On March 20, 2005, in the small rural town of Van Buren, Missouri, with a rifle and a shotgun close at hand, Lance Shockey lay in wait for Sergeant Carl Graham to return home from his patrol shift. Four months earlier, Shockey had fled the scene of a fatal crash and the investigation by the Missouri State Police implicated Shockey. Sergeant Graham was the primary investigator and Shockey wanted to stop the investigation. So, the 28-year-old suspect waited patiently for hours for the sergeant to arrive. When he finally did, Shockey took aim as Graham exited his patrol car. The assailant opened fire with the rifle, Sergeant Graham was hit and fell to the ground. Shockey closed in and shot the wounded officer in the head with the shotgun, killing him instantly. It didn’t take long for officers to put the pieces together. Six days later, Shockey was arrested and charged with capital murder. The courts took longer, much longer. It took four years for Shockey to be convicted of the murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection. But it wasn’t until October 14th of this year—more than two decades after the murder—that Shockey was put to death.
At the time of his murder, Sergeant Graham was 37 years old and had served with the Missouri State Police for 12 years. He was survived by his 4-year-old son. Sergeant Graham’s murderer lived to be 48 before justice was served.[1],[2] In another capital murder case, Samuel Lee Smithers who was charged with the murder of two women in 1996, convicted and sentenced to die in 1999, was also executed on October 14th.
There’s an old adage that justice delayed is justice denied. Is that true? The Sixth Amendment to the Bill of Rights ensures a speedy trial for a person charged with a crime. Rarely is this right ever contested by people charged with a crime, especially a serious crime. Generally, the defense is happy to delay a trial as long as possible. The more time between the commission of the crime and the trial, the better for the defendant. Witnesses’ memories deteriorate, evidence may be misplaced or even lost, and public outrage fades. Any fair-minded person agrees that trials, especially capital murder trials, should not be rushed. When a person’s life hangs in the balance, the prosecution should ensure that they get it right. But once the verdict is rendered, it shouldn’t take years for the sentence to be carried out and we cry, “Foul!” and demand justice.
Justice is a common objection to the existence of a God who is loving and fair. The objection usually goes something like, “If God is love and just, why does he allow evil to go unchecked?” The fact is he doesn’t. Everyone’s sins will be judged, and each person will have to give an account before a just God. Justice is receiving what we deserve—that’s fair. Love is forgiving. Love is why God the Son came to earth. He came to die to pay the debt for the sins of those who believe in him. He took the punishment, so we don’t have to. Those who reject him will face the final judgment as spoken of in Revelation 20:11-15. Hence, God is both loving and fair. Why the delay? Because God is love. And he doesn’t want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Justice delayed is not justice denied.
Bringing Hope to Law Enforcement—End of Year Giving!
Please consider partnering with us! The Strong Blue Line Foundation—at no cost to officers or their agencies—brings hope to LEOs with training seminars that help them navigate a myriad of issues they deal with. In the “Moral Injury in Policing” seminar and book, officers learn how to deal with guilt and shame brought on by moral injury. Please partner with us to make strong officers with strong relationships by giving them real hope for complete victory! To help, go to TheStrongBlueLine.org and click on the “Donate” button.
On the Road
Last month I was in Washington State training chaplains. Next month, Sherry and I hit the road again. We’ll be heading south and then east for seminars scheduled in Arkansas and North Carolina. In between seminars, writing takes priority as we seek to update and add to seminars and books.
May you and your loved ones have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!
Pray for your police.
[1] (police1.com/arrests-sentencing/mo-executes-man-who-fatally-ambushed-trooper-outside-his-home-in-2005)
[2] (odmp.org/officer/17684-sergeant-carl-dewayne-graham-jr)
