There is little doubt that the killer in the NC case is deserving of an instant death sentence, not a sterile passing after years of appeals (the average appeal in California takes 17 years).

My unit will handle in excess of 425 homicides in the average year; and I will concede that some detectives do not show the appropriate empathy for the victims’ family, probably due to the volume we deal in. I teach a homicide investigations to new detectives from around the western states, and I have brought victims’ family members in to address the impact that a detective’s perceived attitude can have on the family.

Michelle, the system is broken, and no-one knows it better than victims’ families and police officers. The only way to effect change is through the vote – prosecutors and judges are elected (except federal judges who are appointed for life, and often remain on the bench well into their 80′s).

Felons who receive plea bargains and sweetheart deals should be required to live nextdoor to the judges who sentenced them.

The best they came up with something along the lines of the fact that the kid had ADHD, didn’t get the therapy he needed and had either been suspended or had just stopped going to school. Can’t remember all the details. But basically just a lot of useless information/details.

I checked out ASM826′s link – it’s hard to say that what that guy did is somehow “less” than killing a cop. I know – I’m mising the point.

But I think the only thing you can really take away from it all is how badly the system often functions. Doesn’t seem to matter where you live. And I don’t think any of us really scream loud enough about it often enough.

Of course you take it personally. It’s seen as a hit inside the circle. I would not expect anything different, and understand completely.

When it is your wife, mother, sister, or daughter that is the victim of a violent crime, that is a hit inside your circle, too. I assure you then that you are outraged, you take it personally, and you want everything done, whether or not a law enforcement officer was involved. Being told that the violence done to them is somehow less worthy of the outrage of the society is one more outrage.

I understand you guys can’t be everywhere, and that even an immediate response often leaves the violence over before you arrive.

There was a woman here locally, abducted while she changed her baby’s diaper on the car seat at a pharmacy. She was later murdered, beaten to death with a tire rim. Her baby was thrown in a field. The baby was found alive, sunburned and dehydrated.

The prep got life. He appealed. Here’s the link to that appeal. Scroll down and read the “Facts” section, and tell me anyone involved in this deserved to live.

http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/public/coa/opinions/2005/041504-1.htm

The majority of killers do not repeat their offense, but a cop killer is much more likely to kill again, and his victims may fall into the, “to whom it may concern” category, your school teachers, computer techs et al.

I’ve spent months investigating gang murders in which that day’s suspect was likely to be the next day’s victim. We still care. Are police killings taken personally? You bet your a**! Just as we took it personally when a Bubba was lost to a SAM site.

To expect otherwise, is to admit you don’t understand the culture of men and women who place themselves in harm’s way, regardless of the uniform they wear, or whether they drive an F/A-18 or a Ford Crown Victoria.

The death penalty? Unless you live in Texas or Florida, forget it. I have several men on death row; and they will outlive me.