A Sad Day For Me..The importance of receiving Counseling posted 11/25/2008 6:45:39 PM | 4 kudos what's this?     report abuse

Lovinheart445

I received some really sad news this morning. My friend had committed suicide last night. I won’t mention any names, because I don’t wish it to exploit my long time friend, so will just put this in a story form.

Here is what happened.. My friend, X, which I have known for 30 years had intentionally shot himself. Committing a selfish act of suicide. His son, Y, called me up this morning telling me the news. I was dumb founded, and shocked at the news. Didn’t know what to say, and still don’t, but I do have a feeling about why this happened.

I believe I know what led to this suicide, but I am only guessing. This is what I know, and believe to be the cause.

I met X while working at the company in which many years later I retired from. X, a smart, and bright young man 10 years younger then I, was going to attending college, and working the same shift as I. I was drawn to him not only for because he had the same interest as I, but of his good sense of well being.

When he graduated college he went on to be a police officer, quitting the company. He loved law enforcement, and quickly rose through the ranks from patrolman, to watch commander, and later to the swat team. He once pulled me over for speeding, but only gave me a warning. I should have been fined.

X, liked being a member of the Douglas County swat team here in our county, but told me once that his that his only activates were of practice because the swat team was never called out. The crime rate in our county was very low, and they came close to disbanding the team because of it.
Then came that fatal day in which the swat team was actually call upon. There was a rape, and kidnapping 80 miles North, and the suspect was heading South on the freeway.

Apparently the suspect had entered a daycare center, and had forced himself upon his ex-wife who ran the center. After the act, he took a 8-9 year old child as hostage, and fled South on the freeway. I remember it being in the local news.

The police gave chase, but was unable to stop his car. He entered Douglas County, and the Douglas County Sheriffs office was notified. Set up a road block just 30 miles from where I live, and when he came through they launched a spike strip flatting his tires.

The man lost control, and roll his car into the median strip between the North, and South bound lanes of the freeway. It was then a standoff as he held a gun against the girls head. That was when they called in the swat team.

My friend, X, was a sniper on the team, and when he arrived on scene. He was placed about 100 yards away, and in the prone position. As negations went on the suspect became more, and more agitated, keep waving the gun around always pointing it at the girls head.

As tensions grew, X’s team leaded asked who had a clear shot, and my friend X, said he did.. The car was upside down, and the suspect was sitting inside the cars inside roof along with the girl. X told me later the girl was in a panic, and was waving her arms pleading for help. X had a clear shot, and when the commander gave the order, X placed his shot into the temple of the suspect..

When the shot was fired, and the man slumped over, the little girl squeezed from the car, and came running out running to the officers.. My friend, X had just taken a life, and it later devastated him..

My friend was never offered counseling, and he later turned to alcohol for relief. He also retired from the force. It was rather sad .
He use to tell me how bad he felt taking a life, and I would tell him that he did the right thing. It was either the little girls life, or his, or maybe both.

That was over 10 years ago, and I have seen him several times after, but I knew he was in trouble as he drank a lot. Always bringing up that day he had to take a life. I tried to encourage him to get counseling, but he refused, and now it’s too late.

I am very sad right now as my friend didn’t deserve to have lived in such pain. If only he would have received counseling he may be alive today. God be with you buddy..I will miss you. A good man, and good friend. I admired, and loved.

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