Court Opinion

ID: 9659105
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 21:32:23.128023+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:03.998355
License: Public Domain

SABERS, Justice
(concurring specially).
I am troubled by the conduct of the police officers in interrogating the defendant at the police station in excess of two hours without advising the defendant that the victim had died. This is especially troubling in view of the defendant’s statement to the officer that he hoped “the dude is not hurt bad.” The majority’s omission of same appears to condone it.
Deception on the part of law enforcement interrogators goes to the heart of knowing, intelligent, and voluntary statements. Law enforcement is an honorable profession and honesty in fact is not too much to ask of officers dealing with those arrested. Although this deception is not as bad as that of the detective in State v. Dickey, 459 N.W.2d 445 (S.D.1990), “such conduct is totally unbecoming of a law enforcement officer of this State, whose sworn duty is to uphold and enforce the law.” Id. at 451.