PROBING ANOTHER SHOOTING

Reaction to the shooting death of Michael Newby by Louisville Metro
police officer McKenzie Mattingly in a West End drug incident seems
temperate. If so, credit is due Mayor Jerry Abramson and Chief Robert
White for improving public confidence in police procedures over the
past year.

It would be easy to squander that achievement if the investigation of
this potentially volatile case is mishandled. But there is no reason
to believe it will be. It's a grisly truth that local officials, from
the police chief to the commonwealth's attorney, have been through
this kind of thing before, and they know the pitfalls.

Chief White, in particular, did the right thing in meeting quickly
with Mr. Newby's family and in promising to make information public as
it becomes available. Nothing ignites confusion and exasperation as
easily as secrecy.

Mr. Abramson made no secret of his top priority upon becoming mayor:
finding a strong, capable police chief. He spent months before his
election checking out possible candidates. And Chief White has more
than justified Mr. Abramson's confidence in him, especially with his
handling of issues related to the earlier shooting death of a
handcuffed suspect.

Metro government has developed new structures and procedures for
responding to just such circumstances as the killing of Mr. Newby. In
the past, it would have been investigated by the police homicide
squad, whose activities were not open to public scrutiny. Now the
department uses a special Public Integrity Unit, comprising
supervisors, which was created on the sound theory that it is
management's job to hold subordinates responsible.

There's also a citizens' Police Accountability Commission, which can
review police shootings and recommend changes. It's work is supposed
to be very public.

In this case, the questions for investigators involve not just
policies and procedures but how they relate to the background,
judgment and actions of both the officer and Mr. Newby.

Did Mr. Newby do something that caused the officer to fear,
legitimately, for his own safety, or for the safety of others? Those
are the circumstances in which officers may use deadly force.

Was Officer Mattingly properly vetted before he was hired? Did he
benefit from the improved training that the Mayor and chief promised
almost a year ago? Did he follow the rules set down for police conduct
in such situations?

Finding answers will require patience, not just among those directly
involved but in the community at large.