THE JACK IN THE BOX SHOOTINGS

Contrary to the opening sentence of Thursday's article, the federal
investigation into the deaths of Earl Murray and Ronald Beasley did not
conclude that the agent and officer were "not in imminent danger."

While the evidence showed that Murray's vehicle did not actually move
forward, Murray could have easily shifted to drive, as his hands
disappeared below the dashboard. With the agent and officer standing a mere
10 feet away from a 3,000-pound car with a racing engine and smoking tires,
the officer and agent could have been struck in less that three seconds.

Shooting the tires, as some have suggested, would have been unlikely to
stop the vehicle, which needed to travel such a short distance before
killing or seriously injuring the law enforcement officers.

The federal investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to
disprove the agent's and officer's statement that they shot because they
were afraid they would be killed. They made a split-second decision forced
upon them by Murray's failure to comply with their lawful commands in what
was a narcotics transaction.

While it is always troubling when any lives are lost, we cannot bring
federal criminal civil rights charges without sufficient evidence to prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that the agent or officer acted with a bad
purpose rather than out of fear.

After a thorough and independent investigation, both the Civil Rights
Section of the Department of Justice and the U.S. attorney's office
determined that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Raymond W. Gruender

U.S. Attorney

Eastern District of Missouri

St. Louis

INQUIRY'S LESSONS

The investigation into the Jack in the Box killings of Earl Murray and
Ronald Beasley makes clear the need for future action on three fronts.

First, U.S. Attorney Ray Gruender rightly argued that he was handcuffed in
his investigation by the lack of appropriate federal statutes. With no
federal laws against police misconduct or brutality, Gruender was forced to
narrow his focus, looking only at police actions that showed conscious
decisions to violate civil rights.

There is now a national campaign to make police misconduct a federal crime,
and we need to support this campaign.

Second, we need to pass Board Bill 71 in the city of St. Louis to create a
civilian oversight board. This board would be empowered to investigate the
police procedures and policies that are outside the purview of federal
authorities.

Why were the police arresting Murray in a crowded parking lot at rush hour?
Since the police perception of personal danger has been shown to be a
misjudgment, should they be disciplined?

The county should pass a bill parallel to Bill 71 so that public scrutiny
can point out the need for reforms.

Third, County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch should be held accountable for
his reprehensible remarks on Oct. 3. His characterization of Murray and
Beasley as "bums" was an unseemly disparagement of men who were not charged
with a crime and never had a chance to defend themselves.

It was inconsistent with McCulloch's duties as a prosecutor and an
embarrassment to the county for him to show his biases in this way.
McCulloch is up for re-election in 2002, and county voters should replace him.

John Chasnoff

Member

Coalition Against Police

Crimes and Repression

University City

ACCEPT THE FINDINGS

It is time that we accept the findings of at least two different
investigations -- one independent of local authorities entirely.

A crack cocaine dealer and his friend were arrested. The police clearly
identified themselves and gave these people every opportunity to surrender
peacefully. Instead, armed with a motor vehicle, they assaulted police
officers and were killed attempting to escape. The police defended
themselves. End of story.

When will the reactionaries in our community admit that criminals are not
worth defending? When will these same apologists stop defending those who
would infect our children -- black and white -- with their life-threatening
drugs? When will these rabble rousers defend the police who put their lives
on the line for us every day?

Make no mistake about it. Police shootings should always be investigated
vigorously and independently. But it is time now to see the two who died
for what they really were, mourn the path they chose for their lives and
mourn their passing.

Carl DiMaria

North County