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[WernherVonTrapp]

More than likely, those M1 Carbine rounds tore right through that vest the officer was wearing. Those vests are not like the ones the military uses and are not designed to stop a high-power rifle round. There was no head shot. I could hear the officer still breathing after the firefight. He wouldn't be breathing like that if a rifle round tore through his skull. The heavy wheezing sound indicated one or more rounds piercing through the lungs, pulmonary artery, or maybe the esophagus. Either way, his lungs were filling up with blood and he'd eventually drown in it. I live less than a mile from where an officer was shot, and killed by a fleeing drug dealer 10 years ago. It happened on the lawn of a local church (female officer). Her body was then run over by her own police cruiser when the perpetrator stole it and fled. He was later killed in a police shootout in Florida, not too long after the shooting here in Jersey. I have the greatest respect for any war veteran, but once they turn their guns on police, they're no longer viewed by me as heroes. Then, I see them as just another piece of trash that needs to be disposed of. It takes a lot of bravery to fight in a gun battle where the opposition is wielding a "semi" or "fully" automatic assault rifle, as veterans do in war. But, it takes the most heinous coward to turn his assault rifle on a cop wielding nothing more than a handgun. I got into a wrestling match many years ago, when I was younger/stronger, with a former veteran who was in Kosovo. It took two of us to subdue and cuff him. After he was cuffed and I placed him in my cruiser, he cried out, "You don't understand, I've seen dead people". I replied, "Yeah, so have I, get over it". Because he assaulted me, he no longer had the distinct status of a war hero in my mind. Heroes don't come home and wreak their havoc, or PTSD, on society. Most Cops, though they go their entire career undiagnosed, suffer from some degree of PTSD. I don't turn mine against the society, though I have become somewhat cynical over the years.

[MWolfe1963]

Just going by the news articles and court reports, said man shot him in arms and legs because he was wearing vest, but agreed his vest wouldnt have done any good, the last shot was to the head, through the right eye.

I often wonder is they're overdoing the PTSD today for returning vets, Im sure many are stressed, but saw a few reports the numbers have risen way higher snce the bad economy, possible easier to get disabled status than find a job.

[WernherVonTrapp]

I often wonder is they're overdoing the PTSD today for returning vets, Im sure many are stressed, but saw a few reports the numbers have risen way higher snce the bad economy, possible easier to get disabled status than find a job.

Though I'm certainly no expert, on a personal note, I don't think they're overdoing it. I think, not enough people understand what PTSD is or how it affects those who suffer from it. From what training I've had in it, there is supposedly different, or varying degrees of it, and like humans, each case is as unique as the mindset of the individual. Some people are psychologically stronger, some are weaker.

With me personally, I've become more "short tempered" than I used to be. Luckily, I'm aware of it and am making the necessary personality adjustments to try and fend it off. I've also become so much more suspicious of people, and of their true intentions. Too many times have I seen people behave kindly toward others, only to learn later that they derived a greater benefit for themselves in the process, or their attitudes change once they get what they want out of their (seemingly) act of kindness. I have absolutely no faith in the hearts of my fellow man. I've also become quite reclusive, avoiding people at all costs, unless of course, it's during the course of my patrol responsibilities. In my case however, I've been seeing, and dealing with, things the ordinary person will encounter maybe once or twice in a lifetime, though it's an all too common event in my experiences. I'm actually sick & tired of dealing with, or sorting out other peoples problems. Many of which, are so "elementary school" in nature. You wouldn't believe the petty-ante bullcrap that people make such a fuss over. These people have to be either the stupidest, or most inept problem solvers I have ever encountered.
If they'd only take a moment or two to think it over with their minds, instead of their emotions, maybe, just maybe, they might solve it without having to crack someones head open, or throwing a bucket of paint onto the neighbor's car, or call the police because a few leaves got blown onto their property by a neighbor's landscaper.
I'm mean, these people are emotional and psychological wrecks, flying off the handle at the first spilled milk they see.
If I wasn't required (by professional standards) to be politically correct, I'd tell them the truth, that there are people they can talk to to help them out with their abnormal issues.

Anyway, I've gotten off the subject here. Combat veteran and police, like it or not, share at least one common experience: Hours of boredom interrupted by moments of sheer terror, fear, anxiety and unbelievable stress. That will certainly cause PTSD in some (after a brief period) and in many (after repeated/prolonged exposure). Now, you'll have to excuse me, I have to finish my escape hole.


As an afterthought, where the heck did you find the news reports about it? That video looks like Korean writing to me.

[fireftr18]

Wernher, I know all too well how you feel. I too have seen too much of what you wrote about. I disagree with one thing, you wrote, "I've been seeing, and dealing with, things the ordinary person will encounter maybe once or twice in a lifetime, though it's an all too common event in my experiences." Many of these experiences, the ordinary person will not encounter in a lifetime. Twenty three years of dealing with the worse days of people's lives took its toll on me also. It took four months of being off to even realize I was effected. About nine months to really realize how bad I had been effected. With me it showed up in that I became unmotivated, forgetting things that I should have remembered, not communicating with my crew, self confidence issues. When I realized the extent of the problem, it was like switch was turned on in my head. I don't regret one moment that I retired. I do miss the fire service, and today, I had the final meeting with our area coordinator to teach fire fighting classes for the state.

By the way Wernher, you didn't get off subject. The base topic is about PTSD.

[MWolfe1963]

Hard to know, saw a story about the numbers of PTSD went up for earlier vets that went to civies years later, maybe prolonged, maybe economy, but still it seems hard to get a disability status based on it.

I think the difference in this war is soldiers playing police, more than past you better knew your enemy. Can't imagine playing COP in a warzone, many at such a young age. I worked with the ambulance sevice as a EMT 3, wanting to be a paramedic in my 20's. I never felt stressed per say like PTSD, certainly not in the same way a COP would be, but I understand dealing with nuts, nothing worse than trying to do CPR with an hysterical woman pulling and screaming on you while you're trying to save their child...and I saw some nuts. I was sometimes bothered, mostly deaths of young children, did you do enough, make mistakes, etc....finally decided the pay wasn't worth the headache.

I don't know about being a cop. I've watched many a youtube video on police abuse, way over the top, like "why did you throw down and taze a guy standing there", only to watch a nice cop approach a smiling guy and get shot...Police should be paid a min 100K a year........Yes and FF's too.


Oh, here is another link, got to sign in to watch it, seems it's get taken down and posted elsewhere constantly.

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?ne...%3DGX5kwVc9IOk