London Paper Analyzes Arfee Killing

T wo fatal police shootings unfolded within 14 hours, both in lakeside towns in the same corner of north-west Idaho . The first victim was Jeanetta Riley, a troubled 35-year-old pregnant woman, shot dead by police as she brandished a knife outside a hospital in the town of Sandpoint. Her death barely ruffled the tight-knit rural community, which mostly backed the officers, who were cleared of wrongdoing before the case was closed. The second shooting, in nearby Coeur d’Alene, sparked uproar. There were rallies, protests, sinister threats against the officer responsible, and a viral campaign that spread well beyond the town and drew an apology from the mayor. The killing was ruled unjustified, and the police chief introduced new training for his officers. The victim of the second shooting: a dog named Arfee/ Paul Lewis of London’s Guardian newspaper. More here.

Question: What do you make of Guardian reporter Kelly’s bottom line that we North Idahoans showed more concern for a dog that was shot in Craig Jones’ van by Coeur d’Alene police than a troubled woman who was shot & killed by Sandpoint police?