Biff_Poindexter
Diamond Member
A white guy points a gun at Tempe police and then ... gets to go home?
The arrest of former Arizona corrections director Charles Ryan sends an awful message to minorities about white privilege. Or is it an ugly truth?
www.azcentral.com
"Charles Ryan’s wife told Tempe police that he’d knocked back “half a large bottle of tequila” the evening officers were called to their home. There’d been a gunshot in the bathroom. It wasn’t long before Tempe police responded with a SWAT team, negotiators and a robot. The Arizona Republic’s Jimmy Jenkins described what happened after that, and how the incident seems to send an awful message to minority communities about white privilege.
According to the police report, “Police attempted to make contact with Charles, who refused to leave the residence, until he pointed the firearm at police, the officers justifiably feared for their safety. In many previous instances in many other departments, officers in that position justifiably shot the suspect. That didn’t happen with Ryan."
So the guy was drunk, possibly suicidal or having some type of a mental health crisis...police were called and they treated the man as if his life had value and was worth saving...even tho the police themselves said they feared for their safety when the guy aimed his gun at them more than once...yet, they didn't kill him...and as far as I know, he still hasn't been charged with anything....Should this had been handled differently?? Should he had been shot on site as soon as he pointed the gun at them? Or did they show empathy and treat this guy as mental health crisis situation? I do know there is a family of a young man named Daniel Shaver who wishes their son received that type of compassion and empathy...and he didn't even aim a gun at anyone....
