Roll Call - August

Detective Tina Rambo
Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, New Jersey
EOW: Monday, August 1, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Deputy Sheriff David Jennings Dawson, III
Greene County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
EOW: Monday, August 1, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Trooper Frederick "Fred" F. Guthrie, Jr.
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri
EOW: Monday, August 1, 2011
Cause of Death: Drowned (Presumed drowned, body yet to be recovered)

K9 Reed
Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri
EOW: Monday, August 1, 2011
Cause of Death: Drowned

K9 Dakota
Connecticut State Police Department, Connecticut
EOW: Monday, August 1, 2011
Cause of Death: unknown medical reasons

Police Officer J. Ryan McCandless
Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota
EOW: Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Bohden
Fresno County Sheriff's Office, California
EOW: Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Cause of Death: Heat exhaustion

Probation/Parole Officer II Jeffrey "Jeff" Settle
North Carolina Department of Correction - Division of Community Corrections, North Carolina
EOW: Thursday, August 4, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

MWD K9 Bart
U.S. Government, U.S. Navy
EOW: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Cause of Death: Helicopter crash, Causalty of War

K9 Hatos
St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana
EOW: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Cause of Death: Heat stroke

K9 Hercules
Lawrenceville Police Department, Georgia
EOW: Saturday, August 6, 2011
Cause of Death: Illness
*achieved the rank of Sergeant

Police Officer Jeremy Henwood
San Diego Police Department, CA
EOW: Sunday, August 7, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Police Officer Nick Armstrong
Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota
EOW: Sunday, August 7, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Corporal John Kendall
Louisiana Department of Public Safety Police, Louisiana
EOW: Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Offficer Robert A. Lasso
Freemansburg Borough Police Department, Pennsylvania
EOW: Thursday, August 11, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Barry
Modesto Police Department, California
EOW: Monday, August 15, 2011
Cause of Death: Seizure

Police Officer Evan Burns
Caruthersville Police Department, Missouri
EOW: Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault

Police Officer Bart Child
United States Department of Defense - Fort Huachuca Police Department, US Government
EOW: Thursday, August 18, 2011
Cause of Death: Heart attack

Constable Ross R. Potter
Carter County Sixth District Constable's Office, Tennessee
EOW: Friday, August 19, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

K9 Apollo
Hartford Police Department, Connecticut
EOW: Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Cause of Death: unknown

K9 Cade
Burton Police Department, MI
EOW: Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Police Officer Justin Sollohub
Anniston Police Department, Alabama
EOW: Thursday, August 25, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

Sergeant Mark Scianna
Bexar County Constable's Office, Precinct 3, Texas
EOW: Saturday, August 27, 2011
Cause of Death: Automobile accident

Agent Emiliano Torres-Soto
Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
EOW: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire

K9 Possum
Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana
EOW: Sunday, August 28, 2011
Cause of Death: Seizure (possibly linked to brain tumor or other neurological or vascular abnormality)

Mickey C "Mik"
Mounted Patrol Chicago Police Department, Chicago
EOW: Sunday, August 29, 2011
Cause of Death: Seizure

Probation Officer Tiffany Bishop
Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia
EOW: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)

K9 Buddy
Springfield Police Department, Missouri
EOW: August 2011
Cause of Death:

(16/11/1)

A dog has one aim in life. To bestow his heart. - J.R. Ackerley (part 2)

(photo by Lisa Pembleton / Getty Images)

Article by: Scogg Stump, TODAY.com contributor; updated 8/25/11 9:54:58 AM ET

Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson lay in a coffin, draped in an American flag, in front of a tearful audience mourning his death in Afghanistan. Soon an old friend appeared, and like a fellow soldier on a battlefield, his loyal dog refused to leave him behind.

This picture reminds me of the ending scene to Where The Red Fern Grows, in the movie...coinicidentily its the only part of the movie I did see.

