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Author Topic: Officer down  (Read 1794 times)

Offline Sandman

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« Reply #15 on: October 16, 2005, 12:25:11 AM »
Just got home today. The funeral was yesterday.

I'm still a bit overwhemed by it all.

We were escorted from my uncle's house to the church by twenty motorcycle officers about an hour before the service. There, we met with family and close friends.

Walking into the chapel is still a bit of a blur. I noticed some television cameras, but was awed by the row after row of police officers. I understand that the chapel seats 3,000 and it was completely full, except for the reserved area up front for us. My guess is that there were 1,500 to 2,000 officers there.

The service lasted two hours, but the real enormity of it all caught me at the end, as the officers from all over the state passed by in front of us and saluted the casket. They came in two rows from the left and right of the chapel. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the police walked past in single file for over twenty minutes. They just kept coming one after the other.

After, the pall bearers took the coffin. As the bagpipes played, we followed out. While in front of the chapel, four police helicopters overflew the church, performing the missing man formation.

The procession left the chapel and winded its way through the city towards the gravesite. It was an amazing thing. We passed hundreds and hundreds of people along the streets, waving flags and signs. I'm told that some waited out there for hours for the motorcade. Each time we passed a fire station and the police station, honors were rendered there as well.

It was such a spectacle. I doubt that I will see anything like it for the rest of my life. My apologies that I can't convey my awe. I know this. My cousin, Matt was a great man. I am so immensely proud of him and the man that he was and the impact that he made on his community. I know that they loved him and he will be sorely missed.

http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/crime/story/13717864p-14560236c.html
http://www.kcra.com/news/5099072/detail.html



 
« Last Edit: October 16, 2005, 12:40:37 AM by Sandman »
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Offline Nash

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« Reply #16 on: October 16, 2005, 12:28:56 AM »
Very sorry to hear that.

The greater the man, the more it hurts.

Mauser said it best: "we are all diminished."
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2006, 12:26:15 AM »
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Offline x0847Marine

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« Reply #18 on: May 30, 2006, 01:02:46 AM »
RIP brother 830.
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Offline B@tfinkV

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« Reply #19 on: May 30, 2006, 01:03:05 AM »
a painfull reminder of how fragile life is.

my deepest sympathies sir.
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Offline Toad

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« Reply #20 on: May 30, 2006, 01:06:44 AM »
Missed it first time around; my condolences to the family.

A forking DUI too...
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Offline Naso

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« Reply #21 on: May 30, 2006, 03:49:03 AM »
My condolences, Sand.

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Offline Nilsen

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« Reply #22 on: May 30, 2006, 03:51:09 AM »
My Condolences Sandman.
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Offline eagl

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« Reply #23 on: May 30, 2006, 05:19:39 AM »
An Uncle once removed (er... My Dad's cousin?) was ALMOST that guy...  He mixed some sort of medication (he was in his 60s taking various old-guy medications) with alcohol and ran into a cop writing reports on the side of the road.  Only sheer luck and "grace of God" saved the cop's life.  There are few men who have more respect for cops than my Uncle, yet he'd damn near killed one while DUI.

He "got what he deserved", and undoubtedly got a better deal than some thought he should get.  He got jail time, a hefty fine, and a felony conviction that as part of the bargain was downgraded to a misdemeanor after a bunch of years of clean living.  He'd do anything to "take it back", and he's thankful he still has a life after nearly taking the life of one of our public servants.  He was an avid hunter his entire life, and the felony conviction hurt worse than any fine or amount of jail time.  So...

Why do I bring this up?  Because I bet that "ex-Airman" hasn't spent one day since the crime wishing he hadn't been such a damned fool.

Sandman, you may think I'm a fool or worse, but although I'm a VERY firm believer that there are few things in this world worse than killing a cop, I've also seen a similiar situation from the perspective of someone who had a family member make the same mistake, commit the same crime, with nearly the same results, and I know that in many cases, since nothing can un-do the act, the perpetrator of such a heinous crime would probably do ANYTHING to earn forgiveness.

If some drunk had run over my Dad in his 30 years in the CHP, would I have been able to forgive him?  I don't know.  The wheels of justice turn slowly sometimes and from the articles it sounds like it's going to be a tough process due in part to the apparent double-standard being applied (a dui off-duty cop who killed a kid got a virtual slap on the wrist comparatively) and my only hope is that you can make it through the process without letting hate and revenge capture your life.  That's why I took the time to write this down, even though it's not my life to be forgiven.
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Offline SirLoin

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« Reply #24 on: May 30, 2006, 05:41:07 AM »
i'm sorry for your loss Sandman.My condolances for your entire family.

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Offline Hap

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« Reply #25 on: May 30, 2006, 08:06:08 AM »
prayers for all sandman.

hap
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Offline Maverick

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« Reply #26 on: May 30, 2006, 08:29:19 AM »
Sandy,

It's going to be a long and tough process. I'm glad to see that they took their time to get a thorough investigation done.

Maintain a perspective on this and keep in mind that everything about the trial and "justice" is out of your hands. It will likely be a nasty hurtfull time as the defense lawyer (liar) does whatever they think they can get away with to mitigate their clients guilt. Don't let it get to you and try to be there for the rest of your family.
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #27 on: May 30, 2006, 09:43:50 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by eagl

Sandman, you may think I'm a fool or worse, but although I'm a VERY firm believer that there are few things in this world worse than killing a cop, I've also seen a similiar situation from the perspective of someone who had a family member make the same mistake, commit the same crime, with nearly the same results, and I know that in many cases, since nothing can un-do the act, the perpetrator of such a heinous crime would probably do ANYTHING to earn forgiveness.


My uncle has said as much himself. He bares no hostility to Dungan or his family. In his opinion, two lives were lost that morning. I think he's right. That said, there must be a penalty.

Here's the irony of it all though. Matt worked very hard to get drunk drivers off the street. There are dozens of DUI cases on the books with Matt as the arresting officer. Because of his death, he won't be at court and these cases will be dismissed.
« Last Edit: May 30, 2006, 09:48:29 AM by Sandman »
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Offline eagl

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« Reply #28 on: May 30, 2006, 09:48:03 AM »
Yea.  There has to be accountability.
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #29 on: May 30, 2006, 09:49:06 AM »
Sorry... caught me mid-edit.
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