Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Sandman on October 09, 2005, 02:14:22 PM
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I didn't know Matt well. He was a first cousin, but we were separated by fifteen years in age and 400+ miles. My son met him once or twice and Matt really made a lasting impression on him. In fact, because of Matt and my brother (also a cop), my son has been thinking about becoming a police officer.
http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_282113020.html
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My sincere sympathies to your extended family. I have a deep appreciation for law enforcement and feel loss whenever an oifficer dies in the line of duty.
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I am sorry to hear of your families loss :( It is Thanksgiving in Canada right now, I will take a few moments and though I did not know your cousin I will silently thank him for his service. (S)
" JUST A COP "
by Sgt Marc A. Turner
Did you know a Police Officer died last night?
Just another Cop who gave his life
Another story to fill the news
Another funeral with a sea of blue
We know that he did not want to leave
Now his brothers, sisters & family grieve
They'll lay to rest their brother with tears
A pain that will last for the rest of their years
And others will come to honor this Cop
Who in spite of the risks, would never stop?
To Serve & Protect were just not words written as art
It was part of his soul, his body, his heart
The real pain thats felt by those left behind
Comes from the fact many people dont mind
That this hero was killed fighting for us
He's just a cop, it's his job, why all the fuss�
He was there when you needed, there when you called
Never asked you for praise or to thank him at all
So he's just a cop, risking his life
Catches a bullet or gets stuck with a knife
To those who say that it's just a cop�s life
Did you ever stop to think, did he have a wife?
Or maybe a boy and a little girl too
Waiting for Dad who promised a trip to the Zoo
They watched out the door, with smiles and cheer
Waiting for daddy who soon should be there
But instead of his smile, come three somber cops
As they walk towards the house time suddenly stops
He won't be coming home to them anymore
Still they stand and stare out the front door
Saying My Dad was a cop but why did he have to die?
He was kind, he was funny, just a really nice guy
No it wasn't just a cop who was killed last night
A part of us all died when they shut down his light
When it happens again, we all know that it will
Take a second to think, for a moment be still
If not for that cop, where would we be
Afraid of our shadow, not one of us free
Was the guy who just died special or not?
Yeah he sure was, Just a Husband, a Father, a Hero, a COP
© Marc A. Turner, Sergeant
Roxbury Twp PD NJ
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My heartfelt condolences, Sandy.
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My condolences to the family. I have nothing but sincere admiration and respect for all law enforcement and first responders. S!!
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sad to hear...
My Condolences
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Sorry to hear this Sandy. The loss of a man (or woman) willing to place themselves in harms way for others diminishes us all.
Ofc. Redding, a Brother lost to us too early.
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Condolences from all in my family. The men and women who put on the uniforms and go out there every day to do their jobs may be able to do them without thinking about the possibility of not coming home. The families they leave behind every day live with that fear always in the back of their minds. No one ever wants it to be "that day". For your cousins family, it was "that day", and I am truly sorry.
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Sorry for you and your family's loss Sandy, we are all diminished.
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Sandy,
That suck, I am sorry for your loss and your families.
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I don't know what to say except I'm sorry. Prayers on the way for Ofc. Redding, his family, and yours.
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Best wishes to you and yours, Sandman.
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My condolances.
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Thanks guys.
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I've always wanted to be a police officer. Still working on becoming one, too. Stories like this get me all misty-eyed. *sigh*
My condolences, Sandy. I wish I could say more.
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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
(http://www.sacbee.com/ips_rich_content/889-1015farewell04.jpg)
(http://www.sacbee.com/ips_rich_content/104-1015farewell06.jpg)
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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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The court moves slowly. A few days ago, Eric Dungan was charged with 2nd degree murder.
http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2006/05/25/news/top_stories/04redding_25.txt
http://www.news10.net/storyfull2.aspx?storyid=17742
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RIP brother 830.
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a painfull reminder of how fragile life is.
my deepest sympathies sir.
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Missed it first time around; my condolences to the family.
A forking DUI too...
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My condolences, Sand.
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My Condolences Sandman.
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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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i'm sorry for your loss Sandman.My condolances for your entire family.
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prayers for all sandman.
hap
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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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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.
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Yea. There has to be accountability.
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Sorry... caught me mid-edit.
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Guess I missed this one a while back.
Sorry to hear about your cousin Sandy.
While I was in South Bend at the end of April there was a funeral for a fallen officer. Not only was the turnout huge, it was covered live on every TV station in the area. I was moved more than a little at the scope of the participation by the community. I need to get out of California.
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Sandman,
My sincerest sympathies to you and Matt's family and friends. My dad is a retired (thank God) cop. I know that cops, like firemen and those who serve in the military, are a special breed.
Matt. God Bless.
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Sad news indeed. Sorry to learn about this loss Sandman.
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sandman..hope the family heals
I dont get how the hell someone who blows the BAC..can get away after a officer is killed?..How f up is that crap?
IS that the same in everystate..or just the linguine spinned cop hating liberal state?
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Sorry about your cousin Sandman.
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Dungan will face a jury trial (http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2006/07/28/news/top_stories/03dungan28.txt).
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My condolences Sandman.
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Hang in there, just try to watch the trial unfold with a detatched frame of mind and without any expectations.
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Sorry Sandy. Hopes and prayers to ya.
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Sorry to hear Sandman, my late condolences to you and your family.
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Originally posted by Maverick
Hang in there, just try to watch the trial unfold with a detatched frame of mind and without any expectations.
I dunno... I'm expecting a guilty verdict.
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Originally posted by Sandman
I dunno... I'm expecting a guilty verdict.
I somehow missed this Sandy. I know alot of Police Officers and am so sorry to hear of this. I offer the sincerest condolences from my family to yours. <> brother.
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:(
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Everyone, I appreciate the sentiment.
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Trial begins... finally.
http://www.news10.net/display_story.aspx?storyid=24739
http://www.thepresstribune.com/articles/2007/02/21/news/top_stories/01dungan_trial.txt
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I hope the trial goes well for your family. This is the first I have heard of it, you have my deepest condolences.
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Sandy I missed this also.
I'm so sorry. My deepest condolences Bud to you and everyone he touched.
Mac
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Best wishes
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GUILTY (http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2007/03/13/news/breaking_news/01dungan_guilty.txt)
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My deepest sympathies Sandy.
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Sandman
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I hope there is some sort of closure for you and your family Sandy. I realize it will not bring Matt back, but it is good to see the "system" work for a change.
<> Sandy
<> and RIP - Matt Redding
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Originally posted by Masherbrum
I hope there is some sort of closure for you and your family Sandy. I realize it will not bring Matt back, but it is good to see the "system" work for a change.
<> Sandy
<> and RIP - Matt Redding
Well said.