Ken Schram: An insult to the memory of murdered officer
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I can't get past the decision to give an accused cop killer his very own TV set.
Christopher Monfort is being held in the King County Jail awaiting trial in the murder of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton and the attempted murder of officer Britt Sweeney on Halloween night three years ago.
I won't even get into why it will take almost four years before Monfort's trial finally gets underway.
Monfort's being held in isolation; an ultra-security inmate who is kept from other inmates because he's paralyzed.
He's paralyzed because when police went to arrest him, he pulled a gun and pulled the trigger.
The gun misfired. Police shot him.
That's why he's in a wheelchair.
So now we have Claudia Balducci, who heads up the detention system, deciding that poor Mr. Monfort is lonely and needs some type of interaction with other people.
Hence, he gets his own personal TV.
I don't give two hoots or a damn as to what contrived logic Balducci uses to try to justify this.
The only conclusion that can be reached here is that providing Monfort with a TV is an insult to the memory of Officer Brenton and another brick in the wall to the public's perception that our criminal justice system is going to hell in a hand basket.
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Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
Christopher Monfort is being held in the King County Jail awaiting trial in the murder of Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton and the attempted murder of officer Britt Sweeney on Halloween night three years ago.
I won't even get into why it will take almost four years before Monfort's trial finally gets underway.
Monfort's being held in isolation; an ultra-security inmate who is kept from other inmates because he's paralyzed.
He's paralyzed because when police went to arrest him, he pulled a gun and pulled the trigger.
The gun misfired. Police shot him.
That's why he's in a wheelchair.
So now we have Claudia Balducci, who heads up the detention system, deciding that poor Mr. Monfort is lonely and needs some type of interaction with other people.
Hence, he gets his own personal TV.
I don't give two hoots or a damn as to what contrived logic Balducci uses to try to justify this.
The only conclusion that can be reached here is that providing Monfort with a TV is an insult to the memory of Officer Brenton and another brick in the wall to the public's perception that our criminal justice system is going to hell in a hand basket.
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Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also connect with Ken on Facebook.
While it's easy to think of Momfort as what he most likely is, guilty and deserving of nothing, it's also important to remember the principal of American justice that says innocent until proven guilty. Until a court actually decides he's guilty, he must be treated as though he's innocent. And perhaps that includes a T.V. More to the point would also be whether a T.V. would ever be considered for other prisoners in isolation. I suspect that it's probably fairly routine, and treating him differently would be hard to justify. As well, he's confined in isolation and in a wheelchair. It would be good to keep him at least remotely sane enough to stand trial and be convicted. If isolation drives him totally insane, we might have to settle for locking him up in less defined hospital settings...
Let him kep the TV.Set it up on a closed circut system tht the jail competely controls.
Have very limited and carefully selected sereis of videos that would play on a loop.
1. First show of the day would be the funeral of Timothy Brenton.
2 . Second show of the day could be some sort of documentary about the death penalty.
3. Maybe a travel show to show him there plaes he'll never see.
I apologize for the poor spelling in the above post.
I specifically apologize to any teachers out there !
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Mr Schram is so right. Even though Mr Monfort is considered innocent until proven guilty, why bother with those pesky constitutional rights (ever hear of the Alien and Sedition Acts). Not only should we ignore any psychological damage Mr Monfort may suffer, we should subject him to physical abuse as well. First, that wheelchair has to go. A goat cart ala Porgy and Bess is good enough for the likes of him. No, that's still to much mercy for a defendant. He can crawl wherever he needs to go. He also can provide revenue to pay us back for the cost of his keep. We should sell tickets to the public for a mocking ceremony. The cheap tickets allow patrons to scream and yell but the expensive ones actually allow buckets of feces and urine to be thrown at the defendant.. I'm sure this will allow Officer Brenton to requiescat in pace.
 @oberonkenobi Except, I don't remember anything in the Constitution about television being human right.Â
 @Datsuyama It isn't. However, treating Monfort any differently than the other prisoners awaiting trial IS a violation of human rights.
 @oberonkenobi "why bother with those pesky constitutional rights" - a sentiment which will change dramatically the first time police look at you as a suspect in ANY crime or infraction from spitting on the sidewalk to jaywalking to shoplifting to armed robbery to murder.
