Taylor
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The issue really is twofold: Zimmerman's actions and the law's wording. First, as will eventually be proven, Zimmerman's decision to pursue Martin (contrary to the instructions of both police dispatch and neighborhood watch guidelines) is what led to the crime. He was wrong and I think that the court case will demonstrate this. As the author of the "stand your ground law" stated, the law is not intended to give a person the right to pursue someone. Secondly, the law as written protects Zimmerman's actions, because its imprecise wording causes it to be too broadly applied. The law is sound, in principle, but it needs to be reworded. These two issues are the reason (a) the crime took place and (b) Zimmerman has not been arrested.
The issue is not the police department. The police department cannot arrest a subject without probable cause, which pursuant the aforementioned law cannot be established if a subject claims self defense. If the police department were to arrest Zimmerman, the arresting officer could be prosecuted for unlawful detention. Claims that the entire Sanford PD is complicit are ludicrous. Sandford PD is not staffed exclusively by racists--I'm sorry, but that's absurd, especially in Florida (note that I used to work for Miami-Dade PD, Florida's largest police department). Even being very uncharitable toward Sanford PD, for every officer that we hypothetically presume is complicit, there are many, many more who are just as outraged at the situation as everyone else. Injustice has been done. They realize this. Unfortunately, Zimmerman's espoused MO, coupled with the law, ties the hands of the PD.
The issue is not the police department. The police department cannot arrest a subject without probable cause, which pursuant the aforementioned law cannot be established if a subject claims self defense. If the police department were to arrest Zimmerman, the arresting officer could be prosecuted for unlawful detention. Claims that the entire Sanford PD is complicit are ludicrous. Sandford PD is not staffed exclusively by racists--I'm sorry, but that's absurd, especially in Florida (note that I used to work for Miami-Dade PD, Florida's largest police department). Even being very uncharitable toward Sanford PD, for every officer that we hypothetically presume is complicit, there are many, many more who are just as outraged at the situation as everyone else. Injustice has been done. They realize this. Unfortunately, Zimmerman's espoused MO, coupled with the law, ties the hands of the PD.