Indiana chief 'rejuvenated' by show of support for police
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse believes in transparency.
If a citizen has a question or a concern about how or why police handled a situation a certain way, Plasse said, he wants to discuss the issue. He believes that kind of communication prevents an us-versus-them mentality and gives everyone a wider point of view and a better understanding of each other's situation.
Plasse told the Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/1AEX1ji ) on Tuesday that he feels fortunate that the citizens of Terre Haute have expressed their support of police in recent weeks when protests and displays of violence have erupted against police officers in many parts of the country.
"I know the majority of people support the police," Plasse said of the local population. "We have 95 to 98 percent support of the community. They are the silent majority. I know we've got that."
But then there are times when the national portrayal of police as brutal, militaristic and aggressive against suspects can be a major downer.
"When you see people - whether it's two or 200 - chanting 'death to cops,' you get a sinking feeling in your stomach," said K-9 Officer Ryan Adamson.
He accompanied Plasse and fellow THPD officers Kurt Brinegar and David Rafter to New York City last weekend for the funeral of one of two NYPD officers assassinated as a retaliatory act for deaths of two African-American males police custody - one in the Staten Island borough of New York City and another in Ferguson, Missouri.
"But, when you go to something like this," Adamson said of the NYPD funerals, "you feel rejuvenated."
And that is due in part to the outpouring of support and gratitude that police officers experienced as they filled streets in Brooklyn to pay honor to slain NYPD police officer Wenjian Liu.
"We can't quit," Plasse said. "We know we're doing things right."
"In the last five weeks," Adamson said, "I've had more people stop me and say thanks, more people buy my lunch, than I have ever had. But when you watch the national media, it's easy to ask yourself why you do (police work)."
Plasse, Adamson, Brinegar and Rafter drove to Chicago to take a courtesy flight (they bought two of the tickets) to New York City to attend funeral services for Liu. Though the lines were long and the rainy weather unpleasant, the officers were fortunate enough to meet Liu's family and express sympathy from THPD.
"We were introduced to the widow, his parents from China, a bunch of his family, and his grandmothers stood up to hug me," Plasse said.
The chief said he knew it would be an emotional experience - to see someone who had given his life in the line of duty - but he was also struck by how peaceful the Officer Liu appeared.
"When we met the family, that's when it hits home," Plasse said. "When the family speaks, that's when you feel the emotion from them."
It also took Plasse back to July 2011, when THPD was burying one of its own after Officer Brent Long was killed by a suspect during a line-of-duty shooting. Plasse said he thought of Long's family - wife Danielle, daughter Ashley, son Levi, his parents and others - and how they had to live through the ordeal of loss.
"That's when you live it," Plasse said of the emotion. "And that's when you think of the Danielles and the Ashleys and Levis who don't have their dads anymore."
Adamson said that during Long's funeral in Terre Haute - which was also attended by police officers from around the country - he was assigned to look out for Long's widow and buffer the media requests. He was exhausted by that experience, but it was a different perspective from what he had recently in New York City.
"It's something I'll never forget," Adamson said. "Personally, I will never forget the fact that we went to the visitation and met the family. When you have something like this happen, it's nice to personally hug them and tell them you are sorry ... that we are here for you and we pray for you. It's nice to be able to do that on a personal level. So we felt fortunate to be there."
Plasse said the camaraderie of the other police officers who traveled hundreds or thousands of miles to attend the visitation and service was also an uplifting experience. The THPD foursome wore their dress uniforms, which have a formal military style to them, and they received many compliments on their uniforms. And they also took THPD patches to share.
"At first, we went to a memorial set up where the officers were killed," Plasse said, "and we met a grandmother with her 6-year-old granddaughter. The little girl told me she wanted to be 'a cop' when she grows up, and I told her we need more officers like her."
The friendliness of the people in the Brooklyn neighborhood where the funeral occurred was also outstanding, the officers said.
"It was mostly an Asian neighborhood," Adamson said, "And the people in the neighborhood were friendly to us. They were thankful we were there."
Both officers said they hope they never have to attend another officer's funeral, but unfortunately, they also know that won't be the case.
Plasse pointed out that two of the airline tickets were donated by Jet Blue. Another donation was given for the other two officers airfare. Fundraisers such as the honor guard golf outing hosted each year by the department pay for trips such as the annual honor guard participation in National Police Officer Memorial event in Washington, D.C. Anyone who wants to support the local officers can call the department at 812-238-1661 to find out more about sponsoring a golf team or making other contributions.
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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com