One more quick thought about this....I'm not clear on the timing of the officer's employment as a cop and his DUI's, but... aside from the incident of running over the cyclists, how does ANYONE with two DUI's either keep their job as a cop or get hired as one?? A person who's job it is to spend most of his day driving around, enforcing the laws of the road!?
Seriously!
On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 3:27 PM, Mike Berry
Hello,
I am outraged at the decision that two people can be killed by a police officer who then has to sit at home and watch TV for four months as his punishment. Not only do I no longer feel safe to ride my bike on the road, I don't feel safe having my children walking on the sidewalk knowing that anyone can drive right into us, claim they fell asleep, and get to watch TV for four months as their punishment. This is an affront to justice, sets a horrible precedent, increases the fear of the population, destroys the reputation of the police force, justifiably inspires the anger of victims, and causes us all to lose confidence in the fairness of the judicial system.
I would ask that the case be appealed to a higher court and that a proper, far more severe sentence be leveled upon James Council regardless of whether he feel asleep at the wheel or not. I further ask that the law be changed so that anyone involved in a fatal crash be required to submit to tests at the time of the accident to see if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
And what were the results of the drug test that was given to Council by the Sheriff's office? How come this has never been made public? With two DUI's on his record already, not revealing this information certainly smells of conspiracy, or at the best gross negligence, in the case of the worst crime. Many people will feel that the Thin Blue was never crossed, to the joy of Council's family and the tears of the families of the lives he took.
Mike Berry
Bay Area cyclist and father
Article referenced: http://www.sfgate. com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi? f=/c/a/2009/ 06/06/BAK7181IQE .DTL&type=printable
[copy: Santa Clara Sherriff's office, Santa Clara District Attorney's Office, Peninsula Velo cycling club, all Supervisors of the County of Santa Clara]
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