On Wednesday I participated in a protest ride to demand justice for Milt Olin, a cyclist who was struck and killed by an LA County Deputy. District Attorney Jackie Lacey was presented with a case recommending prosecution of Deputy Wood, yet she declined to prosecute. Milt was killed while riding in a bike lane on a clear day with perfect visibility. Deputy Wood was texting at the time of the accident, acting in violation of department policy.
Deputy Wood killed Milt on Mulholland Highway, a place I ride regularly for leisure and exercise, along with hundreds of other cyclists. As some of you may know, I was the victim of a hit and run driver, so this issue is very close to my heart. I was overwhelmed with emotions as I arrived at the memorial yesterday, mostly anger and sadness. Simply put, the DA's decision not to prosecute Deputy Wood is a total miscarriage of justice that must be corrected.
I want to urge you all to write a brief letter to DA Jackie Lacey requesting that she reconsider filing charges against Deputy Wood.
You can contact DA Lacey via email: webmail@da.lacounty.gov
Snail Mail:
District Attorney's Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
My mom wrote a moving letter to DA Lacey, which I believe sums up the issue perfectly.
District Attorney's Office
County of Los Angeles
210 West Temple Street, Suite 18000
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3210
Telephone: (213) 974-3512
September 4, 2014
RE: Your decision to not prosecute Deputy Wood NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED
Honorable Jackie Lacey
I am writing as a physician, a biker, member of a family of five devoted bikers. and the mother of my youngest’s son who was almost killed by a hit & run while riding a bike on a clear day just like the day Mr Milt Olin was killed by Deputy Wood. I am urging you to reconsider your decision NOT to prosecute the Deputy. All of us have to be held responsible for our failures in judgement and for violating laws.
It is an outrage to NOT file charges against Deputy Wood on a legal technicality based on an ill conceived exemption. Modern technologies are posing hazards that require special skills and no professional person should be exempted from the consequences of their poor judgement.
While filing charges will not bring back Mr Olin still this was a senseless killing that could & should have been avoided. It is particularly offensive that the killing happened by a professional dedicated to SERVE & PROTECT.
I hope you reconsider
Respectfully Yours,
Maria T. Lymberis, MD
Distinguished Life Fellow American Psychiatric Association
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Honorary
UCLA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
You can also head over to LACBC's site to see another sample letter:
http://la-bike.org/milt-olin
The ride was organized by the LA County Bike Coalition, Yield to Life and the Ghost Bike Foundation.
http://la-bike.org/milt-olin
The ride was organized by the LA County Bike Coalition, Yield to Life and the Ghost Bike Foundation.
The family of Milt started a foundation dedicated to eliminating cycling related deaths and injuries:
Here's some of the press the event generated:
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