Occupy OKC Prostest the I40 crosstown opening

[BBatesokc]

However, he was also about as close at times to two other officers. It looked to me he had stepped in even closer to the trooper who was also filming. Neither of whom gave over their professionalism. So in this instance, 2 outta 3 LEO's would appear to disagree.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

+1

[TaoMaas]

While I think the trooper overreacted, I will say that he was correct in one thing... if you get too close, you are a threat. One thing that we are taught in self defense courses is that the closer a potential threat is to you, the less time you have to adequately defend yourself.

lol Oh, please! I'm assuming you've never stood in line at Wal Mart without taking out those around you, right?

[TaoMaas]

I work downtown and I've had to deal with several of the Occupy protestors.

I work downtown and have had to deal with them, too. I give them the amount of attention they deserve...which is to say "none". But then, I don't get pizzed off because a mosquito buzzed around me.

[TaoMaas]

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

He's gonna have two cups of coffee because I'll buy him one, too. IMHO, he was treating "Jay" as a joke...which he was.

[Of Sound Mind]

lol Oh, please! I'm assuming you've never stood in line at Wal Mart without taking out those around you, right?

Different situation, especially since I voluntarily put myself in that line; but I do tend to keep at least a shopping cart between me and the next person. If someone approaches me, for whatever reason, I tend to be more circumspect until I've evaluated their intent and perceived threat.

[Of Sound Mind]

However, he was also about as close at times to two other officers. It looked to me he had stepped in even closer to the trooper who was also filming. Neither of whom gave over their professionalism. So in this instance, 2 outta 3 LEO's would appear to disagree.

I wanna buy the filming trooper a cup of coffee. Calm, collected and absolutely mocking all at the same time. Well played all in all. The aggravated trooper could learn from him.

I don't disagree. All I said was that I understand where that trooper was coming from, but that doesn't necessarily justify his reaction.

[RadicalModerate]

Back in The Wild and Wacky '60's--when I was a yoot--I took part in lots of political demonstrations.

Somehow I always managed to wind up in the front line, directly facing the line of riot gear clad police.

I also mananged to have some interesting and informative conversations with some of them during the hours that would pass before some asshole in the crowd would do something stupid--like, for example, throwing a bottle and cracking the skull of a plainclothes officer, standing behind The Thin Blue Line maintaining a semblance of order, simply chatting with another plainclothes officer at the Demonstration Venue.

During those conversations, I learned that behind the face shields, back of the batons and under the helmet were regular guys just doing an extraordinary job.

That's why, when the "Police Riots" would break out and "innocent" bystanders would get beaten into the ground, I was unsure where my sympathies should be placed.

I'm not unsure now.
The Trooper should, at the very least, have ground the cellphone into the pavement after slapping it out of the "scrote's" hand and asked--with a smile--"You want a piece of that?"

I am sure that it is probably a good thing that I didn't actually become a police officer.
I'd be writing too many tickets for texting in traffic while I completely ignore enforcement of the seatbelt law. =)

[OklahomaNick]

All this doesn't even matter, and I am surprised that this thread has gotten so many comments.
That's all that dude in the skinny jeans and man scarf wants is just more attention..
Don't give them what they want!
They have freedom of speech, but I have the freedom to NOT LISTEN to them!

[RadicalModerate]

Wow . . . Like he said.
And now the shelves are bare at Pronouns are Us.

I still trust the unruly Trooper.
To protect your freedom.

As Walt Kelly once said--using Pogo as a platform:
"We have met the enemy and he is us."

[rcjunkie]

If they went there to protest the opening of the Highway or the dignitaries that were present fine, but as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

[TaoMaas]

...as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

What they got is a lot of attention and bringing a state trooper's actions into question. Do they really deserve that amount of publicity? I don't think so!

[BBatesokc]

If they went there to protest the opening of the Highway or the dignitaries that were present fine, but as soon as they showed up, they went straight to the officers and started their crap, and IMHO, got what they deserved.

They got more than that - they got exactly what they were looking for.... a reaction that would garner media attention. I don't like that little flamer of a protester but he got what he set out to do, so I'll give him that.

If the trooper had ignored him like the others did, none of us would be hearing anything about this.