Throughout the last few years, I’ve worked with families seeking justice in the midst of police brutality. Over and over again, I’ve watched law enforcement make decisions to kill people when they didn’t have to. The killing of Ryan McMillan is just another example. Only a few seconds after Cpl. Stephen Bean of the University of North Texas Police Department encountered a hatchet toting and obviously disturbed McMillan, lethal shots rang out. After repeatedly watching video of the incident, I don’t understand why a less lethal response wasn’t utilized. Cpl. Bean is representative of the lethal ways of law enforcement across our country. Contrary to other parts of the world where law enforcement handle these situations without lethal violence, our police shoot to kill. Until our local law enforcement gets better training, maybe we should put up signs around the University of North Texas and the City of Denton warning people that any sort of breakdown could result in their execution by our police. Though I doubt there will be any consequences for Cpl. Bean, the truth remains that he chose to kill Ryan McMillan and didn’t have to. Don’t get unstable Denton.
Amen.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In