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<\/a><\/div>\n <\/span><\/span> How did a nice Chief of Police like Minneapolis\u2019 Tim Dolan wind up shaking my hand?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n A few months back, I was working with <\/span><\/span>a young man who happens to be a really big guy and <\/span><\/span>was having a really bad moment. When a police officer arrived for back up, the young man attacked him. Quite a bit larger than the officer, the young man overpowered him<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>after noble but brief effort on the officer\u2019s part. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The young man pinned the officer face down and put his neck in the crook of his elbow in a choking vice grip. I ran over and pulled at the choking arm but realized that he was much stronger than me and probably strong enough to continue the strangulation if he chose.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0In crisis, I\u2019ve learned to keep it simple<\/span><\/span> so I yelled his name and \u201cStop!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Fortunately, the young man stopped. He apparently jumped up, as I must have too (although I have no memory of the transition). The next thing I do remember, the young man was a couple feet from me, looking down at me and pleading, \u201cPort, don\u2019t let him hurt me!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I said, \u201cOkay, I can do that\u201d and we walked to the police car with only a little temptation on his part to take off.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The incident was reported up the food chain and Chief Dolan\u00a0 gave me the highest civilian honor, the Citizen\u2019s Award for Valor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Although the appreciation is welcome and the Minneapolis Police Annual Awards Cermony, <\/span><\/span>attended <\/span><\/span>by several near and dear to me (including my 80-year old dad) was delightful and inspiring (hearing about suicides police officers prevented, drive-by shooters arrested due to incredible team work and detective work, etc.), I continue to have an uneasy sense that the award isn\u2019t exactly fitting.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I did what I hope anyone would do in a such a situation.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n I continue to reflect on this incident and digest it. <\/span><\/span>\u201cDon\u2019t let him hurt me\u201d<\/span><\/span> brings home the point that <\/span><\/span>despite his extreme aggression, <\/span><\/span>the young man <\/span><\/span>was coming from fear<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When I consider that those who appear intent on doing harm \u2013 including in nonlife-threatening ways \u2013 might be coming from their own fear or misplaced anger, I relax.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n When I told one of my Zen priest friends about the incident she said, \u201cYou were coming from pure activity.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Honestly, as I moved toward the two people on the floor, my bodily sense was like I get when I jump into a very cold lake, like \u201cshiiiitttttt\u2026!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Upon hearing about this incident, <\/span><\/span>my 14.5 year old son, who inherited my flare for the facetious,\u00a0 said, \u201cWell, finally, after all these years, your parents have a reason to be proud.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Enough said. <\/span><\/span> How did a nice Chief of Police like Minneapolis\u2019 Tim Dolan wind up shaking my hand? A few months back, I was working with a young man who happens to be a really big guy and was having a really bad moment. When a police officer arrived for back up, the young man attacked him. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-50","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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