Daniel March 10, 2009 10:29 pm (Pacific time)

Tim any more details on the story , such as how far away were the officers when they shot ? How many times was Mr Henkel shot , did both officers shoot, did Henkel fire back ? How were the officers dressed ? Any statement from the 80 yr old women ? Has she gotten legal representation ? Thanks
john March 10, 2009 2:49 pm (Pacific time)

those poor people were killed for growing a plant for someone else. think about it. the war on drugs is an out of control war that should not even exist. it's a health issue, not a criminal issue.
Nick March 10, 2009 1:38 pm (Pacific time)

You know who else shows up on elderly peoples door steps at night with guns? Home invaders. Let that be a lesson to you old SOB's. If it's night time and you get a knock at the door just risk the beating and robbery. Otherwise, the police might murder you.
Wolfy March 9, 2009 10:40 pm (Pacific time)

This is another example of the failure of the war on drugs. It is interesting that there are pro drug warriors who conclude that the officers "were just doing their jobs."
Not all laws are just. The people who defended the right of people to own slaves used the same exact excuse: The laws allow slavery so officials are just doing their jobs when they return escaped slaves to their owners. The law enforcement system is intellectually and morally bankrupt (and so are the supporters of these officers).
Fidelity March 9, 2009 4:07 pm (Pacific time)

Mr. King, you end the article with a precarious line. You should expand upon it, knowing as a Vet, like myself, the possible medicinal uses of marijuana for people with PTSD. Speak out, you already serve your country in so many ways, who could criticize you? What ever your feelings are on the subject, now is a great time for a dialog. Oregon has a Medical Marijuana Program, at their age, I'm sure they would have qualified for a card if only they would have pursued one. If our police were reasonable, this would have ended differently. This is just another causality of the War On Drugs, a war that costs us billions of dollars, erodes our liberties under the guise of protecting "the greater good", and allow police to kill needlessly and be justified. Prohibition must end for us to live in a society where we can trust the police.
Anonymous March 9, 2009 9:43 am (Pacific time)

What is this world coming to? People are shot by police for growing a plant that God placed on this earth. The police have to answer on this one and not slap the hands of the killer.
Anonymous March 9, 2009 9:41 am (Pacific time)

This is a sickening story and I soncerely hope the cops are taken to task. They chose to execute the plan this way and in turn executed an Oregonian.
Nathan Fish March 9, 2009 9:02 am (Pacific time)

This is a horrible misdeed, and it should never have happened. If you all truly care about this issue, please DO SOMETHING: *Sign a Petition:* http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Leg...bis-in-America http://www.thepetitionsite.com/30/legalize-marijuana *Write Your Representatives:* U.S. Senate: Senators Home https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml *Organize:* www.mpp.org-Marijuana Policy Project www.norml.org-National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws www.ssdp.org-Students for Sensible Drug Policy We the people can win this "war on drugs"! All we need to do is let our voices be heard. Do not fear revealing yourself for a user or a supporter-in this country our speech is still free! Don't let them take this freedom of conscience away from us!
Red Green March 9, 2009 7:43 am (Pacific time)

Outrageous and continuing war on some drugs. Bad timing, bad execution(no pun intended) and a bad result. Clackamas needs a recall of a bad sheriff's dept.
k March 8, 2009 10:40 pm (Pacific time)

found this and though I would share, seems to be quite relevent (note the date posted) Rob Kremer: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office
Mel B. March 8, 2009 10:17 pm (Pacific time)

What I want to know is if these two had the opportunity to back up and call for more deputies. Funny how in Marion County they often solve these things without a dead body where in Clackamas and Yamhill there is more of a shoot and kill policy. There is blood on the hands of this agency and it is hard to think that they won't have the shooting deemed 'justified' when in reality, it never should have happened.
Jeff March 8, 2009 9:54 pm (Pacific time)

I feel much safer knowing that these elderly farmers are no longer terrorizing their community by growing plants. What kind of a country would we live in if we didn't arrest an 80 year old woman for growing plants after having killed her husband in a violent confrontation instigated by the state? Sure, we could just leave senior citizen farmers alone and let them grow plants if they want to. Maybe that way people wouldn't have to buy marijuana supplied by violent mexican drug cartels. No, scratch that. Killing seniors and letting our drug war destabilize Mexico makes infinitely more sense.
gail March 8, 2009 8:24 pm (Pacific time)

were either of the cops involved suffering from post Iraq brutality syndrome. My theory is that the more vets we have returning from a lawless war zone, the more we will see them entering the police force and the more we will see of this type of thing. Our poor GI's are not all brutal murderers but they have lived under the auspices of a government which has allowed war crimes as standard operating procedure.
RP March 8, 2009 7:01 pm (Pacific time)

These were two deputies doing their job. They went to a house and announced themselves as police officers. They were confronted by a man waiving a gun at them. What would you like them to do? Mabey they could wait and see if he would shoot them before returning fire. Its amazing how people sit in their cozy little houses and monday morning quarterback people who put themselves in harms way every day for others.

Tim King: Bad call RP. You are obviously of the persuasion that if a cop did it, it must be OK. You aren't fooling anyone around here. I was careful in the article to present it in a fair way. I have a lot of respect for the deputies in Clackamas. That isn't the point. You, and anyone else taking this POV, will fail to address why it is OK to go banging on elderly people's front doors at 10:30 p.m. instead of coming around during at least daylight hours; even early morning. Old people can't always see as well as young people. Besides, how many crooks claim to be police while they get ready to invade a home? I'd like to see the stats. Oh wait, everything that happened is OK because they were marijuana users, is that it? Nice that you are able to skim over a loss of life so easily, I can't. Getting a big war going here over an article will not help anyone.
Vic March 8, 2009 8:07 am (Pacific time)

Craig Roberts has overseen the most trigger-happy bunch of thugs in Clackamas County's history. He needs to live in fear for his life, as the residents of Clackamas County do.
Osotan; March 8, 2009 6:34 am (Pacific time)

yes, the details from investigation are crucial,keep this one alive Sgt.King
Daniel March 7, 2009 6:55 pm (Pacific time)

Sounds as if Mr Henkel was coming to see who was coming so late and had a gun with him for protection , and was shot . Tim how many times was Mr Henkel shot and was it from both officers , did he fire back ? I think this will be a major lawsuit . Did they want to serve the warrant before this poor couple died of old age and illness ? Another causality in the foolish pot wars .

Tim King: Daniel, I will be learning more Monday morning, I understand how this leaves people with an unsettling feeling. Thanks for writing.