Between Eric and OldGrumpyGrump, I am not sure which one of you sounds more disgruntled than the other. I find as we get older, have children of our own, spouses of our own, friends and experiences of our own that we can't make everyone perfect around us. We love and take our friends and families for what they are and become. Sometimes we can't control their actions and behavior. So Mr. Eric and CrabbyGrumpyPants...be careful, it may be your child, grandchild, cousin, brother, or sister who does something devastating just like this. So you may feel you are perfection but I can be pretty damn sure that you're not. And one thing about it, you can't choose your family. I have seen many dead bodies in my lifetime and most were a result of some really poor decision making by no one but themselves. As I would talk to the families of the deceased during the organ donation process I learned they came from every profession, every income level, and every status of the community. Most times their families talked about how they hid their problems or that they never thought it could happen to them. What I'm getting at folks is it could be you. So be careful boys (GrumpyHump and Eric), you could someday be the ones looking for a little compassion and all there will be is society picking you apart. Use some of your energy and take up a cause or volunteer, I promise you will become a much kinder, compassionate, and caring person. And hey, if I am wrong and you both are living the life of perfection and are pillars of the community, do me a favor and run for office, we will see how squeaky clean you really are. :) I am sure you're real shiny behind that computer screen.
Eric, just out of curiosity, have you ever driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs be they prescription or over the counter? Not that I think you would answer honestly to my question but I hope it will make you do a little reflection. I do believe if you would take a poll of 100 people, 90 of them probably got behind the wheel at some point in their lifetime when they shouldn't have. Heck I remember my younger college days and the happy hours after getting my first job. Whether we're falling down drunk or even had just 1 beer...we all react differently at different times to alcohol or drugs. Regardless of someone's alcohol reading, we really have no idea what Rob Deichman's physical response was to that amount of alcohol. He could have looked just fine to the officer that dropped him off to get his car who everyone seems to be tearing apart on here. Last I checked it wasn't his job to count the number of beers Rob consumed. If he did not appear intoxicated, and he wasn't counting each of Rob's beers he consumed, how is it his fault for letting him drive? Use some logic here is all I ask. Have you ever done anything that would be frowned upon in your current or previous career or job, Eric? Have you maybe said something crude, sexist, or racist at one time or another on the job? I find it hard to believe you have lived a life so perfect that you have no regrets. Have you ever popped out of work early to go golfing or meet the guys for a happy hour? Some of these very things would be grounds for your termination or even criminal charges. I would be curious to find where you work or your profession. I can guarantee I find an article for any profession around doing something just as despicable, inappropriate, unethical, and immoral. My guess is I can probably find one for yours, too. The only difference is we don't get to tear you and your profession apart as well as your family and coworkers in the public eye when it happens. Oh yeah, and I am pretty sure you don't work a job where you might get shot, attacked, or killed. So if we want to talk standards, pony up your occupation. I do not think anyone is disputing the facts and all the adjectives I mentioned above fit the criteria of this terrible accident. If your main point is that Rob was in the YPD car and on call (not on duty), we get it. No one disputes the validity of his irresponsibility. I do dispute this somehow characterizes his entire career or life. If we took the worst moment of your life and forced your legacy to be only that moment, how would that make you feel? How would that make your family feel? How would you feel if someone you loved who did something just as terrible had his or her entire life characterized by their one public bad act?I am sure you have something in your closet you aren't too proud of that might make you feel a little different.
PEACE2U, it is hard when individuals here only want to see things one way. Remember folks, Officer Deichman could have lost his life any day of those 9 years while on the department before the accident. FOR YOU. Tragically this is the ending everyone will remember. I pray that some of you on here will see it for what it is, a tragic ending to a man's life but a life that he was willing to sacrifice for the citizens of Youngstown for 9 years. Don't let this one night characterize a man who chose one of the most selfless careers in the world. I won't go into the fact that the stress that officers are under is like no other. This man was also going through a divorce with two young daughters. Does it excuse his behavior? No. But unless you walk the beat in Cleveland or Youngstown, or unless you have had to battle the criminals on the streets, my suggestion is to be a little angry and disgusted that a man who wore a badge did this, but also realize that none of us have walked in his shoes. (Or an officer's shoes for that matter.) When you have bandaged your boyfriend's hands from the cuts received while taking down a drug dealer, when you have received the late night call when his best friend was shot in the head while he pulled up on the scene, when you have gotten a call from the ER letting you know he's okay but injured, or when you have stood by to hear a grown man cry while he watched a friend and a man of the badge being taken off a ventilator....then maybe you can halfway understand the lives these men and women lead. The stress that follows them home. I think we would like to say they become numb, but truthfully they learn to cope and by coping they torment themselves with their experiences. We should be grateful for all public servants (including the fire department, hospital staff, military.) Who else do you know who will be there, no matter the time of day or night, to fix you, protect you, take care of you, save you. Some of us don't even have families around that do that. Thank you for your service. These are tough times, pray a little more and criticize a little less. All our houses are made of a little bit of glass, lest we not throw stones.
