JURY COURAGEOUSLY INDICTS OFFICER

So Many Mistakes Were Made In Fatal Shooting That A Full Trial Is Justified

The killing of Rodolfo ``Rudy'' Cardenas was at best a tragedy of errors, at
worst murder. Few cases of police-related shootings cry out for a public
trial as this one does.

After more than a week of testimony and seven hours of deliberations, a
Santa Clara County grand jury made the difficult but courageous decision
Wednesday to indict the state narcotics officer who shot a fleeing Cardenas
in the back on Feb. 17.

The indictment -- the first of a law enforcement officer in this county in
three decades -- doesn't mean Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agent Mike
Walker is guilty.

But testimony in the rare, public grand jury hearing pointed out so many
mistakes and questionable actions by state police that a full trial is more
than justified.

Narcotics officers mistook Cardenas for a dangerous felon. When he ran, the
officers set off on a wild chase through San Jose streets. Walker says he
shot Cardenas because he believed he had a gun -- but the only weapon police
found on the San Jose father and alleged drug dealer was a small knife in
his pocket.

Cardenas' friends and family need to know what happened and why. The public
needs to know how the wrong man was killed after a chase that endangered
bystanders. And Walker -- who says he felt his own life was in danger --
deserves his day in court.