FriendBurst Blog

This kind of criminal behavior need’s to stop friends…by those who are put into service to serve and protect us from those types of crimes…?

This kind of above the law attitude has no place in our society,
yet the justice system has still not provided sentencing guidelines for those who are are convicted of such crimes.

Thus the completely unjust sentences are still handed down in a corrupt
justice system that see’s fit to police itself……?

One would have to wonder just what the median sentence for such a crime is,
if committed by your average citizen…….how much would you like to bet that it was far more a harsher sentence than those received by Law enforcement officers…..?

I’ll tell ya’ll this …it would not be a bet I would be ready to make.

So he was found guilty of the beating death and what was his sentence….?

SPOKANE, Wash. — A police officer was sentenced Thursday to more than four years in prison for using excessive force against a mentally disabled janitor who died after being erroneously suspected of stealing money from an ATM.

Officer Karl F. Thompson Jr., 65, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Fred Van Sickle to four years and three months for his role in the 2006 death of Otto Zehm.

Van Sickle said he hoped the sentence would begin to bring closure to Zehm’s family and to the Spokane community, which has been at odds with the police department as a result of this case and others.

“This had a significant impact on the community and how it viewed its police department,” Van Sickle said.

Van Sickle also ordered that Thompson be taken into custody immediately, over the objections of defense lawyers, who wanted him to remain free while the verdict is appealed.

Thompson was convicted last year by a federal jury of violating Zehm’s civil rights by using excessive force and then lying to investigators in the case.

Six years ago, Zehm was beaten and stunned by Thompson in a convenience store. He was hog-tied and sat on by other officers until he passed out. The 36-year-old died two days later without regaining consciousness.

Zehm had committed no crime.

Defense attorney Carl Oreskovich argued for a sentence of zero to 16 months, saying there was no evidence presented that the actions of Thompson led directly to Zehm’s death.

Thompson addressed the court, apologizing to Zehm’s mother. “I did not intend to harm Mr. Zehm that night, and did not act in malice,” he said. “I have dedicated my life to protection of the public.”

Thompson is a Vietnam veteran and a decorated 40-year veteran of law enforcement in Los Angeles, northern Idaho and Spokane, Oreskovich said. “This man before you is not a villain,” Oreskovich told the judge.

But federal prosecutors noted that Thompson attacked Zehm without warning, and struck him repeatedly with a 30-inch baton and also stunned him.

“There were seven baton strikes in less than eight seconds,” said Tim Durkin, an assistant U.S. attorney. “There is compelling medical evidence in this case that Mr. Zehm sustained serious bodily injury.”

Prosecutors sought a sentence of nine to 11 years because of the seriousness of the attack on Zehm, and its impact on the community.

“When officers abuse their power and lie to cover it up, it fundamentally undermines” their position of trust in the community, said Victor Boutros, a Justice Department attorney who helped prosecute the case.

On March 18, 2006, police received a report that a man matching Zehm’s description might have stolen money from people at an ATM. Surveillance video showed that Thompson found Zehm inside a convenience store and immediately struck him repeatedly with a baton and shocked him with a stun gun.

Other officers arrived and hogtied Zehm, put a rubber mask over his mouth, and sat on him. It was later determined that he had not committed any crime.

His last words were: “All I wanted was a Snickers bar,” according to trial testimony.

Anger boiled in the community over the death, but the Spokane County prosecutor’s office declined to bring charges against any officers. Amid demands for justice, federal prosecutors eventually charged Thompson with violating Zehm’s civil rights through use of excessive force and then lying to investigators.

Prosecutors also alleged the case involved an extensive cover-up by police. That investigation is ongoing.

Boutros said it was important to remember that Zehm, a mentally ill janitor, had committed no crime.

“He was just going in as he always did to buy his soda and his candy,” Boutros said. Thompson’s actions warranted prison time, he said.

“A badge cannot equate to a free pass,” Boutros said.

See my friends this is where anyone would have to agree with that statement………except those law enforcement officers who feel that sort of action is above all laws……….4 years and 3 months as a sentence for beating a man to death,not to mention a mentally handicapped man…well to me that is the equivalent of exactly that.
A FREE PASS  !

What else would you call it ?

An unfortunate event….a misunderstanding ????

Well it most likely was both of those things my friends,yet in most circumstances it does not lead to someones death.
This time as in other times it did.

Oscar Grant comes to mind my friends…………….
Why are we the public continually assaulted and killed by some police officers who consider all their actions while on duty above the law ?
This is not the first case,and it will not be the last……….
Each time the public cries out for justice,and each time it is not given the same measure of justice that the police themselves demand we are essentially
conned into believing that this time true justice will step in to rectify such injustices,and each time we we expect that to happen we are sorely mistaken my friend.

Make no mistake about what a life is worth my friends,because it all depends on who takes that life.4 years and 3 months….what a Farce such a sentence really is…hey but in the Oscar Grant case that officer received less than 2 years Lemur….so things must be looking up…?

Well looking up in what context is what I want to know my friends….

Looking up to see down  that never really impressed me much.

Thank you
DL