Don Penix

President, Fraternal Order of Police

 

Dear Don:

Thank you for taking the time and speaking with me last night. I had hoped that there could have been something in our discussion that would have made me feel more comfortable with the position that the Fraternal Order of Police was taking in regards to the matter of former Deputy Sheriff Christopher Long. I just read your press release, the second to last paragraph concerns me to the point that I can no longer support the efforts of the F.O.P. This along with the fact that the guy I was told you about that was representing the F.O.P. on the news was no other than Chuck Canterbury, National President of the F.O.P. He unfortunately has no idea what he is doing to polarize this community from our law enforcement. He obviously doesn't know the facts of this case and is going along with the mind set of "oh well, people die sometimes in this business, glad it was one of them instead of one of us". Peyton Strickland should not have died.

Now, for anyone to think that the decision of the Grand Jury, a group of lay people, is the end of all ends, they are mistaken. The prosecutor in this case, Benjamin R. David, is by far, the best friend that a law enforcement officer could ever have. For you or anyone else to second guess what he does and how he does it, is beyond your own comprehension. This will not stop at the Grand Jury's decision and should not stop until a jury decides this case from all the evidence of a trial.

You asked for fairness. Try being fair to the Strickland family. Trying being fair to District Attorney Ben David.

You, the President of the North Carolina Lodge of the F.O.P. have had your misinformed say, the National President of the F.O.P. has had his misinformed say, now let's wait and hear District Attorney David and the State Bureau of Investigation have their informed say.

By the way, according to Sheriff Sid Causey, Deputy Chris Long was not fired over the shooting, but for violating departmental policy.

Sadly I write this to you.

Marcus T. Benson
Blue Line Radio
Former member and Law Enforcement Office of the Year, F.O.P. Lodge 58 (1996)