Where Are the Condolences?

'Massive Loss for us all!' - Samuel L. Jackson

'Today is the worst day ever' – Boy George

'Im sooooo very sad right now... PRINCE can't die.' - Ice T

'Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his band, and all who loved him.' -

Barack Hussein Obama

'For real though, shouldn't everyone go home from work and school? It's Prince. Its like hearing the Grand Canyon died.' - writer/director Adam McKay

This is just a small sampling of celebrity and public figure remarks on social media forums concerning the death of singer/musician Prince, who collapsed in an elevator in his home and was pronounced dead less than an hour later.

I wonder however, if you asked these five people, if they would know the names of Steven M. Smith, Chad Dermyer, Carl Koontz or Alan Jacobs?

These four men weren't celebrities. Their names didn't receive massive, days-long media coverage worldwide. When they died, large buildings and bridges weren't illuminated to honor their passing. There were no rumors of drug overdose, either.

They died almost within the last month. Shot to death doing their jobs.

They were police officers.

Steven Smith was a 54-year-old member of Columbus (Oh) PD's SWAT team, shot while serving a search warrant. Alan Jacobs was a 4-year member of the Greenville (SC) Police Department, shot and killed while chasing a known gang member. 27-year-old Deputy Carl Koontz of the Howard County (In) Sheriff's Office was shot and mortally wounded during the service of a drug-related search warrant. Virginia State Trooper Chad Dermyer was shot and killed by a deranged man in a bus station.

The families of these men didn't didn't receive calls from the Office of the President; apparently, neither did their passing deserve an entry on Twitter from the aforementioned 'celebrities'.

Prince Rogers Nelson was a music entertainment icon, without doubt. To those who were followers of his craft he was a giant, in spite of his five-foot-two stature. To his surviving family I express my deepest condolences. Death, however, will come for us all, regardless of fame or fortune.

To those of us who have worn or are now wearing a badge, the four men whose lives were violently taken from them stand infinitely taller. They didn't make hundreds of millions of dollars through singing, playing an instrument or writing songs. They didn't rub elbows with the entertainment elite or perform in sold-out venues.

They were just cops, doing a thankless job few in the public would want to do if they knew intimately the hazards that we know, had witnessed the tragedies we have, saw the things we've seen.

They were just cops. Every law-abiding citizen in these United States should grieve but they won't. Only the officers' families, friends and those of us who were brothers and sisters to them will.

After all...they were just cops.

Another Black Eye...

   I lived through dealing with the public as a police officer in the aftermath of one of our police Lieutenants being convicted of murdering his girlfriend while on duty and abusing her corpse.

   It was hell for us working street cops.

   I know what's in store for my brothers and sisters working the streets now.

   Former Mansfield officer Mike Garn was convicted last week on 25 of 34 counts against him in Common Pleas court. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to twelve and a half years in prison. Garn didn't kill anyone, but the scars he caused to the department will remain for a long time. Current Mansfield police officers will pay a price for Garn's abuse of authority  and sexual proclivities...and they will have to deal with public backlash.

   Losing the trust of those you serve and protect, those whose taxes pay the salaries of the men and women wearing a badge, is a huge hit. Damage control aside, the department as a whole has a lot of work ahead of them, as do the city's decision-makers.

   And they'd better develop thick skin.

   About a week after the Lieutenant's conviction, I had occasion to stop a car for a traffic infraction while working late in the evening. I won't recount the entire exchange between the driver and I, but the first words out of her mouth were "are you going to kill me and put me in your trunk?"

   I had to check my rage.

   I was angry not only because of the woman's remarks, but also because of the position I was put in by someone else's actions; someone who wore the same badge as I, who cared not a bit what his crimes would do to us and the department as a whole. Comments like the one the woman made were repeated on an almost daily basis, on every shift. All of us, everyone, knew we would have to be in total control of our emotions...and our anger.

   The men and women wearing a badge now at Mansfield PD, most of them, have had to deal with a few others who broke the law and were sentenced to prison. A former police officer who decided that he would risk the safety of his fellow coppers  in order to pay off his loan debt to a drug dealer by forewarning him of impending search and/or arrest warrants; another who, in concert with his wife, defrauded a charity they worked for out of thousands upon thousands of dollars, dollars meant to aid a local high school's student athletes and athletic programs.

   These weren't rash, spur-of-the-moment decisions; they were thought out and repeated.

   Why? Greed. Power. Sex. All without a thought of anyone but themselves.

   As far as I'm concerned, they all got what they deserved. They inflicted damage, though, not only upon themselves but on all of us, past, present and future.

   The rest of us who suffer didn't deserve it. The vast majority of working and retired police officers maintained our commitment to the oath we swore on Day One, kept our integrity intact.

   Don't judge us all because of the actions of a few.

Wife Gets A New Carriage

   Wives. When you've got a good one, you take care of her. Personally? I have a gem of a wife, one who pretty much lets me do what I want...within reason, of course.

   Unannounced breakfast out with my pals? No problem. Browse thrift shops for quirky bargains? Don't spend a whole lot of money, honey. Last-minute decision to go metal detecting on her day off? Have fun! What do you want for supper when you get back?

   She is a diamond of a gem. As such, it's my duty to take care of her.

   That's why she got the new car yesterday. Me? I'm still plugging away in my 2004 GMC Canyon that has 123,000 miles on it and crank windows. I'm good with that.

   Yesterday was a gorgeously sunny day as we ventured out, traveling to Willard to visit the good folks at Sharpnack Chevrolet ( I'm a GM guy; Dad worked there for 33 years ).

   It was a trip worth making.

   Kerry Pauley, a truly good guy and long-time friend, greeted us when we got there. Kerry works on the Ford side of Sharpnack's dealership but, since we'd bought/leased our last two cars from him when he plied his trade elsewhere, he guided us through the now-familiar process. I like dealing with Kerry not only because I've known him for a few decades but also because he knows his stuff inside and out. Plus he's not averse to a little humor, which is always a a good thing as far as I'm concerned. If you know me you already knew that.

   However, Kerry was at somewhat of a disadvantage, as he had tickets for the Tribe game at 4PM in Cleveland, so he couldn't stay through the entire process. Enter Tom Sharpnack and Larry Becker; Tom's the dealership owner and Larry one of his top-notch sales staff. In no time flat we'd turned in Stacy's leased 2013 Chevy Equinox, which she absolutely loved, for...a 2016 Equinox. Every option she had on the former vehicle she now has in the current one...PLUS she now has heated seats, too.

   Guess what? Our monthly payment is a couple of dollars LOWER than the 2013 Chevy. Same lease terms. Brand-new car. Lower payment. BUT...different dealership.

   I'm good with that, too.

   If you're in the market for a new ride, go see Kerry or Tom or Larry at Sharpnack's in Willard. You won't be disappointed. My wife sure isn't.

   She is a gem. A happy gem. As the saying goes, 'happy wife, happy life.'

   My work here is done.