My heart aches for the law enforcement officers recently killed in cold blood, officers that were sworn to uphold the law and protect the citizens of their jurisdiction. The last killing, Deputy Sheriff Darren Goforth who was shot and killed from ambush while pumping gas into his patrol car at a commercial gas station in Cypress, Texas.
Further explained in www.odmp.org (Officer Down Memorial Page), “Deputy Goforth was on patrol and had completed an assignment at the scene of a vehicle collision. He went to a local gas station to fuel his patrol car. As Deputy Goforth stood next to his patrol car filling it with fuel, a male subject walked up behind him and fired multiple shots. After Deputy Goforth fell to the ground, the subject shot him several more times before fleeing the scene in a pickup truck.”
Recent community outbursts and upheavals over the shooting deaths of young, black people have put a target on the back of every police officer in this nation. Suddenly the fact that some of these dead people were criminals means nothing. They were black, therefore they became the masthead of a movement of others crying out about lack of justice in their neighborhoods.
Where is the justice in killing an officer that just responded to a traffic accident? Does that blood-letting heal the years of inner-city decay and depravation that is leading to many of the outbursts that we are seeing today?
Rather, killing innocent officers is causing further separation between people groups – people who need to look at accountability for actions and responsibility for those actions. If a kid stole cigars, pushed the shop owner out of the way, tried to grab a responding police officer’s pistol and shoot him then ended up dead after those events, isn’t that kid accountable and responsible for his actions?
Why blame the police officer?
Our society is getting very good at casting off self-blame and placing it in places it doesn’t belong. We enable children behaving badly and wonder why they are hoods when they grow up.
The Bible clearly states that sparing the rod will spoil the child. Our nation is filling up with spoiled, rotten people who are enabled by a system that works to keep them in the system.
We are eight months into 2015 and we are at 82 line of duty deaths. The Officer Down Memorial Page lists the causes and numbers of those deaths: 9/11 related illness: 3, Accidental: 2, Aircraft accident: 1, Assault: 3, Automobile accident: 19, Fall: 1, Gunfire: 23, Gunfire (Accidental): 2, Heart attack: 13, Motorcycle accident: 3, Struck by vehicle: 5, Vehicle pursuit: 4, Vehicular assault: 3.
2014 line of duty deaths was reported as 133, 2013 line of duty deaths 119, and 2012 line of duty deaths 133. The average age of the officers killed was 40 with average tours of duty length of 12 years, 10 months. In 2015, Kansas was listed as having one on-duty officer killed; Texas holds the top number of 10 deaths followed by Louisiana at nine.
Since law enforcement still remains mostly a male occupation, 79 officers killed in 2015 so far were male and three female. (K9 Line of Duty Deaths: 22.)
Granted, we have seen some brutality by law enforcement, but that is not the norm. The majority of officers out there are good people who feel a sense of duty to their communities. The bad apples have brought light to the need for change in some communities, but the majority of American cities have good law enforcement that upholds the law for everyone.
We need to protect our officers. They put their lives on the line every time they go on duty.
Their families are not immune from danger, either. Many law enforcement officials’ families have been forced to arm themselves against retribution from those trying to “pay back” law enforcement for doing their jobs.
We as citizens of this nation need to step up and help protect our police. This senseless killing of officers because they carry a badge is crazy. This has got to stop and we need to step up to watch the backs of our officers. We are also accountable and responsible for our actions, and those actions include protecting the ones who protect and serve.

OBITUARIES

Joe W. Mann ~ 09-02-1951 to 07-26-2025

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Linn County News Published July 30, 2025   Joe W. Mann, age 73 of La Cygne, Kan., passed away at his home on Saturday, July 26, 2025. There are no services scheduled at this time. Contributions are suggested to the Schneider Funeral Home and may be sent... [More]

Jean Driskell ~ 03-22-1943 to 07-18-2025

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Linn County News Published July 23, 2025   Jean Driskell, age 82, formerly of La Cygne, Kan., passed away Friday, July 18, 2025.   Memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, July 24, 2025, at the Schneider Funeral Home, La Cygne Chapel. Visitation... [More]

Burton Clyde Brownback ~ 05-21-1953 to 07-13-2025

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Linn County News Published July 16, 2025 Burton Clyde Brownback, age 72, Tri-Ko resident in Osawatomie, Kan., passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025. He was born on May 21, 1953, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Clyde and Shirley Drake Brownback. He graduated from Prairie View... [More]

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PLEASANTON WEATHER

NEWS

Boil Water Advisory Issued for the City of La Cygne, Linn County

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TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for the City of LaCygne public water supply system located in Linn County. Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice: Boil water for one minute... [More]

Pleasanton PD makes drug arrest during domestic call

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  On July 24 officers with the Pleasanton Police Department responded to a call for an ongoing domestic issue at 605 E. 5th Street in Cabin 3 with the assistance of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. During the ensuing investigation, it was found that the... [More]

Commissioners review departmental budgets

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SEKMHC budget cut   During the July 28 meeting, the Linn County Commissioners reviewed several departmental budgets. Discussions began with Linn County Sheriff James Akes. Sheriff Akes explained to commissioners that initially he had budgeted extra hours to cover... [More]

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SPORTS

Pleasanton trapshooting team shows grit at National Championship

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Eight members of the Pleasanton Trapshooting Team traveled to Mason, Mich., last week to compete in the USA Clay Target League National Championship. Five members participated in the team event, and all eight competed individually. The team was among 264 qualified teams competing... [More]

Blue Mound softball earns second place at Crest

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The Blue Mound girls’ coach pitch team 1 places second at the TRL girls’ coach pitch tournament at Colony. The tournament took place from July 7 to July 9.

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Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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