Springfield officers
acted appropriately
To servo and protect. That is the creed that police offers
take to the streets with them each time their patrol cars
leave the station. The power invested in them is the pow
er to willfully protect, and they are fully trained to do so.
Of the 27 bullets that were fired at Joe Gene Barton, the
Springfield man who was fatally shot by two Springfield
police officers, only two were found to be the piercing
shots that claimed his life. Of the 27 shots that were fired,
only seven even impacted the man who was hiding under
an outside deck. But this is real life, obviously not Hol
lywood.
Watching the latest Lethal Weapon or Van Damme
movie, wo see victim after victim falling to their hypo
thetical death with one bullet hitting them dead center.
Police tactics are to restrain and minimize danger. How
ever. in some cases there is no time to restrain, and the
police officers in Springfield did minimize danger. When
officers do perceive the danger of a situation relevant
to gunfire, thoy are trained to shoot. Beyond the lights of
Hollywood, statistics are on the side of tho Springfield
officers.
More man eu percent 01 puuce uaupvu ai a
range within 10 foot. Police officors that do fire their guns
actually land only 11 porcent of their shots. The Spring
field officers hit with 30 percent of their shots, let alone
they were firing at Barton, who was concealed under
an 18-inch-high outdoor deck. Furthermore, the police
officors wore 20 and 30 feet away.
Once Barton had dropped his gun, the officers stopped
shooting. (They are trained to shoot until the threat ceas
os - until Barton dropped his gun.) Prematurely ceasing
fire while Barton was still holding his gun could have
resulted in shots fired at the officers or others in the area.
Once the shooting had stopped, after Barton dropper! his
gun. he continued to struggle with emergency medical
personnel. Barton had not barricadod himself, nor had
he shown potential to compromise. He was warned
numerous times to put down his gun and ho did not. He
was warned that he would be shot at if he did not put
down his gun. He said shoot.
Many believe that bullets from a handgun are deadly
no matter what. But a victim may not even know that
they have been immediately hit. in the heat of an intense
situation, if the wound is not life threatening. This fact,
coupled with the notion that. although there are no tox
icology and tissue reports available, there is the possi
bility that illegal drugs may have been a factor in the vic
tim's bloodstream. The officers did discover drug
paraphernalia when they searched Barton's possessions.
If illegal drugs were a factor, this would further strength
en the argument that the police officers were within tneir
constraints. Many drugs alter one's awareness, even to
the point of not immediately recognizing a gunshot
wound.
The police officers fired until Barton dropped his gun
— his gun that was painted at tho officers. They used
force that was necessary for the given situation. The alter
natives offered little demise for different circumstances.
The officers, although shooting 27 shots, shot as they
were trained.
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COMMENTARY
For Oregon’s sake, fire Brooks
By David S Bell
or years, the University has
taken pride in what it has
to offer its students arid
community.
We. as all institutions of repu
tation. seize opportunities to
improve our campus and pro
grams. Attracting some of the
greatest minds in the country, our
journalism. arOiitecture and envi
ronmental law programs have
evolved as national leaders, earn
ing the respect of all who spe
cialize in these professions. Our
tradition has been one of growth,
change and fearless pursuit of
excellence.
This sometime* requires us to
bid farewell to old ideas and
faces, while welcoming the new.
Although change is never easy,
even when the problems are
painfully obvious, we have act
ed in response to the need and
gained from it.
The wheels of change must
again lie set in motion. Times of
passive observant* are no longer
appropriate. It is tinvM° face an
unshakablo shortcoming that has
crippled our university for years.
It is time to release the old argu
ments based on patience and
indifference It is time to embrace
the undeniable reality of the
thorn burning in our paw. It is
time to face facts and act upon
them. It is time to fire Rich
Brooks.
No longer can the Oregon fans
endure the Autzen Stadium walk
of shame, knowing in our hearts
(hat we had (ho mettle to pro
duce, if it hadn't been for the
guidance of a fool. It is my opin
ion that Rich Brooks could do no
more damage to Oregon if he
were on the California payroll
(which now may he open to
debate).
It is my opinion that when our
piaybooks read as simply as Cat
in the Hat — when coaching
efforts result in repeated disap
pointment — we must turn else
where for our success. It is my
opinion that when the crowd cum
forecast the Ducks' next offensive
or defensive series with remark
able accuracy, when we produce
great players but play average
football, when Oregon has not
dented the top 10 since Christ
was a freshman — it is time for a
change It is my opinion that Rich
Brooks is as much a strategist as
Kelly Bundy.
You cannot argue with the sta
tistics. You cannot argue with the
overall and conference win-loss
record. You cannot argue with
unshakable figures — crying tes
timonies to his dismal and par
alyzing contributions to the Ore
gon football program I say that if
Rich Brooks were to coach the
Cowboys, they would lose to the
cheerleaders. The numbers speak
for themselves. Head coach for
the Oregon Ducks football team
is no charity, and any way you
look at it. he has failed.
Let Rich Brooks anil his staff
champion mediocrity and weak
ness at some other school. We
must say "Enough!" We must
usher in someone new and hun
gry for victory — somebody with
the knowledge, leadership and
drive it takes to produce a nation
al football power We, ourselves,
must have the courage to
acknowledge the painful truth
that we should have acted on
years ago. 'Hie numbers speak for
themselves.
Or, maybe you would rather
chew on another come-from
behind victory from Cal? Maybe
you would rather cringe when
the Ducks face the Huskies? Per
haps you would rather suck
down another helping of bitter
Civil War defeat? We must have
the inspiration to let go of the out
dated and failing, and seek out
the new and potential. We must
be guided by our error of passiv
ity in order to bring about foot
ball seasons benefiting all Ore
gon athletics and students.
We, as alumni, faculty and stu
dents, must demand change to
breathe the financial benefits of
a Rose Bowl into those tiring and
dwindling programs of our
school. We have already seen the
political remedies to our finan
cial necessities in the form of
1990‘s Ballot Measure 5 We must
act for ourselves. We can no
longer suffer with his brilliant
and creative displays of incapa
bility. Sure, he may tend to grow
on you. but so does cancer. It is
time to cut free the anchor hold
ing back the Oregon battleship
and sail. Fire Brooks.
David S. Bell is a University
alumnus, class of 199t.
LETTERS
God-Man
A response to Janet
Cromwell's letter calling Christ
ian support for Clinton's health
care plan. Cromwell draws the
incarnate God with socially
responsible colored markers.
Again Christ is a front, a super
aware advocate for abortion, gay
rights, and now socialized med
icine. She does not see that soci
ety is an entity opposed to the
Cod-Man.
Cromwell blinks and mutters,
but neither sees nor utters true
Christianity in her summons "to
support health, wholeness and
healing for all people." Where
does she call for humility,
repentance, asceticism, and cen
tral to this argument, rather than
reliance on programs, welfare,
society or charity to cure ills,
injustice, and poverty? Christ's
miracles were metaphors for the
soul repentant. Greed and
inequity mar American health
care; let Clinton's plan pass and
be implemented, and perhaps
there will be more justice. But
shun the blasphemy of evoking
Christ for schemes of societal
progression. And Christians,
turn to your prime end of spiri
tual perfection.
Andrew Shaffer
Eugene