Just prior to the Crime Survivors Gratitude Gala Awards Banquet, we were being told that many would not sponsor, donate or attend our event because we are too supportive of law enforcement and treat them as celebrities, when the rest of the nation is not.
I don’t know that we treat them as celebrities, but we do appreciate the work they do on our behalf and we like to show our gratitude. Celebrities is not the right word; very few of these men and women crave the spotlight and would have preferred not to be there. Hero is a more accurate description of what these men and women sometimes do, the risks they take, and the way they conduct themselves.
CSI puts on 3 main events per year and the Gratitude Gala is the one where we honor law enforcement personnel, civilians, deputy D.A.s and district attorneys, military veterans, etc. We did this event at the end of July.
Here’s my question – why wouldn’t we want to honor and celebrate the heroic deeds of CHP Officers Daryl Hansen and Timothy Montoya? They pulled a mother and a toddler from a burning vehicle; it was totally engulfed and they were trapped inside and would have been burned alive. So we honored both men that evening.
What’s wrong with expressing our gratitude and providing a dinner for Officer Sean-Paul Crawford who first spotted, then approached, then saved a 16-year old girl from a life of forced prostitution? She turned 70 tricks in the previous week and when she asked for $1.00 to buy a candy bar from the motel vending machine because she was hungry, she was denied by her traffickers and told to get ready for the next client. The officer saved a life, put two bad women and a pimp away who were running a ring. So we awarded the officer with a plaque.
We did the same with Officer Jenny Lindsey. She is the Mental Health Liaison Officer for the Irvine P.D. and her job is to reach out to those in the community with mental illness and establish positive relationships before a patrol officer is called. Some locals have named her, an Angel of Irvine.
Who wouldn’t want to give CHP Officer Florentino Olivera a pat on the back? I don’t know how he was able to do it, but he donated a car load of toys with less than 24-hour notice, and saved one of our programs. He made a lot of kids, and their families smile last year . . . so we honored him and presented him with a plaque.
What am I missing here? Or, what are others missing here? This is some of the stuff that cops do and I think it would surprise a lot of people. This is law enforcement at their best – and it should make everyone proud that they serve our communities with this level of commitment and passion and that’s why we honor and recognize them.
As to the other assertion that the rest of the nation is not supportive of law enforcement, it may be true – at least in the big cities. This is evidenced by a recent spike in the murder rate in several large cities. New York, Chicago and Boston have seen a 57% higher murder rate than last year.
Are the police pulling back and simply not engaging criminals for fear of wrongful death law suits? Law enforcement does not work in a vacuum. They depend on and need the support of an engaged citizenry to be effective. Otherwise, we as a society will descend into chaos and then total anarchy.
Police departments are faced with their fair share of challenges, but then so are we as a society. If it’s true that it takes a village to rear a child, then what does it take to clean up our inner-cities? In this sense, we are all, ultimately responsible.
Don’t sit on the sidelines, come see for yourself. I invite you to join us next time that we collaborate and/or partner with law enforcement agencies on various programs and projects.
These are your nieces and nephews, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, your children and grandchildren. Come see them up close and I promise you, they will make you proud. They need your support more now than ever.
With Faith there is hope. P.W.
O Almighty God, Whose great power and eternal Wisdom embraces the universe, Watch over all policemen and Law enforcement officers everywhere. Protect them from harm In the performance of their duty To stop crime, robbery, Riots and violence. We pray, help them keep our streets And homes safe, day and night. We commend them to your loving care Because their duty is dangerous. Grant them strength and courage In their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave men and women. Grant them your almighty protection, Unite them safely with their families after Duty has ended. Please God, grant us this wish. Amen…