Where’s outcry after killings of police officers in America?

Where’s outcry after killings of police officers in America?

On Sept. 22, 1987, Youngstown police officer Paul Durkin was murdered. The murderer, Willie Dawson, walked up to Officer Durkin’s cruiser and fired a shot into his heart. They found Durkin moments later still sitting in his vehicle with two bullet holes in his chest and the gear shift in reverse. He lived long enough to give a description of his assailant to dispatch and then slumped over and died. He left a wife and baby daughter.

Paul was one of 185 police officers killed in the line of duty that year. Actually he was one of four officers killed in the line of duty that very same day

There was no rioting. There was no violence in the streets. There was no looting. No Molotov cocktails were thrown at anyone. The only gathering that took place was on the outside steps of City Hall when the then prosecutor failed to charge the grand jury with aggravated murder.

It was an unthinkable show of disrespect on his part. There was a lot of yelling through bullhorns but not one drop of blood was shed in the days that followed.

This year so far there have been 67 more deaths of police officers in the United States. I think it would be correct to say it is one of the most dangerous and least desirable jobs out there. Police everywhere, especially those in Youngstown, have to deal with crooks, thugs, and low lives every day. The disturbance and shooting death on Winona Drive recently was just a sampling. I can just imagine what was on those cellphone videos.

I pray for all policemen and women who every day leave the house never knowing if it will be their end watch.

May the remainder of 2014 bring more peace and fewer police deaths to the men in blue. May all the police men and women who have delivered the ultimate sacrifice rest in peace. Your service is deeply appreciated.

Susan Centorame, Canfield