You make some fair points.
My issue with the photo, like others have pointed out is that the Chief told us that "as [the] SWAT team approached the vehicle, Conditt detonated a device."
But based on the photo that doesn't look like what happened here. The SWAT van obviously rammed the back of the bombers SUV with moderate force.
When the Chief sugarcoats what happened by saying SWAT "approached the vehicle" and it doesn't match what I'm seeing with my own eyes, it bumps my BS meter a little.
Sure, what difference does it make? Its just the Chief giving a sanitized report of basic information.
Well, as an outside observer, I'm noticing a common thread of dis-information. Whether the dis-information is being fed to the media by the police, or whether the media is pulling stuff out of their ass, or a combination of both, I haven't had any trust for a long time that we are getting a straight story from anyone.
Another example, is yesterday or the day before, there was a report about multiple devices being found at the FedEx facility. then half a day later they issue a correction / retraction saying we "mis-spoke" and their was only one device. That seems like a basic fact. Was their one device found or two. How does something this basic get screwed up, and repeatedly over the course of multiple events.
As a more basic example of what I'm frustrated with is the proverbial traffic light being being red, green and yellow all at the same time. The cops will say red, witnesses say green, others in the media say yellow. Then the cops issue a retraction saying they mis-spoke, then that gets reported, then ultimately disputed because the evidence doesn't match either scenario. At the end of the day, no one really knows what happened, and no-one can figure it out, there are simply too many moving parts.
Maybe its being done intentionally by creating a situation where the light was reportedly red, green and/or yellow and you can effectively pick the one that best suits the narrative and go from there. Obviously, thats not the way its supposed to work, but thats the way it is.
Vegas is another situation that is all over the map. We are months away from that and we still have no clue what actually happened there and no one seems to be that worried about it really. Same with Parkland. there were multiple teacher eyewitnesses that made early statements that do not match the narrative. All this has met discussed in detail on other threads but these are two general examples.
I understand that the cops need to keep things under wraps while they are investigating and may even feed dis-information to the media for some specific and legitimate purpose.
But the flood of misinformation, dis-information, retractions of basic facts that turn out to have been "massaged" into something that they are not.
So when I'm told the suspect pulled over into a ditch and SWAT "approached" and I see the front of the SWAT van bashed in like it rear ended the suspect. It makes me question everything that follows. If the cops rammed the suspect off the road, good work. Why does this fact need to be sugarcoated?
I have the same issue with law enforcement "scrubbing" google maps, social media etc. This was public information yesterday for anyone to look up. Why now that the public is finally getting some answers, are the details surrounding a dead suspect (that terrorized a major city for weeks) suddenly a state secret.
Engineers want to look a the specs and drawings not have an opinion of another engineer as to the facts contained within, doctors want to look a the original MRI, not hear an opinion, programmers / source code. You get the idea.
My point is, if we are gonna live in a civilized society we need to be able to trust those we entrust with the power of law enforcement. The information that is released should be made public and be accurate. Anything different erodes at the foundation of public trust, that the people with the legal ability to destroy someones life at will, are being open and honest with the public they are bound to serve and protect.
This concept has been eroded to nothing over the years. I think this may have contributed in some way to the overall distrust coming from the minority communities who have openly protested this issue more than others.
Now its trickled down to not just minorities distrusting the "establishment" for lack of a better term, but a good number of law abiding people that generally stay out of the mix saying "wait a minute, maybe there is something that needs to be looked at closer here." I for one am firmly in that group now.
If we as citizens cede individual liberty to law enforcement, and have money deducted from our checks each month, via ad valorem tax or otherwise, I want the people working for us to be open and honest.
Law enforcement is in CYA mode first. See Waco. They are always playing close to the vest in pretty much every situation nowadays. I'd like to be told the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
