Politics

End of Watch

“Tears that are shed on the outside fall to the ground and are washed away. Tears that fall on the inside fall on the soul.” Rodney Wright, Pastor of Lake City Community Church

Coeur d’Alene City Police Sgt. Greg Moore died on Tuesday, shot by a man who simply didn’t want him to find the gun he had hidden in his pocket. Then he stepped over the officer’s body, grabbed his car keys, his gun, and stole his patrol car. Three hours later the suspect was in custody, but Sgt. Moore lay in the hospital, fighting for his life.

This original story is posted at Unclesamsmisguidedchildren.com

It was a battle he lost late afternoon on Tuesday.

Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?

end of watch
The Patriot Guard stands at attention as both police and public attend the funeral for Sgt Greg Moore

 

Saying goodbye

How does a community say goodbye to a man who was called the “Street Counselor” of Coeur d’Alene?

“Sgt Moore treated people on the street, not as enemies, but as fellow citizens… His actions defined his character… He believed that if you could just change one life, it was all worth it…He never took his oath lightly. He embraced the hard part of his service. He could have driven by the suspect that night. The decision to do what was hard cost him his life.” 

Greg had a way of making everyone feel like they were his best friend. Even if they were an arrestee, he might check up on them later to see how they were doing. I remember  a jovial, friendly officer who was fair, even if someone was being a snot. And as a School Resource Officer  for part of his tenure, that happened frequently. It never seemed to phase him, whether it was a kid acting out, or a fellow officer having a bad night. It was my honor to serve with Officer Greg Moore for a few years.

Respect

It is tradition in law enforcement, that when an officer is killed in the line of duty, their body is escorted to and from the autopsy by officers from surrounding departments.  The night Greg passed away, not only did police officers line up along the hallways of Kootenai Health, so did a hundred doctors, nurses, orderlies, and kitchen staff…all in honor and respect to an officer whose love of the community was obvious to them all.

Every 53 Hours

Rarely do people hear of the things that cops do right. Mostly all we hear about are the scandals, the bad shootings, or even good ones that are purported to be bad. Every man or woman that wears a badge knows the risks of law enforcement. They embrace those risks, knowing that one day someone may shoot them, stab them, run over them or crash into their car. It is said that every 53 hours, a police officer dies in America.

What makes cops tick?

Some cops are cocky, some are confident. There is a difference, and people can feel that difference in their demeanor. The cocky ones don’t care. But the others don’t need to care, because they live their lives with assurance in their purpose a place in universe. Greg was one of those, jovial, fun, caring, skilled. Greg, a devoted father and husband, leaves behind 2 children, and his wife Lindy.

The law enforcement community across America came to this funeral, as they did to NYPD officer Brian Moore’s service the day before. Police from as far away as Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Chicago, Illinois…as well as all across the West came to pay their respects. Why?

Because they are all in it together. When one officer dies doing his job, the others know that they are only one thin blue line away from eternity.

K27, End of Watch. Rest in Peace

sgtbadge

Faye Higbee

Faye Higbee is the columnist manager for Uncle Sam's Misguided Children. She has been writing at Conservative Firing Line since 2013 as well. She is also a published author.

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