What strikes me when I compiled this and all the articles relating to this shooting, is that it all adds up to an OBITUARY, added to that which his family put in the paper. These LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND OP-ED PIECES appeared in the Eureka Reporter. The other local daily paper does not post their letters online. Anyone wishing to submit letters that have been transcribed, feel free to use the email link.
Parents who don't care for their children are 'takers,' not 'givers'
11/13/2006
Dear Editor,
“I smell a lawsuit brewing.” Yes, and it really stinks! And we the taxpayers are going to have to pay and pay again.
We are already paying to house and take care of the offspring of these people who choose to raise them in a lifestyle I wouldn’t raise my dog in.
And when their failures spill out into the normal world, who pays? We do, and so do their offspring, sometimes with their lives or others’! These people are not givers, they are takers. They feed off the failures they created under the guise of, “I was a good mom and my son was an angel, a good boy!” This is really wearing thin!
V.D. Dimoree
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Mother of child shot shouldn't be surprised at how he turned out
11/14/2006
Dear Editor,
The anti-police demonstrators must think the police should just stand there while being threatened by a gun or knife.
Over here in Arcata, two black female college students attacked an officer and hurt him; however, I suspect that he could have hurt them but didn’t because they were girls. The attitude of the college president was to stick up for the two out-of-control females. Go figure.
My point is just because the subject is young doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. An armed hostile person is definitely dangerous.
Having a hostile 16-year-old boy brandish a hunting knife at him, the officer was in danger of his life.
Anyone who has seen a hunting knife knows that.
We need to support our police, for if it wasn’t for them, we would be over-burdened by criminals and drugs, including the supposedly innocent marijuana smokers.
We so need a crimefighter like Eliot Ness, who was a true-life person portrayed on television.
I wasn’t going to criticize Burgess’ mother until I read her letter to the Times-Standard in which she calls the police thugs and bullies who join the force so they can push people around.
If this woman really believes that, why would she be surprised how her boy turned out?
Evelyn Thompson
Arcata
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Burgess' criminal history disqualifies him from victimhood
11/11/2006
Dear Editor,
The incident involving the death of Christopher Burgess is unfortunate. Having a mother’s heart, I cannot imagine losing one of my children in any fashion — much less a violent death such as this.
His mother said it takes a village to raise a child and she asked, “Where was the village?” From what I read in the paper, the village has been raising him since he was 10 years old and is now raising his 12-year-old brother. He was supposed to be living with his grandmother, but she hadn’t seen him three weeks.
It is a horrible situation, but why are we victimizing this young man? He was not a little boy. He was a 16-year-old, the size of a man, with a criminal history. He had a warrant out for his arrest and was threatening law enforcement officers with a large knife. After not responding to pepper spray, he ran with the knife and basically made a choice that cost him his life.
It’s easy to speculate from the outside looking in, but we weren’t there. Consider a little compassion for the police officer who was there and who had to make a life-or-death decision in a moment. His is not an easy job.
Cynthia Gramm
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Blame for shooting lies in a home that didn't teach values, morals
11/10/2006
Dear Editor,
The reason we have law enforcement and a Probation Department is because there is a large, vast “community” in our society that actively chooses to violate the laws of this country.
Although my heart goes out to Margorie Burgess over the loss of her son, it is the “community” that she chose to raise her child in that (landed) him on probation.
This community (in which) she raised him was of drug addicts, alcoholics, ne’er-do-wells and convicts. This is the same community that she raises her other children in.
If Margorie and others want to lay blame and point fingers over the circumstances that led to her son’s death, she needs to point at herself. Chris was raised in an environment of crime and drugs.
It is not probation’s fault that he made the choices that he did. Probation and the courts did everything they could to help. Many people were involved in trying to help Chris and guide him on the right path. It appears he chose to continue to break the law, do drugs, disregard his probation and put himself in harm’s way.
Where do we lay the blame? Values and morals come from the home and from the family. The “community” of law-abiding citizens cannot be blamed for the behavior of children raised in criminal and/or abusive environments. All we can do is attempt to clean up the mess these pathetic parents have placed their children in and keep our fingers crossed that all our attempts, encouragement and positive role-modeling will make an impact on these kids’ tragic lives.
Is this a tragic, sad situation? You bet. But we have a whole “community” of kids out there being raised by parents who don’t deserve to raise children.
The system didn’t fail Chris; the way he was raised and the choices of his own family failed him. My only hope is that Margorie will save her other children from the same outcome that befell Chris.
We also need to be thankful that there are people out there in this community who do care about these kids and do everything in their power to help these kids change the courses of their lives before it is too late.
Joy Hill
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Local youth resources exist; lack of them didn't lead to shooting
11/10/2006
Dear Editor,
It is not true that there is nothing available for children in the Eureka area, as stated by Margorie Burgess. A few examples would be Scouts, activities such as sports, music, theater groups, volunteer opportunities, coach-instructed athletics such as dance or gymnastics, 4-H and FFA clubs, church/faith-based youth groups and our beautiful new library.
Christopher Burgess was obviously a troubled child, and he died because he made a bad choice by threatening a police officer, not because there was nothing to occupy him in a constructive way.
A child does not exist in a vacuum. When there is a troubled child, there is a troubled family. When a family recognizes they need help, success is gained when all members take part in making changes. A child can’t be treated successfully without a family’s participation. County and private parenting classes, county and private respite resources, county and private MDs/PhDs/licensed counselors, and teachers and schools, when used, are enormously valuable.
Christopher Burgess was obviously a troubled child, and he died because he made a bad choice by threatening a police officer, not because there was no assistance available in his time(s) of crisis.
Patty Jackson, RN
McKinleyville
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Know the facts before judging
Op-ED
by Richard E. McGinty, Eureka , 11/14/2006
As have many other concerned Eureka citizens, I have been following the story of the tragic shooting of Christopher Burgess by an officer with the Eureka Police Department. To that end, I was one of the interested citizens who attended a recent specially called City Council meeting.
