EDITORIALS Death by cop

THE PROSECUTOR’S summary of a police shooting in Rogers earlier this month tells the story. It begins at 1:27 p.m., Oct. 4, 2010, when Tony Chambers calls the local technical school he’d been attending to announce he’s going to kill himself. The 54-year-old man then calls police and asks the dispatcher to contact his livein girlfriend of 20 years and his son to tell them both not to come home until “someone takes me down.” He makes it clearduring the call that that this is the day he plans to die, that he’s “had enough,” and will not be taken alive.

The police force’s crisis negotiator, along with other officers, rushes to Tony Chambers’ home on 26th Street, calling his phone number again and again. With no result. The man refuses to respond to the police when they arrive at his front door.

At 3:13 p.m., Mr. Chambers calls the dispatcher again, says he’s walking outside to his mailbox, and he doesn’t want to be “messed with.” Corporal Kevin Smith has already taken cover behind a car parked in the driveway by the time the man with a blue denim shirt draped over his right hand walks toward the mailbox.

When the police corporal tries to take him into custody, Mr. Chambers turns away from the policeman and starts back toward the house.

The policeman tells Tony Chambers to show his concealed hand. Whereupon he turns and drops the shirt, revealing a .22 caliber pistol that, as it turns out, is loaded. With five bullets. Mr. Chambers raises the weapon to about a 45-degree angle as Cpl. Smith orders him to drop the handgun. He doesn’t.

Instead, Tony Chambers starts walking toward the officer. “You better shoot me,” he says.

Cpl. Smith orders him, again, to drop the gun. Mr. Chambers only raises the barrel higher. Three shots ring out. Tony Chambers drops to the groundwithout pulling the trigger. He’s got his wish, and will die a short time later at Mercy Medical Center.

The prosecutor’s report notes that Mr. Chambers had sought and received medical help for a mental problem in 2006. But he’d stopped taking his prescribed medication over the summer, who knows why.

This much is clear: For whatever reason he’d determined that he was going to die that afternoon. And he used thepolice officer to take his own life. For what other recourse does any officer have when faced by a loaded pistol aimed in his direction, and the man holdingit refuses repeated commands to put it down? None.

Cpl. Smith took a leave of absence while the shooting was being investigated. The investigation took two weeks. No doubt he needed the time away. Who wouldn’t?

Now the Benton County prosecutor, Van Stone, has absolved the officer of any criminal wrongdoing, and found that he was justified in using deadly force.

Tony Chambers leaves behind his long-time companion and a son. And, one must hope, no needless remorse on the part of Kevin Smith, the police officer he manipulated. What a sad and terrible thing to do, not only to himself but to someone who’s dedicated his life to serving and protecting others.

Corporal Smith, along with Tony Chambers’ family, has our deepest sympathies, for he only did what he had to as an officer of the law.

Once again we are struck by the devotion of our lawmen, and all that is expected of them in the line of duty. And how they meet and exceed those expectations time and again. Corporal, there’s no need to torment yourself. No doubt you will be tested again, for you’ve signed on for a life of service. And for that we thank and respect you.