Payson Roundup

Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

First read this Associated Press new item:
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phoenix officer shoots teen who threatened him.

phoenix (ap) — An undercover Phoenix police officer shot a 15-year-old boy who pretended to pull a gun on him during a drug deal.

Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson says two plainclothes officers were in an unmarked van in west Phoenix on Friday night looking for outstanding suspects and drug activity.

Thompson says two teenage boys who are 15 and 17 and an 18-year-old woman gave the officer in the front seat cocaine as part of a drug deal. When the officer identified himself as an officer, Thompson says the 15-year-old pretended to pull a gun and threatened to kill him.

Thompson says the teen's actions “thoroughly convinced” the officer that he was about to be shot. He says the lighting also was poor.

The officer shot the teen, who has non-life-threatening injuries.

The two other teens were arrested.
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Now ask yourself the obvious question: Why did the headline have to include the word “TEEN.”

Why could it not have said this?

Phoenix officer shoots drug dealer who threatened him.

If there was any need for the story in the first place.

Chief1942 (Ronald Hamric) says…

Tom,
As you know, those involved in the drug trade are not the brightest candles on the cake. It seems they simply cannot help themselves for doing totally stupid things, I agree, the press wants to sensationalize the story, it grabs more attention that way, by emphasizing the perps age. I don't care if he's 10, he can kill you just as dead if that is his intent. Good shoot as far as I can tell with the limited information and of course the story being skewed who knows how bad, by the reporter that put it together.

Shovelhead (Mike McLaughlin) says…

“Thompson says the 15-year-old pretended to pull a gun and threatened to kill him.”

How do you pretend to pull a gun and convince someone that they are about to be shot?
Loaded finger?
Was his thumb cocked?

Would you or me have been given a pass if we were to shoot a drug dealer that pulled his finger and cocked his thumb? I doubt it!
We would undoubtedly be charged with conspiracy to possess or traffic drugs.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Same reason they use the words black, Mexican, divorced, red haired and all the rest the dumb things the media does.
I remember a long time ago when the Ariz. Republic wrote about a shooting here in Payson.
A man shot his girlfriend and then himself in the Elk's Bar (Winchester) Killed them both.
Headline. Man shoots red haired divorcee.
If she had been blond and single, would the headline have read different?

Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

“Would you or me have been given a pass if we were to shoot a drug dealer that pulled his finger and cocked his thumb? I doubt it!”

You might very well be right, Mike. Look at what happened to Harold Fish. But that doesn't mean that we SHOULD be charged with something. And I reckon that's the issue here. Just looks like another case of The Media v. The Law.

The Law being police officers.

I swear, I sometimes wonder why anyone dons a police uniform.

“We would undoubtedly be charged with conspiracy to possess or traffic drugs.”

I have to admit I smiled (an ironic smile, of course) when I read that. That's probably just what would happen in some prosecutors' offices.

“Same reason they use the words black, Mexican, divorced, red haired and all the rest the dumb things the media does.”

I liked your post, Pat. Made a good point. I also think there was some anti-police stuff in there though.

Ron, that was the entire story on AP. No details. Haven't researched it in the valley papers. If they have a lick of common sense it'll be on page 27 on a day when they print 26 pages.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Tom,
I never said one word about any police in my post. It was all about how reporters write articles.
You owe me an apology ! Big Time. I have posted things with anti-police but not in that one.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Tom,
I read them again this morning. My post and yours, and don't understand how you can think there is anything anti police in mine. Please point it out word for word.

firemedic (Gary Lamken) says…

Pat I believe Tom meant there was anti-police stuff in the original story, not your reply.

Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

Pat,

“You owe me an apology ! Big Time. I have posted things with anti-police but not in that one.”

Gary is right. My comment, ” I also think there was some anti-police stuff in there though.” was referring to the article when it said “in there.” Not to what you said. What I meant was that you hadn't mentioned any anti-police stuff in the headline. Not that you necessarily should have, but it was the anti-police implication of putting the term “teen” in that bugged me in the first place.

Thanks Gary.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Gary,
Following is what he wrote.

I liked your post, Pat. Made a good point. I also think there was some anti-police stuff in there though.

Now how would you take that?

Chief1942 (Ronald Hamric) says…

Pat,
I read it the same as Gary, but I can understand how you could interpret the way you did as well. I'm sure Tom will be more clear in the future ;-).

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

About as clear as I am most of the time. (:

SantaBerry (Bernice Winandy) says…

Pat, how can you always come up with the perfect retort.:-)

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

I try to stick with the truth.
If you think it is hard to understand me on here, you should try talking to me. (:

Shovelhead (Mike McLaughlin) says…

I can attest to that :)

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Tom,
I had TO the truth to begin with and it didn't look right so changed it.

Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

“I'm sure Tom will be more clear in the future.”

Don't bet your anything valuable on it. :-)

“I try to stick with the truth.”

Is that different from sticking TO the truth?

By the way, I see the American Olympic team won the bronze in curling. Aren't you glad they let females in the games?

Tom_Garrett (Tom Garrett) says…

Do that all the time. You ought to write columns, where you may revise what you've said as many as six or seven times. I often bounce around between several correct ways of saying something.

You never said anything about curling. I've never seen it, but I can just picture it. All that intense competition. Curling irons sweeping across the arena, brooms swirling, the crowd cheering. Do they wear helmets to protect their eyes?