Sun, 08/17/2008 - 11:26pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Firefighters do have a difficult job...no one is negating that.....my father and uncles were all firefighters. In January this year I buried my uncle. I arranged for the Freeport FD, Freeport, NY to have a flag flown and presented to the family for the commitment he had to public safety and serving as a fire fighter. Law Enforcement Officers likewise have an extremely difficult job often in the face of an openly hostile environment. That is why I once was a volunteer firefighter....and why I am now a chaplain with the Police Unity Tour, Chapter IV of Virginia. I have been a member of the tour for six years, as a support member. I have stood with families of firefighters as well as LEOs when family members have died or been killed. I too remember Rod and the night he was killed....and Ted, like you I will never forget Mike Phillip's senseless murder. For those who do not know, I am the pastor who conducted Mike's memorial service; who talked with his sons and wife, who put my arms around his father and mother, his sister, his brothers and sisters of the VBPD. We cried together....and together we will remember Mike. We will remember every single officer killed in the line of duty, because we refuse to allow them to die in vain; we refuse to allow them to die forgotten. We ride for those who died! Grace and Peace to all of you....LEOs, firefighters, rescue personnel and military members. May God protect each of you and watch over your families. Pastor J.C. Ullian

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 12:24pm - Posted by: Anonymous

I didn't mean to turn this into a *** contest. I just get tired of some of the crap we have to deal with on a daily basis. Officers finally getting treated in a nice way and someone has to complain. As for not having respect for the oath I took, you might want to read that oath. It involves enforcing the laws of the US, the State and the local government. For that, I have not violated anything. I don't believe I'm dishonoring anyone's memory by standing up and speaking for them when they can't because they made the ultimate sacrifice. I don't know what attitude you believe I'm projecting. I stated facts and did not use any harsh language nor did I do any kind of name calling.

I felt it was necessary to speak up when someone else was complaining.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 10:27am - Posted by: Anonymous

8/11@12:06pm Any fire that I have witnessed, there has always been a police car there before any firetruck arrived. The cops are dressed, the firemen are not. Therefore, the cops are able to be there faster. And believe it or not, if a police officer can rescue someone and the firemen are not there yet- they will make that attempt. I don't see firefighters attempting to take down an armed criminal.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 10:15am - Posted by: Anonymous

I can not beleive that people who claim to be police officers or firefighters, would turn this good story into a pissing contest. You have no respect for the oath you took, when you dishonor the memory of any fallen public servent, by representing your uniform in this manner. For the officer who wonders why the public might not show enough gratitude towards the law enforcement community, it probably has something to do with that attitude you're projecting. And perhaps the firefighters would get ahead if they quit complaining when the spotlight isn't on them 24/7. Why would people who undertake such noble causes, stoop to the level of spout off nonsense? Control the egos and take some pride in what you signed up for by rising above.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 1:20am - Posted by: Anonymous

As I said, I was a fireman for a number of years in three states. NJ, PA, and VA. I have run into burning buildings both as a fireman and as a police officer. I have buried fellow firefighters including a large group who died in a building collapse in Chesapeake, VA when I lived and worked there. I burred friends from Pittsburgh when their engine crashed on the ice enroute to a house fire. I have done both jobs. No doubt, police work is way more dangerous on a daily basis.

I did a little research. In 2007 102 firefighters lost their life on the job.
In the same period, 181 police officers lost their lives on the job.
Statistics from NFPA.org for the firefighters and ODMP.org for the police officers.

Like you said, firefighters get a team to battle the fire. On most calls, I battled the bad guys by myself with back-up sometimes over 15 minutes away. That's a lifetime when lives are at stake. Most people really love to see a fireman. Hardly anyone is happy to meet a police officer.

Both groups are very dedicated and sacrifice a great deal to protect and save the public. In my personal experience, the police officers get the short end of the stick when it comes to gratitude from the public at large.

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 1:10am - Posted by: Anonymous

Can you guys drive those trucks with no hands?

