Karen Bune
Victimology Contributor
Officer.com
Alexandria Virginia police officer, Kyle Russell, is one lucky man and a very fortunate police officer. Shot in the chest in traffic stop after a driver of the vehicle he and his rookie had pulled over aimed fire at him, Russell has lived to tell the story. And the story he tells is one that reinforces the vital need for officers, at all times, to wear their vests. Russell will be the first to admit that the vest is what saved his life.
The man who shot him apparently had been involved in a domestic dispute prior to this incident. His 19-year-old wife was found dead in their Arlington Virginia apartment, and her body was discovered in a closet. One can only surmise that this man who shot Officer Kyle and who, a short time later, committed suicide near the 14th Street Bridge between Virginia and Washington, D. C., was deeply disturbed.
This incident serves as a critical reminder to those who work in the criminal justice system. Domestic disputes can quickly escalate, promote irrational actions, and elevate into a very lethal situation that can have devastating consequences. In this instance, whatever transpired earlier in the evening in the suspect’s domestic situation led to the death of his wife. Then, a short time later, Officer Russell became his intended target when the suspect was pulled over for his noted erratic driving pattern. Fortunately for Officer Russell, he did not fail to wear his vest that day or think he could, for once, make it through his shift without it.
Importantly, this episode also serves to reinforce the fact that there is no room for complacency for those who work in the criminal justice system and who deal with the public on a daily basis. One can never get too comfortable with the thought or idea that nothing will happen today, that everything is under control, and that a tour of duty is just another shift comprised of more of the same. This applies to any environment or situation—an officer on the street, a public servant working in a courthouse, or a public safety professional working in any other location. Everyone—at all times—has to retain their “edge†and realize that in any given moment, circumstances and life events can instantaneously change----and sometimes for the worse.
Undoubtedly, Officer Russell is well aware of this reality and, as a result of what happened to him, has an even greater appreciation for the people and things in his life that mean the most. Perhaps the ultimate reminder that evolves from a situation such as this is to recollect the importance of reaching out and embracing what is important in life and, ultimately, revealing-- and sharing-- heretofore undisclosed thoughts with those who spend time with you and are, in even the smallest of ways, a part of your lives.
