Community Reaction:

FIRING BRINGS DELIGHT, CONCERN AND OUTRAGE

African-American community activists yesterday applauded the firing of
Detective McKenzie Mattingly, while police union officials said the
officer deserves a chance to present his case in court. A citizens
group that supports police denounced the firing.

"It is overwhelmingly sad to see in this age of political correctness,
the criminals have been given more rights than those we have chosen to
uphold the law and protect our communities," said Bridget Abell,
founder of the group Citizens for Fair Treatment of Police.

She said she believes that Mattingly will be exonerated by the court
and administrative processes.

Alice Wade, coordinator of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and
Political Repression, called the firing "step two" in the proceedings
against Mattingly, following his indictment last month on charges of
murder and wanton endangerment.

"We have more steps to go," she said. "We'd like to see a
conviction."

Bishop Dennis D. Lyons, pastor of Gospel Missionary Baptist Church,
said the firing has "cut the temperature down at least 25 degrees."

"This is the beginning," he said. "This is on the right road of
healing between the police and the black community."

Several police officers declined to comment about Mattingly's firing
when approached by a reporter downtown.

But Richard Dotson, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said
most officers are waiting to hear Mattingly's case in court before
judging Police Chief Robert White's decision.

"They're all very concerned about what is involved in this case and
whether it ultimately ends up being decided if it's justified or not,"
he said.

Dotson, a former Louisville city police chief, said officers worry
about being second-guessed when they find themselves in potentially
life-threatening situations.

"There, by the grace of God, I could be in the same position in the
next five minutes and any other officer could," Dotson said. "One of
the major concerns is that an officer may take too long to think it
through and get hurt. We are talking about an individual who was
committing a criminal act and was armed."

Police said Newby was shot after an undercover drug buy with Mattingly
went bad. Police also said Newby was carrying a concealed handgun. The
two were struggling over Mattingly's gun when the weapon discharged.
Newby ran, and Mattingly fired his weapon four times, striking Newby
three times in the back, police said.

Stephen Schweitzer, treasurer of the FOP, agreed that most officers
are reserving judgment.

"Sure, we've got a lot of folks that aren't happy (about Mattingly's
firing), but again, it's a process that we have to go through, and we
all know it," Schweitzer said

Abell said Mattingly should get a change of venue for his criminal
trial, saying the firing and other publicity has made it impossible to
seat an impartial jury in Jefferson County.

But Wade disagreed, contending that a jury in other Kentucky counties
would look more favorably on the white officer than the black suspect.

"I think he should be able" to get a fair trial in Jefferson County,
she said. "I mean, all the fingers point that he was deadly wrong, so
how fair can you be?"

Dotson said he was concerned about the repeated rallies held by
critics of the police department in the wake of the Newby shooting, in
which protesters called for Mattingly's indictment and firing.

"There was an attempt to put political pressure on by having
demonstrations in the community," he said. "If you'll notice, there
were no police demonstrations, because we were observing what was
going on and were looking from the standpoint of the legal system and
giving it an opportunity to work."

Those who have led such protests say anger over police shootings is
growing among younger people, citing a Jan. 8 demonstration that
turned unruly when protesters refused to disperse, broke windows in
White's office and confronted officers in riot gear.

"Who knows what could happen again?" Wade said. "...I'm not glad that
it happened, but it finally awakened a set of people that we have been
trying to get roused up for many a year."