52 Days & Counting

‘They Called Him In As a Threat’: Minnesota Community Demand Answers After Police Kill Mentally Disabled Man with Groceries In-hand.  

and still no answers. Let's not forget Kokou Christopher Fiafonou and the night police bullets  ended it for him.

When Bullets Find a Black Man mums The Word

Kokou Fiafonou is dead and Officer Zachary Gast has to live with his decision to use deadly force. That's a bummer. Now, mums the word, 51 days and counting on an on-going investigation. On black man. One Parking Lot. Couple of witnesses. One cop and many bullets fired. For some reason The Bureau of Criminal Investigation is hellbent and determined to win an award for the longest-simple investigation-hidden from the public award. CIA couldn't of did it any better. 

 

Two Must See Sites!

Surprise #1

Surprise #2

If ya have something to share on these sites have at it! I'd love to hear from you. Everyone is respected. I'm not into being sworn to secrecy, by say an officer, who has feelings about how a given department is being run. If ya feel like the department you're working for is micromanaged by an overbearing Chief shouldn't you set down with him and air out grievances? Perhaps you feel your department is down four members, or something, because nobody wants to work for this person. I don't feel comfortable being a mouthpiece for some who live in fear. Anyways . . . I'd encourage you to check out the links above. If you want to post something you firmly believe in - have at it!

1,000 Fatal Incidents with Police a Year

 And incidents such as Officer Jason Gaughan and Derek Chauvin were brought to trial, in the first place, because of the crucial role video plays. Wow, I pointed out, many moons ago, that technology was going to be a game changer. Trevon Martin anybody? Many thanks National Public Radio. Now that Kokou Christopher Fiafonou experienced his fatal incident . . . Chief McKichan is checking into body cams. Little late for that. So did the BCA claim this was a good shoot because body cam footage can't come back and haunt the investigation? Whoa. 

Click & See

Police Shooting of Kokou Christopher Fiafonou

Oh C'mon man. Where's Waldo or Chief McKichan? During the demonstrations he must've been in the station studying body cams. Trevon Martin died on February 26th, 2012. George Floyd died in Minnesota on May 25th, 2020. Gotta assume the Chief knew this. He's on the Department's website yapping about Innovative Policing and Community Partnerships. Wow, then purchase body cams already. Address community members when they ask hard questions. Mister Fiafonou was the recipient of bullets, in a public parking lot, on December 23rd, 2021. That is forty-one days and counting. What's taking so long?

One more thing. Isn't a move afoot to get civilian authorities out of soldier uniforms . . . or did I miss something here? One wonders how Mister Fiafonou, with a knife, prevailed in his encounter with these guys.

    

Winters were made for reading. So what are ya waiting for?

 

Hello Curt Rude, We found something we think you might like.

Never a Child   $10.80

Kokou Part #6

 So Koukou ends up in a parking lot. Other people are there. An officer with two years of experience fires numerous rounds into Kokou. He dies. The BCA arrives and said it appears like a 'good shoot'. The police ain't talking. Questions that should be answered by a competent Police Chief: Why body cams are not worn by Austin Police Officers. Why other officers didn't fire their weapons. Whether Kokou was allowed to shop before the fatal incident. Why the police retreated from the scene of the original confrontation only to reengage and use deadly force. Lets hope the police set the record straight. Stay safe this weekend.   

Kokou Part #5

 Look, I have no axe to grind. I was a cop in a prior life. I have no regrets and have discovered a passion i.e. writing socially responsible stories. I'd encourage the reading of these pieces I have put together. I have discussed this shooting with law enforcement in Austin. I have talked and considered other view points. Let's tip-toe forward without insults and threats.

Here goes. The police did what Monty Python referred to as 'Run-Away'. They pulled out the S.I.R.T. team. Then the decision was made to have a couple of officers hang around the scene to keep an eye on things. Mr. Fiafonou decides the cops are gone and he needs to get some shopping in. This man, who was reported to have a large knife and was mentally ill, is allowed to wander to a place where people are. Question #2 Why wasn't he confronted before he got to the store to minimize threats to others? 

Kokou Part #4

Full discloser. I was a cop in a prior life. I never worked with, nor do I know, Zachary Gast.

Kokou is confronted by officers while threatening to do harm to others. This is according to police. He holes up in a residence. Police S.I.R.T. (Special Incident Response Team) responds, surround house and shoot projectiles into building. Apparently windows are smashed out. Kokou does not come out and after many hours the police decide to leave. Just leave. Never seen this before. The police did leave a couple of officers in the area to keep an eye on things. Actions speak louder than words. Did the police believe Kokou suddenly was cured of his mental issue and thus they could pull out? I mean if he ran out of the place and stuck a knife in somebody can you imagine the liability? Question #1 Why did they feel Kokou was no longer a threat?    

Kokou Part #3

 I thank those of you who pointed out that Kokou was an immigrant from Togo. I got to thinking perhaps Kokou was merely in traffic with a machete because that is acceptable in Togo. I did a quick search and discovered Togo does not permit the carrying of machetes. A police officer noted Kokou was threatening others. He was tased and shot with foam bullets. In the winter, layers of clothing limit the effectiveness of these less than lethal rounds. This enabled Kokou to flee into a house. Family members have attributed some of this behavior to mental illness. Getting struck with a machete from a mentally ill subject in no way makes it less harmful. Cops shouldn't have to get assaulted. 

Kokou Part #2

 From what I have heard a man was walking in traffic with what has been described as a machete. Citizens call the police and the individual is confronted. He manages to elude tasers, foam bullets and pepper spray. A different outcome would have occurred if he had only cooperated. Right? Even if running around with a knife isn't illegal, one should question how it was being carried. Was it held up? Citizens did call. Police responded because they must address these kinds of issues.

Kokou Christopher Fiafonou

 Police shoot man in Austin, MN.

With all due respect, lets consider what happened when his path crossed Officer Zachary Gast's.

Final Novel I wished I'd Penned

McMurtry nailed it. His character's are so well developed in this, what he called his . . . "Cowboy Thing". I mean this story is hard to put down. He studied with Ken Kesey under the direction of Wallace Stegner. 
 

When a Picture equals Motivation

 

Why do I do it? Because some suffer. Read 'Never a Child'.

Never a Child

Click and See

So the world is in turmoil, it's cold out there. Do yourself a favor, read 'Never a Child'.  

What a Treat

Click Please

Deputy Paul Urhahu is running around in a uniform while horrible things are tiptoeing out of his mouth. The mouth is run by a brain. So he has one and it must contain a whole lot of scorn. Ask yourself, how would you like to be a black person stopped by this officer? To think . . . there were some who thought 'Brand of Justice' was fiction. Like a deputy told me. "There ain't a thing about your books made-up!"

 

Good Old Judge Robert Adrian

 Click Please

Ever get the feeling Judge Adrian loves the law and not the victim? Power Corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts Absolutely.

Another Story I Wished I Penned

 www.curt-rude.com

Here's a reading suggestion. I wished I hadn't read it a thousand times already so I could read it again for the first time. Any guesses before ya hit the link below?

Surprise #2

www.curt-rude.com

The greatest complement you can give an author is to let 'em know you wished you'd wrote one of their stories. Click link to see mine. 

Surprise

Once Upon a Time

 we lived without devices. Now we have to hope they are promoting positive change. One wonders if Ahmaud Arbery's Murders share this feeling.