Please indulge me with the opportunity to offer my take on this tragedy. But first, a little background. I am retired, after 24 years of service, from the California Highway Patrol.
Over those 24 years, I found myself on several occasions near the point of using deadly force. One of those instances occurred in the early 1970s. On the evening prior to this incident, four CHP officers in the Newhall were fatally gunned down by two merciless killers.
Beginning my shift the day following their murders, I was at a heightened state of awareness over my own mortality and was extremely tense. On one of my first enforcement stops that day, I stopped a man for a routine traffic offense, made a careful approach to his vehicle, explained the reason for the stop and asked for his driver’s license and vehicle registration. Without thinking, the driver quickly opened his center console to retrieve his registration. Lying on top of the registration was what appeared to be a large-caliber automatic pistol. Reacting only on instinct and training, I drew my service revolver as the man placed his hand on the weapon. I very quickly placed my revolver against the man’s head and ordered him to slowly remove his hand from the weapon or I would shoot.
Thankfully, he complied without complication. It was only after safely removing the subject from his vehicle that I determined the weapon was his son’s toy pistol. To this day I don’t believe that man knows how close he came to death.
The point of that anecdote is to hopefully allow those in our community to get a sense of the very serious judgments police officers are forced to make on a daily basis.
At that council meeting, I listened as numerous people rose to accuse the EPD officer of committing murder without a single fact to support such allegations. Several speakers stated emphatically — even though they admittedly were not witnesses to this tragedy — that they knew Mr. Burgess was not carrying a hunting knife, even though there were many witnesses who have reportedly stated he was so armed.
Most spoke about the EPD officer as though they had been to the scene, observed the foot pursuit and gone down in that little ravine with the officer and Mr. Burgess. But none had. The allegations of murder were all based simply on innuendo and rumor.
I understand the cries for justice, but I doubt any of them would want to be tried on such a basis. Folks, that is simply not the way justice works.
I understand the very human tendency to “Monday morning quarterback,” but I would ask that everyone try to put themselves in the shoes of the EPD officer who took Mr. Burgess’ life. They should ask these questions of themselves:
• What would you do after hearing about a young male resisting arrest from county probation officers?
• What would you do if you knew the suspect was fleeing past a crowded school playground and that he was armed with and brandishing a 10-inch-long hunting knife?
• What would you do if advised that the suspect had run into a small ravine that gave access to numerous home yards where this armed suspect could potentially take hostages?
• What would you do if you had to follow that young man into a densely brush-covered ravine?
• What would you do if that subject came at you with his 10-inch-long hunting knife (not a toy rubber knife) from only 4 to 6 feet away?
• What would you do if given only milliseconds, not minutes, hours, days or weeks to decide whether to fire your weapon to protect your own life?
• What would you do?
I have the sense that that night’s council meeting called by Eureka Mayor Peter La Vallee was terribly ill-advised. I do not believe it to be constructive to air sentiment based on insinuation, gossip and misinformation until all the facts, in terms of eyewitness reports and forensic evidence, have been assembled, reviewed and disseminated. Only when facts, not innuendo or rumor, are available should the mayor call for a public forum on such a divisive issue.
I think everyone, on both sides of this issue, would agree that it is a tragedy to lose the life of one so young as Mr. Burgess. But let us not rush to judgment until the facts in this case are revealed.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Police deserve 100 percent support
Op-ED
by Suzanne Hillman, Fortuna, 11/14/2006
Enough! As a single mother of three, I can understand the frustration and sorrow that Christopher Burgess’ family feels at his loss. I am sympathetic to the loss that Cheri Moore’s family feels as well, having dealt with a mentally ill family member for years myself.
The point, however, that keeps getting lost in the emotional back and forth between these families, outraged citizens and others is the root of the problem — citizen safety.
As citizens of this community, we have the right to feel safe, to be safe in our community. We rely on cities and government agencies to uphold that safety for us. We count on cities and government officials to hire qualified personnel to law enforcement positions to protect us, our families and our property.
Our community has grown increasingly violent. Our local law enforcement officers deal daily with more and more violent criminals, weapons violations and serious offenders. Just read the papers — armed robberies, weapons violations, assaults and other violent crimes are a daily occurrence in Eureka, Arcata and Fortuna these days. Every day, our local officers put on their uniforms and go out into the streets, to protect us from those individuals and elements.
Terry Liles did exactly what he was hired to do. Thank God for the men and women of our local law enforcement agencies, who put their lives on the line every single day to protect us! Regardless of the age, gender, ethnicity or size of the suspect he was apprehending, the officer responding to that call did what he had to do to protect himself, the other officers responding to the call and community residents.
The suspect, Christopher Burgess, was armed with a large knife. He was dangerously close to an elementary school full of children, about to be dismissed for the day. Would those protesters at the Courthouse have wanted him to run into the schoolyard, grab a child and hold one hostage — at knifepoint — or worse?
A knife is a seriously dangerous weapon, and a “child,” juvenile delinquent or full-sized adult suspect can inflict a great deal of damage with just one thrust of a blade that size.
This “child,” wielding a knife at a probation and law enforcement officer, was raised by foster parents and was in and out of juvenile hall for the past six or seven years. Suddenly, his family comes forward to say what a wonderful, “good” kid he was. How do they know? For the most part, he was raised by the law enforcement system!
He had a history of violent behavior, judging by the fact that he had been expelled from school at the age of 10 for bringing a knife to school. Would probation officers have been at the residence to serve a warrant on a “good” child? No.
Burgess’ mother keeps repeating over and over that our communities’ citizens have the right to be safe. Thanks to officers like Terry Liles, we are.
What this community should be rallying together for is support for the officer who had to end this juvenile criminal’s life. Understandably, that officer is traumatized and upset himself. Any time an officer is required to use lethal force against another human being, it is a life-altering act on all sides, and not one that any cop I know takes lightly.
