"A Pickerington schools administrator publicly apologized tonight for writing a letter in support of a man who is charged with shooting two Columbus police officers.
Pickerington Central High School Principal Scott Reeves said at a school-board meeting that he had been asked to provide a character statement for Derrick Foster, but he did not intend to have it appear as if it represented the view of the school district.
The letter for Foster was written on district letterhead.
Foster, 38, faces four counts of felonious assault of a police officer. Authorities say he fired shots that wounded two officers during a drug and gambling raid April 30 on the Near East Side.
“In no way do I support, in no way do I condone, the alleged actions of my friend,” Reeves said. “I sincerely and truly apologize for any negative publicity this has caused this great school district or this great, great community.”
Reeves' letter has brought out both defenders and those concerned among Pickerington parents, teachers and local police officers.
Jim Gilbert, president of the Fraternal Order of Police's Capital City Lodge No. 9, came to the meeting with 14 other officers and said he was satisfied with the principal's apology.
“He can support whoever he wants,” Gilbert said. “But the minute you put it on letterhead, you send a strong message.”
Superintendent Karen Mantia wrote a letter to Reeves reprimanding him for using district materials and employee time to write a letter based on his opinions.
In his letter, Reeves said Foster is a “high-quality individual” whom he met in the 1980s in the Ohio State University athletic program.
“Derrick Foster is an honest, upstanding citizen who has been an inspiration to those around him,” Reeves said in the letter. “In no way is Derrick a threat or menace to the community, nor has he been anything but a respectful, law-abiding citizen.”
Some Pickerington parents weren't satisfied with the apology.
Angela McDowell, parent of a Pickerington student, said she was disappointed that Reeves could write a character reference for a man accused of committing a crime.
“I have now lost faith in the Pickerington school system,” said McDowell, whose husband, Whitehall Officer Terry McDowell, was killed in the line of duty in 2001. “I am absolutely appalled that (Reeves) would put something like that on letterhead.”
Pickerington Central physics teacher Kevin McChesney said Reeves' accomplishments should be taken into consideration.“He's just a great guy, and he's done some great things,” he said. “I respect him and continue to support him.”
They break into the guys home, didn't identify themselves of course and found NOTHING, so to take the sting out of yet another ignominious fuck-up they go after the friend who vouched for him. Freedom of speech is hereby declared null and void dontcha know, because once again the guys we hire to take out the trash have decided which RIGHT, which LAW, to pay some attention to. While of course still offering the tired old saw that "we are a nation of laws and cops are here to enforce them."
Nothing could be further from the truth. They cherrypick to their whiny little hearts content, and weep like 12 year-old girls whenever someone happens to disagree with them, or take them to task for BREAKING LAWS themselves.
Thanks to The War on Guns.
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