 @oberonkenobi I like your ideas. It's a good START for the suffering this piece of filth should endure, and LOOK......since his arrest, he's gained a lot of weight! THIS means when he chooses which means of execution he receives for murdering a cop, he can choose hanging. THEN he can turn around and say that it would be "cruel and unusual punishment" because his head might pop off. I agree with Schram (for a change) on THIS one. THIS P.O.S. deserves whatever torment fate has to dish out, and if YOU feel sorry for him? Become his lawyer and offer to serve his sentence in his place.
Sick, sick, sick
Two channels for these guys, the weather channel and C-span.
LOL... look at the comments saying "We don't want a trial We Want Blooooooood"!!!!!
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These aren't men. Â They are little boys who never grew up. Just out for revenge. Â How sad. Â
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I think a lot of cops are commenting here under anonymous names. Â
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 @Andrew Bush Andrew? After reading all of your cop hating rhetoric, I encourage you to get a gun and learn how to defend yourself. Big Brother has a way of knowing WHO you are, and should YOU ever be in need of assistance, the BAD cops will be passing around donuts laughing at your distress call. The GOOD ones, will STILL come to your aid........while wishing they didn't HAVE to. YOU night just have to protect YOURSELF if ALL cops are as bad as you say they are. I guess time will tell.
@Wolfen
Waaaa Waaaaa  I don't like you talking bad about our proven corrupt police department... Waaaaaa!
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Maybe Ken will give you a Schramie for biggest whiner on the thread.Â
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Are you a Seattle cop? Â You sound just like one. Â
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Name:Fred JarrettTitle:Deputy County ExecutiveGroup:KCEO - Policy & Strategy (PS)
Email: Â fred.jarrett@kingcounty.gov
Phone:206-263-9627
Fax:206-205-5090
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the buck must stop here ....
Name:Rhonda BerryTitle:Assistant Deputy County ExecutiveGroup:KCEO - Operations
Email: Â rhonda.berry@kingcounty.gov
Primary Phone:206-263-9661
Fax:206-205-5090
Reports To:Fred Jarrett
@mtbdirtdog left messages.
Please, every one do the same.
Well she is a Public Employee , so here is her Contact Information as listed by King CountyÂ
Email: Â claudia.balducci@kingcounty.gov
Primary Phone:206-296-1268
Fax:206-296-0570
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Her Boss is Rhonda Berry
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Flood her phone lines, Fax machine and emails with you thoughts and suggestions , tax payers
@mtbdirtdog You know, there isn't any reason to get personal about this. I personally loathe Montfort, and I suspect you do too, but Ms. Balducci is working within the laws we the public have established and the regulations her agency has in effect. It isn't as if she did this because she personally cares a rip for this guy.
Just because she is a public employee doesn't mean that it's appropriate to hold her personally accountable for something you disagree with on principle.
And other commentators on this thread are right about this: Montfort hasn't been convicted of a crime as yet. He is still a citizen and deserves [yes, deserves] all the rights and considerations that status implies. I don't like molly-coddling the SOB any more than you do, but we have this thing called the Constitution that pretty much says we have to.
 @mtbdirtdog Thanks for the information.... Now we can call and tell them to pay no attention to the misfit mob out for blood.  Â
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Give the man a tv because...... A. He has not been convicted of any crime. Â and B. It will keep his mind sane for trial. Â
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Well Ken, after the story first broke I sent an email to the King Couny Sherrif department (not being able to find any email address for Corrections).
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Provided at least two links to miniature TVs. Have not heard back from them but am hoping they forwarded the information i provided.
I'm with you on this one, Ken.
Montfort went hunting police officers that night and got one, so why we should have any further consideration for his confinement beyond what is required by law is beyond me.
Would we even be having this discussion if it was Maurice Clemmons in that wheelchair?
I really do not care if he has a T.V. or not, but I do think if he gets one then he has to buy it.Â
If he needs something to pass the time give him a book. He doesn't need or deserve a TV. I don't think any inmates should have access to a TV. Give them bare basics to entertain themselves and that's more for the benefit of the guards. An inmate who has nothing to occupy his time is more likely to use that time to think of ways to act out and endanger the prison staff and other inmates. The latter of which also endangers the guards since they have to then try and break it up.
