Editor, Times-Union: I’m writing this letter because of the senseless death of one of our protectors in Kokomo. We, as a society, have seen over the past year all of he senseless deaths of our heros around the U.S. by scums of the earth. And now another officer, only 27 years old, with a wife, 8-month-old son, mom and dad and numerous other family and friends. Plus, God only knows how many more people this man and his duty of a police officer have touched. It is hitting, again, a little too close to home. My reason for writing this is because this officer meant the world to a lot of people, and now, in the blink of an eye, he is gone. We, the people of Kosciusko County, are dealing with a sheriff, Aaron Rovenstine, who has been indicted by a grand jury for 10 felony counts including bribery, intimidation and official misconduct. Now, in this day and age, with all the police officers that are being gunned down, shot as they sit in their squad cars, protecting people as they took a vow to do, we read that Mr. Rovenstine, on tape, has personally made a comment to another police officer, a threat, that has been reported. We, in this day and age, have people turning against each other, families turning against each other, but one last thing that I could never imagine, is police turning against each other. This brotherhood, as they call it, is something that is so sacred and so forceful that no one can ever tear apart. But here in Kosciusko County, we have an official, elected to serve our county, who now has been accused of what I would call the unthinkable. Turning against another brother(s). Now, I know, people are seething at me right now, because he has not been found guilty and he deserves his day in court. Yes, I agree. But what I’m trying to say is that it never should have ever got to this point. A grand jury should have never ever had to get involved, a lot of people listed as witnesses should have never had to testify in court for or against anyone. Can you just imagine what working in the justice building feels like on a daily basis, to all the people involved directly or indirectly? I can bet it’s not a feeling of joy and peace. And then the city officers have to deal with the county officers. It can’t be a feeling of safety, or of trust. What I’m trying to say, is if our officers in our county can not even get along and have each other’s backs, what do we have left in this world? It’s a scary time for everyone. If our county and city are at odds with each other, and they don’t have each other’s back, just how safe do you feel living in our wonderful county of Kosciusko? There is so much more I want to say, but I’m sure I have already said enough to set people off, for or against. Lisa Scott Leesburg, via email
