Seattle PD Shoot & Kill Clemmons

Maurice Clemmons, the man who is alleged to have killed four police officers from Lakewood, Washington, was shot and killed by the Seattle Police Department.

Clemmons was at large for nearly 48 hours after the shooting. The Seattle PD expects to charge several of his relatives for aiding and abetting Clemmons in alluding capture.

The murder of the four police officers garnered greater attention when it was revealed that Clemmons had been granted clemency in 2000 by then Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Clemmons had been sentenced to over 100 years in prison for armed robbery and other felonies. Huckabee's commutation made Clemmons eligible for parole which he was subsequently granted.

Again, Huckabee didn't kill those four police officers. There is plenty of blame to go around for the disposition of justice with regard to Maurice Clemmons. But the chain of events was started by Huckabee's decision to grant Clemmons clemency. If Huckabee doesn't grant Clemmons clemency there's a better than even chance Clemmons is still residing in a correctional facility in Arkansas. Nothing can bring back those four police officers. Now one can only hope this will give Governors pause before they consider clemency for violent offenders.