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THE THIN BLUE LINE IS CRACKING, AND WHO CAN BLAME THEM? |
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by R. J. Eskow
September 05, 2005 at 12:32 PM How can a human being cope with this level of stress? In the past few days, two police officers took their own lives and dozens have turned in their badges. New Orleans Deputy Police Chief W.J. Riley on Sunday identified two officers who committed suicide as Sgt. Paul Accardo, the department's spokesman, and Patrolman Lawrence Celestine. He called both "outstanding cops" and friends. "Both of them," he said, shaking his head slowly. "Used their own guns." How do you fight the despair? How could Sgt. Accardo speak on behalf of a Police Department that lacks the tools and assistance it needs to protect and serve? Several dozen of the city's 1,600 police officers have failed to report for duty, and some have turned in their badges. Published reports put the number as high as 200, but Riley declined to comment on those figures, saying more than 100 officers may have been trapped in their own homes or unable to reach command centers. Personal fears and an overwhelming sense of helplessness stalks these officers, too: "What's affected most of our officers is they don't know where their wives or kids are. They don't have homes ... They don't have anything," Riley said. On top of the burdens of law enforcement, officers have had to forage for food and water and even for places to relieve themselves ... "The most stressing part is seeing the citizens we serve every day being treated like refugees," Riley said. "There were cops walking through the crowd at the convention center and people were coming up to beg for food. Not being able to help is a difficult thing. People were calling our names because we know them and to not be able to help, man, that's stressful." The best way to fight hopelessness is through the clear and certain knowledge that help is coming, and that tomorrow will be better than today. The first responders of Louisiana and Mississippi are not being given that comfort. Empty press conferences, Potemkin-style photo ops, and excuses take the place of trust in the government's ability and will to act. Rest in peace, Officers Accardo and Celestine. We appreciate all your hard work, and offer you our belated thanks. |
