Ellis Sounds Off

Like the rest of us in the community, Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis is weary of hearing about the continuing reports of crime happening in the community. There has been a rash of shootings in the area, where there have been many injuries and several deaths reported. The Monroe Police Department (MPD) is doing its job by apprehending alleged suspects as quickly as they can. Officers are to be commended for their swift work in taking dangerous people off the streets. Unfortunately, we live in a violent world and a violent nation, where violence has existed since the inception of our country. Yes, it may be the “actions of a few” who commit these crimes, but it is seen as a reflection of a society gone terribly wrong. Yes, there are laws and a judicial system in place to make sure that justice is meted out in a manner where there doesn’t seem to be a disparity in how justice is rendered. Justice for a citizenry is usually determined by the decisions that are made by judges, who decide based on existing laws how much a person must/should serve. Mayor Ellis, in recent comments, seems to be placing all, if not most, of the blame on crime on judges who release individuals before them instead of keeping them in jail. There is no doubt that many may agree with the mayor’s assessment. The mayor’s comments that the community is “tired of” Monroe Police repeatedly arresting the same individuals is a valid one. The mayor seems to be saying that MPD is doing its job and insinuate that local judges are not doing theirs.

Police officers, just as the community, share the same sentiments when we hear of people being arrested multiple times, only to be released. Some would say that we have a revolving door system. “It is not our job to be a jury and judge,” Ellis said. “Our job is to work these cases, patrol the streets, and put them in front of the folks at the 4th Judicial Court.” The mayor also said that plea deals, light sentences, and low bail amounts “are putting” us all at risk. The mayor, like others in the community, knows that there is a set procedure for anyone who is arrested. The mayor knows that anyone(including the mayor) who has to go before a judge will do whatever it takes by their lawyer not to have to go to jail. Plea bargaining or asking for a low or no bail is a common practice. Judges recognize this as it is at their discretion in conjunction with existing law to make the decision. Everyone wants a favorable decision from a judge. Everyone.

The fact is, we have to believe that judges are following the law. It may not be what we want, but that is the system. The mayor knows that. Take the example of a rich man and a poor man going to court. One will have a lawyer who will know how to argue a case, while the other lawyer may not be as experienced, but both will want the same thing for their client. That is, to stay out of jail. The law wasn’t written to be harsh on someone and not as harsh on someone else. Judges make tough decisions everyday; some we like, and as in the mayor’s case, some we don’t. Community groups all across the nation look for the root cause of crime and try to find ways to reach that individual who may be wandering away from the village. We have those groups in Monroe. Let’s work with them.