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Deputy who struck, killed bicyclist sentenced to community service
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RENO -- A Washoe County sheriff's deputy who struck and killed a bicyclist while on duty last summer has been sentenced to perform 200 hours of community service under an agreement reached with the victim's mother.
The sentence imposed Friday calls for Matthew Durham to speak at schools about inattentive driving and to victim impact panels about the dangers of drunken driving, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.
Durham could have served jail time for the one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter stemming from the July death of 21-year-old bicyclist Kevin Albertson on Lemmon Drive north of Reno.
But the victim's mother, Angela Albertson, told Justice of the Peace Patricia Lynch she forgave Durham and wanted good to come from her son's death.
"Jail time won't do anybody any good," Albertson said. "Nothing's going to bring my son back, so we have to make the best out of it."
After the hearing, she went up to Durham, and they embraced and cried.
Durham told Angela Albertson he was "truly sorry" and regrets "what has happened to your son."
"I cannot go back and change the events that led to this moment. I can only try to atone for what has transpired as a result of a terrible accident, one that has affected so many lives."
Investigators say the five-year veteran was driving to a call without lights or siren on when he struck the bicyclist.
Durham will continue to work in a non-patrol division while the case goes through an administrative investigation. In addition to community service, his license will be suspended for one year, and he paid $500 in restitution to cover Kevin Albertson's funeral expenses.
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Thanks gary, didnt know about the fishing and hunting license perk. :)
Cops always enjoy the perks of life few others obtain. How many cops have you known who've ever been cited for a traffic violation? Ever known a cop to buy a fishing, or hunting license? How many restaurants give them free food, and service? It's the same MO every time. They simply flash their badge at the game warden, and all is fine. Same goes for speeding, or running through stop signs. What a life.
This just confirms what we already know. Not only do we have two separate standards in sentencing guidelines, we also have an us vs them paradigm. No wonder why more citizens view their local authorities with more contempt than in past times.
I guess there are two types of justice...theirs and ours. If it had happened in Las Vegas, the Sheriff would of been on tv blaming the innocent, saying they were DUI, and how it was their fault. At least the cop was honest about it. But he should of received a stiffer sentence, no prison time.
No more "To protect and serve" now its "We will kill you"
Anya- Wake up, stop making excuses for this cop. He was going to call---speeding ----without his siren or lights----this is what killed this kid.
Hate to think this way, but i am quite sure if this was non-cop, it probably would not have gone down this way. Sure the cop was remorseful, wasn't under the influence, didn't try to cover up his "mistake", took responsibility. The victim's mother and father's input should be taken into consideration, but it sure sends another message, that there is justice for regular citizens and there is a justice for police officers. I think the cop should do some jail time for manslaughter just like you and I would most certainly have to do. He is getting away too easily, way too easily and that is a crime in itself. This kind of backward justice is a sad comment on life in Nevada.
The sentence imposed Friday calls for Matthew Durham to speak at schools about inattentive driving
Public education is a *political* institution. Everyone has an agenda for it. In this instance, apro-cop judge uses it as a way to avoid sending a politically connected manslaughterer to jail. Indeed, the cop gets to spend ~100 hours harranguing students -- as if they weren't already bored to tears. The KIDS are the ones being sentenced!
A badge works something like a "Get Out of Jail Free" card
When is the legislature going to "cowboy-up" and make vehicular manslaughter a Felony?