It would be great to be able to say that the suspended sentence given to former police officer Martray Proctor is “unbelievable,” but it’s sadly all too believable. Police who kill are never given jail time in this city – whether you slam into somebody while driving way too fast, get trigger-happy and kill a cellphone tower worker for no reason, shoot the passenger in a car that rolled through a license check, it’s all good, according to the DA’s office. And the family of whomever was killed? Historically, they’ve been lucky to get an apology, much less any monetary compensation.
In March 2009, Proctor responded recklessly to a routine call for backup at a traffic stop, roaring at 111 mph through a 45 mph zone, without turning on his lights or siren. He crashed into and killed 20-year-old Shatona Robinson, who was pulling onto Old Statesville Road in her Ford Escort. Proctor had previously been charged three times for speeding, including driving 86 mph in a 60 mph zone, and once, after he was hired by CMPD, for driving 63 mph in a 35 mph zone. Many observers assumed Proctor’s record of speeding would be held against him.
At first, it looked as if this particular “killer cop” case would be different. Proctor was actually charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the city settled a lawsuit brought by Robinson’s mother for $700,000. It seemed as if justice might be served after all. But yesterday, after Proctor pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and told Judge Timothy Patti that he wanted to study to become a minister, the judge gave the former officer a suspended sentence, 75 hours of community service, a whopping $250 fine, and three years of probation. Oh, and he wished Proctor success with his studies. The word is that Proctor was devastated by Robinson’s death and is trying to turn things around and be an asset to blahblahblah. Which will do Shatona Robinson exactly zero good. Who knew that all you had to do to get away with recklessly causing someone else’s death is to say you’re sorry?
This article appears in Apr 27 – May 3, 2010.
Sad but true, and I am a retired police officer.
I know of many dirty cops in Charlotte. It’s an unGodly shame that this always happens when they are caught. The Highway Patrol is even worse.
What people fail to realize is that this man was on his job:
1. HE was on his way to assist another officer in the line of danger(duty).
2. There are other evidence in this case that was not consider we always look at one side of the store. Did they test,check her blood, from understanding she was leaving a party being 20 years old leaving a party we know that there had to be other things going on if you are going to tell a story you need to tell the whole story. We look at the fact that the girl is dead and we dont want to tarnish her death well look at what we are doing to a man that is living. We are setting him up for failure. we never seen him take a gun and put it to some one head, no we have not but we can call him a murderer. Accidents happen, they happen everyday and stupid people that make stupid laws put innocent people behind bars on probation, etc. Put yourself in his situation, in his shoes, in the car he was driving, how he feels now knowing that this girl is dead and he is alive. DONT look at it like well he wish he was dead because he is going through all this legal mess. He may not have lost his life but he has lost everything else. THen again you might as well say he lost his life. From now on out his life is a struggle. we dont care who we hurt along the way as long as it makes us look good. THe Lord talks about forgiveness, Sad to say but it was time for this girl to leave this earth. IF it was not this way it would have been another. THe mother lawsuit, go ask her if this money makes her feel any better, does this man conviction make her feel any better. NO it dont. Why in the world would someone think or want money as a coping mecanism to the death of their child. The lost of a child dont bring about the thought of money. Her child salvation should have been more important than money.
P.S. He was not a dirty cop get your facts straight……