My family, my story, another young life lost.

[Loki]

Over twenty years ago, my cousin Katie was in her car with her three children. She had just fled her abusive husband and was trying to reach the safety of her parents house in Rozwell, NM, when she was stopped by a policeman for what he said was erratic driving and told to exit the vehicle. Knowing her long history with her domestic situation , a history of manic depression and a very real sense of frustration because the efforts to stop the abuse with numerous restraining orders had never worked, she exited that car and never came back. She was shot several times by the police officer in front of her children and this wound to our family has never healed. The officer was never charged, she had no weapon and the only thing she had was her sense of abandonment by this system: one who would gladly stop her because she was traumatized from the event she just left, but not bother to protect her from it happening, but be the judge, jury and executioner of her life story.

Kate was born in Laos and my aunt and uncle who were stationed there in the military, adopted her and brought her home to the US. She became a US citizen on my birthday. As she grew, she looked Native American and because it was in the 60's, my very white aunt and uncle found that racism isn't an abstract idea, they lived it every day. When they retired, they thought that moving to a state like New Mexico, might make their lives and Kate's easier, but it wasn't. The years of rejection from a society that sees difference as a reason to allow abuse by the powerful is still happening to families today. The pain that the Mike Brown's family is feeling is something I am unfortunately familiar with, and it has to stop. This event is too close to home. I live in Missouri and have almost all my life. I don't see a good end to this. Too many good people are remaining silent and allowing those with the loudest voices to blame the oppressed for their oppression, and thus whatever punishment is delivered, is surely the “justice” they deserved. My aunt and uncle never recovered from this, and I know that scar still remains on my heart.

I sat on our couch the other night with our young grandson, who is 21 years old, white and works the evening shift for a contractor for the Department of Homeland Security. He's been stopped/harassed by the police on his way home from work for no reason except he's young and male and out at a time of night that presumes guilt. I don't want him to become a statistic, so we talked about how to behave when confronted by a police stop. As parents, is this really the future we want for our children?

Become the change we need. Write your congressmen and women and demand that police departments outfit all their officers with video cameras that can't be turned off. Openness is the disinfectant this sickness in our society needs. If we remain silent, we must be willing to accept the consequences. I will not be silent.

Peace,
Lee

[Suich]

1. I'm so sorry about your cousin, Loki.

Thank you for this post.

[freshwest]

2. Loki, my words would be inadequate. Only deeds will change this. But I'm sorry for your family.

[niyad]

3. I am so very sorry for your loss. and you are correct, we CANNOT be silent.

[Mnemosyne]

4. So sorry about Katie, Loki. K&R for more eyes. nt

[Half-Century Man]

5. I wonder how our police would act if sidearms were issued at the completion of their fifth year?

If the potential for lethal force was the burden of experienced officers.

[Shemp Howard]

8. That's in interesting idea.

Most police are armed with pepper spray, a taser, and a baton along with a firearm.

Maybe five years in service without a firearm would give a new cop an appreciation of non-lethal methods. But just to be on the safe side, pair the new cop with a seasoned veteran who has a firearm.

[Half-Century Man]

10. I'm talking common carry.

Firearms could be kept locked in the car and accessible via an onstar type system.

Chest cams, an enlistment age of 21, demilitarize, Laws limiting the use of no-knock warrants, the repeal of the patriot act, the redaction of the Department of Fatherland Security, The abolishment of every single Human Resources department in every branch of government and replacing it with a personnel dept (Good government relies on recognizing people are citizens not a commodity to be used up and disposed of when deemed spent), etc..... lots of things are movement in the right direction.

[calimary]

6. So sad. So unfair. Thank you for sharing this with us, Loki.

I'm so sorry your family had to endure this. I can't imagine the pain. And you're spot-on. WE CANNOT BE SILENT. If WE don't speak up, the other side gets to monopolize the discourse (including any available camera and/or microphone).

[Tumbulu]

7. Such a horrible thing to happen!

I wonder if this police officer was a friend of the abusive husband.....

You are so right, we must continue to act!

[Boreal]

9. I'm sorry for Katie

her children and all who loved her and had their lives shattered by a psycho cop. And to think he got away with it, as they usually do, is disgusting.

I notice you say your grandson is white and gets harassed. death (and beatings) by cop can happen to anyone. While there certainly is a racial component in some cases, it's not always the case. Not by a long shot. The police state sees everyone of us as the enemy. IMO, it's a mistake to make this all about race. Kelly Thomas was white and his father was a retired cop and they still beat him to death as he begged and screamed for his dad. People of all colors and social status need to come together and support each other against this enemy in our midst.

[Loki]

11. Thank you everyone for your kind comments.

Talking about this incident openly for the first time with people outside my family has been good for me. We have to do better. I read a story about a retired Lt. Colonel and his 21 year old son who was murdered by police in Wisconsin. The officer thought he had reached for his gun, but the reality was it caught on the door. His son was executed with with bullet to his head. Now because of his activism, no incident of gun violence by police goes un-investigated and by an agency outside the department. We have allowed them to investigate themselves to the detriment of the lives and safety of the people they are to serve and protect.

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/08/what-i-did-after-police-killed-my-son-110038.html#.U_OuvCiifXV