On Sunday morning, when most of us are getting our coffee and preparing to watch an NFL pregame show, 4 officers of the law were executed by a rapist...ooops...excuse my horrible and evil language...ummmm...sex offender... ummm ya....
anyway, he was out of jail on bail.
Three men and a woman were murdered in cold blood, an assault that was very clearly planned out.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/cops_shot_dead_in_washington_coffee_J4ZcZQdFW5dY71TqX7ldWM
This fashion of crime was committed a month ago, almost to the day, in Seattle. On Halloween night a gang-banger walked up to a police car containing two officers who were in the process of protecting our children on a night when all too many are injured or killed out of pure negligence on the part of drivers. It has been shown, year after year and decade after decade, that having a marked vehicle with REAL officers has a decided difference in injury and mortality rates at times and on dates when children or pedestrians are especially at risk. Both officers in the car were shot and the male, veteran officer was a victim of murder. I, and everyone i know, are thankful that the passenger and junior officer survived with little more than uncomfortable wounds.
The truly terrible consequence of these acts are not the deaths and woundings, however. The extremely disheartening fact is that, as more and more law enforcement professionals are feeling separated from the community that expects them to magically appear seconds after requesting help, these disgusting murderers make sure that officers of the law can NOT be at ease in public. I'm not a fan of cops, and I haven't been for decades. But the most important aspect of city life -even the L.A. gangs know this- we must allow the cops to walk freely and comfortably among all of society. They may be an enemy to drug users/pushers, whores/pimps, homeless/hitchhikers, poor/minority; but there are times where anyone should feel able to approach them with problems and/or questions.
The only lasting legacy that these disgusting murderers leave is that the nation responsible for allowing freedom of assembly and speech, will allow less assembly and speech. The nation that encouraged officers to dine and socialise with "civilians", will no longer be known for such actions. Millions of Americans eat at restaurants frequented by cops...expect to be observed if not made uncomfortable. At bars frequented by cops... expect to be held up for every insult, regardless how minor and unintended.
I have respect for some officers and know they won't change, but all too many are now going to view each and every civilian as a potential murderer/target.Everyone needs to be extremely vocal in their support for local law enforcement. Even people that have had bad experiences or engage in illegal activities need to be telling cops how much they are needed; whether or not you like cops in general, they are necessary for your own comfort and enterprise.
