<p>It does seem that if the police autopsy was exonerating to the officer they would have released it by now to help quell the unrest. It leads me to think that the report could be damning enough that they are still better off not releasing it. </p>
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<p>The US Justice Department would not file a wrongful death suit in this case. I doubt they will be involved any time soon, if at all. At this point it is a state matter, not a federal one. </p>
<p>Once the police investigation is completed, it will be referred to the local state prosecutor to determine whether charges should be filed and prosecuted against the police officer. I hope the local prosecutors recuse themselves and let someone from another jurisdiction prosecute the matter. It was smart for the local police to let another police department conduct the investigation. </p>
<p>I thought the DOJ was already involved…</p>
<p>They are. That’s why I think a civil rights case will happen.</p>
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<p>I read somewhere that they are waiting on the toxicology report which may take three or four weeks. I think it is better to release it all at once to get it over with.</p>
<p>I am interested when they will release the officer’s statement. I wonder if he lawyered up prior to giving a statement. </p>
<p>Niquii, we’ll just disagree on this. If I am lucky enough to be blessed with children (and the fi and i are going to have fun trying. Hehe), I’m going to do my best to implore them to be good to others.</p>
<p>I understand that the brain is its own being and cannot be controlled, and sometimes bad kids come from good parents. But – I would be embarrassed regardless.</p>
<p>prezbucky, wait till you have kids before you speculate. </p>
<p>Agree with @sally305. You will learn pretty quickly that children, from the time they are babies, have their own agenda. </p>
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<p>Apparently I was mistaken. </p>
<p><a href=“Mike Brown Shooting: DOJ Launching Civil Rights Investigation | TIME”>Mike Brown Shooting: DOJ Launching Civil Rights Investigation | TIME;
<p>Usually pretty good kids also make bad mistakes from time to time. If one of my kids’ cohort stole a pack of cigarettes or a tin of chew from the convenience store up the street I would not expect them to be shot 5+ times and left to lie on the street in a pool of blood for the offense.</p>
<p>The DOJ has sent 40 FBI agents to the area. I’d say they were involved.</p>
<p>prezbucky, If you had your own children I think you’d have a better feeling of what you’d feel like if one of them was shot after committing a petty crime. Most of us parents can’t imagine anything more devastating than losing a child. If my son were shot to death after committing a petty crime, I think I’d be angry that he was so stupid to have committed the crime, but I’m pretty sure my main feeling would be something like, how can I keep on living with this unbearable sorrow.</p>
<p><a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube;
<p>This is peaceful protesting I suppose. But, it is not at all helpful. </p>
<p>Will the tape from the convenience store be admissible at trial if the officer is arrested? Is it too far removed from the shooting?</p>
<p>From a pretty young age, black parents must have discussions with their sons about how to behave when being stopped by a police officer. I had a very candid conversation about this last winter with a white social worker/co worker about this very subject. She was shocked because she has a dear friend who is the captain of a police dept in CA, and she too has had these same conversations with her sons. Realizing that the sons of a law enforcement official are not immune. The white coworker was stunned to learn that if you took a poll of black parents, no matter the location, these conversations have been had. We know that police brutality, death by cop, is a fact of life. We always fear that our sons will be added to the list of Eric Garner, Oscar Grant III, Abner Louima et al.</p>
<p>My son is 23 and the worst he has ever done was download a few “movies” from Limewire at the age of 14. He always knew that I would skin him alive with a potato peeler should he ever act out of character, or take part in nefarious deeds. </p>
<p>Speaking of Oscar Grant, did anyone on here see “Fruitvale Station”? If not, I implore you to see it.</p>
<p>Sally and frugaldoctor, I think that’s a copout, but OK, I’ll withhold judgment. :-)</p>
<p>I think it’s a copout because while we don’t know how much of development is due to nature and how much is due to nurture… we are pretty sure that at least some of it is “nurture”… right?</p>
<p>(Here I go asking rhetorical questions)</p>
<p>prezbucky, what is the “copout”? We are parents and you are not. You have no idea what any of us have gone through with our kids or those of our friends. It’s easy to think you have all the answers when you are young and idealistic, but time generally proves otherwise. :)</p>
<p>Also, in general, withholding judgment is a good idea in life. </p>
<p>“Also, in general, withholding judgment is a good idea in life.”</p>
<p>That’s ironic on this thread. The cop has been judged pretty harshly here.</p>
<p>Prezbucky, when I first became a parent, my mom made me a needlepoint that said “with the pitter patter of little feet come one hundred thousand words to eat.” Words to live by. Every kid makes mistakes and let me tell you, when a newborn is placed in her arms, no mother thinks a fine outcome for that child would be to be killed like an animal in the street. We all believe our children will be president or cure cancer or other great things. For you to have said earlier that the police “might” have been wrong to shoot Brown is staggeringly insensitive. If you are ever blessed with children I hope you are also blessed with humility, gratitude and awe.</p>