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I am honestly stunned to share that we received the outcome we asked for regarding this case. This result belongs entirely to the people who took the time to review the facts and sign their names. I have no words for how much this support has meant.

September 16, 2010

FREE JOHANNES MEHSERLE PETITION

FREE JOHANNES MEHSERLE PETITION

🏆 Won — 740 supporters Verified

Final supporters

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Helen S.
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Chadwick J.
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Someone
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james
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Detective B.
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Fahad R.
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Jake
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Elaine H.
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Brent C.
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Michelle C.
+730 more
Started by Anonymous 16 years, 1 month ago

TO: Judge Robert Perry
Re: Petition to Release Johannes Mehserle
Dept #104 Central District
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

To The Honorable Judge Robert Perry,

We the undersigned are requesting that former BART Police Officer Johannes Mehserle be set free immediately and that all charges are overturned.

The death of Oscar Grant on January 1, 2009 was a tragic accident brought on by poor training in the use, handling, and proper placement of a taser weapon. The training on taser weapons that BART provided to officers, unfortunately, set a series of events in motion that led to the death of Oscar Grant, even long before the event actually occurred. As a result, that training failed Johannes Mehserle at a crucial time he needed it most. Looking back, had BART Police had a mandatory requirement in place that required tasers to be worn on the opposite side of the body to which one would wear their service weapon, and that in order to fire that taser, they would have to cross draw or draw the weapon with the weak hand, then the events of January 1, 2009 would never have happened. We feel that if anyone should be accountable for the tragic day that Oscar Grants life was taken, it should be Bart Police Department, and that this should be a civil matter and NOT a criminal matter.

We feel that Johannes Mehserle is being used as a political punching bag. It is not right and it is not acceptable.

There is no doubt that Johannes was wrongly convicted of involuntary manslaughter. The evidence presented at trial from witnesses and experts clearly proved there was no intent. It also proved the events that transpired that night were purely accidental. Furthermore, he was also wrongly convicted of gun enhancement. Gun enhancement was designed to give criminals who deliberately use guns in the commission of a felony, more time in jail, not to prosecute our police officers for honest accidents that happen while on active duty.

Johannes Mehserle is NOT a criminal. Please do not jail our Law Enforcement Officers when an incident happens that was proven to be a tragic mistake. If you tie the hands of Law Enforcement Officers when an accident on duty occurs, then you will fail Law Enforcement and our communities as a whole and this in itself would be a terrible tragedy.

We the undersigned ask that Johannes Mehserle be set free immediately!

 


Updates

September 9, 2010

I am honestly stunned to look at the screen and see five hundred names here. This would never have moved forward without you stepping up to take this action.

Reached 500 supporters

September 7, 2010

September 5, 2010

I am honestly overwhelmed by how many people have joined this cause. It was never my intention to lead a movement but the way you have all stepped up shows that this is far bigger than me. Please keep sending this to your circles so we can reach that next target together.

August 29, 2010

I have been spending my time sending copies of this petition to the court house to ensure our requests are received. It is truly humbling to see so many people who feel as strongly about this situation as I do. This energy is all yours and it keeps me going.

Reached 100 supporters

August 6, 2010

6 Comments

K
Kevin Fuentes
16 years ago Featured

FREE HIM. He never meant for that to happen and everyone knows it.

L
Lisa Bryant
16 years ago Featured

Cops have it way too hard these days. He did what he had to do in a split second. Let him go.

D
Dave Holmes
16 years ago Featured

Total miscarriage of justice. The guy deserves to be home with his family.

M
Mike Hayes
16 years ago Featured

He made a mistake under pressure. Anyone would panic in that situation. Free him now.

T
Tom Park
16 years ago Featured

Enough is enough. It was an accident plain and simple.

S
Sarah Kennedy
16 years ago Featured

Ridiculous that he is still locked up. He was doing his job and protecting the public!!!