"The U.S. led coalition said in a statement that 30 American service members, a civilian interpreter and seven Afghan commandos were killed when their CH-47 Chinook crashed in the early hours Saturday. A current U.S. official and a former U.S. official said the Americans included 22 Navy SEALS, three Air Force air controllers and a dog handler and his dog."

Feel like a million Bucs

I hoping that's what he's going to feel like in a few weeks. My diabolical plan is quickly coming together. About two days ago, I purchased 2 tickets to the Bucs Monday night football game in early October. Yay! They aren't the seats I was hoping for because honestly I waited too long to buy them but I'm sure he'll enjoy them regardless.

This is part of his anniversary gift for being with the department for two years come November. No doubt he deserves it for all the hard work he does. It'll be nice too to actually see them play. Last year during football season, he was working Sundays and Mondays, not that it mattered when it came to watching his team play. Even though there are a number of Tampa fans here on the East Coast of Florida, their games were blacked out on TV so he couldn't watch them even if he was off. They should've showed their games more since they made it to the playoffs last season. He has the good shift now where he has off Sundays and Mondays, so he can watch football (once he gets that cable fixed).

Now I just have to wait for the tickets to arrive in the mail so I can surprise him. I even bought myself a Bucs shirt, thanks to Old Navy of all places. Not even the sports memorabilia shops in our town have Bucs gear. I can't wait to surprise him!

Pray for you

This about sums up how I've been feeling for the past week now, and thanks to the radio on my drive to work today I have a song to describe my emotions. Thank you Jaron and The Long Road To Love.

So the one time I'm not at the house when my brother visits on his work release furlough something of mine turns up missing. A pair of $80 Skullcandy headphones given to me by Sam as a Christmas gift last year. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt but honestly his name was the first I thought of when searching for them last Thursday night, nevertheless I didn't say it allowed. I still hadn't gotten a good search of the house or at Sam's house. And here we are. After going through the house multiple times including this afternoon and confirming that it isn't at Sam's, my brother is the only conclusion I can draw. I sent him a message over Facebook, not accusing him but simply asking if he had seen the headphones on his Wednesday visit. He said he didn't but said he would have thought of him first too given his past history. Not entirely convinced, I sent another message saying the headphones were important as they had been a gift from Sam. No reply on that one yet.

My mom texted me last night asking if I thought he had taken them. Yes, I think he did. I can't prove but I think he did. She wants to give me money to go and buy another pair. Not exactly the solution I want.

I told Sam about it and the other day he sounded ready to arrest my brother. My brother doesn't know that Sam is an officer and I'm pretty close to playing that card. Ugh. Today though Sam did suggest that I could make a report with our sheriff's office and list him as a suspect. It's something I'm considering at this point.

I didn't talk to him today when he was over since it is his birthday but I would like to confront him face to face or on the phone and ask him about the headphones again. And it isn't necessarily about the headphones, though I do want them back because they were a gift but it's more about him. He says constantly that he's doing better and he's changed, something I personally don't believe. He's trying to pull the wool over every one's eyes, which he's never been good at , especially with me. I just wish he'd grow up and stop doing this stupid shit that got him in trouble in the first place. He has a good thing going and I don't want him to mess up over headphones.

First Responders left off the guest list

I'm just so appalled. I just don't know how to express myself. I was just made aware through a friend's post on Facebook and this article: First responders excluded from 9-11 ceremony. To think they weren't invited to any of the ceremonies is a blatant lack of respect. We go on and on about patriotism and how we'll never forget those who gave their lives for others and this is how the city shows their appreciation is an outrage. I'd like to know who'd be invited over these survivors other than the families who lost their loved ones. And if space is the concern, find a bigger venue. All and all I just think they should've been included.

I hope some kind of justice and appreciation can be shown to these outstanding individuals.

Hero of the Week

So I only just saw this article: I won't photograph ugly people and the little blurb where people were praising her as a hero. I had to read it thinking how is this woman a hero for only wanting to photograph attractive people? There should be a more negative connotation to this matter. Well I have to admit they certainly catch your attention and force you to open up the article to read it. The photographer, Jennifer McKendrick wasn't about not photographing physically unattractive people. She is refusing to take photographs of students she has evidence of being bullies. I think this is her blog where she wrote about it.

