HUNTING FOR SUPERMAN: HUNT IS ON FOR FIRED L.A. OFFICER

HUNTING FOR SUPERMAN: HUNT IS ON FOR FIRED L.A. OFFICER

courtesy CNN News

The entire California police force is on high alert today, after a rogue ex-cop has vowed to kill as many policemen as possible in revenge for being fired by the department in which he served.

The ex-cop, who has already killed three people, is an ex-captain in the Los Angeles police force, had received special tactical training during a military career, so that he might pose a grave danger both to the force than to the population at large. In fact the ex-officer had received highly specialized training in the Navy before becoming a policeman. The policeman who are seeking him are facing their worst nightmare: one of their own, with skills to outwit and outmatch them.

Christopher Dorner, now the most wanted man in America, was discharged from the police force after he was alleged to be involved in a murder of a relative of the then captain of the police force in which he served. 

Following his initial shootings, Dorner has released a manifesto of 'vendetta', in which among other things he writes of his involvement in the murder, and in so doing has provided futher evidence of his direct involvement. 

Taking Dorner might be one of the most difficult tasks the police force has faced in a while. Many have already drawn parallels to the movie Rambo.  However, in that case the rogue vet was innocent, while Dorner has already killed a fellow cop this week.  

Dorner, the fugitive now being sought in multiple states poses a daunting question to those who often speak of the perils of war.  The damage that recent wars have wrought on the psyche of the soldiers looms large in people's consciences.  

However, one should be cautioned from seeing a potential enemy in every returning vet.  Such thinking is wrong and is an enormous disservice to the  millions of veteran who have returned from the recent wars and conduct normal and productive lives.  

A few cases however, stand out in people's minds more than the actual reflection on raw numbers.   That said, this opens up a whole basket of questions in regards to the effects of asymmetrical warfare have on soldiers, but more importantly whether the soldier itself should be scrutinized more closely before being given special training.

In effect, these incidents should be evaluated to assess what is the real impact of reintroduction to civilian life for those vets who might have had latent psychological problems, or who have become mentally frail from the trauma of combat.

Without a network that is failsafe to evaluate and support returning veterans, soldiers are at risk of being victimized twice,once by the horrors of war, and twice when the stigma of the 'crazy vet syndrome' is applied to them if they do not conceal their fears and their stress.

Indeed, many veterans are probably suffering in silence, in fear of being branded as psychos or losing their employment.  This in itself is a problem that must be addressed, so that soldiers can freely speak of their experiences in a way that does not go on to haunt them in the future.

Adapted from an article in the Washington Post

Source: Washington post 2.8.13