Officers’ death predictable and preventable … what now?

They say patience is a virtue.

Tell that to the readers who kept asking what happened in the one-car accident that left one police officer dead and another critically injured. We kept asking the police, but the investigation took time.

I suspect that Sheriff Doug Gillespie did not want to have two press conferences like he did five months ago. One to tell what he thought happened when an officer died in a collision and another a few days later to explain what really happened — high speed, no lights and siren, no seat belt.

That was the same cause and effect Gillespie explained Tuesday about the Oct. 7 crash that killed officer Milburn "Millie" Beitel and injured officer David Nesheiwat.

The R-J reported today what Gillespie had to say, illustrating with photos and graphics. John L. Smith columnized about that press conference, giving our readers perspective and voicing what many of our readers are surely thinking.

At the press conference, the sheriff said the accidents were predictable and preventable, but then said changing the behavior of some officers who don't wear seat belts and who speed is not going to be easy.

"Changing policy as well as culture is a process," he said. "It takes time to do it right."

But John L., after giving the sheriff his due, chided him, saying, “Gillespie should let it be known that any officer who needlessly kills himself in an auto accident won't be given a motorcade procession and a communitywide send-off. He won't be remembered as a hero.

“He'll be used as an example of what happens to reckless drivers.

“Send a tough message, sheriff, and help put an end to this dangerous police practice.”

When the Legislature passes laws — click it or ticket, as the advertising message says — they take effect on a specific date. No grace period for culture or policy.

Patience is not always a virtue.

Watch the Gillespie press conference and offer your comments in letters to this newspaper.