Jerry
In 1996 my granddaughter died as an indirect result of gungho police actions. A 16-year-old kid had stolen a car for joyriding; the car owner knew the kid, and even where he lived. The cops were so informed. Yet, a young macho cop chased the boy with sirens blaring through two-lane small town streets.
My granddaughter was riding home from school in a car driven by her aunt and uncle. Stopped at an intersection, they heard the siren off in the distance, but couldn't pinpoint the direction. My granddaughter's older brother will carry to his own grave the knowledge that he urged his uncle to go on through, that it was their turn at the stop sign and no one was coming. The car thief was properly stopped, you see, when he saw the cop car charging up on him at an estimated speed of 92 mph. The dumbbutt decided to run and floored it, striking the pbuttenger side rear door of the car in which my sweet 9 year old granddaugher was riding. She was end instantly.
I blame the stupid kid, yes-- but he received a 30 year sentence. I blame the macho cop even more, and he received the embrace of the local cop community. This tragedy did not have to happen.
