A sad day for law enforcement

Walter Scott
Michael Slager

Slager Indictment in Shooting Death of Walter Scott

A North Charleston federal grand jury has indicted Michael Slager, former North Charleston police officer, on three counts in the fatal shooting of Walter Scott, who was unarmed.

The over riding feature of the coverage of this event from day one has been the race of the individuals involved. The ex officer was white. The victim was black.

The charges are severe in that a law enforcement officer executing his duties was found to both kill a man and obstruct the facts surrounding the shooting.

It is alleged that Mr Slager intentionally misled state investigators regarding key aspects of the facts surrounding the incident — which was recorded on a cell phone by a third party witness.

Now then ... having seen much of the evidence myswlf I certainly did get the feeling that the officer drew down on a many fleeing because he was afraid.

I also saw what I thought was suspicious activity surounding the follow up of the crime scene.

While I am one to take the side of law enforcement it is apparent that these considerations made it trial worthy and I am sorry for the man who lost his life over what was a trivial encounter otherwise.

I'll be following the trial ... but can't hold out much hope for the exhoneration of Mr Slager; who has been incarcerated as "the criminal" instead of the officer of the law.

When you serve the public trust you have to hold yourself to a higher standard. Drawing down on a person running away simply doesn't illustrate that for me.

The rest of it is just more of the same sordid story. I wonder just what this guy was thinking.

There are several conundrums apparent here. We have a dead citizen who should still be alive, an officer up to his neck in trouble and a departmental debacle under scrutiny for failure to serve the public trust. In the end we can only hope for justice which is swift and fair ... aspects frequently lacking in the pursuit of legal remedy.