Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Police fear message of mistrial Date: Thu, 26 Nov 92 15:00:28 EST Message-ID: Lines: 43 \SE A;NATION \HD Police fear message of mistrial \BY Brian Reilly \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Members of the Metropolitan Police union said they were disturbed by yesterday's mistrial in the case against Daniel Gomez, calling it a message that little will be done about an alarming rise in assaults on officers. "The natural reaction among officers is they are going to be more hesitant," said Andre Lewis, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police's D.C. labor committee. He added that more officers may be hurt because they believe they must be injured before an assault charge will stand up in court. There were 338 reported assaults against District officers last year, an increase of 100 from 1990. Figures for 1992 were not available. Lt. Lowell Duckett, the president of the D.C. Black Police Caucus and an official in the 4th District, which includes Mount Pleasant, said the police are worried that political pressures are being given more weight than an officer's safety. Lt. Duckett works with Officer Angela Jewell, who shot Mr. Gomez in the May 5, 1991, incident. "She is taking it pretty bad," he said, noting that she has declined comment because of a civil lawsuit Mr. Gomez has pending against the department. "Officer Jewell is a competent and conscientious officer," he said. "The perpetuated lies told throughout the course of this trial negate any sense of fair play in the courtroom." Department spokespersons refused to discuss the mistrial, saying the issue is out of their hands. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM