As I have been thinking about the Michael Brown death here
in Ferguson Missouri I have been brought back to some memories that are not the
most pleasant. I was a volunteer Police Chaplain with the Wichita Police
Department and the Sedgwick Country Sheriff’s office in Kansas. I loved the work and was honored to meet and
serve with many fine young men and women.
One young man I served with was Jeff Easter. He was a SCAT officer with the Wichita Police
Department. He and his partner, Terry
Fettke, became my friends. They allowed
me to ride along with them on many shifts and they taught me so much about what
it means to be a police officer. I
respect both of these men very much.
On the night of January 8, 1996 I received a phone call, one that is dreaded by any Police Chaplain or officer. Deputy Kevin Easter of the Sedgwick County Sheriff Department had been shot and killed in the line of duty. Kevin is the younger brother of Jeff Easter.
My heart sank and I was at a loss for words. I went and spent time with officers at the
station. I eventually spent time with
Jeff as he grieved with friends. I was
present at the funeral where I ended up comforting Terry Fettke as he tried to
deal with the tragedy.
SO, what does this have to do with the Ferguson shooting of
Michael Brown? Well, an officer in the
turmoil of a stop shot and killed Michael Brown. The officer felt threatened.
This has lead to a huge amount of civil unrest and many
accusations against police officers. All
police officers end up lumped into the category of killers.
So, after a 14-year-old gang kid shot and killed Deputy
Easter what happened. No civil
unrest. No calls for an investigation
into the young teen and why he had a gun and shot the officer (although he did
stand trial and is in prison).
If we are going to mourn Michael Brown and have civil unrest
because his life was taken from him when he was way to young, then why was
there no civil unrest to protest the killing of a twenty-four year old Deputy.
Kevin Easter is a hero.
He served his county well. He had
actually cuffed and arrested another teen before running after his killer. Did he have to do what he did? No, he could have waited for others and let
the kid run off. But, he was there to
protect and serve the community and a young angry man with a gun was on the
loose, so he took action.
Kevin left a newlywed bride.
He left a family of dedicated law enforcement officers. He left friends, co-workers and fellow
officers.
There is a special bond built when you are faced with
death while serving with the Police.
BUT, that doesn’t prepare you for the devastation of loosing a fellow
officer.
Most Police show great restraint.
I believe that the officers who knew Kevin Easter wanted revenge. They wanted to inflict harm on those who
caused his death. But they are
professionals and withheld that violence and allowed the court system to do its
work.
Friends, let’s let the court system do it’s due diligence
with Officer Wilson and watch as they thoroughly investigate what happened with
Michael Brown. Let’s stop the
violence. Let’s stop the civil unrest. Let’s have the courage to allow the system to
do what it does best, dig for the truth.
Now for the end of the story. Deputy Kevin Easter has been gone 18 years,
but his legacy lives on. His brother
Jeff Easter is now the Sheriff for Sedgwick County. This after having served 23 years with the
Wichita Police Force. Jeff now serves as
the leader of the department his brother served when he died.
Thank you Kevin Easter for your life and service. Thank you Sheriff Jeff Easter for your
dedication to serving the Wichita Community. Your lives and work will never be
forgotten.
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