59°
Sep 13
2011
It's not easy to understand why a police officer who assaulted another police officer was not charged with assault immediately after other police arrived at the home where the altercation took place. The victim, Huron County deputy Chris Williamson, was obviously injured in the attack, bloodied and bruised about his face.
But Sandusky city prosecutor Lynn Gast-King, who acted as a special prosecutor, explained that, in this case, the victim did not want charges pressed and was not in fear of the officer who attacked him. Therefore, felony assault charges were not warranted, said Gast-King, who opted instead to file a minor misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct against Monroeville police officer Wallace Johnson, 31, who bloodied Williamson's face after a night spent drinking together.
The logic Gast-King used in making the determination seems sound, but it is still difficult for the Average Joe not to wonder, "Would I have been given the same due diligence the officer received? Or would I have been charged immediately with felony assault?"
The decision, right or wrong, not to file assault charges against the officer leaves the impression there is a double-standard in how the law gets administered when police officers are involved in criminal behavior. And, given the steady stream of scandal created by police officers behaving badly, leaders in the law enforcement community must do everything in their power to dispel that impression.
The arrest on Kelleys Island last week of Shaun and Jane Bickley, a couple who are business owners in Sandusky, casts further suspicion on the attitudes some in the law enforcement community seem to have. Bickley said he began videotaping island police officers while they were arresting a woman because he became concerned by what he believed was inappropriate behavior on the part of the officers.
Bickley was ordered by one of the officers, who stepped away from the interaction with the woman, to stop videotaping the incident because he was "impeding an investigation," the officer said. We're not sure how capturing the interaction of the officers with the woman could possibly impede the investigation. In fact, it would seem that a videotape of an incident could do nothing more than assist in an investigation.
Words were subsequently exchanged, however, including a dig from Jane Bickley directed at the officers suggesting they were "rent-a-cops." The Bickleys were subsequently charged with disorderly conduct. Island police chief Ron Ehrbar said they should not have "disrespected police officers." But we looked and can't find that wording in the Ohio Revised Code. It's no more a crime to disrespect a police officer than it is to disrespect anyone else. That is, perhaps, as it should be. Requiring judges and courts to determine when disrespect is a crime would seem to be a very challenging, if not impossible, order.
Shaun Bickley also said police took his phone and erased the video he'd recorded of the incident. Ehrbar denied that occurred. If police had not confiscated the phone it would be obvious they did not erase the videotape. But that can't be known, for sure, since the officers, did, indeed, take the phone away from Bickley.
When double-standard becomes the standard, or even the perception it is, the effectiveness, fairness, professionalism and abilities of the law enforcement community, as a whole, is diminished and handicapped.
The above is an editorial Viewpoint published in Monday's Register. The opinions of the Register Editoral Board, local columnists and readers are published six days a week on the Register's editorial page.
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07:19 PM
sandusky-jdubya says
the police should not be held to the same standard as ordinary citizens.they should be held to a higher standard.
05:29 PM
4Justice says
Based on my experience, I back Westerhold 100%. I don't necessarily like the guy, but he hit the nail ono the head. Can you say corruption in the SPD? Better wake up...
08:45 AM
kURTje says
They are people no better no worse. Though small town cops should 1rst train in a metropolis, then come back to our "little" areas & serve. This would a better policeman make.
09:41 AM
Centauri says
Then my lawyer tells me it happens all the time.
Yes, it happens quite often. Some cops are liars and some cops are plain stupid. I said some not all.
06:11 AM
RB resident says
Wasn't going to comment but, a few posts ago someone mentioned that LE are taught to lie, speaking from experence. Have you ever been arrested and read the report? I was arrested, waiting for my turn to see the judge, got report from my lawyer, reading it, the arresting officer noticed I was reading the report (was almost in tears), he gave me the most poop eating grin I have ever seen on anyone and turned his head. He knew he fabricated the report. Could I have fought it, yes, but, what good would have done since I am just a peon and he is such an upstanding pillar of the community (sarcasm). Then my lawyer tells me it happens all the time. I am a firm believer of KARMA and he will get his the sad thing is that I won't be around to see it.
07:07 AM
Julie R. says
Wasn't Shaun Bickley's father a Huron policeman?
02:20 PM
meowmix says
Raoul Duke:
Quite frankly, out of all the types of girl scout cookies, I find the Samoan's the most tasty! :}
01:20 PM
whatsupwiththat says
wallace johnson resigned as of tuesday YAY !11:19 AM
Centauri says
@ Mr. Westerhold: There's a great big DOUBLE-STANDARD in corrupt Erie County in how the law gets administered when attorneys and judges ~ not to mention prosecutors ~ are involved in criminal activity, too, so let's not just pick on the police!
Will the Sandusky Register do some investigating reporting on Julie's problem with the probate court? She has furnished a lot of details about her problems including the numbers on the documents. It would be a very easy investigative report since Julie provided all of the information.
Perhaps the Sandusky Register will not report on some issues to protect the powers that be? Why is that?
10:02 AM
safecracker2 says
Mr. Westerhold, I have one comment and a few questions for you. In a previous article, you stated McClung was a great cop, or one of the best cops you knew, or something like that. Now that he is in Federal Prison as a convicted felon, what merit does anything you say or print have? What side of the law are you really on? Print the evidence and let us decide. Your articles, viewpoints and other biased, enflated, egotistical pieces of "work" are doing nothing but beating this society down just so you can sell a paper. There are bad apples in every bunch, but many are not as rotten as you portray them to be. And there are many more who are "good" than "bad" (but not in your opinion). An ordinary citizen has lapses in judgement probably several times a day, but God forbid let it be a cop and you're all over it. You're an antogonizer by using the power of the pen. What price does someone have to pay to be perfect in your world, Matt? When was the last time you had to make a split second decision to take someone's life, while saving your own or the people you are required to protect from that cushy chair you sit in? It's real easy to find fault in anything and everything, but it takes work to find the good in others. Try it some time.
09:35 AM
Sam says
Yet another example of the Matt Westerhold, anti-law enforcement ramble. Jane Bickley, wasn't she the ex-cheerleading advisor who was convicted of furnishing alcohol to minors in Huron? Matt how would the best cop you ever knew handle this situation, oops I forget he is in federal prison. Fine examples Matt........
08:28 AM
Cityslicker says
Hey Matt,
How is it that you print the "viewpoint of the staff" online, but you don't put the "viewpoint of the citizens" AKA Readers Forum online any more. Is it because most of the citizen's viewpoints are generally in favor and commending Police, and scrutinizing the SR? I would like the answer to this.
01:49 AM
patriot5 says
01:44 AM
somethingaboutmo says
Starshine:
That is all I ask for... THE TRUTH. Not a biased interpretation of what happened. Not an Editor that picks and chooses what facts and opinions to use in the story, and what ones to leave out. The truth is NEVER told when SR has an article involving the PD. The story is always twisted to make law enforcement look bad. No one ever gets the real story because the SR automatically takes the side against the PD. Not only is it wrong not to provide the readers with all of the facts so that they can have their own opinions, but it is dangerous to cause people not to have faith in their local law enforcement. I'm not saying every cop does everything right all the time. They are all human. But they certainly don't deserve the biased attacks by the SR.
01:10 AM
starshine80911 says
Oh, and BTW. It is the JOB of the newspapers to print news, whether it be news you like/approve of , or not. The newspaper reporters are supposed to be un biased, but also, inform us of what is REALLy going on in our towns, state, and Gov't.s.. Freedom of the press! It is what made the USA! Now -a days, the media is stiffled. Made to 'toe the line'. We need MORE news agents reporting the TRUTH! Not cowering to the 'powers that be.' Good job. Keep digging!
12:15 AM
starshine80911 says
I do not understand why people believe that L.E. should be believed at their word, at all costs. They are TRAINED to LIE, so that they can conduct 'investigations', or work under-cover. When L.E.O.'s commit crimes, they need to be held accountable, even MORE SO than the ave. person.... They MUST be held to a higher standard, as they are in a position of power and 'lay down the law' for the general population. The saying, 'What's good for the goose, is good for the gander,' holds true in this and all situations regarding the police and their actions. Those in 'authority, must live by the rules they enforce! Just like parents....it is NOT do as I say, not as I do! If L.E. can not live by the laws that they enforce upon the general population, then they do not belong in L.E. !!! JMO!
12:01 AM
Fun4all says
In the media
Question for you, were you there? Do you know what a BOND is? Maybe you should look the word up and then look up what the bond amounts are? Are you a drinking buddy of SB or JB or are you SB or JB themself?
My post must have hit a spot for you since you just signed up to make a comment.
11:30 PM
InTheMedia says
Being a part of the media, I come across things that would most people wouldn't believe. In every instance, as long as I am on public property, I can shoot anything I want. Also, if it doesn't vioate someone's privacy, you can shoot it. With that being said, the Bickleys did nothing wrong. The rent-a-cops should be held accountable for what they did and what they are hiding. If you look up the "good-ole boy network" in the dictionary, you will see definitions of the K.I. and P.I.B police departments. If they arrest you and say come up with (insert amount here) dollar or we will throw you in jail. What are you going to do? You'll get that amount, "pay off the poice and judge" or you sit in jail until your lawyer can fly over. It is a scam that should be looked into. This is the time that the "Islands" make their money! The Erie County and Ottawa County prosecutors should look into these police departments and courts. On a final note...LLSB LLJB!!!
11:13 PM
Fun4all says
WOW, what gets me is Mr. Westerhold you want to post something like this but why wouldn't you want to attach the police reports from the incidents? I know you have the copies of the police reports because that is the first thing you and your people request. We all have read, that if you don't get the reports you cry about it. Post you comments but isn't the newspaper suppose to report on facts, well let the general public see the facts and post the police reports along with your comments!
Last time I checked if you have a victim that is unwilling the press charges it is kinda hard to take it to trial without a victim. Second where is all the incident reports about the Bickley's in Huron when they are drunk and out of control? Last time I checked it isn't illegal to video tape, but when you go act stupid about it thats when you yourself get into trouble. Not because you are video taping but because of your actions. Here is something to think about, maybe Bickley was so intoxicated he thought he video taped the events but didn't or maybe Bickley deleted the video because he would have been video taping his drunken behavior which would have been used against him.
Talk about respect when is the public going to start respecting the police? Look at Ofc. Dunn no respect given to him!! Look at what officers deal with daily, 8 out of 10 times they are given no respect.
10:31 PM
grinenbareit says
I would like to think that after the 10 yr. anniversary of 9/11 we would ALL realize the dedication of our police officers, fire depts. and every other law enforcement, that have given their lives to be there for each and everyone of us.
These Men and Women do not hesitate, in a moments notice to come to our aid. To them...I say thank you. You took your "oath" seriously. You are always there. When we need you..we don't ask, you are all just there.
I hope that no one would ever have to call 911, but if you do, you would not question the Man or Woman who came to your aid. If it was one of your family members, or yourself, you wouldn't question.
If it was someone you may have had a "beef" with, I know that the law officer or fire dept. employee or any other public officer would not stop, for any reason, to help you.
These Men and Women are human, as we are, and that is why we need them. To help us out in good times and bad. Please do not take the opportunity to "publically bash" them because we all have had our times as well. Officer Andy Dunn tried to keep our city safe, as well as every other public officer in our city and county. Please...do not judge, lest you be judged.
10:13 PM
Raoul Duke says
And trust me: don't honk at the sonsofabitches.
10:12 PM
Raoul Duke says
Samoans don't give a damn about equal standards(or spell check) while they're crushing your rib cage.
10:01 PM
somethingaboutmo says
I used to always say: "If you don't want to be exploited, don't become an actor or a rock star."
I now say: "Do what you love to do, to the best of your abilities... F the biased media".
The powerful biased media is one of the biggest contributors to the problems this country faces, causing the sheep to believe what they want them to believe. The reasonable thinker is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Hunter S. Thompson may have been a brilliant writer, but that doesn't make him right. Bending the truth at the expense of good people is never the right thing to do, whether it sells papers or not.
09:48 PM
thinktwice says
"Would I have been given the same due diligence the officer received? Or would I have been charged immediately with felony assault?"
In that specific case I would have to agree.
09:43 PM
Centauri says
If I'd written all the truth I knew for the past ten years, about 600 people - including me - would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism.
Hunter S. Thompson
09:28 PM
somethingaboutmo says
Taxed Enough Already:
Don't worry, it is not illegal to film the police. I would say that if Mr. Westerhold printed the truth about what happened on PIB, that those officers would have been out of line. But something tells me that story is twisted all over the place. You have the persons' arrested account of what happened through the words of Matt Westerhold. That doesn't hold much water with me. So go ahead and film away... Just don't get in the middle and you will be fine. You may even learn alittle something about how what this paper says and what you see with your own eyes are two very different things... Unless, of course, you are as unreasonable as Matt Westerhold.
11:32 PM
Julie R. says
The decision, right or wrong, not to file assault charges against the officer leaves the impression there is a double-standard in how the law gets administered when police officers are involved in criminal behavior.....
@ Mr. Westerhold: There's a great big DOUBLE-STANDARD in corrupt Erie County in how the law gets administered when attorneys and judges ~ not to mention prosecutors ~ are involved in criminal activity, too, so let's not just pick on the police!
09:22 PM
justmy2centsoh says
Can someone provide the link if there was an article about the Bickleys? What charges are pending against them?
09:20 PM
justmy2centsoh says
@ Taxed Enough Already... You are right. It does seem like a double standard. What if someone is taping an arrest that validates the officers actions and shows they acted properly? Would that video also be deleted? What is someone had a tape of say an officer getting shot? Certainly they would want that piece of evidence. If I can be in public and subject to being videotaped without permission then why the double standard for police? Why isn't it illegal to tape other civil servants such as firemen or EMTs? I can't recall the last time I agree with the ACLU but in this case I do. The public has the right to tape.
09:17 PM
somethingaboutmo says
Mr. Westerhold:
It's actually quite easy to understand why the Monroeville officer was not charged with some sort of assault charge. It's probably the fact that you know nothing about criminal procedure and interpretation of the laws, along with your bias against police officers that makes it hard for you to understand. Don't worry, it doesn't make you ignorant. It just makes you a bad person.
Sick:
Officers should not be held to higher standards, they should be held to equal standards... Which they never are because of biased media like the Sandusky Register. Police Officers always end up worse off than the average citizen, having their names ruined because of the media coverage. Police Officers are even punished when they do their job correctly, because some yahoo who is still upset over a speeding ticket, or some Editor with an agenda against Police Officers decides that they want to twist a story to make law enforcement look bad. The biggest problem is that most of you never want to hear both sides of the story, you just assume that the Police Officer was acting poorly. Police Officers SHOULD NOT be held to higher standards... Police Officers SHOULD hold themselves to higher standards. But that is not for you to decide.
09:12 PM
tdk44870 says
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I must agree with seeit’s comment, when WILL you print a positive article about our local police? I understand sensationalism sells papers but while you focus on the acts of a tiny minority you are destroying the image of all our officers. I know many of the Sandusky and Perkins force and the officers I know love what they do and genuinely care about the well being of this city and its residents. They go to work everyday, to a job that for the most part is thankless. They protect our city and keep us safe. I sleep better at night knowing they are on duty, yet all you can do is bash them. Shame on you.
Sandusky may not be as dangerous as east Cleveland or south Chicago, but listen to a police scanner some day. Do you want to go on any of these calls? Do you want to walk into a possible suicide? A domestic violence? Do you want to have to subdue someone who is on God knows what drug and may or may not be armed? Even a simple traffic stop, you never know what could happen. It was only six months ago that we lost a young officer on a routine stop. Any situation they go into could be life or death. Do you think you could do a better job? Do you think you could do their job at all? What’s the biggest danger at your job, Mr Westerhold? A possible paper cut?
The vast majority of our law enforcement officers are hard working, dedicated, caring individuals who proudly wear their badge and proudly serve the citizens of this town. Instead of finding fault at every turn and trivializing the job they are proud to do, would it be too much to ask for you to say thank you?
09:10 PM
grinenbareit says
So I pick up a copy of the S.R. today, and see on the second page that an innocent man was assaulted at the CAESARS PLACE this past Saturday night. Nothing in the S.R. until Tuesday. News worthy? Yes, I would like to think so. Why are we just hearing about this now on Tuesday? Who was there first? S.R.???...oh of course not. OUR S.P.D.!!!! Do I need to say more?? I didn't think so.....
07:52 PM
Taxed Enough Already says
My problem with the whole thing is....it's illegal for me to tape police officers, but not for the police to tape me on their dash cam video cameras? Sounds like a double standard to me.
07:34 PM
seeit says
Matt Westerhold,
When have we EVER seen you say anything nice about any police in this city? I know many who put their lives on the line EVERY DAY just to have someone like you bash them! My fiance is included in putting his life on the line every day. For the love of god our friend Andy just lost his life serving and protecting this city including YOU! How so absolutely despicable you are! I cannot wait until the day the Sandusky Register goes bankrupt and closes because people will actually figure out your true character. Your paper constantly puts down officers before you know all the facts. My fiance and many of these guys strive to be their best and what do they have to look forward to? People like you on the streets disrespecting them because the Sandusky Register is constantly putting them down and saying how bad of a department they are. When will the Sandusky Register EVER say something good about the police department? These children in this city need to look up to these officers and having you as a media source is not going to help that factor! I think that this is you the Sandusky Register trying to stay in business scrapping for any kind of item that you would consider "news"! Furthermost, I will probably be looking to see if you deleted this because it is all true information!
Disgusted by your tactlessness!
06:38 PM
Sick says
Officers need to be held to a higher standard.
06:29 PM
justmy2centsoh says
Was there a more detailed Register article about the camera incident on the island? Seriously, I am asking for verification that it's against the law to tape law enforcement making an arrest. I didn't know that was within the police's job or that it is illegal? So if I stand a safe distance away and record something I can have my personal property and video taken? What if the video helped the police by verifying they were following guidelines? Can someone please clarify this. Thanks.
06:02 PM
grinenbareit says
And we should be surprised? For what? That the S.R. couldn't get the first dibs on the info? Once again I say....please show us the reports, you at the S.R. have access to them, and don't hesitate to publish them when it's in your best interest. Publish the reports, like you so choose to do so with any other news worthy info, and then let us make our own decisions.
06:02 PM
JERRY from SANDUSKY says
Moderators have removed this comment because it contained a duplicate post. Discussion Guidelines06:04 PM
JERRY from SANDUSKY says
Moderators have removed this comment because it contained a duplicate post. Discussion Guidelines
06:02 PM
JERRY from SANDUSKY says
05:45 PM
yogi bear says
Westerhold obviously hates cops! He must have gotten a ticket once.
05:44 PM
mrlizzzard says
This to me is clearly a domestic violence issue,Were they not charged with that because the would lose their firearm privelidges?
05:39 PM
Raoul Duke says
This guy iwas lucky that he didn't mess with a Somoan's wife.
05:38 PM
Raoul Duke says
I don't know what it is, but every time I drink Wild Turkey, people start picking on me.
05:34 PM
donutshopguy says
Mel Burns will walk also.... Always been a double standard and it's not going to change now.
05:06 PM
Darwin's choice says
Respect is a two-way street................except for the police!!!!!!!!!