End of Watch: Sergeant Alejandro "Alex" Martinez, Willacy County Sheriff's Office - Nov. 21, 2014

I am saddened but honored to lift up Deputy Sergeant Martinez on my blog.  Sergeant Martinez was killed in a one-vehicle accident while on patrol in Willacy County in South Texas.  I had delayed this post in hopes of learning more about how the accident happened; however, it appears that state troopers have still not determined exactly what caused the accident.

Sergeant Martinez was a long-time member of the South Texas law enforcement community, having served in the Weslaco Police Department, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and as the chief of the Raymondville Police Department just prior to his service with the Willacy County Sheriff's Office.

I extend my sympathy to the peace officers that lost their fellow worker, and to the family and friends of this good man.

May you rest in peace, Sergeant Martinez. 

The Ferguson Shooting: A Tale Of Two.........

While many people may not have read that old and famous novel, we are many of us familiar with that famous line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."  That line, from Charles Dickens' classic, A Tale of Two Cities, seems to best describe the tragedy, the anger, the fear, and all the other emotions experienced by both those actually involved in the Ferguson shooting and by those who were and are "third parties," that is, persons not involved but who felt compelled to involve themselves in the "protests" and violence that followed the initial incident AND the violence that will no doubt go on as this night passes in Ferguson.

First, the tragic incident of that day in August.  There are two versions, in the final analysis - the officer's version, and what actually happened.  I do not know, nor do most other Americans, what actually happened in the officer's patrol car while he and Michael Brown were both out of view of the public.  Michael Brown, of course, is not able to tell his version.  The available forensic evidence had to suffice to tell Michael's version, as best as is humanly possible to know.  Then Michael Brown got out of the patrol car, at which time the officer, Darren Wilson, fired his weapon at least one more time.  That part of the incident DID occur in full view of many people, and again, two versions emerged from the one incident.  Some say Brown had raised his hands in surrender.  The officer, obviously, felt that he needed to fire another round because he was still in danger.

Second, the tale of two Michael Browns.  The first Michael Brown that we, as a nation, heard of was the "teen" who was walking down the street, en route to visit his aunt, or grandmother.  Suddenly a belligerent and White police officer confronted Michael Brown, yelled at him, and shot him.  A White cop shot a Black "unarmed teen."  The people there, and soon the media, began shouting across the nation and around the world that "yet again" a White cop MURDERED a Black "youth" who was unarmed.  Within minutes rioting had broken out.  Within hours the people of Ferguson were in a war zone.  But...there was a second Michael Brown, also described in the media, a huge and hulking Michael Brown who was recorded on video as he strong-armed merchandise from a neighborhood store.  This Michael Brown stood head and shoulders taller, and was much heavier, than the small man trying to prevent the theft.  This Michael Brown was a "teen" ONLY in age, not in size or in criminal intent.  He was clearly not new at theft and not willing to abide by the laws of a civilized nation.  When confronted by a police officer, Michael Brown did not comply with the officer's reasonable and lawful order to get out of the traffic lane and walk on the sidewalk, so that he would not impede traffic.  Michael Brown made the decision to lay hands on the officer, who incidentally, was much smaller than the "teen."  Michael Brown was not afraid to attack an armed police officer.  Is there any reason to believe he would hesitate to attack an unarmed citizen and commit a crime?  This criminal was much different from the Michael Brown portrayed most loudly by the media.

Third, the Ferguson incident.  This shooting, though tragic enough in itself, was viewed in two widely different ways by people all across America.  First, many Ferguson residents, and the vast portion of the media, played this incident up as a racially motivated, legally sanctioned murder of a Black person by a White person in authority.  Those proffering this version of the Ferguson incident linked it to a national and continuing assault on Blacks and other persons of color by the mostly White policemen of this nation.  To foster this version, the people and the media hysterically cried "MURDER" without any thought whatever to the possibility (however slight they may have believed it to be) that the shooting of the unarmed Black man by the White cop was legally justified.  On the other hand, some people in Ferguson, and some members of the Media, entertained the possibility that, while tragic, the shooting COULD HAVE BEEN A JUSTIFIABLE SHOOTING.  This version of the Ferguson incident acknowledged that the officer was apparently overpowered by the "unarmed teen" to the degree that officer believed his own life was in danger.  After all, no one was able to see what happened during the seconds that the "teen" beat Officer Wilson to the point that he suffered a possible skull fracture.  These people acknowledge the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Michael Brown was trying to wrench the officer's gun out of its holster, an action that clearly put the officer in danger of losing his life.  An officer in fear of his life has the right (AND THE DUTY) to use force, including deadly force, to stop the threat to his own life.