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 1:06am - Posted by: Anonymous

Sorry to say dude we are always first on the scene, they were shooting at ant public servant who came around! They have a web site called firehouse.com? I'm gonna look to see if there is one called police dept.com, probably not!

Mon, 08/11/2008 - 12:18am - Posted by: Anonymous

8/10 @8:54- You make a comment that in a fire, all you have is your team and a hose. Well that's why the cops are also on scene. They are there to protect you as well as themselves. And no- what happened in Camden years ago is not forgotton but what about Philadelphia where police officers are constantly losing their lives? It is not a contest! Both jobs are dangerous as well as the military's job. Anything can happen anywhere at anytime. Stabbings and shootings are not "rare". I'm sure shootings and stabbings happen far more often than houses collapsing on firefighters.

Sun, 08/10/2008 - 9:54pm - Posted by: Anonymous

So I guess what happened in Camden years back, has gone forgotten. On Halloween, people used to start fires, and then shoot at the firemen as they arrived to extinguish the fires.
Go look on firehouse.com and look at the LODD's and then tell me that police work is more dangerous.
I'd like to see you run into a burning building, and risk never coming out, or one of your buddies never coming out.
I'm sorry to hear about your partner, but firefighting is definitely more dangerous of an occupation than police work. Sure, there are fights, irrate people, and the very rare stabbing/shooting. You guys have guns, mace, batons to defend yourselves. Handcuffs to restrain people. In a fire, I have my team, and the hose, and that's it. If the house collapses on us, it collapses, its not like we can really shoot back and make it stop.

Now the scary thing to think about our soldiers over in Iraq, they're getting shot at on a regular basis, and killed, for something we have no benefit from. We're spending our money, our sons and daughter's lives, for another country that doesn't even want us there. Makes tons of sense.

Sun, 08/10/2008 - 12:23pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Last Thursday around 11pm my long-time friend and sometimes partner was shock and killed by a couple of men. My friend, was just doing his job like he was supposed to. Now his wife and children have lost their father. I have also been a fireman and I can tell you that police work is way more dangerous. To many unexpected things happen when you're dealing with suspects than when you're dealing with fire.

MPO Micheal S Phillips, rest in peace my friend. We will add your name to the wall in DC next year.

MPO T. E. Marriner
Retired

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 6:29pm - Posted by: Anonymous

I'm still going to call it Route 9.

Fri, 08/08/2008 - 7:17pm - Posted by: Anonymous

To 8/7@ 9:18 pm. You are absolutely correct, I could not agree with you more. But remember a couple of things please. How many fires do these guys really fight! Also, they are getting a peaceful nights sleep while I am out patrolling streets all night long. Do you think of the cops when you are fast asleep at night. These guys sleep all night long and get to go home and spend time with their families. I however come home in the morning and go to sleep for a good portion of the day and hardly see my family. I'm not complaining I just state facts. Oh what street do they ride on to help support special olympics again????? We'll name when they do it. Just breaking stones, Hooray to all the police and fire of CMC.

Fri, 08/08/2008 - 10:35am - Posted by: Anonymous

So we rename Rte. 9, Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway to honor the fallen police, what does that hurt?
This is Jersey remember? No one goes by the name of the Highway anyhow. We only use the route numbers, or exit numbers. Ask anyone where the Veterans Memorial Highway is, they won't be able to tell you it is RTE. 55. Or, get directions to the Trooper Benjamin T. Zimmerman Memorial Highway....good luck on that one too.
Forget about it.......no matter what the "Name" technically is, people will continue to go by the route number.
No, I'm not a cop.

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:18pm - Posted by: Anonymous

who cares soooooooo gay you all need to get over yourselves why not put in a fallen firemens road. that job around here you dont get paid for and still risk your life. atleast police get paid for what they do (firemen dont) that job is just as demanding .

