Flint Michigan Sheriff Puts Down Baton and Walks With Protesters

This one made me cry - but in a good way :)

THIS is how you handle crowd protests/avoid riots ...






That is Genesee County Sheriff, Chris Swanson, in Flint, Michigan. 

"The only reason we're here is to make sure you've got a voice.  That's it.  Don't think for a second that he represents who these cops are, from all over the county, and around the station.  We go out there to help people, not do that nonsense ...we want to be with y'all, for real.  So I took my helmet off, we laid the batons down.  I want to make this a parade, not a protest ... Listen, I'm just telling you, we cops love you. That cop over there, hugs people."

The crowd started chanting, "Walk with us! Walk with us!"  ... and so he did :)

THAT is  a good cop, Ladies and Gentlemen - doing exactly what other good cops should be doing, right now - and I firmly believe it's what Christ would do, too  :)

(Photos courtesy of the Detroit Free Press) ...

We actually know someone on the local police force in Flint, retired FBI, part-time officer, but I don't see him in the photos - perhaps because this was the Sheriff's office instead.

And though not many, there are more ... this is the Coral Gables Police Department in Coral Gables, Florida ...

PS - Note that if you look for the Sheriff Swanson video on YouTube, the second one down, at least from my view, is titled "Swanson is a traitor."

Let's pray for Swanson, now, I'm sure he's under fire - and for whomever published that next video (and others) who are Exhibit A examples of bad cops, ladies and gentleman. 

But let's focus on the good cops, at least for the moment - and we know quite a few :)

And I think, going forward, the first interview screening question for all cops should be:  

"Tell us a positive personal experience you've had with a personal of color, a time where you defended a person of color, helped a person of color, or you gave them a voice when they didn't have one - or vice versa, a personal experience where a person of color helped you." 

If they don't have one or stutter or stammer?

Thank you for playing - goodbye. 

Chris Swanson has many stories he could tell. 

Mark and I do, too.

In fact, in many ways, they have been kinder and more loving and caring to us than members of our own families - which is why they ARE family now, to us :)

Many of our friends could, too - to include cops, including Mark's former coworker and friend, Lexington Police Chief, Lawrence Weathers. 

...  who is allowing protests at full throttle blast - to include standing on his squad cars (as long as they weren't damaged) - without intervention or arrest ...

...  just standing close by in case violence/riots erupt - which it has NOT,  here in Lexington.

Tonight, they will lay down in the streets for 8 minutes, specifically on behalf of Breonna Taylor  (see below post) - 1 minute for each time Breonna Taylor was shot. 

Could you pass the above interview question?