“Could not one be found to defend James?”

To those who defend the Appling County Sheriff and the Georgia State Patrol SWAT Team, especially the sniper, by saying he was doing his job: I consider that as equivalent to saying he was obeying orders. That defense was used in the Nuremburg Trials in post-war Germany. The defense was rejected as invalid then, and it is invalid now. Every individual in the military and every law officer is obligated to obey only lawful orders and is trained to understand which orders are lawful and which are unlawful. Not only are they obligated to obey only lawful orders, they are duty-bound to disobey unlawful ones. Every law officer there who did not protest the actions of their superior officers and failed to defend James, verbally and physically, is equally as complicit in James’ death as the Sheriff and the commander of the GSP SWAT team.

Consider your defense of the law officers (especially the sniper) from a moral viewpoint: If it had been your child or your brother in James’ place, in the same situation and condition, if you can imagine such a terrible thing, would you still say, “He was doing his job.”? If you cannot answer “yes”, then your defense of James’ killers is morally indefensible.

In response to the individuals who resent my prominently including the Sheriff as responsible for James’ death: The Sheriff is the highest ranking law officer in the county and was in command at the scene, unless he relinquished command to the SWAT Team commander. Even then, he is still responsible because he could have prevented James’ murder with only a word. I understand that he is the official who gave the order to kill James. He was negligent in his sworn duty to protect the residents of Appling County. What makes his involvement so utterly despicable is that he knew James personally and was well aware of James’ problems.

To those who call James’ death “Suicide by cop”: A dictionary definition of suicide is: “the act or an instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally especially by a person of years of discretion and of sound mind.” I submit that James’ actions and state of mind did not merit the above characterization. Did James know that he was to be killed? Undoubtedly. Did he accept and possibly even welcome death? Probably. However, there is no way that a reasonable person could call his death “suicide”.

In my previous letter I characterized James’ killing as “Legal murder, but murder nonetheless.” At that time I had failed to consider the doctrine of “Proportionate Response,” or “Proportionate Force.” Considering that James was not pointing his shotgun or threatening to harm anyone, the use of deadly force was not justified. Therefore, the word ”Legal” is incorrect. The fact that James was given a finite time to surrender, then was killed, is evidence that they decided to kill him; therefore, the appropriate term is “Premeditated Murder under color of Law”.

For many years I have believed that the absolute worst thing that could happen to a parent was to lose a child to an early death. To my sorrow and dismay I have discovered one thing worse: To have your child murdered by those who are sworn to protect him.

If James had been the child of the GSP SWAT Team commander or the Sheriff, would they still have killed him, or would they have saved his life and gotten him the help he needed? If he had been the child of the sniper, would he have fired that fatal shot? Go one step further: if he had been the child or brother of any law officer at the scene, would he be alive today? Every single reader knows the answer to these questions: No, they would not have killed him, and yes, he would have received the help he so desperately needed. Among the multitude of law officers at the scene, could not one be found to defend James? Words fail me. I can not adequately express how reprehensible their actions were, and how appalled and disgusted I am that these are the people elected and appointed to protect the people of our community.

I understand that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting an investigation of James’ death. I will be greatly surprised if their finding is anything other than “Actions by all personnel involved were within the parameters of the Law,” or words to that effect. The “Brotherhood” has a history of closing ranks and protecting its own when threatened. The only chance of justice for James’ murder lies in public outrage and public outcry. You all know how to contact the Governor’s office and your elected representatives. Call, write, email, and demand Justice for James and his family. Be silent and it will happen again. The next time it may well be you or one of your family members.

I am convinced that there is a higher law than that written by man. It is the Law of Humanity, of Common Decency, of Compassion. This unwritten Law dictates that a human life be taken only if absolutely necessary, as a last resort. With the premeditated murder of Corporal James M. Dixon III every law officer involved in his death has proven himself totally devoid of humanity, common decency, and compassion.

This letter is my opinion and I am responsible for the content.

Sincerely,
Larry C. Ellis, Sr.