Typical judgment by Thomas
Champion of Catholic Christian apologetics, Cal Thomas now enters into further profitable column writing with defense of the Thin Blue Line Between Us and Them, no matter what or who where, in this instance the trial of former Minneapolis Police officer Derek Chauvin (“The George Floyd Narrative,” April 3 Macomb Daily). In this instance Mr. Thomas enlists the support of one George Parry, whose main job back in the late 70s to early 80s was to get officers in the Philadelphia Police Department out from under accusations of brutality etc.
In rebuttal to Mr. Thomas’ account of Parry’s frame by frame dismissal of police misconduct in the death of George Floyd, here’s another view, clipped from the
Los Angeles Times: Carl Hart, a Columbia University neuroscientist, said that human response to psychoactive drugs is far too complex to draw conclusions solely based on fentanyl concentrations, which fluctuate rapidly and can increase after death as the drug breaks down in the body. “If the officer didn’t put his knee on George Floyd’s neck, he would most likely be alive today,” Hart said. That opinion is consistent with the autopsy conducted by the county medical examiner’s office, which found that the death was caused by “cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained by law enforcement officer(s).” A second postmortem examination, led by Dr. Michael Baden, an expert hired by the Floyd family, concluded that he was killed by asphyxiation. In an interview, Baden said that regardless of anything Floyd said about breathing trouble, or drugs or underlying health problems, “he died because of the way he was restrained, period.” And then this advisory from Dr. Baden when asked whether he believed the officers meant to kill Floyd, Baden said: “I don’t think they intended to kill him, no.”
Though it’s likely murderous intent cannot be determined in this terrible incident, it is grievously apparent from videos and current testimony in court that what might be expected of law enforcement officers insofar as restraint and situational attentiveness and even basic recognition of a person in distress are very much lacking. Such grievous lack is also blatantly displayed in this all too typically judgmental column by Thomas. I suspect very strongly the writer prays the defense, when it’s their turn in this trial, will mount a tedious frame by frame excusatory as outlined by Parry of all police conduct during the incident, which will result in an acquittal for former officer Chauvin and vindication and validation for all Angels in Blue, or those in tan wearing campaign hats, just as it worked in the Rodney King trial not so many years ago.
Craig Reynolds
Clinton Twp.