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a reminder that there are people in our society who regard cops as targets just because they're cops.* Doug

And why is that Doug? Culture? A repressive Judical system that breeds distrust? A fail educational system? The continue expandition of the police state mentality in this country?

In Georgia, in a recent case. A former 911 operator was convicted of poisoning her two former police husbands for the insurance.

"...if you see a police officer anyway today, thank him or her for risking personal safety for public protection."

Echoing my own thoughts and post yesterday.

Shooting cops... that's just so messed up. What a world, huh?

Connie, let's put the blame squarely where it belongs - on the cretin who murdered these two brave police officers.

Don't look for excuses or societal causes; it all boils down to individual responsibility One evil individual was responsible for this crime and he should be held accountable.

But I also have to question our criminal justice system. The suspect, Demetrius Montgomery, has been found guilty of assaulting a police officer or other government official five - count 'em, five - times since 1998. Why wasn't he in prison? Why was he free to kill these two innocent men?

Clearly, he had demonstrated a pattern of violent behavior. Repeat violent offenders like Montgomery shouldn't be able to commit the same crimes over and over.

At this point there is a suspect in custody. No one has been proven guilty. I don't know the details of the suspect's previous run-ins with the law, but I assume if they warranted him being imprisoned, he would have been. He is not listed in the N.C. Dept. of Correction's offender data base, which means he has not been a state inmate, probationer or parolee.

I absolutely agree with you, just saying, on your response to Connie. It is an individual decision to pull the trigger. Don't blame the "system."

Thanks for the quick research, Doug. Much appreciated.

The Charlotte Observer reported today that Montgomery has been found guilty of assaulting government officials (presumably police officers) on five occasions. I don't know any more about the circumstances, but it seems to me that's a pattern of violent behavior. Perhaps those crimes didn't justify him being imprisoned, but I do think the question is worth asking - and I think the public needs some answers on Montgomery's criminal past.

My caution at this point is one of legality: Is it certain that the right man has been arrested? Let the process work.

However, I certainly agree that this suspect's background should be examined to see if past incidents were handled properly or too leniently.

I absolutely agree with you, just saying, on your response to Connie. It is an individual decision to pull the trigger. Don't blame the "system."*Doug

Sure the system is guilty Doug! How else would we have got ourselves into war in Iraq without the system lying to us?

Connie, let's put the blame squarely where it belongs - on the cretin who murdered these two brave police officers.*Just saying

Right! Do you understand that the alledged "cretin" is guilty until he is proven innocent or does that not count anymore in your constitutional thinking process? Heck just saying! Why don't you hang the sucker now before he "lawyers up".

* Note...." Lawyers Up" is a Orwellian doublespeak term use by so-called Law and Order folks who think that no defendent should have a lawyer period.

Don't look for excuses or societal causes; it all boils down to individual responsibility One evil individual was responsible for this crime and he should be held accountable.* just saying

Right and let's hope you never have a problem with the Prince George Cops in Maryland just saying. Of course cops lie! So do defendents, and so do DA's like your recent law and order type Mike Nifong.

The state of North Carolina is getting ready to excute a mental retarded individual. Do you really think he has any idea about individual responsible in society?

Keith Longtin just received a 6.5 million judgement against the Prince George Police. The individual cops responsible for this injustice walk away from the matter without no individual responsiblity. It's a two way street just saying and no individual is above the Law!
---------------------------------------------------
False Confessions -- Day 1
Talked Into Confessing
Documents and interviews reveal that homicide detectives extracted false confessions from four men. Keith Longtin said police concocted a confession to charge him with a murder he did not commit.
False Confessions -- Day 2
No Rest for Suspects
Detectives' marathon interrogations far exceed the norms. Corey Beale gave five statements over three days, the last of them a false confession he hoped would free him from the interrogation room.
False Confessions -- Day 3
Police Suspend Rules
Suspects and lawyers say detectives violate rights by refusing access to counsel during interrogation. Dennis Green said he confessed after being told, "You are not getting a phone call until I hear what I want to hear."
False Confessions -- Day 4
Tactics Taint Rulings
Have innocent people been jailed while killers remain free? Why haven't judges thrown out forced confessions? Billy Hall's killer left a trail of blood, but detectives overlooked it and pressured a janitor to confess.
Following the Series
Murder Suspect Acquitted In Retrial: Pr. George's Police Criticized for Tactics (Post, July 4, 2003)

Detective Denies Prompting Perjury: Pr. George's Witness Recants in Retrial (Post, July 3, 2003)

Md. Witness Says Police Told Him to Lie in Court: Suspect Being Retried In Pr. George's Slaying (Post, July 2, 2003)

Md. Court Overturns 3 Pr. George's Verdicts: Rulings Cite Prolonged Interrogations (Post, June 20, 2003)

Changes Urged in Taped Interrogation Bill: Backers Tell Md. House Panel Measure Is Too Narrow; Foes Say It's Too Broad (Post, Feb. 13, 2002)

Pr. George's Police to Videotape Interviews: Interrogation Tactics Have Been Criticized (Post, Feb. 1, 2002)

New Suspect In Case That Had False Confession (Post, Jan. 23, 2002)

Rapist Convicted in Md. Woman's Death: Prince George's Officials Had Charged Husband (Post, June 22, 2001)

