The Arab Rodney King?

Thanks to Sabbah for the tip.

Law enforcement in Southern California has quite the reputation. Efficient, brutal, triggerhappy and occasionally corrupt, the images of high speed freeway chases and the treatment of minority "suspects" never fails to paint the uniformed men of the Golden State in very poor light.

Poor light seems to be what kept the story of Bassim Chmait under wraps for over a month. Unlike the matter of Rodney King or of OJ Simpson, both of which garnered frontstage presence internationally through the miracle of television, are all we have relating to this incident are eyewitness accounts, police reports (filed in triplicate) and God-given imagination  to provide us with the sense of shock and outrage that something like this could happen in 21st century America.

Bassim Chmait, aged 20, was shot dead at 1:30am on February 6th, 2005 by an off duty Department of Homeland Security Officer. Douglas Bates was irate at the party happening in his neighborhood and confronted six party-goers who happened to be in the vicinity.

Here's a synopsis of what happened. Again, I am not sure of all the particulars, but it seems apparent that cops in lalaland and truly in lalaland.

I live in Maryland. Last summer, I was involved in a minor altercation with a gentleman in a pick-up truck. He thought I cut him off a little too close on the highway and in my rearview mirror I saw his displeasure. So I pulled some of my patented tricks to annoy people who just don't know when they've been beat. He followed me to my exit and as he turned off at the first intersection, he stopped right next to me and flashed a huge shiny gold badge. I immediately called the State Troopers and provided the pertinent information (descriptions, tag numbers) to a very disappointed and concerned officer, who assured me that there was no toleration for such blatant misuse of public office.

Friends of mine in law enforcement tell me that the amount of paperwork an officer has to go through should he even unclasp the snap button on his holster is enough to make one go blind. This was an apartment complex. In Maryland, it is illegal to operate a firearm within 100 yards of another residence. Friends of mine once set up targets on their lawn while they fired BB guns from the rooftop. A few days later they checked in with the local police department who informed of the consequences of what they did, but assured them that they weren't going to go after them just that once. It still didn't help when their landlord found out and was a steaming bundle of fury for a few years. In any case, an officer to walking out into a crowded neighborhood with a loaded unholstered gun, waving his badge around while he's in a bathrobe would find himself incarcerated in Maryland before he could say "Joe Friday". Unless of course, John Ashcroft suspended laws like these while I wasn't looking.

Now just to make this point clear, Chmait and his companions could have avoided all of this had they not confronted a crazy man with a gun. The moment he started waving a firearm, they should have done everything they could to diffuse the situation. Walking toward the man does not constitute diffusing the situation. It still doesn't excuse the officer, who was wrong to walk out with a loaded gun to deal with a domestic disturbance issue. It doesn't excuse him for dispensing a charge in a residential area, or for flashing his badge while he was half naked. Badges come with uniforms for a reason; unless the Department of Homeland Security doesn't subscribe to notions of professionalism and decorum.

The court of public opinon had their verdicts ready for Rodney King, OJ Simpson, Robert Blake as well as Michael Jackson. We all know how the juries found, or will find in those instances. The public was outraged that the punishments never fit the crimes that they thought were unfolding before their very eyes on television.

Douglas Bates is already the villain in this matter, a frustrated bully with a mean streak. The legal process is designed to deal with people like him. What has failed the American public in all of this is how the Orange County Sherrif's department callously declared that "No crime seems to have been committed". To quote Capt. John O'Hagan from Supertroopers "I'll believe that when me sh*t turns purple and smells like Rainbow Sherbet!"

At the moment the case is pending indictment by a Grand Jury. Whether the trial will be fair and whether justice will be served is a matter that bloggers all over the world seem to have little faith in. Whether the facts that surface under due process will match the facts that surface in the media (whether mainstream or the blogosphere), only time will tell.

So let me ask you, if an Arab is shot dead and there is no TV camera to capture the images, what sight does it make?

Comments

[Tony Manero]

John,

Cops get out of line ALL the time. However JUSTICE almost always prevails in the US unlike MANY MANY nations in the world. Much like YOUR home country. I have more faith that this "cop" will pay the piper here than I would in most other nations. If the criminal system fails then the "civil" sytem probably won't. Little luck and BOTH nail him. I bet you LUNCH in Cambridge and BEER to boot that in the end justice will be served.

[John]

I would have had no doubt about the issue had the County Sheriff treated it like a crime had happened. Remember he was unprofessional in his conduct. Eyewitnesses say that the boys were unarmed.

Maybe I ought to have been clearer about this, it's not about Doug Bates. It's about the Sheriff's office "seemingly" bending over backwards to get Bates off the hook. I would imagine that if they did not treat it as a crime scene, then they didn't necessarily collect the correct evidence or not. Who knows?

Bates may or may not get his due. The sheriff's office will not be arraigned for their arrogance and negligence. The Chmait family deserved better than for this travesty to not be treated as a crime!

[ShawarmaBoy]

If the issue is pressed the Sheriff's office can be held accountable for botching an investigation. Happens all the time. I have seen it happen more than once here in New England with local Sheriff's offices. Two of them and several staff wound up in jail for participation in cover ups and negligence. Civil suits are another issue. The Civil law suit is the GREAT Equalizer in this country and should be used if there is merit.

Since this case is before a GRAND JURY and on the slightest chance the Grand Jury does not indict I have confidence in the legal system that the inquiry was fair and just. The common joke in the US is you can indict a ham sandwich before a Grand Jury. Cases like these can MAKE the LOCAL DA's or State AG's career. The fact the local DA or State's AG has pushed for a Grand Jury is a POSITIVE SIGN. As a whole the American public has no appetite for police running afoul of the law. While we understand by pure numbers alone there will always be problems, we don't like it. Doesn't matter if it's people in Boston, OKC, Provo or LA.

Justice will almost always prevail here. Sometimes slower than it should but it nearly always resolves itself. Could take months or sadly years. I have the utmost respect for law enforcement professionals. But when someone who is in "law enforcement" breaks the law himself justice must be harsher than if the person was a normal citizen or resident.

[John]

I certainly hope that justice will prevail. I have every respect for the Police myself. Three of my friends have gone through the Academy. Only one is currently a badge carrying officer. Tells you that they're not just handing a gun and a badge to anybody. Near every professional law enforcement officer I have met has been a credit to the community. Upstanding individuals who have very seldom given me reason to be annoyed, much less suspicious.

I've dealt with all manner of officers, State, County, City, Campus and Park Police. My father went on a ride-along last winter. In my community I've felt nothing but honored and respected in my dealings with them.

Justice is about ensuring that the authority of the badge is never under suspicion. This is about guaranteeing that the powers vested in public office are NEVER abused.

[ShawarmaBoy]

Your version/definition of "justice" implies something that is impossible even under IDEAL conditions. Which under any form of government is impossible. All we can hope for and demand is when suspicion (just suspicion) of those in authority is in question that a JUST and FAIR inquest will be held. When abuse is found that is DEALT with accordingly and not brushed under the carpet. I think for the most part we do this. When I say deal with accordingly, LAW ENFORCEMENT officers must be held to a higher personal threshold than your average "John Doe" This helps insure the public trust. A Police officer in my town can be fired for bouncing a check or for even getting a speeding ticket.

We have very high standards in the US for law enforcement. It is not perfect nor can it ever be. I will always maintain that you can hold our State, local and National law enforcement officers with high regard. Sadly there will always be those that cause problems.