TheLagerLad wrote:

florentine wrote:

There are several issues that beg for answers.  Why was she pulled over for something so minor?  Why wasn't the cop able to handle this situation without it escalating into a huge drama and why did she die in jail?

NPR had a good interview with a former officer turned law professor.

He said basically it was bad policing. The officer had no legal authority to demand Bland put out her cigarette. When she didn't comply with his request, there were a number of avenues he could have taken rather than to get angry at and dismissive of her. 

He did have the right to demand that she remove herself from the car. The Supreme Court decided that long ago. But he really didn't have to let it get that far for such a simple transgression.

I think the professor said that it was lawful policing done in a very poor manner. 

So at the end of the day, it's just a tragedy for which no one will face any consequences.
 

Agreed. And this toleration of poor policing has a very corrosive affect on the social fabric.

Just Fred wrote:

I agree with the guy. 

What I don't understand is why the good, responsible members of a police department don't speak out more.  I don't get why they would be silent and allow a few crappy officers ruin their reputation and public perception.  Seems to me if you are member of a team of professionals, your job becomes more difficult if someone on the team screws up.

In all likelihood, they'll slack off even more and complain about being arrested for doing their jobs.

Somewhere along the line police started getting the idea that they aren't civilians anymore. 

Wrong.