I took a brief pause yesterday to reflect on the life of Office Timothy “Jake” Laird of the Indianapolis Police Department and the sacrifice that he made for his fellow officers and the people of Indiana. Courtesy of the Indianapolis Star – here are a few pictures to remind us all of what he gave:
TV Station KWQC reports this change at Target’s former Marshall Field’s unit:
Sears, Roebuck and Company says it’s plucked Luis Padilla from rival Target Corporation to become its first president of merchandising.
Padilla last served as executive vice-president for merchandising in Target’s recently sold Marshall Field’s unit.Sears says Padilla’s experience in department-store and discount environments, and in mall and non-mall formats, will help growth “on all fronts.” He’ll report to Chairman and Chief Executive Alan Lacy.
Great move for Sears – will be interesting to see what happens.
I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
– John Galt
– Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged
Two days ago, the Indianapolis Star reported the death in the line of duty of Officer Tim Laird – who was killed by a gunman during a gun battle that also wounded several other officers. The gunman – using a high-powered SKS rifle – killed officer Laird – wounded several other officers – killed his other mother – and later shot and killed in a close arms battle with Officer Koe, a member of the Indianapolis PD Swat Team.
It’s difficult to describe the feeling of losing a fellow officer unless you’ve been there.
My best friend Chad Swank first pointed me to this story – he is a police officer (detective actually) in Indiana, my home state. Chad and I have known each other since we were four years old. He’s already lost two members of his academy class to line of duty deaths.
Prior to my current job, I worked in law enforcement for nearly two years. I worked with the Fountain County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department and then later for the West Central Regional Community Corrections Agency. During my time there, four officers were killed in Indiana. I went to the funeral of one, Trooper Todd A. Burman, who was assigned to the State Police Post that supported our county.
When an officer is killed – it seems like it affects the whole community. I remember a widespread feeling of loss in the winter of 1993 – when Master Trooper Michael Greene was killed near Indianapolis. Todd was killed later than summer. Two other Indiana officers were also killed that year.
Officer Koe, a 16 year veteran of Indianapolis PD, will be remembered as the hero of this incident. According to stories in the Indianapolis Star, Officer Koe used his AR-15 rifle – which was available to him in his car as a member of the SWAT Team – to engage the suspect in this incident. When he ran out of ammunition he rushed him, knocked him down with his rifle, and then killed him with his handgun. During this process, Officer Koe was shot in the leg and wounded.
Officer Koe has already once been awarded IPD’s Medal of Valor – no doubt he’ll receive a second award. His actions helped save the lives of the two other wounded officers – those in the neighborhood – and his own.
Officers throughout Indiana have already begun wearing the black band – all too common these days – in mourning of a fellow officer.
There’s a special bond among police that is difficult to describe. Alot of it, I feel, lies with the fact that I always knew that I would do anything to help another member of my department – and they would to the same for me. I knew that if the going got tough – someone else would be there to help – city, county, or state lines be damned.
I remember an incident of “shots fired” while at lunch with some other members of the department – it was near the Indiana / Illinois state line on Interstate 74. It wasn’t our county – but it was a fellow deputy out there. We responded (2 city units, 2 county units, a state unit, and two community corrections officers). As we approached the rest area where the “shots fired” call had occurred – we saw three Illinois State Police cars fly across the state line – enter Indiana – and move at high speed into the rest area.
Why did they do this – far out of their own jurisdiction? Because another officer was at risk. State lines be damned.
Perhaps that’s the bond that will bring more than 2,000 officers to Officer Laird’s funeral service tomorrow.
And a bit of me will be there as well.
RIP, Tim “Jake” Laird.
Here’s how cool my parents are…
I was out to dinner last night at Champps in Minneapolis with a couple of my headquarters partners – enjoying a fine chilled beverage, some wings, and a patty melt when my father called my cell phone. Now, my parents rarely ever call my cell phone and we usually don’t talk when I’m out of town. So, I answered, fearing some sort of family emergency.
My father tells me that he has a gift for me. See, a few days ago, I mentioned to them that I had read General Franks’s book American Soldier – so my father, having noticed that General Franks was going to be in Jacksonville, Florida for a book signing – went and stood in line to get an autographed copy of the book for me.
He even got to chat with the General for a few minutes. A jealous son, I am.
Dad was #390 in line for the book – and he snagged one for himself.
How cool is that?
I was a minor celebrity around Target’s headquarters today as I told this story…. I can’t wait to see it….
The August 16th issue of The New Yorker has a long article entitled “Two Soldiers: The Last Journey Home” about the deaths and subsequent trip home for two soldiers killed in January 2004 from the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq.
It has nowhere near the poignancy of Taking Chance, published earlier this year on Blackfive and on the Marine’s Website – but it is a fantastic article that brings home the personal cost of this war – and the efforts made by the military to comfort the families of those that have given their all.
It’s worth a read. The rest of the New Yorker, though, I could do without. It’s leftist credentials are clearly showing.
The Associated Press, via Yahoo! Finance is carrying this report about my employer:
U.S.-based Target Corp. may be nearing a deal to buy part or all of Canadian retailing giant Hudson’s Bay in a deal that could be worth nearly $860 million, according to a published report.
The Globe and Mail newspaper reported Friday that the two companies are in advanced discussions, citing unidentified sources who said a deal could be announced within the next two weeks — although talks could also still break off.
The newspaper also said that Target, which is based in Minneapolis, was expected to offer as much a $857 million if it bids for the entire firm.
I’ll point out, as always, that I do not speak for my employer – and I post this only as a reference to this news article.
But interesting news nonetheless.