The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Misplaced Blame

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This morning I read Christopher Orlet's piece about Kelly Thomas, a 37-year old homeless man with schizophrenia from Fullerton, California who died at the hands of the local police on July 5, 2011. After reading the article, I found myself quite disturbed by its tone.

Orlet argues that the compassion of the nation towards Thomas and his family are misplaced. He writes, "Editorials, blogs, and talk shows focused on the brutal actions of the six cops. There was virtually no criticism of Thomas's divorced parents for allowing their schizophrenic son to roam the streets."

Well, Orlet might be content to pillory the parents. But they are not responsible for their son being beaten beyond recognition. The six Fullerton police officers - and only the six Fullerton police officers - bear that responsibility. Whatever Thomas' criminal history, the fact of the matter is he was unarmed. Whatever criminal behavior Thomas might have engaged in that night should not have resulted in his death.

I understand that police officers risk their lives protecting us every day and there are officers who lose their lives at the hands of criminals in the course of carrying out that duty. Nevertheless, police officers are not above the written law. Ron Thomas, the father of Kelly Thomas, understands this better than most. Indeed, he is a retired Orange County sheriff's deputy which Orlet curiously does not mention.

Justice demands that these six police officers be brought to justice for their actions. Let them have their day in court. They will enter the courtroom with the presumption of innocence just like everyone else. To not prosecute these officers sends the message that the authorities are not subject to the law they enforce and erodes the confidence and trust of the public.

Now it goes without saying that homelessness is a partial consequence of the deinstitutionalization of mental health patients. They and the public have not been well served by this policy. Yet the costs of reinstitutionalization would be considerable and I question if Orlet would be prepared to support a large allocation of public expenditure in pursuit of this objective. If Orlet is not prepared to do so then he is in no position to criticize Thomas' parents for what happened to their son.

While Orlet might believe the public reaction to Thomas' death is a case of misplaced compassion; I believe that Orlet's reaction to Thomas' death is a case of misplaced blame.

View all comments (18) | Leave a comment

simon templar| 8.11.11 @ 10:16AM

Presumption of innocence? Your article has already convicted them. You said if a violent criminal or violent, uncooperating suspect is confronted and arrested it should never result in their death. Case closed.
Got news for you, sometimes it does, and sometimes there is no other way other than police officers getting severely injured or killed. I will choose the police.

SpiralArchitect| 8.11.11 @ 11:46AM

In a court of law is not the same as in an article, OK?

DRed| 8.11.11 @ 12:35PM

6 cops beat an unarmed 135lb man to death. How much of a threat could he have been, even if he was crazy? There's really no reason this should ever happen.

Sean| 8.11.11 @ 3:24PM

Standards to become a police officer has been lowered. Six people could have subdued him easily without killing him.

Aaron Goldstein| 8.11.11 @ 11:21AM

Your characterization of my statement is simply inaccurate. You write, "You said if a violent criminal or violent, uncooperating is confronted and arrested it should never result in their death."

I wrote no such thing. Here is what I wrote, "Whatever criminal behavior Thomas might have engaged in that night should not have resulted in his death." That is a far cry from your baseless assertion. You forget that Mr. Thomas was not armed. There is no reason for the police to kill a suspect they know to be unarmed.

In the future I would suggest that you exercise due diligence and read my pieces more carefully before commenting.

Micheal Morgan| 8.11.11 @ 11:40AM

I was given a ticket simply for pulling out in front of a police car on a crowded highway. The officer was the most angry person I have ever witnessed. He scared me more than combat in Vietnam did. He wrote such a terrible write up on me my car insurance went up. The Distict Attorney was far more reasonable and reduced my charges to improper lane change with minimum fine. Yes just as we in Vietnam faced death every day American police do often. Yet there are "bad eggs" in law enforcement and I hope the DA launched an investigation into the maniac that scared me worse than combat duty. I hope the Fullerton DA lauches an investigation of this travesty of justice. I was unarmed yet treated as the basest of criminals. Crime by police does happen.

Sean| 8.11.11 @ 3:26PM

It is more dangerous to be a farmer than a police officer. Most of the danger from the job comes from auto accidents.

Jeff C| 8.11.11 @ 1:28PM

There's a good deal more to this story beyond the action of the six cops. It appears the department hierarchy was engaged in at least some sort of cover up. The six officers were left on the street for weeks after the event as the police chief and his minions attempted to bury the story. It was only the determined efforts of local blogs that finally pushed this story into the headlines after weeks of neglect. Belatedly, the six officers were placed on paid leave after those in charge could no longer ignore the facts of the story.

It's the same old story, civil service administrators more concerned about protecting their fiefdom than exercising leadership and doing their jobs. Regardless of where this story finally leads, leaving these cops on the street with so many unexplained details was inexcusable.

Nobody doubts that cops have a tough job. That being said, the "code of silence", along with the makings of a cover up, cast the entire department in a very bad light. Even strong LE supporters like myself know something really stinks here.

