The Death of Salomon Hernandez

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The Death of Salomon Hernandez

February 19, 1997
To the Editor, Press Democrat:

According to the (Feb. 18) Press Democrat, our new police chief Michael Dunbaugh states that officers are "trained to kill -- not wound or maim -- if they must draw their guns and fire." That is outrageous, especially when it is a screwdriver versus a gun, as was the case with Salomon Arambula Hernandez's recent killing at a gas station near Coddingtown.
Briefly mentioned but lost in the greater body of the article was the fact that Mr. Hernandez had RETURNED to the station voluntarily to pay his bill and had in fact done so before being confronted by a swarm of police officers. Someone bent on stealing would have been long gone so why was this confrontation even initiated?
Is it possible that there was a communication problem between the clerk at the station and Mr. Hernandez in the first place? Did the clerk overreact by calling the police? Did the police overreact by pursuing their official duties even after the bill was paid? And did Mr. Hernandez overreact out of fear from being from a community that has long experienced racist attitudes on the part of law enforcement types?
Seems to me that the real story here is living between the lines of the one reported. It also seems to me that no matter how well intentioned the clerk, the officers and the reporter are, the perceptual gap between the races just grows bigger and bigger.

Mary Moore • Camp Meeker

E-mail me at: justice3@sonic.net