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Cop Killer Executed in Tennessee

By ROSE FRENCH
Associated Press Writer
Published May 9, 2007, 1:52 AM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A man convicted of killing a Memphis police officer in 1981 was executed early Wednesday after a court rejected defense pleas for more time to examine newly revised execution protocols.

Philip Workman, whose execution had been delayed on five prior occasions, became Tennessee's third lethal injection since 2000.

Before the whining starts, let's get this out of the way: if you believe Workman was innocent, that he didn't pull the trigger, then logic says that a cop did. That means cops lied, and you would rather believe this drugged out armed robber over Sworn Officers. Sorry, that doesn't work for me.

If you believe the officers and still decry this penalty, blame the system for dragging it on for 26 years. This could have been over with decades ago, and the deterrence effect would have then become more significant.

Lastly, I oppose the Federal death sentence. States should have the right to do as they will; after all, the appeal is to the Federal level, and many times a case is overturned ad nauseum for trivial reasons. Federal death sentences have less appeal avenues, so seem to me to be...scarier.

And, for those who want to equate the DP with Abortion, there is absolutely no connection. Abortion kills an unborn, innocent fetus, the DP kills a convicted Murderer who had a chance to do the right thing.

As for Workman, RIP Lt. Ronald Oliver.