69 Days & Counting & Now Putin

 Wow. Gotta hand it to the City of Austin Minnesota.  A Black Man, Kokou Christopher Fiafonou, is gunned down by a cop and the matter is still being investigated months later. Now with Putin on the march who has time for one dead black guy? Good job Austin!

So what can an Average Person do to help the Ukrainians? Well, Putin is footing the bill for this invasion with Oil Money. He produces 10% of the energy for the world. Invasions cost a ton. If energy demand slackened, so would his death grip on small countries. Ride a bike. Walk to work. Car Pool. You get the idea. Do something.

 

www.curt-rude.com

 Took some time but I'm optimistic. What are your thoughts regarding the website? A link is included to leave comments. The blog has - Fridays Reads - which is a peek at war from the prospective of children. This was written under the guidance and inspiration of Fatima during my stay in Boulder. The place I stayed at burned to the ground after the huge Colorado Fire. Makes the news hit kind of hard for sure.

Every picture tells a story. I am concerned.

66 Days & Counting - Police Killing in Austin Minnesota

 Let us not forget the police are not releasing any findings in the killing of Kokou Christopher Fiafonou. Who knows . . . perhaps they are on to something here. Withhold evidence and hope Vladimir Putin comes along and nails another country. Kinda help us all to forget Kokou who they labeled a Machete Wielding Suspect. They left out why they cornered him and then left the scene only to encounter and gun him down later. Kinda sounds like the go ahead and make my day deal. 

Get The Feeling

 Putin must suffer 'Little Man Syndrome" and feel humiliated while witnessing Ukraine's run away success after leaving Mother Russia behind. Can't believe he stood on the World Stage and lied about invasion plans. I have a story about war through a child's eyes on my blog if your interested.

Click and Enjoy  

63 Days & Counting and Oh them Legal Eagles Must be Circling

 Just to remind you what the waiting is all about. A black immigrant is surrounded in his house by a SWAT Team. He had been reported running around with a knife suffering some kind of mental illness. SWAT got sick of hanging around so they headed home. It was close to Christmas and they probably had gifts to wrap or something. The black man, Kokou Christopher Fiafonou, musta decided the cops figured he recovered from his illness. He hits for a convenience store and did some shopping. He never made it home. He was the recipient of jacketed 45 caliber rounds. Perhaps seven or more.

Mums the word. Hey Mister Chief . . . how's the investigation going? This one long investigation dude. You hiding behind the vail of secrecy? Who knows, perhaps they want to win a gold for the longest investigation ever conducted in Austin, Minnesota. Hope someone asks what the hold up was in the first place.

Love to Hear

 from you if you could interpret the following thoughts regarding The Bee Killer . . .

 hager ali commented on "The Bee Killer"

Feb, 20 202222

شركة نقل عفش بجدة نقل عفش بجدة رخيص نقل عفش بجدة شركة نقل عفش نقل عفش بجدة ارخص شركة نقل عفش بجدة افضل شركة نقل عفش بجدة افضل شركة نقل عفش بمكة شركة نقل عفش بمكة ارخص شركة نقل عفش بمكة نقل عفش مكة نقل عفش مكه رخي

61 Days & Counting

 I walked around a grocery store in Austin Minnesota and asked people if anything has come of the shooting of Kokou. People were like . . . Who? I'm like Kokou, the black man, shot to death by a policeman in a parking lot. Nobody recalled the shooting. The City Attorney/Police Department is refusing to release any info because it's an on-going investigation. They're could be on to something here. People have very short attention spans.

58 Days & Counting

 I was a cop in a former life. Serious. And I can say I never disrespected the public like the Austin Police are disrespecting people who appreciate transparency. Scary to have a police department who act like their motto is 'Shoot' - 'Shovel' - Shut Up". God help us. Ya have an interest in PTSD? hit the following link.

Short PTSD Story

57 Days & Counting

True story here, I'm pulled over by a State Trooper. I'm headed to a White Bear Writers Challenge. More to follow on that later. Anyways, I put the van (or vehicle as Troopers call 'em in park). Next I roll window down while Trooper is distracted getting his Smoky The Bear hat on. I put both hands out the window and holler 'I'M UNARMED'. A passenger, who shall remain nameless, speaks up and says . . . 'Aren't you over doing it? You aren't even black.' Trooper approaches and thanks me for how I conducted myself. So their ya go. Lesson of the day is bullets bore holes in flesh, no matter what the color. Ever wonder what a run-of-the-mill Police Chief looks like? Hit the link below.

Police Chief Moral Coward

   

56 Days & Counting

 I can't put my finger on it specifically . . . but it's like something really bad happened and the Policeman ain't gonna talk about it. One black man dead and The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension seems to be looking for their hands in the snow. Where's David Caruso when ya need him? If I was a criminally minded individual I'd head to Austin Minnesota to conduct my activities. No way a fella, with half a brain, is going to get caught. Can ya imagine a 'who done it' scenario where the cops actually had to figure out a crime scene. 

55 Days & Counting

 Public Agencies are required to share info with the public they serve. Data Practices govern this behavior. Started because of Watergate. So when does 'An Ongoing Investigation' morph into a 'Cover-up?' Austin Police killed a black guy and mums the word so far. Average length of time for the BCA to conduct an investigation is one month if there is a need for speed. Otherwise it's two months. Be interesting to see what they come up with. An officer did say the BCA thought it was a good shooting meaning all's a-okay in Austin. 

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?