Mark J. Goluskin| 8.11.11 @ 3:11PM

In response to this part of your post:
Yet the costs of reinstitutionalization would be considerable and I question if Orlet would be prepared to support a large allocation of public expenditure in pursuit of this objective.
Yes, I would support some money that the government confiscates in taxes going to house mentally handicapped people. It would be much wiser to use tax dollars to keep these people in an environment that they can be properly cared for. Out on the streets, these people are a danger to themsleves and the society as a whole. We do need to rethink how we handle the mentally ill. Because the way we do it now is worse than the institutions of the past. And as far as the police are concerned. Six police officers dealing with one man? Who was unarmed? That right there proves the point about why it is not a good thing to have these kind of people out on the streets, not medicated, and a danger to himself and the community. I do agree, when all the investigating is done, if the evidence points to it, the officers should face justice. So, I am between you and Mr. Orlet on this one.

burt| 8.11.11 @ 8:12PM

Aaron , you have been blessed to be completely ignorant of the nightmare of dealing with mentally ill adults and all their do gooder enablers and professionals who have created a endless mess for their powerless family members .
You owe that family an apology who have been living a nightmare for decades and were powerless to stop the eventual trainwreck.
Thank the lefties and brain dead ACLU lawyers, Social workers , lib judges, Lib Psychiatrists. state metal health....... these so called experts who LITERALLY INTERFER AND BLOCK family members from committing a mentally ill relative into a permanent decent locked facility where they can be watched 24/7.
You are clueless that its nearly IMPOSSIBLE to Commit a Person against their will if they are
paranoid ,delusion but harmless to society . These Lefties do gooders/ busy bodies allow these sad souls to sleep in the streets but give them their bill of rights to keep warm with under a bridge in a deranged state . That young man's parents were completely powerless to stop this paranoid mentally ill man from running away and living on the streets and not taking his meds! Its ILLEGAL to hold him hostage in a cage and force feed his meds to him !
You are quick to JUDGED and SMEAR on a topic you are so clueless about !

Joseph Zrnchik| 8.13.11 @ 5:19AM

Why is it the mainstream news articles do not show the 140-pound guy's face after they police were done beating him? Here is a picture so they will be better informed to appraise how it was 6 officers killed a 140-pound guy they took into custody.

U.S. Police and Legal Establishment Inviting Anarchy

http://beforeitsnews.com/story.....gists.html

face| 8.13.11 @ 11:57PM

First you or I don't know what behavior criminal or otherwise he was involved in. And eye witness testimony is usually never that good, don't believe csi or law and order. And because his father was a retired deputy has nothing to do with the facts at hand. Didn't one officer get his arm broken and another one get a his rib broken? And dealing with a mentally ill person is not a walk in the park or fun. Since I am local to orange county and have seen plenty of aggressive mental ill homeless people. Please everyone stop acting like if this guy had approached them on the street they wouldn't have to tried to get away as fast as possible.
I do blame his family, why did they expect the public to have to deal with him?
Why didn't the family get him help? He was mentally ill and we have no ideal if he was a danger or aggressive.
What if he had hurt someone other then the police officers? Would his family be on tv complaining then.
We have a right in society not to live around dangerous people.
This guy needed help and didn't get it.
This was not going to have a good ending. I just worry about all the other mentally ill people walking the street that are a danger to themselves and everyone else.
I would really like to know his criminal history if he had one.
I worry about my female family members stop for gas or at the store and are increasing having to deal with people like Thomas. They get scared when they don't give them money. If he had hurt a child or a women, the public would be saying why didn't the police deal with him long ago.

And for the record I am a minority and a progressive liberal.

face| 8.14.11 @ 12:03AM

I just read the article that you criticized I wonder why his deputy sheriff father has to say about his 17 year criminal history. Boy I blame the system, I do believe if he had a person of color he would have been locked up for good on a three strike violation years ago. He was a menace to society.

matthew henry slusher| 8.14.11 @ 11:06AM

Hey F-face,why dont you come on down to Fullerton and talk that way to me.If our cops wont handle you i can surely have it arranged."Didn't one officer get his arm broken and another one get a his rib broken?" Wrong again jackass.They retracted that lie.Does "minority and a progressive liberal" mean that your fine with beating a HUMAN to death?This saturday there will be another march another rally and another candle light vigil.I will be the one with a "FACE ?" sign.You claim your "local" i claim your a lier.Your a menace to freedom.So go back to worthless third world country or learn how to be an american citizen.E-MAIL ME AT FULLERTONPOLICEDEPT@FACEBOOK.COM

ConservativesRNazis| 10.25.11 @ 12:42PM

I actually read that a man in a pick up drove by the protests and yelled that he was only a bum and therefore deserved to die.

YEAH, That sounds like FACE right there. He just drove by make an immature and racist comment and drives up. What a gutless coward.

kelly| 8.14.11 @ 11:46PM

FPD site: "A citizen complaint form can be obtained at the front desk of the police department or calling the on duty watch commander at (714) 738- 6715." Umm.. yeah I have a complaint after watching a video and hearing someone scream out to their DAD for help while restrained and being repeatedly electrocuted while having their face, neck and skull crushed. It's actually more than a complaint.

kelly| 8.14.11 @ 11:46PM

ConservativesRnazis| 10.25.11 @ 12:46PM

ATTENTION ALL RIGHT WING HATERS OF THE DISABLED AND POOR

Kelly thomas was homeless because for one, we do not have universal healthcare and therefore Thomas cannot afford medication.

Second, mental hospitals are cruel and inhumane are designed for one purpose. Segregating the weak.

It is far more cheaper to build group homes and residential care apartments than to treat old sick and defenseless people worse than felons and lock them up where they will be abused and raped.

Even your hero Reagan understood that when he was governor.

Also, I challenge any repuglican fascist on this website to rationally justify how a 135lb man could threaten and therby warrent severe beatings by six huge trained police officers?