Local Voices On The Events In Minneapolis

I emailed approximately 40 people who have held or currently hold high-profile positions in Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County seeking their thoughts on the recent events in Minneapolis. I thought of it as a kind of community forum.

I asked those I contacted to address two questions:

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

I wish to express my deep appreciation to everyone who was kind and generous enough to respond.

Some who work in the private sector declined.

It was disappointing that several significant public figures declined to respond.

BK Keramati (Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works)

Otis Maxwell (Chair of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee)

Mike Brandi (Chair of the Saratoga Springs Republican Party)

Casandra Bagramian (Democratic Commissioner of Saratoga Board of Elections)

On a personal note, I consider Mike Brandi a friend, but given his appropriately aggressive pursuit of accountability of members of the City Council in the past, it was disappointing to me that he was unwilling to respond to this post.

Since preparing this post, it has been reported that the law enforcement officers involved in the Alex Pretti shooting have been placed on administrative leave, and there has been some discussion by President Trump that there may be an investigation that will involve local law enforcement, along with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI.

The following are the responses I received.

Tim Coll

[Mr. Coll is in his second terms as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety. He was the endorsed candidate of the city Democratic and Republican Committees, as well as One Saratoga. He is retired from a career with the FBI.]

A federal independent investigation must be conducted. This investigation should be led by a task force composed of local, state, and federal authorities, as each brings distinct and essential expertise. Given that these matters have resulted in the loss of life, the task force must be overseen by a federal Special Prosecutor with full authority and independence.

The Special Prosecutor must be truly independent, with a demonstrated record of integrity and impartial decision-making. Qualified candidates would include a former federal judge, United States Attorney, or a career prosecutor from the DOJ Civil Rights Division or DOJ Public Integrity Unit.

The public deserves absolute assurance that this investigation will be thorough, unbiased, and free from political influence. Conducting a fully independent investigation is the necessary first step in restoring credibility, accountability, and public trust.

Daniel (Dan) De Federicis

[ Mr. De Federicis is the publisher of Saratoga-Report. He is an attorney and a retired New York State trooper.]

As a retired NY State Trooper, and one who was president of the Troopers PBA Union for nearly 9 years, and an attorney, I have been involved in a number of cases involving the use of force and the use of deadly physical force.  In those rare instances when officers have no choice but to use deadly physical force, a cascade of actions must immediately follow. Most notably and enshrined in all law enforcement standard operating procedures is a fair, impartial, and complete investigation. 

The right to use deadly physical force by a law enforcement officer comes with
tremendous responsibility. The United States remains the beacon of freedom and fairness throughout the world because of the U.S. Constitution as well as state constitutions, laws, policies, and procedures which have arisen these past 250 years. For our democracy to survive, we must always adhere to and remain a country of laws, regardless of how inconvenient that may be in the moment.

To answer John Kaufmann’s question, these actions absolutely should be thoroughly investigated.  There is no question to that, but there are two sides to this coin.  Just as federal authorities are wrong when they hastily declare there was nothing wrong with the officers’ actions, other public officials go the complete opposite way and essentially prosecute the officers in the press.  Indeed, a fair investigation is one that has no preconceived conclusions.  The facts, not emotions or politics, need to lead to the conclusion.  Anything else may well lead to more violence and further inflame a beleaguered city, and yes, perhaps even a country, already stressed by political differences.

A thorough and timely investigation protects the citizenry, but it also protects the officers involved.   Witnesses are located and interviewed, and their statements are captured in writing contemporaneously with the event.  The deceased’s survivors will almost certainly sue in a civil case and likewisedemand authorities take criminal action. Who is being served if, say, three years later, on the eve of a trial, there is no documentation of what occurred?  No investigation report, no written statements from witnesses, no
preservation of mounds of other evidence.  That is not how a civilized society, one with a tremendous history of enacting and following its own laws, should proceed. 