Our law enforcement officers deserve our 100 percent support of the job they do. It is thankless job at best, and not one that most of us, as citizens, would take on ourselves. I am deeply grateful for the outstanding law enforcement officers that we are blessed with here on the North Coast, and thankful to Officer Liles and the other members of the Eureka Police Department who respond so quickly to protect the citizens of our community.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Eureka works to face issues of teen's death
Op-Ed
by Peter La Vallee, Eureka, 11/10/2006
The Eureka City Council recently met in a special session that I had called following the shooting of Christopher Burgess. I would like to share my thoughts on why I called this meeting.
This shooting is a tragedy for the Burgess family and friends, the Eureka Police Department officers involved and the community as a whole.
The extent to which the community has been affected is clearly evidenced by the number of calls received at City Hall, letters submitted to the editors of our local newspapers and demonstrations on the streets of our city.
This strong showing of interest and concern regarding the incident compelled me to ensure that communication between city officials and members of the community remained open and timely.
I held a news conference the morning following the shooting and made a promise that information would be provided to the public in a timely manner and that my door was open to anyone who wanted to talk about the incident. I received several calls and listened to what people had on their minds.
It is for this reason that I called the special session of the council — to ensure that our police chief could update the community on the status of the investigation and to allow members of the community to directly address the council with their thoughts and feelings surrounding the incident.
The City Council Chamber was packed to capacity with people standing behind the seating area and in the hallway. The second-floor conference room was filled with people watching the televised proceeding.
This response clearly demonstrates that our community is concerned about the incident and the broader issues presented by the speakers that evening.
The incident is still under investigation and we will not know all of the facts before it is completed and the results released to the public.
It is entirely appropriate that the council not talk about the investigation as it unfolds. What happened is speculative until the evidence is in and verified.
It is entirely appropriate, however, to discuss the broader issues raised by members of our community. Now is the time to gather information that can be the basis for a rich and productive dialogue on how we can strengthen and support the relationship between our police department and the community. Much can be gained from the knowledge that comes from times of crisis.
I was moved by the thoughtfulness of the presenters as they put their grief and anger aside long enough to discuss viable options that could help us to avoid similar events in the future.
Now is not the time to limit our options; it is time to consider as many alternatives as possible that will hold the promise of creating an atmosphere of respect and confidence between the community and our police department.
Several ideas were put on the table at the special council meeting. They include:
+ establishment of a police review board;
+ conducting independent investigations of high-profile incidents; and
+ recognizing the importance of parental responsibility and finding ways for the community to help parents who struggle with child-rearing.
I was anxious about Monday’s special council session, fearing its potential to become a shouting match between polarized factions in our community.
When I went home after the meeting, I was filled with confidence and an enthusiasm that we can, as a community, face the issues raised by this shooting incident and work together to find real and positive solutions.
(Peter La Vallee is Eureka’s mayor.)
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Our community is the failure, not Chris Burgess' mother
11/10/2006
Dear Editor,
This letter is in response to Mrs. Valentine’s letter dated Oct. 27. Who are you to judge another? You must be the most perfect mother in the world. I’m sure your children are perfect, your house is perfect, your husband is perfect and you have money.
Am I correct in assuming this? I find it absolutely appalling that you are actually blaming the mother. Don’t you think Mrs. Burgess will suffer and grieve over this for the rest of her life?
What is the matter with you? Apparently, you don’t realize what raising teenagers is like in this day and age. Why would this young man run away? — duh! Maybe he was scared to death. You must realize he was only 16. I’m sure that when you were that age you made all the right choices. Give me a break!
There is no excuse in this world why an EPD officer shot and killed a young man. Why didn’t they let him stay in the gully until he was tired and hungry and let him come out on his own?
I lived in the area most of my life and the gully is not that big. Why didn’t the officer back off? This isn’t Iraq!
I am scared to death for all the young people in our area who have had a difficult time growing up and if they get in trouble and run, what should the EPD do? Shoot them! What a horrible thought. And it is happening right in our own community. Next time you want to blame someone, Ms. Valentine, blame yourself. Remember it takes a community to raise a child. Don’t judge lest you be judged! And some day you will be judged. Mrs. Burgess is not a failure, our community is!
Marla Millburn
Rio Dell
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Disrespect shown to Eureka police is 'unbelievable'
11/7/2006
Dear Editor,
The extreme outward showing of disrespect (i.e. protests, accusations and petitions) of the Eureka Police Department is unbelievable to me.
These people have no appreciation for those who must deal with and act effectively in tragic, life-threatening situations, for those who go to work every day to protect Eureka’s citizens against harmful individuals.
These people did not stand face-to-face with a teenager armed with a 10-inch-long knife, yet they are quick to lay blame on an officer whose greatest “crime” was saving his own life.
These people make Christopher Burgess to be simply “just a child” and, even more contradictory, claim him to be innocent. Innocent children are not on probation for years at a time, do not bring knives to an elementary school and do not threaten police officers.
How this young man chose to die, by not following directions from Officer Liles, was tragic for his family, but it also serves as a valuable lesson to those who consider being lethally dangerous: grave actions have grave consequences.
On another note, I read an article which appeared to be concerned that children are going to be “living in fear.” This idea is simply absurd. Wouldn’t the public feel safer that the police are doing their job, or would they rather them treat these types of seriously dangerous individuals with kindness and a smile?
In conclusion, I would like to give my support to Officer Liles and the whole Eureka Police Department.
Aileen Burns
Arcata
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Nobody should have been shocked by coroner's report
11/7/2006
Dear Editor,
Let’s have a show of hands here.
Who was utterly shocked and amazed that the coroner’s report showed that young Burgess was an intravenous methamphetamine user?
Anyone?
David Peebles
Fortuna
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Officer, department owed an apology by community residents
11/7/2006
Dear Editor,
While the death of Christopher Burgess is a tragedy, I find the public crucifixion of Officer Liles abhorrent.
I am appalled that the Sunday Times-Standard would choose to glorify the life of Mr. Burgess in a front-page, headline article, complete with family photos.
Had Officer Liles hesitated a moment longer and died at the hands of Mr. Burgess, would the same amount of media coverage and public outrage be generated? I think not.
