I had a Police Cadet/Recruit of mine die the other day.

[Sinatra877]

I used to teach at the local LEO academy and I had a recruit and he started working for one of the neighboring police departments when I left to start contracting overseas. He was a good kid, smart and polite. Even though as an instructor, I have to maintain a professional distance and have impartiality but I saw something in this kid.

I heard from a friend of mine that this kid was responding to a call with lights and sirens and someone didn't yield to him at a stoplight. "We" always slow down significantly at intersections just to be safe. I heard he slowed down nearly to a stop and then a elderly lady just didn't see him or hear him or just didn't know what to do just kept on driving and plowed into him. He died on the spot. He wasnt' married, no kids, mid 20's and still living with his folks as he took part time classes at the college.

It just kills me that such a young, promising life was snuffed out just because an elderly lady didn't know what to do. It's tearing me apart. I really liked the boy. I called his family today and told them who I was and how special I thought their kid was. Of course they are still in tears but they told me how much he enjoyed being a Policeman and that he once told them that I was one of his favorite instructors. It's such a terrible waste of a good young man.

[KPierce]

Sorry to hear about this Bro. I have always felt that as a person gets older they should be made to a driving test or at least a written exam after age 60. While I have nothing against older people driving, I do see a lot of older people in my local are that don't drive posted speed limits or fail to yield the right of way at intersections.

I always try to be aware of my surroundings and what other vehicles are doing when I drive. But if I ever reach the point where I feel that I am no longer able to be as aware as I need to be, it will be time to hang up the keys. This is just my personal opinion though.

[jkroner659]

Sucks, not much to say besides that:pat9xu:

[Headhunter 13]

My condolences

[Sinatra877]

I almost went to bed in tears. I don't know why. I have no kids of my own and I guess all those recruits, especially the ones that I mentally picked out as shining stars...well I guess I mentally adopted him. I haven't felt the pain of someone's death in a long time which is strange for me since I was exposed to so much of it over the years.

He did what he loved which I taught him to love. I guess that's the only consolation I have about his death. I'm going to meet with his family at his wake this weekend.

[Sinatra877]

I went and gave my condolences to the family today. I went in civilian clothes instead of my part timer uniform when I'm home. They were somewhat surprised to see me at all and I saw alot of his classmates from the academy there. They were from all the surrounding departments. They were all strong young Policemen/Policewomen now. I saw sadness in their eyes but I saw inner strength in them that I didn't see when I taught them. I was almost to the point of tears from sadness and pride of seeing these former students of mine becoming the LEO professionals that they are today.

...The torch has been passed to the next generation of the Thin Blue Line.