Gary G. Smith, Criminal Justice Practitioner

The More Things Change....

2009-06-14T23:22:00.004-05:00

I spoke to an old friend from a place long since evacuated by me and mine. Through his angst and frustration, an excerpt from George Orwell's Animal Farm came to mind. It is as follows:

In a very little while the animals had destroyed everything that reminded them of Mr. Jones. Napoleon then led them back to the store-shed and served out a double ration of corn to everybody, with two biscuits for each dog. Then they sang Beasts of England from end to end several times running, and after that they settled down for the night and slept as they had never slept before.

But they woke at dawn as usual, and suddenly remembering the glorious things that had happened they all raced out into the pasture together. A little way down the pasture there was a knoll that commanded a view of most of the farm. The animals rushed to the top of it and gazed around them in the clear morning light.

Yes, it was theirs—everything that they could see was theirs!In the ecstasy of that thought they gamboled round and round, they hurled themselves into the air in great leaps of excitement. They rolled in the dew, they cropped mouthfuls of the sweet summer grass, they kicked up clods of the black earth and snuffed its rich scent.

Then they made a tour of inspection of the whole farm and surveyed with speechless admiration the ploughland, the hayfeld, the orchard, the pool, the spinney. It was as though they had never seen these things before, and now they could hardly believe that it was all their own.

Keep in mind old friend that although they tried to eradicate all memories of Farmer Jones, before too long the pigs were living in the house, making merry, associating with all of Farmer Jones' old friends and try as they might, they didn't successfully kill the memories before the old swine got their way.

Chin up!

When Things Look Darkest

2009-06-05T00:04:00.002-05:00

A recent tragedy in our community has reminded me of the fragility of life and how quickly our joy can turn into despair. It is easy when something unexpected and terrible happens to question why bad things happen to good people. It is easy to get bitter and to give up hope.

Psalm 34:18 says "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

I've mentioned before that God will never burden you more than you can handle so long as you trust in Him and seek his guidance. You should always remember that the power that raised Christ from the dead dwells within you.

During dark times, it's good to remember that Proverbs quote: "It's always darkest before the Dawn."

You will find the light in Jesus Christ if you remain steadfast in your faith and trust that God will see you through. It won't be easy but God will not forsake you and he will help you through the hard times.

Torch Run Arrives in Emporia!

2009-06-04T09:59:00.002-05:00

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Torch Run participation by the Emporia Police Department. EPD has the distinction of being one of the longest, continuous supporters of the Kansas Torch Run to benefit the Special Olympics.

Law Enforcement officers from both the Lyon County Sheriff's Office as well as Emporia Police Department joined with officers from across the state to meet in Emporia on Wednesday Evening. The torch run then proceeded out of town on Thursday morning, heading south out of town on their way to Wichita.

The law enforcement officers who donate their time to ride across the state to raise money to be used to send our local Special Olympians to the Special Olympics is a truly heroic gesture and represents what is best about our local law enforcement officers.

I've posted pictures below of Wednesday's arrival. I also want to thank Pizza Ranch who donated the meals to the Torch Run participants who were very ready for a carb refill by the time they reached town. Thanks to Lt. Koelsch who has worked on this project for 25 years. Once I get all the names I'll put a postscript here.

Murder

2009-06-01T23:26:00.001-05:00

They claim God ordered “Thou Shalt not Murder”, and what do they do? Murder in the name of God

The Economy

2009-05-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

I was recently checking a few other blogs the other day and came across the one from a collegue in Minnesota. I posted a link here if you are interested. Mr. Neal talks about tough choices he has had to make because of the tough economic times in Minnesota right now. His community is an affluent community and he is a damn good manager but sometimes stuff happens. In this case, the State of Minnesota happened. The governor there has unalloted 2008 and will unallot 2009 monies that had already been committed to the communities to try to balance a multi-billion (yup a B) revenue shortfall. The legislature and the governor cannot agree on a budget solution so things just stop. A few years ago the state actually shut down...literally. It was a big mess and the voters didn't forget it. When the next election came around the voted a big block of representatives and senators out the door.

