Link provided by Kurt Hofmann with the following cryptic comment: "Utterly disgusting racial hatred on the part of Florida police (David Codrea has more). However strongly you condemn it, however loudly you assert racist motivation, I don't think you can take it any further than I think it should be taken."
After explaining what "any further than I think it should be taken" means, maybe Kurt would be willing to explain what David Codrea is talking about. What "double standard" is there? Because the cops in one state has strict rules against this kind of thing, does that constitute a double standard when cops in another state do not?
Racism? Apparently not. Watch the video. He explains the reasoning behind the target sheet very well. He is also being truthful in regards to the sniper competitions using this technique,
ReplyDelete“Hunter-Killer” is the target ID course everyone loves to hate. Making use of mugshot-like photos, snipers are tasked with locating targets and communicating who and where to shoot, all while the clock is running. The tension is high and sometimes boils over as teammates yell at one another as time gets short."
http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=2633
So the only goof here seems to be the use of photos of local people. As I said at the beginning, watch the video.
I watched the video, SSG, and heard the chief's protestations of the "diversity" of their targets, but that's a hard sell for me. Why were all six targets that day black--do they divide up their target practice sessions by race?
DeleteI also think it's significant that they used mugshots--people presumably already disarmed and fully under the power of the police. Utterly helpless, in other words.
I agree that the explanation was plausible. But I'd call it more than a "goof" that they're using local mug shots, especially at least one who has paid his price and is living a proper life.
DeleteMike, a mug shot only equals arrest, not conviction. And I believe that in most places, they're accessible to the public.
Delete"Why were all six targets that day black--do they divide up their target practice sessions by race?"
DeleteI don't know what their training regimen is like, but I doubt they divide the training up like that. As the chief said, the target sets have been in use for possibly up to ten years. My guess is that the targets being found was just a result of missing it when they policed up the range.
Those photo sets sort of look like something the police would also use to have a witness pick out a suspect. As in the sniper drill, the other photos need to at least generally resemble the suspect.
I honestly think they had no ulterior motives regarding the status of the person photographed. Remember, mug shot equals arrest, not conviction. And most are freely available to the public.
I'd put money on using mug shots for training is pretty widespread in the police sniper community and it was just done because it was convenient. I also think that there are a whole lot of sniper teams swapping photos with a team in a different state to avoid any grif in the future.
If the explanation in the video is right, the would have to divide them up by race. How else could they practice facial recognition among similar looking mugs?
DeleteAfter explaining what "any further than I think it should be taken" means . . .
ReplyDeleteSorry--not a particularly well worded sentence on my part. One might even be forgiven for the conclusion that there was nothing "mendacious" in my reluctance to present myself as an elite user of the English language.
Anyway, what I tried (poorly) to express is that however strongly you condemn the disgusting and clearly racist practice of this police department, you are unlikely to do so any more strongly than I believe is justified. Why I didn't just say it that way is a mystery for which I have no answer.
. . . maybe Kurt would be willing to explain what David Codrea is talking about. What "double standard" is there? Because the cops in one state has strict rules against this kind of thing, does that constitute a double standard when cops in another state do not?
The double standard to which Mr. Codrea refers lies in the fact that a bill introduced in Pennsylvania, and a law already on the books in Massachusetts, bans the use of simple silhouette targets, let alone actual photographs of human beings--human beings, let's not forget, who have already been disarmed and are helpless (the North Miami Beach PD snipers were using mugshots). Both the PA bill and the MA law specifically exempt law enforcement and other government hired muscle, of course, so it's not the case that "the cops in one state [have] strict rules against this kind of thing," They are expected to enforce such rules, against non-cops, but those rules don't apply to the cops themselves.
Brings to mind the "No More Hesitation" targets, supposedly "requested by law enforcement agencies," featuring photos of small children, frail geriatrics, a very pregnant woman, etc., with the intent of making it easier for the government's enforcers to pull the trigger on such targets.
That "double standard" of David Codrea's is about as convincing as your original remarks.
DeleteThat aside, didn't you think the cop's explanation about the need to use real faces in training was pretty convincing?
That "double standard" of David Codrea's is about as convincing as your original remarks.
DeleteI think so, too--pretty damned convincing.
That aside, didn't you think the cop's explanation about the need to use real faces in training was pretty convincing?
More convincing than the six-for-six rate of the faces being black indicating something not at all kosher going on? No--I don't.
Are we having an extremely rare reversal of roles?
DeleteWhen a witness is asked to look at a lineup of five or six men in order to pick out the guilty one, they have to select similar looking men for the lineup. In the same way, if the cops want to practice facial recognition, they'd have to divide the targets up according to race. Presumably, if the cop was telling the truth, they'd have similar exercises with 6 white guys with neck and facial tattoos.
It certainly does not represent the public at large, or the race of recent mass gun shooting suspects.
ReplyDeleteSandra, the current standard tactic when dealing with an active shooter doesn't give time for a sniper to set up. They have target sheets representing a number of variables of the public covering gender and race.
DeleteIs there a certain one you feel was left out?
Yes, if all the targets were black men, that leaves everyone else out.
DeleteHave you watched the video Sandra? The Chief does an excellent job of explaining the reasons for all of the photos on the target sheet being black.
DeleteBigots throughout history ALWAYS have a "good explanation" for their actions.
DeleteWell, I confirmed in an earlier comment that the competitions he mentioned actually exist, and even the targets they use on some events. And he mentioned in the interview that the other target sheets were shown to the media. If he didn't, why wasn't he called on that statement. Reporters love catching government officials lying.
Delete