The Shadow
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Former Sheriff Deputy Bobby Wright posted that quote on his social media page. Wright is facing a $5M lawsuit for alleged police brutality and excessive use of force against Jushua Barricks’ arrest in 2022. Do you think that quote has any bearing on his state of mind?
This quote originates from American Novelist Ernest Hemingway, who served in WW1, the Spanish Civil War, and again in WW2 by documenting the horrific scenes including Omaha Beach in the D-Day invasion as a war correspondent. There is no doubt Hemingway was familiar with war and the mindsets of the soldiers in it.
However, over the last several years, it seems several police departments have adopted this quote in their workplaces and training materials to foster this questionable mindset. And more concerning, it seems some local police officers are apparently embracing it too.
Really? Primitive blood-lust is the way we should rule our streets?
This mindset is dangerous. Since when did our law enforcement officers hunt to kill us, when their official mandate is to “protect and to serve?” This mentality seems to create a culture of “us versus them,” where the folks they are supposed to protect and serve have become the enemy.
This brings us to the actions of three local law enforcement officers who sparked significant discussion last week in the Shadow Facebook Group. While the conversation was highly informative and insightful, it clearly highlighted a troubling issue: the concepts of “accountability and integrity” seem to have lost their significance among some local officers.
Overall, no one has ever discounted the critical need for law enforcement officers (LEO), as they have an extremely important role in keeping our communities safe. It was also agreed that LEOs have an extremely tough job, constantly serving and protecting the community’s wide range of problems including mental illnesses, drug abuse, murders, missing people, mundane traffic stops, infractions, and so on. Definitely a job for someone with the fortitude, integrity and mental stability to handle this level of high pressure and instant decision-making day in and day out.
However, when do LEOs cross the line? When does empathy for the LEO’s personal life troubles end and his professional accountability begin? In Wright’s case, was he “hunting” Joshua Barricks looking to maim or kill because of his personal bloodlust? The Virginian Review recently obtained the full body cam and Farm and Fuel gas station security videos, which, regardless of whether Barricks was breaking the law or not, the response and attack from Wright was gruesome and horrific. Yes, Barricks has a long rap sheet. Did that give Wright a license to bludgeon him with injuries so dire he had to be emergency transported to Roanoke? Let’s see what the Judge and Jury have to say about this behavior.
Former Alleghany County Sheriff Chief Deputy Officer Chad Wickline’s case was decided on for his April 14 crash on Interstate 64. Wickline crashed into the barrier early in the morning, fled the scene, and waited more than 24 hours to report the incident. Furthermore, Wickline had his vehicle illegally towed by Homer’s Parts & Accessories, which did not report it to the Virginia State Police (VSP). According to official records received from the VSP, VDOT estimated the damage at $20K. The Commonwealth dropped the charges for Wickline leaving the scene of an accident. Wickline pled “no contest” to operating a vehicle with improper brakes. $2k fine. $96 court costs. He is free again to become an officer of the law.
There are two issues at stake here. One, an apparent ethical failure of an officer so confused he can’t understand the laws he has sworn an oath to uphold and defend also applies to him. Secondly, the failure of our own judicial system that apparently approves of this behavior and looks the other way to foster it. Where’s the accountability in both instances?
The gift that the Commonwealth gave Mr. Wickline with their Nolle prosequi (Latin for “unwilling to pursue”) decision and dropping the charges is relief from up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, driver’s license suspension for up to 6 months, and 4 demerit points to the offender’s Virginia driving record. It also means Wickline’s insurance will pay the $1,000’s to fix his car and the $20K to fix the Interstate barrier, all because of alleged ‘faulty brakes.’
Finally, Sheriff Moore’s ethics and integrity have recently come under question. His campaign promise to the citizens was, “Integrity is being able to make the hard right decision over the easy wrong. Even if it involves a friend or family member. I will demand a high level of integrity from all employees of the Sheriff’s office. How can someone expect to be a police officer if they do not possess integrity.”
Yes, Sheriff Moore did the right thing by asking for Chief Deputy Wickline’s resignation. However, recently Sheriff Moore visited the Virginian Review Offices and stated he was personally going to stop providing press releases because he didn’t like the Newspaper or the Shadow. He also stated, “all of this talk about Sibold and Good News Church is not true.” Moore furthered, “I go to that church and it is good.”
I want to be extremely clear here. To the good folks at Good News Church, there is no war between you and the Shadow or the Virginian Review. It’s an illusion based upon emotion and not fact.
The Shadow has never attacked Good News Church and only mentioned it once in an earlier article on how many of the folks involved with the 410 on Main Project also seemed to be involved with the Good News Church Recovery Group. The Shadow has also defended the Church in the Shadow FB group and has been extremely careful not to mingle the Mayor Sibold’s professional unethical behavior with the Church and its congregation.
However, it seems Mayor Sibold is intent on creating a false war between the Shadow and Good News Church. And while much of it has been a flurry of hugger-mugger comments designed to get folks emotionally upset, the Mayor’s first ‘soldier’ to come fire verbal shots was the Sheriff himself with his visit to the Virginian Review’s offices. If the Sheriff had done any due diligence, he would have found that the source of this “war” propaganda and “fake news” came directly from Mayor Sibold himself. Not the Shadow nor the Virginian Review.
Is it just me, or do you find it incredibly unprofessional, awkward, and unethical for a Mayor to rally his church to start a war against a newspaper, only because he is being held accountable for his unethical behavior as a public servant? Not only is this behavior illegal and against Virginia conspiracy Statutes, it’s just downright creepy.
Mayor Sibold stated, “If you see me standing around the 200 block of Main St I will be praying for those non-believers that dwell there.”
Mayor Sibold, everyone at the Virginian Review newspaper is good with their own God. And if you’re not referring to the Virginian Review, I’m sure the postal service workers, deli, or investment firms in the 200 block are right with their God too.
Here’s a suggestion. Instead of yelling from your mayoral or religious pedestal, calling folks “The Devil” and “non-believers”, and getting an innocent church to defend your own war, try doing the right thing and lead your city with honesty, integrity, and respect. Creating a bunch of Facebook pages, groups, and quoting scriptures in an attempt to discredit the damning facts your own government proved against you, and sending the Sheriff to attack and threaten the Virginian Review is just emotional bluster and obfuscation.
I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, standing on the street stalking a business because you personally think it’s the devil’s den is just downright creepy, childish, and…illegal.
In the updates and good changes section, Eric Tyree has been on the job sorting out the City of Covington’s Building Department’s issues. Reports are he’s doing a good job getting things ship shape, and has Michael Mines under his wing to give him proper guidance, training and experience. While it took a lot of effort to hold our public officials accountable, they finally heard and made the changes. Bravo to both citizens for their huge effort, and the officials for finally making things right.
A couple of weeks ago the City of Covington’s pool was in question whether it needed a Certified Pool Operator. The Shadow research team contacted the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) for clarification. Brookie Crawford from VDH replied, “There are no requirements for a Certified Pool operator unless there is a local requirement. However, public pools are required to post disinfectant levels on a sign at the pool for everyone to see. Safe disinfectant levels range from 1.0ppm to 3.0ppm.” Mr. Dressler, you were right.
I’m out of time, out of coffee, but have hope that all of our elected officials will embrace the word of the day: accountability.
