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Bikers Take To The Streets To Support Fallen Officer

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Bikers Take To The Streets To Support Fallen Officer

April 11th, 2005 @ 8:01AM (19 years ago)

The ride was a great success! What a fun way to show support for Peter's family.

Bikers Take To The Streets To Support Fallen Officer

April 11th, 2005 @ 12:10PM (19 years ago)

I was able to take part in the ride and it was a great event. We should all be thankful to the participants and the organizers. As an officer, I know Peter would have been honored for such a diverse showing. The riders proved this city is full of fine people of all shapes, sizes, colors. It was an honor to take part in the event and I look forward to the yeard to come.

Bikers Take To The Streets To Support Fallen Officer

April 11th, 2005 @ 8:51PM (19 years ago)

The next order of business must be to remove from public office those responsible for setting Peter Grignon's murderer free on numerous occasions. No more lame excuses should be accepted. We must stop this from happening again no matter who needs to lose their jobs to prevent it. This isn't a matter of partisan politics, it's a matter of full accountability and protecting the Citizens and Officers of this community. From the Courier-Journal on Sunday:

"Juvenile court records obtained by The Courier-Journal after Ballard's mother waived confidentiality show many opportunities for officials to place Ballard in custody -- and sometimes, they did.

But despite a history of violating probation, bond and home incarceration, Ballard was repeatedly allowed to remain free over his five years in the criminal justice system, according to court records.

And the records show that each time he hit the streets, Ballard followed a predictable pattern:

Ballard's juvenile offenses date back to age 12, starting with a truancy charge. Between ages 12 and 17, he is charged with 31 offenses in Jefferson County, one as an adult, and five in Indiana.

In April 2001, Ballard, 13, is placed by the state child protective agency in a facility or for emotionally disturbed children. After 19 months, he runs away.

In January 2003, Ballard is arrested on charges that he and another youth robbed a teenager in Jefferson County. The victim also was shot. Ballard is released on home incarceration in May 2003 to await trial. In the subsequent months, he is charged with 16 juvenile offenses in Kentucky and two in Indiana. Some charges are dismissed; the rest are settled with guilty pleas and sentences of probation.

Among those charges he accumulates while free on bond in 2004, Ballard allegedly steals 10 cars in two months and leads police on a high-speed chase in a stolen car. The case involving 10 stolen cars is dismissed; Ballard pleads guilty to fleeing police in the stolen car.

On March 15 of this year, two teenage girls report that Ballard has fired a gun at their car. Prosecutors in Kentucky and Indiana decline a juvenile worker's request that they take Ballard into custody, saying they prefer to wait until he is charged in the shooting case.

Eight days later, on March 23, Ballard allegedly shoots Grignon and himself.

"It paints a pretty bleak picture of both the juvenile and the adult systems' ability to communicate with each other in Kentucky and Indiana," said David Richart, a longtime youth advocate in Kentucky and executive director of the National Institute on Children, Youth and Families in Louisville."This kid was like a classic, escalating criminal in the making."

Ballard's aunt, Mary Allen, said she tried repeatedly to help her nephew and can't understand why he was given so many breaks -- particularly when he first started committing crimes at age 12.

She wonders if the social service, mental health and juvenile justice systems are simply too overloaded and disjointed."Answer: Yes they are completely broken and it's time to start fixing them. The alternative is accepting that some day some other freed dangerous delinquent will kill another Officer.

Bikers Take To The Streets To Support Fallen Officer

April 16th, 2005 @ 11:15PM (19 years ago)

My Son works at the metro in the evidence room (chuck). He has told me often of the nightmarish tasks the officers have undertaken on our behalf.

I also know many officers in the metro through out the county whom i've worked with in an off duty job (6 flags k.k.) a few years ago. I learrned a great deal about how much they do to keep every one safe. This was a terrrible thing and, I for one HOPE THEY KNOW I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY care for all of us !

God Bless Them All

Kay McFall