I agree with Ken on this one. Unfortunately, the inmates seem to have it made - jail and prison is a joke - they do not get punished or corrected. These institutions are their homes where they have a very active social life. I am certain that Montfort interacts with the corrections officers, jail medical and psychiatric staff, has mail (if anyone writes to him), visits with family and friends on visiting days, and telephone privileges. His paralysis is the result of his own choice. Officer Brenton and his family did not have that choice. I am tired of the taxpayers having their noses rubbed in the dirt by jail administrators who are nothing but bleeding hearts.
I agree Ken, but would like to add, that anyone who sitting in jail / prison should not have access to a TV, library, gym or what have you. They did the crime, let them sit alone in a cell thinking about what they did. Now that is punishment IMO.
 @neets458 No, he should definitely be allowed access to BOOKS. He needs to read and educate himself on reality.
 @neets458 "did the crime"?  I wasn't aware that Mr. Monfort had been convicted of a crime.  Have I misunderstood "awaiting trial"?
 @My_Thoughts  @neets458 My mistake. I should have said anyone convicted of a crime in jail/prison. Thanks for pointing that out.
 @neets458 Suit up and get a big stick and start whackin'.... Prison doesn't work that way and many intelligent people have put many hours of thought pertaining to safety for the officers, safety for offenders and just maybe you're angry wishing for revenge. (just a thought)
He should have his own TV set... so he can watch the static that is on it when there is no signal...Â
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Yes, I agree with Ken
I'm with Ken on this one...we're too soft on our criminals.
 @dgruntled Criminals? Has Mr. Monfort had been convicted of a crime.  Did I misunderstood "awaiting trial"?
 @My_Thoughts  @dgruntled He and his attorney have chosen to drag the process out by waiving the right to a speedy trial, evidently. Therefore, he should take what goes with that. Lots of sitting and thinking. Maybe a couple of books. That is all.
Im so sorry this poor fella is feeling that society has abused him, he doesnt get to mingle with his felow prisoners...............WAAAAAAA!  Roll his ass into the cell and shut the door.  I wouldnt even so much as give him a book to read.  He gets the rest of his miserable days to sit in that wheelchair and think of what a waste of air and space he is.
Kenny, do you want the accused fit for trial... or insanity plea...Â
 @Torqputty If it were an insanity defense they would have already had to plead that.
The very reason we have prisons is public perception - a lot can be said of a civilized society by the way it treats its prisoners. Â We could just shoot them and be done with it. Â Isolation is considered unusual and detrimental punishment. Â The others get TV too in the common areas, so consequently . . .. Â It is as simple as that.
 @ETSubmariner I agree in one way, and disagree in another. He hasn't been convicted yet, so he's not a convict. They've chosen to waive a speedy trial. He should have access to books, but I see no reason to give him a TV. Tough bounce for him on that score. However; I do agree that once we engage in violent and brutal retaliatory "punishment" we have become what we have laws against. Doesn't make sense.
Ken - While I agree with you that this guy shouldn't get any special considerations, it is my opinion that no murderers should get special considerations while in prison, no matter who they killed. I (with the exception of the few bad apples) completely support law enforcement officers, but to imply that their lives are any more valuable than somebodys family member that was murdered who wasn't a law enforcement officer is absurd.
 @Surveyor1 IT is not absurd, law enforcement spends 40 plus hours a week putting their life on the line to protect you and I. So yes their lives are more valuable, shooting someone who protects society is different than you and i being shot, just reality.
@ronny33 @Surveyor1 I wonder if you would feel the same if it were a family member of yours. Lots of people put their lives on the line in their jobs....military, firefighters, etc. That remark is your reality, but I respect your right to your opinion.
@ronny33 I respectfully disagree with you.
Give him an AM radio.
Screw that your in jail as punishment. That's not the damn Hilton.
 @DDG Punishment for what.  Was he convicted and I didn't hear about it?
You all are a wild bunch today - you start drinking early? LMFAO
Ha! Ha!... cream soda so far.... @alildifferentÂ
Let him watch your show, Ken.
 @STK That would be cruel and unusual punishment.