No matter how professional their conduct or the level of expertise they bring to the table, the Michigan State Police should not be involved in investigating the shooting death of MSP Sergeant Melvin Paul Holbrook.
The 53-year-old Holbrook was shot to death in the early morning hours of Aug. 10 in his home on Derby Lane in Benzie County's Homestead Township. His wife, Joni K. Holbrook, 47, is charged with an open count of murder.
Benzie County Prosecutor John Daugherty has said Joni Holbrook called Benzie County 911 at about 1:10 a.m. and said she shot her husband and that she later made a similar statement to police; Daugherty has declined to release the statements.
While the Benzie County Sheriff's Department has taken the lead in the investigation, the MSP offered its assistance, a sheriff's department spokesman and Daugherty said.
The prosecutor has also rejected allegations made by defense attorney Jesse Williams that using the MSP is a conflict of interest even though Williams and some neighbors who lived near the home said Joni Holbrook had been abused by Paul Holbrook; Williams said the shooting may be a case of self defense.
Unfortunately, Daugherty doesn't seem to see the value in avoiding even the appearance of a conflict.
"The decedent, Mr. Holbrook, hasn't been charged, his wife has been charged," Daugherty said.
That's the whole point, of course. Many, many troopers knew Holbrook personally and could be expected to find it difficult to believe claims of abuse. He had been a desk sergeant in Traverse since 2002.
It's a volatile situation in which troopers' first inclination would be, naturally enough, to defend the honor and memory of a friend over claims of abuse that, so far, are just that -- claims. In the hours after her arrest, Joni Holbrook did not appear to have any facial bruises or cuts or other signs of abuse.
Given the circumstances, the MSP should stay well away; but the department seems reluctant to remain neutral. A Record-Eagle request for Holbrook's departmental photo, made on the day of his death, was refused; the department has yet to honor a later Freedom of Information request for the photo and for Holbrook's service record.
It is critical not to taint, by word, suggestion or action, the probe into Holbrook's death.
The public expects no less. But that is precisely what Daugherty and the MSP are doing. Allowing them a role undermines public confidence in the process.
