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The fatal police shooting of a Navajo woman in Winslow, Arizona is raising questions again about interactions with police. Officials say she threatened the officer with scissors when stopped during a shoplifting investigation. Loreal Tsingine’s family and friends are left wondering what kind of threat the 27 year old woman posed that warranted her death. Tribal leaders and others want an official inquiry to hold the police accountable for what many members of the public see as an overreaction. How are police trained to react in such situations?
Guests:
Charly Edsitty (Navajo) -NBC 12 News Multi-media Journalist covering Phoenix & northern Arizona
Eileen Luna-Firebaugh (Choctaw and Cherokee) -Associate Professor of American Indian Law and Policy at the University of Arizona
Break Music: Spring To Come (song) DiggingRoots (artist) We Are (album)
Wondering why Sarah Circle Bear’s death is not also included?
As a resident of Winslow, AZ I never have ever felt any racism but after the incident that took place I am well aware of how the police been these past 2 weeks. I am scared of them now. This could happen to any of us natives for no reason and the cops will get away with it. I been followed by the Winslow police recently and I am fearful of them. I don’t want to go anywhere. I thought the police are here to serve and protect not shoot and kill us because of my color of my skin. Is this the kind of the things we gotta teach our kids–that the cops hate us because we’re Native Americans and they can kill us when they feel like it? It’s scary and it’s sad for me to tell my son watch out for the cops they might shoot you.
I have seen one picture of the officer and l could see his attitude. I dont see how a 100lb woman get be a threat to a guy his size. I think ego also played into his action.
Lived here for 13 years and raised on the reservation (Dilkon). Never have I seen or witness racism until now. Most of us are blind to see or don’t want to believe it, but it’s there’s. It’s sad and heartbreaking to know the small town Winslow I always thought was nice and everyone looked out for each other. But after the shooting that happen it made the racist people come out and it’s people I never thought were like that.
My kids and I myself, get scared when we hear sirens especially right after the shoothing happened. I drove my daughter to school with our back window written “#JUSTICE4LOREAL” and we had a cop follow us and my daughter was scared. She said mom they might pull us over for having that sign on our window. I told her no were leaving it on and for what reason is he gonna pull us over for? But deep inside I was scared and I didn’t want to show it. I told her it’s time we gotta stand up and speak out and not be scared.
During loreals funeral the city of Winslow didn’t approve for he fureal to go through town to the Cemetery, they made us all go non the freeway 1-40. That was wrong too.
Then Shipley is on administrativeleave with pay. …that’s BS. He should be sitting in jail like everyone who commits a crime.
As a Swiss I’m watching long time this unprofessional behavior of many police officers (many others do a good and difficult job) in America,
The problem is that far too short training, an accurate test of character is necessary, alternative weapons such as pepper spray, Taser or even smarter: a training in de-escalation behavior and more humanity in the service.
You have a terrible poorly functioning justice in America. The policeman must be punished !