990WBOB
  • WBOB READS
  • WBOB Radio
  • Past Casts
  • F Bomb Friday
  • Register To Win
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA

Fitting The Description Weighs in on Fatal Shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by Police in Charlotte

9/27/2016

Comments

 
Picture
​In August 2014, Charles Belk was mistakenly identified as an armed bank robber because he fit the description of a tall, bald, Black male. If it wasn’t for a few simple actions that both Belk and law enforcement abided by, his encounter could have ended in his fatal shooting as well. Since his arrest, Belk, a Durham, North Carolina native, launched a nationwide effort, #AutoErase, through the non-profit Fitting The Description, to educate and inform those about the perils of wrongful arrest records, and engage legislation to alleviate the burden and costs incurred by the innocent to remove those arrest records. North Carolina was the first state to sign the legislation into law in 2015.

Belk issued the following statement about the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, a father of seven, by Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers in North Carolina.


“Too often, we are now constantly seeing news reports and video footage of men of color being fatally shot by law enforcement simply because they ‘fit a description,’ said Belk. “While we understand policing the streets of our great nation is a very difficult job and involves many risks requiring instant, quick reactions, law enforcement has proven its ability to apprehend the most dangerous of suspects, alive. Local law enforcement must end their ‘shoot to kill’ tactic, even when that encounter involves an armed suspect.”

The recent apprehension by federal law enforcement of suspected New York and New Jersey terrorist bomber, Ahmad Khan Rahami, demonstrates that officers have the training and procedures available to them to bring someone in alive. Rahami allegedly even fired at officers and several passing vehicles as he tried to elude authorities, and was not fatally shot, as so many unarmed and armed, as well as innocent and guilty suspects of color have been in recent years.

Fitting The Description calls for a system-wide change in policy by all local law enforcement agencies that would make “apprehend alive” the priority tactic used during a police encounter. This policy change would be in addition to current criminal justice reform actions to increase police transparency and accountability, undertaken by the NAACP and other organizations, calling for cutting off funding to local law enforcement agencies that discriminate; seeking independent investigations when an officer- involved shooting occurs; keeping detailed data reporting about police stops; and maintaining comprehensive standards governing the use of force.

While the community’s response in Charlotte is demonstrative of citizens that want answers and change, it serves as further proof that any of our cities are just one fatal shooting away from a Ferguson, or a Baltimore, or a Charlotte. Local elected officials and law enforcement leaders need to be proactive in their approach to criminal justice reform and not wait until it happens in their city.

“Apprehend Alive” is a good tactic that will go a long way in preserving lives and restoring community trust to avoid unrest like those we are currently seeing after a “shoot-to-kill” incident has occurred.

Read More 990WBOB

  • Worst Quotes From Both Awful Candidates
  • "Vanished  Star" by Helen Money
  • ​5 Can't-Miss TV Shows Debuting This Fall
  • TV's 5 Weirdest Sidekicks
Comments

    WBOB
    Original
    ​Reads

    Picture

    Unbiased, Unfiltered. WBOB's Original Reads feature our brightest and boldest personalities, offering their two-cents on the goings on of news, sports, politics, entertainment, and business. -- Are our opinions always PC? Nope. Are they always perfect? Nah. But, are they always 100% authentic? Absolutely!


    LISTEN
    ​TO WBOB ORIGINAL PODCASTS

    Picture
    Listen to
    ​Past BOBCasts

    WBOB 
    Best Reads
    Brought To You By
    TripAdvisor.com

    Picture

    Celebrating David Clyde: A Wild Passionate Friend To All


    Picture

    Search 
    The Archives


    Reads From Our Friends

    Picture

    The Best Game Development Tools: How to Make Your Own Game


    Contact Us
    info@990WBOB.com


Search For Your Favorite WBOB Author,
​or BobCast

990WBOB 
An Independent Media Outlet.

The views opinions and thoughts expressed do not  reflect those of 990WBOB, its management or its staff. All Rights Reserved 990WBOB.com 2007-2020
​
Contact WBOB HERE

WBOB Reads

Weather

Live BOBCasts

Past Casts

Contact Us

Join Our Team!

Picture

Featured Supporters

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from nzhamstar
  • WBOB READS
  • WBOB Radio
  • Past Casts
  • F Bomb Friday
  • Register To Win
  • Weather
  • Contact
  • About
    • WBOB Press Releases
    • Join Our Team!
    • CHARITY GALA