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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New spring bear hunt nixed by wildlife commission Disk golf course coming to Cave Junction park Bicycle group wants to change Hwy. 99 corridor plan EP school district launches new app Fifth Rogue River mural project is getting underway Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Dotterrer-Bates Senate race goes negative? Education EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue Environment Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters Marijuana growers are threat to salmon, biologists conclude State news Nation - World Obituaries Elizabeth Anne Jones Jesse Jay Gilchrist Lorraine Antcha Death Notices Lester "Les" Nugent Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Rivalry Renewed Macias boosts Pirates to win over KU Phoenix runs Skyline record to 7-0 Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Burke has 22 to lead Jazz past Blazers Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Ducks' defense gets defensive after loss Raiders rally in five sets to deny Owls again Undefeated SOU returns to Raider Stadium Pro Sports Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Burke has 22 to lead Jazz past Blazers It won't be personal for Bryant against Sherman Ryder Cup players get back to work on PGA Tour Kyle Busch takes pole at Charlotte as JGR surges Community Sports Business Latest Stories Blog: When Life Gives You Lemons... County hopes to spur renewable energy Medford airport has busiest September ever Local homeowners not borrowing against their homes Rental vacancies increase Real Estate News Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters Tenants begin moving into One West Main People In Business Transportation Agriculture 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Purchasers praise Harry & David's turnaround Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. Mangino: Trials, pleas and the burden of proof: A search for justice Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Granlund cartoon: Carter faults Obama on ISIS Editorials Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Another View: Forest Service comes to its senses Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 6 Guest Opinions Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Name that wolf Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Blog: BOOK IT! FRIDAY: Layin' Low But Still Layin' Coin Food Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Dr. Murray Feingold: Take precautions to prevent home accidents Health Watch: Make TV time workout time Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs Religion Briefs Religion briefs First Church of Nazarene plans cleanup Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New Arrivals Still stifling laughter 40 years after 'Young Frankenstein' New Arrivals Wedding New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Agave offers tasty tacos Call for musicians Works in progress A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Theater Randall Theatre presents 'Blithe Spirit' A tribute to a great lyricist 'Mrs. Mannerly' is a matter of manners There's no accounting for poor manners Friends of Jim Giancarlo remember Ashland theater icon Music Benefit for Nita Day at The Wild Goose Cafe in Ashland Call for musicians A stylish take on baroque Southern Oregon Music Festival returns to downtown Medford Rogue Valley Symphony season debut combines virtuosity, emotion Community Events Works in progress Southern Oregon Pride Festival celebrates diversity Greater Medford Multicultural Fair Volunteers needed for Downtown Art + Sound Medford's Third Fridays Dining Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Spoons 'Get Giddy' at Porters Jacksonville's Thai House is everything good Thai should be Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... New spring bear hunt nixed by wildlife commission ... Barn fire may have been human-caused ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... New spring bear hunt nixed by wildlife commission ... Barn fire may have been human-caused ... Jim Brock: Whose fault is it, anyway? By Jim Brock More Content Now MailTribune.com By Jim Brock More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 10:51 am By Jim Brock More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 10:51 am » Social News Not all of us have lost faith in law enforcement. But it should be noted that this is a convoluted issue that will most likely be argued for as long as America remains a nation that protects the right to free speech. Being pro-police doesn’t mean giving every officer of the law your unfettered trust. That would be irresponsible. But labeling all law enforcement officials as corrupt, narcissistic and itching to shoot somebody would be just as irresponsible. Sadly, that very idea is tacitly thrown around by some media outlets –and sometimes directly stated by certain activists – in the wake of incidents such as the Ferguson (Missouri) shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer. Cultural influences, many of which began during the activism of the 1960s, have contributed to our nation’s collective disdain for law enforcement. Who can forget the ubiquitous handle “pig”? Media coverage of police brutality, botched criminal investigations and agency corruption have only added to the fray. And social media only makes it worse when the wrong message overshadows the truth. In the interest of fairness, it should be noted that police officers don’t exactly have safe jobs. According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, 48 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty “during felonious incidents” in 2012. That same year, 47 law enforcement officers died “as the result of accidents” that occurred in the line of duty. After a few hours of research to ascertain the number of people killed by police officers, I was surprised at the results. “Criminal justice experts note that, while the federal government and national research groups keep scads of data and statistics … there is no reliable national data on how many people are shot by police officers each year,” wrote Wesley Lowery in a Sept. 8 Washington Post article. “Officials with the Justice Department keep no comprehensive database or record of police shootings, instead allowing the nation’s more than 17,000 law enforcement agencies to self-report officer-involved shootings as part of the FBI’s annual data on ‘justifiable homicides’ by law enforcement.” Lowery reported that this “self-reported information from about 750 law enforcement agencies – hovers around 400 ‘justifiable homicides’ by police officers each year.” Up until 2009, the DOJ tracked “arrest-related deaths,” but it discontinued said activity, as the data “were widely regarded as unreliable,” the report said. I believe the larger point is being ignored. We live in a civilized society, albeit flawed, and in order to keep civilization in tact, we require laws and good men and women to enforce them. As much as I abhor cliches, I know for a fact that not all law enforcement officers are bad people. If they were, most of them would find better jobs with better pay and benefits – because it takes a certain type of person to risk his or her life to serve and protect the public. No one likes getting speeding tickets, and we certainly don’t like being berated by an officer or deputy with a bad attitude. But I would rather take the good with the bad than live in a society without police protection. But make no mistake – I believe law enforcement officers should be held accountable like the rest of us. Those who seek to abuse their power, for any reason, have no business serving the public. My opinions about the Ferguson shooting and the ensuing riot control have not changed, but much of that can be linked to a lack of leadership. I’m afraid to report that we haven’t seen the last questionable police shooting. But what do you expect from a country that loves guns as much as football? The facts speak for themselves when there are more places selling firearms than there are grocery stores in this country. While the NRA and other lobbyists continue to scare Americans into buying more guns, they are making huge profits. The statement “more guns means more protection” is counter-intuitive, and there is no logic to support that statement. There is nothing wrong with owning guns, but the guns aren’t the problem – it’s our fanaticism about them. That’s why we need good, quality law enforcement – men and women who are trained to fight bad guys – because let’s face it, not every American is Chuck Norris. Cultural influence has more power than any political statement. When our culture chooses civility over violence, civility becomes the norm. Perhaps we would see a drastic change in the perception of law enforcement and their vigilance of us if violence weren’t so ingrained into our collective psyche. Maybe it’s time we teach our kids the importance of civility. If we want to effect change, it starts with the individual. Ponder that! Jim Brock is managing editor of the Nebraska City News-Press. He can be reached at [email protected]. By Jim Brock More Content Now MailTribune.com By Jim Brock More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2014 @ 10:51 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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. 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