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

John Clayton Bowman ~ 02-01-1944 to 08-17-2025

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Linn County News Published August 20, 2025   John Clayton Bowman, age 81, Parker, Kan., passed away Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. He was born on Feb. 1, 1944, in Goodrich, Kan., the son of John Thomas “Tom” Bowman and Carrie Theodoshia Shafer Bowman. John attended... [More]

Arnold Joseph Lickteig ~ 05-16-1931 to 07-31-2025

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Linn County News Published August 6, 2025   Arnold Joseph Lickteig, age 94, formerly of Greeley, Kan., passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at Colonial Oaks Senior Living at Spring Hill in Spring Hill, Kan. Arnie was born on May 16, 1931, on a farm east of Greeley,... [More]

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]

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NEWS

Linn County News website gets new update

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Recently you may have seen our notification on our website or our Facebook page that we were undergoing some changes on our website at www.linncountynews.net. We here at the News are happy to announce those changes are nearly complete. Changes to the website include an easier... [More]

Commissioners vote 1-1 on motion to not exceed revenue neutral

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County now required to cut budget to meet the RNR rate BY $837,000   The Linn County commissioners, with Commissioner Jason Hightower absent, began the revenue neutral hearing on Monday, Aug. 25, by welcoming those in the audience and stating the purpose and objective... [More]

Linn Valley looks at option for fire truck purchase, new vehicles

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The Linn Valley City Council held a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21, with Mayor Lew Donelson presiding and all council members present except for John Weers. City Attorney James Brun was also present. The meeting began with a presentation by city’s financial... [More]

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SPORTS

Frog gigging a new ‘old sport’

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It’s another one of those…So…stories. So, last weekend was an adventure. I’ve gotten involved with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Wild Foods Academy (WFA) that is a pilot program designed to educate many ‘left-0ut’ people’s... [More]

Fishing Derby kicks off at Linn County Fair

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The annual Linn County Fair and Rodeo Fishing Derby was held on the morning of Aug. 9.  Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks fish biologist Don George has been heading the derby since 1987 and this year was no different.  The derby was divided into three age... [More]

Linn County Farm Bureau hosts annual pedal pull

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The Linn County Farm Bureau Association hosted the annual kids’ pedal pull on the evening of Aug. 8. Kids 4 to 12 can compete in the event for a chance to earn a spot at the State pedal pull at Hutchinson.  Trophies and a place at the State fair was awarded to the... [More]

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OBITUARIES POLICY

• May be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered.
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• Cost: $40 for 300 words or less. Each additional word over 300, 10¢. Photograph $5.
Call Barbara at 913-352-6235 or e-mail linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

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