I CAN’T BREATHE!

Dear Editor:

The shocking lack of an indictment in the NYC case of Eric Garner’s death at the hands of the NYPD saddened and sickened me. As the son of an NYPD detective and the recipient of an NYPD Holy Name Society scholarship to high school, I have always defended the professionalism of the NYPD. This miscarriage of justice underscores a number of deeply seated problems that, as we all know, are as much of a problem here in Key West as they are in NYC. It should be pointed out that there is still an ongoing internal NYPD investigation and more importantly, a pending Justice Department inquiry which many expect will lead to a trial. When unarmed people die at the hands of police officers, independent investigations should be mandatory. One can only hope that the Federal investigation and likely prosecution in NYC will enbolden the Eimers family and the Federal Government to do the same thing here.

Enough is enough. Local grand juries, disappearing evidence, eyewiness accounts that go ignored, “the Blue Wall of silence” and self-serving media trying to protect local images, have all got to go. If the only thing that can set all this right is the embarassing spectacle of the the Federal Government censuring local “authorities,” in another Bubba Trial, then “bring it on.” This isn’t about discos, and cocaine, and mistresses, and partying. This is about accountability for an armed force we pay to “protect and serve” and dare I say it…”liberty and justice for all.”

Bud Navero