Last week, Houston Police Officer Rodney Johnson died — shot by a man who had been patted down, then cuffed and placed in the backseat of the cruiser. Polimom didn’t know this officer, but by all accounts he was professional, highly respected, and a loving husband and father.
Officer Johnson’s death brought home a number of issues: the inherent dangers of police work, the humanity of Johnson and his family, and the tight-knit bond within the police community. Such a loss in very hard, and my heart goes out to all who knew him, and who are, like me, remembering others as well.
Polimom has ridden in the funeral procession and stood in the cemetery as a fellow officer was laid to rest, and although it was a quarter-century ago, those memories never go away. Rodney Johnson’s murder sent Polimom off for some quiet time of my own in honor of another who was lost in the line of duty to a criminal with a gun. A friend.
For all the similarities, though, Officer Johnson’s death was somewhat different; he was shot by an illegal immigrant who had a criminal record, had been deported… and had returned. By his actions, Juan Leonardo Quintero — who should not have been here at all — put Houston’s policies, and the illegal immigration issues, right back into the white-hot spotlight.
As ever, the crazies are coming out from under their rocks to fan the flames… and I’m particularly sad for Rodney Johnson’s widow Joslyn, who has had to address the much wider issue of hate:
The widow of a slain Houston police officer on Tuesday spoke out to discourage reprisals against Hispanics for the actions of an undocumented immigrant who stands accused in the case.
Joslyn Johnson said her husband, officer Rodney Johnson of the Houston Police Department, would not want anyone to raise a hand in anger in his name.
[snip]
NAACP leaders and representatives of the League of United Latin American Citizens joined Johnson to speak out.
Rick Dovalina, LULAC’s district director in Houston, said threatening calls were received at the group’s office after a talk show host urged his listeners to contact the civil rights group.
How shameful to have tainted the honorable memory of this fine officer — to have intruded on the very personal grief of his family — with hate.
This post has more information on the radio show, which apparently only asked listeners to call LULAC and didn’t suggest making threats: bloghouston.net/item/4187
It’s unfortunate that someone did (according to LULAC) make a threat, because it gave them the chance to take advantage of the situation to play the victim card.
Unfortunately, there are those on the fringe who will take advantage of a tragedy like this to make trouble. I no more consider those who made such calls to LULAC to be representative of people who are opposed to amnest and special programs for illegal immigrants (and want to see the immigration laws already in place enforced) than I consider those who loot and riot during victory celebrations to be representative of sports fans (or residents of the city where the looting/rioting took place.)
There are those who will also take things like “call this number” to include “and threaten to off them and their whole family, while using words like **** and **** and especially ************ as many times as possible.” The only thing you can do about such folks is to find them and prosecute them and demonstrate to folsk that there is a difference between dissent and debate, and stalking and threats – and that while one is a cherished right, the other will not be tolerated.
~EdT.
I was driving back from a business trip this afternoon & saw an array of police cars lined up along the feeder of I-45 just north of the Beltway exit. Traffic was a mess, and when I saw all the police cars with lights going, I thought they were having one heck of an amazing bust go down. Then I realized they were just outside of a cemetery, and I suddenly knew what it was. The reason traffic was so messed up was that people, ordinary citizens, had pulled over on the shoulder of I-45, stopped their cars, and stood to watch and honor the procession. It was all I could do to keep driving with the tears dripping down my cheeks.
KEWL – A preview box!! We should take up a donation to help Polimpm out on the over-charge!!