Columbia Students Learn from Guest Speaker Lee Kindlon
On Friday, January 6, students at Columbia High had the opportunity to speak with Lee Kindlon, a practicing attorney and candidate for Albany County District Attorney. Kindlon led a discussion on the role of police in society.
As a guest speaker in James Driscoll’s Sociology class, Kindlon helped students analyze the complex legal nature of the ouster of Occupy Albany protestors from downtown Albany. The discussion centered on the delicate balance between social order, public safety and the Constitutional rights of citizens.
Kindlon was able to elaborate on the nuances of our legal system by sharing his experiences as a defense attorney and as a former Marine Corps Judge Advocate. Kindlon’s work history includes a tour in Iraq. He explained how he had to balance the safety and security of the Marine’s stationed in Iraq with the rights of the Iraqi civilians.
The class also discussed a recent shooting by Albany police officers. Students asked poignant questions about whether police were justified in the incident involving Nah-Cream Moore, a 19-year-old male shot when he allegedly raised a loaded handgun toward officers trying to take him into custody.
When asked about his opinion of police officers, Kindlon said, “I think it’s a noble profession; the police are overworked, underpaid and they do their very best to protect the citizens of New York State.”
Kindlon also acknowledged that, as with all professions, there are some who are not as dedicated, and the Constitution and our legal system are designed to protect citizens from abuse of power.
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