Compassionate Friends:
If your child or sibling has died in one of society’s less “acceptable” ways-by suicide, murder, alcoholism, from a drug overdose, AIDS or sexually transmitted diseases or in prison do
know that TCF does not accept society’s stigmas. There is no room for blame or condemnation when all our hearts are aching for the children we no longer have. We honor your child and your grief, no matter the cause of death.

Similarly, if you are a parent or sibling who may feel “other” in our oft-judgmental society, please know that you will not be “other” in
TCF. We welcome you with understanding and compassion, whatever your age, your race, your ethnicity, whether you are rich or poor, married
or single, gay or straight, whatever your eligion or lack of religion. We welcome you.

Hopefully, the family can find some support through this tragedy.

no they didn’t

Why were you not armed as the second amendment gives you the right to be sheltie? Cops are reactionary at best and should not be relied upon in thses cases. It is not illegal or unlawful to be on the streets of America at anytime of night. So it doesn’t matter. Cop killed this kid.

So why didn’t the kid just stop when he was asked by the officer to stop?  I’m sorry he died but when are people going to listen.

Yes,haters will continue to hate. But for those of us who love and support our LEO’s,we will continue to try to show “the rest of the story.” Nightowl2552-sorry I left you out of my GREAT comments remark earlier. Guess my brain wasn’t functioning yet-but I’m with ya! You are right about the pay-my husband has been LE for 23 years now, and still works OT and extra jobs. Sometimes, I wish he would find another line of work-less stress,more money,better hours,more time with me and the kids…but I know this is his passion and calling,as much as my job is to me. Tell your son to stay safe and glad to know you are part of the LE “family.”

You know,it would be nice if WKRG put up the positive stories too. How about that report last night on the Officer of the month,and all the GOOD he did! Great job,Devon! We love ya (and the rest of your family dude!)

Thank you sheltie. 

Rm, the haters will always hate.  That’s how they got their name.  We can’t change them with reasonable arguments.  There’s something personal in the way, and they don’t hear anything else. Just like sheltie said he’s been on the wrong end of a thug, maybe they’ve been harrassed by a bully cop a few times. 

I guess I think it’s pretty pointless for any of us to berate people in grief, right?  This makes no sense to them right now. You’re right, rm.  It doesn’t matter how your loved one dies.  You struggle to find anything to make sense of it. I hope even the cop, who’s probably feeling awful too, would understand that.  As for the civil rights group????  Back off till we need ya!

Whether it is a death from SIDS,a child killed in an auto accident,or one who is killed directly from their actions-even if justified-this stuff hits them hard. I seriously doubt this officer will EVER forget that night. I bet he is asking is own “what ifs.” And I bet it will be something he keeps in the back of his head and heart forever.

I too would like to know though-exactly what the haters (Dougie) would like the cops to do? Fire them all? Let the thugs rule the streets?

Bless the family of the teen, and bless the cop and his family (real and LE) also.

Wow-I wish I’d stayed up all night now! GREAT comments from all since I was last here-sheltiedad,ickthus,lovepeace and southfan. To put in my 2 cents or so worth…I think anytime we lose someone unexpectedly and/or tragically,we want answers. Sometimes, you never get them. Or you get an answer,but it makes you ask the “what ifs.” I can understand the mom’s point in that. It’s not going to bring him back. But “maybe” it will help her find peace. I hope that most people realize that the cops don’t WANT to hurt someone. They would like them to obey the law,and not have to stop them to begin with. More time for Krispy Kreme,ya know. (Completely kidding) Seriously though,they would rather have a nice conversation with someone about their activities,or a simple peaceful arrest-WITHOUT all the drama,because drama means MORE paperwork,investigations, headaches you can live without. To kill someone in the line of duty-tough stuff there. These guys and gals aren’t robotic killing machines. They are human,with feelings, and with families. This officer could have a teenager himself,or teenage brother/sister. Don’t you think they see the kid that died,as “that kid is the same age as…” Don’t you think it will be with him for the rest of his life. I know grown,macho, dudes who have cried over the loss of a child.One’s you would never expect (mine included). continued…

nightowl, thanks for your comments, I agree.  Thank your son for me for being a police officer.  I wish him well and will pray for his safety.

I am pro-police and not ashamed of it.  Until you have been on the wrong end of a thug with a gun, twice in my case, you grow to appreciate the man with a badge and a hopefully a big gun.

Back in the nineties, I had a teenage thug try to hold up my business.  While he held a gun on me, one of my employees pressed a silent alarm and nodded at me.  I managed to stall him until two cops arrived.  The thug ran with one cop after him.  He turned and slugged the cop who went down.  The other one took off after him with hand on his gun.  Though I am sure he wanted to pull the weapon, he persisted and finally got the guy in cuffs. 

As he was 17, there was the expected momma talking to the news and momma’s preacher carried on about the evil police. 

Kid went to juvie for a few months, then got out and was soon arrested again.

Maybe not in this case, but teen violence is a crisis.  This cop did not know why he was running, or why he was bicycling the streets after midnight.  And because of his lack of respect for LE, his family is mourning his loss.