The incident in McKinney, TX where a police officer manhandled a 14-year-old black girl and drew his weapon on unarmed black teens is very disturbing. What's ironic is that McKinney was voted last year as the best place to live. But for whom? Middle class whites who are oblivious to their white privilege and who don't have to worry about the police drawing their weapons on their children. Or for blacks who appear to be treated like second-class citizens because of the color of the skin.
Police officers are professionals who are there to serve and protect, and not to escalate tenuous situations with erratic behavior. Clearly this cop, Eric Casebolt, was out of control, running off emotions, throwing children to the ground while cursing at the remaining telling them to go home. He doesn't deserve to be police officer
Mr. Casebolt blamed his behavior on two suicide calls that he responded to earlier that day. Understand this, if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen! Many of us have high-pressure positions but we cannot use that as a lame excuse for manhandling and drawing guns on teens. We must use appropriate coping skills to stay calm or excuse ourselves from doing said work, if we feel we cannot manage ourselves or our emotions enough to be level headed and rationale in a time of need.
I was pleased, yet terribly disappointed to hear that the officer resigned from the force with a "heavy heart." What about the racing, scared, panic stricken teens' hearts - were you considering that when you did your barrel role?
Mr. Casebolt you owe these teens and their parents a sincere apology. As I stated you don't deserve to be an officer for the McKinney force, but somewhere in the future, you will likely get another police position in the best place to live, small town America and resurrect your career. This infamous act will be forgotten, and your pension will be intact. Lucky you.