It is important to note here that since John Kaufmann asked me and others to respond to the killing of Renée Good, another protester, Alex Pretti, was also shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota.  President Trump, in an apparent departure from his stance after Good’s death, announced that he wanted an “honorable and honest investigation” into Pretti’s death.  Let’s hope such an investigation is completed and stays true to the President’s directive of being “honorable and honest”.  If we are to have a civilized society that follows its own laws, we should expect nothing less.

Gordon Boyd

[Mr. Boyd is a member of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee and serves on the New York State Democratic Committee representing the 113 Assembly District, Saratoga County]

John,

Responses to your questions, barring a further incident to add to the context:

1. First of all, thank you for opening up this conversation about the Trump Administration’s frontal attack on the Constitution and civil rights.  The appropriate role of government should be to establish both culpability and accountability in both killings.  1) The Federal authorities should follow their own existing rules and conduct an investigation into the use of lethal force. It is wrong and prejudicial for Homeland Security and higher officials like the President to make conclusive statements about the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti before a thorough investigation is completed. The masking of Federal agents is both a symbolic and an actual barrier to accountability; masks must be eliminated.  2) The Federal authorities must also allow State investigators access to all evidence so it can be determined if any State laws were violated by the Federal agents. The 10^th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution assures the States such a role.  Once investigations are conducted, officials can be held accountable and culpable, and changes can be made in training, mission, and agency structure to prevent such incidents in the future.  Of course, given President Trump’s evident concern about this November’s elections, we might reasonably wonder if all this chaos is really about immigration or about suppressing the democratic process.

2. The first step toward restoring trust today should be for Democrats in Congress to block any funding for Homeland Security and ICE absent new leadership and a complete restructuring of the agency, even if doing so means a government shutdown. In New York, the State Legislature and Governor Hochul should prohibit local law enforcement statewide from becoming collaborators in this violent attack on democracy and accountability.  Locally, Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County law enforcement should maintain their existing non-collaboration policies regarding ICE/CBP. In America, trust is based on our belief and assumption that the government itself will follow the rule of law, especially when Constitutional rights are threatened. Sending a proto militia into cities, detaining children, and shooting protesters will destroy any trust the people have in immigration control and even in law enforcement itself. Members of my generation vividly remember when, during the Vietnam War, the government 1) violated laws and Constitutional provisions in pursuing an undeclared war, and 2) made gross and systematic misrepresentations of its actions and intentions (as established in the Pentagon Papers). Both conditions, the government violating laws and lying about it, are echoed today. Minneapolis this week recalls the killings at Kent State and how they enflamed antiwar sentiment. Going forward, federal, state, and local authorities must adhere to the law and be seen to do so for trust to be restored.  This year, we must vote as if it were a life-or-death matter, because it is.   

Gordon Boyd

Brett Eby

[Mr. Eby is the recently elected Saratoga County District Attorney. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and volunteered in the Big Brother program. He earned his law degree from Western Michigan Law School and later obtained a Public Sector Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.

Mr. Eby began his legal career as a prosecutor in Warren County before being appointed Assistant Attorney General and later serving as Special Victims’ Counsel at Justice. He also served as Principal Court Attorney to two New York State Supreme Court Justices, as Special District Attorney in Warren County, and as a Special Prosecutor throughout upstate New York. In addition, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Sage College and lectured at Albany Law School.]

Maintaining civil society depends on trust, trust in one another and in the institutions charged with upholding the law. Easing the anger and divisions we face begins with listening and transparency. People must feel heard, respected, and confident that the justice system operates fairly and without bias.

Concrete actions include open communication with the community, explaining how decisions are made, and acknowledging concerns when they arise. Consistent accountability, equal application of the law, and a willingness to examine and improve our own practices are essential. Building partnerships with community leaders, educators, law enforcement, and service organizations can help address the root causes of conflict before they escalate.

Finally, fostering civic education and respectful dialogue—especially during times of disagreement—helps reinforce the shared values that bind us together. While we may not always agree, recommitting to fairness, empathy, and the rule of law is how we strengthen trust and preserve the foundations of civil society.

