WATCH LIVE NOW: 2 people sought for murder in death of Calgary police officer:

.@neufeld_mark says Sgt. Andrew Harnett joined CPS after 2.5 years as a police officer in the military.
@neufeld_mark Nefuled says Harnett did a traffic stop at 10:50 p.m. Another vehicle was involved in the crash, that driver stayed at the scene.
@neufeld_mark First-degree murder warrants have been issued for two people, a 17-yr-old and a 19-yr-old: https://t.co/lC1MRfk0m2
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says investigative work done by Sgt. Harnett before his death helped identify the two suspects.
@neufeld_mark "Today is the day I've had nightmares about" — @neufeld_mark
@neufeld_mark Calgary Police Association president John Orr says it was a cowardly act that claimed Sgt. Harnett's life.
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says they don't believe it is possible the driver didn't know they had hit Sgt. Harnett. As a supervisor he would have been working alone but other officers were nearby.
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says investigators got additional authorization to release the name of the 17-yr-old suspect. Names of youth are normally not released relating to crime.
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says, "I'm pissed off, it's totally senseless," on the death of Sgt. Harnett.
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says Sgt. Harnett was "Just an amazing fellow," says they worked a shift together in the past, calls him a consummate police officer.
@neufeld_mark Chief Neufeld says Harnett was a highly decorated member of the armed forces, and was a highly decorated police officer. Earned two chief's awards for saving lives.
@neufeld_mark The traffic stop was initiated because the licence plate on the vehicle didn't match.

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This is terrible weighing of the costs and benefits of the pardon power. I think Senator Murphy woefully undervalues its utility. /1


In part because the Congress of which he is a part has established no functioning second-look mechanisms for shortening sentences or expunging convictions, commutations and pardons are the only mechanisms for correcting injustices in the federal system. /2

And it's not as if those injustices are rare. Go to any federal correctional facility, and take time to learn who is there and about their cases, and you find literally thousands of people whose sentences were grossly excessive given their offenses. /3

Those people need commutations as a corrective because there is no parole or other second look in place to address that. Some have tried to use compassionate release under the First Step Act, but DOJ tries to block those efforts at every turn and it's a limited option. /4

Presidential commutations are thus the only avenue for these folks. And under President Obama, more than 1,700 regular people (not his cronies) received relief. It was woefully inadequate for the need, but it shows the value of the power. /5

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