Finally, the United States justice system itself, comes in two versions.  The first version is the belief that Black people will NEVER get justice in the White criminal justice system.  These people, egged on by the Media, tore down the town of Ferguson while screaming hysterically that Black people will never get justice in America, thus setting up the Ferguson grand jury for inevitable failure if, after looking at all the known facts, it should decide that there was no reasonable grounds to indict the officer for the criminal act of murder.  The second version of this is the belief that the grand jury would look at all the facts, hear the testimony of the officer involved as well as the results of the forensic investigation, and then render either a true-bill or a no-bill.  That is, either indict the officer or not indict him, based on the facts presented.   

As I wrote this post, the grand jury decision was announced to the nation.  A short time later the President of the United States came on television to ask the nation for calm, and more importantly, to ask the nation to understand how the justice system works, and thus understand that the Ferguson grand jury had reached its decision after reviewing the facts.  This one of the few times I have ever agreed with anything President Obama has said.  Mr. Obama stressed that people may or may not agree with the grand jury's decision, but they should respect this decision, as this is how the American justice system was designed to work.  I have to give credit to the President for his speech of reconciliation.  The President rightly pointed out that no matter how outraged some Americans might feel, no matter how satisfied with the justice system other people might feel, the people who lost the most were the parents of Michael Brown.  President Obama read a statement from Michael Brown's parents asking the people of Ferguson and the nation to be calm in this decision, and to protest, if they felt the need, in positive ways that could result in positive change, rather than in more senseless rioting and destruction.  I would like to add that another person, Officer Darren Wilson, has lost so much as well.  In all likelihood, he will never be able to work in Ferguson again.  And, he has already born the brunt of much negative media attention, even though, as the grand jury's decision bore out, he acted lawfully in defending himself while performing his duty as a public servant.

The Ferguson grand jury decision is now behind us, and I hope the people of Ferguson will soon be able to settle into some sort of normal existence.  I certainly wish comfort on the family that lost a son.  Obviously they are not satisfied with the grand jury's decision, and honestly, I do not know that I would be satisfied if I were in their position.  Michael Brown's parents have continuing recourse, however.  They still have the option filing a wrongful death suit against the officer and the City of Ferguson.  And they have the option of requesting that the United States Department of Justice look into the incident.  Officer Wilson can still be filed on by the federal government if the Justice Department feels that he violated Michael Brown's constitutional rights. 

The Ferguson shooting has indeed been a Tale Of Two...
Two versions of a tragedy...
Two versions of Michael Brown and the officer who shot him...
Two versions of the response to the tragedy...
And two versions of the American system of justice...

There is also another "Two" that emerges in the wake of the Ferguson shooting, and that is that there are two possibilities facing this nation as we move forward.  The first possibility is that people can choose to become bitter, or more bitter, to become cynical and to say, "I told you so...a Black person cannot get justice in the White justice system."  I know there are some that will never accept the Ferguson no-bill.  They have already convinced themselves that somehow the various components of the American justice system have connived against people of color, and will continue to do so, as "proven" by today's grand jury decision.  On the other hand, we can choose to believe that this specific grand jury did its job, that is, they considered all the testimony and evidence presented to them, and they rendered a just, if controversial, decision.  We can believe that grand juries across the nation examine each case presented on its own merits.  And we can believe that, most of the time, the American justice system works.  The Ferguson incident is truly a Tale of Two...but it is my firm hope that we all realize there is one America and one system of justice, and that this system of justice works most of the time. 

God Bless America
 

The Ukrainian Border - Sovereign The United States Border - Not So Much

In a situation which is causing a bit of irony for the Obama Administration, one of Obama's generals (one of those he has not fired, presumably because this particular general is willing to go along with the President's questionable foreign policy, armed forces (lack of) leadership, and whole-sale trampling of the Constitution and governmental checks and balances) is calling for the closure of, and the "international respect of" the Ukraine's border with Russia.  This general, Phillip Breedlove, who is associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has pointed out the obvious, that is that the Ukraine cannot be a safe and sovereign nation if the Russian Army and insurgents constantly cross and re-cross the border while transporting supplies and soldiers, as well as guerrilla fighters.  President Obama himself has chided President Putin of Russia for his disregard for the Ukraine's sovereignty.  And, unfortunately, I find myself forced to agree with President Obama, much as it pains me to do so - but I too believe that President Putin and his minions should respect the sovereignty of his neighboring country, particularly since Russia has re-annexed the Crimean Peninsula, with its huge oil supply.  What else do they want from the Ukraine?

