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Polynesian Community Rallies in Response to ShootingRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - "One voice, one cause," was the message at a rally held by the Polynesian community over the weekend. More than 100 people showed up at the Anchorage Public Works parking lot on Saturday to rally against the Anchorage Police Department's officers' use of deadly force in recent weeks. On June 9, 26-year-old Shane Tasi was shot and killed while carrying a broomstick. On July 1, 59-year-old Harry Smith was shot while aiming a B.B. gun at officers. “We just want them to pretty much show compassion,” said Miriama Aumavae. “Come out and get to know our community, so that way we can combine efforts trying to implement better protocols, such as negotiation skills, taser guns, pepper spray. |
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Nz said on Wednesday, Feb 6 at 1:14 AM
At the end of the day if you charge a white guy with a stick hes going to shoot you... No offence to white people but most of them just dont know what to do... He shouldnt of been shot, he was drunk... say what you want if that was your son or brother you would think they could of done something else other than shoot...
112950516True Alaskan said on Monday, Jul 16 at 9:15 PM
I agree. We can't just rely on some edited police video. We as the public deserve to see the real video. Then we will be able to judge for ourselves.
96587346Concerned Citizen said on Monday, Jul 16 at 9:11 PM
Before I look at more ignorance. I would like to see the full video and some police edited video. Then and only then will I decide if it was justified or not.
96587246TedtheBear said on Monday, Jul 16 at 8:17 AM
To "NOT_TedtheBear, I worked for Dept of Corrections for many years. Increase of Polynesian inmates within our prison system is quite alarming. There been many articles written about it in many media about this during the past 20 years. I have visited correctional facilities in Hawaii. Amount of Polynesians in these facilities is quite depressing compared to their population ratio. That driver who did hit that kid on a bike, was described as a Polynesian man. He claims he was just "messing around". Hypocrisy of the Polynesian community on blaming the police is what so alarming. Video clearly showed that Mr. Tasi presented a clear and obvious danger to that officer. Not understanding that is just plain wrong.
96521346Propolice said on Wednesday, Jul 11 at 4:47 AM
I have bad days too, but I don't go around wielding sticks and other weapons. Do what the police tell you to do. If you have a problem with their orders, file a lawsuit or grievance later. Do you know how hard it is to shoot someone in moving arms or legs? The police offer an invaluable service...so we must follow their orders. I guess they need more high technology tasers to humanely stop the violent in this city...since these violent people won't put down their weapons when told to do so. If it was twenty years ago, this wouldn't even be an issue...because tasers wouldn't even be an option.
96062355SpeaktheTruth said on Tuesday, Jul 10 at 9:32 AM
God knows the truth and that day, Shane was an angry/bitter person, but who doesn`t have their bad days? You can`t honestly say that you are always in a good mood all the time. If you review the many different videos of that day, you`ll see people were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shane was a disciplined individual who was misunderstood. I still see this as a hate crime and Shane shouldn`t have died for it. The individuals who welcomed themself into a personal situation should`ve never involved themself and then to call the cops to let them know there was blood on the scene when there really wasn`t? get a life people. Shane deserved to live and grow old with his kids in Peace.
95996345NOT_Tedthebear said on Monday, Jul 9 at 3:48 PM
TedtheBear ... being Polynesian myself I can't say what happened between Mr. Tasi and the police. I wasn't there , were you? I am not saying that the police were right or wrong ... I am curious how you came up with the strange statistic of fastest growing prison population in Alaska though. Do you realize that you said the fastest growing prison population is in Hawaii? Hawaiians, Samoans, Tongans,Maoris, Tahitians, Fijian, Marquesans = Polynesians ... I'd appreciate facts be brought to the table rather than pure speculation with comments like "Didn't just recently, a Polynesian man tried to run over a kid on a bike just for jollies??"
95941656GUEST said on Monday, Jul 9 at 12:39 PM
As a minority myself I agree with the posts on here. Would it have made a difference if the officer was black? What if the cop was a Polynesian himself? Either way the outcome would have probably been the same. When you hold a stick and go after a cop these are the things that happen. Was the cop supposed to wait till the man was beating him to take action? Although I do think cops should be trained to shoot to stop a suspect rather than shooting to kill. Moral of the story don't come at a cop with a weapon in a offensive manner.
95928726TedtheBear said on Monday, Jul 9 at 7:07 AM
I think many of the writers touched a key spot here. Polynesian community did nothing to help this man but yet whine when APD officer shoot him in self defense. Then the Polynesian community blame APD even although they didn't rise a finger themselves to help. And now, they played the race card. Hypocrisy.
95902786martin said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 11:57 PM
Mr Tasi should have complied. Mr Tasi did not deserve to be killed. The officer did not deserve to be forced to kill Mr Tasi. Give the police the tools they need and deserve. Tasers, bean baggers, and rubber/plastic rounds. Its the right thing to do. Rest In Peace Mr Tasi.
95884011cooljulie said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 11:34 PM
Shane Tasi was not a victim, as these people are trying to portray. He had prior DUI convictions, and obviously still had a drinking problem. An out of control drunk man was acting in a threatening way in his OWN community. His own community was so afraid of him THEY called the police. Now they want to villify the police deptartment for handling the situation. I wasn't there, I don't know if deadly force was justified. But if these people who are able to sing and clap and cheer couldn't handle Shane Tasi, then maybe he needed to be subdued by more than a taser or pepper spray. A family lost a father- a father of 4 who should have been home caring for his family (and on his kid's birthday at that!), not being a drunken menace to his OWN COMMUNITY. If the Polynesians don't comprehend such basic logic, then maybe they need to migrate back to the islands. My sympathies lie with the unlucky cop who happened to get the call from dispatch and arrive on the scene first.
95883511nicely said said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 10:19 PM
"anonymous" and "cadydid" said my thoughts quite nicely.
95881576Anonymous said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 10:02 PM
I have lost all respect for the Polynesian community. I cannot believe they are trying to play the race card in such a pathetic way. Perhaps this young man didn't need to die, but unfortunately he was acting stupidly, which can sometimes bring harsh consequences. My question is this- since these folks are able to rally together, and claim to be such a close group, why didn't a group of them work to control one of their own when he was beating a dog and yelling at passing cars? Why didn't they try to stop him when he approached a cop, swinging a stick in a menacing way? You ARE your brother's keeper, and have no right to cry foul now.
95881236cadydid said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 8:42 PM
i guess according to the polynesian community its ok to disobey a direct order from the police (ie: drop your weapon and put your hands up) come on people. obviously more than one person in the community was afraid of this guy because the police got more than one call to 911. this young man didnt have to die all he had to do was put the weapon down and put his hands up.
958784161sayeroftruth said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 3:56 PM
It may be bad, but it is only as bad as you make it most of the community is afraid of the islanders because when they come at you you have to deal with all of them. And certain ones make it fairly easy to understand.Just go to the Corral on a Sunday and try to get up to the food buffet. Welcome to America you really didn't come here thinking the American dream was real did you?
95865076TedtheBear said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 2:35 PM
If a criminal died like a criminal, is the rest of us supposed to feel bad? Polynesian community should look at their own before looking at the police. Percentage wise, isn't the Polynesians the fast growing population in Alaska prison system?? It is in Hawaii. Didn't just recently, a Polynesian man tried to run over a kid on a bike just for jollies??
95861825pete said on Sunday, Jul 8 at 1:40 PM
here's a thought. don't do illeagle stuff in the first place
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