Media should look at victims’ backgrounds

During my time in law enforcement, I sadly served with three of our fallen officers. I attended the Border Patrol Academy at Los Fresnos, Texas (near Brownsville) with Richard Lugo. He was killed when his Scout overturned on the Levee Road, while on patrol. Gary Maas worked for me prior to my retirement and was one of my best officers, being a Marine veteran, was always ready for action. He was murdered while answering a suspicious persons call at the Greyhound Depot. Two murder suspect brothers confronted him with guns. Gary was able to kill one, but a freak bullet wound bypassed his body armor and struck his heart. A “Bleeding Heart” judge only gave the other brother a “life” sentence (justice?). Danny Elkins worked for me as a field training officer and did an outstanding job. The last time I saw and talked to him was at Hookers Shooting Palace, where I worked as an instructor. I noticed he wasn’t wearing a weapon and remarked upon that. He by then was a lieutenant and replied that being in “administration” he didn’t need a gun. Sadly, on the night he and Sgt. Crow were murdered, he was unarmed. This city, state and country lost out on great potential from all of these fallen heroes. But today, the lame stream press would rather sensationalize misdeeds by the occasional “bad” cop. I served 28 years in law enforcement and never abused my authority, nor allowed those under me to do so. If people would investigate the backgrounds of these so-called “victims” they would probably change their minds about who was the victim.

KEN SIPES

Yuma