Just a daily reminder that LANGUAGE MATTERS. It's unfortunate that the mayor, like the police, enlisted passive voice and jargon to blur reality. Journalists should avoid both. The correct way to write this: "A police officer shot and killed a 27-year-old man, Ricardo Munoz." https://twitter.com/cityoflancpa/status/1305344743736594437

This isn't a commentary on whether the officer should have shot the man, or whether people should be protesting. It's a commentary on accuracy and how to depict reality. I always shudder when I see the opaque language of police press releases make it into our lexicon.

Additional words/ phrases we should never use

"Officer involved shooting" (just say what happened)

"subject" -- people are not subjects.

Same with "suspect, offender, etc. etc."

"Male / female."

Figure out what happened, and say it, in plain language.