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On Easter Sunday 1973, Pastor Kefa Sampangi was targeted for assassination by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. Kefa had just preached in his town’s soccer stadium to over 7,000 people. After the service, three of Amin’s Secret Police followed him back to his small church. Kefa had just finished praying when the soldiers entered the room…
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I referred to the man in the photo as “The guy with the thousand-yard stare.” The old black-and-white photo depicted a protest march on the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse in April 1964. The man with the “stare” stood out as the only white guy in a large group of protesters. The look of fear on his…
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People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (Orwell) One morning in 2018, I walked into the patrol office and saw a deputy’s ballistic vest lying in a chair. The outer carrier was covered in mud. The vest told the story of the…
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A local hunter once found a murder victim dumped in the swamp. It was our job to determine who she was and what happened. The evidence led us to another jurisdiction, to her boyfriend’s house. We believed he was the suspect. The inside of his house told a story. Blood spatter covered the walls. Blood stained…
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Kevin was a taker, not a giver. He lived to consume, yet contribute nothing. For the poor soul who loved Kevin, he brought only drama and misery. Kevin’s mission in life was to be a bad example. Needless to say, Kevin was a frequent flyer with law enforcement. Not surprisingly, a domestic violence call involving…
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“No person shall… be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb;” (5th Amendment, US Constitution) Andrew was a frequent flyer. We were rookie booking officers at the County Jail. That didn’t mean we couldn’t mix it up on the outside though. Every week, two of us got…
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“Driver’s license and proof of insurance please.” The response was, “Do you know who I am?” I inwardly groan and fight the urge to say. “No, I don’t know who you are, but I can’t wait for you to tell me.”
