The last day of October – Halloween – is just around the corner. It’s a frighteningly fun time for kids, but October is a scary month for cops too. In October of 2007, sixteen police officers died in the line of duty and as of October 26th of this year 12 have made the ultimate sacrifice. Of those 28 cops, two died by gunfire, one by vehicular assault, two by heart attack, and the rest by accidental means, primarily vehicle related, but also including a fall, drowning, and a ground-related aircraft accident. In fact, every October 2008 police death except one (again, as of October 26th) has been as the result of an accident.
October is by no means the deadliest month for cops, but just by the sheer volume of accident deaths, we are reminded that accidents account for far more law enforcement deaths than do felonious assaults. What are the best anecdotes for accidents? YOU!
Attend to what you are doing; accidents often occur when we’re distracted. When you are “running code” attend more to the other drivers than to your in-car computer, your cell phone, or trying to bury that speedometer needle a little deeper. We all know cops love to drive fast—its one of the reasons we’re cops—but as the tried and true saying goes, “you don’t help anyone if you don’t get there in one piece.”
We all know police work is dangerous, but we have to focus on balancing risk with safety. Examine your own behavior. If you’ve been pushing the envelope and getting away with it, its time to re-evaluate. Maybe your “risk thermostat” is set way too high (check out Dave’s 2006 article on that, Deadly routine, which remains as valid today as it was when it was first posted). Or maybe you’re making assumptions that aren’t valid. When you’re out directing traffic, on a stop, or investigating a crash, do you assume people see you? Don’t! In fact, assume that they aren’t paying any attention to your overhead lights, your flashlight, your flares, or especially, to you. Just like when you’re approaching a house on a domestic, or doing a building search, or making an arrest, you are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those around you.
We don’t know why the last couple of Octobers have been so full of accidents for us, but let’s take the opportunity to honor our fallen, learn from their sacrifice, and look in the mirror and pledge to be around for many years to come, to hand out candy and scare those darn kids who come to your door on Halloween night.
So, with apologies to Edgar Allan Poe, we (okay, mostly Dave, Betsy not so much) present to you this poem.
Halloween 2008
By Dave Smith and Betsy Brantner-SmithOnce upon a Newsletter nearing, while I thought, alone and fearing,
About many a sad and tragic tale of the fallen from our shore,
While I sat there, nearly sleeping, suddenly there came a beeping,
As do email gently beeping from the Blackberry by the door.
“Tis just an email,” I muttered, “beeping notice by the door—
Probably that, and little more.”Oh, so clearly I remember, twelve gone and maybe more,
Anxiously I wished tomorrow, November without all this sorrow--
Sorrow for each one in their passing, that made me cry, “no more!”
Vainly I tried to borrow from my memories joy not sorrow,
Of Thanksgivings’ many smiles, happy laughter, soon to be here evermore.
This I need and nothing more.Then in my chair slowly turning, all my fears within me burning,
Then again I heard the beeping somewhat louder than before.
“Certainly,” I said, “it just an email, probably spam, and nothing more.”
Let me look then, what it is, this puzzle to explore,
“It is an email, nothing more!”Open now I did the email, pressing “open” and nothing more,
The title neutral, “newsletter” it said and no more,
There I sat, mostly guessing, at meaning of the title,
Why tell the story of the drunk who could drink no more?
What was it the email promised, promised if I read some more?
Heart pounding I read of the sign unseen, of the stop not made and more,
Of the deputy, to return home, “nevermore!”Then, I found, my heart grew weary, with all the training and all the worry,
All we seemed to do was hurry from tragic tale to another, fallen sister, fallen brother,
Halloween brought no relief, from the truth the email bore,
When would peace be in our land, and when would death still his hand?
I read the email and knew…nevermore.Freedom is a thirsty tree, and however strong we may be,
The price is blood from friend and foe, it’s a simple truth you must know,
You must prepare yourself each day, for all the evil in your way,
And listen to your brother’s fears and wipe away your sister’s tears,
Wear your armor, shine your shield, steel your heart and never yield,
For when we speak of October and so many fallen we will say forever more,
Nevermore.
October 2008 has been another October of accidental deaths! The greatest antidote to this is you…no one else. The one responsible for your safety and preparation is you. In psychology this is called “locus of control” and it an essential element of optimism and that is one of the true personality traits of a winner! And as we say in the Street Survival Seminar we only have one rule and that is “Win!” So slow down, put on your armor and buckle up!
Police1 mourns the loss of the following officers, each of whom has died during the month of October (as of press time on October 27th):
Officer Down: Police Officer Shane Figueroa - 10/25/2008
Police Officer Shane Figueroa - [Phoenix, Arizona]
Officer Down: Deputy Sheriff Randy Hamson - 10/24/2008
Deputy Sheriff Randy Hamson - [Monterey Park, California]
Officer Down: Police Officer Richard Bremer - 10/22/2008
Police Officer Richard Bremer - [Frederick, Maryland]
Officer Down: Police Officer David Tome - 10/21/2008
Police Officer David Tome - [Dover, Pennsylvania]
Officer Down: Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco - 10/21/2008
Second Lieutenant Frank Stecco - [Fairfax, Vermont]
Officer Down: Deputy Sheriff Sarah Jones - 10/19/2008
Deputy Sheriff Sarah Jones - [Bloomington, Indiana]
Officer Down: Officer / Paramedic Bruce W. Harrolle - 10/13/2008
Officer / Paramedic Bruce W. Harrolle - [Phoenix, Arizona]
Officer Down: Game Warden George Whatley - 10/10/2008
Game Warden George Whatley - [Austin, Texas]
Officer Down: Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap - 10/09/2008
Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap - [Watkinsville, Georgia]
Officer Down: Police Officer Bradley Moody - 10/07/2008
Police Officer Bradley Moody - [Richmond, California]
Officer Down: Correctional Officer Rodney Kelley - 10/03/2008
Correctional Officer Rodney Kelley - [Montgomery, Alabama]
Officer Down: Correctional Officer Douglas Falconer - 10/01/2008
Correctional Officer Douglas Falconer - [Phoenix, Arizona]
(Source: www.opmd.org)
