Verdicts in 2 Police Cases
Don Jackson glibly impugns the integrity of the 11 white jurors who voted to acquit former Long Beach police officers Mark Dickey and Mark Ramsey, and praises the “courageous” black juror who held out for conviction (“The Verdict Says They’re Above the Law,” Commentary, May 16).
Surely Jackson knows that the prosecuting attorney wanted to win his case as much as the defense; and that many prospective jurors were carefully screened and rejected before selection of 12 people who appeared qualified to review the evidence objectively and without prejudice.
It defies credulity to assume that the 11 white jurors would all turn out to be red-neck racists who would vote in a block in favor of the two white officers.
As almost everyone knows, Jackson set up a sting with the rather strange cooperation of NBC-TV. When apprehended, he shouted taunts and acted in a generally threatening manner. The officers obviously thought that they were dealing with a wacko or dangerous criminal; Dickey responded with aggressive, intimidating language and physical action.
The slow-motion version of the tapes clearly shows that Jackson broke the window with his arms and slammed his hands down on the hood of the police car to achieve the sound he wanted.
If Jackson truly wants to help to eliminate racial prejudice and hatred, he should “get the message” himself, and do it without lies and duplicity.
GORDON HEARNE, Encino
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