It was just a few weeks ago that the men and women in blue gathered in Rose Tree Park to pay homage to those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Early this morning, the list almost grew.
In the increasingly Wild, Wild West atmosphere of Upper Darby, a highly decorated 10-year veteran of the force came face to face with a police officer’s worse nightmare.
It’s something that was once rare, but is becoming an increasingly worrisome situation, a suspect with a gun, and who is not a bit concerned about using it.
Last night Upper Darby Officer Ray Blohm, 31, attempted to stop a suspect who he spotted with an open container of alcohol and what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette. The man was outside a bar at Ludlow Street and Copley Road in the township about 12:30 a.m.
Blohm confronted the suspect. A confrontation ensued. The officer tried to use his Taser on the suspect. That’s when the unthinkable happened.
Police say the man pulled a gun and opened fire on the officer.
Blohm tried to take cover. He was struck four times, twice in his lower back, once in the back in his bullet-proof vest, and once in the thumb.
He returned fire, hitting the suspect four times.
He then chased down the fleeing suspect.
Both the officer and suspect were transported to the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.
Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood called Blohm’s actions “heroic.”
We have other words for the actions of the suspect, but we can’t print them here.
The value of a life – even the life of a police officer – has never been less.
Those are mean streets out there. A few weeks ago we paused to take stock of just how dangerous a job these men and women in blue perform every day. Then we went about our busy lives.
This morning we were reminded just how fragile life is – and how mean those street are.
Luckily, Bluhm is expected to make a full recover, although he does have two reminders in his back of what happened.
Mike Chitwood has gone a long way in trying to restore law and order on the streets of Upper Darby. It’s pretty clear he still has a long way to go.
Maybe it’s time for citizens to rise up and take a stand beside the officers. Before another incident like the one last night occurs. With more deadly results.
Early this morning, the list almost grew.
In the increasingly Wild, Wild West atmosphere of Upper Darby, a highly decorated 10-year veteran of the force came face to face with a police officer’s worse nightmare.
It’s something that was once rare, but is becoming an increasingly worrisome situation, a suspect with a gun, and who is not a bit concerned about using it.
Last night Upper Darby Officer Ray Blohm, 31, attempted to stop a suspect who he spotted with an open container of alcohol and what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette. The man was outside a bar at Ludlow Street and Copley Road in the township about 12:30 a.m.
Blohm confronted the suspect. A confrontation ensued. The officer tried to use his Taser on the suspect. That’s when the unthinkable happened.
Police say the man pulled a gun and opened fire on the officer.
Blohm tried to take cover. He was struck four times, twice in his lower back, once in the back in his bullet-proof vest, and once in the thumb.
He returned fire, hitting the suspect four times.
He then chased down the fleeing suspect.
Both the officer and suspect were transported to the Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania.
Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood called Blohm’s actions “heroic.”
We have other words for the actions of the suspect, but we can’t print them here.
The value of a life – even the life of a police officer – has never been less.
Those are mean streets out there. A few weeks ago we paused to take stock of just how dangerous a job these men and women in blue perform every day. Then we went about our busy lives.
This morning we were reminded just how fragile life is – and how mean those street are.
Luckily, Bluhm is expected to make a full recover, although he does have two reminders in his back of what happened.
Mike Chitwood has gone a long way in trying to restore law and order on the streets of Upper Darby. It’s pretty clear he still has a long way to go.
Maybe it’s time for citizens to rise up and take a stand beside the officers. Before another incident like the one last night occurs. With more deadly results.
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