Jeff Brown

[Mr. Brown had been with the Sheriff’s department since 1998. He started as a deputy sheriff and was recently elected Saratoga County Sheriff.]

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office investigates all our own officer-involved shooting incidents. Two separate and parallel investigations occur. A criminal investigation into the incident, as well as an administrative investigation into the incident. The criminal investigation is conducted by our Criminal Investigation Unit, and the administrative investigation is conducted by the Office of Professional Standards. The criminal investigation determines whether criminal conduct occurred, and the administrative investigation determines whether the members involved in the incident violated policy. Under NYS law, any deaths caused by police officers or peace officers, including corrections officers, must be reported to the NYS Attorney General’s Office, Office of Special Investigation, which conducts its own investigation.

Joe Suhrada

[Joe Suhrada is the chair of the Saratoga County Republican Committee. He is also the Republican Commissioner of the Saratoga County Board of Elections.]

Although I am very focused on local issues and have paid cursory attention to this matter, my first answer to a question regarding oversight or investigatory powers is a question: who is unbiased, neutral, or doesn’t have a point of view BEFORE things went down?

I also know that this federal agency which is charged with enforcing the laws that Congress passed employs agents that are similar to FBI, BATF, IRS and others which have official powers. 

But all answers should be sought and state and local authorities should also weigh in, and assist Federal agents when they are interdicting crime and criminals. If they wish to be in on an investigation then they should also come when called when mobs are forming.

 Contrary to rhetoric from one side or another- citizens don’t have the right to fight, interfere, or intervene in enforcement efforts. You can’t do that to sheriffs or troopers, either. Whether lethal force by these agents is used or not would be answered by legal experts in a given circumstance. Find one that doesn’t have an angle or a set view on that matter and I would be surprised. 

So investigations would cause me to question “who is watching the watchers?” 

Suhrada 

Almeda (AC) Riley

[AC Riley served three terms as Mayor of Saratoga Springs and four terms as Saratoga County Supervisor representing Saratoga Springs. She was the first woman in the city to hold those positions.]

It is my understanding that in cases like this, the organization whose personnel are involved needs to hire an outside independent investigator to review the facts and determine the action to be taken, so that it is not tainted by politics.

A.C.

JoAnne Kiernan

[Ms. Kiernan is the current Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance. She previously served as the Deputy Mayor under John Safford. In addition, she served on the Saratoga Springs School Board for 9 years, 2.5 as president.]

The government’s role is to ensure that any use of deadly force by its agents is independently, thoroughly, and transparently investigated. This does not presume wrongdoing; it upholds the rule of law, protects civil rights, and maintains public trust. 

Such investigations establish facts, ensure accountability, identify systemic issues, and protect both the public and government agents, confirming whether force was lawful and justified.

Easing anger and division requires leaders to acknowledge harm, commit to transparency, and ensure fair and credible processes. Creating space for respectful dialogue, listening to affected communities, and clearly communicating facts and decisions can help rebuild trust. Over time, consistent accountability, empathy, and shared focus on common values, safety, dignity, and fairness are essential to maintaining a healthy civil society.

Jessica Troisi

[Ms. Troisi is the Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Accounts]

 We should be investigating every incident. We do that for something as simple as a slip-and-fall. Why wouldn’t we do the same for something this serious?

Linda LeTendre

[Linda LeTendre has worked non-violently for decades in the struggle for social justice.]

John,

Thank you for this opportunity, I am  honored to have been asked.

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

For ANY use of deadly force by ANY level of government, an independent entity that includes the citizenry should be established to investigate said force. This projects the governmental agency and agent involved and protects the citizenry. 

