Letter: Truth of Pasco police shooting breeds injustice, not trust

In response to Adelita Martinez’s letter (“Proud of Pasco police,” TCH, Oct. 1), please don’t respond to my words defensively, as they should be merely taken as a wakeup call.

In order to break through the facade of “equal representation,” we need to have roundtable discussions where we examine issues and concerns. I believe it’s appropriate to admit when institutions we believe in and which function with our tax dollars have become flawed and present the appearance that they serve everyone equally.

As the Pasco Police Department chaplain, you are one of those token Hispanics or individuals who capitulate to the notion that we should not question certain institutions and instead give injustice our tacit approval by not doing or saying anything.

I find it difficult to be proud of a city and police chief who stood idle and watched a prosecutor set a precedent to allow officers to shoot and kill mentally ill people armed with rocks. Then the chief doubled down and determined through an internal review that the three officers didn’t violate department policy.

All the truth is in the videos, which I and others have Zaprudered time after time. Truth is supposed to breed trust, but in the city of Pasco it just breeds injustice.

Kennewick

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Letter: Truth of Pasco police shooting breeds injustice, not trust."