Score - Injustice 1 - Justice 0
Unlike the author, I can understand the angst felt by the locals in all this. Two men lay dead because of a speeding ticket. While Officer McKay did not deserve his fate, the fact is that both men would be alive today if Officer McKay had not pursued Kenney after the first stop. After the stop, Officer McKay had all the info he needed to ticket the driver. He could have written it up at the end of his shift and the citation would be in the mail the next day. Was there really any sound reason for the second pursuit?
As the article notes, there was already a history between these two men. Chances are Kenney was seething during the initial stop, especially once he saw who the ticketing officer was, while Officer McKay was likley relishing the moment for the same reasons. It's possible that Kenney drove away to prevent his anger from getting the best of him.
The article states that McKay forced Kenney off the road after about a mile in the second pursuit. Did McKay give Kenney a chance to pull over in the short time the second pursuit lasted? Given the short distance covered and the short time that implies, that doesn't seem likley. Forcing another vehicle off the road could cause injury or even death to that driver. Given these circumstances, Kenney, rightly or wrongly, may have been in fear of his life and acted accordinly as so many Freepers say they would do if threatened for their lives.
Given the attitudes and demeanor of some police officers, it's not out of the realm of possibilities that McKay is now seething with anger over Kenney leaving his presence before he's finished the ticketing and whatever other minor indignities he may have wanted to inflict on Kenney. You know, the "Respect my Authority" syndrome that inflicts many police officers. This may explain Officer McKay's aggressive tatics in the second pursuit, which might be considered an over-reaction to Kenney's driving away.
What likely happened here is an unnecessary escalation of the stakes caused by personal animosity that may have been present in both men toward each other. If Kenney hadn't driven away early, both would be alive today. If Officer McKay had just let him go and had the speeding citation mailed, both would be alive today.
Well, my my my...
It seems the anti-police animous isn’t reserved simply for the aging hippie population and criminals...
Perhaps “pulling back” and not engaging the criminals is something the police officers SHOULD be doing. After all, it seems that is what a lot want them to do. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if my husband and other family members put their own safety above that of the “civilians”. If what they do and the professional manner in which they, and most OTHER cops, do their jobs is not enough for all of you, then it seems reasonable for you NOT to call 911 the next time you get offended.