Pubdate: Tue, 13 Apr 2004
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2004 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: David DeCuir
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/michael+newby

`SENDING A MESSAGE'

When did the law become about "sending a message" and not about the
law? Martha Stewart's jurors claimed they were sending a message to
the Kenneth Lays of the world by convicting her of lying to federal
agents. Huh? How are those two related? They obviously were
misguided....

I wonder what message the jury in the McKenzie Mattingly murder trial
will try to send? Or will they focus on the facts of the actual trial?
Will they see a police officer, in the course of his job, trying to
protect himself and brother officers, not to mention innocent
bystanders, from someone his training led him to believe ... was armed
and therefore dangerous?

I will admit that mistakes were made. For example, he should not have
gotten out of the vehicle, per police procedure, but does that make
him a murderer? I don't think so. I have no problem with disciplinary
action within the department, but to charge a policeman with murder
for a split-second decision, then take months to try to find a hole in
it so we can "send a message" is ludicrous.

There is also talk of a civil suit. If a civil issue is to be made,
what about the damage the individual and other drug dealers do to
society? How much of today's crime is drug related? Perhaps the city
should pursue civil awards from every drug dealer arrested, in
addition to any criminal action. Maybe the drug dealer's family should
have to reimburse the city for the lives and property lost to the drug
trade. I'm all for that message.

David DeCuir

Crestwood, Ky.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin