Ken Jordan memorial
All the locals will be covering the Jordan memorial service this afternoon. I hope this snow lets up for it.
KKTV will be live streaming it on its Web site, if you don't have a TV in your office:
http://www.kktv.com/breakingnews/2902116.html
posted by AndyW @ 12/11/2006 07:47:00 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
A POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS
by Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police
Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I seem to fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified, grouped, and always
typical. Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure you out.
From birth you teach your children that I'm the bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my traditional enemy...the criminal! You accuse me of coddling criminals...until I catch your kids doing wrong.
You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup. You pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting my meals with your troubles.
You raise hell with the guy who cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing and I'm picking on you.
You know all the traffic laws...but you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.
You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your complaint.
You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but call it "Police brutality" if I strike back.
You wouldn't think of telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law.
You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.
You yell "something's got to be done to fight crime," but you can't be bothered to get involved.
You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your son's life with mouth-to-mouth breathing, or work many hours overtime looking for your lost daughter.
So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox, and rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every name in the book, but never stop to think that your property, family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me...the cop!
The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty two months after writing the article.
My prayers go out to Officer Ken Jordan and his family.
Mitchell Brown can SHUT UP (posthumously). I respect the police, I brought up my children to do the same. I don't squwack when I get a ticket and I wouldn't interrupt anyone's lunch break. Talk about soapboxes and stereotypes - that kind of attitude really ticks me off.
The loss of ANY life is tragic and painful for the deceaseds family, friends and co-workers - enough with putting cops on such a pedestal.
Ken Jordan's sacrifice was no greater than others who die in their line of work (construction workers, fishermen, soldiers) - the interstate doesn't close for those funerals.
Police work is highly desirable employment with "citizens" competing for the positions (and the benefits, the pensions, etc). With all that, comes risk - RISK that they are not unaware of.
RIP Officer Jordan, and all thhe others who died that day, on and off the job.
The problem with comparing Police Officers (and all first responders) with all other everyday workers is that the everyday worker is not sworn to "Serve and Protect." They do not carry a gun to work. They do not respond to calls that require them to put their lives on the line every day. Their fates are not dictated every minute by the actions of another.
The last comment was foolish (excluding the comparison to soldiers). Because of the dangerous nature of their job, they are given the appropriate farewell. As hard as it might be for some to believe, the average construction worker does not “run to the sound of the guns” - unlike a police officer. Some of the simple minds out there should think their thoughts through before sounding like an uneducated airhead who has no comprehension of the job these men and women do! And anyone who thinks these brave souls do that job for the pay, needs to have their head examined. I have never heard of a patrol officer getting rich by being a patrol officer. You down play what officer’s like Ken Jordan do for you and the community. But, I guess that is part of the job. Never receiving the appropriate thanks in life from the people they serve. I guess we all reevaluate that thought when one dies doing the job. Ken Jordan (and all the other fallen) are more than hero’s. They gave of themselves so the people can sleep without worry at night and go about their day without fear.
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