by Esther J. Cepeda
"Pregunta del Dia" translates to Question of the Day and today’s comes from Larry, a faithful reader who asks:
Q. "I was just wondering what your opinion is on the two young Hispanic gentlemen that were killed in a car accident that was caused by a white Chicago Police Officer. I believe that he is about to get off scott free."
A. Larry is referring to Chicago Police Officer John Ardelean, who the Illinois State’s Attorney’s office just determined cannot be tried criminally for the deaths of Miguel Flores and Erick Lagunas in a car crash Thanksgiving 2007. The officer had been off-duty at the time.
Officer Ardelean had been up on two counts of aggravated DUI, but because he refused a Breathalyzer test for 7 hours after the crash and didn’t do so until his supervisor insisted, there is no evidence to prove in court he actually was drunk at the time he killed.
That’s not to say he wasn’t. Nevermind that he knew better than to drink and drive. He clearly used his knowledge of the law to avoid a conclusive test until his boss made him take it. This is the part when the conspiracy theorists make it all about Latinos being disposable in this society, their lives and deaths less important than others’, etc.
Nope, had the two victims been white or Asian or Martian, for that matter, Officer Ardelean would have still been in cover-your-ass mode. Human nature. It’s not as though in a purportedly drunken binge he was looking for two minorities to mow down.
That, of course, is no excuse for his actions.
On the bright side there’s a new sheriff in town, Jody Weis, and this is exactly the sort of community-relationship mess he’s pledged to root out and boot out. He verified for local media that Ardelean is still under investigation and has been relieved of his duties.
Perhaps out of the glare of the TV cameras he went ballistic and made crystal clear to other cops that they aren’t going to slip quietly away if they’re caught driving drunk – or giving a checkered brother a free pass for seven hours until the buzz wears off before insisting on a test.
Esther J. Cepeda writes the “600 Words” & “Pregunta del Dia” columns, and is also a Director at the Chicago-based United Neighborhood Organization. Her reporting and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of UNO. “600 words” is a registered trademark of EeJayCee, Inc., Copyright 2008. May be reprinted with permission, contact eejaycee@600words.com
The Flores and Lagunas families will file a complaint with the U.S. Dept of Justice this morning (June 23, 2008). See exclusive info at http://rogersparkbench.blogspot.com/2008/06/flores-lagunas-families-to-file.html
Posted by: Tom Mannis | June 23, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Once again you hit the nail on the head. The cop was wrong. He was wrong wrong wrong. He was probably drunk too. But was he a racist? No. I'll bet he didn't even know the guys he killed were hispanic until well after he sobered up!
Posted by: Carlton Blanchard | May 14, 2008 at 04:40 PM