerning his military training, it's certain ways he had to respond to things.
 
Social media allows for people to say stupid shit and have their stupid shit supported.

The fuck this fucker was on when he posted this misogynist, bullshit?

Dry pussy ass idiot.

Then she uses this to promote her book, dawg!
 
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