And Now, Some Self-Congratulatory Words from One Officer to Another

Today, a few words of recognition for a class of people we often take for granted were published in the Mason County Press from someone who took a little time out of their day to write and send it to the publisher of that website:  

 

A letter to the editor.

In the past three years, Mason County has had more than its share of high profile crimes with the Baby Kate case, the wounding of Ludington Police Department Sgt. David Maltbie and the cold-blooded murder of Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Butterfield II.

These cases have affected the people of Ludington, Mason County and the State of Michigan. The law enforcement community has been especially devastated, by the murder of Trooper Paul Butterfield II. We have observed seasoned first responders and law enforcement officers/deputies weep at the mention of this dastardly deed. My heart goes out to all of those affected.

The responding officers/deputies and investigators have a lot of initial contact with the accused, then convicted and now sentenced felons in these cases.  I wish to recognize the fine Mason County Sheriff’s Office corrections deputies for the dedicated work they do. Their jobs are never without danger, as they always are in contact with felons who are incarcerated, some sentenced, some unable to bond out prior to their trial and some convicted awaiting sentencing.

The inmates in high profile cases are considered high maintenance inmates. Meaning the inmate is housed or transported and cared for separately because of physical health or mental health issues. It often means the inmate is in need of medical care in and out of the facility. It is common for these inmates to stay in the Mason County Jail up to and sometimes over a year before going to trial. On occasion, an inmate could be subject to multiple psychiatric tests and other procedures necessary to ensure fair trials for suspects.  Corrections deputies must treat all inmates equally within their inmate classifications, no matter who their victims are or how brutal the crime. Correction deputies must also protect the inmate from other inmates and or the public while out of the facility for medical appointments, court appearances or anywhere a person or persons may want to take justice in their own hands.

Next time you encounter a corrections deputy please consider thanking them for the service they provide to the people of Mason County and the State of Michigan.

I am proud of our Mason County Corrections Deputies.

Robert A. Wilson

Fountain, MI   

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2014/04/11/letter-to-the-editor-cor...

And this letter was well meant, and hard to argue with, but the letter-writer's name seemed somewhat familiar.  A little looking around the web allowed me to figure out where I had come across his name before, at a spot containing Michigan Court Officer, Deputy Sheriff, & Process Servers Association members.  Mr. Wilson is a court officer for the 79th District Court, and a member of Mason County's Sheriff Department:

79th District Court Officer

It always seems odd to me how often certain members of the 'public' get up to speak at public meetings of the Ludington City Council meeting to defend the actions of the city or attack the accusers of malfeasance by the City or its officers.  It always strikes me as rather funny that these people are always employees or officials of the City of Ludington, and yet will not mention that relationship while they are defending their bread and butter and opposing the citizens who have differing views.

Robert A. Wilson is little better than that here.  By dint of his position, he comes off as a self-congratulatory buffoon by not mentioning that if someone takes his advice, he may receive one of those "thank you for your service" he advocates for in his letter while serving process, or doing other court business.  Too few process servers get thanked nowadays.

It would be akin to me writing a thread asking the reader to appreciate all those fellow citizens who create web sites that feature free discussion of topics, critical thinking on issues, focusing sunlight on public agencies, and fostering active, real involvement in local politics.  Give all those guys and gals a hug, and some of your discretionary income; fighting city hall and the county courthouse is not easy.  But that would just be ridiculous, and well beneath my dignity.

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... or pay over $100 for a video file that had already been prepared for Prosecutor Spaniola. 

Unfortunately, their charge for three other video files of Nancy Marble's interrogation lie beyond my price range.  The Michigan State Police have been proving that they are a very tyrannical outfit by their various policies, their inability to tell the truth, and their past violent actions they cover up. 

