{Disclaimer: I’m putting this at the beginning, because I can. And I feel that I need to. My father is a retired Police Chief. Police officers have been a part of my life since the day I was born. I have the utmost respect for law enforcement. I respect the fact that they risk their lives every day to protect us. That they leave their families, not knowing if they’ll return home safely or not. I understand the risk involved and appreciate their sacrifices.}
If you live in Massachusetts, you’ve heard the story about Danroy Henry, the Pace University student shot and killed by police in New York in October of 2010. Danroy was twenty years old. A varsity football player in high school he was recruited by Pace University from Iona College. The oldest of three, he was described by many as a wonderful kid who was well respected by his peers. Danroy was shot and killed by Officer Aaron Hess during an altercation of sorts outside of a bar in the town of Mount Pleasant, New York. You can read more about the shooting here and here. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice, and the Grand Jury failed to indict Officer Hess.
Why would the Police Benevolent Association of the Pleasantville Police Department think it was a good idea to award the officer who fired the bullets that killed this young man with the Officer of the Year award? Their answer: because Officer Hess has been through a lot since October 2010. Hmm. This award is a slap in the face to the family left behind by this tragic death. I am sure that Officer Hess is a fine police officer, and a good person too. Was it really necessary to bring additional attention to him? And to the family of this slain young man? I don’t think so PBA of the Pleasantville Police Department. I hope you do a better job of choosing your Officer of the Year recipient in the years ahead.
What do you think of this award? How would you react if you were the officer, or the family of Danroy Henry?
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