Earthbound Angels

What I remember is that it was spring 2000 and I was visiting my adopted family in Midvale. Some of their children and I had just gotten back from road show practice and I  was ready to head to my home myself when suddenly one of the local TV channels was broadcasting breaking news. A shooting had occurred at Chevy's which was two or three blocks away if one cut thru a school yard and a business or two. As we watched the news, we learned that two men had been shot and the man who shot them was still at large. I realized I wasn't going home yet. Jared had left his backpack in a neighbor's backyard. I went with him and an older brother or his dad to look for the backpack. The whole time I prayed that the angels that had been promised to protect me would protect my nephew. (Earlier when I had been set apart as a ward librarian, one of the bishop's counselors had blessed me with protection of angels; that they would watch over me.) My nephew found his backpack and we all headed back to the house, locked the doors and watched the news. Not much later, I decided to head home. It was a school night and I had to go to work the next day (at the insurance company, not the university where I am now). As I left the comfort of the Pugh's home, I begged the Lord to send the angels that been promised to protect me. My faith was shaky. As I headed north on 900 East, I noticed there was a patrol car at the end of a blocked off street. Behind the car was a police officer watching for any activity up that street. I called him my angel in blue and I realized that first responders were angels. Always there looking after us in our time of need.

It wasn't until there was shooting in my neighborhood that I realized that God had heard my plea that spring night in Midvale. That officer I saw that night was the angel God provided me to give me assurance that I would make it home safely to my old neighborhood.  For me, police officers will always be angels in blue.

My Recap at the End of Tragic Day

As the Spoken Word was finishing it's umpteenth broadcast, I heard sirens. I didn't think much of it. A police station is just down the street and a fire station is close by. Then I heard fireworks, which I thought was odd because it wasn't July or New Years. But then maybe the neighbor was celebrating something during the morning hours. It wasn't until I heard a helicopter fly over my neighborhood that I thought something wasn't right in my neighborhood. After looking out by balcony, I got dressed and went outside. I could see a firetruck and a few police cars down the street. It didn't look like a accident, but maybe a domestic violence incident. When I crossed the street to find out if the girl standing in her driveway knew anything, I noticed an accident up the street. I didn't think they were related. After conversing with her about either of us going to church or how to get there, I left and walked down the street where I saw some neighbors who I was more familiar with. When I got there, I saw my visiting teacher and she informed me that there had been a shooting and the bad guy was lying down in the street. Another neighbor who lived on my side of the street said an officer was down. That explained why there were a congregation of cops on my street. I spend another minute with my neighbors and then left to do more preparation for the Primary lesson I planned to give that afternoon. 

After going over my lesson one more time and packing my bag for church, I decided to see if there was any news about what was happening down the street. So I got on the Internet and found out that the accident on the corner and the officer down were related. During this time I texted some of neighbors to warn them not to come down my street when they came to church. After debating how to get there, I found church was canceled. I was relived, but a little stunned. So I remained on Facebook and KUTV link to find out what was happening. About 3pm, Sheriff Winder reported that Officer Barney had passed away and that Officer Richey was improving.  And lockdown had been eased, even though the street was still blocked off.

And this morning, traffic is flowing like normal on my street. One would not know there had been news teams, police and such camped out all the day the day before. Life goes on.