Even as they grapple with budget cuts, California state leaders will surely be compelled to strengthen parole laws and not reduce corrections staff by as much as originally expected because of four police officers shot dead by a man on parole. Lovelle Mixon had been incarcerated on weapons charges and was stopped Saturday for a routine traffic violation.

The intense desperation that would drive a person to such murder and mayhem is all so unbelievably tragic. It's understood that being a cop is dangerous but for all four to be shot because of one situation is unimaginable.

With the drama Bay Area police have to deal with because of the Oscar Grant shooting, it must be difficult for the community to deal with this situation also. My heart goes out to all of the families left to pick up the pieces after this latest devastation.

The officers killed were: Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40; Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43; and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35 and Officer John Hege.

Mixon is reported to have an extensive criminal record. One can only wonder whether perceived liberal incarceration laws could have prevented this tragedy. Legislators will find it difficult to oppose measures that could have prevented this tragedy.

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net