Murderer Apologizes, So What

Officer John Pawlowski's mother will never see him again.  His wife will never see him come home.  All because a disgusting waste-of-space chose to cowardly shoot and kill him.  Rasheed Scrugs has pleaded guilty to the February 2009 shooting of Pawlowski.  Scruggs, in a most cowardly manner, shot the Police Officer while holding his gun in his pocket.  Neither the Officer, nor anyone else, ever saw the gun in the cowardly killer's hand before the shots were fired.  This is a striking reminder of the danger every Officer faces. 

Well, since this is America, the land of second chances, the killer's mother apologized to the surviving members of Officer Pawlowski's family.  Of course, she did it in court, in an attempt to convince the jury to spare her murderer-son's life and sentence him to life in prison, instead of the death sentence.  (Story here at Philly.com)  Oh, and the killer's defense attorneys will also show the jury this note  pictured above.  The killer's lawyers plan to argue that it is evidence of his sorrow.  (story here) And of course he had a difficult childhood, so his life should be spared.  Oh, and also, he was high on PCP, so he definitely shouldn't be execute, according to defense lawyers.  Apparently, being high on drugs at least partially excused the killing of a police officer.  Sarcasm italicized for anyone who couldn't tell. 

I understand that the death penalty has its flaws.  I think I may have even blogged about it.  I understand all of the common reasons to not support the death penalty.  But to me, it has its place.  This case is as clear cut a case there ever was for Capital Punishment.  To think that the killer's life could be spared, and tax-payers, including The Police Officer's Family, would have to pay for the killer to eat, sleep, watch TV, lift weights, get a GED, is sickening.

College Student Dies, Alcohol involved

To some people, the two go hand in hand - College and Alcohol.  Ask just about any 18 to 21 year old enrolled in college.  He or she will tell you that alcohol is everywhere, that it is just as much a part of college as books and class.  Ask most parents, and they will admit that they are very much aware that their underage (under 21 year old) kids are drinking are college.  "At least he's not doing drugs," some parents say.

But then you have a case like the one in Bloomsburg this weekend.  A 19 year old college student was found dead after getting drunk and sleeping at a friend's place.  (link to story here at Delcotimes.com)  So what's the deal?  Should drinking and college go together like peas and carrots?  Should we continue to accept Underage Drinking as something that is just going to happen, and then deal with the casualties as they come?  Are we doing enough to keep kids from drinking themselves to death?

What Being A Police Officer Has Taught Me

I've been desperately searching the headlines for a topic for my next post, but I've been striking out.  I mean, who wants to hear my opinion on oil leaks in the Gulf of Mexico or what I think Arlen Specter's odds or re-election are.  So, with that in mind, I've decided to give my readers (both of them!) insight into the mind of this police officer.  I've been a police officer for slightly over a decade.  (sounds better than ten years, right?)  In that time, here are some of my opinions that have changed.

• I am no longer an opponent of The Death Penalty.  Through college and for my first several years in law enforcement I could cite any one of a number of reasons why I thought capital punishment should be abolished.  Now, I need look no further than the City of Philadelphia to find four or five good reasons to support the death penalty.  It's become a no brainer to me - murder a police officer -- death penalty.

• I don't think it society's job to "rehabilitate" criminals.  If someone chooses to commit a crime, why should taxpayers be burdened with 1) picking up the bill for their incarceration, 2) picking up the bill for a prisoner's GED or other training, and 3) suffer the victimization again when the prisoner gets released, because yes, most prisoners, regardless of what "training" they received in prison, go on to commit more crimes.

• Police officers are just people.  We are not perfect.  We are capable of making mistakes.  When Bob the builder makes an honest mistake, your new roof leaks.  You get it repaired, Bob the builder stands up for his work and fixes the repair, and you move on.  When the dry cleaner makes a mistake, he loses your shirt, he apologizes,  you get a 10 free dry cleanings, and you move on.  But when the police officer makes a mistake, he's a liar, a cheat, and corrupt.  

But, not all that I've learned is negative and pessimistic.  I've learned that most people are genuinely good.  While there are truly evil people in the world, they are the minority.  I've also learned what melatonin supplements are for.  I've learned how to function on 2 hours of sleep.  I've learned how to eat an entire meal in three minutes.  I've learned how to really appreciate good coffee.  I've learned the importance of seatbelts.  I could go on but I won't.

That's all I got for now...

Thank you PO John Pawlowski, Sgt Timothy Simpson, Sgt Patrick McDonald, PO Isabel Nazario, Sgt Steven Liczbinski, PO Chuck Cassidy, PO Walter Barclay Jr, PO Gary Skerski, and all the other men and women who have given their lives in the line of duty.