Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Tho I have never met you, I hurt inside each time I read that a Tribal officer or any officer is killed in the line of duty. We work in a profession  which is looked down upon by other tribal members, but we do the job each and every day. Other agencies treat us as if we are not the " real police" but take our help for backup when they are in need. We do our jobs with pride and always knowing that we do make a difference. I salute you Officer Gatewood and know that you are now working with God in his kingdom.

WHAT IS A COP?

Cops are human ( believe it or not) just like the rest of us. They come in both sexes but mostly male. They also come in various sizes. This  sometimes depends on whether you are looking for one or trying to hide something. However, they are mostly big.

Cops are found everywhere-on land, on the sea, in the air, on horses, in cars, sometimes in your hair. In spite of the fact that " you can't find one when you want one", they are usually there when it counts most. The best way to get one is to pick up the phone.

Cops deliver lectures, babies, and bad news. They are required to have the wisdom of solomon, the disposition of a lamb and muscles of steel and are often accused of having a heart to match. He's the one who rings the door-bell, swallows hard and announces the passing of a loved one; then spends the rest of the day wondering why he ever took such a "crummy" job.

On TV, a cop is an oaf who couldn't find a bull fiddle in a telephone booth. In real life he's expected to find a little blond boy " about so high" in a crowd of a half million people. In fiction, he gets help from private eyes, reporters, and who-dun-it fans."  In real life, mostly all he gets from the public is " I didn't see nuttin'."

When he serves a summons, he's a monster. If he lets you go, he's a doll. To little kids, he's either a friend or a bogeyman, depending on how the parents feel about it. He works " around the clock", split shifts, Sundays and holidays, and it always kills him when a joker says. " Hey tomorrow is Election Day, I'm off, let's go fishing" ( that's the day he works 20 hours).

A cop is like the little girl, who, when she was good, was very, very good, but, when she was bad, was horrid. When a cop is good, " he's getting paid for it." When he makes a mistake, " he's a grafter, and that goes for the rest of them too." When he shoots a stick-up man he's a hero, except when the stick-up man is " only a kid, anybody coulda seen that."

Lots of them have homes, some of them covered with ivy, but most of them covered with mortgages. If he drives a big car, he's a chiseler; a little car, "who's he kidding?" His credit is good; this is very helpful, because his salary isn't. Cops raise lots of kids; most of them belong to other people.

A cop sees more misery, bloodshed, trouble, and sunrises than the average person. Like the postman, cops must also be out in all kinds of weather. His uniform changes with the climate, but his outlook on life remains about the same: mostly a blank, but hoping for a better world.

Cops like days off, vacations, and coffee. They don't like auto horns, family fights, and anonymous letter writers. They have unions, but they can't strike. They must be impartial, courteous, and always remember the slogan " At your service." This is sometimes hard, especially when a character reminds him, " I'm a taxpayer, I pay your salary."

Cops get medals for saving lives, stopping runaway horses, and shooting it out with the bandits ( once in a while his widow gets the medal). But sometimes, the most rewarding moment comes when, after some small kindness to an older person, he feels the warm hand clasp, looks into  grateful eyes  and hears, " Thank you and God bless you, son."

Conrad S. Jensen

Det/Sgt. J.E. Loonsfoot
Grand Traverse Band Tribal Police, Mi.

this un timely death of officer Gatewood will always make a person as myself feel like another brother is gone iam currently working as a intern as a police officer with the rosebud police department in the heart of the lakota nation and i will not let this make my decision to not become a officer either tribal or with another agency.

Lyle Bear Looks Back

While I was travellling this weekend and enjoying the views of the beautiful white mountains, I came upon the memorial to officer Gatewood. I was touched. Having several friends on the police force here in Tucson, I was inspired to find more information. How terribly tragic! My best goes out to the Gatewood family. I hope this memorial site is inspiring to others as it was to me. I will tell many of my experience.
Holly Schroeder

Holly Schroeder