May I propose these realities for media and the public to consider:
• All the birthdays, anniversaries, sporting events, school programs and holidays that members of the law enforcement community miss due to their desire to serve and protect the very people who vilify them;
• the canceled vacations due to mandatory court appearances;
• the images from nightmares one experiences after entering a house with a body that has been dead for 10 days, broiling in the summer heat, or having a 3-year-old suffering from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound die in your arms;
• and finally, the tragic aftermath for the spouse, children, family members and friends of a police officer who gave the suspect the benefit of the doubt and ended up being murdered in the line of duty by a 16-year-old “child” armed with “only a knife,” a “child high on methamphetamine,” a “child” that “the system failed.”
These are the realities you won’t see in media or hear the community protesting about. What a shame. Those who have criticized Officer Liles and the Eureka Police Department owe them an apology.
Janet Hamilton
Ferndale
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
The 'system' needs some answers before execution
by Phil Dean, Eureka, 11/6/2006
Dittos to John Burke and Richard Lyons in your opinion section of the Oct. 30 issue. However, I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Lyons’ comment that we as a community have an animus feeling of the police in general. I believe the majority of citizens have respect for all our law enforcement. There is always a minority that will think the cops are out to get them. Why is that?
I am the father of two and the loss of a child to any parent has to be a traumatic event. But I am appalled by the hateful statements that Ms. Burgess has made — the most recent: “You can kill a child and then get a paid vacation.” In my opinion, that is over the top and exposes her for her lack of responsibility and victim mentality.
I have a different take on this unfortunate incident. Contrary to her statements that the system failed her, I see the “system” as providing a great deal of support for the Burgess family.
And let’s not forget who the system includes. Us, the community. Did we not pay for foster care when she was and apparently still is a “struggling mother”? Did we not pay for the juvenile delinquent system when her child was in trouble? Did we not pay for the salaries of the probation officers, counselors, police officers, public administrators and the rest of the “system” that supposedly failed her son when he was a challenge and, obviously, a threat to us, the community?
Yes, we all gave hoping the outcome would be a positive and productive future for Christopher. Ms. Burgess made a choice and so did her son.
I saw a sign in the yard of a Eureka home that read “Liles murdered Christopher Burgess.” Did Officer Liles kill Christopher? Yes. Did he murder him? My guess is no.
The “system” needs many questions answered before Ms. Burgess and her mob perform the lynching. My favorite member is the 12-year-old boy with the target on the sign he was carrying. Is that not exploitation of children? What is Liles’ history as a Eureka police officer? Did he serve his community with a clear conscience? Is he a cold-blooded murderer?
What is the history of Ms. Burgess for 10 years prior to her son being placed in foster care? Why is her other child in foster care? Where and who is the father? Why won’t she accept any responsibility? What is her motive for hiring an attorney? Does she want the truth or does she want to extract money from the “system”?
I know some who read this will think these questions are out of line and intrusive, but as an individual member of the “system,” I have the right to some answers before the execution. Just as Ms. Burgess has the right to parade her hate around our community. God loves her in spite of herself.
And to Officer Liles, thank you for serving your community. And to his family, God loves you, too, and will be your refuge.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
God bless Humboldt County
Op-Ed
by J. R. Rose, Ferndale, 11/4/2006
I am flabbergasted at the protest regarding the death of Mr. Burgess. His death is a sad event. However, before we canonize Mr. Burgess, can we at least look at the reality of the situation? Mr. Burgess grabbed a weapon while fleeing police for violating parole. He threatened probation officers and fled the scene.
He was peppersprayed twice and continued to threaten to stab officers.
He continued to flee the officers and threaten them down in the gulch. Including brandishing a knife at the police officer at a distance of five feet when he was cornered in the gulch.
At this point what should the officer have done? Should he have allowed this thug to kill him? I don’t doubt that, that response would be acceptable to some of the friends and family of this fine upstanding local citizen.
Or would the protestors have preferred they let Mr. Burgess go? I mean he was very close to schools and elderly people with a deadly weapon. Nothing wrong with allowing a fleeing criminal go in that situation right? I mean when he was 10 he took a knife to school, and that worked out well, didn’t it?
Mr. Burgess had several opportunities to surrender himself to the police. He made conscious choices to disobey the law, repeatedly. He made a conscious decision to threaten to kill unarmed probation officers. He refused to comply when confronted with non-lethal means on at least two occasions. He made a choice to not give up in the gulch when he knew he couldn’t escape, and finally he chose to make one final threat. This time he did it to an armed officer, who had no choice but to protect himself.
This was his choice. He had made several poor choices in his life since age 10. Maybe if his mother would spend less time blaming the system and more time examining the way her child was raised then maybe she’d see that. Of course that would be admitting her partial culpability in this sad carnival. And that’s just not the Humboldt County Way is it?
The Times-Standard and The Eureka Reporter were oh so quick to publish stories from the friends and family of this exemplary young man. The fact his girlfriend said she loved him, right before he threatened to kill a probation officer was truly a hallmark moment.
I’m sure that he was a happy, joyful, young man who loved hugs and puppies. His death, like the death of any young person, is a sad event.
I, however find the saddest thing, being the behavior of the various friends, family, and hanger-ons who criticize the police for their failure to control a dangerous thug who threatened to kill people for doing their job.
I’m not surprised by the invective towards the police. t’s always the system’s fault.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Please put your stones down, they only cause pain
11/4/2006
Dear Editor,
I would like to say something to everyone who wrote letters to the editor bashing Margorie Burgess: Does it make you feel like you’ve done something good to be cruel to a grieving mother? Don’t you know a mother’s love is unconditional and none of us are perfect parents? No, not even me. Do you know her circumstances personally? The world is already full to the top with haters. Ever lost a child? How would you feel to be attacked at a time when your whole life and heart are ripped apart?
I also read John Burkes’ letter that went on to attack Virginia Bass for having “sympathy for Chris and his family and friends.” So, sympathy isn’t allowed anymore? That’s pretty sad to me. I lost my youngest son almost six years ago. None of you have any clue what that feels like. To have people who don’t even know you rub salt in your wounds hurts so bad that I had to write this.
