Comment Re:Human on the loop required (Score 1) 129
Who had it? I doubt they even looked at the picture before heading off. Why would they?
The cops had it. They SHOULD have looked at it because only a complete moron goes charging in with guns without doing what they can to verify that there even is a problem. They had the key to that right there in their hands. They could have looked at the picture and understood that there never was a gun there. They hassled that kid and even endangered him (since THEY had guns and had their fingers poised on the panic button so to speak). The greatest danger to the school at that moment was panicky unthinking armed cops.
And yes, the cops depend on trust. That's what keeps a whole neighborhood from saying "I didn't see nothing!" and slamming the door in their faces. That's what makes people give them a call when they know something relevant. The last thing the police need is whole neighborhoods assuming the person they're after is an innocent victim.