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Policewoman found guilty in fatal collision
"a divine directive from God. God is glorified."
"a divine directive from God. God is glorified."
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News
February 27, 2004
BRIGHTON - Two seemingly good people were on a collision course in June - one a
policewoman, the other a church deacon.
One died, and now one has to pay.
After listening to three days of testimony in Adams County Court, a jury of
three men and three women on Thursday found former Northglenn officer Patrisha
McEachern, 33, guilty of misdemeanor careless driving resulting in death.
During the trial, police officers testified that McEachern was primarily to
blame for the June 29, 2003, accident that killed Michael D. Branch Sr., 44.
"We support the decision by the Adams County district attorney to charge former
officer Patrisha McEachern, and the decision of the jury, and our sympathy goes
out to the family of Michael Branch," said Sgt. Daryl Hollingsworth, Northglenn
police spokesman.
Prosecutors Sharon Holbrook and Sarah Boensch said McEachern was in her patrol
cruiser traveling 76 mph in a 45 mph zone on East 104th Avenue when she smashed
into Branch's Audi, which was turning in front of her.
McEachern was responding to a call of a child with a seizure. The dispatcher had
authorized McEachern to respond to the medical call promptly but without lights
and siren and not above the speed limit.
After the verdict, McEachern issued a statement through her lawyer, David J.
Bruno, saying she accepted the jury's verdict and described it as "a divine
directive from God. God is glorified." She will be sentenced in April.
Bruno said he believed the Northglenn Police Department's policy about how to
respond to calls put McEachern in a confusing position.
McEachern testified on her own behalf Wednesday. She said she had turned on her
emergency lights at intersections to alert other motorists.
When she crossed Marion Street, the bushes in the median obscured the westbound
turn lane where Branch was approaching, she said.
"I see shrubs, shrubs, shrubs - car!" she said. She said she slammed both feet
on the brake and tried to turn before the collision occurred.
McEachern wiped away a tear when she said she looked for her car radio to call
for help.
Cynthia Branch, the victim's wife, also wiped away tears during McEachern's
testimony
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V wrote:
Directives are always unclear to avoid lawsuits, in my opinion. The
less detailed, the more apt one can avoid suit. But it hurts the
officers who are responding. That is tough for both families.
Obviously accidental.
Obviously an "act of god" ...
V
--
"Naturally, the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia nor in England nor in America,
nor for that matter in Germany.
That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders
of the country who determine the policy and
it is always a simple matter to drag the people
along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist
dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist
dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked and denounce the
pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing
the country to danger. It works the same way
in any country."
- Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall
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=> Vox Populi wrote:
V wrote:
Obviously an "act of god" ...
All actions of cops are acts of God, aren't they?
V
--
"Naturally, the common people don't want war;
neither in Russia nor in England nor in America,
nor for that matter in Germany.
That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders
of the country who determine the policy and
it is always a simple matter to drag the people
along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist
dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist
dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.
That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked and denounce the
pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing
the country to danger. It works the same way
in any country."
- Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshall
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