As a friend of an officer lost in the line of duty last year in Cleveland Heights as well as a classmate and friend of Officer Mike Hartzel, I cannot help but comment on this story. Although we all make mistakes, officers choose careers which uphold them to the highest of standards both on the job and off. They are not forced into these careers, which is why it makes these individuals so special. I feel pray for his family and I do think regardless of the circumstances surrounding his death, he should be honored for his years of service where he put his life on the line daily to protect the citizens of Youngstown. I am sure he will not receive any of the benefits that the Ohio Police Officer's Benevolent Association (OPBA) or other benefits offered to officers killed in the line of duty. They are very strict as far as the benefits are concerned. Last year an officer in Columbus died on his way into work from a car accident after going into diabetic shock while and his family did not receive benefits...they still do fundraising for his family (BTW the man was in his uniform).I do feel this officer deserved all the respect and honor given to him while he was laid to rest. Now on to my main purpose here. I DO NOT for one moment believe that this man be put on a pedestal and granted the same respect as Officer Jason West lost last year in Cleveland Heights or Officer Mike Hartzel or any other officer for that matter killed while on duty and protecting the citizens of their city. Should this officer be regaled in the same manner as Officer West and Officer Hartzel who were shot and had their lives ended in an instant by no fault of their own? It really disgusts me to some extent. Rob Deichman made a poor decision and by no means is his death as tragic or sacrificial as these two young men I knew that laid their lives on the line to protect those around them. I will not allow an officer's death by his own poor decisions cloud the integrity of the sacrifice made by two fine officers and friends that didn't have a choice. Rob made a choice....Jason West and Mike Hartzel did not. I thank you Rob for your service to the community but I do not and will not hold your service in the same light as those who died without a choice. God Bless our officers...we go on about our daily lives while they put their lives on the line. God Bless Officer Jason West EOW 5/26/2007 and Patrolman Michael Hartzell EOW 4/29/2003
Officer's blood-alcohol level twice legal limit at time of crash
Between Eric and OldGrumpyGrump, I am not sure which one of you sounds more disgruntled than the other. I find as we get older, have children of our own, spouses of our own, friends and experiences of our own that we can't make everyone perfect around us. We love and take our friends and families for what they are and become. Sometimes we can't control their actions and behavior. So Mr. Eric and CrabbyGrumpyPants...be careful, it may be your child, grandchild, cousin, brother, or sister who does something devastating just like this. So you may feel you are perfection but I can be pretty damn sure that you're not. And one thing about it, you can't choose your family.
I have seen many dead bodies in my lifetime and most were a result of some really poor decision making by no one but themselves. As I would talk to the families of the deceased during the organ donation process I learned they came from every profession, every income level, and every status of the community. Most times their families talked about how they hid their problems or that they never thought it could happen to them. What I'm getting at folks is it could be you. So be careful boys (GrumpyHump and Eric), you could someday be the ones looking for a little compassion and all there will be is society picking you apart. Use some of your energy and take up a cause or volunteer, I promise you will become a much kinder, compassionate, and caring person. And hey, if I am wrong and you both are living the life of perfection and are pillars of the community, do me a favor and run for office, we will see how squeaky clean you really are. :) I am sure you're real shiny behind that computer screen.
July 9, 2008 at 2:37 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Officer's blood-alcohol level twice legal limit at time of crash
Eric, just out of curiosity, have you ever driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs be they prescription or over the counter? Not that I think you would answer honestly to my question but I hope it will make you do a little reflection. I do believe if you would take a poll of 100 people, 90 of them probably got behind the wheel at some point in their lifetime when they shouldn't have. Heck I remember my younger college days and the happy hours after getting my first job. Whether we're falling down drunk or even had just 1 beer...we all react differently at different times to alcohol or drugs. Regardless of someone's alcohol reading, we really have no idea what Rob Deichman's physical response was to that amount of alcohol. He could have looked just fine to the officer that dropped him off to get his car who everyone seems to be tearing apart on here. Last I checked it wasn't his job to count the number of beers Rob consumed. If he did not appear intoxicated, and he wasn't counting each of Rob's beers he consumed, how is it his fault for letting him drive? Use some logic here is all I ask.
