Dear Editor:
The citizens of America enjoy what we call ‘presumption of innocence?. This means that no person shall be considered guilty until convicted by a court of law. This has not been the case of an officer in the Oakland County Sheriff Department.
One of its own, Officer Craig Cejmer, was accused by Undersheriff Mike McCabe of stealing money from a motorist. McCabe was quoted in the Detroit News article (Dec. 5) as saying ‘We are convinced he (Officer Cejmer) stole that money ($1,700) and he was going to keep it for himself. This is unacceptable. We run a clean shop here.?
As a member of the judicial system, McCabe is supposed to uphold the rights of the citizenry and not prejudge them before there is a trial to determine the guilt or innocence of a citizen charged with an alleged felony.
Our constitution provides its citizens the right to ‘presumption of innocence. Undersheriff McCabe actions and words undermine the very freedoms that our soldiers are fighting for in Iraq. Presuming citizens of being guilty is unfair and immoral because it allows the targeting of any individual. It is unfair to find anyone ‘guilty of a crime? before they have their day in court. Under sheriff McCabe’s actions and words may prevent a fair trial and a non-bias defense for Officer Cejmer.
Why is the Oakland County Sheriff’s office handling this issue in such a grandiose and slanderous way? This officer and his family should not have to suffer public humiliation before he has had his right to a trial.
McCabe’s actions have me and other citizens of our democratic county feeling less trustful of our judicial system. It is my hope that the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department will realize that our constitutional rights are not to be trampled upon and that this officer deserves the ‘constitutional right? to ‘presumption of innocence!?
Jenny Brown
Clarkston