This post was originally published on another blog on 12 July 2015. And now it's here.
On the evening of 3 May 2015 the
American Freedom Defense Initiative, or AFDI – listed by the
Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-Muslim group - held a "Draw
Muhammad" contest in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas. The
event was located at a local school arena called the Curtis Culwell
Center.
The contest offered a $10,000 prize for
the "best" cartoon depicting Muhammad. These drawings are
considered blasphemous by many Muslims. Underlining the AFDI's intent
to be offensive, one of the speakers at the event was the anti-Muslim
Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Because of the controversial nature
of the event the AFDI reportedly spent $10,000 on extra security.
There were private security guards, 40 police officers, and
representatives of state and federal law enforcement agencies at the
scene.
Regrettably, two men from North
Phoenix, Arizona did decide to attack the event and drove 1100 miles
to do so. Their car was loaded with three assault rifles, three
pistols, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. FBI investigators
later learned these men had prepared and practiced for this attack
for months before it took place.
The attack occurred at 7:00 PM local
time. The shooters drove up to a barricade in a dark-colored car, got
out wearing body armor and carrying assault rifles, and opened fire
on a security guard and a police officer standing next to a police
car. The guard, Bruce Joiner, was quickly wounded in the ankle.
[Sadly, not all cops are good. If you read this book before I do please send me a review I can publish here at AnythingSmart.]
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The police officer, who was later
reported to be a traffic officer, 60 years old, with 30 years of
experience on the force, returned fire with his Glock duty pistol and
was able to at least wound both of the men shooting at him. According
to later analysis of photographs it appears the officer fired about a
dozen rounds while steadily advancing on the shooters, starting about
20 yards out and ending up within 10 yards of where the attackers
died.
An eyewitness named Cynthia Belisle
said dozens of cops sprang into action. The heroic traffic officer
was quickly supported by a 4-member SWAT team that fired dozens of
additional rounds until it was obvious the attackers were dead next
to their car.
Police spokesman Joe Harn spoke about
the first officer to respond, "He did what he was trained to do.
Under the fire that he was put under, he did a very good job. And
probably saved lives.... His reaction, and his shooting with a
pistol, he did a good job."
Several days after the attack the
police chief praised all the officers involved "who put their
own lives at great risk."
The anonymous traffic officer hero of
Garland deserves our respect and thanks. Sadly, security concerns in
our dangerous world, have prevented his name from being released.
Even though we don't know this officer's name we can still recognize
his great courage and service. When the security guard next to him
went down, and the bullets were flying, and he was alone for those
first few deadly seconds - he returned accurate fire, and apparently
advanced streadily straight into danger until the attackers were down
and the hundreds of people people counting on him were safe.
This traffic officer in Garland, Texas
is a good cop.
For more information click on the links
below:
Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Wayne Gadway
11
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