Have you ever done anything that would be frowned upon in your current or previous career or job, Eric? Have you maybe said something crude, sexist, or racist at one time or another on the job? I find it hard to believe you have lived a life so perfect that you have no regrets. Have you ever popped out of work early to go golfing or meet the guys for a happy hour? Some of these very things would be grounds for your termination or even criminal charges. I would be curious to find where you work or your profession. I can guarantee I find an article for any profession around doing something just as despicable, inappropriate, unethical, and immoral. My guess is I can probably find one for yours, too. The only difference is we don't get to tear you and your profession apart as well as your family and coworkers in the public eye when it happens. Oh yeah, and I am pretty sure you don't work a job where you might get shot, attacked, or killed. So if we want to talk standards, pony up your occupation. I do not think anyone is disputing the facts and all the adjectives I mentioned above fit the criteria of this terrible accident. If your main point is that Rob was in the YPD car and on call (not on duty), we get it. No one disputes the validity of his irresponsibility. I do dispute this somehow characterizes his entire career or life.
If we took the worst moment of your life and forced your legacy to be only that moment, how would that make you feel? How would that make your family feel? How would you feel if someone you loved who did something just as terrible had his or her entire life characterized by their one public bad act?I am sure you have something in your closet you aren't too proud of that might make you feel a little different.
July 9, 2008 at 2:36 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Officer's blood-alcohol level twice legal limit at time of crash
PEACE2U, it is hard when individuals here only want to see things one way. Remember folks, Officer Deichman could have lost his life any day of those 9 years while on the department before the accident. FOR YOU. Tragically this is the ending everyone will remember. I pray that some of you on here will see it for what it is, a tragic ending to a man's life but a life that he was willing to sacrifice for the citizens of Youngstown for 9 years. Don't let this one night characterize a man who chose one of the most selfless careers in the world. I won't go into the fact that the stress that officers are under is like no other. This man was also going through a divorce with two young daughters. Does it excuse his behavior? No. But unless you walk the beat in Cleveland or Youngstown, or unless you have had to battle the criminals on the streets, my suggestion is to be a little angry and disgusted that a man who wore a badge did this, but also realize that none of us have walked in his shoes. (Or an officer's shoes for that matter.) When you have bandaged your boyfriend's hands from the cuts received while taking down a drug dealer, when you have received the late night call when his best friend was shot in the head while he pulled up on the scene, when you have gotten a call from the ER letting you know he's okay but injured, or when you have stood by to hear a grown man cry while he watched a friend and a man of the badge being taken off a ventilator....then maybe you can halfway understand the lives these men and women lead. The stress that follows them home. I think we would like to say they become numb, but truthfully they learn to cope and by coping they torment themselves with their experiences. We should be grateful for all public servants (including the fire department, hospital staff, military.) Who else do you know who will be there, no matter the time of day or night, to fix you, protect you, take care of you, save you. Some of us don't even have families around that do that. Thank you for your service. These are tough times, pray a little more and criticize a little less. All our houses are made of a little bit of glass, lest we not throw stones.
July 7, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Officer's blood-alcohol level twice legal limit at time of crash
As a friend of an officer lost in the line of duty last year in Cleveland Heights as well as a classmate and friend of Officer Mike Hartzel, I cannot help but comment on this story. Although we all make mistakes, officers choose careers which uphold them to the highest of standards both on the job and off. They are not forced into these careers, which is why it makes these individuals so special. I feel pray for his family and I do think regardless of the circumstances surrounding his death, he should be honored for his years of service where he put his life on the line daily to protect the citizens of Youngstown. I am sure he will not receive any of the benefits that the Ohio Police Officer's Benevolent Association (OPBA) or other benefits offered to officers killed in the line of duty. They are very strict as far as the benefits are concerned. Last year an officer in Columbus died on his way into work from a car accident after going into diabetic shock while and his family did not receive benefits...they still do fundraising for his family (BTW the man was in his uniform).I do feel this officer deserved all the respect and honor given to him while he was laid to rest. Now on to my main purpose here. I DO NOT for one moment believe that this man be put on a pedestal and granted the same respect as Officer Jason West lost last year in Cleveland Heights or Officer Mike Hartzel or any other officer for that matter killed while on duty and protecting the citizens of their city. Should this officer be regaled in the same manner as Officer West and Officer Hartzel who were shot and had their lives ended in an instant by no fault of their own? It really disgusts me to some extent. Rob Deichman made a poor decision and by no means is his death as tragic or sacrificial as these two young men I knew that laid their lives on the line to protect those around them. I will not allow an officer's death by his own poor decisions cloud the integrity of the sacrifice made by two fine officers and friends that didn't have a choice. Rob made a choice....Jason West and Mike Hartzel did not. I thank you Rob for your service to the community but I do not and will not hold your service in the same light as those who died without a choice. God Bless our officers...we go on about our daily lives while they put their lives on the line. God Bless Officer Jason West EOW 5/26/2007 and Patrolman Michael Hartzell EOW 4/29/2003
July 4, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. permalink suggest removal