Bottom line, had Eric Garner been compliant, he probably would still be alive. Instead, he had attitude, and did not do what the officer told him. If you were stopped by a cop on the street, what would you do? I know I would be EXTREMELY respectful. He did not deserve to die for his crime, but he was certainly complicit in his own death. His actions were the proximate cause of the way in which he was handled by the police. Sad, and tragic for him and for his family, but still the result of his own initial response to the police.
I would not want to be a police officer for any amount of money.
G-d bless them for the good that they do, risking their lives to protect us. And if some of them are merely donut eaters and nothing more, I am fairly certain they are in the minority.
The only thing with which I agree with many people, is that I was a bit surprised the grand jury did not vote to indict the officer. This case was totally different from the one in Missouri, where the officer really had no choice. The officer in the Garner case could have been found not guilty in trial, but I think there should have been a trial.