Anybody outside Pine Bluff, Ark., who looks at this thing can see it isn't good--not at all. Which is why the story made national news back in 2013. The cops stormed a room rented by 107-year-old Monroe Isadore and shot him dead. It didn't take long for the modern-day news wires--called websites today--to pick up the story.
Monroe Isadore wasn't just elderly. He was one hundred and seven years old. He refused to leave his rented room. He pointed a pistol at the place's owner. It sounds as if he were reacting like a 107-year-old man, maybe confused or even scared, who was told to leave familiar surroundings. Or as his daughter put it: "He couldn't hear. He couldn't see. They were talking to someone like that in a barricaded room and they called no family members."
So a "tactical team" with the Pine Bluff Police Department decided the best tactic was to take Mr. Isadore out. And did.
That's unfortunate enough. But what makes the story descend past appalling is that the officers involved were given medals. And as of this writing, still haven't given them back. Even though Pine Bluff's city council is demanding they do so.
Now, who looks worse in this case? The police chief, Jeff Hubanks, who awarded the medals? Or the police officers themselves, who apparently don't have common decency enough to know when something just ain't right?
Of course, the lawyers are now involved. And you knew they would be. News reports said, at the last city council meeting, "numerous police officers attended" while the topic was on the agenda. None of them spoke, of course. How could they? Can anybody defend much of anything in this story?
The only person to speak for the local cops was an attorney, Lee Short, who told the council he'd been retained by the Police Benevolent Association. ("Benevolent"--as in humanitarian and compassionate.)
Counselor Short reminded everybody that a federal lawsuit against the city was dismissed back in 2014, and that a special prosecutor concluded that the officers acted within the scope of their jobs.
Fine. So the cops won't be charged with a crime. And a legal case against them and the city fell through. But is that all it takes to get a medal from Pine Bluff's police department? Avoid jail or a civil judgment? That's the standard for heroism in certain precincts in Jefferson County?
Counselor Short also helpfully reminded the city council that its resolution to rescind the medals isn't a law and can't force the police to do anything.
Again, is that the standard? A lawyer's opinion about what's legal and maybe not so much?
How about what's right and what's wrong and what's just plain crummy? These police officers, 12 of them in all, were given medals for something that would make most of us miss sleep o' night. Even if it was "within the scope of" their jobs, was the killing of Monroe Isadore medal-worthy?
Some of us can't believe that question must be asked. That it must be asked of those who are supposed to serve and protect is incredible.
Editorial on 08/04/2016