I have no anger at the policeman, and as I have said several times, of course it was an accident.  That the officer did not INTEND to hit anyone should be obvious - as it is obvious in every other traffic accident.  

So why prosecute ANYONE who has an accident?  Nobody intends to have them.   I have always advocated a very high standard of negligence for accident prosecution.  I think that gross negligence should have to be proven, not merely fault.  Accidents are part of the risk we take getting on the road, and we shouldn't hold our normal screw-ups against each other.

So does this man's actions represent gross negligence?  I think it is certainly possible, based on what I understand happened.  Would I be upset if it was found not to?  No, not if that conclusion was reached by reasonable people in possession of all the facts. 

That should be the aim of our governmental agencies, and noting that it isn't happening hardly represents jumping to conclusions.  As for a blog response on this site changing anything, gimme a break.  I'm happy that the paper changed the headline on the story, that's more change than I expected.

 I feel bad for EVERYONE touched by  this tragic accident. And this was obviously an accident--the officer did not intend for anyones life to end or to screw up for what will be the rest of other peoples lives, including his own.   My husband death was caused by the actions and inaction's of several people, yet I realize it was not done on purpose.  Am I bitter and angry at times?  Yes, but I also have forgiven the people involved.  Hate and wanting revenge can eat a person up alive.  It can self consume you....and ruin the rest of the everyones life if you let it.  Jumping to conclusions  and making accusations about what happened is not going to change anything.

Nice Catch-22 there, pgmurphy.  Without the facts, the damaged party can't successfully sue, since they are being sued, the governments withhold the facts.  And you think that's OK?

Of course, lawsuits to get the facts may prevail - if enough money and a good enough lawyer is available to the family.  

You seem to suppose that the facts will come out, so why do you suppose they are being withheld?  I hate governmental butt-covering.   Its common, for sure - if that's what you mean by "the way it is". 

 I was not  there.  The only "facts" I know are what people posted and said they saw.  It was a tragic accident.  Cops are not held higher then everyone else.  If it was you or I , we would not have been arrested either.  If it is not criminal or there is no intent, no one is arrested.  If it is criminal, and there is reasonable cause for a peace officer to beleive there is a crime, (such as drunk driving) then an arrest is made.  To say the police officer was not held accountable is false.  He can be and probably will be.  So will Stallion Springs PD and anyone the family"s lawyers can associate with this accident.  These things take time.  If it is proven that the officer did not show due regard to the safety of others on the street that day, then he can, and probably will be held accountable civily.  As for the Police officer and Department not saying anything, they can't, they are being sued.  Thats just the way it is these days.   

Mr. Carter, what makes you think that the Wren family has a copy of this report???  What family with a potential civil action against Kern County and Stallion Springs and with an intense and personal interest in the report do you think all this secrecy has been aimed at??

It doesn't take a genius to know that if the report had concluded that if Wren (the dead man) was at fault, it would be all over the news. As for the Freedom of Information Act, that law doesn't only apply to newspapers, it applies to anyone.  Why don't you give Mr. Jagels a call at the DA's office and ask for a copy?  Be sure to report back the reaction you get.

Why the Tehachapi News hasn't taken it upon itself to talk to the dozen or so witnesses and write a report of its own, you would have to ask the Editor - or maybe the General Manager,  if you can catch them pausing long enough between their public beratings of Stan Beckham or bloggers, of course!

 I don't know how it works but I thought a newspaper could get a copy of the report based on the freedom of information act.  I am kind of surprised the family of Wren has not released their copy of the report.  Stallion Springs should have a copy of the report also.

 The CHP wont release the report at least not to the TN.

 Why don't you all wait and read the report?  So far it seems that there is alot of hysteria without getting facts.

 I'm not off to the deep end at least not on this ''issue''. Many eye witnesses have said that the cop never stopped before entering the intersection. Some say the cop never touched his brakes. I just refuse to admit that police are above the rest of us. If you or I had ran a red light we would be held accountable. The cop ran a red light and his actions killed a man . He should be held responsible for his negligence. Mr Wren had the right away, he entered the intersection on a green light. Wren was in the right.The cop entered the intersection on a red, The cop was in the wrong. I don't know how or why the powers that be came to their conclusion. I think a Grand Jury investigation is needed. I will be watching the civil case closely. Wren was a good man and I believe that he was worth more then he got.

I'm curious as to why the commenters here feel that they are a better investigation agency than MAIT. The fact is that emotion regarding this matter will dilute any objectivity (as in any investigation). For example, Gube asks jme for jme's opinion on whether or not some type of criminal charges should be filed. So, why would jme's or Gube's or my or anyone else's opinion be relevant on whether or not criminal charges should be filed? We are a society of laws, not anarchy. If it were up to Gube or a few other commenters, they would take the law into their hands and string up the officer. Well, folks, just in case we haven't come to grips with this, this is why blogs and other rantings (my own included) don't control such things. The system of processes controls the outcome (irrespective of whether we agree or disagree with it). All we have here is free speech and to live with the consequences of our free speech. Gube's continual rantings on immigration tend to show this poster is on the extreme edge in some areas, so it is not suprising its off to the deep end.....and let's get a blog posse and hang the officer. But, fortunately, this type of thinking does not control the real world. A process of laws does, whether we agree with it or not.......

 I do not think that Police are above the law either. I also agree that a vehicle is a 2,000 pound weapon if done intentionally. I again agree that if it had been a civilian they would have been arrested. To me its mysterious why no one else was entering the intersection at the time. I think that everyone else saw or heard the lights and siren and did what your supposed to and get out of the way. I am in no way saying Mr. Wren didn't care maybe he didn't hear.see the lights and sirens. Is it at all possible that this was a tragic accident?

 This ''issue'' is far from over...............There is a civil suit filed so this will not be the last you hear of this ''issue''. I for one do not believe that the police are above the law. A vehicle is a 2,000 pound weapon and when responding code 3 with lights and sirens the police need to treat it as such. Running a red light and killing an Innocent person is negligent. You or I would probably have been arrested on the scene and been charged in an ''issue'' like this. I hope that the civil trail paints Mr Wren as the real victim that he is.

What we think is fair verses what the law says is fair generally are two different things. The MAIT is an outside agency with no direct ties to Kern County, from my understanding it is a Sate agency.

With that said can't we just leave the issue alone. After all the officer will have to relive that moment for his remaining days.

 jme may I ask you a question.......having witnessed the accident do you feel some type of criminal charges should have been filed against the cop?

 I witnessed the accident. I am shocked... I  learned only last night of the tehachapi newsarticle regarding this accident. I am very disturbed.

Does anyone know if the officer is back at work?