Question about suspects

[dcibarnaby]

I was recently going through some old case files and it struck me that there were a few of them that I regret having to file. Perhaps it's because I'm out in the country rather than a larger city like London, New York, Chicago or Miami, but there were a couple of suspects I rather liked. It was my job to put them away, they broke the law, but I

Comments

[not_watson]

We get that sometimes. I think my partner identifies with the perps much more than I do, but the ones who stand out for me are the kids who get coerced into murder.

More than once we've found a younger person, mostly men, being manipulated into doing something that they wouldn't have done on their own. Sometimes they have a mental illness, sometimes they didn't have a good family situation, whatever it is that puts a kid right on the edge. At the moment of truth they find a bad person to be their mentor and it's all over.

Usually there isn't a whole lot we can do for them, they made a wrong choice and have to pay for it. But we make it our mission in life to catch the person behind it. If they get away with it, one more kid will miss the chance to get real help. Maybe more.

I look at these kids and all I can think is how badly they want to please someone. They want to know they've done well, that they've been a real help, that they made a difference, that they won't be left behind. And what they did was murder.

Such a

[dcibarnaby]

Yes, it is a waste when a person takes advantage of someone like that, young or old. Good for you, for going after the ones that do. You can't help but arrest them as they've broken the law, but when it comes to trial, I try to at least help as much as I can. Personally and legally.

[not_watson]

If we can do it, nail the one holding the strings, that's usually the biggest help in court. If we can make them tell the truth, that goes a long way. And my partner is very good at making them tell the truth.

Personally I try to keep my distance. My partner doesn't, he can't, so one of us has to keep that line a little firmer.

[dcibarnaby]

Yes, I suppose it would be difficult if one of you didn't keep a firmer line. I have the luxury that I don't need to. Midsomer County is small population wise. Most of the villagers know everyone's business and it's easier to have a conversation, getting the facts that way, than through the usual interrogation methods.

I'm very fortunate in that way.

[munchsvu]

Yes, I have. Her name is Amy Salway. She's a wonderful woman and an amazingly strong person. She only spent a few years in jail for medical reasons and I still see her. We're good friends.

[dcibarnaby]

That's splendid. I'm glad to hear that you and Amy have remained friends through it all.

[codenamedkangel]

We had a case of a marine that had suffered 'roid rage and did not know how, or when, he had been injected with the steroids. He was the ideal soldier; strong, powerful, determined, devoted, a hero. I even dressed up for the ceremony where he was being honoured for his deeds.

We found out he had taken the steroids on his own. Before them he could not have gotten into the Marine Corps and his life's dream was to be in that uniform. Everything we did for him and he was lying to us the entire time. I still hated walking away, knowing the military police would be arresting him and he would be booted with a BCD.

[dcibarnaby]

That type of case would be very difficult indeed. I would imagine he took the steroids to be 'all that he could be'. It's tragic that it had that ending for him.

Is steroids a large problem? I've heard of it with athletes in the news, but I hadn't realized others were using it as well. To that extent I mean, including the rage.

[codenamedkangel]

That was the hard part. He had, in his mind, done what he had to for the Corps, to be a good man. He did not stop being a hero, but no one will care now.

More than is talked about, though it is getting harder for those active duty. Many switch to the herbal sort which are not yet illegal for them. I think this one only came to light because he was set to get a commendation from the President.

[dcibarnaby]

That's tragic. In cases such as that, you almost wish there was a way he could be discharged quietly without the BCD. Something a little less harsher than that. I know it's not possible and you can't pick and choose which law or regulation to follow, but still in those cases, it makes it difficult.

Perhaps out of this tragedy a spotlight will be shown on the problem and it might be dealt with so another young man wouldn't follow in his footsteps.

[vivo_per_ardua]

Yes. I had to arrest a woman who had murdered the man who'd raped her. He'd gone unpunished so she took justice into her own hands. She just wanted her life back, her control, her power. She wanted to stop living in fear.

But she took a life. As much as I sympathize with her (my best friend was raped when I was 17), I had to arrest her.

[dcibarnaby]

Those are the hardest cases to bring in, even if you don't form a connection to the suspect. Someone taking revenge for a past wrong. While intellectually you know you can't go down that path, emotionally you're cheering them on.