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

We are not as divided as the media would have us believe. The number of MAGAs are estimated to be 20% or less, and there is a recent revelation that a significant number of Russian Bots feed the narrative. That being said, we need a revolution of “fixes” for the breakdown of the government no longer functioning as “by the people and for the people”. Repeal Citizens United, corporations are not people and should not have the free speech of unlimited money to buy elections. The same should go for wealthy individuals, like Musk who spend millions to buy elections for their benefit, not for the people’s benefit. Limit what ANYONE can give in campaign contributions. Ensure that elections are fair and free so that no political party can rig elections in their favor through gerrymandering and/or voter suppression. Make paid lobbying illegal – in Europe, they look at this practice and call it a bribe, and they are right. Enact term limits for elected officials, and ALL judges, including the Supreme Court. And hold all government officials accountable to the letter of the law and if they are convicted of breaking the law, they can go to jail, just like regular citizens (which is what they actually are). Reform the right Presidential pardon so that pardons cannot be sold and can only be used in specific circumstances, not as a get out of jail free for your buddies. And finally go back to the Senate and House rules for their governance that were in place before Gringrich and McConnell dismantled them.

Mayor John Safford

[John Safford is in his second term as Mayor of Saratoga Springs.]

The well-known aphorism that “one death is a tragedy, but a thousand deaths is a statistic” highlights a troubling human tendency to emotionally prioritize isolated incidents over broader systemic violence. In Minneapolis today, events that are undeniably tragic—a rise in fatal federal law-enforcement shootings during immigration enforcement operations—are perceived very differently from distant atrocities such as those in Iran. This difference in perception is not evidence that the United States has become a totalitarian state imposing its will on the populace, but rather reflects how context and trust shape public reactions to use of force.

As a former Army Infantry Officer and temporary Military Police commander, I am acutely aware of how the principles governing the use of force differ between war-fighting troops and civilian police. In theory, there is a clear distinction: combat troops are trained for lethal engagement in hostile environments, while police are trained to de-escalate and protect civilian life. In Minneapolis, the line between these roles has blurred under the weight of federal immigration enforcement operations, though, in my estimation, not beyond repair.

In democratic societies like ours, questionable uses of force by police are subject to investigation and accountability. With respect to federal immigration agents—ICE and Border Patrol—their lawful actions include executing warrants and making arrests. As of now, there is no credible evidence that routine warrant execution by these agents has been unlawful. What has been contested is their response to civilians who have interfered with or protested these actions, raising complex questions about appropriate training and authority.

The fact that multiple individuals have been killed in recent Minneapolis incidents—such as the fatal shootings by federal agents of a protester and other individuals—necessitates thorough investigation and accountability. Yet these cases should not be simplistically interpreted as a slide into authoritarianism. Rather, they call for deeper examination of how federal law-enforcement roles intersect with civilian law, public protest, and community safety. Rushing to either blanket condemnation of all federal enforcement or passive acceptance of every use of force undermines the legitimacy of both policing and civil liberties. The appropriate response is a balanced commitment to justice, transparency, and institutional reform that preserves the fundamental rule of law.

Charles (Chuck) Marshall

[Mr. Marshall served on the Saratoga Springs Planning Board for for over three years and as its chair for over a year. He also served as the Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Works.]

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

Chuck’s response: my job does not require me to carry a firearm and I’m appreciative of those who do, placing themselves in harms way repeatedly.  That said, deadly force is the most extreme case of citizens holding government accountable but it should occur at all levels and instances.  At any time deadly force is used there should be a third party (or independent agency) review of the incident.  While not perfect, New York’s Attorney General review seems to work well for police involved shootings.  The biggest issue or concern is the pre-disposition created by the media and the independent narratives that are spun without a clear and unbiased presentation of the facts.  

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

Chuck’s response: We all know what the uniforms of our police look like.  The major difference between local police and ICE is the lack of uniform and need for face shielding, often to protect the officer/agent.  While Saratoga doesn’t have the size population to warrant mass force, uniform ICE agents with marked vehicles would go a long way.

Secondly, I think we all need to take a deep breath. We live in a polarized and rapidly changing world, understanding what we can/can’t control and that influence occurs at the margins will go a long way.

Bob Turner

[Dr. Turner is an associate professor of political science and environmental studies at Skidmore College. He chaired the city’s charter commission from 2016-2017]

Department of Homeland Security not to investigate the shooting death of Renée Good by one of its on-duty officers raises a number of questions that most Americans might feel demand credible answers from agencies speaking for the Federal government.

