ER - Letter to the Editor - UPDATED

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

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Great letter in today's ER:

Plea bargains, deals kept street racer on roads

Dear Editor,

The tragic death of a 9-year-old girl on State Route 299 because of a drag race once again points out the deplorable judgment of our district attorney.

At the same time Paul Gallegos was prosecuting members of the Eureka Police Department (whose charges were dismissed), he was cutting deals and plea bargains with one of the drivers, who has 17 criminal cases on his record.

Yet this man was free to drive the streets and kill a child.

Susan Dodd
Eureka

h/t: The Mirror
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Much as I tend to agree with the sentiment - valuable time and resources were spent going after good guys, Douglas and Zanotti, that could have been spent going after bad guys and Gallegos' record shows he doesn't know how to go after bad guys with the same zeal he goes after good guys; the list is long - starting with Martinez-Hernandez; giving the convicted murderers Kesser and Leahy plea deals, the horrific botch job on Gundersen, the unforgivable persecution of Sean Marsh - it is also true that Jason Bradley Whitmill was a parolee. He was sent to prison - a plea deal yes, but one that didn't make much difference in the amount of time he served.

There's alot to hold Gallegos accountable for - the point of this blog, actually. But to hold him accountable for this death? No.

For too many plea bargains? Yes. For prosecuting innocent people like Sean Marsh, and going easy on people like Kesser; for bizarre plea deals like we lower the charges or drop the charges if you pass a lie detector test, and then if you fail it we let you take it again... that kind of schizophrenic prosecution leaves every member of this community at risk. Yes. For that and much more.

One of Law Enforcement's primary beefs with Paul as DA is that bad guys are let out before they've even finished the paperwork on the case, and then they turn around and commit another offense. For that? Yes. Time and time again.

I believe there will be a case that can be laid at his feet. One that will make national attention. It's only a matter of time. But this one isn't it.

Whitmill will go back to prison, presumably, if Gallegos doesn't screw this one up. It won't be for long enough. No punishment will be harsh enough. And nothing will replace the life that has been lost.

The funeral is tomorrow.

UPDATED:

◼ Former Blue Lake Police Chief David Gundersen has been cleared of all major charges first filed against him in 2008. - Arcata Eye MARCH 2012

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