Sep 26, 2008
drug war, drug warriors, law enforcement, victims
I've written before about the death of Rachel Hoffman, a recent Florida State graduate who was murdered in a botched drug sting after Tallahassee police used a petty marijuana charge to pressure her into acting as an informant.
It's at least a little comforting to see that there's now some accountability for some of the principals involved in this tragic event.
But I can't help wondering what would have happened had Rachel, through luck and grace, avoided her awful fate. What if she had safely purchased the drugs and weapons the cops had put her in harm's way for? What if this dangerous scheme had led to drug convictions for these two smalltime thugs?
Would these officers still face disciplinary action? Or would their reckless caper be rewarded? I think we all know the answer.
Real accountability in Rachel Hoffman's death won't come until we acknowledge that the petty marijuana offense that dragged her into this situation should never have been a crime in the first place.
By the way, please check out this short tribute my colleagues John Berry and Joe Haptas made for Rachel.