Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Late Ashland resident Temple's memoirs recall ACLU battles Spectrum of housing options begins with a new home Calendar: Monday, Sept. 15 Trying to get a handle on panhandling Calendar: Saturday, Sept. 13 Education So THIS is where food comes from Longtime dean honored as fine leader, friend Signups underway for classes for older adults They're back (and they've brought friends) Free TED talk simulcast in Ashland Environment Garden serves up a feast fit for monarchs Only voters can make a tree tops in town Getting away from — and back into — it all Definition of 'water year' is fluid Excitement electric at first alternative fuel vehicle show Business Fretwell Music Ashlander creates new product intended to solve old problem App that promotes walking tested here Electric innovators incubate creativity Loving the leather at Village Shoes Politics and elections Mark L. Hopkins: What the next election should be about Airport, historic commissioners named; vacancies remain on other panels Two races set for council positions State News Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Robert Allan Burr Charles Robert Zarka Death Notices Jerilyn J. Schoenhals Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies manhandle Dragons Allred misses cut Grizzlies turn attention to ground-pounding Dragons Former Grizzly coaching at TCU Raiders outlast Owls in five sets High school Grizzlies manhandle Dragons Grizzlies turn attention to ground-pounding Dragons Former Grizzly coaching at TCU Raiders outlast Owls in five sets Grizz volleyball team pulls out five-set thriller Southern Oregon University Allred misses cut Raiders outlast Owls in five sets SOU volleyball team ranked No. 16 Raiders to return to Phillips Field San Marcos beats SOU in OT Opinion Latest Stories Water line project a job well done Time to stand and be counted Ballot doesn't reflect the city Matthew T. Mangino: Law enforcement options in domestic violence cases Wehby's gay marriage stance shows cultural shift Editorial Water line project a job well done Ballot doesn't reflect the city Wehby's gay marriage stance shows cultural shift Electric vehicles rev up Meeting in the middle Letters Letters to the Editor, Sept. 11 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 9 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 8 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 4 Letters to the Editor, Sept. 3 Guest opinions Time to stand and be counted Two seemingly disparate moments in history Rauch replies: Frustrating, yes — yet there is method in't The summer of my discontent: An open letter to Bill Rauch Opportunities for civic involvement are plentiful in Ashland Revels Latest Stories Movie listings for Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas Jeff All-Stars share more than a name Best Bets: Sept. 11-18 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is worth the trip Community blog: Slammin' for Salmon Theater Freud v. Lewis: Intellectual heavyweights spar over life's big issues 'Freud's Last Session" at Ashland Contemporary Theatre Wise cracks and hot licks make for super show OSF adds 'Wrinkle in Time' Family Night Music Q&A: Acousta Noir The Jeff Stanley Trio at Lounge South Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie listings for Varsity Theatre, Ashland Street Cinemas 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is worth the trip Movie listings: Sept. 5-11 Movie listings: Aug. 27-Sept. 4 'Calvary' is about darkness and dialogue Food and Drink Lifestyle Latest Stories Spectrum of housing options begins with a new home Community Blog: Third Chakra Development Confronting the tyranny of expectations Peace House honors Rabbi Michael Lerner Community Blog: Predicting Peace - 1 of 7 Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Calendar: Monday, Sept. 15 ... Calendar: Saturday, Sept. 13 ... Police Reports ... Calendar: Monday, Sept. 15 ... Calendar: Saturday, Sept. 13 ... Police Reports ... Kent Bush: Law enforcement's routine acts of bravery taken for granted By Kent Bush More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 7:11 am By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 7:11 am » Social News The police are easy targets. Politically, it only takes one mistake to cast a shadow on everyone who wears a badge. One incident of racism, abuse or misconduct and people are willing to throw out all of the babies with very little bath water. You can be mad that cops are being armed like soldiers, and there is reason to question whether we want local peacekeepers to look like warriors. Depending on what you believe from the incident in Ferguson, Missouri, an officer might have shot an unarmed young man for being black in public. That is a favorite stereotype of officers, and so many great men and women get painted with that brush when, in reality, nothing could be less appropriate. An officer in Edmond, Oklahoma, used his badge as a weapon to help him carry out a number of rapes. But does every officer abuse his or her power? Who would even think that? The reason police officers make news when they do something wrong is because they are truly the exception. It is the “dog bites man” aspect of the story that gives it news value. But every day, thousands of men and women put themselves in harm’s way to make sure others are safe. Police have a tough job. Sometimes they have to write tickets to control traffic. They arrest people who break the law. Everyone knows the guy who speeds by them on the highway deserves a citation. But no one thinks they deserved one when they were the guy speeding by other drivers. No other job has the intrinsic danger of being a police officer. Every domestic violence call could be a fight they have to break up. Sometimes weapons are involved. But they don’t get to sit in the car and wait for the situation to calm down. They have to go in and restore peace. That is so easy to say. It isn’t often that easy to do. Add to that the fact that every traffic stop is potentially life threatening. In Butler County, Kansas, last year, a deputy walked up to a car in the early morning hours of Labor Day to check on a situation. Thanks to a protective vest, he survived the shot that was meant to kill him. An officer in Topeka, Kansas, last weekend wasn’t as fortunate. A traffic stop in the middle of the afternoon led to a murder. Instead of investigating this crime, Officer Jason Harwood became a victim. Harwood was the kind of officer every chief wants on the force and every city wants on the street. He had been injured in a traffic accident in 2010 but still returned to duty. Now four years later, he leaves behind a widow and two children because a felon with multiple convictions didn’t want to end up back in jail. It is easy to feel outrage when a police officers abuse their power. But those instances are so rare. The acts of bravery and dedication to keeping people safe are so pervasive that they are almost taken for granted. Hopefully, this incident and many others like it will remind people why little boys and girls see the police as heroes. By Kent Bush More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Kent Bush More Content Now Posted Sep. 9, 2014 @ 7:11 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501