http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090424/NEWS01/304249905
I declined posting this earlier when it was in the newspaper, but since there has been a lot of recent discussion about LEOs and public perceptions of LEOs, perhaps this a good opportunity to bring the subject up.
A 65 y.o. former police chief is tied to a chair, and beaten repeatedly in the face, fracturing many face bones. The perpetrator is alleged to be his 42 y.o. son, who told authorities his father "tortured him for 42 years."
The son was taken for a psych eval and is awaiting trial. Members of the family say the son needs a lot of mental health.
The story is a long read, but it brings up a number of points.
Was it a copycat crime? Seven years ago, a NH chief justice was savagely beaten by his son who was wielding a guitar. The chief justice suffered a break or fracture in practically every bone in his face.
The story mentions how domestic violence is higher in LEO families, although the officer is not necessarily the violent perpetrator.
In the reader comments, there are many that come out in support of the former chief. Others blame the chief for the son's actions (a lifetime of controlling behaviour, etc).
Is domestic violence in law enforcement a "dirty little secret", as one reader complained?
One reader wonders how many times the son was beaten as a child in order for him to strike back the way he did.
Another reader complains that the police beat people without facing charges, therefore the son should not face charges for beating his dad.
Another reader says "If this kid has mental problems then he probably broke the law more than a few times, it's nice to know that you can break the law but because your father is a police officer and has connections you can have a clean record. How fair is that to the rest of us who go to jail on the first offense?" and then blames the father for his own injuries, saying the father should have cut the son loose awhile ago.
Thoughts?
I declined posting this earlier when it was in the newspaper, but since there has been a lot of recent discussion about LEOs and public perceptions of LEOs, perhaps this a good opportunity to bring the subject up.
A 65 y.o. former police chief is tied to a chair, and beaten repeatedly in the face, fracturing many face bones. The perpetrator is alleged to be his 42 y.o. son, who told authorities his father "tortured him for 42 years."
The son was taken for a psych eval and is awaiting trial. Members of the family say the son needs a lot of mental health.
The story is a long read, but it brings up a number of points.
Was it a copycat crime? Seven years ago, a NH chief justice was savagely beaten by his son who was wielding a guitar. The chief justice suffered a break or fracture in practically every bone in his face.
The story mentions how domestic violence is higher in LEO families, although the officer is not necessarily the violent perpetrator.
In the reader comments, there are many that come out in support of the former chief. Others blame the chief for the son's actions (a lifetime of controlling behaviour, etc).
Is domestic violence in law enforcement a "dirty little secret", as one reader complained?
One reader wonders how many times the son was beaten as a child in order for him to strike back the way he did.
Another reader complains that the police beat people without facing charges, therefore the son should not face charges for beating his dad.
Another reader says "If this kid has mental problems then he probably broke the law more than a few times, it's nice to know that you can break the law but because your father is a police officer and has connections you can have a clean record. How fair is that to the rest of us who go to jail on the first offense?" and then blames the father for his own injuries, saying the father should have cut the son loose awhile ago.
Thoughts?
