It was indeed edifying to peruse the comments of Kenosha city fathers justifying the $1.75 million payout to the Bells as the ultimate outcome of the police killing of Michael E. Bell after a traffic altercation in 2004.

The police did nothing wrong! The city didn’t want to settle! Not a penny of city funds found its way into the settlement! Nosiree! The evil insurance adjusters are to blame and the city couldn’t risk an even larger liability if the case went to trial. Obviously, “the devil made me do it” excuse has again prevailed.

Nowhere in the sad litany of this affair is there a hint of contrition, of self-examination, or of a pledge to revise policies and procedures to guard against such a tragedy reccurring.

A few years back, after the Bell and Sherrod (naked father walking in the street with a naked kid) shootings of the unarmed, I was part of the group convened by a federal mediator to hammer out a civil rights agreement between the city, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The civil rights organizations pressed for the formation of an independent body to investigate and report on matters involving allegations of serious police misconduct. The mayor and police chief rejected the proposal outright, claiming the police were impartial in investigating themselves. Also, a negative finding would be used in subsequent suits and cost the city a pretty penny (like $1.75 million?)

The final document (which I refused to sign) called only for future meetings between the parties. I was struck then, as I am now, by how in life, the consequence of refusing to do the right thing always seems to come back and haunt. I don’t believe the police, the mayor, or district attorney are evil people intent on violating rights. But surely there is a need to (1) examine police policy and/or training on the use of deadly force and (2) set up a mechanism to fairly and impartially review situations where police actions are the subject of serious concern.

Denial, stonewalling, and circling the wagons only heighten public suspicions of impropriety. Kenosha deserves better.

Seymour J. Adler, of Twin Lakes, is a retired director of the Kenosha County Department of Social Services.