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

I think it is delusional to expect or hope that Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or Tom Homan, Trump’s Border Czar, will conduct meaningful investigations into the shootings of Renee Good or Alex Pretti, or the 32 people died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in 2025.  The Trump Administration has eroded the internal watchdog function within DHW, the Inspector General office.  It is spending $100 million on social media and created an ICE social media agency to distribute social media videos of raids and arrests. Focusing on the actions of an individual ICE agent overlooks how institutionalized cruelty is part of the GOP’s longstanding “attrition through enforcement” strategy” aimed at creating a climate of fear among the immigrant community and part of a larger war on immigration.  

However, we should not give up hope.  In Federalist 10, James Madison reminds us that “Men are not angels”.  He understood that “Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm,” and thus created the constitutional system of checks and balances and federalism to provide alternative venues for accountability. 

The House and Senate can hold hearings or create their own independent commission, such as the 9/11 Commission (2002-04) to study the failure of intelligence, the Katrina Commission (2005) to study the FEMA and DHS failures, or the Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan (2008-2011).  It seems unlikely that a GOP-controlled House or Senate would pursue these, meaning that legislative accountability would require flipping one or both chambers in the midterm election. 

Federal and state courts can provide legal accountability and demand that ICE operate within constitutional limits on government searches. 

State and local elected officials in Minnesota or Minneapolis can conduct investigations.

Legacy media and social media also have an important role to play in informing and educating citizens about the actions and consequences of ICE for our communities and polities.  

Finally, the ultimate source of accountability is voters, who elect the federal, state and local officials who will implement the ICE enforcement actions.

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

Once again, I turn to James Madison who reminds us that “The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man” and that “Liberty is to faction what air is to fire.” Anger, distrust, and division is inevitable in a diverse, multicultural, and pluralist society where its members hold a diversity of values, opinions, and lived experiences.  We will, and should, have different opinions, ideas, and interpretations. I personally think certain elected officials, interest groups, and the media overstate the extent of partisan divisions and rancor in society.  Social media algorithms reward and prioritize conflict.  Activists on both sides are unwilling to make tough compromises. 

Longtime Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn (D-TX) often said, “Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one”. It is easy and requires little skill to divide us.  What we need our leaders who can do the hard work of finding areas for unity and compromise. 

Lew Benton

[Mr. Benton served as the Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety from 1988 through 1995. He is a Vietnam veteran having served as a medic from 1970 to 1971.]

We have all seen the shooting and killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent and the more recent deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by US Customs and Border Patrol agents.

ICE and Border Patrol fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, which is headed by Kristi Noem. She is a former governor of South Dakota and a former member of the US House of Representatives, and is infamous for shooting to death household pets and farm animals that somehow offend her.

As Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Noem seems to revel in the agency’s roles of providing border protection and immigration and customs enforcement; she is frequently seen similarly dressed as a Border Patrol or ICE agent. Noem is under great pressure to meet the immigration enforcement and deportation goals of the Trump administration.

Within mere hours of the shootings, the secretary has been quick to absolve
those agents who were responsible for the killing of Good and Pretti, both without the benefit of video recordings, and in violation of Homeland Security’s adopted review of deadly force incident regulations.

To meet Trump’s immigration goals, Homeland Security has recruited thousands of new ICE agents. It is largely alleged that the vetting, training, and discipline of ICE agents have been set back in the rush to increase the force. ICE agent training is reported to only be 6 or 7 weeks now, even far less than basic US Army infantry training.

The current Homeland Security culture, leadership style, and reduced agent
training and the inadequate/flawed vetting of new recruits via AI may be a good
place to start in responding to John Kaufmann’s first question:
What is the appropriate role of our government in determining culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

The clearly unjustified, deadly shootings of Good and Pretti call into question not only the actions of the agents directly involved, but also the integrity of the leadership of Homeland Security. If these agents were inadequately trained and led, exposed to a culture that encouraged and condoned excessive use of force, and viewed even protestors as ‘f…ing bitches’ or ‘terrorists’ or ‘assassins,’ it is not difficult to understand how and why these killings happened.