So you don’t think that even his friends or family who loved him deserve sympathy? I’m sad for you that your compassion is conditional. “Judge not lest ye be judged. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” Jesus said it all. My prayers go out to all.
Gina Caldwell
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Violence will escalate in an atmosphere that condones violence
Op-Ed
by Ken Miller, McKinleyville, 11/4/2006
Alarming questions follow the sinister killing 16-year-old Chris Burgess by Eureka Police Officer Terry Liles:
Whatever compelled Officer Liles, supposedly before he even knew Burgess’ age, to chase a teenager armed with a knife into a ravine?
Did he not learn from Cheri Lyn Moore’s needless death — which he participated in — that the prudent officer assesses the threat before rushing in, in order to preserve, not destroy, life?
Perhaps the answer lies in his chief, David Douglas, who, as he did with Ms. Moore, blames Burgess for choosing to die, with no indication that he has learned anything from either debacle.
Douglas takes no responsibility for his troops’ dismal performance, or for improving their training; instead, he accuses us of unreal expectations of our police.
Failure to acknowledge responsibility leads to increasing violence. I take this advice from the experience of soldiers, and perpetrators of domestic violence, who succumb to obsessive violence until they confront their destructive behavior. Violence escalates in an atmosphere that condones violence by not condemning it.
Chief Douglas dodged the press’ question of whether Liles would see a psychiatrist. He simply said there is “a process.”
Liles made an awful error of judgment. He should have determined the nature of the threat before creating conditions that the EPD will use to justify lethal force.
As with Cheri Lyn Moore, when Eureka Police Department failed to consult with Eureka Fire Department, or ballistics experts, who would have reassured them that she posed no indefensible threat, Officer Liles should have consulted the probation officers and recruited reinforcements. One might ask, would Officer Liles, a weapons instructor, have chased someone armed with a gun, or would he have thought twice?
Responsibility for the poorly trained EPD lies with the command chain, beginning with Douglas, who, thankfully, will soon be replaced, hopefully by a modern, more thoughtful chief (a female?).
But responsibility also lies with the City Council. Mike Jones was wrong during the debates when he claimed the Moore inquest exonerated EPD and recommended no further action. He and his colleagues — Wolford, Leonard and Bass — rushed to allocate $10,000 to hire a lawyer for Douglas during that inquest.
Their reason? The inquest, in their troubled minds, was a “vendetta” by District Attorney Paul Gallegos against the EPD, instead of an opportunity for the community to have a fair airing of the facts. Never mind that the inquest was actually a carefully choreographed defense of EPD.
The important thing is that Jones, Wolford, Leonard and Jackson see no reason to do anything about EPD, which characterizes their approach to many problems in the city. Abrams, Glass, Kuhnel and La Vallee place public safety high on their agendas.
The new City Council will hire a new chief for the Eureka Police Department. The new chief will have an opportunity to professionalize the EPD. Remember that on election day.
(Editor’s note: This column was submitted prior to the election deadline and it was verified prior to the election deadline. Due to space restrictions, it could not be published until today.)
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Child shot by police was failed by everyone in the Eureka community
10/31/2006
Dear Editor,
Last school year I worked as an instructional aide in the classroom where Chris Burgess attended school. This is the letter Chris gave to me on my last day of work there this past June:
“See you later, Emily, and have a good day. It ain’t goodbye forever, ’cause when I see you on the streets I’ll for sure say ‘Hey.’ Yes, you are a good person, and still today, you have a good heart. You instilled some of my ways.”
Chris was a nice kid who may have been messed up, but he knew he was messed up, and he didn’t want to be messed up.
Our community and all of us in it failed Chris at every level long before he was shot. Chris had a big heart; he wanted to be good and wanted to do the right thing. Unfortunately for us all, he never learned how.
Emily McPhail
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Criminalization of Eureka child killed by police is shameful
10/31/2006
Dear Editor,
As community residents, we are gravely concerned that you failed to mention in Tuesday’s headline story the history of the Eureka Police Department’s participation in civilian murder prior to that of 16-year-old Christopher Burgess on Monday.
After reading the article, we found that a majority of the information presented served to criminalize the victim and thereby justify the cop’s killing of him.
Your failure to interrogate and hold accountable the overzealous police force shamefully represents the priorities of your newspaper. Moreover, this is indicative of your incompetence when it comes to serving the best interests and safety of this community.
We see that poor and dispossessed communities repeatedly receive the brunt of police force, while wealthy individuals receive the illusion of their protection.
What keeps our media sources from investigating the militarization of the police force? Is it fear? Fear of a police force that has never been thoroughly investigated by our district attorney for the violence it inflicts on our communities.
This lack of investigation is irrefutable, considering that police (not “bullets”) killed Cheri Moore in April, yet the motives behind this killing were never fully interrogated and no one ever received just repercussions.
We challenge you to take the safety and interests of “your community” seriously, and that means being more critical of all agents that abuse and exploit the power consented to them. In addition, we encourage serious public debate and action regarding the role of police in our communities.
Clyde and Kayla Luchasigue
Arcata
(Editor’s note: We have extensively covered the police shootings that you are referencing. Until the investigation into the shooting of Christopher Burgess is complete, we believe it is premature to blame the officer who shot him.)
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Writer thanks Eureka officer for 'doing his duty'
10/31/2006
Dear Editor,
I see about the same group out protesting without knowing the facts of this sad event: the shooting of Christopher Burgess.
What would any of you protesters have done if you were faced in a closed area with a 180-pound, 6-foot-tall male thrusting a large knife at you like he was going to carve you up like a Thanksgiving turkey? If you had a gun, I’ll bet you would have used it.
Don’t give me this crap about shooting the knife from his hand. After years as a range master, I have yet to see a person good enough with a hand gun to accomplish this under the best of conditions — even without a chase and under great stress.
