Suspected cop killer takes hostages in northern Georgia, page 1

It is good that the hostages were released, and no more blood shed happened.

After living in Athens for five years this is very surprising. It is a pretty small town with relatively low violent crime. This type of violence would be expected in Atlanta, or even Savannah. Not in Athens though.

I do not know the specifics of the case. It is unclear if the suspect is mentally estranged, inebriated, or in some other unstable state. It is also unclear why he did what he did. Apparently, his brother was shot to death by police in 2001. I have to imagine this had some role in his decision to assassinate a police officer.

It is sad to say this, but if this man had not taken hostages he probably would not have been taken alive.

This event brings up several issues that are prevalent in both Athens, and for that matter the entire deep South. Athens is one of leading cities in the nation in poverty. The city of Athens has specific conditions which contribute to this, but there are broader issues that are reflected across the South.

Mainly poor African-American communities across the South have far higher levels of all social ills. These communities have higher unemployment, drug use, and police brutality. They have few voices in government, and little options to find redress for grievances.

I think a case can be made that the War on Drugs has kept a form of martial law in the "ghettos." This includes police shooting often unarmed suspects. This leads to anger, and a palpable seething undercurrent of rage toward both law enforcement and government.

Another factor to this is economic uncertainty, and poverty. If you are on your last dollar, and you are going hungry your mentality begins to change. You begin to get angry. You lash out at anything, or anyone who you can direct your anger at.

I think that it is a mistake to always assume that a lone crazy did something violent. It is important to look with clear eyes at what may cause such things to happen. Unless we look honestly at our social problems they will never be cured.

In this case he had a family history that increased his hate for police. If he was inebriated or just plain desperate then it created a terrible situation. Whatever the reason he chose to take an innocent life to channel his own pain. A terrible shame that a good man had to die, and that another man felt he needed to take a life.

edit on 25-3-2011 by stephinrazin because: (no reason given)