State should take lead for justice

Over the past years, I have been very impressed with Herald Writer Scott North’s articles regarding some of our communities’ unsolved violent crimes. I am a strong supporter of journalism that can get our law enforcement agencies and our general community involved in helping to solve these “cold cases.” Not only the victim’s love ones should have their day in court, but also our community has the right to have the perpetrators of our unsolved murders brought before our courts. Our beautiful community does not need to have the stigma of all these “cold cases” being in our local history books

I know our well respected and active Snohomish County sheriff has developed a cold case unit, but even he has often acknowledged his law enforcement agency is under-staffed and under-financed. I can only assume most of our other police departments are also in this same bind. So to aid these agencies, why not have a governor’s appointed standing commission to assist cities, counties and state law enforcement agencies in solving their cold cases?

What I have in mind is after 10 years any violent crime case that is not being actively investigated must be reviewed by the governor’s appointed Cold Cases Commission. This august body should be comprised of representatives from; the Washington State Patrol, police chief and sheriff’s association, retired investigators, the Attorney General’s Office, Washington State Division of Community Corrections, a legislator, a professor who is knowledgeable in the field of criminology, a forensic psychologist, a forensic psychiatrist, a forensic anthropologist, an arson investigator, a medical examiner, and a citizen at large.

Since I was a member of a successful local Serial Arson Task Force, I understand police “turf,” however I also understand how important it is to have a diverse, trained group of investigators working on these hard cases. By having a Cold Cases Commission focusing on these unsolved violent crimes this group might be able to find some overlooked material, which may lead to the unraveling of some of these crimes.

I encourage all my fellow citizens to pay attention to the need to catch the perpetrators of these hideous unsolved violent crimes and get them off our books. We, as a community, need to keep the heat on these cold cases!

Mill Creek

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, Feb. 6

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

Lake Stevens school bond funds needed safety work at all schools

A parent’s greatest fear is for something bad to happen to their… Continue reading

Arlington schools capital levy: Say yes to new Post Middle School

Schools are the backbone of the Arlington community. Families want to move… Continue reading

Long sentences not much of a deterrent but serve justice

A recent column by Todd Welch mentions a trope that ignores one… Continue reading

Comment: Trump’s stress-test of Constitution shows it’s up to job

Keep filing lawsuits and the courts will bat down his unconstitutional orders; as long as he follows the rulings.

Stephens: Trump endangers stability of Pax Americana

Discarding the values of a ‘Great Power’ for a ‘Big Power’ will cost the U.S. its standing in the world.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

Jayden Hill, 15, an incoming sophomore at Monroe High School is reflected in the screen of a cellphone on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Monroe, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Students need limits on cellphones in school

School districts needn’t wait for legislation to start work on policies to limit phones in class.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Feb. 5

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Costco’s work to defend its DEI values isn’t over

Costco successfully argued its values to shareholders, but a bigger fight looms with ‘anti-woke’ forces.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.