Cabarrus Cheap Seats

OK, normally, I’d never use a community forum to hock something but I think this is different and warranted.

As most of you know, I’m a former police officer from right here in Concord. I was on the force just under two years and worked with some of the best men and women in Law Enforcement.

Perhaps the most revered was Master Police Officer Quinn Witherspoon.

Quinn was a mentor to young officers like myself. He was a rarity in Law Enforcement. He was a very experienced officer but remained amazingly optimistic. It’s almost impossible to find an officer not in his rookie year who’s not a complete cynic (none was more guilty of this than I was.)

Officers throughout the department respected Quinn and his never say die attitude and his “Do the Right Thing” mentality. He was an officer you could always count on to come through in a tough situation and to be there when you needed him most. It didn’t matter whether he was making a bust, serving a warrant, taking a report or just counciling someone through desperate times; Quinn was professional and caring. He proved you didn’t have to be a jerk to wear a badge…

Sadly, on September 13, 2005 he was murdered while off duty. Now that the judicial process has run it’s course I can say “murdered” without any hesitation. I won’t go into the circumstances surrounding it nor will I bore anyone with another long rant about how it all could’ve been prevented if we’d spent more money on our Law Enforcement Salaries and less on our Convention Centers, Greenways and Air Ports.Complaining about it wont bring him back.

I miss seeing his patrol SUV drive down my street and honk the horn. I miss him stopping by to see how I was adjusting to life without the badge. I miss running K-9 tracks with him at 0200hrs through woods that remind you of horror movie scenes looking for God knows who. Most of all, I miss his constant encouragement and humor.

I’ve spent the last 3 years doing what I can to live by his motto: “Do the Right Thing” I’ve spent the last 2 years whining, complaining and opining about our brave men and women’s salaries. But I spend one special day a year remembering my friend and mentor.

This year, that morning is September 6, 2008. That’s when the ride to benefit the Quinn Witherspoon Memorial Fund will take place. It’s a motorcycle ride to benefit the fund that supports the children of fallen law enforcement officers. Not just his own 3 small children but all who have suffered this tragedy. For me, it is a reunion of sorts. A time when I see all those brothers and sisters I worked the beat with.

The ride will start at 11:00am from Pat Rogers Harley Davidson on Speedway, err..uhh…make that Bruton Smith Blvd. The donation is $25.00 per bike to ride. Registration starts at 8:30am. There will be a ceremony to remember his life and how it has touched ours. There will be food and family activities at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium starting at 1:00pm.

I ask of you, if you are a motorcyclist, come by and ride with us. If you just happen to be near the Speedway, please stop by and say hello. If you have a spare dollar: donate it to this worthy cause.

If nothing else, just say thank you to a police officer you see around your community. Let them know that we appreciate the sacrifices they make on our behalf.

My biggest non pay complaint was the thanklessness of the job.

You and I can help change that.