The following was written by an academy classmate of mine who not only did a full career in the military, but is still continuing his long career in law enforcement.  Because he is still on the job, it requires that this be published anonymously.
-Matt

---

So, after two thorough, exhaustive, expensive investigations (Sacramento County District Attorney and California Department of Justice), the feds are now launching a third investigation specifically into whether Stephon Clark’s civil rights were violated.

Let me just throw some fuel on the fire…  Clark’s death was entirely his own fault.

This does not mean his family isn’t grieving his death, but it is time that society at large, and politicians in particular, stop pandering to people (to be clear I am referring to a socioeconomic group, not a specific race) who have been told for generations that they are victims, have no hope and must rely on the government to help them.

My question is, when do folks wake up to the fact that that help will never come from the government?  There may be band aids applied, but the doctor is out, the surgeon isn’t coming.

Now, with the victim mentality drilled into them so deep it is essentially part of their DNA, they feel as though they can tear cities apart if things do not go their way.

This unfortunate shooting was not due to a lack of training on the part of the officers. Experience teaches us the dangers faced by officers, and they are taught to respond appropriately to those dangers.

There should be NO DOUBT in the minds of anyone with a modicum of intellectual honesty these officers were in fear for their lives and fired in self-defense. Not in aggression, but in DEFENSE! And why were they defending themselves? Because of CLARK’s ACTIONS.

The race of the suspect is completely irrelavant when you are in pursuit of a felony suspect and that suspect suddenly becomes a (justly) perceived threat to your life.

Not only that, I submit to you that cops get more training in “implicit bias,” biased based policing, and other racial issues than just about any other profession.

So exactly why is the US Attorneys office opening an investigation? Is it to appease people who will never be appeased because emotion rules and facts don’t matter? Is it to show that the Federal Government “cares?”

I don’t know, but I do know it is a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars and further victimizes an entire community who abide by the law, who don’t assault their girlfriends or wives, who do not get drunk or high and run around disrespecting their grandparents by smashing up their neighbors’ property, then confront cops in their backyard.

The simple truth is Clark is not the victim.

The officers, who had to make a sudden decision in fear for their lives are now affected for the rest of their lives, their wives, girlfriends, children and other family are affected.  The community has been hugely affected, large sums of taxpayer dollars have been spent (and yes, a thorough investigation must be done to ensure the officers acted within the law), and why? The sad truth is because Mr. Clark continued his pattern of poor life choices.

And now two officers who acted appropriately are under tremendous scrutiny, lawmakers are pushing very hard to make it even more difficult for all officers to do their jobs and go home safely. If and when that happens, and officers can’t chase, can’t apprehend criminals, or are concerned with the consequences of doing something to defend their lives, only to be second guessed by attorneys or activists sitting in comfortable chairs in a well lit office, with their chosen beverage sitting on the table in front of them.

Who is it that pays in the long run?  Winning answer is, the law abiding public.

Is it harsh to call out Mr. Clark? Maybe it is, but we have gotten so far away from speaking the (sometimes ugly) truth in the name of appeasement that the moral compass is spinning like a top. Time to stop spinning and call it like it is. Things will only get worse if we continue to lie to ourselves and allow the agenda driven politicians and media to lie to us.