If there ever was a case for holding a police officer accountable for discrimination and intent to cause serious harm, this was it.
Robert Tolan was shot by Bellaire policeman Jeffrey Cotton on the driveway of his family home. Tolan and a friend were detained after Cotton and another officer mistakenly believed the car they were driving was stolen.
Cotton is white, Tolan is black.
The officer changed his version of the events three times. As usual, a jury determined the shooting to be justified.
Like athletes, police are continually given a pass for reckless, if not criminal behavior and we all lose because of it. We're told early on in elementary school that police are to be trusted and respected for the work the do. Let's make them start to earn it.