Makes me appreciate the business planning of our commission and our mangers. Hopefully we can weather the economic downturn without having to go through what folks up north are dealing with.

Scott is a good guy and I know such decisions are hard for him to make as it is with any manger.

Officer Memorial

2009-05-26T21:55:00.002-05:00

Trooper Kyle P. Barber, 46, of the North Carolina Highway Patrol died on May 19th as a result of injuries he sustained when he was struck by a vehicle on January 2o, 2007.

Trooper Barber was assisting another trooper who had stopped an ATV on a rural road. During the stop, the ATV rolled over and pinned Trooper Barber against his patrol car, causing him major injuries. As a result, Trooper Barber had undergone 10 surgeries and other treatment to his lower legs. He passed away from complications of the most recent surgery.

Trooper Barber had served for 24 years and is survived by his wife and three children.

Memorial Day

2009-05-25T12:13:00.002-05:00

Please take time today to remember those who have given their lives in sacrafice to keep us safe and free.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T22:04:00.002-05:00

This is the first Mother's Day without my mom. We went to church and listened to the platitudes of motherhood and watched as all the kids went back to their parents after the kids' sermon and told their moms and grandmothers they loved them. It was touching.

It is also a time to reflect on memories. Out of the blue I remembered a particular time when we were living in Lincoln, Nebraska. It was the summer and it was hot. Absent decent air conditioning, I remember Mom packing up a lunch and taking us to Pioneer Park. It was a good lunch and time to cool down. With our mom, it wasn't just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches either. We had homemade lemonade, ham salad sandwiches and homemade potato salad. It was cool sitting in the park between the huge pine trees and playing memory games with Mom and my sister and brother. I'm sure she could have found better things to do that day but chose to spend that time with us.

That was just the way our Mom was and I'm sure glad we had the time we did to spend with her.

Happy Mother's Day

I Am An American

2009-05-02T11:40:00.000-05:00

I am an American.

A product of a proud legacy of the struggle of an ever changing republic founded on principles of democratic governance and the rights of the individual and the common good of the many. Our path has been often less than idealistic but it has been open, public and very much a family affair. Our strength comes from the willingness to put aside our differences for the common good of our namesake.

As an American I honor the legacy left to me by the sharing of my time, talents and yes, my money to further the hope of the future and leave a legacy to my children and their children. I want to make that investment as my parents and their parents before them did to make sure that my life was better than theirs.

It is an honor and a responsibility to provide for the sustainability of our nation. Supporting the operation of our government is a right and an obligation. We are judged by how we treat those in need and exercise the freedoms we have been given by God by the sacrifice of our youth to protect those same freedoms for our brothers and sisters across the seas.

If as an American I claim my right to freedom, I must allow that freedom to be tested to the breaking point by someone shouting their hate of me and my country. I must allow that freedom to be tested while the very symbol of our greatness is burned right in front of me. It must be tested by the sacrifice of our young men and women on battlefields far from our shores and judged by the level of restraint and professionalism when force is necessary to protect our rights. It must be tested as our borders strain to accommodate those seeking a better life. I must exercise my legacy by practicing tolerance, patience and a willingness to share my faith in our freedoms with those who will someday take my place.

I am an American....our greatness comes from our diversity and the fact that united, we cannot fail.

Are Newspapers Extinct or Just the Truth

2009-04-29T23:54:00.002-05:00

According to the Associated Press The Baltimore Sun just laid off 60 people in their news bureau. The article goes on to say that a good number of management level employees were also put out on the street. It’s ironic, in my view, that the AP finds itself reporting on what appears to be the eminent demise of another newspaper in the throes of “downsizing” by its parent group, The Tribune Company who finds itself in Chapter 11 purgatory.

I recently learned through a colleague that the Minneapolis Star Tribune is also in bankruptcy proceedings after having been purchased by a larger news organization a few years ago. Honestly, I got a bit of smug satisfaction in learning that bit of information, given my experiences with the “Strib” during my Northfield Days. It did get me thinking though if the theories about the race of the consumers away from print media to the mindless world of Google and Yahoo for their news source are valid.

