Cop with a Heart meets Useless Thug
NYPD Detective Kevin Herlihy is now home from the hospital. Det. Herlihy took a bullet from Michael McBride, a wanted thug, and returned McBride's projectile with 13 from his NYPD issued sidearm, permanently removing McBride from New York City's corps of career criminals.
A story on page A3 of Newsday's 18 February 2012 print edition (which, on the Internet, is now hidden behind Newsday's pay wall) discusses Herlihy's emotional trauma from taking the perp's life the very first time Herlihy ever discharged his weapon in his 18 years on the NYPD force.
It is this latter facet of the news story, hidden behind the pay wall, which makes Det. Herlihy not only a hero, but a role model. He seems to be a man who values the sanctity of human life, but realizes that it is sometimes necessary, nay, imperative, to take distasteful actions for the good of the world.
I share in the gratitude that Det. Herlihy is well on the road to recovery, and is now with his wife and family in his own home.
Of course, one can never totally exclude the possibility of a cop gaming the system to pull an early disability pension. But unless and until evidence to the contrary surfaces, my own working presumption is that Det. Herlihy is bona fide, earnest, and honorable.
Even if, perchance, Det. Herlihy is setting the stage to contrive for an early pension payout, it would still cost the taxpayers far, far less than the cost of paying a prosecutor, defense attorney, and court reporter, and then paying a New York State corrections officer to babysit McBride for the next 20+ years.
[The past 3 days of sitting shiva for my father have given much catharsis; more will surely come by the end of the shiva period. I shall not, at least at this time with this particular posting, go into extended eulogies for Dad. It shall suffice to say that, anent to the posting of 5 January of 2012, (1) I have noticed even more interesting documents in Dad's papers, which increase my personal curiosity even more; and (2) the decision to NOT make inquiry of Dad regarding his activities in defense contracting was appropriate and correct. All possible inferences inescapably lead to the conclusion that Dad's scientific work saved many American lives, military and civilian -- and many Israeli lives as well.
The American Flag on Dad's casket was his reward for serving in the Army. Certain interesting occurrences and coincidences at Dad's funeral were, no doubt, signs from G-d that Dad is already being rewarded on an even grander scale.
Rest in Peace, Dad!].
A story on page A3 of Newsday's 18 February 2012 print edition (which, on the Internet, is now hidden behind Newsday's pay wall) discusses Herlihy's emotional trauma from taking the perp's life the very first time Herlihy ever discharged his weapon in his 18 years on the NYPD force.
It is this latter facet of the news story, hidden behind the pay wall, which makes Det. Herlihy not only a hero, but a role model. He seems to be a man who values the sanctity of human life, but realizes that it is sometimes necessary, nay, imperative, to take distasteful actions for the good of the world.
I share in the gratitude that Det. Herlihy is well on the road to recovery, and is now with his wife and family in his own home.
Of course, one can never totally exclude the possibility of a cop gaming the system to pull an early disability pension. But unless and until evidence to the contrary surfaces, my own working presumption is that Det. Herlihy is bona fide, earnest, and honorable.
Even if, perchance, Det. Herlihy is setting the stage to contrive for an early pension payout, it would still cost the taxpayers far, far less than the cost of paying a prosecutor, defense attorney, and court reporter, and then paying a New York State corrections officer to babysit McBride for the next 20+ years.
[The past 3 days of sitting shiva for my father have given much catharsis; more will surely come by the end of the shiva period. I shall not, at least at this time with this particular posting, go into extended eulogies for Dad. It shall suffice to say that, anent to the posting of 5 January of 2012, (1) I have noticed even more interesting documents in Dad's papers, which increase my personal curiosity even more; and (2) the decision to NOT make inquiry of Dad regarding his activities in defense contracting was appropriate and correct. All possible inferences inescapably lead to the conclusion that Dad's scientific work saved many American lives, military and civilian -- and many Israeli lives as well.
The American Flag on Dad's casket was his reward for serving in the Army. Certain interesting occurrences and coincidences at Dad's funeral were, no doubt, signs from G-d that Dad is already being rewarded on an even grander scale.
Rest in Peace, Dad!].
posted by Expatriate Owl @ 5:40 PM
2 Comments:
At 19 February, 2012 23:30,
Aaron said…
My condolences on your loss. Losing a parent is never an easy experience.
Your father, z"l, was, as you described, a man of great worth who did much to make the world a better place. May you take some comfort in knowing he lived a great life and that he has fine children to carry on his legacy.
At 26 February, 2012 07:45,
Expatriate Owl said…
Thanks, Aaron.
Dad has left us much many reasons to be proud -- and a high bar to jump over.
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