theguesser Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Or at least he should be. This is what good, common sense policing is all about: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/05/31/genesee-county-sheriff-christopher-swanson-george-floyd-protesters/5299589002/# 'Let's walk': Genesee County Sheriff removes riot gear, joins protesters in marchMeredith Spelbring, Detroit Free PressPublished 3:35 p.m. ET May 31, 2020 | Updated 6:56 p.m. ET May 31, 2020 'Let's walk': Genesee County Sheriff removes riot gear, joins protesters in march Meredith Spelbring, Detroit Free PressPublished 3:35 p.m. ET May 31, 2020 | Updated 6:56 p.m. ET May 31, 2020 A single fist bump started a movement in Flint Township on Saturday.A video of Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson removing his riot gear and walking with Flint protesters went viral Saturday."We want to be with y'all for real so I took the helmet off and laid the batons down," Swanson can be heard saying in video. "I want to make this a parade, not a protest."Swanson said his office could see a mob of protesters moving gradually toward the Genesee County Sheriff's Office when they began to suit up in riot gear, unsure of the temperament of the crowd they were about to face.Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson high fives a woman who called his name as he marches with protestors of police brutality and in memory of George Floyd on Saturday, May 30, 2020 in Flint Township. Protestors marched along Miller Rd. In Flint Township before ending up at the Flint Township Police Department Headquarters where they were met by police in riot gear. Swanson deescalated the situation by asking one of the protesters what he wanted of them. They replied to walk with us and so he did with some of his deputies. "We're on the community's side. Al we had to do was talk to them and now we're walking with them. Everybody wins. The cops in this community, we condemn what happened. That guy's not one of us. You have police officers here that do it everyday for the right reasons. We're asking people just to trust the police. Trust us tonight we're walking with you. We prove it by our actions," Swanson said. "When I look at that all the good we do in the community across the nation can be destroyed in on act. We were the heroes a week ago so we're going to get back on the hero platform and treat people right. Give people a voice." (Photo: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press) As a collection of law enforcement agencies from the Flint area went out near Flint Township, Swanson said he saw a Flint Township officer reach out and fist bump with someone in the march.At that point, the sheriff said, he knew there was still room for communication between the public and law enforcement. Swanson removed his riot gear, going against almost all of his training, and approached one of the leaders of the movement."And I said, 'What else do I need to do?' and he said, 'Walk with us.' The best moment of my police career is when I said, 'Let's walk.' And we walked over a mile back to where it started and I could feel an instantaneous peace on both sides," Swanson said. "That would not have happened if they had not wanted to listen to what I had to say as well, so it is mutually agreed upon that I need to hear what they are saying."Mid-Michigan NOW✔@midmichigannowAmazing scene unfolding in Flint, Twp, Michigan. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson has joined protesters in a peaceful march. Read More: https://bit.ly/3eB3jbK @MichStatePolice @GovWhitmer Hundreds of protesters in cars and on foot began moving down Miller Road on Saturday in Flint Township as part of a nationwide response to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.George Floyd protest:Swanson said the 8-minute, 46-second video showing Floyd struggling to breathe as officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck during an arrest undoes decades of good police work in an instant. Swanson told the crown Chauvin "is not one of us.""Because I believe it, he is not one of us, you can't justify that kind of nonsense," Swanson said.Protests across the country have gone from peaceful, organized events to violent and chaotic as night sets in. Back to back nights in Detroit descended into chaos, leading to a total of 144 arrests over the course of roughly 24 hours.Johnie Franklin of Flint Township, Mich., takes a selfie with Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson on May 30. Protesters at the Police Department were met by police in riot gear. Swanson asked one of the protesters what he wanted. The protester asked Swanson to walk with them, so he and some of his deputies did. "We're on the community's side," Swanson says. "All we had to do was talk to them, and now we're walking with them. Everybody wins." (Photo: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press)Swanson said going into a hostile crowd with no gear and no indication of how he was going to be received went against tactical training and was fear inducing. Yet it was a step that needed to be taken.Now, Swanson is calling on other officers and agencies nationwide to do the same."Police leadership needs to take action on breaking down the first barrier," he said. "Police leadership, if they're not doing it already, come from behind your podiums, come from outside the conference rooms and the incident command centers, talk to the people. That is the difference. People that have something to say when nobody listens continues to be enraged and we are not going to fix the divide overnight, but you can see what happened instantaneously." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Yes!Yes!Yes! Positive change almost always comes from within Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housepicks Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Yawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