I know its technically not police related but this is a growing concern we need to be more aware about because this is something that needs to be stopped before it becomes a police issue.

Well I hope everyone is having a happy Friday at least :)

Repost

Somewhere a cop is being yelled at for taking too long to get there; trying to save the life of a total stranger; holding his bladder because his radio just went off; starving because he missed a meal; having to keep a stone face at an accident scene where there's 2 dead kids; and now its 4 am, and he's missing HIS family while taking care of YOURS. Re-post if you are a cop, love a cop, or appreciate a cop.

This was mainly a Facebook thing Sam had on his, which I reposted but felt like reposting it here to for everyone else.

"The objective of the Citizen Police Academy is not to train an individual to be a “Reserve Police Officer” but to produce informed citizens..." - Taken from the National Citizens Police Academy Association

A neighboring sheriff's office, in the county of Sam's department, posted an article in the paper announcing the class and they still have openings. Its a 10 week course starting in September. I'm interested in participating. I just don't want to miss the first class because of work, it'll only be in the last few days of work anyways.

I'll go ahead and fill out the application and submit it. Hopefully, this is one application that'll get accepted. It may give me hope again about the job search.

Late night, busy mornings

Sam didn't get in until 6:30ish AM - 3 hours after the time he's supposed to be pulling in the driveway. This woman, he sent me a pic of her sitting in the cruiser, had gone and smeared hand lotion all over his cruiser's rear window. Needless to say he wasn't happy on all accounts. He said its not easy to get that stuff off his car either. I'm sure I'll be hearing about it tomorrow when I see him as well as the rest of his busy week.

EDIT (8/8/11): So I found out this morning that I had been misinformed. The woman who had smeared handlotion on his car was a fellow officer. She had actually smeared the lotion on his window because he had first messed with her window. I wish he'd clarify himself sometimes.

A birthday surprise

Sam's mom's birthday is coming up in another month or so and he went with his dad to pick out her present, a Taurus Model 94 (.22 long rifle). Similar to the gun she already owns, a .38 though.

Any who he has ultimately decided to let me in on a certain secret as well, that is my birthday present. I bet you can't guess what it is! What? I'll give you a hint: his mom is getting one this year. Yup he's going to get me a gun. ...Something that I don't have an interest, at least now, in owning. I spent the better half of the morning on Monday with him arguing that I didn't want it.

Guns are not cheap. His mom's was on the low end of $500. He complains about money for the house and bills; he's constantly taking extra details since the furlough stints just to bring in a couple extra paychecks. But he's such a hypocrite on the matter too. During his time off he was going to work two details but dropped them because he didn't want to think about work for eight days. He then dropped a detail from this past Sunday saying he just didn't want to go. Then I'm "kidnapped" and taken out for breakfast or dinner  about 4 different times in a row. He complains about it but then he goes and spends the money. He's got something up his sleeve.

No matter though, I'm going to fight him on this gun business. He doesn't need to be dropping another $500 or so dollars for a gun.

Maybe I'll ask him to get me something "normal" for my birthday....if that's at all possible. *smiles and shakes head*

Home visit

My brother is visiting again before my parents leave for Texas. He seems okay I guess, not really as changed as he puts on. He talks to us a bit but spends most his time on the computer on Facebook talking with people or playing some computer game. My parents buy him sugary drinks. Just the kinds of things that'll enable an addict. I don't know why they don't just offer him water or something without loads of sugar. He drinks coffee too which isn't the best because of the caffeine, but oh well. I just wish his visits were more productive of sorts.

...My mom just let it slip that Sam is a cop in front of him. I kind of wanted to keep it under wraps for a while. I worry for his safety just like he worries about mine, not that I don't think my brother would do anything stupid.