Having said that I support President Obama's stance on the sovereignty of the Ukraine's border, and that I agree with the President that all nations, including Russia, should recognize and respect the Ukraine's border, I now would like to point out the irony in the President's position.  President Obama has taken it upon himself to remind President Putin that a nation's borders are sovereign, that is "inviolable."  Mr. Obama would have the world understand that a sovereign nation has the right to decide who may cross the border, and that anyone ILLEGALLY crossing a sovereign nation's border is committing a crime, even causing an "international incident" that warrants a swift and firm response.  President Obama has rightly pointed out that neither the Russian army nor individual NON-citizens have the right to cross the border illegally from Russia into the Ukraine.  I agree with the President, as I am sure most of you would, too.

So, the borders of a nation are "sovereign" and should be "respected," right, President Obama?  Well I agree with you.  Further, I think what is true of the Ukraine is just as true of the United States.  That is, if the borders of the Ukraine are sovereign and inviolable, are not the borders of the United States just as sovereign?  Should not the borders of our great nation be respected as well?  Yet, Mr. President, you have shown depraved indifference to the utter disregard and disdain that both citizens and criminals of Mexico and other nations have shown for the border of the United States.  In fact, Mr. Obama, you want to reward the people who disdain the sovereign borders of our great nation by granting these criminals the prize of citizenship.  Not only that, but you and your minions endanger the lives of both Texas Peace Officers and federal Border Patrol Officers (as well as the lives of thousands of innocent AMERICAN citizens) by deliberately underfunding border protection efforts, and even interfering directly with border patrol operations.  So, if I understand rightly, Mr. Obama, we (the ENTIRE WORLD) should respect and honor the border of the Ukraine.  Okay, I understand.  But...if I understand you on the issue of the United States border, you believe that neither Mexican soldiers, the Cartels, common criminals, nor even just average Mexican citizens illegally crossing the border need respect the sovereignty of our great nation and the sanctity of our borders.  Right?  Got it, sir.

So, yes, the big irony is that President Obama has called on the world, and especially Russia, to respect the borders of the Ukraine, while here in the United States the President believes that it is not politically correct to protect and fortify our own borders.  But the biggest irony is that the President is willing to risk an international war, including the risk of nuclear war, to protect our friends in the Ukraine, but here in Texas, in New Mexico, in Arizona, and in California, the President will not risk offending the Mexican government, or even his own constituents, to close and fortify the United States border.  Ironic indeed, that the President will protect a nation halfway around the world, but will not lift a finger to protect the nation and the people who made him the most powerful man in the world.

Officer's Last Watch: Deputy Jesse Valdez III, and Constable Robert Parker

I have perhaps put this posting off on purpose due to the death of my friend Mike Naylor in the line of duty on October 9 just past, and I was not eager to write about more officer deaths.  But I know Mike would want people to carry on their lives and remember HIS life, not dwell on his death.  With that in mind, I return to my ministry of honoring Texas Peace Officers here, those who have lost their lives in the service to their state and their communities.

First, Deputy Jesse Valdez III, a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.  On October 29, 2014 Deputy Valdez was travelling across Harris County on the way to perform a welfare check on a person whom relatives believed was possibly alone at home and injured.  As Deputy Valdez was proceeding down the highway, a vehicle suddenly swerved into his lane, resulting in a head-on collision.  Deputy Valdez was badly injured and was trapped in his vehicle for some time.  He died of his injuries a short time later in a Houston area hospital.  The driver of the other vehicle, intoxicated on narcotics, was only slightly injured.  My deepest sympathy goes out to Deputy Valdez's family and his fellow officers.