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 10:16pm - Posted by: Anonymous

This is why I don't bother to read the Herald online or spout off. This is just an outlet for people to make thoughtless comments about things that don't even pertain to them and do it anonymously. I am a police officer and I have been to police week in Washington, DC. It was probably the biggest eye opening experience of my life. I felt extreme sadness and at the same time an extremely large sense of pride. I was proud of myself, my fellow officers, the officers who died in the line of duty, but mostly of the families that survive them. These people are the definition of strength. I have gone to several Police Unity Tour fund raisers and proudly contribute. They have raised millions of dollars for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. I think it is a great honor for all Cape May County residents to have Route 9 renamed. For those of you who make spineless comments about police officers and then don't have the guts to sign your name, you should be ashamed of yourself. I would never speak unkindly about anyone from your family who has died. Please don't speak unkindly of anyone from my family who honors our deceased members! Thank you.

Matthew Mattera
North Wildwood

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 4:57pm - Posted by: Anonymous

Hey, I love cops, but I live ON Route 9 in Court House. Am I now to change my address to "XXX Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210"?

Maybe I should just abbreviate it to "PUTMH". (Pronounced "put-mah"). I can see it now, "gee honey you are late getting home" "yah, dang it Muriel, the Northbound traffic on PUTMAH was awful""

To earlier poster re: the metric system to drive away tourists - amen, and may we add street signs in BRAILLE only (don't want any of the blind to feel left out or different do we?).

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:52am - Posted by: Anonymous

This is what our society has come to. Telling cops and their families to "suck it up". You would be the first idiot to call us and then say we didn't get thier fast enough. See you wonder why we have the "Thin Blue Line" because we have people that could care less about us and our families. I've been riding the tour for 9 straight years. It's only three days. The people complaining have used more sick time each year than that. I have been on scenes where cops have died. These people who have bashed these Heros should have there teeth knocked out. See, but we can't do that because we live at a higher standered than most, but we would sure like to. Oh ya, it's your " Right not to like cops" Until you need one. I know the person who is directly responsable for getting the ball rolling on this RT 9 project, and he shall remain nameless. He is a good man and friend. It's a great cause and I'll ride until I can't pedal another stroke and I will Never let these
" Heros be Forgotten"

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:27am - Posted by: Anonymous

So the electric power goes out of its way to try and kill you? If I recall correctly, if you do what you are supposed to do and not touch what you are not supposed to touch, you don't get hurt. In police work, you can do exactly what you are supposed to do and some psycho will still kill you.
As for making a bunch more money than you, I don't know where you're getting your information from. Where I come from, the electrical power workers make more than the cops by far. When I was forced to retire I was a Master Police Officer and was making Just over $40k.
The people die in your profession from mistakes. They die in my profession from direct and deliberate acts of violence from other people. You just can't compare the two.

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 11:06am - Posted by: Anonymous

Isn't it interesting that the picture in the article is Bertram Zimmerman's Memorial Highway-which is Rt 83, in Dennis Township. Cant you guys even get a picture of the correct highway?

(ED. NOTE: Thanks for noticing. The idea behind that photograph was to show that there was another highway posted with a trooper's name.)

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 9:41am - Posted by: Anonymous

I'm sorry, but working for the electric company does not even remotely compare to the vital services that our police provide. I can wait a while for my power to come back on after a storm. I can't wait for a cop when an armed thug is breaking into my house.

Yes, it is a tragedy anytime somebody dies doing there job. But those who die serving the community for the greater good deserve a little more recognition.

Thu, 08/07/2008 - 2:04am - Posted by: Anonymous

I have to risk my life every night; I have to work around high power wires all the time, during storms at night and any other time you people lose your electric. More people have died in my profession then officers, but we don’t have a wall we don’t have roads named after us. It’s our job. So stop complaining about your job get over yourself. You make more money than anyone else; you get free benefits so suck it up and just do your job.

