Donations To The Family of Officer Grignon

Today the telephone rang with the news of the "unthinkable", advising of a fellow brother that had been shot. I was compelled to watch every news channel and listen to my portable radio. Another phone call came from my mother, who gently asked if I had heard the news? Between outburst of cries and questions of " why did this have to happen", I told her indeed I had heard and I hung on to every news anchors word. Seemed like the news anchors were taking forever to tell that Officer Grignon was going to be ok. After enough of the "a press conference will be in the next five minutes", I began to feel that the "unthinkable" had happened. The look on Chief White's face said it all. I could barely stand to listen. I was overcome with every emotion of sadness I have ever felt. No, I did not know him, personally...but does that matter? He had the same dreams, aspirations and drive that I have. He wears the same uniform, drives the same car, even the same training. And I believe that we all think and believe that we personally will make a difference in "Our" community someday. The phone calls kept coming from friends that asked me the same question, "Did you know him" ? My same response was that " that does not matter". No one wants to hear the news that an Officer has been shot, no more than hearing a family member has been shot. It's all the same to me. You see, I believe that being an Officer is a Marriage, and you inherit a family. Just like a Marriage, there are ups and downs, sometimes more of one and not enough of the other. That doesn't matter either. Because I believe it takes very special people to be Officers. My mother called me throughout the day. She works for "Our" family too...she cleans up after us Officers everyday. The last time I spoke with her today, she was leaving from 768 Barret Ave. When she called me she was in hysterics. I could not understand her, that was how hard she was crying. She could not understand why there was a Police escort for Officer Grignon's body. I explained to her, "Mom it is because he will never, ever be alone again, not for one second. He will have a partner by his side to protect him until he is forever with God." I explained to this "civilian", my Mother, how the Honor Guard works. I explained from my experience of the brief time I was on the Honor Guard and from other funerals. I told her that one of the best honors will be of "Our" Honor Guard. The dignity, respect and perfection will shine bright from "Our" Honor Guard to "Our" brother. I then told her that Officer Grignon will be an "Angel" by every Officer's side. I want everyone to know how much we should thank every Recruit Training Officer, every Field Training Officer, every Beat Partner, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Chief and every Officer in between that shared the healthy and productive criticism. Thanks and Blessings to the same Emergency Medical Technicians, Doctors, Evidence Technicians, and Clergy. Special thoughts and prayers will always and forever be with the family that we inherited from Officer Grignon, his wife, Rebecca, their parents and siblings.

Officer Melody Bennett, LMPD