I freely admit that my expertise in reference work came from the periodical index reference books in the hard cover editions in the library: writing down the reference numbers and soliciting the assistance of the librarians to find the text or magazines. There is still something enjoyable about the smell of a good magazine that is about 20 years old and the satisfaction of actually taking notes after reading the articles for reference, rather than cutting and pasting the information. I know that the most recent APA style affords the ability of referencing URLs and that’s fine, but back to the topic of why I think the print newspapers are having a hard time.

Could it be that it’s not so much about reader access? Could it be that it’s not really about reader time constraints? I wonder if it might be more along the lines of the same disillusionment that I’m witnessing with any variety of issues in our daily lives. In today’s Emporia Gazette, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., of the Miami Herald commented on the difference between celebrity and being notorious. Pitts Jr. used the example of celebrity movie stars versus the recent attempt of disgraced former Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich’s attempt to land a spot on a NBC reality program. Is it perchance the fact that, as Pitts Jr. indicates, the line between being recognized as notorious and being recognized as a celebrity or even someone of a position of respect has been blurred?

I think that the business of reporting the news has become a business that just happens to represent itself as reporting the news. Perhaps the concept of the one person, small town newspaper business succeeded because it was the primary news source. Heck sometimes it was the only official news source. It was the place to secure the facts because the person reporting the facts was directly accountable to his clientele as often was the case with the tar and feather approach and a rail when the community didn’t always like the truth or agree with the editor/publisher. As technology grew, there were consolidated news agencies like the Associated Press to provide the news away from home. Somewhere along the way, the individual newspapers figured it was sexier to have their own reporters on the scene in the distant bureaus rather than relying on their peers. “Scooping” became an international game and has taken it’s toll I think. The bigger papers fought the gangs, the bad politicians and have unearthed some pretty sophisticated bad guys over the years; they also promoted racism, segregation, xenophobia and scared the hell out of people when communists were reported on every corner during the 1950’s.

Maybe a little more passion on the part of the editor to seek the truth, expose the emperor when he has no clothes and challenge the intellect of the readers could bring the readers back whether it is through print or through IPod. I submit we need the truth, even when it hurts. That takes courage, ethics and a willingness to lay it on the line. I think that is why there are a lot of media outlets in Chapter 11 and why the AP finds itself reporting as news the demise of the very tool in which we have always received the news.

Spring Rain Storms

2009-04-18T22:49:00.002-05:00

There was some thunder off in the distance this evening and the slight hint of rain in the air. It brings to mind the memories of staying at my grandmother's home back in Nebraska. My grandparents had 15 acres left of their farm after retirement. I've written before about some of the experiences but this one came to mind tonight.

I recall sleeping in one of the south upstairs bedrooms. One with a feather mattress and a sloped ceiling leading into an attic storage area. There was a gas stove for heat in the winter and large, long, rectangular windows to keep things cool in the summer. On this June evening, one could smell the dirt in the fields, recently tilled. It's a sweet scent when mixed with a hint of moisture. The aroma of the fields found its way into the room by the soft breeze blowing from the south that night.

The white sheer curtains moved in rhythm of the the breeze as soft crack of thunder began to echo off in the distance. As the thunder cadence became more regular and closer, the wind got cooler and the sound of rain began to pelt the roof of the house. Off in the distance you could hear the sounds of birds making their displeasure known of their interrupted sleep and the rain came down and the thunder and lightning rolled by.

The pelting of the rain and the soft rhythm of the wind, the rain and the smell of the freshness of a new season teased me into a soft state of slumber as I drifted off to sleep.

Many of you will probably scoff at this experience. Unless you've lived a summer storm on the prairie, it's hard to describe. For those who have; you already know.

Grapes of Wrath

2009-03-08T23:01:00.003-05:00

There are a lot of folks out there talking about parallels to the 1930's and what is called the "Great Depression." Take a minute and click here to watch a clip from the movie "Grapes of Wrath." John Steinbeck was the author of the book of the same name. Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors.

