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The simple fact remains that you do not have the facts in this case, nor do I nor does anyone else commenting on this thread. The story given out by talk radio and the news media jumped to the conclusion that the FPD officers beat Kelly Thomas to death and that “something should be done” about it. What I see is that the civilians discussing the incident are attaching their pre-conceived notions and beliefs about “police brutality” and schizophrenics to the story line, using it as a soap box.

I notice that you omit Kelly Thomas’s criminally violent past, including the fact that he tried to choke his mother resulting in a restraining order issued against him. His parents are presumably housed and yet tolerated Kelly living on the street rather than with them. Why, because they were afraid of him.

I am not saying that Kelly deserved to die a horrible death, but whether it was a direct result of the struggle at the time of his arrest has not been determined.

I see much more excitement in impugning and attacking the police than I see of genuine grief at the loss of a human life. I think Kelly was failed by several people prior to the arrest incident.

His father Ron has called for the death penalty for one or more of the police officers. He published their names and photos. He rejoices that the police chief has gone on medical leave, and calls for the resignation of the Fullerton mayor. Ron Thomas has full use of the media platform at any time he wishes. This has been an entirely one-sided presentation of a story, and in my view Ron Thomas’s crusade has an unwholesome flavor.

I notice that you omit Kelly Thomas’s criminally violent past, including the fact that he tried to choke his mother resulting in a restraining order issued against him.

Police officers CANNOT LEGALLY, nor should the public tolerate it when they act as judge, jury and executioner. Kelly Thomas' past does not give a half-dozen or so cops the right to do this to him:

His parents are presumably housed and yet tolerated Kelly living on the street rather than with them. Why, because they were afraid of him.

Judgmental much? Our whole wretched "system" of not allowing long-term commitment of the mentally ill is a causative factor in such cases. Kelly Thomas was an adult. His parents could do very little to help him unless he accepted help. They could not force him to live at home, or take his meds, or get treatment. All they could do was watch the deterioration of their once beautiful baby boy. There is no help for families in such situations.

I am not saying that Kelly deserved to die a horrible death...

Yes you are. Worse, what you and others with your blindly pro cop viewpoint are doing is this...you're saying cops can pretty much do anything they want, and the citizenry needs to just shut up and not question what they do. Half a dozen cops beat an unarmed man to death? No biggie. The man was just some homeless schizo with a violent past.

in my view Ron Thomas’s crusade has an unwholesome flavor

Schizophrenia is a bona fide brain disease that usually hits young people in their late teens or eary 20's. Don't know if you're capable of putting yourself in the place of parents who raise a beloved child to that age, then watch them deteriorate mentally almost overnight with a disease that has no cure. Then, on top of that, parents discover there isn't anything they can do once their sick child reaches adulthood. If you have not experienced it personally, then you can't even begin to understand the hell parents in such a situation go through.

The last words Mr. Thomas' son ever uttered were, "Dad, dad, dad..." as cops were beating him into a coma from which he would never recover. So how the hell can you sit around judging Mr. Thomas and the way he is dealing with his grief and anguish?

Once again, blind acceptance of authority and police actions is NOT a constitutionally conservative position. Quite the opposite. It is exactly such blind acceptance that opens the door to totalitarianism.

“His father Ron has called for the death penalty for one or more of the police officers. He published their names and photos. He rejoices that the police chief has gone on medical leave, and calls for the resignation of the Fullerton mayor. Ron Thomas has full use of the media platform at any time he wishes. This has been an entirely one-sided presentation of a story, and in my view Ron Thomas’s crusade has an unwholesome flavor.”

The cops have used and continue to use the media to put their spin on the story. It is is shamefully one-sided. To claim that is MIGHT be the result of a struggle at the time of his death is shameful and appears to willfully ignore the facts.

Rather than finding Mr Thomas “crusade” to have an “unwholesome flavor”, I firmly believe he should be commended. These six police officers violently beat a man, causing his death. I for one am pleased that he pulled back the blue-cloak of anonymity and arrogance that seeks to cover-up the murder of a human being. I am glad their photos are posted for all to see...I hope he publishes their address too so their neighbors can appreciate - and fear - the people who live nearby.