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It is the best that can be done. The sheriff is one of the major bad actors in this story (based on the reporting). He stepped in when the police wisely opted out. The sheriff is an elected official. Even if as you say, the voters are not the taxpayers, they will still be denied the largess their elected minions can dole out. The sheriff’s opponent will be sure to point that out. Furthermore, a judgment on the books will have a deterring effect. We can argue about how much of an effect, but under the current system it is the best that can be done. And a big judgment will make the locals think twice before messing with the family again. Hey, more power to the family to pierce the sovereign immunity flak jacket, but that is highly unlikely unless the Feds step in on a civil rights basis.

And a big judgment will make the locals think twice before messing with the family again.

Hasn't done so yet. We've had lawsuits aganst the city and the police, but until Kathryn Johnston was murdered by the police and they couldn't cover it up, not much was done.

Here in Atl last year the APD JBT's murdered a 93 year old woman, planted drugs in her house and GOT CAUGHT IN THE COVER UP. So far two of three are serving relatively brief sentences, with the third yet to be sentenced (last I heard). BIG promised shakeup in the APD, but when the dust settled, all of the bad actors in the police adiminstration were still there (except the "detectives" who actually did the deed) just moved around. Hey after all Atlanta is an african kleptocracy - chief of police is from New Orleans (that should tell you something).

The only good thing is that the APD hasn't been caught kicking in doors and planting drugs since then. I guess a little jail time is what it took to calm them down, but I suspect the effect will diminsh with time and before too long they'll be up to their usual SOP.