After the Wall Street crash of 1929, there was a lot of optimism. John D. Rockefeller commented that all through his life there was always tough times but prosperity always followed. Small consolation for folks like the ones portrayed in Steinbeck's book. I remember my grandparents telling me what it was like as young adults growing up during that time. My parents were born in the early 1930's and told me of the difficult times they had; although they were quick to add that living in the middle of the country, as tough as it was, they still had gardens, food to eat, schools to go to and friends and family to help each other through. Those stuck in larger cities didn't have the luxury. Those who faced foreclosure on homes and farms didn't have that luxury and often found themselves at the doorsteps of friends and family, if they were lucky.

Those facing losing their homes and or their jobs probably don't have time to reflect on how history often repeats itself. The excesses of the 1920's: the blind eye turned by those in charge not dealing with the looming crisis of inflated stocks and crazy buying....focus on profit for shareholders rather than investment in the future and employees. One of my grandfathers worked much longer into his late 60's because he lost his first pension because of the depression in the 30's. I suspect there will be those these today who will find themselves in that same position.

If one looks a bit farther down the road, historically speaking, you will find that the recovery of the 40's was later offset by the depression of the 50's: again following a postwar reduction in jobs and factory production. Ironically, I find the interest in community gardens and shared purchase of beef and other products and access to farmers' markets reminiscent of the Victory Gardens of the WWII era.

There were movie celebrities who openly urged Americans to buy war bonds to help fund the war effort and ease the national debt.

At church today, our pastor talked about helping out each other and how the difference just one person makes can have a exponential impact on others. Perhaps now is the time to take that lesson to heart. Volunteer, give of your time and resources if you can so 60 years from now, our grand kids and great grand kids can say we did it right.

Yet Another Example That Truth is Stranger Than Fiction

2009-01-26T19:54:00.003-06:00

This news article linked from Fox News outlines a story where a woman shot her boyfriend because he would not let her sleep. It would be funny if it wasn't for the seriousness of a person using a firearm to resolve an issue that should have been resolved with reason and intelligent conversation. Just another reason why law enforcement officers have to exercise so much caution in dealing with reports of domestic violence.

Martin Luther King Jr.

2009-01-19T06:32:00.000-06:00

Today we mark the birthday of a truly great American. Dr. King contributed much to our society and our way of life. His non-violence message resonates yet today. I remember standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC a few years ago in the very location marked there as the place Dr. King gave his remarkable speech so many years ago. As a kid, I remember how I was struck by the words "I have a dream..."

Take time to remember Dr. King today and the legacy he has provided us.

Nunsense

2009-01-18T18:16:00.004-06:00

Ruth and I had the opportunity to attend Nunsense this afternoon at the Granada Theater here in Emporia. Sally Struthers and the rest of the cast played to a packed audience of over 800 in attendance. We knew it was going to be a full house when we arrived about an hour early and the line to get into the theatre was already wrapped completely around the block.

The Granada has quite a history here in Emporia and its restoration has been amazing. I'd encourage you to visit their website and read the chronicles that brought the facility back to its glory.

Missing Person – Adji Desir

2009-01-17T16:33:00.003-06:00

January 10, 2009
Immokalee, Florida

ADJI DESIR

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth:

October 15, 2002

Place of Birth:

Naples, Florida

Sex:

Male

Hair:

Black

Height:

3'0"

Eyes:

Brown

Weight:

45 pounds

Race:

Black (Haitian descent)

THE DETAILS

Adji Desir has been missing from outside his grandmother's residence in Immokalee, Florida, since Saturday, January 10, 2009, at approximately 5:30 p.m.. Adji reportedly went outside to play with neighborhood kids after dinner. He was reported missing a little while later and his whereabouts remain unknown.

REMARKS

Adji was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers. He is mentally handicapped and functions at a two-year-old level. He has very limited vocabulary and is non-verbal.

REWARD

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Adji Desir.

Individuals with information concerning this case should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the Collier County, Florida Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the FBI's toll-free hotline at 1-866-838-1153, or the nearest FBI Office or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate.

Police Officer Deaths

2009-01-10T10:41:00.005-06:00

The 2009 officer fatality report states that police officer deaths were down in 2008 compared to 2007. There were 140 officer deaths in 2008 compared to 181 in 2007. Although it is good the number of officers killed in the line of duty is smaller, it is still tragic that so many police officers are killed each year. This article from Fox News does a good job of reporting the information.

