I agree not everyone is cut out for it and you can include me on that list. When I am in danger I react instinctively, quickly, and if needed with a tad more violence than is necessary. Why take an unnecessary risk by giving someone a chance.

We have the best police force in the city where I currently have a residence. I have talked with the police officers and they give the credit to their police chief who culls more applicants than most as he looks for the type of officer who will best protect and serve our community.

As a Caucasian and a citizen, if the police force in this community changes for the worse; the mayor and I will have a difficult discussion and if he doesn’t take actions to plumb the police force up, then I will work hard to replace him with a mayor who will. Just as I worked hard to get a God-fearing man I knew from my youth elected as Sheriff in the county where much of my family lives. Now I know their safety is in capable and trustworthy hands and the Sheriff is now a good friend versus the Barney Fife type of Sheriff that was in office when I moved back home.

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Are the men and women in blue dealing with the mess others have made? Which others, Feves? And how are they dealing with it?

A big part of the problem is that there is little to no actual accountability for officers when these things happen. Even the South Carolina shooting, which was about as obvious a case of 2nd degree murder as you can have – even recorded, still resulted in a mistrial because one lone juror refused to give a guilty plea despite all of the evidence. The ex-officer pled guilty in order to get a reduced charge and sentence before the 2nd trial.

These events happen. Officers make mistakes. Sometimes it is good cops losing composure and doing a bad thing. Sometimes it is bad cops doing bad things. I think the public – across the political spectrum – would benefit from these people actually being held accountable. Not all situations are the same, investigations need to occur. But as a Latino and citizen, it would be nice if/when the next shooting happens, that the unions don’t simply clam up and protect a bad cop. It’d be great if a good cop (which is to say, ‘most’ cops) would point and say, “That is a bad officer. He/She did a bad job.”

Police work is difficult. Not everyone is cut out for it.

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What a strange concept….Fever is often mistaken, but never wrong.

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Trump is holding onto that check as an investment for his kids, just think what it will be worth at auction one of these days.

🙂

Once upon a time, I left a job after being there for 15 years and even negotiated a very nice severance package in the process. It really was time to move on and move home. A funny thing happened about a week after leaving, I missed those guys and gals so very much. They had become like family to me without me even knowing it. If the bridge hadn’t already been crossed, I would likely have gone back hat held in hand, just to work alongside them again. What I experienced is something called regret, and it is a sad but beautiful thing. So many people up in Iowa that I still love, and still talk to occasionally, even after 12 years have passed.

Am I happy to be home, I sure am. Have I moved on, yes. Am I glad that the decision to leave was made, you betcha.

A similar process is happening as I sit here typing with tears in my eyes. Born of the Immaculate Reception at the tender age of 4 years old. You think I got a fever now, what my friends here have witnessed over the last 7 years is mostly a reflection of my loving opinion of the Pittsburgh Steelers when I was a child. A huge part of my self-identity is tied to being a Steelers fan. And the people I have grown to love over the past 7 years during my stint as steeler fever is very similar to the people who I grew to love in the 15-year job that defines my corporate career.

Moving away from the Pittsburgh Steelers is the correct move for me to make, but trust me, you all are loved, will be missed, and I am filled with regret while writing these words through tear filled eyes.

Rebecca, you dear woman, I haven’t gotten to your latest email though I saw the reminder when I woke my computer from its sleep. Just know, that while I understand the root cause of the issue as explained earlier, and would add a secondary root cause called the War On Poverty, which has left many inner cities kids without a father, my heart broke about 30 minutes after pushing send on the last email. I do wish there was something I could do to help, but what that might be, I have no idea. But I will say this, the men and women in blue who are dealing with the mess others have made, are not the ones to blame.

Sigh.

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Thanks to Rebecca for finding a copy of the check on the internet and posting it. Proof positive it was for $3.76.

Homer, as always, regrets any inconvenience and reminds readers he’s often wrong, but seldom in doubt.

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Thank you, again.

Earthling

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This is true, but at the moment, to start the change, law enforcement has to stop their shooting and stop their unrulely treatment of African Americans. This is the message by the NFL kneeling, not the flag. These players have a platform that millions of their race do not. It has to be heard, no one is listening to the communities where this injustice is occurring. The kneelers have stepped up and are brave to put their careers on the line to get this message out, some would say as much so as the soldiers that fought for this right.

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