Why were the officers even there?

A nation whose only recourse to it citizenry having mental health crises is sending men to shoot them is a damned one.

Take some that change you're clanging 'round to buy local sheriffs F-18s and equip nurses and counselors with bearsuits and a living wage.

Then why is the US the only country where this kind of thing happens so regularly that every time a story like this comes out, I have to wonder if it’s about a new one or the last one? Cops shot a guy in his backyard for holding a cell phone.

American police are on a literal hair trigger for lethal violence, especially against minorities, and most especially against African Americans. They are taught that their lives are in constant danger, and their use of force regulations are ridiculously loose. There’s even an entire training course for law enforcement called “killology.”

It's a good thing they have like 4 different "less lethal" methods to handle that sort of thing. Oh wait they just shoot you dead and get a paid vacation until everyone forgets. Great system.

standing there having to make a snap judgment, you very likely would do the same thing

If a police officer is as likely as me to freak out and fuck up in an emergency, they don't have the required training or character to do their job.

No, I would not do the same thing if I were an officer. I just feel like this needs to be said. Not everyone is seeking to preserve their own life at the expense of others.

I'm sick of cops acting like they are supposed to do this. It's in direct opposition to the reason we pay them hazard pay.