Dear Editor,
My name is Rosie McKinney, and I am Michael McKinney's sister. Iwanted to take a minute and let all of you know how my family and Ifeel.
First off, this paper has done the best job so far of reportingboth sides of the story and backing my brother's character bycoming to his hometown and seeing what he was really like. Myfamily wishes to thank you very much.
I've read nearly all the articles and feedback posted on thisWeb site, however, and I must say that some of it is verydisturbing to me.
For those defending the officer: You might know him. He might bea nice guy. I don't know this man, nor do I care to ever come incontact with him in my lifetime unless he's willing to answer thequestion of just how threatened he felt and how scared for his lifehe was when he killed my brother. My brother was a short, stockyteddy bear, while I hear that the officer was a 6-foot-2-inchfootball player for four years in college. If the officer was thatfrightened, he should call for backup or avoid being the first oneon the scene.
I'm a little biased, you see, because while you can say that theofficer will have to live with this the rest of his life, but myfamily will too. My brother sure won't have to.
Officer Duplain doesn't know what it's like to lose his brotherover a mistake or a bad decision. I feel no sympathy for him atall, no matter how nice of a guy he is, because my brother was themost kind-hearted man with the best of intentions. I know many ofyou were lucky enough to have him be a part of your life, and youknow the story we believe to be true about what happened thatnight.
How many of you, after a night of drinking, have gone to thewrong house while trying to find your friend's house? I understandthe woman was probably scared, but she never said she was beingburglarized. Sorry, but a "burglary in process" doesn't start witha knock on the door.
It's also not fair to say that the only choice the officer hadwas to shoot my brother. Hasn't he heard of hand-to-hand combat?Believe me, I've seen my brother after a few drinks, and the mostDuplain would have had to do was push him down or wrestle with hima bit, and Mikey would have easily surrendered. I wasn't there thatnight, but I can't possibly see my brother being sointimidating.
My family and most of those that I've talked with are completelyappalled and outraged by this tragedy and by the chance that thisman could be acquitted of the crime he committed simply because heis a police officer. Furthermore, if nothing is resolved by Jan. 4,he could still go to the police academy and receive the badge itseems he likes to hide behind. College campuses are supposed to besafe places, and with someone like him running around, theyaren't.
My family, however, really appreciated the beautiful ceremonythe Delta Chi boys and the Student Government Association puttogether on Friday night. Mikey truly loved Ball State, so it'sironic and sad that it's the place that took his life away.
We would also like to thank the university for consideringgranting his degree. Because he earned it, it is the least youcould do.
I just wish that on Thanksgiving, my brother would walk in thedoor and crack a joke to make us smile. I wish that on Christmas,we could wake up early and fight over who gets to pass out thepresents, but you see, after the events of Nov. 8, I'll never getto see my brother again.
Please wear your green ribbon in honor of Mikey and to ensurethat some sort of justice comes out of this horrific event. We haveto come together and do something to get policies and procedureschanged and make sure that no other family has to go through whatmy family has.
You don't realize what you have until it's gone, so cherishyou're family; tell them you love them.
That's the one thing my brother and I never really said to oneanother, and we should have. It was always just assumed.
Thanks for your time and efforts, but it's not over yet. Itwon't be until justice is served.
Rosie McKinney
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