It is a stark reminder that police work is inherently dangerous. There are other occupations where dedicated folks are placed in danger but outside of the military, only law enforcement are charged to deal with armed confrontations and deal with situations that are required to intervene and have the authority to use deadly force.

12 Year Old Missing for 10 Years Without Reported Missing

2009-01-06T11:00:00.000-06:00

A 12 year old Kansas boy, Adam Herrman, has been reported missing after apparently having gone missing nearly 10 years ago. This CNN Article outlines the story.

This story underlines the importance of hotlines and individuals being willing to come forward to report suspicious or concerns, regardless of the amount of time passing or a reluctance to get involved.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children runs a 24 hour a day hotline that can be used for any person at risk or to report any concern an individual might have. You can call their number toll-free at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678) 24-hours a day. You can also report it online live to a real person.

I'm sure that El Dorado and Butler County Officials would appreciate any information that could be provided.

Attempts to Manage Budgets Gut Juvenile Justice Programs

2009-01-06T10:30:00.000-06:00

Most reasonable people would agree that funding prevention and intervention programs for kids at risk is a good idea. Ironically, as the economy slows, states begin the process of slashing programs deemed not necessary to balance budgets or at least slow the hemorrhaging.

This Fox News article pretty much sums up what we can probably expect in the future.

Hopefully people will not repeat the mistakes of the past. Penny-wise, pound foolish in this respect that trying to curb costs now will cost us exponentially later when the services of at risk kids are not met.

Take a minute and go to the Fight Crime: Invest in Kids website and review the correlation between high school dropout rates and jail incarceration. Also review how the pre-K investment pays future dividends.

Government to Judge "Bernard Madoff Goes To Jail"

2009-01-05T21:55:00.005-06:00

This article details the alleged antics of Bernard Madoff, the individual who is accused of bilking billions, yes, I said billions of dollars from his previous investment customers. It's an interesting read as to the allegations of what the government told the judge at the hearing that Mr. Madoff is allegedly doing to apparently isolate and protect some of his assets from seizure.

The Ultimate Stress Reliever: SPECIAL REQUEST

2009-01-03T00:11:00.000-06:00

The Ultimate Stress Reliever: SPECIAL REQUEST

You’re Not A Cop Until You Taste Them

2009-01-02T23:56:00.004-06:00

Every now and then, an event brings this work to my mind. I want to share it with you again. It's a good reminder of the challenges of police work and the terrible emotional toll it can take on officers and their families.

###

The department was all astir, there was a lot of laughing and joking due to all the new officers, myself included, hitting the streets today for the first time. After months of seemingly endless amounts of classes, paperwork, and lectures we were finally done with the Police Academy and ready to join the ranks of our department.

All you could see were rows of cadets with huge smiles and polished badges. As we sat in the briefing room, we could barely sit still anxiously awaiting our turn to be introduced and given our beat assignment or, for the lay person, our own portion of the city to "serve and protect."

It was then that he walked in. A statue of a man - 6 foot 3 and 230 pounds of solid muscle, he had black hair with highlights of gray and steely eyes that make you feel nervous even when he wasn't looking at you. He had a reputation for being the biggest and the smartest officer to ever work our fair city. He had been on the department for longer than anyone could remember and those years of service had made him into somewhat of a legend.

The new guys, or "rookies" as he called us, both respected and feared him. When he spoke even the most seasoned officers paid attention. It was almost a when one the rookies got to be around when he would tell one of his police stories about the old days. But we knew our place and never interrupted for fear of being shooed away. He was respected and revered by all who knew him.

After my first year on the department I still had never heard or saw him speak to any of the rookies for any length of time. When he did speak to them all he would say was, "So, you want to be a policeman do you hero?" I'll tell you what, when you can tell me what they taste like, then you can call yourself a real policeman."

This particular phrase I had heard dozens of times. Me and my buddies all had bets about "what they taste like" actually referred to. Some believed it referred to the taste of your own blood after a hard fight. Others thought it referred to the taste of sweat after a long day's work. Being on the department for a year, I thought I knew just about everyone and everything.

