“He shouldn’t have gotten out of the car”, a phrase heard consistently in both the Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown shootings. In essence the argument being both citizen George Zimmerman and officer Darren Wilson held responsibility for the outcome because they exited their vehicle.
We have discussed this viewpoint as the “Safari Principle“, however now the Ferguson/Saint Louis police department is considering the argument -under the auspices of “tactical retreat”- as a standard policy.
SAINT LOUIS – Like many officers involved in deadly force encounters, Darren Wilson said his training took over when he shot Michael Brown in Ferguson.
But what if Wilson had been trained differently?
The national upheaval from Brown’s death, and some others since, has put enormous pressure on law enforcement to find ways to control people’s behavior while using less violence. One possibility — simple but repugnant to some officers — is to teach police to back away from certain difficult situations until help can arrive.
The concept is known as “tactical retreat” or sometimes “tactical withdrawal” or “tactical restraint.”
“We add the word, ‘tactical’ and not just ‘retreating’ or ‘giving up’ because that’s what makes it palatable for police officers,” explained Seth Stoughton, a criminal law professor at the University of South Carolina. The former Florida officer is a nationally prominent advocate for applying the softer approach. (more…)

Saint Louis Missouri has encountered a massive spike in homicide violence since the Ferguson riots and protests began.  Last weekend 7 murders took place in a span of 24 hours, and this example below is reflective of how they are being reported.
However, something is just, well, there – visible, on the surface, yet not being discussed.  Take a look at this Daily Mail article and you’ll note the victim was shot twice, once in the chest and then again in the head.  It certainly sounds more like an execution within the motive.   And given the locale, along with the political/racial law enforcement sensitivities, well, you decide….
(Saint Louis) A man has been charged following the murder of a night manager at a Missouri hotel during a robbery attempt in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Scott Knopfel, 50, (far left) was shot in the head at the Drury Inn in St. Louis just before 3 a.m. after he struggled with his assailant while opening a cash drawer.
Joseph Bowens, 43, (left) has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and two counts of armed criminal action.
Surveillance video shows Bowens, whom the manager mistook for a patron, enter the hotel and leave less than 30 seconds later.  He can be seen pulling out a handgun and vaulting a counter, then leaving the hotel in the same manner. (more…)

Weird, this was not on the CNN 24 hour News Cycle. I wonder why?
Four thugs went on a pre-planned criminal rampage, including robbery, firing on police, murder, and carrying serious heavy weapons. Two innocent women were killed as the rampage escalated and the violent attempted escape continued. This was one serious criminal episode.
Here’s video of how it began:

And The Full Story Including Outcome: Haines City, FL — All four suspects in a violent rampage and manhunt through Polk County were in custody Friday, but not before two innocent women were killed and an entire neighborhood – terrorized. (more…)

18-year-old Antreal Jones, 17-year-old Jerome Moore and 16-year-old Antwain Dukes. Dukes and Jones were out on bond for a March 2014 armed robbery. Both suspects have previously been indicted on this charge and were awaiting trial when they killed 69-year-old Carolyn Temple.

Jerome Moore’s Mom (Sharonda Burns):

“My son is known for house burglary. That’s all. He’s been going to the Juvenile Center for his house burglary,” Sharonda Burns told us. “For one, my son is not going to shoot no gun. Now, I’m not saying he won’t rob nobody, but I know he won’t shoot no gun. He was not there the time the lady got attacked. I know for a fact where he was. He was not involved in that murder.”

[…]  January 07, 2015: At 6:45 pm Carolyn Temple was robbed and shot by two suspects on Euclid Drive. Witnesses reported hearing one gunshot then say they saw two suspects flee the scene in a Maroon 4 door vehicle. (more…)

Major Hat Tip and a Happy New Year to iOTW
Racooning ! I had forgotten that term. Priceless.

If you are going out, be careful.  Apparently there are numerous locations where FTP riots/protests and events are planned for tonight.  My recommendation would be to stay home and be safe this year.

(Via BizPac) Cops are going to have to watch out for more than drunk drivers New Year’s Eve celebrations around the country promise to be even more raucous – and potentially dangerous — than usual this year, with race-mongering radicals planning mass disruptions to protest what they call routine police abuse of blacks. The group behind the website Stop Mass Incarceration has helpfully put together a listing of planned “actions” nationwide under the heading, “Rock in the New Year with Resistance to Police Murder.” There’s a whole nonsensical bill of particulars about the reasons for protesting, starting with “business as usual in Amerikkka includes wanton police murder of Black people.” (more…)

On the day before the New York Police were assassinated, an off duty officer was shot in Saint Louis while sitting in his vehicle. The incident was seemingly lost in the coverage of the NYPD shootings.  A few days earlier another murder and body found burning in vehicle. Both crimes now attributed to Dominic Irons, 29.
ST. LOUIS (KMOV) — The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has issued warrants for the arrest of Dominic Irons, 29, for 2nd degree murder, 1st degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

A $500,000 cash-only bond has been issued.
Irons is the suspect in the death of Terrell Beasley, 28, who was found shot twice and burned in the back seat of a vehicle on Dec. 19. (more…)

Thank God the police officer followed his spidey senses (and training)…

(Via Bearing Arms) A Durham, NC police officer sitting in a parked car saved his own life Thursday night by catching the approach of two men in his squad car’s rear-view mirror.
The officer exited his vehicle to confront the pair, when one of the would-be assassins opened fire without saying a word:

A Durham police officer dove for cover Thursday night after a man walked up and began shooting at him, police said Friday.
The incident happened about 10 p.m. on Lakeland Street, just north of Truman Street. Police said Officer J.T. West was sitting in his patrol car, working on a report, when he saw two men approaching his car from behind.
(more…)

SAINT LOUIS – Demonstrators took to the streets for a second night after a white police officer in Berkeley, Missouri, killed a black 18-year-old who police said pointed a gun at him.
Dozens of protesters held a vigil late Wednesday at the gas station in the St. Louis suburb where Antonio Martin was shot, and they briefly blocked traffic on Interstate 170 during a march before returning to the station. Berkeley Police Chief Frank McCall told KMOV-TV that six to eight people were arrested.
Later, about 75 people staged a peaceful protest early Christmas morning outside of a nearby church, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Police in riot gear were present.
The actions were calmer than a night before, when a crowd of about 300 people gathered at the gas station, throwing rocks and bricks in a scene reminiscent of the sometimes-violent protests that followed the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson.
(more…)

Officer Wenjian Liu ~ and ~ Officer Rafael Ramos RIP 

Good for the NYPD. Mayor De Blasio has their blood on his hands.
You might hear media reports about this, and you might hear the media say “a few” police turned their back. Not correct.
Here’s the proof – As you can clearly see in this video EVERY COP turned their back on the Mayor creating a pathway showing only their backs on both sides of him as he walked past.

(more…)