[lapsus calami]

 

 

Yes, it's very tough to watch - and it makes me wonder how much of a part Dinkheller's employer, the Laurens County Sheriff's Department, played in his death through their leadership & training - or lack of it. Dinkheller lost control of the situation from the very start and never recovered. Discipline collapsed into hysterics - Brannan was encouraged and took advantage of it - Brannan basked in that fear which emboldened him to escalate his belligerence upon Dinkheller until it finally became deadly. Brannan identified himself as a predator that day, making me wonder who else he may have harmed before then.

 

 

[lapsus calami]

 

 

He got the needle, first in Georgia and the nation for 2015 - vid at the link -

 

http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/2015/01/12/brannan-parole-board-hearing/21663901/

 

 

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

The clincher for me was when Brannan turned around, walked over to Officer Dinkheller to fire more rounds into him as he was laying on the ground. No question about it—a death penalty case.

Then I did some reading.

Brannan was a Vietnam Vet who served with honor. He had no criminal record. He suffered from Post Traumatic Stress as well as a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. I am of the opinion his mania was more of a factor than the PTS.

I am not against the death penalty. Some crimes are so heinous, the death penalty is the only option. There are also times other factors need to be considered. If what I read was accurate, if ever there was a case to commute the sentence to life without parole, this was it.

I also read a few weeks before he was murdered Officer Dinkheller had been written up for being too quick to draw his weapon. No other details were cited so I do not know if a complaint had been filed. I cannot get into his mind, but I wonder how much that contributed to his losing control of the situation.

I am in no way blaming Officer Dinkheller for his own murder nor am I excusing Brannon for his actions, just looking at all of the pieces of the whole.