I just posted a blog honoring three fallen Texas Peace Officers. My cousin, a police officer at Baylor University, informed me of Deputy Spillman's brush with death in Waco this week. Lt. Spillman was shot while he and other officers confronted a kidnapper and the kidnapper's victim in one of the rougher parts of Waco.
The shooter had kidnapped his on-again-off-again girlfriend and police were called. During the confrontation and rescue of the hostage, Lt. Johnny Spillman was shot by the suspect. The suspect then received his just reward in the form of several police bullets, and is now in the hospital in critical condition. Deputy Lt. Spillman is at home with his family and will get to celebrate one more Christmas with them.
The victim and the shooter had a relationship that had gone on for several years, and had involved calls to the police in the past. It is a shame that officers must put their lives on the line for victims who continue in deadly relationships even though they have been abused, humiliated, and even injured by the person who "loves" them and without whom the victims just can't go on living.
Having been an officer for several years, then a child welfare investigator for several years, yes...I am aware that victims trapped in abusive relationships find it difficult to get out of those relationships for many reason, not the least of which is fear for their lives at the hands of their significant other. Yet, for all those reasons to leave, many victims remain in the relationship. That is their choice. The bad thing is that these victims not only endanger their lives, their children's lives, their relatives' lives, but also the lives of officers who must come (often numerous times) to save them from the harmful and often deadly attacks by their significant others. In the end, even though we have sympathy and compassion for those victims, they are still adults who made obviously informed choices, and remained in harmful relationships. And like in this case, it so often innocent people who pay the price for the "victim's" choices.
May the Good Shepherd continue to watch over the officers who place their lives at risk to protect those who do not have that same respect for their own lives.
Prayers to Lt. Spillman for his speedy recovery.
The shooter had kidnapped his on-again-off-again girlfriend and police were called. During the confrontation and rescue of the hostage, Lt. Johnny Spillman was shot by the suspect. The suspect then received his just reward in the form of several police bullets, and is now in the hospital in critical condition. Deputy Lt. Spillman is at home with his family and will get to celebrate one more Christmas with them.
The victim and the shooter had a relationship that had gone on for several years, and had involved calls to the police in the past. It is a shame that officers must put their lives on the line for victims who continue in deadly relationships even though they have been abused, humiliated, and even injured by the person who "loves" them and without whom the victims just can't go on living.
Having been an officer for several years, then a child welfare investigator for several years, yes...I am aware that victims trapped in abusive relationships find it difficult to get out of those relationships for many reason, not the least of which is fear for their lives at the hands of their significant other. Yet, for all those reasons to leave, many victims remain in the relationship. That is their choice. The bad thing is that these victims not only endanger their lives, their children's lives, their relatives' lives, but also the lives of officers who must come (often numerous times) to save them from the harmful and often deadly attacks by their significant others. In the end, even though we have sympathy and compassion for those victims, they are still adults who made obviously informed choices, and remained in harmful relationships. And like in this case, it so often innocent people who pay the price for the "victim's" choices.
May the Good Shepherd continue to watch over the officers who place their lives at risk to protect those who do not have that same respect for their own lives.
Prayers to Lt. Spillman for his speedy recovery.
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