On November 1, 2014 just after midnight, Constable Robert Parker White, one of the elected constables of El Paso County, was working at an off-duty job when a person at this location became upset.  When Constable White made contact with the subject, this person suddenly assaulted the officer, repeatedly striking him several times.  The officer fell to the ground and did not get up.  Some persons there came to his aid and also several officers responded.  The offender was apparently held at the scene and arrested by sheriff's deputies.  Constable White never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.  I extend my sympathy to Constable White's family and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement.  This was a very brutal, personal attack and the offender deserves the worst the law can deal to him.

Officer line of duty deaths are typically highest in Texas, or second only to California.  That is the case this year.  As of this post, ten officers have died in Texas, while fourteen line of duty deaths have occurred in California, including the three officers killed there during the "Bonnie and Clyde" robberies and murders that took place last week.  I pray for the safety of the officers left behind, and for their comfort, as well as for the families of the fallen officers.  These men and women are heroes, and I am honored to raise them up here on my simply blog pages.

Observations Of Life After Fifty

Some observations of my life after 50:

It is imperative now that I list things I need to do, supplies I need to buy, etc...but by the time I remember where the pen is, I can't find the paper.  Having found the paper...I can't remember what I wanted to write on the list.  Having finally remembered what I need to write on the list...I cannot find that furschlugginner pen...until I FINALLY look to see what I am holding in my right hand.

When going shopping at a large venue such #%$-Mart, I always park my Tahoe in about the same spot on the same row...but when I finally get out of the store I spend two hours looking for the Tahoe because it is not in its usual parking spot.  Finally I call 9-1-1 because the Tahoe is not at the spot I left it nor on any of the adjacent rows. Everything is okay, though, because the police will be here soon....and they finally arrive forty-five minutes later...after the very kind #%$-Mart cart crew has spent forty minutes helping me look for my Tahoe  They excitedly tell the police "No, he's NOT senile, there is NO TAHOE on the parking lot!"
That's about the time I remember I brought my wife's pickup this time...

Modern electric cords, USB plugs, miniature plugs for various computer and tablet appliances, and charging cords are made so that they can all be plugged into their respective receptacles in ONE (and ONLY ONE!) correct way.  Since there are only TWO possibilities for each plug, it would follow that a person would need at most TWO attempts to plug in any one of these cords correctly.  Yet, according to one source, the average person plugs in such cords incorrectly EIGHTY-NINE percent of the time.  Think about it...how many times have you found yourself fitting a cord at least THREE times before connecting it correctly?

Once a person LOOKS like a senior citizen it becomes pointless to argue with the cashier who ASSUMES the person really IS a senior citizen.  Plus, those two or three dollars saved per meal really begin to add up!  Not that I LOOK like a senior citizen, of course!  But, I have noticed that young ladies now hold the door open for ME, the grandfatherly-looking man behind them.  That is really an added perk!

I have always heard that "life begins at fifty."  What they did NOT tell me was that so much of that "life" would be spent at the doctor's office AFTER fifty.

High school kids should not laugh at those old "fogies" at Homecoming.  Guess what...when you attend your 35th Class Reunion, YOU are an old fogie too!

One begins to suspect he is "getting older" when all the people "in authority" are young enough to be one's son or daughter.  Police officers, doctors, nurses, preachers, teachers....are all beginning to look like they are YOUNGER than MY son and daughter.  I am beginning to have a sort of paranoia because so many of the professionals I depend on WERE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL when I moved to Midland!  If you remained in your home town and you are now over fifty, there is a strong possibility that your GRANDCHILDREN'S FRIENDS are now taking care of you!

Sitting in a big, fat, overstuffed lounger is not nearly as boring as I thought it would be thirty years ago.  In fact, sitting ANYWHERE is not as boring as it used to be thirty years ago.

Finally, although it would be great to be young, I am glad to still be here to "age."  Fifty-plus is definitely better than the obituary pages.










 

A Final Farewell To A Fallen Hero

Words can't describe the feelings I and so many others experienced today as we said a collective good-bye to Deputy Michael Naylor. I have never seen the kind of love and support shown for a fallen officer as I witnessed today. Several hundred people, including hundreds of officers from across the state were there. Sheriff Painter unpinned Mike's badge from his uniform shirt, knelt before Mike's wife, and pressed that now sacred star into her hands. And that tall and tough Sheriff openly wept with her. So did most of the people scattered throughout that huge church building. There were three overflow rooms beside the huge auditorium, and it still could not contain all those who wanted to pay their respects.