If this person was such an angel, why were two probation officers after him and why was he on probation? I’d like to see his rap sheet.
I see his mother on the news complaining the system failed him. I think not; she and his father failed him long before he entered the system. Don’t blame others for your failure.
I would like to thank the police officer involved for doing his duty under very trying conditions. He probably saved someone down the road from being seriously injured or killed. All facts point to this individual being on the road to Pelican Bay or Corcoran state pen.
Donald Edwards
Arcata
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Child's mother was responsible for his death
10/30/2006
Dear Editor,
In all the articles that are now being published in the local print media concerning the death of Christopher Burgess, I see where his mother is blaming everyone for her son’s death but herself.
A police officer, when faced with the threat of deadly force, is authorized to use whatever force necessary, including deadly force, to remove the threat.
An individual armed with a large hunting knife in a bamboo thicket constitutes such a threat. Officers are trained to aim at “center mass.” Only in the movies do officers shoot to wing the individual or shoot the weapon out of someone’s hand.
That Christopher Burgess was 16 is irrelevant. Articles have mentioned that he was a kind, gentle individual, according to his friends. In my estimation, kind, gentle individuals are not on probation, running from the police and armed with hunting knives.
In Ms. Burgess’ mind, everyone is guilty of something but her. Where was she? Why was her son in foster care and in violation of probation?
The community did not fail her or her son. She did. If Ms. Burgess is incapable of being a proper parent, then she should have foregone the act(s) that result in parenthood. Apparently, as she has at least one other child in the foster care system, she has yet to learn how to be a parent.
I have yet to read anything about her employment status. If she is unemployed, why is she not taking care of her own children? I hate to be cynical, but I see dollar signs on the horizon and that would indeed be a shame.
If anyone is guilty of causing her son’s death, Ms. Burgess need but look in the mirror. Our police officers do a job no one else wants, for little pay. To start a witch hunt over this would be shameful. One would have to be foolish to apply for duty as a Eureka police officer given the animus of the community to police in general.
Richard Lyons
Orick
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Friend of Burgess says he was not a violent young man
10/30/2006
Dear Editor,
Chris Burgess was family to me and he was a bright and nonviolent young native brother. I’ve known Chris since he was 5 years old and know, as sure as hell’s hot, he would never have challenged an officer, probation or police, with a weapon. Yeah, Chris was a runner and has tried to get away before, but never in any violent manner. When Chris was on the run from probation, he would have enough and either turn himself in, or let me or others know where he was so that probation could come and get him.
There was no violence in this young brother. Oh yeah, he’d get upset — which of us hasn’t? — and he’s vented with me on many occasions. That was the extent of it, bottom line.
I was told by those who were there that the knife Chris had, he picked up and tossed once he went out the door, which sounds just like what Chris would do. You see, that way he would not have had a weapons charge when probation did bring him into custody. He would never use or threaten anyone with any weapon.
As I have said, I know Chris, and he would never have challenged an officer with an assault rifle or any weapon. If — big if — he would have been holding the knife, as soon as the officer called to him, Chris would have dropped it. That is the bottom line and a fact.
The report the EPD is putting out is wrong, untrue and made up to cover up. I am sure that I’ll not be looked well upon by EPD, but so be it. Most are great men and women and I have no problem with any of them. I’ve worked with, still do, law enforcement from the city police, county Sheriff’s, state and federal, as well as probation and the courts. I have no problem with any of them with what I do in the substance abuse, domestic violence and child abuse field, but wrong is wrong, and one who does screw up makes the other great ones look bad.
With love, respect, family and unity ... rest in peace my young native brother, and you will always be in my heart, soul and spirit. I miss you, Chris.
Bear Marler
Rio Dell
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
What failed: the system or the parental units?
10/30/2006
Dear Editor,
There have been several articles and commentaries regarding the unfortunate shooting incident involving Officer Liles and Christopher Burgess, but after reading the comments from one Joaquin Fitzgerald, I just had to respond.
According to the Times-Standard, dated Oct. 26, Mr. Fitzgerald’s 16-year-old son is accused of murdering a Mr. Daniel Reynolds. The Times-Standard quotes Mr. Fitzgerald as stating, “The system failed my son; the system failed her son,” referring to Margorie Burgess, Christopher’s mother.
Mr. Fitzgerald, will you please identify the specific “system” you are referring to? If you are referring to the “system” as being a nurturing family that guides and directs the children into becoming productive responsible members of our society, then, yes, I would agree with you that the “system” has indeed failed.
However, if you are referring to the “system” as one where the government is expected to step into the lives of young people and take on the parental responsibilities of raising those people to be productive contributing members of our society who are capable of supporting themselves, then I could not disagree with you more! The time to be a parent and influence our children’s lives begins when the child is born, not when the “child” is 16 years old and has the physique of an adult male.
While I am at (it), a little note for you, Ms. Virginia Bass. You are quoted in The Eureka Reporter, Oct. 25, regarding this tragic incident, as saying, “My sympathy ... go out to this young man’s family and friends.”
Can you, Ms. Bass, etch out a little space in your heart for the officer and his family? You know, the officer who was hired by the city and paid to go into the brambles, with little or no regard for his own safety, after a (potentially) armed person in order to bring that individual who is wanted by the authorities to justice? Can you please?
Maybe for different reasons, but, I, too, am sick at heart for what I see in this community.
John Burke
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
'Hot shot' police officers require more training
10/29/2006
Dear Editor,
It seems after that poor, mentally ill woman was shot Downtown, various police officers should have been given classes on restraint concerning “shoot first, think later” incidents. We have many fine officers on our Eureka force, for sure, but we have a few immature hot shots out there who need extra training. They should be made aware that people have legs, and if you confront a person with any weapon but a gun in their hand and you have to shoot, you shoot them in the legs, disabling them, not killing them. The only time a person needs to be shot in the upper body is if they have a gun and are aiming it at the officer.
