The killer of Officer Jaime Padron, deservedly received the death penalty in Austin last week. As is my habit, I will not mention the killer's name here, as I choose not to dignify him by extending that courtesy. Officer Padron was one of the most respected members of the Austin Police Department, but even more, he was one of those rare officers that had earned the respect of many Austin residents as well. On the day of his death, he was attempting to treat his killer with respect and dignity, but the killer instead chose to attack the officer. Unfortunately, the killer used the physical attack as a ruse to pull out a pistol and shoot Officer Padron. With the officer disabled, the killer then PRESSED THE BARREL OF HIS PISTOL TO JAIME'S NECK AND PULLED THE TRIGGER AGAIN. The medical examiner proved that the barrel was pressed into the officer's skin. Jaime Padron at that point was no longer able to protect himself and had only minutes more to live.
In what has to be one of the most unselfish acts of bravery and love of their fellow man, several unarmed Wal-Mart employees tackled the killer and disarmed him, at deadly risk to their own lives. Jaime Padron's last act as a police officer was to summon aid for himself and for the men holding the killer. Police responded immediately, as did paramedics, but by then the officer had passed away. I once again commend those brave citizens who came to this officer's aid and captured the armed killer, holding him until other officers arrived. The community of police officers and of Austin residents lost a true hero that day, but also gained some heroes.
Jaime Padron was not just a well respected police officer. He was also former corrections officer, and before that, a hero who served our nation in Iraq. He was a brave man, but not just brave. He was concerned for his fellow man, enough so to volunteer to serve in that faraway land, daily risking his life for all of us. But not only that, he was well respected by his soldier comrades, going out of his way to help his fellow soldiers and be a friend to them. Art Acevedo, the Chief of Police, said of Jaime Padron, “He wasn’t just taken from us, the Austin Police Department and his law enforcement colleagues. He was taken from this community.”
So I commend the jury in Austin who were strong enough to weigh the evidence, including the defense from "left field" that the killer was addicted to Xanax, tried to "wean" himself from the addiction, and that because of the effects of the drug AND the effects of the withdrawal from the drug, the killer just could not stop himself from concealing a pistol, going to his local Wal-Mart store and creating a disturbance so that police would be summoned to the store. He just could not stop himself from killing the first police officer that showed up. The jury may have sympathized with the killer and his supposed diminished emotional state, but they did not buy into the idea that the killer had no control over his actions. The defense was ludicrous. And it did not work. I know, you can't blame a lawyer for trying...that is his job.
So now the killer is off to prison. He will of course go to death row, will have an automatic appeal paid for by the state. He may be a resident of death row for a long time before the sentence is carried out. He has already had two years longer to live than he allowed Officer Padron. Sometimes the justice system seems to let the people down, but sometimes it works like it is supposed to. In this case the killer is awaiting the reward due him for his deed. The death of this killer will not bring the good officer back, but it will certainly keep this particular man from ever killing anyone (other than fellow prisoners) ever again. The family and friends of Officer Jaime Padron will go on grieving their loss, whether the killer lives or dies. May the Good Shepherd continue to comfort all these people as they carry one without Jaime in their lives.
In what has to be one of the most unselfish acts of bravery and love of their fellow man, several unarmed Wal-Mart employees tackled the killer and disarmed him, at deadly risk to their own lives. Jaime Padron's last act as a police officer was to summon aid for himself and for the men holding the killer. Police responded immediately, as did paramedics, but by then the officer had passed away. I once again commend those brave citizens who came to this officer's aid and captured the armed killer, holding him until other officers arrived. The community of police officers and of Austin residents lost a true hero that day, but also gained some heroes.
Jaime Padron was not just a well respected police officer. He was also former corrections officer, and before that, a hero who served our nation in Iraq. He was a brave man, but not just brave. He was concerned for his fellow man, enough so to volunteer to serve in that faraway land, daily risking his life for all of us. But not only that, he was well respected by his soldier comrades, going out of his way to help his fellow soldiers and be a friend to them. Art Acevedo, the Chief of Police, said of Jaime Padron, “He wasn’t just taken from us, the Austin Police Department and his law enforcement colleagues. He was taken from this community.”
So I commend the jury in Austin who were strong enough to weigh the evidence, including the defense from "left field" that the killer was addicted to Xanax, tried to "wean" himself from the addiction, and that because of the effects of the drug AND the effects of the withdrawal from the drug, the killer just could not stop himself from concealing a pistol, going to his local Wal-Mart store and creating a disturbance so that police would be summoned to the store. He just could not stop himself from killing the first police officer that showed up. The jury may have sympathized with the killer and his supposed diminished emotional state, but they did not buy into the idea that the killer had no control over his actions. The defense was ludicrous. And it did not work. I know, you can't blame a lawyer for trying...that is his job.
So now the killer is off to prison. He will of course go to death row, will have an automatic appeal paid for by the state. He may be a resident of death row for a long time before the sentence is carried out. He has already had two years longer to live than he allowed Officer Padron. Sometimes the justice system seems to let the people down, but sometimes it works like it is supposed to. In this case the killer is awaiting the reward due him for his deed. The death of this killer will not bring the good officer back, but it will certainly keep this particular man from ever killing anyone (other than fellow prisoners) ever again. The family and friends of Officer Jaime Padron will go on grieving their loss, whether the killer lives or dies. May the Good Shepherd continue to comfort all these people as they carry one without Jaime in their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment