The following material is being published, unedited, exactly as it was received via e-mail from the office of the government official named, as a Source community service. Government office holders wishing to contribute to the FYI bulletin board must e-mail source@viaccess.net. The Source reserves the right to choose what is published.
April 27, 2004
Senator Lorraine L. Berry flatly stated today that individuals aware of the identity of Officer Cuthbert Chapman's killers are partly responsible for the influx of crime in our community. Declared Berry, "these are the people who should be condemned for failure to bring to light the identity of criminals who are terrorizing this community."
Elaborated Berry, "According to police science, for every crime committed at least one person is aware of the perpetrator. Also, according to police science, clever sleuthing and superior investigative techniques are not enough to solve all crimes……the police simply need the help of the populace or paid informers."
Berry said she somewhat sympathizes with those who are afraid to step forward. Nonetheless, said Berry, "their fear is still no excuse inasmuch as there exists within the system, ways and means to shield the identity of informers."
Pointed out Berry, "We cannot place all blame upon the police for failure to ferret out the criminal element. It requires cooperation of the populace……and the sad fact of life is that this cooperation is not forthcoming, and emboldens the criminal element."
Concluded Berry, "The murder of Officer Chapman is a tragedy; compounded by another tragedy……that is, the silence of individuals who can bring his killers to justice!"
