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The Des Moines Register
Saturday, May 25, 1996, Page 10A.
letters@dmreg.com

The Register's Readers Say

Trimble sentence a travesty of justice

     Is it any wonder that we continue to have a drug problem
when the judges refuse to sentence the school drug officer to
prison for illegal drug activity?  Is our judicial system
committed to expanding drug usage by sentencing James Trimble to
probation despite his visible position in the drug discouragement
(supposedly) process?  What a terrible example this sets for our
young people.
                                           - Murl 0. Black,
                                 1199 Fifth St., Lohrville.

     I've heard of diplomatic immunity, but I've never heard of
police immunity.  You mean to tell me that what James Trimble did
to the children of Urbandale by "not doing what he said" is not
punishable by more than a $l,000 fine and 100 hours of community
service?  Where will be do his community service - in the
Urbandale schools?
     This man could have been made an example of for the children
he deceived.  Now he is an example of what it means "to get away
with it."
                                         - Lorraine Powell,
                                   211 Seventh St., Nevada.

     The next time any of us wonders why there is steady moral
decay in our country, all we have to do is look back at Judge Leo
Oxberger's decision in the case of ex-Urbandale Police Officer
James Trimble.  This decision was a mockery of our system of
justice.
     Not only did Trimble break numerous laws, he broke the
public trust.  He worked with kids in an anti-drug campaign.  Now
he has to do 100 hours of community service, again telling kids
the "evils" of drug use.
     Judge Oxberger's decision further erodes the public trust.
                                              - Ron Nesbit,
                                  1816 79th St., Des Moines.

     The sentencing of James Trimble was such a travesty of
justice.
     Judge Leo Oxberger said because Trimble was not on duty, he
would sentence him as an average citizen.  Now, many "average"
citizens are in prison for using illegal drugs, let alone being a
police officer who stole drugs from the police department with
the intent to use and sell (i.e. deal).
     The sentence Trimble received was just this side of nothing.
The "average" law-abiding citizen works more than 100 hours in a
two-week period making an honest living.  And, in this day and
age, what is $1,000?
     What complete hypocrisy serving 100 hours of community
service by going into schools and telling students that drugs are
wrong.  Wasn't that Trimble's job at the time of his arrest?  No
thank you; I don't want this man in the same town as my children,
let alone going back into the schools to tell them using drugs is
"wrong."
                                       - Cleoda M. Mikesch,
                               2419 Tomlin Ln., Des Moines.

     I was sickened and appalled over the sentencing of former
Urbandale Police Officer James Trimble.
     How can such a sentencing be justified?  Would he have
received such a sentence had he been a poor white or minority
represented by a public defender?  What message does this
sentencing send to the public about the importance of public
trust, the abuse of drugs and hypocrisy?
     It is true, as stated by Judge Leo 0xberger, that the
defendant has lost much.  But can you imagine the impact his
crime had on the young people in Urbandale, the police department
and the public's faith in the system as a whole?
     The judge's reasoning is warped and amazing.  If the
president of a bank stole $5 million from the bank because of his
position and the trust of the bank customers, should he receive
the same sentencing as a person who attempts to pass a check at
the bank?  I think not.
     It amazes me that members of the judiciary and other
political persons want the citizens to believe that the system
works the same for all people who are involved in it.  This is
obviously not the case.
     Frankly, I am getting sick and tired of it all!  We need
more responsible judges.
                                           - Lynne Harrell,
                                      4206 S.E. Fourth Ct.,
                                                Des Moines.