On Saturday, 21 March 2009, Oakland saw one of the worst days in its history. Four Police officers shot, three dead, one on life support.
All four officers were shot by Lovelle Mixon, 26, of Oakland, a parolee who fled after shooting the first two officers following a routine traffic stop, then shot two more after a SWAT team entered an apartment in which he was hiding. Mixon was killed during the standoff.
Those were the facts reported by the numerous news sources but the emotions taking place here in the SF Bay Area happen to be more telling the facts itself.
This morning while going to work, I decided to listen to Ronn Owens at KGO. He talks about issues of the day and I knew that he would be talking about the Oakland Police Massacre. Rightly so, lines were jam packed, people were calling in to let others know how they felt. Unfortunately, most African-Americans who called in defended Mixon, a parolee who shot two police officers because they pulled him over during a routine traffic stop.
It was totally ridiculous the way they compared this issue to Oscar Grant story and complained about the lack of trust between police and the community. They showed no sensitivity towards the police officers who are now dead because someone, somewhere, decided to let a man convicted of assault with a deadly weapon during an armed robbery free. This person who let Maxim free gave him a CHANCE to change his life, thought maybe he would have learned something and won’t destroy the rest of his life. Isn’t this a chance enough for someone to turn around their life?
But that doesn’t matter to people in Oakland, who didn’t even want to tell the cops where Mixon was after he shot two cops. That’s just insane. To snitch in Oakland is like betraying the community even if it involves a brutal crime?
Callers to Ronn Owens show complained that the police is in the business of harassing their kids, they can’t live normal lives and police should do more community outreach. I mean, seriously? Outreach? During a routine traffic stop a parolee ends up taking lives of 4 people and Oakland residents want to talk about outreach?
Why does everything always have to become a race issue? Black or white, his actions are completely indefensable-the police were just doing their job.
Three police officers are dead, and another was left brain dead following two shooting incidents in Oakland. It is a dark day not only in Oakland, but for men and women in law enforcement across the country, and many of us today mourn with them.
A real sad story. People ending up dead while doing their job, and still having some people not valuing their efforts.
great story…
This is really ridiculous. I don’t know why we let criminals get away with most of the crap they do. We as police officers should really be allowed to start shooting to kill a lot earlier than they do now. CRAZY!!
I was watching the O’Reilly show a few days ago, and I couldn’t believe it. There this guy, I can’t remember his name, but he organized a protest in Oakland in favor of the criminal. This is amazing. It seems like the people from Oakland hate all cops, especially if they are white.
I find it very odd that the “don’t snitch” idea has become common place. In a way I can understand the fear of cops by African Americans becuase there has been so much injustice, but if someone is dangerous it is important to stop them before they hurt anyone.