So one afternoon, I mustered up the courage and walked up to him. When he looked down at me, I said "You know, I think I've paid my dues. I've been in plenty of fights, made dozens of arrests, and sweated my butt off just like everyone else. So what does that little saying of yours mean anyway?" With that, he merely stated, "Well, seeing as how you've said and done it all, you tell me what it means, hero." When I had no answer, he shook his head and snickered, "rookies," and walked away.

The next evening was to be the worst one to date. The night started out slow, but as the evening wore on, the calls became more frequent and dangerous. I made several small arrests and then had a real knock down drag out fight. However, I was able to make the arrest without hurting the suspect or myself. After that, I was looking forward to just letting the shift wind down and getting home to my wife and daughter.

I had just glanced at my watch and it was 11:55, five more minutes and I would be on my way to the house. I don't know if it was fatigue or just my imagination, but as I drove down one of the streets on my beat, I thought I saw my daughter standing on someone else's porch. I looked again but it was not my daughter as I had first thought but merely a small child about her age. She was probably only six or seven years old and dressed in an oversized shirt that hung to her feet. She was clutching an old rag doll in her arms that looked older than me.

I immediately stopped my patrol car to see what she was doing outside her house at such an hour by herself. When I approached, there seemed to be a sigh of relief on her face. I had to laugh to myself, thinking she sees the hero policeman come to save the day. I knelt at her side and asked what she was doing outside.

She said "My mommy and daddy just had a really big fight and now mommy won't wake up." My mind was reeling. Now what do I do? I instantly called for backup and ran to the nearest window. As I looked inside I saw a man standing over a lady with his hands covered in blood, her blood. I kicked open the door, pushed the man aside and checked for a pulse, but unable to find one. I immediately cuffed the man and began doing CPR on the lady.

It was then I heard a small voice from behind me, "Mr. Policeman, please make my mommy wake up." I continued to perform CPR until my backup and medics arrived but they said it was too late. She was dead. I then looked at the man. He said, "I don't know what happened. She was yelling at me to stop drinking and go get a job and I had just had enough. I just shoved her so she would leave me alone and she fell and hit her head." As I walked the man out to the car in handcuffs, I again saw that little girl. In the five minutes that has passed, I went from hero to monster. Not only was I unable to wake up her mommy, but now I was taking daddy away too.

Before I left the scene, I thought I would talk to the little girl. To say what, I don't know. Maybe just to tell her I was sorry about her mommy and daddy. But as I approached, she turned away and I knew it was useless and I would probably make it worse.

As I sat in the locker room at the station, I kept replaying the whole thing in my mind. Maybe if I would have been faster or done something different, just maybe that little girl would still have her mother. And even though it may sound selfish, I would still be the hero. It was then that I felt a large hand on my shoulder. I heard that all too familiar question again, "Well, hero, what do they taste like?"

But before I could get mad or shout some sarcastic remark, I realized that all the pent up emotions had flooded the surface and there was a steady stream of tears cascading down my face. It was at that moment that I realized what the answer to his question was.

Tears.

With that, he began to walk away, but he stopped. "You know, there was nothing you could have done differently," he said. "Sometimes you can do everything right and still the outcome is the same. You may not be the hero you once thought you were, but now you ARE a police officer."

UNKNOWN AUTHOR

Alcohol

2009-01-01T13:50:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine sent me the following from MADD.

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL
Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Even if you make smart decisions about alcohol, that doesn’t mean that other people around you will. Imagine for a moment that you go to a party where there’s alcohol, and like a lot of other people, you decided to hang out but not drink. What if one of your friends makes a different choice and ends up drinking way too much? What should you do? What can you do?

First of all, if the person drinking has car keys anywhere on them – you should take them away. Make sure those keys stay with someone who is and will stay completely sober. Next, don’t let your friend have any more to drink! Stay with them at all times. Even if they stop drinking they won’t sober up right away.

There are a lot of myths floating around about ways to help a person sober up, drinking alcohol and what it can do to your body. Check out the real story. And the next time someone tries these lines on you, you’ll know your stuff.

