Virginia State Police Responsibility on August 12 Email, June 1, 2019

   I understand the importance of not dwelling on past injuries but what’s past is prologue and there is much to be learned from a sober and honest acknowledgement of historical events particularly when it comes to our recovery from May 13, July 8 and August 11 and 12, 2017.   Besides, scores of lives have been grievously  affected by the deliberate implementation of a secret plan that was designed to decrease the threat to the State Police and increase the threat to citizens and our city – a lack of prudent conduct on the part of the Virginia State Police that ran counter to their sworn duty.       Linked is a Letter to the Editor, The Daily Progress, May 30 edition, written by Tim Heaphy lead author of what is known as the Heaphy Report.   Heaphy’s letter cites a prior Daily Progress story dated May 23, 2019.
  
https://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/opinion-letter-criticism-of-heaphy-report-disputed/article_448f6472-8251-11e9-a7bd-53d66643e533.html.
  
       It is also important to very firmly state that what happened on August 12 was the result of criminals and thugs invading our city uninvited.   Despite the blame some in our community have put on our own citizens for what took place, if it were not for anti Semites, white supremacists, Nazis, KKK members and Communists (all of whom brandished flags and banners to their beliefs), marching into our city armed with the intent to kill and injure citizens and burn down the synagogue, nothing close to the actual events would have taken place.   Plainly put I’ve been trying for over two years to spread the word about the malfeasance of the Virginia State Police on August 12, 2017 (www.August12.space) and their responsibility for the damage done to our neighbors and our city.   This Letter to the Editor is a very important piece of the conversation, particularly the last paragraph, and it plainly states for the first time by another public official that the Virginia State Police with 1,000 troopers in the city according to the Governor, with no advance warning to the Charlottesville Police Department at a critical moment of the day’s events, shifted their responsibility for active, preemptive law enforcement onto the City Police who had 95 officers on the ground and a different operational responsibility -   fundamentally and tragically changing the dynamics of the events of that day.   
       This puts the responsibility for the injuries and deaths directly at the doorstep of the Virginia State Police, the Governor’s police force, which puts the obligation for redress of counter protestors’ injuries and death squarely on the Commonwealth of Virginia.   Besides the crippling injuries and death that ensued from the betrayal of the Virginia State Police, those injured face medical bills that they will never be able to pay insuring a lifetime of poverty.   The University Hospital, a quasi public state hospital, should immediately write off the medical expenses they and subsidiaries billed to those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our city and its citizens.   Bravery and self sacrifice should not be rewarded with poverty.
  
As I write this and in response to the tragic shootings that have just occurred in Virginia Beach Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said in a statement he was devastated by the “unspeakable, senseless violence,” and is offering the state’s full support to survivors and relatives of the victims.   I believe the Commonwealth of Virginia should respond in a similar manner to aid the victims of the unprecedented attack on Charlottesville and its citizens, particularly in light of Heaphy’s reaffirmation of the malfeasance of the Virginia State Police on August 12.
  
This is about recovery, justice and redressing a grievous injury.   It would not involve or duplicate any civil legal actions that have been initiated in federal or state courts.   So.....I’m looking for an attorney who has some experience with misfeasance and malfeasance and who would help fight for the recovery of the scores of citizens, young, old, black, white, Jewish, Christian, Atheist, whatever who sustained life changing injuries during the protest.   I was intimately involved in the planning and implementation of the city’s response and I have the background and experience to put the events in context.   I know what went wrong, when it went wrong, who is responsible and the documents and video to prove it.   And I know what went right.   I have ‘standing’ since I was injured by the Alt Right on August 12 during the chaos and was treated by the Veterans Administration hospital in Richmond and the VA clinic on Pantops.   This is going to as many attorneys that I know.   This is the time of year that young law graduates are looking for work and this would be a great opportunity to legally engage with an issue that has such profound implications or share this with someone you know who was injured that day for any comments.
  
Bob Fenwick