The Joke Is On Eureka

If the killing of Thomas McClain on September 17, 2014, is legally justified according to the Eureka Police Departments' procedures and "policies," (whatever the hell they are) as determined by Police Chief Andrew Mill's handpicked so-called "citizen shooting review board," then everyone confronted by any Eureka police officer, in particular Stephen Linfoot, is in mortal danger.

The actual reality is that the only threat Tommy McClain posed was a hallucination in Stephen Linfoot's mind. To legally justify such an atrocious action is criminal. Chief Mills efforts to produce "transparency" based upon the people appointed to the "six-member board" might as well be close family members of those involved in the shooting. This statement, "The key to forming the Community Shooting Review Board was transparency, Mills said, to let the community know that those outside the department were reviewing the incident" for the public's benefit is laughable.

As far as the issue of transparency is concerned, all Jessie Faulkner offered in the Times-Standard newspaper is for everyone to just take their word for it, no crime was committed. The article in the paper (Wednesday, February 18, 2015): Police chief presents plans to council to make department more responsive reveals that Chief Mills has "plans" for a seven-member "advisory board" to "provide input on all police department issues." Those people, "nominated by the City Council and community" and then "selected by the mayor, city manager and police chief" should make everyone in Eureka sleep better at night, I know it will me. The "qualifying criteria includes objectivity." We all know what that means - objectivity. Got to be an ex-cop or a close family member. (Online link)

How are they going to deal with the psychosis that plagues this police force? Maybe, after two or three more innocent people are gunned down because one of these scared shitless cops had a psychotic revelation from God that the person was a threat, people in this town will demand someone that is sincere and honest to enforce the law. Until then, the joke, deadly joke, is on all you people, Eureka.

--Joe

Hallelujah! Finally Someone With GUTS

In this Sunday morning, December 7, 2014, edition of the Times-Standard newspaper, right on the second page I was greeted with this picture and caption:

"Recent police killings are described and protested at a rally in Old Town Eureka's Gazebo Square during Arts Alive! on Saturday night. About 50 members of a new, unnamed collectie gathered to lay on the  ground with targets on them as if dead, talk about  how people of color still face discrimination  and  read  the names and stories of those  recently killed -- including Eureka's Thomas McClain."

At least I am not the only one in this town incensed at the murder of an innocent boy by Eureka police willing to take stand and do something. (I don't consider what goes on over at the Tuluwaa Crier anything more than a pretence; watered down double-speak.) Ever since the murder and particularly since the District Attorney Paul Gallegos decided to cover over the obvious crime with his decision of impunity, I've waited for a newspaper editorial, a letter to the editor, something from the newspaper's moral standard bearers, the Reverend Eric Duff, Sherae O'Shaughnessy or Tim Martin - Just Nothing!

The biggest tragedy for the social order in Eureka in my book are the religious people's abject silence. No moral outrage from the preacher, priests or pastors. Do they not know that their silence is an act that affirms and condones the morally corrupt lawless acts of these criminals? And destroys the social order?

I guess these 50 people can assuage their consciences by believing they are really accomplishing something beneficial that will lead to meaningful, substantive change. I got to hand it to them, laying down in the Gazebo with targets on their chest is really meaningful. The people in this town that are responsible for a rogue police department and a lawless District Attorney are really going to pay attention, see and hear them. When these 50 can figure out how to turn their die-in stunt into meaningful, substantive and effective non-cooperation, that actually holds the people's feet that are responsible to the fire, maybe then someone will actually see, hear and acknowledge them.

Law is only as valuable as the people that honor, comply and enforce it. Without Law there is and cannot be justice - only anarchy and chaos. The police become a  law unto themselves, the justice system, District Attorney, lawyers, juries and judges are without equanimity, totally corrupt. People and children of all color are murdered at will for nothing more than an accusation, or a psychotic hallucination someone believes to be real. Life's whole experience in Eureka becomes a living nightmare.

The near total lack of interest, moral indignation, and lawfully motivate outrage is a clear indication of how deep the sickness runs in Eureka and Humboldt County.

--Joe