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

[Tami Stinebaugh]

You nailed it Debbie.  

I can say from my point of view that this past week has been extremely difficult for our family, and every officer and their family in this community.  It is hard to even speak to each other without breaking down.  It was difficult for my husband to return to work amidst bullet holes through his office walls.  I know you and your family have experienced similar events.  It helps a little bit though, to know that we are supported by one another.  Thanks Debbie for all of your support to our law enforcement families.  You are much loved and appreciated...

Tami Stinebaugh 
(wife of LCSO Sergeant Matthew Stinebaugh)  


----- Original Message ----
From: Debbie Gray <graylex at yahoo.com>
To: nickgier at adelphia.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:36:18 PM
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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