I waited a couple of days before posting this blog because the health of the deputy involved was still in question. Today, five days after Deputy Javier Leyva was shot by a wanted fugitive, the news is good. Deputy Leyva will recover from his wound and will be back at work before too long. The shooter, whose name is not worth the trouble of typing here, is languishing in the Odessa jail at the moment, having (as usual) meekly surrendered when confronted by police officers who were actually looking at him. You see, this brave outlaw, who was not a subject of interest to Deputy Leyva at the time of the attack, waited as the deputy drove past him then began blasting away with his weapon into the officer's patrol vehicle. One shot struck the deputy, but the THIRD shot just missed the officer's head. The criminal fled the seen by shooting a young man and taking his car. Luckily the injured man also survived the attack.
The criminal was caught a short time later hiding in an apartment. As I said earlier, when confronted by officers who actually knew who he was and were looking him in the face, the brave criminal meekly let officers take him into custody. An "honest" outlaw, while still a criminal, is certainly deserving of more respect as a person than is someone who would shoot a police officer in the back. Again, the officer had no idea what this man was up to and was simply passing by as the criminal stood beside a car outside a convenience store.
I am happy to be able to write here that Deputy Leyva will be able to return to his duties after a short stay in the hospital, and that the civilian who was wounded will be able to return to his normal activities as well. I suspect, though, that both of these men will always be looking around themselves, checking over their shoulders, as result of their close brush with death. The wounds to the mind are usually deeper and longer lasting than the physical injuries.
Deputy Leyva told the Ector County Sheriff that he was eager to return to work in spite of this incident. This attitude is embodied by most law officers, and is the spirit of what it means to be a peace officer; the desire to serve and to protect in spite of the dangers that entails. I know that right now the news is full of stories about a small minority of police officers who have tarnished their badges and acted in a way not worthy of a public servant, but the vast majority of officers go to work each day with only two intentions; one, to serve and to protect, and two, to complete their respective shifts and return at the end of the day to their loved ones.
Thank you, Deputy Javier Leyva, for your service rendered, and your continued desire to serve your community.
The criminal was caught a short time later hiding in an apartment. As I said earlier, when confronted by officers who actually knew who he was and were looking him in the face, the brave criminal meekly let officers take him into custody. An "honest" outlaw, while still a criminal, is certainly deserving of more respect as a person than is someone who would shoot a police officer in the back. Again, the officer had no idea what this man was up to and was simply passing by as the criminal stood beside a car outside a convenience store.
I am happy to be able to write here that Deputy Leyva will be able to return to his duties after a short stay in the hospital, and that the civilian who was wounded will be able to return to his normal activities as well. I suspect, though, that both of these men will always be looking around themselves, checking over their shoulders, as result of their close brush with death. The wounds to the mind are usually deeper and longer lasting than the physical injuries.
Deputy Leyva told the Ector County Sheriff that he was eager to return to work in spite of this incident. This attitude is embodied by most law officers, and is the spirit of what it means to be a peace officer; the desire to serve and to protect in spite of the dangers that entails. I know that right now the news is full of stories about a small minority of police officers who have tarnished their badges and acted in a way not worthy of a public servant, but the vast majority of officers go to work each day with only two intentions; one, to serve and to protect, and two, to complete their respective shifts and return at the end of the day to their loved ones.
Thank you, Deputy Javier Leyva, for your service rendered, and your continued desire to serve your community.
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