2nd Trial Starts in Md. Killing; Husband Initially Was Charged: Convicted D.C. Rapist Accused in Laurel Woman's Slaying (Post, June 19, 2001)

Cameras Urged In Pr. George's: Bill Aimed at Police Abuses (Post, June 13, 2001)

Detectives Investigated False Confessions Prompt FBI Probe (Post, June 10, 2001)

FBI to Probe Pr. George's Interrogations: 3 Confessions Raise Civil Rights Questions (Post, June 8, 2001)

Pr. George's Prosecutor Targets Questioning: Police Must Provide Interrogation Notes (Post, June 7, 2001)

Connie, I don't think those two officers shot themselves. Someone murdered them and that killer should be held accountable. So far, no one has offered any evidence to suggest someone other than Demetrius Montgomery committed these crimes.

However, Montgomery will receive a fair trial and will get an attorney paid for with tax dollars. That's as it should be. And perhaps he is innocent - time will tell.

But if Montgomery is convicted of these murders, I won't feel sorry for him if he receives the death penalty. After all, he's earned it.

That's as it should be. And perhaps he is innocent - time will tell.* just saying

Good for you! You pass constitutional muster with that comment.

But if Montgomery is convicted of these murders, I won't feel sorry for him if he receives the death penalty. After all, he's earned it. * just saying

Right! Sorted like Darrell Hunt up in Winston-Salem and his so-called death penalty case.

Connie, it sounds as if you're arguing that Charlotte police should just forget about the murders of these two officers.

Connie, it sounds as if you're arguing that Charlotte police should just forget about the murders of these two officers.*Doug

No way Doug! You are missing the point! I am simply pointing out the constitutional aspect of the case and make sure they got the right criminal if this is the case. Without someone to enforced the law, the cops are the main source to keep chaos from reigning in a civilzation. If not! We simply have the wild west and barbarian blood baths among private selfdom gangs.

Rush to judgement is one the main reasons for a Republican form of government and why democracy is simply a lynch mob. The minority must be protected from the majority with the rule of law and those creator type of rights that protect the minority.

Law and Order is not the right to punish the innocent until due process is fully use though all aspects of the legal system.

We addressed that point directly and succinctly, Connie. Looks like you've tried to confuse the issue with unrelated blame-the-cops rhetoric.

Exactly right, Doug. I've seen nothing to indicate Montgomery has been or will be denied due process. Nor have I
seen anyone even suggest police misconduct.

"Innocent until proven guilty" is perhaps the most misunderstood and misquoted phrase in American jurisprudence. It is purely a legal, courtroom standard for determining the guilt or innocence of a person accused of a crime. It does not mean that members of the public cannot or should not form opinions about ongoing criminal matters.

You're right. And, if "innocent until proven guilty" were taken at its literal meaning, some suspects would not be jailed prior to conviction.

Nevertheless, while people are free to form their own opinions about someone's guilt or innocence, we have to be careful about expressing them as "fact" in a public forum like this one.

You're right. And, if "innocent until proven guilty" were taken at its literal meaning, some suspects would not be jailed prior to conviction.* Doug

So Doug! If some poor soul who can't afford Bond is guilty until he gets out on bond is innocent than?

Connie. Looks like you've tried to confuse the issue with unrelated blame-the-cops rhetoric.* Doug

Confuse? No way! If you are accusing me of using a Nifong tactic than you might be right except the accuse are citizens and not cops.

Doug! The Brits have a unusual law. The media is gagged on commenting on a arrest and the so-called criminal facts leading up to the alledged defendent until trial or a deal is made with the State on pleading.

The media can only comment on the name of the defendent and his/her address at the time of arrest and the charge. Of course this flys into the face of the 1 st amendment by our media which means we can listen or read endless stories why the defendent is guilty or somebody screw with their childhood by a old friend. which we seem to be doing here with the cops and the defendent.

As one can see! The Brits have no problem with finding a jury that has not heard other stories about the dirty no good guilty as hell defendent from the media.

If that's true, it's idiotic. What's "the media" anyway? Can the government police what's said on blogs?

If that's true, it's idiotic. What's "the media" anyway? Can the government police what's said on blogs?* Doug

Yep! And they sure do! In England, you make a comment on the net about the local cops and a case, you will be amazed how fast you are before a local magistrate. Happens all the time, besides blogging in England is not very popular since they understand those million instant surveillance cams on every street corner tends to supress public opinion.

Does the book "1984" ring a conservative Orwellian bell Doug?

Besides! Why worry! The FBI and other assorted Federal government agencies read your e-mails anyway without any warrents in the name of national security and other silly reasons about your loyalty to the State.

Hey...Please...some of you need to get off your band boxes for a few minutes and stop seeing who can be cutest with the posts. We're talking about 2 paid servents in our society that were literally gunned down. These men were paid to protect our persons and our property - of which they never got the chance to do. We all need to bow our heads and say a prayer for all the law enforcement employees that do their best - and give their best - every day to protect us from the worse society has to offer. Right now it makes no difference why this happened. It will not bring back the 2 policemen. There will be plenty of time to disect every inch of this sad - sad incident. Right now maybe we just need to grieve a little with their families and for all law enforcement who are probably saying "only by the grace of God".