ICE and Border Patrol agents with minimal training are now sent into urban areas armed with high-velocity semi-automatic military rifles and semi-automatic handguns. They are billed as ‘law enforcement’ officers, but are dressed and armed as combat troops, not police. Then they are allowed to function anonymously behind face masks, further reducing self-restraint and avoiding scrutiny.

This is the antithesis of policing. Robert Peel, the British Prime Minister who
established the modern London Metropolitan Police, identified nine principles of “ethical” policing, including these five:

The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and
disorder.

The ability of the police to perform their duties depends on the public
approval of police actions.

Police must secure the willing cooperation of the public in a voluntary
observance of the law to be able to secure and maintain the
public.

The degree of cooperation of the public that can be secured
diminishes proportionately to the necessity to use physical force.

To maintain at all times a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public, and that the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

Now, having lost the “approval” and “cooperation” of much of the public and
many public officials, Homeland Security’s ICE and Border Patrol have lost all
credibility among Homeland Security’s written policies is this:
Uphold Privacy, Transparency, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties DHS will continue to implement safeguards for privacy, transparency, civil rights, and civil liberties when developing and adopting policies and throughout the performance of its mission to ensure that homeland security programs uphold privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Moreover, ICE and Immigration and Customs have already adopted regulations
on the use of deadly force, as well as a written policy and mandated procedures
for investigating deadly force cases. Yet, the administration has announced that there will be no investigation and thus is in violation of its own rules. The
regulations become meaningless.

Here are the ICE Regulations on use of deadly force:
ICE regulations (8 CFR § 287.8) permit the use of deadly force only when an
officer has a reasonable belief that the subject poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others. It is considered a last resort, strictly prohibited to prevent escape alone or to shoot at moving vehicles unless an occupant poses a direct threat.
Key aspects of ICE deadly force regulations, updated by following a 2023 Executive Order, include:
Definition: Force likely to cause death or serious physical injury.
Imminent Threat Requirement: Must be based on a reasonable belief that the
subject poses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer
or others.
 Vehicles: Firearms may not be discharged at or from a moving vehicle unless it is necessary to prevent imminent death or serious injury, and no other reasonable means of defense exists.
 Prohibitions: Chokeholds and carotid restraints are prohibited unless deadly force is authorized.
 De-escalation: Policies require mandatory annual training on de-escalation
techniques.
 Documentation: While policy requires it, specific, detailed guidelines on the use of force are not fully public. But again, established policies and procedures are meaningless if ignored or not followed.

On May 25, 2022, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Advancing
Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public
Trust and Public Safety (E.O. 14074). Then the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) supported the E.O.’s objectives to promote accountability,
increase transparency, and ensure equal treatment and respect for the dignity of all persons with respect to federal law enforcement. Since that time HS said it
was working across the Homeland Security Enterprise to swiftly and effectively
implement the E.O.’s cross-cutting mandates.

I do not know if Trump rescinded that order but Homeland Security; under Noem, it clearly holds such policies in contempt.

To remedy what has happened would require some Congressional intervention,
a purge of the current Homeland Security ‘leadership’, a critical review of all ICE and Border Patrol policies and procedures, the demilitarization of operations and total reform. Local and state governments may be able to hasten such a change by condemning recent actions and petitioning for change.

Second question:
What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge
the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?
The answer to this is beyond the scope of this piece. Suffice it to say, unless and
until the current administration stops demonizing immigrants and other marginalgroups, I think we’re out of luck.
lib
01/28/2026

Martha Devaney

[Ms. Devaney is the Chair of the Saratoga County Democratic Committee]

Hi John,

Thank you for contacting me with your questions. Channeling my energy to thought provoking questions and providing input helps ease my emotional unrest.

In response:

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

Determining the culpability regarding the use of deadly force by government agents is fundamental to the role of government. Elected officials in the U.S. take a pledge to protect its citizens by taking an oath to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. This solemn promise is intended to ensure officials faithfully discharge their duties and uphold the rule of law.  Under the current Administration, we are painfully realizing this oath is disregarded and seriously failing the American and global communities. 

We are witnessing the collapse of democracy and the system designed 250 years ago, which (theoretically) established guardrails for the “appropriate role of our government to determine the culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents.”  This premise is a false narrative and our elected officials must rise together to uphold their oaths of office.Since there is no adherence to the rule of law under the current administration, we must rise up together to take back democracy!

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?We, as a society, must implore our elected officials and fellow citizens to DO SOMETHING. The urgency confrontiong our democracy cannot be overstated. We must band together, act in peaceful ways, be engaged and think outside of the box.President Obama stated, “When you’re feeling helpless, get up and do something!” I urge the following:

• Block the DHS funding Bill, close the government. Stand Strong Together!
• Pass Senators Duckworth’s Bill to investigate every ICE shooting and withhold payment to DHS Investigator General if implementation is ignored- Be Bold!
• Support the 10 Republican electeds who are supporting independent investigations of ICE shootings- Seek Bipartisan Solutions!
• Investigate DHS Secretary, Kristi Noem- Demand Impeachment!
• Band together, make calls daily, demonstrate peacefully, use tools (50501), join organizations (local political committees, Indivisible): Be Engaged!
• Mayors and Governors should organize a movement in defense of democracy– In Solidarity!
• Exert collective economic power and schedule organized economic blackouts every Saturday until ICE leaves states’ cities: Leverage Economic Power!
• Appoint a group of electeds to appeal to the president’s narcissistic ego and point out the benefits of removing ICE from US cities- Appeal to Ego!
• Enlist & leverage Trump loyalists, electeds and influencers (Sean Hannity, Joe Grogan, Ted Cruz, NY Post) to make the appeal to reverse deportation and ICE policies- Be Smart!
• Implement a Shadow Cabinet: Be Part of the Solution; Think out of the Box!

Respectfully,

Martha, chair Saratoga County Democratic Committee

Terence Diggory

[Mr. Diggory is the coordinator for the Saratoga Immigration Coalition. He had been a professor of English at Skidmore College and retired in 2010. He served on the former Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force]

What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

The use of deadly force is the ultimate use of government power.  Effective, trustworthy government must implement checks and balances against its use of force at every level.  Not only must the use of deadly force be investigated, but it must be investigated by an agency that is independent of the agency that used deadly force.  This is the principle of the separation of powers that is central to our constitutional system.  Unfortunately, that principle has been sadly eroded by the Trump administration.  This means not only that we cannot trust a DHS investigation of actions by its own officers, but we also cannot trust an investigation by another federal agency such as the FBI.  An independent investigation by the state of Minnesota into the recent DHS shootings in Minneapolis would be most appropriate, but has unfortunately been blocked. 

Neglect of the separation of powers, by the way, is prevalent in our immigration system.  While Americans pride ourselves on an “independent judiciary,” immigration courts are administered by the same agency, the Department of Justice, that has charge of the prosecution of immigration cases.  Most immigrants are not “criminals,” but they are treated worse than criminals in our legal system.

What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

The erosion of trust in authority has been going on for centuries in western culture and there are no quick fixes.  Sadly, it now seems that not only do we distrust authority but we also distrust each other as ordinary citizens.  There are no quick fixes in this case, either, but there are small fixes in our daily interactions and communications.  We need to approach each other simply as people and not as partisans attached to one or another political position.

Terry Diggory, Co-Coordinator

Saratoga Immigration Coalition

Chris Mathiesen

[Dr. Mathieson served on the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals from 2000 through 2006 (chaired 2005-2006). He served as Saratoga Springs Commissioner of Public Safety from 2012 to 2017 (three terms).]

Ordinarily, an incident involving law enforcement agents discharging their weapons which then caused injury or death of a person or persons would result in a thorough investigation.  The law enforcement agents involved would be temporarily suspended with pay pending completion of at least the preliminary aspects of the investigation.

