There are tears in my eyes for the strong and impressive demonstration of the belief in human rights by the District Attorney.
It was wrong. It was all wrong. Mr. Brooks should be alive today. He is not. His children will always have the reason for his death in their hearts and minds forever. They are without a father and their mother without a husband.
People's lives are not perfect. Police officers that expect perfect behavior from citizens of this country are not fit for the uniform. The police need to adjust their understanding of human nature and behavior. They need to realize the presence of a police officer is a bit of stress especially if the officer's attention is leveled at a law-abiding citizen.
Today, I heard a District Attorney speak about the egregious behavior of police within their ability to leverage power over a human being that had a life to live. There was just no reason for any of the power exhibited to have been conducted. NO REASON.
I might point to the statement by the District Attorney that the arrests were signed against both officers and each officer had until 6 PM to surrender to the authorities. That is a clear understanding by the District Attorney that the system carries an enormous weight when it comes to the law that exists in the USA. He is not the least bit concerned that the law is not strong enough to allow a surrender rather than an arrest at a suspect's home or otherwise.
We are civilized people that practice our promise of quality of life with the weight of the rule of law. That rule of law is to be respected. There are enormous choices for police officers when faced with a violation of the law by a citizen. The choices made by the officers that resulted in the death of a father and husband was completely wrong no matter how it is viewed.
The police work carried out that resulted in the death of Mr. Brooks was extremely reckless. Several other citizens sitting in a vehicle in the drive-thru line were assaulted as well by the reckless police behavior. At no point in time did proper police action occur.
I thank the District Attorney Paul Howard. He put forward a magnificent case.
