Now that police have seen that they will never be prosecuted for killing someone they will start doing it everywhere with impunity because they can. So many of them don't give a crap about people and if you allow them to kill without consequences they will. Anyone could get victimized.

I agree with Comment #1 that we have, in large part, trained our police that human life (especially that of certain color human life) has little street value.

That said, maybe this is one we just wait for a detail or two. If this turns out to be a local homeless guy sleeping one off in the tunnel, it's a problem. But, given that it appears to be at a station on the major lines through DC and only 2 stops away from the Mall (by my reading of the map), consider that there might be other possibilities.

This isn't conspiracy theorizing because we know absolutely NOTHING about what happened beyond the fact that someone is dead. Until we know more, I'm going imagine that this incident might be in the thin thin tail of appropriate use of force (god I never thought I'd say that).

My 2 cents.

DU is not known for waiting for facts when jumping to conclusions is more fun.

Regarding the linked article, it is a shame what passes for journalism these days.

polite society. You might want to edit it before you are alerted on.

I am an administrator at another forum, one that has nothing to do with politics. Every now and then, someone will use the word "retard" or "retarded" in a post. I like to discourage the use of those words in reference to developmental disability. Even though I see it a lot at {that other forum}, such usage is increasingly frowned upon. This link might help explain things:

Special Olympics and the R-Word

The R-word’s Increasing Popularity

The r-word, “retard”, has become too commonplace in society. Retarded has even spawned new words: celebutard, a famous stupid person; debutard, a rich stupid person; e-tard, a stupid Internet user -- stupid being the common denominator and "tard" a suffix and a word in itself. ("Tard: Adjective used to describe one so retarded, they do not deserve the 're' " -- Urban Dictionary.)

The r-word has gone mainstream, beyond the core population of its origins and primary meaning. Young and old people alike use the word. In the majority of its usage the word conveys a negative message. Although many people may not understand the hurtful impact, the truth is, it hurts, even when people do not mean it that way. No matter the usage, the discriminatory impact on those people who are the target use of the word is significant.

Special Olympics is working to eliminate the pejorative use of the word retard (or comparable word in different cultures) from use in everyday language, and more importantly create a world of dignity, acceptance and inclusion for people with disability. Special Olympics is reaching out to educate and build awareness of the destructive power of the word through schools, parents, and young people.
....

Now is the Time to Act

Yet the r-word remains. It is time to eliminate the use of this word. It is time for ALL people to speak up and let others know that they will not tolerate the use of the word. It is time to recognize the worth and value of people with intellectual disabilities and welcome them into a society that can only benefit from their inclusion and acceptance.

I would also like to add "deaf and dumb" to the list. We don't see it as often, but it is still being used by some.

It's mostly kids who post at that other forum. They hear the words in school, and they come to take the usage as not a problem. As an administrator, I try to bring them around and to help them see why they should find another word.

Best wishes.

What's the first thing you asked yourself when you read the headline?

Was he black?

No weak tea for me!

calling them for help may be as dangerous as the situation itself

they seem to misunderstand a lot of situations - especially in minority neighborhoods