David
07-14-2000, 09:18 PM
I read the salutation posted by Rebecca and started to add this to that thread. Then, I thought, if I did it would detract (spellin' again) from the tribute her posting deserved.
I may be wrong in that but I wanted to post my first thread on a similar subject that has been on my mind since finding the epitath yesterday.
I'm sure you remember the S.W.A.T. exercise that went down in Cobb County last summer. If not right away, then after you read this.
Sgt Steve Reeves and Ofc. Stephen Gilner were the commander and point man for the Cobb County S.W.A.T. team that, with Ackworth Police Departments help, had cornered Atlanta's mass murderer Mark Barton, cutting short his murderious rampage, at his mothers home.
When it appeared that another occupant in the residence (mother) was crying for help, the decision to enter was made instead of allowing the Hostage Negoiator to do his thing.
The scumbag had baracaded himself in the family residence and was known to have stated he would not be taken alive. This was known and the team protected themselves accordingly. They were expecting a fire fight inside.
When entry was made the first two in were Sgt Reeves and Ofc Gilner...They went to see our maker then with high powered assault rifle slugs going through their vests like a knife thru butter.
The fight began and ended a few moments later when he committed suicide after being boxed in.
After the smoke had cleared and practically before the debriefing could finish the news people, at the scene, started their analyzing the actions taken and all of the mistakes made by the entry team, their training / lack of training, command structure, you name it, they had an opinion as to how it SHOULD have been different on every corner.
The thin blue line was 2 officers short, the entry had been by the book all the way. We had lost 2 good men to an assault rifle and a crazed mass murderer with nothing to lose.
Training cannot prepare you to recieve high powered combat slugs. He did all the damage that was possible and then took his own life so that a cop could not take the credit. It's just too bad he could not have taken his own life 2 shots earlier.
The media is going to make a circus out of anything we do whether it be right or wrong. The right or wrong, according to those *********s , is what will grab the "biggest shock value" or sell the most papers.
Stay tuned for the latest updates! We'll bring it to you as we recieve any more (facts?)...News at 11:00.
These hero's are not even cold yet and the news media starts to smuge their reputations.
All we are allowed to do is...
1) be quiet
2) don't offer the truth
3) Don't defend their actions until a full investigation is completed. This could take a day or so.
4) Don't say anything, while you have to listen to the reputation of these hero's being brought into question. especially on the TV and radio where their loved ones can hear. And deep down inside wonder...is that right? Misery stacked on top of misery.
God, just the thought of that is enough to tear your heart out of socket!
Because... do you know why???
What if it had been you and your wife, children, parents, friends, neighbors, the list can go on and on. What if they were subjected to the additional agony.
It's enough to keep you awake at night, as it did me last night.
I stand in front of class after class, whether it be mandate, advanced or specialized training. Hoping, praying that one of my charges do not end up with their picture on the TV with the remark, news at 11:00.
I get all of the information available whether it be published, other instructors, war stories or just tales passed down from someone else's experiences.
If I feel it will prepare an Officer for that one moment when they're sweating adrinilyn, because their system has maxed out on capacity. That will bring him/her to the next moment intact and not as another brick in the wall that protects our society from the criminal element that is lost.
Then, thank God! It was worth the extra effort to make my class a little better.
And then still in the back of my mind I worry...and wonder. Will one of these have cause to visit me in my dreams?
To the one's out there that drag yourselves to the inservice class or the required training we all face each year. The instructors that stand and face you on those sleepy, tiresome and weary days have spent a lot of time to share the accumilation of hours and hours of research, interviewing and general brainstorming with others to get you through those hours of drugerey.
(work with me folks, spellin' lite is goin' out again)
I don't know about other jurisdictions but the great State of Georgia does not fund our instructors, unless you are state employees. Ex; Academy Directors, Asst AD's, Instructors at the main Police Academy in Forsyth, Georgia. These are salaried. The rest of us volenteer our time and services for free.
Personally, while it would be nice to supplement my income, I would not turn in my credentials for the world. That's how much I love standing in front of a class and trying to help anyone that I can to be a better cop, a smarter cop. You know the type. The one's that just goes home every night.
Brothers, sisters, for God's sake. Watch your backs, your suroundings, anything that can pose a potential threat to you. Don't make it YOUR family and friends who have to agonize like that over, what if?
The BLUE And The BROWN
Who will protect the Blue and the Brown? These men and women who are the Guardians of Law and Order across the land?
The cry for help goes out, and who will respond? Who will take the position of being in harm's way?
None... None but the Blue and Brown.
To serve and to protect is the duty to which they are bound. To carry out this pledge - no greater honor can be found.
With just a badge as a shield and a heartfelt desire to protect the innocent. They go out to do whatever it takes to subdue the evil that threatens and to secure the peace that we all cherish.
But when the Blue and Brown get overwhelmed by evil. Who can they call upon who has a pledge such as theirs? Who will put themselves in harm's way for them?
None will answer that call.
None, that is, but Jesus.
Deputy Tom Bobell
Cobb County Sheriff's Department
August 1, 1999
This was dedicated to the memory of Sargent Steve Reeves and Officer Stephen Gilner, Cobb County Police Department S.W.A.T. Team.
And I would like to add, if I may...
Rest in Peace Brothers,
your last rescue has been made.
Rest in Peace
I may be wrong in that but I wanted to post my first thread on a similar subject that has been on my mind since finding the epitath yesterday.
I'm sure you remember the S.W.A.T. exercise that went down in Cobb County last summer. If not right away, then after you read this.
Sgt Steve Reeves and Ofc. Stephen Gilner were the commander and point man for the Cobb County S.W.A.T. team that, with Ackworth Police Departments help, had cornered Atlanta's mass murderer Mark Barton, cutting short his murderious rampage, at his mothers home.
When it appeared that another occupant in the residence (mother) was crying for help, the decision to enter was made instead of allowing the Hostage Negoiator to do his thing.
The scumbag had baracaded himself in the family residence and was known to have stated he would not be taken alive. This was known and the team protected themselves accordingly. They were expecting a fire fight inside.
When entry was made the first two in were Sgt Reeves and Ofc Gilner...They went to see our maker then with high powered assault rifle slugs going through their vests like a knife thru butter.
The fight began and ended a few moments later when he committed suicide after being boxed in.
After the smoke had cleared and practically before the debriefing could finish the news people, at the scene, started their analyzing the actions taken and all of the mistakes made by the entry team, their training / lack of training, command structure, you name it, they had an opinion as to how it SHOULD have been different on every corner.
The thin blue line was 2 officers short, the entry had been by the book all the way. We had lost 2 good men to an assault rifle and a crazed mass murderer with nothing to lose.
Training cannot prepare you to recieve high powered combat slugs. He did all the damage that was possible and then took his own life so that a cop could not take the credit. It's just too bad he could not have taken his own life 2 shots earlier.
The media is going to make a circus out of anything we do whether it be right or wrong. The right or wrong, according to those *********s , is what will grab the "biggest shock value" or sell the most papers.
Stay tuned for the latest updates! We'll bring it to you as we recieve any more (facts?)...News at 11:00.
These hero's are not even cold yet and the news media starts to smuge their reputations.
All we are allowed to do is...
1) be quiet
2) don't offer the truth
3) Don't defend their actions until a full investigation is completed. This could take a day or so.
4) Don't say anything, while you have to listen to the reputation of these hero's being brought into question. especially on the TV and radio where their loved ones can hear. And deep down inside wonder...is that right? Misery stacked on top of misery.
God, just the thought of that is enough to tear your heart out of socket!
Because... do you know why???
What if it had been you and your wife, children, parents, friends, neighbors, the list can go on and on. What if they were subjected to the additional agony.
It's enough to keep you awake at night, as it did me last night.
I stand in front of class after class, whether it be mandate, advanced or specialized training. Hoping, praying that one of my charges do not end up with their picture on the TV with the remark, news at 11:00.
I get all of the information available whether it be published, other instructors, war stories or just tales passed down from someone else's experiences.
If I feel it will prepare an Officer for that one moment when they're sweating adrinilyn, because their system has maxed out on capacity. That will bring him/her to the next moment intact and not as another brick in the wall that protects our society from the criminal element that is lost.
Then, thank God! It was worth the extra effort to make my class a little better.
And then still in the back of my mind I worry...and wonder. Will one of these have cause to visit me in my dreams?
To the one's out there that drag yourselves to the inservice class or the required training we all face each year. The instructors that stand and face you on those sleepy, tiresome and weary days have spent a lot of time to share the accumilation of hours and hours of research, interviewing and general brainstorming with others to get you through those hours of drugerey.
(work with me folks, spellin' lite is goin' out again)
I don't know about other jurisdictions but the great State of Georgia does not fund our instructors, unless you are state employees. Ex; Academy Directors, Asst AD's, Instructors at the main Police Academy in Forsyth, Georgia. These are salaried. The rest of us volenteer our time and services for free.
Personally, while it would be nice to supplement my income, I would not turn in my credentials for the world. That's how much I love standing in front of a class and trying to help anyone that I can to be a better cop, a smarter cop. You know the type. The one's that just goes home every night.
Brothers, sisters, for God's sake. Watch your backs, your suroundings, anything that can pose a potential threat to you. Don't make it YOUR family and friends who have to agonize like that over, what if?
The BLUE And The BROWN
Who will protect the Blue and the Brown? These men and women who are the Guardians of Law and Order across the land?
The cry for help goes out, and who will respond? Who will take the position of being in harm's way?
None... None but the Blue and Brown.
To serve and to protect is the duty to which they are bound. To carry out this pledge - no greater honor can be found.
With just a badge as a shield and a heartfelt desire to protect the innocent. They go out to do whatever it takes to subdue the evil that threatens and to secure the peace that we all cherish.
But when the Blue and Brown get overwhelmed by evil. Who can they call upon who has a pledge such as theirs? Who will put themselves in harm's way for them?
None will answer that call.
None, that is, but Jesus.
Deputy Tom Bobell
Cobb County Sheriff's Department
August 1, 1999
This was dedicated to the memory of Sargent Steve Reeves and Officer Stephen Gilner, Cobb County Police Department S.W.A.T. Team.
And I would like to add, if I may...
Rest in Peace Brothers,
your last rescue has been made.
Rest in Peace