Opelika, AL cop cleared of shoot 1st shooting of drunk driver-- WOW!

[vinnyg101]

Opelika police cleared of wrongdoing in 2014 officer-involved shooting


www.oanow.com/news/opelika-police-cleared-of-wrongdoing-in-officer-involved-shooting/article_8af8d3b2-0508-11e7-b636-fb00e50ad73c.htm

A federal court of appeals has upheld a lower court decision that there was no wrongdoing by Opelika Police Officer Phillip Hancock in a 2014 nighttime shooting of Airman Michael Davidson following a traffic accident on I-85.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the City of Opelika issued a statement in response to the latest court ruling.

“The City, the Chief of Police and its officer have always denied any wrongdoing,” the statement read. “This case has now been analyzed by two federal courts … The judges have unanimously determined after a review of the evidence, which includes the dash cam video, there was no wrongdoing on behalf of the City, the Chief, or the involved officer. In reaching their respective decisions, these Federal Courts reviewed all of the evidence. Their opinions are clearly supported by all evidence.”

In affirming the district court’s ruling, the three-judge panel said it had reviewed the evidence, including dash cam video, and provided the following summary statement: “After careful consideration and review of a video recording of the shooting, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to Davidson, we conclude that a reasonable officer in Hancock’s position would have feared for his life. Accordingly, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment based on qualified immunity in favor of Hancock on all claims.”

Davidson had filed a lawsuit in May, 2014 against Hancock, Opelika Police Chief John McEachern and the City of Opelika, claiming Opelika was liable for the “unlawful conduct” of its police officers, failure to properly train its officers to the use of deadly force and the negligent behavior of Hancock.

On the night of the shooting, Davidson's vehicle had been involved in an accident with a truck on I-85 while en route to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, N.C. After both vehicles pulled off the side of the road, Hancock arrived at the scene. As Davidson was exiting the SUV, the dash cam video shows his right hand began to move forward with a black object in its grasp, according to the documents.

Hancock, who said he believed he was in danger, grabbed his weapon and told Davidson, “Show me your hands.” Davidson dropped his left hand beside his right hand, and grabbed the black object, later determined to be his wallet, with both hands, extending them toward Office Hancock. Hancock then told him “show me your hands” for a second time.



Video of incident--

[bogey1]

That's not good. Guy needs major training.

[RockIsland]

Was it also "reasonable" in Hancock's position to let him lie there and bleed for five minutes?

[Manxdriver]

After you ventilate a perp ( EVERYBODY not a cop is a 'perp' and therefore the enemy) and they stop resisting, you have to make sure they are committed to no more resisting! Give the perp ten minutes or so to ensure they understand you ain't playin' !
A good use of this interval would be to concoc.........errr, collect your thoughts and take notes for your report. Perhaps, just to be fair, make sure the evil perp was on equal footing. You know, put a weapon , or reasonable article that you can say looked like one, in his hands.

Did you not pay attention in JBT 101 ?

[streaker69]

I wonder if any non-cop would get off on shooting someone that was holding a wallet, or is it only the cops through their training and experience that get to do that?

[archie19]

just how low is this threshold for fearing ones life by a reasonable officer???

[streaker69]

just how low is this threshold for fearing ones life by a reasonable officer???

That threshold was set pretty low after the Amadou Diallo shooting by the NYPD.

[R.A.D.]

Don't MOVE!!?

WTF!!!???

He jumped out real fast? Maybe compared to YOU ya fat bastard

This guy should be put right in jail... f'n scumbag m'f'er

Now THAT is a piece of shit cop

Then he has the nerve to be pissed at himself at the end of the video because he knows he f'd up? LEARN YOUR JOB YA FAT F*CK!!!

[ATBackpackin]

If this is justifiable every person needs to fear any interaction with the police.

The part of these incidents that stand out the most to me is when the officers involved shouts out a command and before the person can even comprehend the command, the officer shoots. What's the point of shouting the command, other than to cover your ass, if you're not going to give the person the opportunity to comprehend and THEN react? Unlike officers we don't do these drills until it's muscle memory. We need the opportunity to comprehend the command and then act.

[OwnTheRide]

Get a rope.