Officer Down

Correctional Officer Sheila Rivera
Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Corrections, Illinois
End of Watch Sunday, April 19, 2020
Age 47
Tour 7 years
Badge 16967
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Monday, April 6, 2020

Correctional Officer Sheila Rivera died after contracting COVID-19 during an outbreak among inmates and correctional staff at the Cook County Jail at 2650 S. California Avenue in Chicago.

Officer Rivera had served with the Cook County Sheriff's Office - Department of Corrections for seven years and had previously served with the Choctaw Nation Police Department in Mississippi. She is survived by her husband and son.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Justin Putnam
San Marcos Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, April 18, 2020
Age 31
Tour 5 years, 6 months
Badge 442

Police Officer Justin Putnam was shot and killed when he and other officers responded to a domestic assault incident at an apartment complex in the 2900 block of Hunter Road at 6:15 p.m.

As the officers entered the apartment they were ambushed by a male subject with a rifle. Officer Putnam was killed and two other officers were wounded but survived.

The subject, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who was wearing body armor, committed suicide after shooting the officers.

Officer Putnam had served with the San Marcos Police Department for 5-1/2 years. He is survived by his fiancee, sister, and other family members.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Ronald Newman
Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch Friday, April 17, 2020
Age 59
Tour 19 years
Badge 6622
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Sunday, March 22, 2020
Communicable Disease, COVID-19

Police Officer Ronald Newman died as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Officer Newman had served with the Chicago Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the 4th District. He is survived by his wife and two children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Detective Alex Ruperto
Union City Police Department, New Jersey
End of Watch Thursday, April 16, 2020
Age 52
Tour 21 years
Badge 335
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Detective Alex Ruperto died after contracting COVID-19 while performing patrol duties.

Detective Ruperto had served with the Union City Police Department for 21 years. He is survived by his two adult children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Ladies and gentlemen, Don Rickles...

I've had a rough few weeks, and a friend put out a roast of Frank Senatra. The man of the hour was being punctured by Mr Warmth himself, Don Rickels. A man who can insult you all night, and all you say is, "More! More!"

Unfortunately the man died last year. I really wanted to see him live before he passed. but there is always YouTube, and great memories. Don Rickles' opeing on Saturday Night Live. Enjoy.

Officer Down

Sergeant Joseph Spinosa
Sands Point Police Department, New York
End of Watch Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Age 52
Tour 19 years
Badge 119
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Friday, March 27, 2020

Sergeant Joseph Spinosa died as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Sergeant Spinosa had served with the Sands Point Police Department for 19 years. He is survived by his mother.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Police Officer Jose Fontanez
Boston Police Department, Massachusetts
End of Watch Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Age 53
Tour 29 years
Badge 10711
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Friday, April 3, 2020

Police Officer Jose Fontanez died as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Officer Fontanez had served with the Boston Police Department for 29 years and was assigned to District E-13 (Jamaica Plain). He is survived by his wife, four children, and one grandchild.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Some serious nerd porn...

More unrealistic than the original.

Back in the 70s, Gerry and Sylvia Anderson had two science fiction series that did not last long in their initial run, but have lived for eternity in the TV afterlife, syndication. First was UFO, set in the 80s (the show was broadcast in 1970-71) where aliens kidnapped humans, and Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization battled them. The alien ships were fought single man "Intercepters."

UFO Intercepter 

Well, time went on, the Intercepters were replaced by Hawks,

The Hawk, originated in UFO, but only scene in Space 1999 episode "War Games."

and the series was succeeded by Space 1999. Another piece of nerd porn, gone before its time.

While channel surfing the net, I found this other piece of nerd porn, combing the two series to a degree. Watching it, the thing is more unrealistic than the original concept of Space 1999. But still, it's fun to watch. Enjoy.

Officer Down

Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Ladue
Charleston County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina
End of Watch Monday, April 13, 2020
Age 29
Tour 1 year, 2 months

Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Ladue was killed in a vehicle crash near the intersection of Savannah Highway and Dobbin Road at approximately 1:40 am.

He was on patrol when another vehicle collided with his patrol car. Deputy Ladue, who was not wearing a seatbelt, suffered fatal injuries. The other driver was also killed in the crash.

