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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

Debra Dale Wolf ~ 04-03-1954 to 03-22-2023

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Linn County News Published March 29, 2023   Debra Dale Wolf, age 68, Linn Valley, Kan., passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023.   Graveside funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Trading Post Cemetery. Memorial contributions... [More]

Jessica Erin Cox ~ 11-15-1979 to 03-20-2023

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Linn County News Published March 29, 2023   Jessica Erin Cox, beloved daughter, and granddaughter, passed away at her home in Lawrence, Kan., March 20, 2023. Jessica was born Nov. 15, 1979, at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She was a graduate of Shawnee... [More]

Larry Ray Oliver ~ 07-12-1953 to 03-22-2023

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Linn County News Published March 29, 2023   Larry Ray Oliver, age 69, Pleasanton, Kan., passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.  Funeral service will be at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Schneider Funeral Home and Crematory, Pleasanton Chapel. Visitation... [More]

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NEWS

Special: Governor issues declaration of disaster emergency due to threat of wildland fires

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  Governor Laura Kelly issued a verbal declaration of disaster emergency this morning, March 31, due to the potential for wildland fires and severe storms in the state. The declaration will allow the state to preposition assets for a quicker response to any fires... [More]

Commissioners discuss Pleasanton meal site options

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During the latter part of the meeting on Monday, March 27, Linn County Commissioners discussed the walk-through on Wednesday, March 22 at the former Memaw’s Kitchen located at 6th and Main Streets in Pleasanton. Economic Development Director Jessica Hightower read notes... [More]

Linn Valley moves forward with water, sewer project

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“Positive ramifications” for the city   Following a 15-minute legal session called by Linn Valley Mayor Cindy Smith at their Monday meeting, the mayor announced a preliminary agreement with Rural Water District #1 for water rights in Linn Valley. Smith... [More]

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SPORTS

Prairie View competes at State Powerlifting meet

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The Prairie View Buffalos competed in the State Powerlifting meet on March 25. The meet had 285 total lifters and the Buffalos took 16 boys and nine girls to the event. Prairie View had two lifters place second in their respective weight divisions at the meet. Rhett Jackman,... [More]

Jayhawk softball and baseball open season against Southeast Cherokee

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The Jayhawk baseball and softball teams opened their 2023 season at home against Southeast Cherokee on March 27. Both softball and baseball teams played a double header and the boys split while the girls swept the Lancers. Baseball won their first game 3-0 but lost the second... [More]

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

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