I'd like to ask those of this forum to keep the family of Detective Keith Dressel in their collective thoughts.

http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=6117576

He was killed by a 15 year old in the early morning hours this past Wednesday by a single shot to the chest. He was not wearing a vest as he was an undercover detective. He leaves behind a wife and two children, ages 4 and 6.

Years ago I was an emergency services dispatcher at my hometown police/fire department. I remember from those days the dedication of the officers and the worry their families always have that one day they may simply never come home. My heart breaks for this family with two small children now left fatherless because two teenagers decided to have handguns and sell drugs at 2 in the morning. It has come out that Detective Dressel did not fire first, he chose to try to grab the kid and was shot close range. His decision in this tense and immediate situation to not shot a kid probably cost him his life, but I can understand it. He was a decorated officer who had in the past run into a burning building to bring out an elderly person. He will be missed in a community that badly needs his calibre of officer.

Both of these teenagers have records, both are described as "troubled". It's very sad that no one could redirect their lives away from this mess and this is the result. It's also terribly sad that handguns are this easy for kids in trouble to get hold of.

I'm very proud however that this case was brought to such a swift resolution and that the parties responsible are now behind bars. It sends a hard but good message to Toledo, which lately has been experiencing a lot of gang violence, that shooting our law enforcement officers is going to be dealt with swiftly and justly and no rock left unturned you can hide under.