Follow up to SA Police Officer Cover-up

On yesterday's blog I commented on the alleged cover-up by San Antonio police officers of a sergeant who may or may not have been intoxicated when he crashed his police cruiser while off duty.  In that posting I questioned the reliability of the evidence of the sergeants intoxication, and encouraged all of our citizens to keep an open mind about the guilt or innocence of all of the involved officers.  Our judicial system is not well served if we enter the jury box with our minds already leaning toward guilt or innocence.

I was interviewed today by Fox News San Antonio about this case.  In that interview I explained the danger of a cover up is the loss of confidence we have in our police.  If they cover up one officer committing a crime, then it becomes more likely that they will cover up more crimes and more officers committing those crimes.  It becomes a dangerous slippery slope that threatens to undermine our confidence that our officers are out there to serve and protect us.

I want this case investigated, but I also want to again urge caution when it comes to calls for the heads of the officers involved.  Every wrong action does not require an officer be fired.  Every wrong action does not require criminal charges.  Officers are held to a higher standard, but that standard cannot be so high that it becomes impossible for them to admit wrongdoing and find some level of grace and forgiveness. 

The consequences of DWI are too much for many to bear.  A misdemeanor DWI can cost you upwards of $10,000, loss of your job, family, and ability to travel outside the United States (some countries won't let someone with a DWI conviction to enter the country).  As I said in my interview with Fox News, I think this is what led the officers to take the actions they allegedly took.  The more overly harsh the penalties the greater likelihood that you will have situations like this arise.

If nothing else, perhaps we should use this situation as an opportunity to evaluate whether the penalties for a DWI exceed what is fair and rational.  Especially when there does not seem to be any consequence for prosecutors who violate the rights of DWI suspects.