Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I am the Knitting Police

I went to a funeral today. 

On Friday, June 19, 2009 at 0635 hours, Plumerville, AR. Assistant Police Chief Joseph ‘Joey’ Cannon conducted at traffic stop on a black Ford F-150 truck that, upon running the license tag through ACIC/NCIC, showed to be a stolen vehicle.  As Joey approached the driver’s window, the driver, holding a loaded .38 cal. pistol against his chest, shot Joey once in the chest.  The truck’s passenger bailed out, and immediately surrendered to the Conway County deputy who was on scene as Joey’s back-up.  The driver fled the scene, but Joey was able to return fire, firing four rounds to cover the deputy as he arrested the passenger.  The deputy realized the gravity of the situation when he saw Joey, on his knees, in the middle of the road.

The call “Officer down” went out, and all available units responded, including Joey’s own son, who is also a Conway County Deputy.  Joey coded on the scene, and was transported to Conway Regional Hospital, but died of his wounds around 0730 hours on that date.

The suspect was captured shortly after the first BOLO went out, after a short foot chase, on Hwy. 365 in the Mayflower area, by Faulkner County Deputies and Troopers with the Arkansas State Police.  The suspect is in jail, and today, was indicted on one count of Capital Murder.

I knew Joey Cannon for more than 20 years.  I was still in high school when he began his career in law enforcement.  He was a fixture in our lives for nearly thirty years.  He always came when he was needed.  He was always there.

Joey’s funeral was just as amazing as the dedication he showed every day to the people he served.  Besides family and friends, there were over 500 marked patrol units.  The Patriot Guard Riders were on hand to pay their respects, and to assist the local law enforcement.   Governor Mike Bebee and Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (a former police officer himself) attended, and AG McDaniel spoke eloquently, at one point, with tears in his eyes.

The 35 mile drive from the church to Antioch cemetery was punctuated with hundreds of men, women, and children standing along the procession route, heads bowed, hands over their hearts, and waving Old Glory in a final farewell to a good friend and a dedicated law enforcement officer.

The tiny Antioch Church cemetery was packed with family, friends, co-workers, and law enforcement officers from every possible branch, and agencies from every corner of the state of Arkansas.  For many of us, it was like ‘old home days’.  During the procession, a storm blew up and the rain fell in sheets, but the good Lord saw fit to give us a short reprieve during the graveside service. 

The flag was folded, the rifles were fired.  Taps resounded.  The piper played “Danny Boy”, and then “Amazing Grace” as he walked off over the top of the rise.  Over a patrol unit radio, we all heard the words.

“Dispatch to Unit 401″.    “Dispatch to Unit 401″.    “Unit 401 to Dispatch.  I’m 10-7 (end of shift).  10-42 (I’m at home)”.

Yes, Joey.  Your shift is finished, and you are home.  Have a good rest, my friend.  You did good.

Cops tend to be an odd bunch.  No, really, we are.  We tend to be cliquish, we use gallows humor way too much, we are a bit paranoid at times, and we always insist on sitting back to the wall, facing the door in a restaurant.  It drives us crazy if we can’t.  We have our reasons for all of this.  It may not make sense to other people, but they are valid to us.

We even tend to seem a bit ‘crazy’, if you will, at times.  There are reasons for that.  Witness just a very small sampling of what we hear on a daily basis.  These are actual dispatched calls:

Need a deputy to respond to John Q. Public’s address in reference to a theft of property.  Complainant wants a report of lost or stolen ducks.  Yes, ducks.  The kind that go ‘quack’.  The complainant states that the ducks were in his pond last night, and are now missing.  Complainant believes the ducks were stolen.  Requires a report.

Need a deputy to respond to Jane Q. Public’s residence in reference to a male/female disturbance.  Female complainant states the male has locked himself inside the residence.  Female states that the male is drunk, and is trying to set the dog on fire.  Female complainant will meet the deputy in the front yard.

Need a deputy to respond to Jane Doe’s residence in reference to a trespassing/disturbance call.  Female complainant states that her husband, John, is taking all of her personal belongings out of the house, and selling those items to unknown individuals who are trespassing on her property.  Complainant states that she is not having a yard sale.

And people wonder why we are the way we are.  But, you have to admit, you can’t PAY for this kind of entertainment.  Anywhere.

On the knitting front, I am still plugging away at the Goddess Knits ‘Ocean Waves’ shawl for the ex-MIL.  I have finally made it to the fourth chart, the ‘Razor Shells’.  This, also, is a bit of slow going.  This is the shortest, easiest chart in the whole pattern, and somehow, I keep managing to mess it up.  ‘Tink’ is now my new middle name.  Eventually, I will finish this shawl.

My ‘Tomato’ is, of course, no more.  But…I think it’s time to do the cute ‘Tomato’ cardi.  I think the yarn will be much happier that way, and I need a new little something to wear to court.

Got a couple of new books.  I haven’t cast on yet, but so far, I highly recommend them.

Speaking of socks…how cute are these?  Five little tiny inches long.  I know some baby feet that need shodding.  I think these will be perfect.

Wow, bad pic.  These are ChiaoGoo 5″ bamboo, US size 1.

We have two new additions to the family:  Seamus (the tabby), and Finn (the solid).  They are…something.  We need to conduct a few ‘kitten taming’ exercises.  I found my working yarn on a pair of socks-in-progress chewed through.  Right now, I totally blame Seamus.