If a police officer hurts a suspect it can be national headline news. The daily heroic performance of the other 800,000 cops might be a blip on the local news station at best. In case you’ve missed it, here are some things that law enforcement officers are doing every day.
March 14th in Covington, VA a 1-year veteran officer responded to a domestic disturbance at a gas station where a suspect had just shot his father-in-law. The officer, Caleb Ogilvie, a Marine Corp veteran and father of 4, was shot and killed in an exchange of gunfire in which the suspect was also killed.
On Sunday, March 13th, a Texas Deputy Sheriff with the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office was engaged in a routine investigation. Deputy Sawyer Wilson had occasion to contact Michael Stark who, apparently unknown to the deputy was a parole violator with a long and violent criminal history. Deputy Wilson survived a shot to the chest due to his body armor but was shot in the side and arm with serious injuries. While in the hospital, Wilson is reported to ask to help in the investigation and search for Stark who was arrested 13 hours later.
Albuquerque, New Mexico police responded to a neighborhood to a report of a gunshot victim on Monday, March 14th. On arrival, APD officers heard additional gunshots and while searching for the source encountered a gunman who fired on the officers, injuring two. The gunman was shot dead.
On March 8th in Portland, Oregon officers Justin Raphael and Tyler Wyatt arrived on the scene of a shooting with a victim lying near death on the ground. Not knowing if a shooter was still in the area, officers chose to enter the vulnerable area to give aid to the victim. Using major wound kits they carry; the officers were able to staunch the bleeding and get the victim to advance care where he survived.
Sgt. William Drew and Officer Nathan Rodgers of Montgomery County Maryland were heading home after midnight on March 5th when they saw a burning, crashed car. Drew broke out a window and was able to pull the unconscious driver from the flaming wreckage while Rodgers used an extinguisher to fight the blaze.
Two Pierce County, Washington officers were wounded Tuesday, March 15th in a SWAT operation to arrest Jeremy Dayton who was wanted for an assault with a firearm charge. Deputy Dominique Calata was in grave condition Tuesday night. The other wounded deputy, Sergeant Rich Scaniffe, was out of surgery Tuesday evening and in stable condition.
In a less dramatic display of protecting and serving, an unidentified Michigan State Trooper saved a confused swan wandering around a Detroit area highway on March 14th.
Columbus Ohio police officers were investigating reports that a car was firing randomly at motorists along Interstate 71 on Friday, March 11th. Responding officers came under fire and a brief gunfight between the suspect and police resulted in gunshot injuries to the suspect and several rounds shot into a police cruiser.
An armed man in Joplin, Missouri was shot by a Joplin police officer on March 8th after the suspect shot two Joplin PD officers. Cpl. Benjamin Cooper was slain at the scene of a confrontation with an armed man in a shopping area. Also shot was Officer Jake Reed who was transported to a hospital but did not survive.
A routine early morning traffic stop on Sunday, March 13th by Phoenix police turned violent after a pedestrian nearby opened fire on the officers. The suspected gunman was arrested after a manhunt. One officer was treated for a bullet wound and the other for injuries from flying glass.
In Salt Lake City’s airport, John D. Baydo, 32 came up behind two SLPD officers who were walking foot patrol inside the airport and punched one of the officers in the side of the head in an unprovoked attack.
On March 6th a major highway was closed to traffic because of a marathon race in progress. Kristen Kay Watts, 52 drove through barricades and past police officers headed toward hundreds of racers. Florida troopers blocked the roadway as Watts continued at a high speed toward them, crashing head-on into a patrol car operated by Trooper Toni Schuck who is recovering from injuries sustained in the crash. Schuck is being praised for putting herself between the drunk driver and the racers, potentially saving dozens of lives and injuries.
That covers less than 10 days on the calendar and only a tiny fraction of the heroism, service, and sacrifice that happens every moment in the law enforcement profession. How was your week?