The Oklahoma Eagle Editorial
Betty Shelby has been found not guilty in the murder of unarmed Terence Crutcher, a fact only because a Tulsa jury said so. She has had her record expunged and can say it never happened, even though it did.
Tulsa juries are a funny bunch, it took four of them to convict Shannon Kepler, the ex-Tulsa policeman who gunned down his daughter’s boyfriend Jeremey Lake, who was Black. He was not convicted of murder, but of first degree manslaughter. One might say justice was partially found that day. But, Shelby’s verdict is still a bitter pill and it has not been made better since she walked free and partied the night away in celebration. A form of justice still awaits her.
Despite her glee over her expungement, if the court deems it appropriate, her records can be unsealed. Say, she decides to open fire on another unarmed citizen, a judge can open her records up. This is the case for the next 10 years.
No one in the law enforcement community stepped up and said she did not deserve expungement consideration. She had no priors. Ironically, Crutcher was said to have had drugs in his system. The media and Shelby’s lawyers made the case that was reason enough to kill him. Of course, she had no way of knowing that when she shot him. Funny how justice works for some and not for others.
Shelby is now a reserve deputy for the Rogers’ County Sheriff’s Office. Does this mean she can legally carry a gun and shoot another unarmed man? She is acquainted with the Rogers’ County sheriff and made a very public announcement when she was sworn in. She wants to stay in the business of carrying a gun. But, the Crutcher family is not done with her. The family has a pending Federal civil rights lawsuit against her and Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan.
The burden of proof for violating Crutcher’s civil rights is much different than it is for a district jury and will take another look at her role in the death of Crutcher. It will not, despite an expungement, keep her name out of the news regarding the death of the unarmed Crutcher. Not all juries are like Tulsa County juries, she may find the Federal case harder to navigate.
LAW-MAKERS FIGHTING FOR THE SOUL OF THE STATE OVER BUDGET PRIORITIES
Disagreements over Oklahoma’s State budget and tax proposals are so raw, law-makers are openly cussing each other, for some pretty compelling reasons. Oklahoma is a microcosm of the Federal fight to refine government. Both protect the interest of the wealthy while asking lower and middle-income citizens to bear the brunt of the cuts. And Republicans are in charge of the State and Federal governments. Badly outnumbered and by all accounts weak and an ineffective Democrats on the State and Federal level are starting to fight back. That is good for governments everywhere.
As divisive as the Federal government is, it may very well be in better shape than the Oklahoma State budget. Schools are so badly underfunded it’s hard to imagine what it will take to fully fund Oklahoma’s education and mental health programs, including substance abuse. The latter is looking at zero budgets to the point where State bureaucrats say the services are essentially zeroed out this budget year. No counseling in the State which wasn’t providing enough already, and eliminating drug court. Of course, in the absence of drug court, judges have to send offenders to prison and not allow appropriate prisoners to return to their communities. This of course will fill our prisons that are always looking for more funds.
While Oklahoma would love to pay teachers more since it’s been years since they have received a pay increase, most schools are hoping to just hire those who are qualified to teach. Tragically, just filling the bare minimum still puts Oklahoma at the bottom of spending on education. Just trying to bring the State up to shameful is the goal. But, in order to do this, the State budget makers are planning to raise taxes and fees on products mainly used by lower income and middle-income citizens. And the wealthy will not bear this burden or even their fair share. In fact, corporations like oil and gas companies will maintain their Gross Production tax cuts. Democrats are asking for the petroleum industry to share in the burden but have found no Republican to join them. Returning the tax levels back their original levels and not raising them beyond that is all the progressives are asking for.
Of course, substance abuse programs are getting cut along with counseling. Prisons will maintain spending levels. The State has cut education but has left corrections unscathed. This speaks to what kind of heart this State has in its once proud chest.
Today, we don’t care about rehabilitation of people we put in prison, about educating students, helping people needing counseling and substance abuse treatment or environmental programs. We apparently believe making the rich richer is what the State needs. And if there is going to be any extra money raised it will come from the low and middle income. House leaders are openly cussing each other over this budget. The democrats have been silent way too long, and salty language aside it’s time to stand up and fight for the soul of a State which once cared about working people and the least among us.
