I don't even know what to say ...
 

SEATTLE -- King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng filed vehicular homicide and drug charges Friday against a woman accused of killing a Seattle police officer in a car crash.

He said he intended to seek an exceptional sentence because the standard range of 10 to 14 years would not reflect the "outrageous recklessness" of the act.

Mary Jane Rivas, 31 and a six-time felon, was high on cocaine and driving 80 mph in a 30-mph zone Sunday morning when she ran a red light and plowed a sport utility vehicle into a cruiser driven by a 26-year-old rookie Officer Joselito Barber, Maleng said.

A judge has set bail at $1 million.

"His family, his police family and the broader community are devastated by his loss," Maleng said.

Maleng did not specify how long a sentence he intended to seek if Rivas is convicted. But he said he would ask a jury to find aggravating factors that would enable a Superior Court judge to impose a sentence beyond the standard range.

The Seattle Police Department planned a motorcade Monday to honor Barber.
"Lito Barber was exactly the kind of person you want wearing a police uniform," Maleng said.

According to a probable cause statement filed in King County Superior Court, two other police officers witnessed the crash at about 4 a.m. Sunday.
Officers said Rivas appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of her arrest, and drugs were found in her possession. She is charged with possession of cocaine in addition to vehicular homicide.
She was treated at Harborview Medical Center for a broken left leg and broken left foot.

see the video....the car is completely destroyed
http://www.kirotv.com/news/9701261/detail.html#
Video: Crash Leaves Officer Dead

She deserves to go to prison for a while, but it disturbs me when the police value another policeman's life more than that of a regular citizen. If the standard sentence is good enough for killing a scoutmaster or an accountant, it should be good enough for killing a police officer.

I think the DA is asking for more time because of her prior history and the fact that the time she has served in prison so far has taught her absolutly nothing

did you see the car?

I agree completely. I've never understood how a "cop killer" is any worse than any other killer.

6 time felon? Why is she out in public to begin with?

obviously Washington has no 3 strikes law

Well my take on it is that the officer is the "finest" of all citizens ones that are willing to throw their life in danger to protect others. someone who kills a cop has the utmost disregard for Law and Order

money? favors? guess there's no 3 strikes your out where ever she's at.

I think there are situations where killing a cop should be considered more serious. I'm not sure this falls in that category.

That being said, anyone who's a six time felon should already be serving life in prison as far as I'm concerned. Actually, they should have been executed.

Same goes for gay killers, race killers, etc.

I agree, but I have no idea what this has to do with the topic.

you mean cop killing isn't a "hate crime"? :)

Why is raping a 6 year old worse than raping a 36 year old?...

No.

It's ok to hate anyone who is percieved as having more influence or opportunity than yourself.

In the eyes of the law, is it?

I know they're probably called something different, but are the punishments different?

But to answer the question, someone who rape is fucked up, someone who has sex with children is fucked up. Someone who does both is too fucked up to be kept on this earth. (IMO)

Exactly.

If the person targets a police officer, it's one thing. But a completely random event like this doesn't warrant special attention.

I can see killing a cop or another government agent being a stiffer sentence in a situation where they are killed because of that. In this case, it could have been anyone there in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Either way, she should never see the light of day again.

I didn't realize that it was. Rape is terrible regardless of the victim.