Renee Good was shot and killed by a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent while Alex Pretti was killed by ginfire from at least two U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents.  Since the incidents involved two different federal agencies, neither of which seems to have protocol in place to adequately deal with such situations, and since there are concerns that the independence of the Department of Justice under the Trump Administration may have been undermined, the best solution would seem to be the creation of an independent commission to look into these two incidents.  Members of the commission would be appointed by members of Congress from both major parties.

Chris Mathiesen

Jay Eckman

[Reverend Eckman served as the minister of the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs from 1973 to 2013.]

1. In the ideal world a fully un -gerrymandered democracy belonging to the people would be more inclined to care for all its people.  I have to say that in our present USA the Republicans have done the better job of betraying the Founding Fathers’ healthy ideals; but the Democrats run a VERY close second. Both parties pay lip service to the noble ideals of “liberty and justice for all.” Talk is cheap and  political leaders have come to believe that “doing the walk”  to benefit all Americans might cost BIG donations and risk losing the next expensive election.

2.  We know that in too many cases those on the favorable side of power and wealth enjoy a “beneficial justice” that is not readily available to far too many of us. 

With ICE extravagantly funded by the “Big Beautiful Bill” and (now) running like free masked and armed gestapo on our streets, abuse and possible murder needs to be investigated by legitimate officials and honestly adjudicated. Side bar: I’d like to know: (a) how many ICE employees took part in the Jan 6th uprising and (b) how many could pass the employment test to be prison guards in NYS?

3. I confess to being an OPTIMISTIC CYNIC! I fear that at best we might be able to create pockets of civil society. Once chaos is released, it tends, like a cancer, to metastasize.  { The Twin-cities have done a good job tamping that prospect down!} Civil society anywhere struggles against  “normal” life realities that include:

1. A changing climate forces the struggling masses of the southern hemisphere, who have the energy not to die, to migrate north to find food, water and employment.
2. In our “ Monroe Doctrine sphere of influence”, we forget that for far too many years the US has undermined and over thrown democratically elected governments that promise change that would benefit a poor nation’s people. Our fear was that such democratic reform would threaten the American corporations’ ability to extract natural resources from these nations and undermine profits. The  wretched conditions created by US have no doubt intensified the desperate flight to our boarders.
3. Add to that a shrinking human employment base as old job forms: from family farms to traditional Detroit assembly lines simply disappear to be replaced by ???? 
4. The above issues are compounded by the HAVES clinging to their wealth— unwilling & unable to see that basic need disparity is fertile ground for legitimate unhappiness and violent uprisings. 

Too often I regret the world Judy and I are leaving to our grandkids.  A sad commentary -indeed!

Alice Smith

[Ms. Smith serves on the executive committee of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee.]

I think your questions are rather broad because it’s such a complicated issue.  

Regarding the first question, the role of the government (State or Federal) is to investigate the facts objectively.  There certainly appears to be a degree of culpability.

Then -I think your next question should be: What will be done about it?  The response to that might answer your second question.

Barbara Lombardo

[Ms. Lombardo left the Saratogian in 2015 after thirty-eight years, during much of that period as its editor. She currently teaches reporting and news writing in the Journalism Program at the State University at Albany.]

Q. What is the appropriate role of our government to determine culpability regarding the use of deadly force by its agents?

A. Appropriate steps for determining culpability in federal cases should be like those spelled out in Policy No. 305 — Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths — in the Saratoga Springs Police Department Policy Manual, which can easily be found online.

Q. What actions could be taken to ease the anger and divisions that challenge the basis of trust that is at the core of maintaining civil society?

A. Government and non-governmental leaders should be setting a tone of civility and condemning the hate and divisiveness coming from the top, and demanding adherence to the U.S. Constitution, existing laws, and basic human decency. That requires leaders willing to challenge both the policies and how they are executed. The rest of us ordinary people should be doing the same, speaking up and protesting non-violently in public, in direct communications with people in power, and in the voting booth. It’s up to us, folks.