Law enforcement officers tirelessly work to uphold the law and protect the rights and safety of citizens. On a daily basis they put their lives at risk as they faithfully and fearlessly tackle some of the most dangerous situations in an attempt to maintain order and safety. The high risks of the job, however, can often lead to less than ideal situations. These can leave a police officer with a case that is not black and white and does not have a true right answer.
The beating and killing of a homeless man in Orange County sheds light on just how risky a cop's job can be. It is reported that Kelly Thomas, a 37-year old homeless man who suffered from schizophrenia, died after a brutal encounter with law enforcement in July at a Fullerton bus depot. Following the beating and eventual death of Thomas, Officer Manual Ramos and Corporal Jay Cicinelli now find themselves facing criminal charges for the alleged murder of the homeless man.
While some reports of the incident are painting a portrait of an innocent man who was the victim of an uncalled for attack, further investigation into the incident calls this portrayal into question. The officers, both on duty at the time of the attack, may have been doing nothing more than attempting to fulfill their duties as defenders of peace and protectors of justice.
Ramos and Cicinelli were said to be investigating a report of car burglaries before they met up with Thomas and attempted to search him. The homeless man did not maintain the orders of Ramos to keep his hands on his knees, at which time the two exchanged words. Very shortly after, the officer grabbed Thomas' arm, clearly under the impression that action was necessary. What happened next may have shaped the entire series of events.
Upon being grabbed, Thomas immediately resisted and took off running, at which point the police baton came out. Thomas is reported to have responded to Ramos' threats to cooperate by saying, "Start punching, dude." What ensued is a series of bloody beatings and a resistance of force. Thomas soon fell unconscious and was transported to the hospital where he slipped into a coma. He remained in this state for five days before being taken off life support.
Now, Officers Ramos and Cicinelli along with four other police officials have been placed on administrative leave and are currently under investigation for the death of Thomas. Ramos has been charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter; he stands to serve up to 15 years in prison if found guilty and he is currently in jail in lieu of $1 million bail. Cicinetti faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and excessive use of force and could spend four years in prison if convicted.
Up until now, both men had enviable reputations within their field. Ramos, age 37, has been a veteran of the Fullerton Police Department for ten years. Cicinelli, age 39, has been a veteran of Fullerton for 12 years. Neither of the men are known to have any past discrepancies that could negatively influence their pleas of innocence.
The freshness of the incident, which happened only in July 2011, has left many questioning what will happen next. The pending trial leaves a lot to be expected as many wonder how two public defenders could possibly be facing prison time for doing their jobs. The public safety of Orange County residents seemingly rests on the outcome of this case. If Ramos, Cicinetti, or one of the four other officers currently on administrative leave are found guilty, then actions of defense may be forever altered. At this point, many law enforcement officers fear that any actions they take to uphold peace and maintain safety could be seen as brutal actions of force or worse.
The death of Thomas Kelly has become a tragedy for all involved. Not only must a death be mourned, but an entire societal practice has been called into question as members of law enforcement are now facing criminal charges for doing their jobs. If the case ultimately results in a guilty sentence, the cops who live to protect against criminals will be placed in prison with those they have worked to defend against.