housepicks Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Maybe black people should show the value of black life by not killing each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAG Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 One of our cops kneeled in intersection with protesters yesterday. Was peaceful all day until last night when they went across town, and broke out windows at stores near mall, tried to get into apartments, looted Fleet Farm and took guns and ammo apparently. Handled pretty quickly with teargas, National Guard, curfew...... Could have been much, much worse, but still more than I expected here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 One of our cops kneeled in intersection with protesters yesterday. Was peaceful all day until last night when they went across town, and broke out windows at stores near mall, tried to get into apartments, looted Fleet Farm and took guns and ammo apparently. Handled pretty quickly with teargas, National Guard, curfew...... Could have been much, much worse, but still more than I expected here.Are they going to fire the cop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAG Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Are they going to fire the cop? I dk. I think most were trying to work together. This guy lets woman step up in his vehicle to make the point, https://www.argusleader.com/videos/news/2020/06/01/woman-pleads-protesters-not-turn-violent-empire-mall/5305805002/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Are they going to fire the cop?why would they fire someone who with one simple act brought peace to a situation. Showed compassionShowed understandingShowed empathyShowed remorse for the horrific acts other officers have committed Poking a dog with a stick gets you bit.Backing people up with shields and batons who are simply standing in a street peacefully protesting induces violence If we had more officers like Mr Swanson we likely would be light years closer to a more productive, caring, NATION. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 I dk. I think most were trying to work together. This guy lets woman step up in his vehicle to make the point, https://www.argusleader.com/videos/news/2020/06/01/woman-pleads-protesters-not-turn-violent-empire-mall/5305805002/I dont like to see that, you just cant fraternize with the enemy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 the enemy.That summarizes things very well Mike. TY I have a much greater understanding of you now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Mike I heard that Minny Police teargassed people protesting while standing on THEIR FRONT PORCH thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAG Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 I dont like to see that, you just cant fraternize with the enemy. Some of the protesters were lined up in front of the police trying to shield them from the rocks being thrown at them. I just think it’s weird they did it where they did it. Downtown would’ve been more effective..glad the shit was mostly in the mall parking lot. . I think they really didn’t know the city lay out very well. Some of them must’ve walked 10 miles....maybe that’s normal. I dk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAG Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Poking a dog with a stick gets you bit. ... POKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Mike when vastly white crowds protested WITH GUNS DISPLAYED over Corvid lock downs, why weren't they teargassed, met with officers with batoons,dogs,shields? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 ... POKEyes because my DOG will EAT HIS DOG and HE KNOWS IT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAG Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 yes because my DOG will EAT HIS DOG and HE KNOWS IT But what’s the point in the poking then? Just struck me as ironic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Corvid protest at state house.Imagine if his skin were black. His protest was over the killing of citizens by officers. Guy would be dead today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 ImagineIf in Raleigh [where this is]2 black protesters decide to show up today and walk down the middle of town like this? Over / under armed snipers on roof tops??17.5 is where i set it at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Mike when vastly white crowds protested WITH GUNS DISPLAYED over Corvid lock downs, why weren't they teargassed, met with officers with batoons,dogs,shields?Because that's not a crime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Mike I heard that Minny Police teargassed people protesting while standing on THEIR FRONT PORCH thoughts?here's the clip. https://youtu.be/esyMFOu8ZFE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Pittsburg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatboatboat Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 here's the clip. https://youtu.be/esyMFOu8ZFEAnd you are pissed off over wearing a mask at a public store. Lord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasson621 Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Standing with protestors is one thing and a positive thing, standing with thugs looters and far left terrorists is another. BBB and the idiot guesser can't distinguish the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 And you are pissed off over wearing a mask at a public store. LordSomething fishy about that, they were supposedly just standing on their porch, at the very end you see her and her friends inside wearing masks, no one does that. I see nothing wrong with what they did, young fucked up urban chicks are pretty much all trash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeman Posted June 1, 2020 Report Share Posted June 1, 2020 Pittsburg.What's your problem?, guns are legal, those people are exercising their constitutional rights, if you dont like that image there's something seriously wrong with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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