I'm so angry right now. I don't even know if I should post this. I'm afraid I might come off a little mixed up. I might say something I might regret. Here... Read this...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-locmdeputy02080206aug02,0,2243296.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Yeah that's right. More violence... no, I mean... more senseless violence against my friends... my co-workers... people I know for crying out loud.
See here's the thing. The freakin media mixed with the public is driving me nuts. You thought I had issues before.

I tried avoiding watching the news because its no longer the facts. It's all about the things that makes the news. Even if its the things that aren't news. Ok, well maybe it is news, but it ain't worth reporting folks. For instance. Well... Let me back up for a minute.

Michael Callin.

Young guy. First met him when he worked as a dispatcher for our agency. Man, I thought he was just a little smarty pants. He came out of work one day with that grin, revin the engine on his car just being a normal kid. I remember thinking, boy you better be lucky I work with you. Now, keep in mind, he wasn't doing anything wrong, but being 10 years older than him, I wasn't impressed by his youth. I was to find out with time, that Mike was just a happy go lucky guy. Always with a smile, always in a good mood.

Then he became a full sworn man in green. I started to realize what a good kid, no wait, man, this Michael Callin was. It didn't matter if he was listening to people joking around or getting his butt chewed, he still had a grin on his face. He loved his job. I began to notice other things about him too.

He was a good man. I never met his wife. I know, though, that he was truly in love. When he was on my squad, I could see the sparkle in his eyes when he was talking to her on the phone, and this was before they were married. He wasn't afraid to tell you who he was either. You knew he was a God fearing man, and he wasn't ashamed of that. I lost track of him after time, he went to other squads as did I.

I remember two days before it all came down around us. I heard him on the radio out in Bithlo. He was on a perimeter for some run of the mill something or the other. You wouldn't know it though. He was Johnny on the spot. I thought... that sounds like Mike... but he's in Motors now? and what's heing doing in Bithlo!!! I thought... good ole Mike... still sounds like he's a first day deputy. Loves his job.

So two days later I'm on the phone with our dispatch asking for some information. The dispatcher seemed a little preoccupied. I didn't mind, they work hard and are usually busy and understaffed. I called back and the dispatcher apologized for the disconnect and said "can I call you back, one of ours got hit". I quickly said "yes, yes, go, no problem" and hung up. As this was happening someone was trying to chime in on the other line but I didn't answer. Then it hit me. One of ours got hit. I dialed my coworker curious about the call I missed. He said, "Mike Callin got hit, do you know him?". Memories flashed through my mind. Now this is what I thought of. A good man, a man of God, a family man... certainly nothing will happen to him. He will be fine, just some broken bones, back on his feet, no problems. Then reality struck me. Where is he? I then went to the hospital.

I began to learn of the incident details and began to think the worst. I am a reality person. No sugar please, I will take it black. We stayed at the hospital through then night. Each update progressively worse. I remember praying, "God, I know he might not be able to continue as a deputy... but that only means you have plans for him, a pastor, a youth leader, a counselor, a..." All of you that know about the bigger picture know what I'm talking about. Then, toward the end of the night... it just didn't feel very positive.

That night in the hospital was surreal. I think we all knew how bad it was. We all tried to "deal". In our cop ways we made light of things, talked about everything, tried to keep our minds off of the here and now. It didn't work. I still didn't sleep that night. Well, ok, two hours.
The next day I know I tried not to think about the reality of it all. I tried to work, but it just didn't, well, work. I finally said wat eva, and went to the hospital. As we waited for more doctors to check on Mike, I think we all knew but wouldn't admit, that things weren't going our way.

When they gathered us ALL outside, I didn't like the feeling. Our boss spoke, and gave us the news. I just stood there. Then I cried. But mainly, I just stood there. Then I clinched some of my fellow brothers and sisters and held them tight. It's getting to the point now you need to, or you will wish you would later. I wish I would have called Mike on the radio the night I heard him, to congratulate him on being with Motors. But I didn't. Strange regrets come to mind. Then it began to really sink in. Then the anger hit. Then I thought about what happened over the last few days.

Some stupid JACKASS has nothing better to do with his life and do what, run over a GOOD MAN for NO REASON... That same JACKASS has been arrested many many other times and is still out on the street... taking the life of an innocent man.

Jesus can forgive that man. Right now I'm having a hard time doing that.

Last week I talked to Mike's dad, and told him what a good son he has raised. He is Dave, he is.

I told you this would be a little mixed up. I know by now only a couple people read this, so, it is like a stress relief for me anyway. But if you do read this... Please take a moment to go here:

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=18417

And then take the time to thank a good and Godly man for his service to the community by posting a line or two. It will be the best few minutes you spend on the internet.

Now... the thing that really set me off... why I have major issues about the media and the public... This is how bad things have gotten in our society.They were interviewing people that were "inconvenienced" who couldn't get through in traffic after the JACKASS ran a Deputy over. They were talking about how expensive the manhunt was for the "alledged" killer.

I got news for you people... if you felt "inconvenienced" because you had to wait an hour in traffic... think about how "inconvenienced" the Callin family will be for the next... let's say, REST OF THEIR LIVES. And to the media putting a price tag to the capture of the "alledged" killer... I don't even want to go down this path of dealing with why you think it's important to address the cost. And their ain't no alledged to it. I'm tired of that. Someones dead folks, it ain't an allegation... it's fact. And that someone was a good man.

Mike... I don't know how you kept smiling. But you did. I can only hope to take a little from you, to remember you for those things, to want to be a Godly man like you were.

Say a prayer tonight. Hug your family, your kids if you got 'em. When you do, remember there is a father, a mother, a sister and a wife that won't be able to hug one man who was just trying to make a difference.