Read all about it – and the dozens of comments on it – at http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=8388713.
This time, because of a snarky but well-timed criticism of some partial info we got from school district, I had the never-fun task of calling the family – hoping so much a spokesman or friend would answer. Instead, it was the teen’s stepmother, who was relatively gracious, considering what that family is going through, who helped straighten out the info.
We’ve had about 40 comment postings so far – but 25 THOUSAND viewings of the comments. Clearly, these totally unrelated teen-death tragedies have struck a major nerve, and people not only want to speak out but read what others say – good, bad and, yes, ugly. I’m not sure I’m drawing a firm enough line on the personal attacks people feel the need to send out, often protected by the much-abused anonymity, but there have been enough good wishes, thoughtful remarks and cogent discussion that it’s worth the hassle.
I think. 😉
People who think we relish bad news should see how bad I was trembling after that phone call. I offered condolences, I asked if there was anything we could do, I said I can’t imagine what they’re going through – and I can’t. It’s one thing for a beloved football and wrestling star to run away from a police stop and die in a mysterious manner. But for a clearly troubled teen, close to graduation, to flee police, SHOOT AT THEM and eventually take his own life, despite police efforts to end it peacefully – that one hangs just as heavy, if not heavier.
Bad choices. But then come the armchair quarterbacks, the parent-blamers, the police-blamers, the society-blamers, and those who defend against them. It’s almost like a badly choreographed opera – predictable in its sour notes and occasional sweet sounds.
To me, above it all, is the sweet sound of a community getting to weigh in – again, good, bad or ugly. I’d love to set rules of decorum, but that’s like trying to arrange the world to one’s liking.
It’s too messy for that, but with that mess comes all the joy as well. You can’t separate them.
Enough ruminating. Thanks to NHL, it was a longer day at the station, oddly enough, and emotional for me, as well. Hoping for a few calmer days…
Leave it to Barney 
Hi Barney,
Let me add to the cacophony.
I’d like to talk about one seemingly common aspect of two of the teen tragedies you reference– fear on the part of the now deceased teen about some supposed draconian consequence.
The Culver teen was afraid that if he got an MIP he would be excluded from an all-star football game and bring shame on his family.
The Redmond teen was afraid that if he were brought back into the justice system, he’d serve 15 years.
If the truth be told, it’s possible–even likely– neither terrible result would have happened if these teens had stayed around to take their medicine. First time MIP youth are frequently allowed diversions if the youth successfully complete treatment.
It is unlikely that a 17 year old property offender would serve 15 years although that might be the maximum penalty allowed. Certainly some incarceration and treatment would have been ordered, but not 15 years for possession of drugs and bad checks. On the other hand, once you start shooting at police officers, that penalty might be, and should be, on the low end of the punishment scale.
For the last few decades the “Scared Straight” model has been popular. Officials, parents and others have attempted to scare youth into good behavior by predicting dire consequences for futher misbehavior. Sometimes, these tacics have their desired effect, other times the approach backfires with disasterous results.
Well put, TR (hmmm, I know one post-Teddy Roosevelt TR, Tristan Reisfar?;-)
Yep, no program is perfect, “Scared Straight” included. Good catch on the similar impact. At least on the former, the case of Matt Zachary, remember that it was the Shriners Football officials’ zero-tolerance of MIP rules – not the court judgment – he feared. Independent orgnaizations can set tighter tolerance levels.
20/20 hindsight is a sad fact of life after tragedies such as these. And even if we can prevent such mistakes in the future – if they indeed were mistakes – that doesn’t mean new ones won’t crop up, sometimes with tragic results.
Actually, thanks to the e-mails I get on comments, I know which TR this is – but not gonna tell;-)