Last night, Dian presented a proposal to purchase video camera systems that would record all actions taken by the Coquille PD in the course of their duties. While I had to step out during that time, I believe she did an excellent job and I came back to hear one citizen offering to donate to a fund to raise the money needed for such an undertaking.
Dian is optimistic that the council will take this proposal seriously and I certainly hope that she is right. On the other hand I am admittedly pessimistic that without significant pressure from the public the council will do a thing.
The council did not take seriously the warnings they received last summer. They did not act then and they have not acted now and Carl Foster’s condition is a direct result of that failure on the part of the Coquille City Council. This is a blatant disregard for the very people that elected them and it borders on criminal negligence.
To date not one person from the city has contacted Kaycee Faught, Foster’s daughter, in any official or unofficial capacity. Notwithstanding an ongoing investigation even the unwilingness to bring up the issue at last night’s council meeting was telling. Linda Short made a point of sharing a tender story of one officer helping an old woman find a purse. The omission of the tragic, horrible events leading to Carl Foster becoming a quadriplegic, particularly in light of how important the matter is to the people of Coquille was a glaring refusal to take any responsibility for their failure to act.
Again and again, they take the word of Reaves and O’Connor over their own citizens.
They do not appear to lose much sleep. The city liability insurance is hopefully paid up because their inaction is going to cost the city dearly this time.
Am I to believe NOT ONE representative of the city, nor the Coq. Police Dept. has offered one word of sympathy for this young woman facing horrendous decisions concerning her father and his condition?
I think that says it all.
And please, do not flatter me with the knee-jerk, well they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t crap. These people are human beings and deserve nothing less than to know this city takes responsibility for the actions of their employees. Hell, even DimSon Bush sometimes, in his dim little way, sort of, apologizes for the destruction he has wrought around the world.
Shame on the CPD, and their bosses in local government.
Sleep well.