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 11:20am - Posted by: Anonymous

This is crazy. Some people have no idea what it's like being an officer and dealing with death and destruction every day. I've done this ride to remember one of my best friends and partner who was killed by a dirtbag on a traffic stop. My friend stopped a man who was speeding. What my friend didn't know is that the speeder had just robbed an International House of Pancakes with a gun. When my friend got out of his patrol car, this dirtbag shot and killed him. This man had a wife and family and was a great police officer. Several years later my own life was almost taken from me by a drunk driver. I was on a stop and a drunk who was driving down the shoulder of the road hit my patrol car at 52mph. I'm just glad my friends don't have to see my name added to the memorial wall in DC. It ended my career. To sit here and read some of the garbage that people post about officers just amazes me. Take the time and do a ride along and see what really happens out there.

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 9:54am - Posted by: Anonymous

Obviously, the writer before me has too much time on their hands.
One thing the Police Unity Tour is not is a waste of time or ridiculous.
Educate yourself and go to www.policeunitytourchap2.com. The Police Unity Tour is funded through donations. In order for any law enforcement to ride they need to raise $1600.00 each just to ride. They fundraise all year to meet that goal. This is on their time (not yours). After raising the money our team rides (pedal power not motorcycle) approximately 300 miles over 3 days during Police Week. What an incredible journey for these officers and their support teams. To be in Washington, DC as they ride in to the Fallen Officers Memorial on the last day is an incredible thing.
This past Mother's Day was my second year attending the event. I wouldn't spend my Mother's Day any other way. This year I was honored to spend time with a family member of a fallen FBI agent who like so many was killed in the line of duty To stand beside him and feel the sadness yet honor was a memorable time that I will never forget. I pray everyday that I will never have to stand in his shoes. For you see I'm a mother of two sons that are police officers. Being a big supporter of our local Team GPS and the National Police Unity Tour all of the members are family. So before you condemn, whine or complain get educated. Maybe even consider being along the route they ride or meet us in Washington at the Memorial. It might just change your heart.
Martha Gaines

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 9:21am - Posted by: Anonymous

Quit complaining about vacation time for cops. Most of these cops are only gone for a period of five days. Most people have jobs where they get atleast 5 days of vacation. The unity tour is funded by the Police Unity Tour. The riders raise money from donation through stores and friends. That money is then donated to a new museum that is being built in honor of our Hero's. If your not a fan of the police/ and aw enforcement, then the next time you or your family is in need of help call a crack head or a rapist and ask them to come help you.

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 8:30am - Posted by: Anonymous

I am truly blow away at the comments left by some of you. For those that do not know what the Police Unity is all about I will inform you. The tour is a memorial ride that takes place each May. Tour chapters from across the country ride to Washington DC in rememberance or fallen police officers. Regarding costs involved. YOU NEED NOT worry, you do not pay for any of it. Officers are required to gain donations to pay for the entire trip. Insurance is covered under the Police Unity Tour and is not funded by the tax payers. Regarding vacation time, lets see, WE use our own vacation time to do the ride. I am sure you use your time to go to Disney or the Bahammas, we "Ride for those who Died".
Thank you and good day

Wed, 08/06/2008 - 12:41am - Posted by: Anonymous

as usual , more trenton hacking around. if they aren't raising taxes , the politicians can always be counted on to waste time with ridiculous tributes to nothing. how exactly is the unity tour funded? who is paying for medical insurance to cover injuries? do these cops have so much vacation time that they can afford to be away for all that time? maybe we should have a closer look at the union contracts . recession shouldn't mean just my income going down.

Tue, 08/05/2008 - 10:11pm - Posted by: Anonymous

anything to make the lives of tourists more difficult, im all for. id vote for the metric system if it angered them

Tue, 08/05/2008 - 5:06pm - Posted by: elizabeth

The Police Unity tour is something that returns to Cape May County year after year. It is a ride that remembers those that have fallen. These people make such a sacrifice to our county. To remember them in this way is a honor well earned!

Elizabeth Norton
Cape May Family
http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/blog/4355

Tue, 08/05/2008 - 5:03pm - Posted by: Anonymous

people cant even get rt 9 straight let alone police unity tour memorial highway this ought to be fun for tourists.