Archive for Officer Needs Assistance
Help Needed: Decatur, AL Police Sergeant Missing After Apparent Struggle
Posted by: | CommentsNevermind.
From the Huntsville Times:
Missing Decatur police Sgt. Faron White was found and arrested late last night in a Las Vegas motel.
U.S. Marshals arrested White in the lobby of a Hampton Inn around 11:15 p.m. and transported him to the Clark County Detention Center where he was charged as a fugitive from justice.
Decatur police say White stole more than $2,500 from the department and then staged a struggle at his office before fleeing to Nevada.
Sarah Elizabeth Richardson of Decatur was also arrested and charged with first degree hindering prosecution or apprehension for allegedly helping Sgt. White stage his disappearance.
White is being held on a $20,000 bond in Nevada, while Richardson is being held at the Decatur city jail under a $2,500 bond.
White, 48, who supervises the department’s Organized Crime Unit, was last seen working alone Friday night in his office at the department’s Training Center. His family reported him missing early Saturday after he failed to come home.
Bizarre.
In 2006, two Border Patrol agents, Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, were convicted of federal crimes related to the shooting a drug smuggler. Unfortunately, this was a case of prosecutorial misconduct, and two good men were sentenced to 11 and 12 years respectively.
A large part of the government’s case against these agents stemmed from the testimony of the ‘victim’, a long-time drug smuggler known to be armed, and that the agents ‘did not report’ the incident to their supervisors. Of course, the fact that a supervisor was on scene, is never mentioned in any of the news reports. So, I guess if I don’t tell my sergeant “Hey, I just shot a drug smuggler in the ass after he attacked my partner” when my sergeant is on the call with me, well the US Government considers me a criminal.
Oh, and the ‘victim’, while waiting for the trial to begin, was caught bringing more dope into the USA from Mexico, but was given another pass by the Attorney General since he was the star witness against these Border Patrol agents.
I’m not one to cover for police misconduct and I am not “that guy” who sees a conspiracy in things. However, if you read up on this case at all, you will quickly notice that things do not add up, and Compean and Ramos are not the thugs the government has made them out to be.
Along those lines, Compean and Ramos are actually very devoted family men with wives and children who are doing their best while they are in prison. However, their best actually includes no health insurance for the kids, bankruptcy, and foreclosure. The families are hurting.
To that end, Pat Gray, a Houston talk radio host, and Glenn Beck, a national talk radio host, have teamed up with others to help these families out. In addition to their personal donations, they are requesting money for the Compean and Ramos families to help with health care for the kids, rent, and putting food on the table.
If you can donate a few dollars, please send two checks made out to Monica Ramos and Patty Compean. Due to the threats against the families, a Houston businessman who has worked with the families in the past is collecting the checks and delivering them to the families. This is all above board and 100% of the money is going to the families.
I know some of you don’t feel comfortable with supporting two cops that have been convicted of crimes. However, they were railroaded and their families are suffering. If you can help, please do.
Make checks payable to Monica Ramos and Patty Compean. Please mail them to:
Edd Henndee
Taste of Texas
10505 Katy Freeway
Houston, Texas 77024
Stay safe!
Police Suicide: Get Help If You Need It
Posted by: | CommentsI recently had to deliver a death notification to the mother of a police officer. Her son, an officer with an out-of-state department, had committed suicide.
The mother was devastated. The officer’s wife and daughter were distraught beyond description.
If the job has become too much, if you are having marital problems, if you drink too much, or you have so much debt you think you will never get your head above water, you are not alone. Ask for help. Your partner, sergeant, the chaplain, and your human resources people can all help you find someone to talk to, someone who can help you.
There is no shame in asking for help. Police work is a crappy job. We deal with the debris that the ugliest aspects of humanity produces. We wade into crime, filth, and evil on a daily basis and try to do the right thing. It is a hard job and it takes its toll on us. Some sort of psychological debriefing should be required for all officers to attend on a regular basis, but for now, you have to ask for the help. It may seem like a hard thing to do, but it is the most important thing you could possibly do in your life.
Stay safe!
Officer Don Mantell is a veteran police officer with the Lyndhurst, OH Police Department. He is a loving husband and the father of four young children: a four-year-old daughter and 14-month-old triplets. Officer Mantell also has an aggressive form of cancer.
Please send prayers for his recovery. Additionally, if you can, please contribute to the Benefit Fund set up by the Lyndhurst Police Department. I know money is tight around all of our homes, and we have to make sure our children are fed too, but everyone should be able to take the time to say a prayer.
Stay safe!
