AN ABSENCE OF OUTRAGE

Monday, July 17, 2001

The absence of outrage condemning the death of Jeffrey Anderson in the “care” of Jackson County Sheriff’s jail deputies is astonishing.

I personally delivered photographs of Anderson, taken by hospital personnel when he was admitted, to this newspaper, to Channel 5 and Channel 12 newsrooms. Channel 10 didn’t want to see them.

Those photographs leave no doubt: Anderson’s face was smashed, his feet were stomped and he had severe bruising in his groin area. There were deep handcuff lacerations on his wrists and ankles. He had finger marks bruised into his neck. None of your news organizations published those photographs for you to see.

Anderson failed his education requirement for a DUII violation, and was placed in jail for 15 days. He was 33 years old and a father of two. He was not violent. There, but for the grace of God, go many of you, your wives, your sons and your daughters.

Your silence is shameful.

You paid 1.8 million dollars to Anderson’s family, much of which came from your property taxes -- not insurance. The taxpayers are the actual employer of Jackson County, which is why you had to pay. You are the voters, and you take financial responsibility for the people you elect to county office. Your elected sheriff just cost you 1.8 million dollars because he failed his duty to protect you from such a lawsuit, and he remains arrogant and unrepentant in the aftermath.

What are we going to do about it?

Carl F. Worden
Liaison & Intelligence Officer
Southern Oregon Militia

Click here to go back to Carl Worden Archives....