16 Times

16 times...

It was sixteen shots that did the harm--

All from an officer's firearm.

Bang!

 

October 20, 2014--

At least eight officers were at the scene.

Bang!

 

No other officer fired his gun;

Officer Van Dyke was the only one.

Bang!

 

A troubled youth carrying a knife,

Laquan McDonald lost his life.

Bang!

 

Van Dyke says he was threatened; still,

Sixteen shots? That's overkill.

Bang!

 

Who or what should be to blame

That "shoot to kill" is the name of the game?

Bang!

 

Why can't "shoot to immobilize" be

A viable possibility?

Bang!

 

Tough job: being a cop;

Nevertheless, this has to stop.

Bang!

 

Not all cops are extreme, of course;

But some should not be on the force.

Bang!

 

No need to draw a diagram:

The shooting was caught on a dashboard cam.

Bang!

 

One thing, however, isn't clear:

The release of the video took over a year.

Bang!

 

Societal issues are complicated,

As this incident has demonstrated.

Bang!

 

With such incidents on the rise,

We can't help but emphasize

Bang!

 

The urgent need for responsible policing

To stop excessive force from increasing.

Bang!

 

Will change come about? you might ask.

Must that be an impossible task?

Bang!

 

The images and sounds are haunting.

The challenges for certain are daunting.

Bang!

 

16 times…

 

(12-30-15)