Vancouver resident Ann Donnelly shares her perspective on the lawsuit filed by the family of Kevin Peterson against the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and others

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

The family of Kevin Peterson, killed in a confrontation with CCSO officers in October 2020, is suing the County, then-Sheriff Atkins, and the officers themselves. The wrongful-death suit will go to trial October 30. As the trial proceeds, let’s recall why Peterson encountered law enforcement, leading to his death.

The “why” leads us back to decisions Peterson himself made. He attended an advantaged school, Union High School, where some of his peers were earning scholarships to good colleges. But Peterson decided to go another route. Father of an infant daughter, he decided to enter the illicit drug trade. He then decided to acquire a firearm from a relative and elected to boast on social media about his intent to use it on police if confronted.

But he could still have survived the confrontation with police. Instead, he decided to resist arrest when confronted by sheriff’s deputies demanding that he drop the gun

Seemingly recognizing his mistakes, he died apologizing to his loved ones, saying “I’m going to jail for the rest of my life. I’m sorry.” We are so sorry. But Peterson himself ultimately is responsible for his death.

Ann Donnelly
Vancouver

---

Also read:

• 
  Opinion: Vancouver’s new $30 rental fee will increase rents in the city
  Mark Harmsworth argues Vancouver’s new $30 rental unit fee will raise rents, discourage investment, and worsen affordability, urging the city to repeal the policy and pursue market-driven housing solutions.
• 
  Opinion: The right speed to exit
  Doug Dahl of Target Zero explains that while exit-only freeway lanes follow the posted speed limit, drivers are legally required to reduce speed based on safety conditions as they approach offramps.
• 
  Letter: It’s time for Vancouver to choose change
  Vancouver resident Michael Jelineo calls for new leadership in the city and voices his support for Justin Forsman in the mayoral race, urging others to back change.
• 
  Opinion: ‘Vilifying broad swaths of Americans’
  Editor Ken Vance reflects on troubling posts by public defender Renee Alsept and shares a thoughtful perspective from longtime attorney Brad Andersen on ethics, discourse, and professionalism.
• 
  POLL: Should the county update its Human Resources policy to include personal social media accounts of employees in sensitive roles?
  This week’s Clark County Today poll asks whether the county should update its Human Resources policy to include personal social media accounts of employees in sensitive roles, following concerns over online conduct.