LIMA NEEDS CALM

Many different people have many different questions following a Lima
police officer shooting and killing a resident Friday evening during a
drug raid. Those questions need to be answered. However, as this
community sorts out the facts surrounding the shooting death of Tarika
Wilson, cooler heads need to prevail.

No one in Lima, regardless how angry he or she becomes, can rationally
think igniting this situation any more will benefit anyone.

We're pleased to hear two outside investigative units will be looking
into the shooting. The Lima Police Department has turned the
investigation over to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and
Identification, which is Ohio's top investigative unit. Allen County
Common Pleas Judge Richard Warren also has assigned a special
prosecutor to investigate, which avoids any conflict that local
prosecutors would experience. The dynamics in this case require
outside authorities to examine what happened and what should be done
about it. And no one should yet dismiss the idea of any other outside
organizations looking into the shooting.

A lot of conflicting emotions are tugging at the community.
Unfortunately, we're seeing some members of the community rushing to
polar opposites to place blame. Let's not give in to those who might
be tempted to use the passions of the moment for their own gains.

So far, we know only that police were conducting a raid against
Wilson's boyfriend, Anthony Terry, 31, following a "long-term
investigation." He was charged Monday with trafficking in drugs, a
third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. More
charges are likely.

Police Chief Greg Garlock said his officers knew children could be in
the house. But, police have not offered any reasoning for Wilson and
her son being shot. What happened? We believe police should make the
basic circumstances of the shooting known as quickly as possible.
Doing so would end much of the speculation about what happened and
why. Waiting to release all details until the Bureau of Criminal
Investigation and Identification report is finished leaves too many
rumors and too much ill will in circulation. Speculation and rumor
naturally fill in for missing details. Specifics about why things went
as they did would leave the speculation and rumor out of the equation.

Police need to do all they can to keep cooler heads by filling in the
public as quickly as possible. Neither the police department nor the
city it serves can afford a delay.