When a local correction officers runs over a 12 year old boy while they are spee... and not paying attention to the road, and then get off scot-free because the investigating agent is his brothers-in-arms, I do not feel like thanking them or their brethren for much of anything, other than destroying the concept of equal justice under the law.  Do your job to the best of your ability, obey the rights of your charges, be ready to accept the consequences of your own actions as if a prisoner had done the same thing, and you will get a hearty thank you from me.  But I won't give you and sort of thank you just by dint of your position or the perceived dangers of it.

If it was from a past inmate, you would have instant credibility.  Good point, s. todd. 

But I doubt the MCP would publish a letter to the editor from that veteran who got in a scuffle with CO Rasmussen because he took umbrage at having his dog tags removed. 

I would sooner thank a teacher or a teacher's aid for having to put up with thirty or more inmates at a time, without body armor or a weapon.  Now that's courageous.  (Editor's Note:  I was adjunct faculty/substitute teacher for a few years).

Another great job of reporting the truth X.

Isn't it amazing how MCP forgot to print the fact that the letter writer was patting himself on the back and is baised because of his close relationship with law enforcement. C'mon Rob you can do better than that. If you keep this up LDN will take you back and make you Managing Editor for reporting information the same way they do.

Speaking of reporting information the same way, Robert A Wilson's letter appears also on page 4 of today's edition of the City of Ludington Daily News (COLDNews).  I think an unannounced merger is slowly taking shape.

Corrections officers are thanked each payday. If anyone is curious about how "dangerous" and "stressful" their jobs are just see how many people line up at the door for their job when a CO vacates their employment. The line would stretch around the block. I'm tired of hearing these people complain about their work. If it's to much to handle then work someplace else. I'm also tired of hearing them pat themselves on the back. Let's be real about this. The law enforcement community feels they are special and deserve considerations not granted to the people who pay their salaries. Individuals in the fishing industry, construction and many other professions are more likely to be injured or killed at their place of work than police officers. What is it with people that need to have hero worship as a reason to justify and excuse bad behavior by law enforcement.

Thanks todd. I appreciate your posts as well as john's and X's on this topic. I'm glad I'm not alone wondering why police have been elevated to hero status. Probably because of the cop shows on TV. The ten most dangerous jobs in America are

#1 COMMERCIAL FISHING:

  • 121.2 per 100,000 full-time workers in 2011 -- More deadly than before.
  • 116 Deaths per 100,000 in 2010;
  • 129 deaths and 61 injuries per 100,000 for 2008.

The #2 through #10 Most Dangerous Jobs

Job Titles with Number of Deaths per 100,000 People Employed

2. Loggers/related job titles:

  • Death Rate 102.4 /100,00 in 2011. Still in second place, but with fewer deaths.

3. Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers:

  • 57.0/100,000 in 2011.Up from #6 in 2008.

4. This one was Number 7 Most Dangerous in 2010, but became deadlier: Refuse & Recyclable Materials Collectors:

  • 41.2/100,000 in 2011.

5. Roofers: 32/100,000 in 2011.

  • Was # 6 in 2010,but became deadlier.

6. Structural Iron and Steel Workers:

  • 26.9/100,000 in 2011 -- More deadly than before - not even in the Top 10 in 2010.

7. Was #4 in 2010, becoming safer. Farmers and Ranchers:

  • 25.3/100,000 in 2011

8. Driver/Sales Workers and Truck Drivers:

  • 24/100,000 in 2011. Same rank as 2010, but higher in death rate.

9. Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:

  • 20.3/100,000 in 2011. Not in the Top 10 for the last several years, workers in these occupations have been complaining that the work is deadlier than people think it is from seeing the BLS Dangerous/Deadliest List. The statistics are beginning to match workers' opinions.

10. Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs:

  • 19.7/100,000 in 2011. Not in the Top 10 in 2010.

Seconded, and so moved.

Very well said Willy, totally agree. Hero worship? Is this now a new requirement for the CO's? Narcissism seems to be a catchy disease these days, and spreading out of control with some in society.

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