Myth: It’s none of my business if a friend is drinking too much.
Fact: If you are a real friend, it is your business. Talk to them. Maybe they’ll listen. But never get into a car if the driver’s been drinking.

Myth: It’s okay to drink underage as long as I don’t drive.
Fact: Negative. Drinking any amount of alcohol underage is illegal. The minimum drinking age is 21 --- the law in all 50 states.

Myth: Someone can have a few drinks and drive safely.
Fact: Not on your life. Alcohol slows down your ability to think, speak and move. The safest way home is to drive sober or ride with someone who’s sober.

Myth: It’s just beer. It can’t hurt me.
Fact: All alcohol can cause brain damage, especially to brains still developing through age 20. Large amounts of alcohol can also do major damage to your digestive system, heart, liver, stomach and other critical organs as well as losing years from your life.

Myth: The worst thing that can happen is a raging hangover.
Fact: Sorry. If you drink enough alcohol, fast enough, you can get an amount in your body that can kill you in only a few hours.

Myth: A cold shower or a cup of coffee will sober me up.
Fact: Nope. Nothing sobers you up but time. It takes at least an hour for your body to get rid of one drink of alcohol. Nothing can speed it up. Not a shower, coffee, eating, throwing up, nothing.

Myth: You’ll get drunk a lot faster with hard alcohol than with a beer or wine cooler.
Fact: Whatever! The percent of alcohol in your blood is what determines how drunk you are. Not the flavors you selected. Alcohol is alcohol.

Myth: Switching between beer, wine and liquor will make you more drunk than sticking to one type of alcohol.
Fact: No, it’s the size that matters. One “drink” equals one 12-ounce can or bottle of beer, one five-ounce glass of wine or one-and-a-half-ounces of hard liquor. They all have the same amount of alcohol in them. So if someone drinks a 40-ounce bottle of beer, it’s actually more like three-and-a-half drinks, not one!

Myth: Everybody reacts the same to alcohol.
Fact: Not hardly. There are dozens of factors that affect reactions to alcohol – body weight, time of day, what you’ve eaten recently, how you feel mentally, body chemistry, your expectations, and list goes on and on.

Myth: Alcohol makes you more sexy.
Fact: The more you drink, the less you think. Alcohol may loosen you up and make someone more interested in sex, but it interferes with the body’s ability to perform. Then there’s pregnancy, AIDS, sexual assault and more to worry about. Not sexy at all.

Myth: A “blackout” is the same thing as “passing out.”
Fact: Think again. During blackouts, people appear to be awake and acting normally. The scary part is people who drink enough to have a blackout will do things they wouldn’t usually do, and the next day they don’t remember anything.

Myth: It’s okay to let drunk people “sleep it off.”
Fact: Sometimes it can seem like a person has just fallen asleep, when actually, they drank so much they are unconscious. If you can’t wake a person up, or they’re semi-conscious but can’t actually snap out it, the situation is very dangerous. Don’t let them lie on their back or else they could choke on their own vomit. Instead roll them on their side and call for help.

Myth: Drugs are a bigger problem than alcohol.
Fact: No way. Alcohol is a drug. More young people die from alcohol than all other illicit drugs combined.

Myth: People who drink only hurt themselves.
Fact: You can make some big mistakes when you drink and some consequences can last a
lifetime for you and those you love. Every person who drinks has a mother, grandfather, sister, aunt, best friend, boyfriend or someone who worries about them and can be impacted by your actions.

Bottom line: Trust your gut instincts. If it seems bad, it probably is. Don’t be afraid to call for help.

A little trouble is better than you or your friend being injured or dead

Officer Memorial

2008-12-31T00:32:00.001-06:00

Police Officer Mason Samborski, 28, of the Oak Park, Michigan Police Department was shot and killed on December 28, 2008 while conducting an investigation following a traffic stop.

Officer Samborski had served law enforcement for 4 years. He is survived by his wife and child.

Be Careful This Week

2008-12-29T21:21:00.004-06:00

If you are going to imbibe
Don't drink and drive.