Ken Schram: A better sense of what real cops are like
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- Several dozen people took to the streets over the weekend with their complaints and concerns about Seattle Police.
In a scene reminiscent of the villagers storming Frankenstein’s castle, some of the protestors carried flaming torches and then took to hurling insults and expletives at police who prevented the demonstrators from reaching the east precinct by setting up a barricades.
And I kept thinking about the email.
It was an email from a police officer who last week attended the funeral for Officer Rick Nelson.
Rick Nelson reportedly killed himself after an SPD investigation alleged he was stealing drug evidence.
In part, the email described how the officer saw another colleague who was there with his son, a boy about 8 years old.
The father was stoically teary eyed.
The son, sensitive to his dad's pain, asked for a kiss.
The officer smiled, leaned over and gave his son a peck on the cheek then stood with his arm around his son.
The officer witnessing it all wrote the following:
"I pledge to work on...problems in the SPD. I’ll do it for that little kid and his dad. I’ll do it for my wife and sons. I’ll do it for my fellow cops. I will do it for the people who I signed up to serve and protect. And I’ll do it with a renewed faith in justice born out of the tragedy that stole my friend Rick from us."
Too bad those demonstrators don't have a better sense of what real cops are like.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
In a scene reminiscent of the villagers storming Frankenstein’s castle, some of the protestors carried flaming torches and then took to hurling insults and expletives at police who prevented the demonstrators from reaching the east precinct by setting up a barricades.
And I kept thinking about the email.
It was an email from a police officer who last week attended the funeral for Officer Rick Nelson.
Rick Nelson reportedly killed himself after an SPD investigation alleged he was stealing drug evidence.
In part, the email described how the officer saw another colleague who was there with his son, a boy about 8 years old.
The father was stoically teary eyed.
The son, sensitive to his dad's pain, asked for a kiss.
The officer smiled, leaned over and gave his son a peck on the cheek then stood with his arm around his son.
The officer witnessing it all wrote the following:
"I pledge to work on...problems in the SPD. I’ll do it for that little kid and his dad. I’ll do it for my wife and sons. I’ll do it for my fellow cops. I will do it for the people who I signed up to serve and protect. And I’ll do it with a renewed faith in justice born out of the tragedy that stole my friend Rick from us."
Too bad those demonstrators don't have a better sense of what real cops are like.
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
