[Vision2020] Another Way to Honor Moscow's Police Force

[Dan Carscallen]

Debbie,

Well said.  And thank you.

While some discussion has been good and informative regarding this
event, others have been nothing more than slams at "the system" (which
we all know has it's faults, but I'd say that's a price we pay for the
freedom we enjoy) or attempts by posters to advance their own agenda.
Some of us have just been plain dumb (I'm talking about me) for
"thinking out loud" on the listserv.

Honestly, I hoped a situation like this would bring us closer together,
but I fear those "agenda advancers" will continue to drive a wedge.

I think the best way to honor the MPD (and the LCSO) is to show up en
masse honoring the memory of Lee Newbill on Friday.  Let's line the
streets of the motorcade to show our support.  

And the next time you see an MPD officer or LCSO deputy on the street,
say "thank you".

DC

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Debbie Gray
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:36 PM
To: nickgier at adelphia.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Another Way to Honor Moscow's Police Force


It would be more of on honor, more respectful, and
more supportive to not try to capitalize on this
horrendous experience and twist it to suit one's own
political or social agendas.

--This is not the time to debate gun control laws. It
wouldn't have prevented anything. Jason Hamilton could
have used homemade car bombs or one tiny envelope full
of anthrax powder. If someone is bent on mass
destruction, we can't prevent it.

--This is not the time to push for a union. Would it
have made any difference to Officer Lee Newbill or any
of the other responders if they got paid $20/hr more
that night? Or if their health insurance benefits were stronger? No.

--This is not the time to blame the prosecutor's
office, the jury, the judge, the doctors, etc. There
are hundreds of thousands of people in and out of our
legal and mental health system every day. Sometimes it
fails. Those are the things we read about. Most often,
it works and you don't know about it because psycho
nut job # 43093902 is locked away never to cause harm.

--This is not the time, nor will it EVER be the time
to link this kind of event to Doug Wilson, Christ
Church or the non-violent criminal Steven Sitler. I
can't believe the sick, hatred filled minds that dare
to create a link where there is none.

--This is not the time to second guess the officers
involved, their reactions, your neighbor's reaction,
etc. There is guilt, there is fear, there is joy,
there is grief, there is panic, there is helplessness,
there is raw anger. 

--This is not the time to assume you know anything
about the shooter, the victims, the officers, the
dispatchers, the support staff, their families and the circumstances
involved. Stick with the facts, don't spread rumor or speculation.

--What is it the time to do? Be patient. Wait for
answers. Be mindful of your actions. Be generous to
your family, your friends, your neighbors. We are all
grieving in some way, big or small. Plan your next
steps. Yes there will be time to lobby for stronger
domestic violence laws, stronger checks/balances with
mental health issues and access to guns, higher pay
for city AND sheriff's officers, funding for top
quality bullet proof vests that could prevent tragic
officer deaths, videos in police cars, etc etc etc.
But please, be respectful of this time when officers
and co-workers and family members and the entire
community are still trying to wade through the
details, mop up the mess, go back to work in a
dispatch center with bullet holes through their pencil
holders, bullet holes through their lives... please
honor them. Don't use them. 

Respectfully,
Debbie Gray (wife of LCSO Sergeant Phil Gray)



 
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