Questions remain after grand jury decision

A grand jury decision, following one day of testimony, that a Cedar Rapids Police Officer was justified in shooting a motorist during a traffic stop has left us with more questions than answers.

We have no reason not to believe that jury members acted in good faith and based their decision on the information that was provided to them. It is the breadth of that information we question, as well as what appears to be a rush to resolve the case.

During Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden's news conference Tuesday, we learned Police Officer Lucas Jones initiated a traffic stop involving Jerime Mitchell in the early hours of Nov. 1 because license plate bulbs on Mitchell's pickup were dark.

Mitchell was soon shot - paralyzed, according to family. Jones later was placed on paid leave, the subject of a second duty-related shooting investigation in 13 months.

Vander Sanden, who ruled Jones' earlier fatal shooting as justified, offered state's evidence to a grand jury. That was appropriate. Jones' recounting of the verbal exchange and incident was given to the grand jury, and cited in expletive-laden detail by Vander Sanden. Police video, we're told, shows Jones trapped as Mitchell attempts to evade and flee the scene.

But apparently missing from the evidence was any statement from Mitchell or his family. Due to unknown technical problems, there was no audio recording of the traffic stop.

Vander Sanden says the family and their legal counsel deflected interview requests. The family's attorney says requests weren't as robust as portrayed, and the family cooperated. Either way, the foundation of the grand jury review appears to be limited, if not one-sided, information.

With Jones on paid leave and Mitchell's statement unavailable, we do not understand the rush to judgement before all the information was in hand.

Police use of force is a unique right and a heavy responsibility. Any day a law enforcement officer is compelled to use deadly force is a sad one.

And when member of our community falls or is forever diminished as a result of that action, robust review of the incident and transparency about the findings are critical to preserving the public's trust and support.

This always has been true, but perhaps never more true than it is today.

Truth and justice cannot be met halfway.

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