On May 31, 2006, Officer Nick-Tomasito Birco, a San Francisco Police Officer was killed in the line of duty while chasing a van full of armed robbery suspects. In the aftermath of the death, the San Francisco media, rather than showing sympathy to the family of the officer and to the San Francisco Police Department for losing their brethren, they launched a war against the department and this fallen officer in an attempt to put Officer Birco's actions into question, questioning the reasons and justifications for the pursuit.
Accordingly, the San Francisco Police Union President, Gary Delagnes responded to the media, reprimanding them for their abhorrent claims amidst the families and departments grieving.
I invite and encourage you all to watch this short 6-minute video clip of a press conference that Mr. Delagnes gave amidst the termoil over this fallen officer. | LINK |
Three days ago marked the five-year anniversary of when my own brother was shot in the line of duty by a suspected and subsequently convicted burglar, Jeremy Tucker Davis. The air in Chattanooga however, is quite different than that of the liberal city of San Francisco, and my brother and his family received nothing but sympathy compassion from this city. Officer Birco did not receive the same treatment, and I think it's despicable that anyone would say harsh and unsubstantiated things concerning an officer before that man was buried, when he was fighting every day to protect the citizens of his city.
I find the daily lack of respect for these men to be disgusting. I encourage everyone who reads this to call your local police department to inquire about ride-along programs. I feel that no one can truly respect the men in blue unless they see the daily and constant targets painted on their backs. Every time they put their uniform on, holster their gun and walk the streets, their lives are in danger, and to be constantly flamed and ridiculed by the media and the public is disheartening and unacceptable.
An echoing cry in todays media in relation to the War On Terror is to "Support the Troops". While I support this statement one-thousand percent, we should Support Our Officers too. So please, watch the video above, say "hi" to the next officer you see and tell him you appreciate him for putting his life on the line for your safety. Because he's not doing it for the money.