Condolences for fallen officer
Asentiment this week from Tulsa police Chief Wendell Franklin bears noting amid widespread criticism of police work and calls to defund police departments.
“Every time I put this uniform on, I remember the last part of our oath … and that says `with my life if need be,'” said Franklin, who is Black. “This uniform is just that: It's a uniform. Inside of this uniform is just a regular person. I'm just like you and we are just like you. The only difference is we do a different job than what you do.”
One member of Franklin's department died this week doing the job. Sgt. Craig Johnson, 45, a 15-year member of the force, was shot several times early Monday while assisting with a traffic stop. He died Tuesday. Also wounded was Officer Aurash Zarkeshan, 26, who made the initial stop.
Gov. Kevin Stitt was among the many elected officials who decried the shooting.
“Our law enforcement officers need the support of their community now more than ever,” Stitt said, “and I encourage Oklahomans to find ways to show their support for those who keep them protected.”
Are there bad police officers? Of course, and they should be rooted out. However, as this page has written many times, the great majority of police do their often-dangerous jobs professionally and well, and they merit our gratitude and respect. We extend our condolences to Sgt. Johnson's family.
Nation's capital flyover includes Oklahoma crew
A flyover Saturday in Washington, D.C., to salute Independence Day will include at least one aircraft from Oklahoma. The World War II-era Douglas A-26B “Invader,” a twin-engine attack bomber, is housed at Woodring Regional Airport in Enid and makes most of its appearances at air shows in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas. The six- to eightperson crew, members of the Commemorative Air Force, includes residents of Oklahoma City, Enid and Yukon. The aging plane takes a lot of work to keep it flying, and the crew is always in the market for tax-deductible donations. “Including total annual maintenance, it takes about 50 hours of maintenance to fly the aircraft for one hour during the air show season,” says crew member Dick Seabrook. Those interested in helping can contact Seabrook at (405) 936-0556 or write to him at 5809 Mistletoe Court, Oklahoma City, 73142. Meantime, we congratulate the crew for its appearance in the nation's capital.
Encouraging news on the U.S. jobs front
The United States can use a little good news, and the latest unemployment report provides a welcome dose. The Labor Department says the U.S. economy added 4.8 million jobs in June and that the unemployment rate fell to 11%. Economists had expected a 2.9 million increase and an unemployment rate of 12.4%. Biggest gains came in the leisure and hospitality industries, which were hard hit by COVID-19 shutdowns and are rebounding as states reopen. Unemployment among Blacks fell to 15.4%, compared with 16.8% in May. White and Hispanic unemployment rates dropped, too. The labor force participation rate rose. One downer in the report is that 2.8 million Americans permanently lost their job in June. On the whole, though, the news is encouraging. Here's to more of it in the months ahead.
Unfounded concerns about eroding abortion rights
The U.S. Supreme Court this week struck down abortion restrictions in Louisiana, where the law required practitioners to have admitting privileges at a hospital no farther than 30 miles from the abortion clinic. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court's four liberal justices in the 5-4 ruling. They said Louisiana's law was comparable to a Texas law that the Supreme Court had rejected in 2016 for imposing a “substantial obstacle” to abortion. The Louisiana law “imposes a burden on access to abortion just as severe as that imposed by the Texas law,” Roberts wrote. During the debate over the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative, to the court in 2018, abortion-rights groups said the appointment would mean a sure end to abortion protections. Those concerns are proving again and again to be overwrought.