As for the Christopher Burgess situation, why should a troubled youth who just happened to break a probation rule call for a house invasion? And because the police shouted his name, they apparently knew they were dealing with a teenager who wasn’t an escaped convict or heavy drug dealer. Because, as the news reports, they burst into the house like they had found a Taliban meeting, this seems like an incident that could possibly be attributed to not efficiently trained immature “hot shots” doing a Clint Eastwood procedure.
I think two human beings unnecessarily killed within months of each other by overreacting police officers demands a retraining program and a purchase of non-lethal weapons, net guns, etc., to prevent any more unnecessary deaths.
John Lewis
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
All facts must be known before judging
10/29/2006
Dear Editor,
Let’s remember that in our country, (Congress willing), a person is innocent until proven guilty. Too many of us forget this most important fact when we join the knee jerk protests of the Amy Goodman freaks (Amy Goodman, she for whom the U.S. and Israeli governments can do no right)!
We don’t know who is right in the recent police–Arron Burgess shooting. We can read/hear various versions of the incident: he was/wasn’t carrying a knife, was/wasn’t running from the police, was shot in the back/front, etc. We must wait until all the facts are in before making judgment!
Owen Gailar
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Officer used split-second decision-making ability
11/2/2006
Dear Editor,
I’m a little concerned with some of the comments that are coming out of the Christopher Burgess side of this shooting. This is indeed a tragedy, both for the Burgess family and those of us who do wear the badge. The comments from Burgess’ friends that he was a loving and caring person don’t jive with the fact that he backed two unarmed probation officers out of the house with a 10-inch hunting knife and then fled, as would any known violator normally do.
The statement from the mother that she asked the community for help and this is all she got smacks of the statement, “It’s not my fault; nobody would help me.” Society is not there to raise your children; you are the parent. Buck up and take some responsibility for your actions.
Also, the comment that the mother made about how “she didn’t care if he had a machete in his hand, he was still a kid,” is just plain stupid. Because he was a 16-year-old boy doesn’t mean he is incapable of causing great bodily harm or even death?
For Officer Liles, he did what any other trained law enforcement officer would have done, reacted with split-second decision-making abilities. If you were confronted with a known criminal, 5-7 feet away, with a 10-inch knife, would you care if he was 16 or 35 years old?
Ronald Lewis
Fortuna
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Law enforcement comprised of 'the good guys'
11/1/2006
Dear Editor,
In light of the one-sided and, in many cases, uneducated responses to last week’s tragic events, we want to say that we will continue to teach our children that the cops are the good guys.
At this house, we will continue to consider law enforcement our best defense against any person with weapons and poor judgment. They are there to protect all responsible citizens.
Our condolences go out to all involved. We hope that everyone, including those closest to Christopher Burgess, consider their role in his past and lack of a future. The tragedy may have occurred on Oct. 23, but it began a long time ago.
Mark and Debbie Topping
Eureka
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Mother of slain child could have done more
11/1/2006
Dear Editor,
I found some of things cited in the Oct. 28 article regarding the protests over the Burgess shooting quite interesting.
The mother of the child who was shot said, “They need education for parents who want to learn. ...” Parenting classes have been around for decades, and all one has to do is inquire.
Somebody had a sign saying, “I can’t beat my kids...” and the mother says, “We can’t even spank our children. ...” Um, there is a big difference here. Certainly you shouldn’t “beat” your children, but who says you can’t spank a child?
Another interesting quote: “I don’t care if (Christopher) had a machete in his hands; he was a kid.” Does this mean anybody under a certain age should be allowed to brandish whatever weapon they want? Be allowed to do whatever they want?
All of this really drives home the underlying reason for the problems we are facing with gangs and rude, unruly children (and adults): no parental responsibility.
A favorite saying nowadays is, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Maybe if parents would quit waiting for the “village” — meaning everyone else — to raise and discipline their children, we’d have safer streets.
But, of course, then they (the parents) couldn’t blame society for the way their children turned out.
Maybe if parents would try a spanking or two and setting some rules, 16-year-olds would not be brandishing knives and being shot.
Oh, I know, discipline and limits on one’s behavior might do something to the child’s self-esteem and freedom of expression — but what good is self-esteem and freedom of expression if you are in prison or the morgue?
Patricia Watson
McKinleyville
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Teen was failed by mother
Op-Ed
by Merry Farnsworth, McKinleyville, 11/1/2006
What a sad day for the Eureka community — a respected officer of the Eureka Police Department, Terry Liles, was forced to take a life in order to save his own.
The loss of life is difficult, particularly since Mr. Burgess was only 16 years of age. But, make no mistake about it, Mr. Burgess was a threat to Officer Liles.
News accounts have described this “boy” as 6-feet tall and 180 pounds, armed with a 10-inch knife that he had already used in an offensive manner against Humboldt County probation officers.
He successfully used that knife to force probation officers to retreat from a house, and he successfully resisted multiple non-lethal attempts to subdue him, including verbal commands and pepper spray.
He then ran into a brushy ravine, apparently brandished the weapon at Officer Liles and refused to drop it.
The ravine, by the way, is directly across the street from a school where children were present, and the school had to initiate lock-down measures to ensure the safety of its students.
Mr. Burgess made several bad choices that day. Officer Liles had no choice but to defend himself.
Does anybody out there really believe that Officer Liles entered that ravine with the intent to harm Burgess? Officer Liles’ mission and his job were to apprehend Burgess and take him into custody.
Unfortunately, Burgess was unwilling to surrender, and in order to escape arrest, threatened Officer Liles’ life and lost his own.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Burgess’ mother immediately goes to the media, hires an attorney and blames everyone but herself for her son’s fate.
She blames Officer Liles, she blames EPD, she blames the community and she blames “the system.” She has been quoted as saying, “He was in and out of foster care, juvenile hall, group homes, and they were sending him out of the county.”
She admits that he has been involved with probation since age 10, when he took a knife to school. “He brought a knife to school,” Margorie said, “and they kept violating his probation because he wouldn’t mind his Ps and Qs.”
Mrs. Burgess describes herself as a “struggling mother,” and news accounts indicate that she has at least one other child who is in foster care.
