Victimizing the Agressors

This past Memorial Day Weekend, I became aware of a verdict in a case stretching back 3 years ago.  For those not aware, On November 1, 2012, 43 year old African American Timothy Russell of Cleveland, Ohio and his girlfriend, 30 year old African American Malissa Williams; were involved in a high-speed chase by Cleveland Police Department cops over a matter which remains unclear to this day.  One thing that is clear; the couple was unarmed.  This did not stop 13 different police officers firing there guns at the couple, fatally shooting them 137 times!  One of the officers, Michael Brelo who is currently 31 and a white male, jumped on the roof of their car and shot the couple 13 times in the head.  Sadly, both Mr. Russell and Ms. Williams were likely dead already when the shots were fired.

This resulted in Mr. Brelo being charged with voluntary manslaughter in the couple's deaths.  It only took 3 years to reach trial and a verdict; because, as I and you know, the halls of justice are as slow as molasses.  None the less, it was thought that perhaps with the subsequent cases of police brutality becoming well known to us all; justice for the Russell and Williams families would prevail.  Alas; we should have guessed differently.  Using the now widely discredited "I was in fear for my life from these crazy people" excuse, which for some reason still holds water to low-information people; Mr. Brelo was found not guilty on all charges.  Accordingly, outrage, protests, arrests and calls for police reform have ensued.  We can only hope that Mr. Brelo, along with the other 12 cops, get sued in civil courts and be held liable for damages at the least. 

I initially had little to no plans on remarking on this verdict; you fellow readers know where I stand on these issues pertaining to police brutality.  None the less, two things irked me to respond.  First, this verdict was a judge's verdict; not decided by a jury of one's peers.  For a case such as this, a jury trial verdict is needed.  The second and more upsetting for me issue was Pat D'Angelo, Mr. Brelo's defense attorney, having an impromptu press conference which I feel was insulting and racist.  Insulting in that Mr. D'Angelo's remarks were of the "cops can do no wrong" variety.  Racist due to the implied words of perceived entitlement that should come to people like Mr. Brelo just because one thinks so.  Here is the press conference for you to decide.

Now I understand Mr. D'Angelo was doing his job and did it with a decision benefiting him and his client.  Yet, he is wrong; completely wrong in his opinions.  Mr. Brelo as far as I am concerned does not show law abiding tendencies due in no small part to jumping on the roof of a car and shooting off 13 rounds on his gun in killing a couple!  Were I to do that; you would not be reading this blog.  I am also deeply troubled by the implied statements that because Mr. Russell and Ms. Williams had mental health difficulties, that everything related to the incident was their fault.  May I remind Mr. D'Angelo this important distinction:  I do have Asperger's Syndrome.  Living with Asperger's, indeed living with any mental health problem, is the equivalent of having a full time job.  From my experience, it is well known that any person deemed with having a mental health problem is prone to effectively being marginalized because of our differences. 

This is, once again, a mockery of what needs to be deemed appropriate and correct justice.  I know many will think differently.  Yet, it is time to stop this incessant need to defend police officers even in times when defending them is asinine.  Again, I ask you: if you or someone you knew and loved were doing even the minutest of actions Michael Brelo did or any of the cops in this case; would You be walking away scot clean?  Would You be getting a pass because one said so?  I know I certainly would not. 

Good Night and Keep Calm,

Robert