Pinthouse Pizza
A Cop's Job Is to Move Forward in Danger
RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 24, 2004
Dear Editor,
[Mike Clark-] Madison wrote ["Austin@Large," News, Feb. 20], "Jessie Owens may have done some stupid things that night – we'll never know – but he did not commit suicide, and the only life Glasgow saved was his own, put at risk by his own actions; despite the APA rhetoric, nobody was being 'robbed, or raped, or killed' or would have been had Owens managed to flee. That was not the worst-case scenario." For the most part I agreed with his article, but this last part cracked me up. This is the same kind of logic that people pulled over for traffic offenses scream at the officers, "Why aren't you out there arresting rapists and robbers." Mr. Madison, a cop's job is to go forward into danger, but it doesn't mean we are required to commit suicide. Or let felons go who don't want to be arrested just because they may not kill someone. Glasgow did not break any policy. He broke procedure, which is a guideline. Most of the officers, at any department, have or will arrest a felon by himself. As felonies go, driving a stolen car is low on the felony food chain but still a risk, especially adding in the illegal narcotics. Even if it had been just a traffic violation, even if you don't think you broke any traffic laws, once you decide to fight me, place my life in danger, and the only way to save myself is to kill you; I'm going to kill you ... period. That's no big police secret, that's the way it is and the way it will always be. If Owens was white, I doubt if the grand jury would have tried indicting him for violations of procedure or the brass giving him 90 days as a compromise to termination. If he had made the same procedural decisions, but the arrest was made without death or injury, he wouldn't have been disciplined at all, some time of training refresher at best, but that's just me.
[Mike Clark-] Madison wrote ["Austin@Large," News, Feb. 20], "Jessie Owens may have done some stupid things that night – we'll never know – but he did not commit suicide, and the only life Glasgow saved was his own, put at risk by his own actions; despite the APA rhetoric, nobody was being 'robbed, or raped, or killed' or would have been had Owens managed to flee. That was not the worst-case scenario." For the most part I agreed with his article, but this last part cracked me up. This is the same kind of logic that people pulled over for traffic offenses scream at the officers, "Why aren't you out there arresting rapists and robbers." Mr. Madison, a cop's job is to go forward into danger, but it doesn't mean we are required to commit suicide. Or let felons go who don't want to be arrested just because they may not kill someone. Glasgow did not break any policy. He broke procedure, which is a guideline. Most of the officers, at any department, have or will arrest a felon by himself. As felonies go, driving a stolen car is low on the felony food chain but still a risk, especially adding in the illegal narcotics. Even if it had been just a traffic violation, even if you don't think you broke any traffic laws, once you decide to fight me, place my life in danger, and the only way to save myself is to kill you; I'm going to kill you ... period. That's no big police secret, that's the way it is and the way it will always be. If Owens was white, I doubt if the grand jury would have tried indicting him for violations of procedure or the brass giving him 90 days as a compromise to termination. If he had made the same procedural decisions, but the arrest was made without death or injury, he wouldn't have been disciplined at all, some time of training refresher at best, but that's just me.
David Walker
Round Rock
Round Rock