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Could the Fatal Police Shooting of Justine Damond Happen in Australia? Four Years On, No Resettling Plan for Refugees. Also: Why Aren’t There More Fatal Police Shootings in Australia?
(about 9 hours later)
The Breakdown puts a selection of Australia’s daily news into context. Today’s picks:The Breakdown puts a selection of Australia’s daily news into context. Today’s picks:
• The death of Justine Damond, and why more fatal police shootings don’t happen in Australia. • It’s been four years since Kevin Rudd declared zero tolerance for asylum seekers arriving by boat.
• Police shootings like the one that killed Justine Damond in the U.S. are far rarer in Australia.
• More to come…• More to come…
Exactly four years ago, the prime minister at the time, Kevin Rudd, declared that “any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees.”
Since that day, asylum seekers trying to reach the country who were intercepted at sea have been sent to offshore detention centers on the Pacific island nation of Nauru and on the island of Manus in Papua New Guinea and told that they would never be allowed to live in Australia.
On Wednesday, vigils will be held in Australia for the anniversary of Mr. Rudd’s announcement.
“The level of public opposition to the abuse and torture on Manus and Nauru had become too great,” said one group organizing a vigil in Sydney.
“Four years on, there is still no plan on where or how to resettle the refugees so they can get on with their lives.”
Australia has been harshly criticized for its offshore detention program, which has cost the federal government billions of dollars, with leaked reports published last year by The Guardian revealing details of the harsh conditions faced by detainees on Nauru.
“Australia’s prison camp on Manus Island has snatched four years from our lives,” Imran Mohammad, who was sent to Manus Island, wrote in The Saturday Paper.
“July 19, 2013, is the date on which our world was torn apart.”
[10:31 a.m.]
Justine Damond, a yoga teacher from Sydney, died in her adopted city of Minneapolis on Saturday from a gunshot fired by an American police officer.Justine Damond, a yoga teacher from Sydney, died in her adopted city of Minneapolis on Saturday from a gunshot fired by an American police officer.
Ms. Damond’s loved ones are desperate for information about what happened, but with the police providing few details, many people in both Australia and the United States are again questioning American police procedure.Ms. Damond’s loved ones are desperate for information about what happened, but with the police providing few details, many people in both Australia and the United States are again questioning American police procedure.
What’s driving much of the outrage in Australia is that Ms. Damond was one of more than 500 people shot and killed by the police in the United States this year. And even when population is taken into account, that’s far more than in Australia.What’s driving much of the outrage in Australia is that Ms. Damond was one of more than 500 people shot and killed by the police in the United States this year. And even when population is taken into account, that’s far more than in Australia.
Specifically, the number of people killed this year by the police in the United States is about five times the 105 killed by the police in Australia — from 1989 through 2011.Specifically, the number of people killed this year by the police in the United States is about five times the 105 killed by the police in Australia — from 1989 through 2011.
Put another way, about four people are fatally shot by the Australian police each year, or one per six million people; in the United States, that’s about one in 333,000.Put another way, about four people are fatally shot by the Australian police each year, or one per six million people; in the United States, that’s about one in 333,000.
What accounts for the disparity?What accounts for the disparity?
Vince Hurley, a criminologist at Macquarie University, said it’s partly because American law enforcement relies so heavily on guns.Vince Hurley, a criminologist at Macquarie University, said it’s partly because American law enforcement relies so heavily on guns.
In Australia, he said, “the reason there have been less shootings is police now have a wider range of nonlethal weapons.” Pepper spray has been standard since the early 2000s, he said. Tasers have been deployed extensively over the past several years.In Australia, he said, “the reason there have been less shootings is police now have a wider range of nonlethal weapons.” Pepper spray has been standard since the early 2000s, he said. Tasers have been deployed extensively over the past several years.
“When I joined, you had a gun and a baton and handcuffs,” he said, referring to his time as an officer in New South Wales for 29 years. “To use a gun might be overkill, but you had no choice because the baton wasn’t going to be sufficient, and the handcuffs were only once they were restrained.”“When I joined, you had a gun and a baton and handcuffs,” he said, referring to his time as an officer in New South Wales for 29 years. “To use a gun might be overkill, but you had no choice because the baton wasn’t going to be sufficient, and the handcuffs were only once they were restrained.”
Many American police forces have also put Tasers and pepper spray in the hands of officers. Training and the culture of policing in the United States, however, still tend to focus on potential threats from — you guessed it — guns.Many American police forces have also put Tasers and pepper spray in the hands of officers. Training and the culture of policing in the United States, however, still tend to focus on potential threats from — you guessed it — guns.
When The New York Times sent reporters to ride along with the police across the United States last year, many officers, even in small towns, spoke of their deep fear of being shot. They were taught, they said, to think of survival.When The New York Times sent reporters to ride along with the police across the United States last year, many officers, even in small towns, spoke of their deep fear of being shot. They were taught, they said, to think of survival.
“We’re trained for Armageddon,” said one officer in rural Connecticut. “We’re trained for the worst.”“We’re trained for Armageddon,” said one officer in rural Connecticut. “We’re trained for the worst.”
It’s different in many other countries. “Here in Australia, we wouldn’t do as much officer survival training,” Mr. Hurley said. “We would have an equal amount of focus on sociology, psychology and awareness of human behavior.”It’s different in many other countries. “Here in Australia, we wouldn’t do as much officer survival training,” Mr. Hurley said. “We would have an equal amount of focus on sociology, psychology and awareness of human behavior.”
It’s worth remembering, he added, that guns are a big part of history in Australia, as is the case in the United States. “The New South Wales police force has been armed since the First Fleet arrived, so firearms being carried by police is nothing new,” Mr. Hurley said.It’s worth remembering, he added, that guns are a big part of history in Australia, as is the case in the United States. “The New South Wales police force has been armed since the First Fleet arrived, so firearms being carried by police is nothing new,” Mr. Hurley said.
One clear difference between Australia and the United States is how often those guns are used.One clear difference between Australia and the United States is how often those guns are used.
[5 a.m.][5 a.m.]