MARCH 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.3

GUEST COMENTARYpolice

GUEST COMENTARYpolice law newsA Strong Police LeaderThis IS the way it should be done.era footage to prove it.What really happened is thatMr. Robinson ran from a trafficstop and then:• An officer pursued him anddeployed a Taser,• Mr. Robinson then turnedaround, while holding a firearm,• Mr. Robinson shot the officertwo times in the abdomen.It was at that point that the officerdrew his weapon and firedDaniel CarrA strong police leader immediatelyand unapologeticallypublicly defends officers undertheir command from dishonestand vicious attacks.The following story exemplifiesthis non-negotiable principle ofmodern leadership in policing.WHAT HAPPENEDOn February 16, 2025 there wasa fatal Officer-Involved-Shooting(OIS) in Flowood, Mississippi.The suspect was an eighteenyear-oldnamed Jaylon Robinson.THE CONTROVERSYBefore the body cam footagewas released, a local news stationinterviewed an anonymoussupposed witness to the fatalshooting. The witness claimedthat the young man was gunneddown “in the back” by a policeofficer for no legitimate reason.This testimony was not questionedby the reporter and wasrelayed to the public as though itwas an objective fact of the case.This caused outrage in thecommunity and death threatswere directed towards policeofficers in the area.The thing is - this testimonywas a lie.CORRECTING THE RECORDThe narrative spun by the witnessdid not align with reality.And the Police Chief (EricZetterholm) has the body camroundsat Mr. Robinson.MOST IMPORTANTThe officer was struck by thegunfire just 2 inches above hisbelt-line, hitting his bulletproofvest. The officer is expected tofully recover.POLICE CHIEF ERIC ZETTER-HOLMChief Zetterholm watched thebody cam video of the OIS andwas aware of the witness in-34 The BLUES - MARCH ‘25

terview. In an effort to defendthe officer and stand up for theentire police department ChiefZetterholm sat down for aninterview with the same newsorganization that carelessly airedthe disinformation about the OIS.The Chief was blunt. He notonly expressed displeasuretowards the lying witness butalso at the irresponsible reporterand news desk that allowed thisgarbage to enter serious publicdialogue.The Chief came armed withreceipts. And there was no questionas to who was the hero andvillain in this story.FINAL THOUGHTSThis is what the rank and fileshould expect from a policeleader - immediate and aggressiveopposition to dishonestnarratives spun about policeofficers.There is a reason that peoplestill believe that Breonna Taylorwas asleep in her bed when shewas shot, or that Sonya Masseydidn’t throw the pot of boilingwater at the deputy. Policeleaders consciously choosing thesecurity of passivity - instead ofthe danger that lies in objectivity.Imagine how many policeofficers around the country findthemselves in similar situations- being publicly slandered byBen Crump and other anti-policeactivists - wondering if theirdepartment leaders will do theright thing (like Chief Zetterholm)or meekly wait for politiciansto grant them permissionto speak the truth.The BLUES - MARCH ‘25 35