By John Lovaas/Reston Impact
Producer/Host
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/
#Finally some of the smoke is
clearing. Sixteen months after unarmed John Geer was killed standing in his
doorway by an unidentified Fairfax County Police officer we are getting an
explanation of the wall of silence surrounding his death. In response to an
inquiry by U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the Fairfax Commonwealth
Attorney (prosecutor) Raymond Morrogh revealed why he failed to complete his
investigation into Mr. Geer’s killing and took the unusual step of passing the
case to the U.S. Attorney (U.S. Justice Dept.) a year ago. The Fairfax
prosecutor typically works closely with police investigators looking into
possible abuse or criminal acts by police officers. He depends on their
detective work in deciding whether to recommend charges or empanel a grand jury
(as in Ferguson, Mo. or New York City) to seek indictment. In the case of John
Geer’s death, Mr. Morrogh told Senator Grassley that “the decision by the Chief
of Police…to withhold requested materials effectively prevented me from
completing the investigation and rendering a decision.” Morrogh said that Chief
Roessler, who is appointed by and in theory accountable to Fairfax County Board
of Supervisors, was supported by County Attorney David Bobzien, also a
subordinate of the Chairman and Board of Supervisors in refusing to hand over
evidence. Furthermore, Roessler also refused to cooperate in providing evidence
requested by the Justice Department. Finally, the Justice Department took the
County and Police to court, and a judge ordered Fairfax County Police to
provide the evidence sought. Only now, under court order, have the cops agreed
to cooperate to some extent with the U.S. Attorney’s investigation. We shall
see.
#What on earth is going on
here? Why have we heard nothing from the people who the Police Chief works
for—Fairfax Board Chairman Sharon Bulova and the nine silent District
Supervisors? On Fairfax County’s organization chart, it is clear that the
Police Department--just like the Departments of Community Services, Planning
and Zoning, and Information Technology, for example—reports to, takes direction
from and has its policies set by the Chairman and Board of Supervisors.
Department chiefs can also be removed by the Board.
#Why have Bulova and the Board
not directed FCPD to drop the shroud of secrecy so inappropriate in an open
society, and to cooperate fully with the Commonwealth Attorney and Justice
Department? Indeed, who is in charge?
#Perhaps Chairman Bulova and
the Supes have not noticed the growing agitation here and around the USA about
the lack of accountability of police forces often resembling military units. In
view of the Geer killing and several others here under questionable
circumstances—including Dr. Salvatore Culosi, Randal Leroy Collins, David
Masters, Hailu Brooks—and FCPD’s 72-year history of no officer ever being
charged, Fairfax County may be the impunity capitol of the country. Other
jurisdictions the size of Fairfax County have created independent citizen
oversight panels to assure transparency and open communication on matters of
police abuse and use of lethal force. It is time this County did so as well.
Tragically, Fairfax County’s lack of accountability encourages a small number
of trigger-happy bad actors within the force to abuse their power, and lose for
all the confidence of those they are supposed to protect.
