Facts in Ferguson

            

            Lately, Ferguson Missouri seems to make the news almost nightly.  This is because Michael Brown an unarmed eighteen year old African American man was fatally shot and killed by a white police officer in August of this year.  Now three months later a Grand Jury has decided there is not enough evidence to indict Officer Darren Wilson.  This decision brings a lot of controversy, rioting, and unnecessary problems.

            A Grand Jury is, “a jury, at common law, of 12 to 23 persons, designated to inquire into alleged violations of the law in order to ascertain whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant trial.”[1]  Grand jurors are chosen from the same pool as those who are chosen for trial jurors.  They are usually made up of individuals who are retired or work from home.  Grand juries sit a lot longer than trial juries; on average sitting 18 months.  Grand jurors do not meet everyday, but only when needed.  [2]“The purpose of the grand jury is not to determine guilt or innocence, but to decide whether there is probable cause to prosecute someone for a felony crime. The grand jury operates in secrecy and the normal rules of evidence do not apply. The prosecutor runs the proceedings and a judge is not present.”

            Michael Brown had just robbed a convenience store when Officer Darren Wilson approached him.  Brown would not follow the officer’s directions and began to charge towards the officer.  Brown even tried to grab Officer Wilson’s gun.  Officer Wilson began to shoot at Brown until he backed off, then when Brown began to charge again, Officer Wilson began shooting again.  These shots proved to be fatal to Michael Brown.  

            The grand juries decision not to indict Officer Wilson came a little over a week ago, along with some very strong opinions.  Many wonder why he had to shoot Michael Brown so many times, or why he could not just shoot him in the knee to stop him from charging.  When a police officer shoots his gun it is not to wound someone, but it is to kill the person. They are specifically trained to shoot to kill.  You also have to remember that Officer Wilson had to make split second decisions, and did not have time to think through the whole scenario.  When Darren Wilson was interviewed, after the grand jury decided not to indict him, he stated that there was nothing he would have done differently.  This made a lot of people mad, but I think the question that should be asked is “what could have Michael Brown done differently?”  If the roles were reversed, and Michael Brown was the cop, his parents and many others might see a little more of Darren Wilson’s side.

            I have a unique perspective and very strong opinion on this whole tragedy.  My dad was a police officer for over twenty-five years, and I can not imagine him being placed in this situation.  My dad went out to protect and help others each day just like Officer Darren Wilson set out to do on August ninth.  How would I feel if some unruly teenager tried to attack my dad, all because he thought he did not need to obey the law?  Darren Wilson was doing his job, and when his life was endangered, he did what he was trained to do, protect it.  Now that he protected his life, he is never going to be able to really “live” again.  He will always be looking over his shoulder, and will not be able to work as a police officer again.  There is only one person that could have changed the whole outcome, and that person is Michael Brown. 

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[1] http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grand%20jury?s=t 

[2] grandjuryresistance.org/grandjuries.html