A Letter from Sanford Chief of Police, Bill Lee, to GMP Editor Justin Cascio: Investigation Into Neighborhood Watch Shooting Continues
Mr. Lee,
Shoot First, Ask Later? Unarmed Boy Shot By Neighborhood Watch
I’m sure you’re getting lots of attention for the miscarriage of justice that is occurring in your town. I am also appalled by the story. I lived in Florida for 14 years and can tell you stories about living in towns just as beset by racism as Sanford appears to be. Places where black men step off the sidewalk to make way for white people, and everyone thinks that’s just how it should be. It isn’t like that everywhere in America. It is part of why I left that state, and hope never to return. The culture is fetid and unhealthy, and a gated community in the middle of that kind of nervous racism is like having an air-conditioner in Florida. Have you ever stood outside an air-conditioned house on a hot day, and felt the moist, hot air that comes out of the back end of the A/C unit? That’s the heat from inside the house, collected and vented outside. Sanford, Bradenton, South Africa… anywhere this approach to discomfort is taken, it makes it very comfortable for some of the people, at the expense of the rest. It’s the history of Florida, but it doesn’t have to be its future.
Justice has to be for everyone, not just the rich or the white. Otherwise, you’re not keeping everyone cool, just the people inside the house, who figure that a little extra hot air getting blown out the window won’t make a bit of difference to those who are already sweating. Young Trayvon Martin was killed by such a blast. George Zimmerman, who shot the young, unarmed man, should have been arrested. Ask yourself what my friend, the writer Jackie Summers, asked when he reported this news to me yesterday: What if this had been your child? Would you feel that justice has been done?
I look forward to your answer, in the form of news that Zimmerman will face charges for his crime.
Sincerely,
Justin Cascio
♦◊♦
Justin,
I appreciate your concern and comments. I also understand how someone would make assumptions and conclusions regarding how this investigation should progress based on the limited information and misrepresentation presented in news stories. However, there is much information that at this time is not public record to ensure the integrity of the investigation.
Let me assure you the Sanford Police Department, in consultation with the Office of the State Attorney, is working to complete a thorough and fair investigation as quickly as possible.
The investigation was delivered to the Office of the State Attorney this afternoon. We are confident the investigation has been thorough and conducted without bias. We would welcome any outside review of our investigation.
Best regards,
Bill R. Lee Jr.
Chief of Police, City of Sanford
♦◊♦
What do you think? Will evidence come out, as the Chief is implying here, to clarify why Zimmerman hasn’t been arrested? Or is Florida simply covering up a mistake in the criminal justice system?
Photo by davidsonscott15/Flickr
This is the same chief when a few months ago his son knock a homeless out and said “my daddy is the chief of police and nothing is going to happen. Now his own son knows this about him and the chief tryed to help cover that up to. The family call wftv 9 news and the state attorney was force to arrest and charge. I feel the chief and the whole staff should be fired. When you cannot trust the police to do right a whole lot is wrong. I live not for from another town just like sanford… Read more »
Is it true that there is a Zimmerman currently on the Sanford police force?
There has to be an explanation why the Local Cops and DAs would risk career suicide on live TV for the temporary benefit of a doofus like Zimmerman. Everything about this case is getting major scrutiny and over-sight from the State Level. Invoking “Racism” as the motivation makes the locals out to be almost too stupid to feed themselves. Think about this for a minute. Eric Holder is the US AG. The media are all over this because it is such a hot subject. Try to think of motivations that make sense if the locals are actually Smart and want… Read more »
Rum. If that is the case, the outrage train will prove to never have left the station. How’s that screen-grab thingy work?
It should be obvious by now that the Cops have seen a surveillance tape. Most likely showing Zimmerman on the ground being kicked in the head. The bullet trajectory/wounding could lend more support. If this is indeed the case, the outrage-train will have fallen off the tracks.
Justin. When I was in Columbia, SC, Holly Springs, MS, Columbus, GA, Fayetteville, NC, in the Sixties, I saw only one case, as referred to. I was overtaking the guy on a relatively narrow sidewalk. So I’m about 50-50 on the explanation. Since then, I’ve traveled in those states, Texas (had too short a time in TX in 1970 to count), Tennesee, Kentucky, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri. So it’s a matter of my lying eyes again. But, presuming you’re not trying to retail a oldy-but-goody, we have a very, very small number. We might compare it… Read more »
I guess that discrediting news by sneering at the medium is pretty slick. Like, “you musta heard that on faux snews.” Why not apply that to The Nation? Long ago, somebody said of the editor of The Nation, “He’s a very nice man but he has only one headline: “‘It wasn’t the Russians’ fault.'” I note as well that the conclusion has been reached by commenters before the justice system has. Step off the sidewalk? Guy did that when I was at Rust College in 1967. I asked a local why that happened and he said you northerners haven’t slowed… Read more »
Richard, when I lived in Plant City, Florida in 1995, I saw black southerners step out of the way for white southerners. It was not out of love of Yankees.
That’s my thinking too. And I bet he votes Republican. Why do I say that? Read it here and consider:
http://www.thenation.com/blog/166751/african-american-vote-gop-race-falls-below-measurable-levels
I also sent him an email and got the exact same response, as did another party online who posted it to comments…I think on HuffPo. I doubt the ‘Chief’ is reading any of our emails.
My guess is the Sanford PD doesn’t give fuck all how this turns out.