Officer Down

The dreaded words that you hate to hear "Officer down". Just hours before Christmas Eve (2010) Lt. Cliff Rouse was shot twice while attempting to arrest an armed robbery suspect. While I did not have the pleasure to personally know Lt. Rouse, I know his family. His parents are from the same small town where I grew up. You know those small towns where every one knows everyone and if you want to know anything just listen to what everyone is saying? Yup, that's my town. The suspect was later found hiding under a trailer and arrested at a neighboring trailer park while Lt. Rouse passed. This is the first Line Of Duty Death in the history of Dougherty County Police Department. While I am forced to deal with this tragedy, as this is the same county where I work and we as firefighters rely on the help of both EMS and Law personel, I am also trying to figure out how to process this tragic event. I do believe in God and that every one will be held accountable for their actions. There are people that never even had any sort of relationship with this man and they are judging him and talking about public hangings. I do agree that he will get what he deserves but who am I to decide what he deserves? I am just a mere sinner as he is. And in God's eyes a sin is a sin. Whether it be murder or lying, to him it is all the same. I mourn and pray for the family that I have known all my life, for his dear friends that had the priveledge of knowing such a wonderful man, and for his co-workers that have worked by his side for the past eighteen years. But I also pray for the young man who pulled the trigger, that he finds forgiveness from the Lord for what he has done and finds it possible to turn his life around if it isn't already too late.

" Take your place on patrol in heaven sir, you have served your time in hell"