A police officer takes on many sorrows over the years, and speaking for myself, I can say that few of these sorrows have affected me more profoundly than the suicides, a tragedy to which my own family has not been immune. Casebolt’s frayed emotions do not excuse his behavior at the pool party; a police officer is obligated to conduct himself as a professional regardless of his emotional state. But our knowledge of his experiences just prior to the videotaped incident should inform our judgment of him. In the heavily fraught incidents that preceded the party call, Casebolt acted with care and compassion, performing at his best under demanding circumstances. Minutes later he performed at his worst, though sadly for him, only this last incident was recorded and broadcast to the world.

As his attorney said, Casebolt allowed his emotions to get the better of him, a lapse for which he has paid with the loss of his career and the prospect of an uncertain future. I don’t excuse his behavior, but I understand it better now than I did when Iwrote about it earlier. I wish him well.