Deputy Ladue had served with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office for 14 months. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

And another reason Trump won in 2016...

And will likely win this year.

This morning I stood in line for over 45 minutes at one of 122 early voting locations in Harris County Texas. After making it into the polling location, I presented my ID, was given a 4 digit code to enter into the machine, and spent prehaps 5 minutes actually voting. Total time on this effort, just around an hour. Straight Republican ticket.

I've done my part for the republic, and so will my wife soon enough. But I have been received emails from this group, the "Lincoln Project," for months now. I checked Abe's Twitter page, and he ain't happy with these RINOs using his name, just so you know. As I've said about readying the NY Times, it's watching the propaganda of my nation's enemies. And on the subjet of propaganda, there is 60 Minutes and its glowing article on this group. Some excerpts:

The Lincoln Project: Career Republicans call on Americans to vote out President Trump  

A group of longtime Republican strategists who have worked with the likes of John McCain and George W. Bush have launched a scorching campaign against the president. Lesley Stahl reports.

With the president now infected with the novel coronavirus, there isn't much in this election year that can be described as "normal." But among the most abnormal is that a group of lifelong Republicans -- political strategists for Republican candidates for the last 30 years -- have banded together to mount a rogue offensive aimed at defeating the sitting president of their own party.

They call themselves the Lincoln Project. Named for the "Party of Lincoln," which they allege has gone so dangerously astray under President Donald Trump that they've decided to take the strategic and ad-making firepower they've trained for years on Democrats and turn it against their own. And the president's bout with COVID-19 is not slowing them down.

Dan Barkhuff: I'm a pro-life, gun-owning combat veteran.

They've come from the Lincoln Project, trying to convince fellow Republicans...

Narrator: He's a draft dodger in chief who despises the men and women he supposedly leads.

...to elect a Democrat.

DECENCY AD

Narrator: It's time for decency. It's time for Joe Biden...

OK. these are not the first RINOs to try to get a Democrat elected president. The former Secretary of State Colin Powell, the picture of a Republican In Name Only, endoresed Barrack Obama days before the 2008 election. Ironic he stabbed another RINO in the back.

Decency? Excuse me? Joe Biden, decent? Donald Trump is no angle, but when your own running mate says she believes the women who have accused him of sexual harrassment, and worse, he's not that decent.

...Lesley Stahl: How did serious Republicans decide to go rogue?

Steve Schmidt: We all had a conviction that there are millions of Republicans who look at this debacle and reject it. And what we thought we could do is talk to those voters in the language and the iconography that they understand, connect with them, and persuade them, many of them, to vote for the Democratic nominee for the first time in their lives.

Lesley Stahl: Have you lost friends over this?

Steve Schmidt: For sure. Of course.
He launched the Lincoln Project super PAC in December, with seven co-founders including Rick Wilson, media consultant and ad maker for Republicans like Rudy Guiliani and Marco Rubio. Veteran Republican strategist John Weaver, who also worked with McCain and John Kasich

. George Conway, conservative lawyer, and husband of Kellyanne Conway -- herself recently diagnosed with COVID-19 -- and Reed Galen, who worked on both George W. Bush's campaigns. Together, more than 200 years of Republican party activism...

I notice something, they have all worked for RINOs and other republicans who cannot win. In a very heated discussion with a veteran friend of mine, he just didn't get it. He can't understand why we would not follow these idiots as they throw country off the cliff. Yes, the Democrats would thorwn the nation off the cliff in 5th gear. The RINOs (McCain, Jeb!, Rubio, Kasich) would only do it in 1st.

Trump, for his many issues, has kept, or tried to keep, his promises. The border wall, immigration security, tax cuts, getting us out of disasters like the Iran Nuke Deal, or the Paris Climate Pack. His judges have been great, and thanks to him and McConnell, there are no openings on the courts of appeal. Trump's been a disaster on the budget, but so would have been a President Mrs. Bill Clinton. All in all, I'll take Trump.

Mr. Schmidt, please, join Kasich et all and just go to the Democratic Party. We don't need you in the GOP. We have enough losers, and enablers of losers, in the party. Infect the Democrats please.

