Sentencing verdict of Johannes Mehserle brought a lot of talk around bay area and if the people feel protected by the police. Six De Anza College students were asked about their reaction of the verdict.
“This is definitely a two inch sword situation,” Julie LaClari 18, a nursing major in her first year at De Anza said. “As a police officer, your are trained to do what is right in combat,” LaClari said, “he felt like the situation was going to get out of control, so he intended to use his taser.” LaClari said, Mehserle’s sentencing is right, but he shouldn’t be working as a police officer any longer.” LaClari said, “it seems like he can’t control his adrenaline rush and response on impulse.” LaClari said, “I believe he used his gun by mistake.” She said she doesn’t feel safe by t he police because what she has seen in general not just with what happened to Oscar Grant. “Police should be 3 months on, 3 months off working other professions to escape that negative energy away,” LaClari said.
Ken Moore 21, sport management major in his second year at De Anza said, “The judicial system spit in the black man’s face.” Moore who said he has never been in trouble or had any contact with the police, was angry that justice was not served. “It further lets us know, law enforcement is faced in America,” Moore said. “He knew exactly what he was doing, because being a police officer is not the job you do without knowing what you are doing.”
Abraham Gethaw 21, a sociology major said, “Mehserle knew what he was doing and the video tells it all.” Gethaw feels if Grant was a white guy, the story would have played out different. How can someone only get 2 years for killing another person? This is just foolish.”
“Police are trained to know the difference between a gun and a taser.” Gethaw said, “This lets us further know that the police are ‘ALWAYS RIGHT’ and nothing can be done about that.”
“The sentencing was not fair, and he used his gun on purpose,” Nate Taye 20, business major said. Taye saw the video and was in shock that the police officer shot Grant in the back while he was hand cuffed. “They protect only their own,” Taye said, that he knew the officer wasn’t going to get a full sentencing but thought that maybe the judge would give a reasonable verdict.
Ryan Davis, 19, business economics major said, “Police brutality is happening all the time where I’m from, so therefore police never treat the civilians the right way.” Davis said, “he shot him in a line of fire, which means if your partner (another police officer) is already holding down the suspect, you shouldn’t be reaching for any type of weapon. Whether it’s a gun or a taser.”