Where is Marjorie Burgess’ responsibility in this tragedy? Christopher Burgess was failed by a mother who didn’t teach him any respect for minding his “Ps and Qs.”
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Now is the time for calm
10/29/2006
Emotions are running strong because of the police shooting of Christopher Burgess, but we ask all community residents to approach this tragedy with calm and an assurance that the shooting will be properly investigated.
Although we do not know the full details of the shooting, we have confidence in the multi-jurisdictional law enforcement review team that will investigate the 16-year-old’s death. We believe it will conduct its investigation with objectivity and fairness.
Although the phrase “a rush to judgment” is often overused these days, it is appropriate for this situation. Too many Eurekans have already formed a judgment about the rightness or wrongness of the police officer’s decision to shoot Burgess.
Many people believe it was an unjustified officer shooting, which has led to boisterous protests at the Eureka Police Department and Humboldt County Courthouse, where protesters demanded answers from authorities.
On Monday evening at City Hall, the Eureka City Council will meet. With the emotion running so strong, we urge calm.
As the circumstances leading to this shooting are dissected — giving us the answers we need — it will provide the community an opportunity to determine just what went wrong in this young man’s life.
By the time this issue is settled, it appears there will be enough blame to go around.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Writer agrees to wait for facts in police-involved shooting
10/29/2006
Dear Editor,
I remember when I went through lifeguard training. We were taught that we should not, when a swimmer is panicked and wildly grabbing about for something to hold on to, swim right up to him or her straight away. The swimmer could grab you and pull you under, too. So you keep a safe distance, treading water in circles around the person until he or she becomes so exhausted that the danger to the rescuer will be much less while executing the rescue.
If you get close enough to an impassioned teenager with a knife like Christopher Arrion Burgess is said to have had, you also might get drawn in over your head.
I agree with Mayor La Vallee that we should wait for the facts to come out and we shouldn’t second guess the actions of Officer Terry Liles. But it is good to raise questions and possibilities so that, when the facts do come out, we will be better positioned to see whether they answer or resolve critical questions.
I am sure there are many more but the questions on my mind right now are: a. Did Liles have a bulletproof vest on and, if so, just how concerned did he need to be for his own life? b. Would Liles have been in any danger at all if he had kept a safe distance from Christopher? c. If Burgess was turned toward Liles, did he ever posture as if he would throw the knife or knew how to throw it, or was it always a hand-to-hand stance? d. Could Liles have kept a safe distance and, while keeping up the pursuit, radioed in where other officers needed to be to cut off the suspect on the far side of the bamboo? e. Worried about not being able to surround or find Burgess? Then, could Liles have called in for dogs to pick up the trail? f. Could he have called in for a stun gun? Can stun guns be used, mounted on an extension bar? If not, shouldn’t they be so enabled? g. Was the Eureka Police Department negligent by giving insufficient training to Liles and his colleagues on how to disarm someone with a knife? and g. Could Liles have shot Christopher in a non-lethal part of his body?
Steve Brudney
McKinleyville
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
Slain teen's caregivers showed appalling lack of responsibility
10/27/2006
Dear Editor,
While it is very sad that this young man had to die, I find it appalling that his mother and so called “aunt” seem to take no responsibility for this child’s actions.
Who was responsible for raising this child? His mother!
What were all these minors doing watching TV in the middle of the day instead of being in school?
Where was his mother when he took a knife to school when he was 10 years old?
When are parents going to start being parents instead of blaming others for their failure?
Why would Burgess run away from probation officers if he was so innocent?
I feel sorry for the Eureka Police Department officer who has to live with himself for killing this young man. However, Burgess did have a knife and was fleeing from police. Hopefully this incident will help other teens realize that when they make poor choices there will be consequences.
Shirley Valentine
Freemont
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
***
OBITUARY: Christopher A. Burgess
11/11/2006
Christopher A. Burgess, born Jan. 6, 1990, was taken from us to be with God, our Creator, on the afternoon of Oct. 23, 2006. Chris looks upon us now with golden wings, gently saying, “I’m not with you in body, but am in spirit, and I do watch over you. So, please, don’t cry.” We all will shine with one another’s memories of Chris. Everyone who came in contact with him is truly blessed.
He is survived by his mother and brothers, Marjorie, Casey and Lee; his cousin, Anthony; Aunt Lisa and her family; girlfriend, Angel, and their puppy; Godmother Fuji; father figure and mentor, Jesse and Bear, and their wives Maggie and Tina; his God sister, Selena; his best friends, Joey, Sarah, Laurie, Renee, Christina, Richard, Gene, Madonias and Parrs; staff at Juvenile Hall; his football coaches; probation department; and group home staff. Those who were not mentioned, forgiveness, please, for you know who you are and that you touched Chris’ heart as well as he touched yours.
Chris, we all miss you so much it hurts, but know you are truly free now. You will always remain in our heart, soul and spirit. Your chains which bound you have been lifted and you are free of them. Spread your wings and fly with the eagles. God, our Creator, will smile as he watches you fly throughout the heavens.
Services will be held Monday, Nov. 13, 2006, at 5 p.m. at the Manila Community Center.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
And then:
Mother of teen shot by police arrested
7/24/2007
Margorie Burgess, mother of Christopher Arrion Burgess, who was shot and killed by a Eureka Police Department officer in October, was arrested by EPD officers twice in the last few days.
On Saturday, Burgess was arrested by EPD officers at approximately 2 p.m. in the 2000 block of H Street for public intoxication and for disobeying a court order.
Suzie Owsley, public information officer for the EPD, said officers responded to an unrelated call in the area, noticed Burgess exhibiting signs of intoxication and arrested her for public intoxication. Owsley said Burgess had been placed under citizen’s arrest before the police arrest for violating a restraining order against her regarding a person residing in the area.
Then on Monday, Burgess was arrested in the 200 block of Dollison Street at approximately 6:45 p.m. for driving under the influence. Owsley said officers responded to a private call, found Burgess and conducted a field sobriety test before detaining her.
Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment