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    Dave Rich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 2:34pm

    Dear Gawker Commenters Who Are Asking About White People Killed by Cops: The reason this list is populated with minorities is the topic at hand. That topic is police shooting unarmed minorities. When the next Unarmed White Republican Rancher (if such a thing exists) is shot down, we can write another list.

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      Dionysia8Dave
      12/08/14 2:38pm

      That would be the "Unarmed White Republican Ranchers Shot By Dick Cheney" list.

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      ScottDave
      12/08/14 2:42pm

      I mean I hear what you're saying, but why bring up the rancher when there are plenty of white, asians, and even especially native americans that have been killed by police? Kelly Thomas was not a rancher.

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    Rich JuzwiakRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 1:46pm

    And here are some descriptions of deaths that were police-related, though not caused by police (officially):

    Barrington Williams, 25, New York, N.Y.—September 17, 2013

    Williams died from asthma attack after a police chase allegedly resulting from his illegal sale of subway swipes.

    Kyam Livingston, 37, New York, N.Y.—July 24, 2013

    Livingston had spent over 20 hours in a holding cell after being arrested for fighting with her grandmother. She complained of cramps and diarrhea before a fatal alcoholic seizure. Aftermath: Family sued the NYPD.

    Jersey Green, 37, Aurora, Ill.—March 12, 2012

    Police tasered Green during a chase, but Police Chief Greg Thomas said after the autopsy that the "Taser was not at all attributable." Green's official cause of death was cocaine overdose, according to his autopsy.

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      mrdude16Rich Juzwiak
      12/08/14 2:18pm

      Why not an article just titled "Unarmed People Killed by Police, 1999-2014"

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      Exponential GrapeRich Juzwiak
      12/08/14 2:23pm

      Side question: "A man named Ronald Ritchie told 911 that he looked like he was pointing it at people, but a month later he admitted that Crawford was not pointing the gun at people."

      Why not hold men like this accountable? He essentially called out a hit on Crawford. While he didn't actually pull a trigger, he knew he was wrong and said it anyway, probably to actually get the police to come out.

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    QuanYinRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 2:33pm

    Counterpoint: Police officers killed in the line of duty (this link is for 2014, but the site allows you to look at other years as well). Note that this is not an exhaustive list, so actual numbers may be higher.

    http://www.odmp.org/search/year

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      QuanYinQuanYin
      12/08/14 2:46pm

      Note, there are 839 names on the list between 2009 and today. The majority were killed by armed suspects, but many were killed by unarmed suspects as well. I think that it's important that people balance their outrage at the Grand Jury decisions of late with the understanding that not all cops are racist assholes intent on murdering unarmed, innocent people. The majority are people who are just doing their jobs, and are often put in situations where they are either blindsided or overpowered and end up losing their life as a result.

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      burlivesleftnutQuanYin
      12/08/14 3:01pm

      Counterpoint: Police put themselves at risk because it is a part of their job.

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    Your New FriendRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 3:00pm

    HOW DO YOU NOT FIND THE OFFICER AT FAULT? Since when is it acceptable for cops to shoot people RUNNING FROM A CRIME? Good God!!!

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      NoButWait Hates Your GoT Fan TheoriesYour New Friend
      12/08/14 3:05pm

      I think a similar thing happened to that Tosh.0 producer who was shot running from a dude in the apartment who went on a crazy stabbing spree. Police responded, dude was running toward them (away from knife wielding maniac) and they shot his ass. Lesson: don't run toward cops, I guess?

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      Your New FriendNoButWait Hates Your GoT Fan Theories
      12/08/14 3:36pm

      Lesson: cops are more interested than protecting themselves than figuring out what the hell is going on and protecting victims.

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    Rich JuzwiakRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 3:12pm

    Addendum:

    Noel Polanco, 22, New York, N.Y.—October 4, 2012

    Polanco was shot in his car by Detective Hassan Hamdy during a stop. Hamdy reported that Polanco did not comply with the order to keep his hands on the wheel. Hamdy said he thought Polanco was reaching under his front seat for a weapon, so he shot Polanco. Aftermath: No grand jury indictment for Hamdy, though he did receive a departmental charge: failure to employ proper tactics that caused a civilian's death. His mother received a $2.5 million settlement from the city.

