Accountability Is Lacking In Latest Police Shootings
This letter is regarding the commentary (May 7) “Police Shooting Showed Reckless Disregard of Public.” What about the reckless disregard of the individual who was shot and killed by the police?
When will the press begin taking a closer look at police shootings and when will district attorneys begin filing charges against the police when they execute citizens? Many times the police act as the judge and jury and kill people whose offense could never be the death penalty.
The defense the police almost always use is: “We thought he had a weapon.” But how many times during the past year have unarmed suspects been shot by the police?
Recently a black man was shot by an off-duty policeman in a traffic accident--motorcycle versus car. Then we have the unarmed man shot in the back by the police in Garden Grove. Now, in the May 7 paper, we learn the true facts of the man killed in the pickup truck in Tustin.
The above are only three tragic cases out of many that have taken place in the past year. I believe the police must be made accountable when they take a citizen’s life.
The formation of civilian review boards is an absolute necessity. Only then will we be able to check the unwarranted use of firearms by the police.
DAVE DOBBINS
Chino
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