Letters to the Editor 02-08-2002
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Responds To Story - Why An Increase In The Gasoline Tax?
Responds To Story
Editor, Times-Union:I have to respond to the front page story "Inmate Convicted After Scuffle With Officers." I was in that courtroom for every second of the trial and it seems funny to me that the reporter did not mention the fact that there were several officers sitting on Mike Hale and admitted on the stand that they were punching him in the back and arms while he was face down on the floor. Every officer who testified said that Knafel was standing at Michael's head and dragging him in by his shirt. The only officer who stated he was at Michael's feet and was kicked was Knafel himself. Considering no one including Knafel saw him get kicked, it seems more logical that his hand was probably injured while he was punching Mike in the back. The reporter also failed to mention that the video camera aimed at the area where the conflict took place was not running. According to the officers, it was not turned on because there was no time to turn it on and it is only used when a conflict is anticipated. All of the officers stated they did expect a conflict and Knafel clearly stated that he was standing in the control room from the time the officers walked to F Block, retrieved Hale and walked 250 feet to the hold cell. Is that not enough time to flip a switch? Not one of the officers' stories were the same, yet this was not mentioned. However, a totally irrelevant cocaine charge was mentioned.
Past felony convictions do not justify physical abuse of an inmate. One of the officers stated that 50 minutes after the conflict he returned to the cell and had to use mace on the inmate and he immediately backed down.
If it only took one officer and a spray in the face to get the inmate under control, then why were such extreme measures used to force him into the cell? Clearly the entire situation could have been avoided, however, the officers chose to use a physical attack and put themselves and the inmate in danger. It was a relief to hear the jailers tell the truth of what actually happened. It is too bad that a sworn officer cannot do the same. It is quite evident that once you are convicted of a previous felony or any lesser charge, you are judged against whether guilty or not by the officers and the prosecutors.
I have always believed that the officers have to do what is expected of them to keep order, however it sickens me to see the smug and arrogant attitude displayed in the courtroom by citizens we are supposed to look up to. I am very pleased that the bad judgment of hot-tempered officers did not cause this inmate to be sentenced to prison time he does not deserve. I can only hope that he will be allowed to serve out his sentence without further intimidation and someday get on with his life.
Michael's family would like to thank the jurors who did an outstanding job and returned a very just verdict. A special thanks to the jailers who were not persuaded to twist the story for the benefit of a fellow officer. Those are the kind of citizens we all want serving our community.
Christi Meade
Warsaw
Why An Increase In The Gasoline Tax?
Editor, Times-Union:Indiana House Representatives William Friend and David Wolkins have some explaining to do. Why did they vote to increase Indiana's gas tax on Feb. 5?
Just the day before, House Bill 1004 passed in the Indiana House. This omnibus tax and budget bill increases the sales tax rate 20 percent, increases four existing taxes, creates two new taxes, suspends three tax reductions, imposes 14 new fees and increases 166 existing fees. The net revenues increase generated by HB 1004 (after factoring in all the bill's myriad revenue increases, revenue decreases, spending increases, spending decreases and reserve fund transfers) is $2.65422 billion through June 30, 2004.
Representatives Friend and Wolkins voted to increase the gas tax $65.4 million through June 30, 2004. One would think they could have found this amount somewhere in the $2.6 billion HB 1004 hoard without a gas tax increase. They have some explaining to do.
Aaron Smith
Watchdog Indiana
Lebanon
via e-mail
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- Responds To Story - Why An Increase In The Gasoline Tax?
Responds To Story
Editor, Times-Union:I have to respond to the front page story "Inmate Convicted After Scuffle With Officers." I was in that courtroom for every second of the trial and it seems funny to me that the reporter did not mention the fact that there were several officers sitting on Mike Hale and admitted on the stand that they were punching him in the back and arms while he was face down on the floor. Every officer who testified said that Knafel was standing at Michael's head and dragging him in by his shirt. The only officer who stated he was at Michael's feet and was kicked was Knafel himself. Considering no one including Knafel saw him get kicked, it seems more logical that his hand was probably injured while he was punching Mike in the back. The reporter also failed to mention that the video camera aimed at the area where the conflict took place was not running. According to the officers, it was not turned on because there was no time to turn it on and it is only used when a conflict is anticipated. All of the officers stated they did expect a conflict and Knafel clearly stated that he was standing in the control room from the time the officers walked to F Block, retrieved Hale and walked 250 feet to the hold cell. Is that not enough time to flip a switch? Not one of the officers' stories were the same, yet this was not mentioned. However, a totally irrelevant cocaine charge was mentioned.
Past felony convictions do not justify physical abuse of an inmate. One of the officers stated that 50 minutes after the conflict he returned to the cell and had to use mace on the inmate and he immediately backed down.
If it only took one officer and a spray in the face to get the inmate under control, then why were such extreme measures used to force him into the cell? Clearly the entire situation could have been avoided, however, the officers chose to use a physical attack and put themselves and the inmate in danger. It was a relief to hear the jailers tell the truth of what actually happened. It is too bad that a sworn officer cannot do the same. It is quite evident that once you are convicted of a previous felony or any lesser charge, you are judged against whether guilty or not by the officers and the prosecutors.
I have always believed that the officers have to do what is expected of them to keep order, however it sickens me to see the smug and arrogant attitude displayed in the courtroom by citizens we are supposed to look up to. I am very pleased that the bad judgment of hot-tempered officers did not cause this inmate to be sentenced to prison time he does not deserve. I can only hope that he will be allowed to serve out his sentence without further intimidation and someday get on with his life.
Michael's family would like to thank the jurors who did an outstanding job and returned a very just verdict. A special thanks to the jailers who were not persuaded to twist the story for the benefit of a fellow officer. Those are the kind of citizens we all want serving our community.
Christi Meade
Warsaw
Why An Increase In The Gasoline Tax?
Editor, Times-Union:Indiana House Representatives William Friend and David Wolkins have some explaining to do. Why did they vote to increase Indiana's gas tax on Feb. 5?
Just the day before, House Bill 1004 passed in the Indiana House. This omnibus tax and budget bill increases the sales tax rate 20 percent, increases four existing taxes, creates two new taxes, suspends three tax reductions, imposes 14 new fees and increases 166 existing fees. The net revenues increase generated by HB 1004 (after factoring in all the bill's myriad revenue increases, revenue decreases, spending increases, spending decreases and reserve fund transfers) is $2.65422 billion through June 30, 2004.
Representatives Friend and Wolkins voted to increase the gas tax $65.4 million through June 30, 2004. One would think they could have found this amount somewhere in the $2.6 billion HB 1004 hoard without a gas tax increase. They have some explaining to do.
Aaron Smith
Watchdog Indiana
Lebanon
via e-mail
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