MP deployment meant to help despite federal law

There’s no doubt about the intent behind the decision to send U.S. Army military police into Geneva County during Michael McLendon’s murderous March 10 rampage through two counties. The small police force in Samson needed help, and, at least in our corner of America, we lend a hand when needed.

That was the rationale behind the deployment of 22 MPs and a provost marshal to Samson, where they directed traffic and stood sentry over the bodies in a makeshift morgue.

Unfortunately, it was also a violation of federal law. That was the belief of many at the time, and has been validated by a report from an investigation by the U.S. Army Inspector General.

Sending soldiers into the streets of Samson violated the federal Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 law prohibiting the use of federal troops for law enforcement, a measure enacted after Union troops occupied the Southern states for a decade after the Civil War.

Geneva County officials were irked by the federal investigation undertaken six months ago, and that reaction is understandable. However, the investigation was appropriate, as is the outcome. Laws exist for valid reasons and cannot be disregarded whenever doing so would be convenient.

However, we’re pleased that our U.S. Army neighbors apparently share our belief that the mitigating circumstances of the state’s worst mass murder should be considering in determining the punishment for violating posse comitatus in this incident. No charges have been filed, and administrative action taken in the case is somewhat more lenient than transfer or discharge.

After all, as the Inspector General report specifies, “the intent was to be a good Army neighbor and help local civilian authorities facing a difficult, unique tragedy affecting the community.”