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      Max-CommentRich Juzwiak
      12/08/14 3:17pm

      Rich, block off the rest of the week for corrections on this post.

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    Rich JuzwiakRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
    12/08/14 3:55pm

    Another in the "suicide" files:

    Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez broke his silence Wednesday on the death of a teenager in the back seat of a police car with a brief news conference that raised more questions about the Nov. 19 incident and drew an immediate rebuke from an attorney for the teen's family.

    Lopez said Jesus Huerta, 17, a student at Riverside High School, shot himself in the head while handcuffed behind his back.

    via @will_doran

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      burlivesleftnutRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
      12/08/14 2:41pm

      Oh man. This is depressing, but thanks for compiling this. This will serve as a healthy reminder for people I encounter who believe there is nothing wrong with this because "police are right all the time derp."

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        burner12222burlivesleftnut
        12/08/14 2:46pm

        I don't think anyone has said police are right all the time. What most people said is top committing crimes and half of these deaths would have been avoided.

        The case we should all be talking about is the 12 year old kid who was killed for having a toy gun. Not guys who just robbed store or were selling cigs illegally

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        burlivesleftnutburner12222
        12/08/14 2:50pm

        Kindly go fuck yourself.

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      AbatniaRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
      12/08/14 4:26pm

      Here's one from 2010 in Seattle involving a Native man:

      John T. Williams was a Nuu-chah-nulth man living in Seattle, a pretty famous local woodcarver from generations of renowned woodcarvers. He was shot carrying his whittling knife and a piece of cedar across the street. After shooting Williams four times, Officer Birk said that he had told Williams repeatedly to put the knife down and Birk shot him after Williams failed to comply. However, Williams was elderly and hard of hearing, and from witness reports, Williams never acknowledged Birk, probably never hearing Birk's commands.

      http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/02/21/sho…

      http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/02/21/sho…

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        fo3Abatnia
        12/08/14 7:08pm

        Another family where I'd be offended to hear mentioned in the same sentence as Michael Brown.

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        Abatniafo3
        12/08/14 7:18pm

        You can take your respectability politics and leave.

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      carib.prin.cessRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
      12/08/14 2:37pm

      Darren Rainey, a 50-year-old mentally-ill prisoner whom the guards had handcuffed and locked in the cell the night before. Witnesses and DOC reports indicate Rainey was left in the scalding hot water for hours, allegedly as punishment for defecating in his cell.

      His skin had to be scrubbed up from the floor.

      Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/com…http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

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        lostmydamnburneragain!!carib.prin.cess
        12/08/14 3:08pm

        jesus god in heaven

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        NTFMadaracarib.prin.cess
        12/08/14 5:17pm

        Why can this happen today!? How can people that are even capable of this behavior become guards in the first place?!

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      Denzel WashyourtongueRich Juzwiak and Aleksander Chan
      12/08/14 2:21pm

      Wow. That's the most depressing list I've seen on the internets in a while. I know you are going for a theme but while he wasn't killed by police, James Byrd, deserves honorable mention especially since his murder was so heinous they created a law in his and Matthew Shepards, honor.

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        AriaheadDenzel Washyourtongue
        12/08/14 2:45pm

        James Byrd's story always makes me cry. It was so awful. I just think about how scared he must have been. And he looks like my late father. Every time I see him I think of my Father and how easily that could have been him. It's just heartbreaking all around.

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        Denzel WashyourtongueAriahead
        12/08/14 2:58pm

        Absolutely. It happened when I was about 15 and at that age I was just a teensy bit more militant than I should have been at that age and the whole incident sparked a whole new level of awareness for myself and people who look like me. Sad, sad, stuff. Thats not including the BBQ, that they went to afterwards either.

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