We later learned that in all the towns along the route from Midland, Texas to Hobbs, New Mexico, the people lined the highways and streets by the hundreds and honored this deputy as the procession passed through their respective towns.

I have only said this about one or two officers since 1981, but Mike was a cop's cop...the kind that other cops measure themselves by, and strive to meet his standards. Here on earth, especially here in Midland County, Texas, Deputy Michael Naylor will be so terribly missed and mourned. But in Heaven, that Thin Blue Line boasts another hero.

May you rest with your fallen brothers and sisters, Mike.

St. James Was, And Is, A Very Good Toe-Stomper, Then and Now

For the last few weeks, the minister at the church we attend has been bringing the Sunday lesson out of the Book of James.  James is one of my favorite books of the Bible because the author of this particular book was none other than James, the half-brother of Jesus.  James was with the group of relatives who went to "collect" Jesus when Jesus was preaching at Nazareth.  The people all thought Jesus was "out of His mind" because of all the things he said (see Matthew 3:21).  The fact that the family of Jesus did not believe yet that he was the Messiah is emphasized here because they, like the others, believed that Jesus of Nazareth had actually lost his mind.  This same James, just a few years later, penned the Book of James, and he no longer had any doubt: Jesus Christ was the Son of God and had been crucified to save the world. 

James had clearly spent much time with Jesus, and as St. James, he had much insight to offer his contemporaries as well as to us in this later time.  From the very start, St. James showed the love he learned from Jesus, his great concern for his fellow believers and for us who came later on.  St. James also had other things he wanted to pass on to us from the Good Shepherd himself.  From learning to be patient to taming our tongues, St. James did his best to teach Christians, no so much how to be "religious," but how to live life in the imitation of Christ.  Unfortunately for me, EVERY TIME I read St. James, or hear someone else read these holy words, I have to say that my toes are most severely stomped upon.  Today's lesson was no exception.

St. James, in Chapter 3, talks about wisdom, about how to get wisdom, and how to spot the person who has lived wisely.  Conversely, the same words also teach others how to know when a person HAS NOT lived such a wise life.  As those words unfolded from the Bible today, I felt the words stomp my toes, but more so, the words touched my heart.  I have not lived wisely for much of my life, and I do not feel like I am living more wisely even now as I begin the sunset-portion of my life.  St. James gave us these words in Chapter 3:

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom."

I have heard many people, both younger and older than me, say that they have few things in their lives that they regret, that they wish they could undo, or could have the chance to do better, as the case may be.  This is not the case for me.  I DO have many things that I regret, and that I wish I could undo.  I have to say that even at this ripe age of something north of Fifty, I am not much wiser than when I graduated high school.  St. James had this to say about the un-wise person, also from Chapter 3:

¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."  (Bold print is my addition.)

Contrast the above two verses to what St. James shows us about the life lived in wisdom, again from Chapter 3:

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.  (Bold mine, again.)

So, there I was sitting in the service getting my toes pounded by the words of St. James, who was the Good Shepherd's brother, who lived with Lord on earth for many years, and who truly lived for Jesus right up to the Great Tribulation that befell Jerusalem in 69 A.D.  St. James did not want to discourage God's children, but to ENCOURAGE them to live wise and blessed life in the love of Christ.  I do love the Book of St. James even with the somewhat dire words contained there.  And, I live a blessed life, blessed because I am not alone, but I have friends and loved ones who care for me.  Most especially I have my lovely bride and also my very dear friend, both of whom have encouraged me so much even in the unwise life I have lived to this very day.  These two very dear people in my life always let me know that even with regrets and wrongs in my life, the Good Shepherd still loves me.  This kind of encouragement is also what St. James tells us we should do for our friends and loved ones, as we see in the closing verses of the Book of St. James, in Chapter 5:

¹⁹ Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul^[f] from death and cover a multitude of sins.  (Bold mine, once again!)

The Good Book is not really written so much to "stomp our toes" as it is to show us how to live, and to show us that even if we have some regrets, some wrongs in our lives, it is never too late to return to the right way.  When our dear friends, those who love us, give that encouragement, those persons have turned a sinner from error, and have covered over a multitude of sins.  Thank God for the words of St. James, which were really the words of Jesus, and thank God for those people in our lives who care enough for us to let us know that, while we have made errors, and while we may have regrets over some things we have done, they still love us, and the Good Shepherd Himself loves us as well, with a love that will truly never die.