Former Arizona executioner: Protocol imperative

Arizona Death Chamber

Attorneys for Arizona's death-row inmates have been battling with the DOC over execution protocols for several years. In news reports by The Arizona Republic's Michael Kiefer, we learned that some of the drugs used in Arizona executions were obtained in what could most generously be described as the "gray" market overseas and were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

As far as the former executioner is concerned, these controversies should not reflect poorly on members of the DOC execution team.

"I was psychologically tested a number of times," he said. "It's a solemn professional process. We were very protective of who was part of the team. We didn't take anybody who wanted to join because we worried about the motives. We looked at other people in the department carefully and recruited."

He said that the job he performed for many years required training and preparation. It demanded attention to detail and decorum. It was solemn. It was precise. It was professional.

"We followed a very strict protocol because this was a part of the justice system and it had to be done correctly," he said.

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Source: Arizona Republic, Feb. 18, 2012