EDITORIAL: When justice died

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The atrocity that has taken place at the Prince George's County Correctional Center in Upper Marlboro demands a swift, thorough investigation by an independent source. The FBI and Maryland State Police have indicated that they will do just that. That this has happened in the first place is nothing short of a travesty for all parties involved. How a 19-year-old murder suspect became the victim of a homicide after just a few hours in police custody is not only criminal but recklessly egregious.

Whether it was a homicide committed by an "inside" source or an "outside" source, it should not have happened. That it happened to a convicted felon with an open warrant suspected of killing a cop by dragging him with a stolen car and carrying 15 bags of crack cocaine doesn't make his death any more just.

We are not, nor ever should be, a vigilante society, and we agree with Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson's statement on Monday: "If we have vigilante justice, our society will fall apart."

Now there is no justice for Cpl. Richard S. Finley, the officer Ronnie L. White allegedly mowed down. Officer Finley's family will be denied justice. The kind of justice that could have made some sense of his senseless murder; and resulted in the possible rehabilitation of a 19-year-old adult on paper, yet still young enough to turn his life around.

In addition to justice not being served, whatever the outcome of the investigation, it is almost guaranteed that a wrongful death lawsuit is already in the works. So American taxpayers will foot the hefty bill of a probable settlement, likely to be much more costly than putting Mr. White through the penal system.

Finally, there is the issue of culpability. Onerously, the seven guards and supervisors who had access to Mr. White were not immediately suspended or put on leave - and some jail employees who were questioned exercised their Fifth Amendment right not to answer. This is troubling in light of the fact that this is not the first time this facility has had problems with its employees. While Mr. Johnson said Mr. White's murder was "unrelated to any act" by the county police department, even negligence is a punishable offense.

There are still more facts to be compiled in the coming days and weeks. But one thing is certain: What happened to Cpl. Finley and Mr. White is a grave injustice. Both murders should be treated as such.