Just wrong: Shooting should prompt call for scrutiny, but not witch hunts

It is hard to watch.

A man encounters a police officer. And then, as the man is running away, the officer takes aim and fires multiple times, shooting the victim in the back.

It was unnecessary. It was unlawful -- and it was scary.

And, bottom line, it was far more than mere classification as "excessive force."

The man was stopped for a taillight and had an outstanding child support warrant.

There was no need to draw a gun -- this was no violent offender.

And there was reason to push for a murder charge in this case.

There will be some who will make this encounter in South Carolina about race. And perhaps if the suspect had been white, there would have been another end to the story.

But it could also be that this was a rogue cop -- a man who did not deserve to wear the uniform, who should never have been allowed to carry a gun.

As we think about this incident and its implications, we have to be careful.

We must remember that this is not how an encounter like this would end in most police departments and law enforcement agencies -- in our hometown departments.

We have to remember that most law enforcment officers would never use a gun unless their lives were in danger -- and that having to take a life is something they hope they never have to do.

But this incident also suggests that we need to look harder as a country at those who police our cities and counties and the dangers and pressures they face.

We need to be there for those who serve with honor and to make sure they can do their jobs safely. We need to provide training, support and proper staffing and equipment.

But we also need to weed out those who don't understand the tremendous responsibility that goes along with a badge.

And we need to get involved ourselves. We need to talk about problems in our communities and to bridge gaps between the public and law enforcement.

This was an unnecessary death -- and a tragic one.

The goal now should be to make sure it never happens again.

Published in Editorials on April 8, 2015 11:33 AM