Officer Down

Police Officer Francesco S. Scorpo
Paterson Police Department, New Jersey
End of Watch Sunday, April 12, 2020
Age 34
Tour 5 years
Badge 4868
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Monday, March 23, 2020

Police Officer Francesco Scorpo died after contracting COVID-19 during a confirmed exposure while on duty at 95 Grand Street.

Officer Scorpo had served with the Paterson Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Sergeant AlTerek Shaundel Patterson
Bedminster Township Police Department, New Jersey
End of Watch Sunday, April 12, 2020
Age 38
Tour 14 years
Badge 33
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Monday, March 30, 2020
Communicable Disease, COVID-19

Sergeant AlTerek Patterson died after contracting COVID-19 during a presumed exposure while on duty.

Sergeant Patterson had served with the Bedminster Township Police Department for 14 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Zombie!

About how I feel after this week.

It has been one long ass week, and I'm very glad to see a three-day weekend in my sight. I'm in a dark mood after this week. I found this classic from The Cranberries by accident, and it was perfect for this Friday.

The first time I saw rock with an orchestra, it was MTV 10 and Aerosmith's class Dream On. Many bands have followed their lead, and this version of Zombie is awesome! The only regrettable thing is Dolores O'Riordan passing two years ago. Another one gone too soon.


Have a great weekend, and hopefully a better week.

Officer Down

Chief of Police Robert William Sealock
Aliquippa City Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch Saturday, April 11, 2020
Age 49
Tour 23 years
Cause Duty related illness
Incident Date Thursday, March 26, 2020
Foot Pursuit, Warrant Service

Chief of Police Robert Sealock died from complications of a major asthma attack following a foot pursuit on March 26th, 2020.

He had joined other officers who were involved in a foot pursuit of a wanted subject. Shortly after arriving back to the police station, he suffered a severe asthma attack. He was unable to catch his breath and collapsed after his emergency inhaler was ineffective. A fellow officer immediately radioed for help and he was transported to a local hospital. He remained under intensive care until passing away on April 11th, 2020.

Chief Sealock was a U.S Navy veteran and served with the Aliquippa Police Department for 23 years. He was scheduled to retire later in the year.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Chief of Police Terry Engle
Hampton Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch Saturday, April 11, 2020
Age 57
Tour 37 years

Chief of Police Terry Engle was killed in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a 911 call at 6:45 pm.

He was traveling on northbound on Illinois Route 84 when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree at 180th Street North.

Chief Engle had served with the Hampton Police Department for more than two years after having served with the Black Hawk College Police Department for 35 years.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Sergeant Clifford W. Martin, Sr.
Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch Friday, April 10, 2020
Age 50
Tour 25 years
Badge 1456
Cause COVID19
Incident Date Friday, March 20, 2020

Sergeant Clifford Martin died as the result of contracting COVID-19 while on duty.

Sergeant Martin had served with the Chicago Police Department for 25 years and was assigned to Unit 610 - Bureau of Detectives - Area Central. He is survived by his wife and three children.

In early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country contracted COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic due to requirements of their job. Many of these first responders died as a result of COVID-19.

Rest in Peace Bro…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. 

Officer Down

Officer Breann Leath
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch Thursday, April 9, 2020
Age 24
Tour 3 years
Badge 2951

Officer Breann Leath was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call at 1803 Edinburge Square shortly before 3:00 pm.

A subject inside opened fire through the apartment's closed front, striking Officer Leath and a female resident of the apartment who was standing in the outside hallway. Both were taken to a local hospital where Officer Leath succumbed to her wounds.

The subject was taken into custody and subsequently charged with murder and attempted murder.

Officer Leath was a veteran of the National Guard and had served with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department for three years. She is survived by her 3-year-old son, her parents, who both serve with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, and two sisters who have worked in corrections.

The Indiana Women's Prison's nursery was renamed the Officer Breann Leath Maternal & Child Health Unit by Indiana's governor two weeks after her death.

Rest in Peace Sis…We Got The Watch

Nemo me impune lacessit

Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, From the hills, From the sky. All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.