Andy Widman, a 30-year-old Toledo native, was working as a police officer in Ft. Myers, Fla., as an interim job until he could raise enough money to be a Christian missionary in Thailand.
Yesterday morning, he was shot to death by a hardened criminal who was quoted as saying he wanted to "go out Miami style" and kill a police officer.
The killer, Abel Arango, an ex-con, shot at other policemen and was shot dead while trying to flee.
Here is a link to the article in the Toledo Blade.
This is a tragedy that almost defies words. I knew Andy. He was a father of three young children. He went to the same high school as my daughters (Toledo Christian). I know his parents, Joe and Marty.
My heart aches for Andy's widow, children, parents, siblings, friends, and co-workers.
I wonder how society could let someone like Arango walk the streets packing a gun. There are so many factors to weigh, including Arango's upbringing, the failure of our prison system to rehabilitate, the availability of guns, the risks that law-enforcement personnel face every day, and the lack of respect for human life or for authority.
These are widely discussed problems and unfortunately few realistic or practical solutions are being offered.
In the meantime, we offer our prayers and condolences to the Widmans.
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Sylvania, Ohio
July 19, 2008