November 9, 2009 - 4:30 pm

New information on the suspect in murder of police officer

The psychological profile developed by the Seattle Police Department seems to have hit its mark. Suspect Christopher John Monfort was seeking a job in law enforcement and had a good reputation as a student in Criminal Justice, according to this profile in the Seattle Times.

The Times includes a description of the Monfort's project with the UW's McNair program which Monfort based on the jury nullification ideas of Paul Butler at George Washington University. The Seattle Times reports Professor Butler believed "It is the moral responsibility of black jurors to emancipate some guilty black outlaws" and "My goal is the subversion of American criminal justice, at least as it now exists." (Read the link on the jury nullification for a broader explanation of which "outlaws" Professor Butler advocates freeing.)

The Times provided evidence of egotism within Monfort by digging up a piece which included information about him from a Highline Community College publication, the Oct.23 edition of "The Thunderword." From the Times:

The article said Monfort "believes he is unique, because he is upset about our current state of government and actually wants to do something about it. ... The student body has been cheated and lied to by the Bush Administration, said Monfort. He plans on putting together a petition to bring our soldiers home."

For a student to believe he is unique because of being upset about government, especially a Republican administration, suggests extreme arrogance and he's oblivious.

In looking to find the article the Times uncovered, I found that a profile of Monfort was published in the October 16 edition. Monfort was running for the student senate "to make the student body more aware of the civil rights they have lost under the Patriot Act, and the current political administration (Bush)." Also, in the October 23rd edition quoted by the Seattle Times, Monfort lists one of his accomplishments as "an internship with the American Civil Liberties Union."

The Seattle Times also quotes Monfort's mother's business partner Vicki Malone, who says that Monfort "is half black" and "so if he turned and ran that was easily what it was."

If this lady provided an "easy" explanation of why Monfort would, after running, allegedly turn and attempt to shoot at officers, the Times didn't say.

There was no additional word on whether this suspect is also linked to the firebombing of police cars in October.

After the initial reports of the assassination-style murder, callers to my show suspected that the politically correct, anti-cop atmosphere in Seattle contributed to the crime. It certainly looks like this suspect may also have fit that profile.