IRONY in SPADES

The scenario is duplicated daily...here there...in towns and cities across the country.  Devotees of a certain "news" outlet place the blame on the "media."  Such incidents couldn't be happening in 'THEIR" America.  REALLY?  Guess what folks...are we living in the same country?  Because...this is no anomaly in MY America.  It is NOT coincidental that when  citizens get together to talk...every single person (with very few exceptions) can share similar experiences....eerily similar experiences.

Mr. Okie R.  lived in  our "holler" and he was the town cop as well as the father of one of my best childhood friends,  B.J. and her siblings (and I)  would happily run the deer trails above her house laughing with pleasure over the freedom of running in the woods, Many Sunday afternoons (after church) we would run through the woods until we got tired and hungry. Then we would pool our change and head to the neighborhood store to buy hot dogs and bread.....run by my house to pick up the firebucket,  find a suitable spot on my grandparents' pasture field hill. Then we would make a fire in the bucket to roast our hot dogs and drink Koolaid from the mason jar  that  her momma had provided.  Our parents did not worry about our whereabouts...there was no need to. All they needed to do was listen and they could hear us laughing and playing on the hills above.

Such were the carefree (and prejudice free) days of childhood. Our little town only had about 800 people in those days and there were very few people we did not know. Mr. Okie would be busy on Saturday afternoon running between the two beer joints in town controlling the drunks. The rest of the week he would be sitting in his souped up "patrol" car catching speeders on Route 37. Anyone stupid enough to speed through town got caught because everyone in town knew there was no car around that could out run Mr. Okie's car. Many tried...none succeeded.  I remember watching one chase through town and to this day I would swear...Mr, Okie's car would jump off the ground and fly through the air when he was chasing someone.

B.J. and I grew up and left home. I went off to college and she joined the Air Force.  Occasionally I would hear about her but I never really saw my friend again after the early sixties although once or twice..I ran into her little brother...also named Okie. 

I mention Mr. Okie because he formed my impression of what a "cop" should be. What I came to realize much later in life....there were very few men in that profession who could measure up to his standards. He was husband, father, and neighborhood elder and he took all of those  responsibilities very seriously.   Sometimes he would  ride up the holler to talk to "Uncle Grant," otherwise known as my grandpa.  Some days he wanted tomato plants from our "hotbed" and sometimes he wanted to talk..to gain some wisdom...on life... I guess.  

The next person I knew in the profession was Rob S. He was a veteran  and an undergraduate at Howard University. He and his wife and I  lived in the same apartment building in D.C.   I think we became friends    because early on....there were not many black people in the building..so we all soon knew each other.  Rob had a brother in law school and another brother who lived in the building. After school...Rob joined the D.C. police force...as a plain clothes officer. At the risk of life and limb, he and his partner interrupted a bank robbery. Years later I heard of his actions leading to the arrest of a major east coast  drug dealer.  My more memorable recollection of my friend was a night during  the riots after the death of Martin Luther King. Rob and  a couple of other guys who worked part time jobs at a neighborhood liquor store (owned by a Jewish neighbor) decided to sleep at the store. It so happened that the rioters decided to break in the store that night only to be confronted by three angry young  men. The message was simple, "Leave this store, this merchant alone! He works in the neighborhood, he lives in the neighborhood, he employs folks from the neighborhood, and he treats us the right way. Go bother someone else!"  I don't know what else was said but I do know that a cracked window was the only damage the store sustained while the store across the street (owned by a man who had NO ties to anyone in the area) got cleaned out! 

These were/are folk who took the mantra "to protect and serve" seriously. There was Tom S.  who was born and grew up in the town he served. He would put on his uniform and proudly walk the streets of his town talking to his people. Because he treated folk with respect, he was respected as a friend, as a neighbor, and as a police chief.  One of his officers suffered serious injuries and could not work for an extended period of time. Tom reached out to people he knew could help and help was given without further discussion, The injured officer was also part of the community and the community responded in kind. I knew of a female officer who knowing of a young family's need, quietly arranged that the needs were met. I have known of officers who served their churches, who coached little league teams and who took the time to warn children away from potentially bad situations. I have known officers (in a couple of municipalities) who bought  run down houses in the areas they served. fixed up the houses and moved in ....to become an integral part of the neighborhood.

Two cousins wear the uniform (and have for years). My children have friends who wear the uniform (and walk the walk  - to protect and serve).  Because of those I have known and those I know, it is so difficult to comprehend the mindset of others I see. These are the antagonistic, bullying, power hungry "cops" who operate more (to me) from an organized gang mentality.  They think their misdeeds will never come to life (in this age of internet social media...they have GOT to be kidding)! In  this age of instant communication (cell phone cameras and social media) the "village that raised the child"  has taken over the world!   The fact is...my phone has a better camera than my first professional camera (an Argus C-3 stolen from my car many years ago).  My phone also takes great videos and so does everyone else's!   Not only does the "village" see and hear what you are doing, they are recording it!  There is on the market today a professional video camera that is smaller than my phone!  Just saying....if I know this (in my seventh decade on this earth) why don't these miscreants know this?  Most peculiar.