Consequences of Prohibition
Drug War Issues
[Editor's Note: This year, Drug War Chronicle is going to try to track every death directly attributable to drug law enforcement during the year. We can use your help. If you come across a news account of a killing related to drug law enforcement, please send us an email at [email protected].]
(video from necn.com/pages/landing?blockID=415731)
According to the Massachusetts State Police, the state trooper "was in fear for his life" when he fatally shot Padilla as Padilla drove toward him after a brief car chase. The unidentified trooper was conducting surveillance as part of a drug investigation when he tried to pull over the silver Nissan Maxima Padilla was driving.
"The Maxima refused to stop for the trooper, leading the trooper on a brief pursuit up Pine Road to the end of the road, which ends in a cul-de-sac," said State Police spokesman David Procopio. "At that cul-de-sac, the trooper exited his vehicle and repeatedly commanded the driver in the suspect vehicle to exit his own vehicle. The suspect ignored repeated commands to exit his vehicle."
The driver began driving his car toward the trooper, according to Procopio. The trooper, fearing for his life, fired his weapon, striking the victim, Procopio said. The trooper was in an unmarked black SUV and was alone.
"The trooper was alone in this location. The trooper is engaged in a drug investigation and the suspect was engaged in activity that the trooper considered part of that investigation," Procopio said.
Drugs were found at the scene, Procopio said.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
I guess it's easier to shoot
I guess it's easier to shoot someone driving at you in a cul de sac than actually hiding behind something or trying to get out of the way. Lazy coward.
They do it on purpose
Standing in front of (or behind) a moving vehicle whose driver you KNOW is going to try to get away (always giving yourself time to jump out of the way, of course -- you don't REALLY want to risk your own safety) gives you an excuse to shoot a Constitutionally innocent suspect who may or may not even know you're a cop. Then you're a hero for "putting your life on the line" to protect the public.
The cop was all amped up, he
The cop was all amped up, he got out his vehicle? If this was a true Felonies stop, the cop will use the loudspeaker to tell you to get out. This cop had "shoot this bitch" in his mind, the sad thing is he hides behind a badge.
murder
just another murder .by murderous thugs
Murder is right!
The reason most men become cops these days is so they can bully people and shoot whenever they want! This country and especially the "Drug War" (which is really a war on the people) is so disgusting - I'm 58 and 40 years ago I'd have sworn that we would have put an end to this madness by now. Very disappointing.
In reply to Murder is right! by doobiedenots (not verified)
agreed, old fella
I turn 58 next month, too, and agree with the 58-year-old who posted that he thought as an 18-year-old that this nonsense would have been over by now. Hey, remember the hall monitors, jocks, and other belligerents from high school? They're cops now.
In reply to Murder is right! by doobiedenots (not verified)
yep
Same age. Same opinion. Same sick feeling.
Yet Another Shooting
There is a war on in this country, a war on civilians. The police have a license to kill, plain and simple. If all they have to do is jump in front of a car and then claim they felt in danger, then they are free to kill at will. What is so discouraging is the vast silence on this subject. Even more, on such forums as Craigslist, the majority support such shootings, and by the tone of what is written, take pleasure in the violence. We are a sick country. This is no longer the land of the free. We are the land of the cowered.
You people are all crazy.Â
You people are all crazy. Why don't you try reading about the over 20,000 heroes who have given their lives defending you from criminals like this one. www.odmp.org Drugs destroy lives and families every day. Every dealer should be locked up for life for the countless murders they are responsible for.
In reply to You people are all crazy. by YepNo (not verified)
Prohibition is Crazy
Methinks you are the crazy one! Albert Einstein defines crazy as doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. By using your own logic I suppose that we ought to prohibit tobacco and re-outlaw alcohol since both substances "destroy lives and families every day". Is that the argument you are making Mr. YepNo? If so you are at best an idiot and at worst crazy.
You should do a little research into alcohol prohibition in the 1920's-how it fueled a network of organized criminals whose corruption led to the steps of city hall, how drinking generally increased, how people were blinded by toxic brew, meanwhile politicians and captains of industry enjoyed the finest champagne while they hobnobbed with crooks.
Those 20,000 you mentioned are no heroes, just foot-soldiers in the war on drugs. They are but a drop in the bucket when it comes to the human suffering brought by the drug war. There will undoubtedly be many more so long as fools like Mr. YepNo fail to comprehend the simple concept that most of societies ills come not from drugs but from prohibition.
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