Ferguson Effect? Chicago Police Officer Didn't Defend Herself 'For fear of backlash...'
Crime in Chicago isn't shocking (see Chicago’s Record Crime Hits 20 Year High and New Data Directly Correlates #BlackLivesMatter To Rise in Chicago Homicide). Only to say that it's shockingly high. So a Chicago police officer being in a life or death situation isn't newsy on its own. What makes this newsy? Is why the officer second guessed herself.
I'm sure you know where this is going, but it doesn't make it any less blood boiling...
"She look at me and said she thought she was going to die. And she knew that she should shoot this guy. But she chose not to, because she didn't want her family or the department to go through the scrutiny the next day on the national news."
Right. Duh. It even has a name: The Ferguson Effect.
Of course talking heads don't want to draw conclusions, notice that? Even the talking head in this video is like "WHOA, let's wait for facts and numbers to come in before we blame 'The Ferguson Effect,' on an increase in cop-related incidents and stuff." Even though there must be some kind of impact, considering there's even a thing called the "Ferguson Effect." But whatever, I just write the words.
"Waiting for numbers" is slap-your-knee-with-a-hammar hilarious when considering the subject matter. Black Lives Matter has made a game out of jumping to conclusions, getting ahead of those problematic facts and numbers so they can craft their little narrative. But when the repercussions of that narrative start affecting police officers' judgements, then it's "WAIT FOR THE FACTS, LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS!" kind of thing. Makes me want to drink bleach cocktails.
Officers need great training, yes. But they should absolutely make sure they're as safe as they can be, without having to worry about a band of angry villagers who might torch their homes and families.
As to those facts Black Lives Matter wants to keep hidden...
