Reynolds Killing

In the recent Cardiff killing of community activist Paul Reynolds, Sheriff’s Deputy Jeffrey Jackson was thrust into a situation with a manic depressive, obviously in a manic phase, who may or may not have been taking his medication (lithium).

According to a recent Los Angeles Times article (Feb. 22), Reynolds, “as the officer approached” . . . “grabbed a rigging knife” . . . “and swung upwards.” Deputy Jackson’s reflex action was to shoot.

As a Seattle policewoman, I saw manic depressives in their manic phases and as a Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall counselor, I had a girl come at me with a broken glass shard, threatening to cut me.

I’m very sorry for Mrs. Reynolds and the Reynolds family, but I’m also very sorry for Deputy Jackson, whose reaction was understandable to me. Let’s give this officer a break and not make it any harder for him than I’m sure it already is, by carefully considering what he was suddenly faced with, and by not too quickly judging him wrong.

DOROTHY J. REVELLE, Carlsbad