MrsSpringsteen
Blue Crack Addict
Yes he is obviously messed up for several reasons I would imagine, but so are many people and they don't lash out at gay people who did nothing to them. He made a CHOICE to do that. I had messed up things in my family life and upbringing but I never made a choice to lash out at other people in that manner and to attempt to kill them just because they are gay. He could have gone another way and he chose not to. There is help available, and there are choices in life. I know life isn't as simple as typing it on a message board, but it all comes back to the choices we make.
an article about the police officer he killed
Friends describe slain officer as giving, dedicated to job
By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff February 5, 2006
James Sell, gunned down yesterday in Arkansas, loved two things in his life -- his wife and his job as a police officer.
When he lost his wife to cancer last year, Sell, who was about 63, began working more weekend shifts to keep busy and let younger officers on the Gassville Police Department spend more time with their families.
''Anytime, if you ever needed any kind of favor, he'd be right on down," said Michael Swetnam, 53, Sell's next-door neighbor.
It was yesterday, during one of these shifts, that Sell encountered Jacob D. Robida, 18, who was wanted in an attack on three men in a gay bar in New Bedford early Thursday.
Yesterday, in the parking lot of the Brass Door, a motel and restaurant in Gassville, a rural Ozark Mountain town of about 1,700, Sell stopped Robida's green Pontiac Grand Am. Robida shot Sell and fled before he was stopped in Norfork, Ark., police said.
Yesterday evening, neighbors and friends mourned Sell, a tall, strapping man who owned a modest cattle ranch, favored cowboy hats and boots, and kept his gray handlebar moustache neatly trimmed.
''Everyone loved Jim," said Pam Sullins, a friend. ''He loved being a police officer. At least he died doing what he loved and protecting all of us."
Sell was born in Iowa but lived most of his adult life in Arkansas, where he had worked as an officer for the police department in Blytheville, a town of 18,000, for about 27 years, Swetnam said.
Late last year, his wife, Shirley, died of lung cancer, leaving behind a stepdaughter.
''She was his soul mate," Sullins said.
Sell had been working as a part-time officer for Gassville for the past couple of years, but began taking more shifts after his wife's death.
During his shifts, he routinely stopped by his ranch, nestled in a wooded, sparsely populated area, to check on his German shepherd and another dog.
Sell always found time for one of his favorite hobbies: collecting and working on old cars, including a 1946 Ford and a 1957 Nash Metropolitan he had painted black and white.
''He called it is his little Oreo," Swetnam said, laughing.
Neighbors recalled Sell as a man who would loan one of his cars without hesitation and took good care of his stepdaughter, a woman in her 40s who had been having health and relationship problems and moved in with him after his wife's death.
Richard Albertson, 59, remembered how Sell gave his family bales of hay last year for their ranch when Albertson was fighting throat and stomach cancer in the hospital.
''He was very conscientious," Albertson said. ''He treated everybody 100 percent. He treated everybody like he wanted to be treated."
Swetnam said the last time he saw his neighbor was early yesterday afternoon.
Sell had come by his ranch, probably to check on his animals and get a quick bite, Swetnam said.
He then left in his police cruiser, waving at Swetnam, his wife, and a couple of friends.
Swetnam and his friends went to his garage to work on a car.
About an hour later, Swetnam received a call from his brother's girlfriend, a waitress at the Brass Door, who told him that Sell had been shot. He said he was shocked when he learned the alleged shooter was Robida.
Swetnam said he is certain Sell had no idea who was in the Pontiac when he stopped the car.
Most likely, Swetnam said, his friend probably thought he was making a routine traffic stop.
''He was known to be a very easygoing, very nice guy around here," Swetnam said.
''He didn't stop people for any old thing. . . . He was definitely not an officer just out looking for trouble."
an article about the police officer he killed
Friends describe slain officer as giving, dedicated to job
By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff February 5, 2006
James Sell, gunned down yesterday in Arkansas, loved two things in his life -- his wife and his job as a police officer.
When he lost his wife to cancer last year, Sell, who was about 63, began working more weekend shifts to keep busy and let younger officers on the Gassville Police Department spend more time with their families.
''Anytime, if you ever needed any kind of favor, he'd be right on down," said Michael Swetnam, 53, Sell's next-door neighbor.
It was yesterday, during one of these shifts, that Sell encountered Jacob D. Robida, 18, who was wanted in an attack on three men in a gay bar in New Bedford early Thursday.
Yesterday, in the parking lot of the Brass Door, a motel and restaurant in Gassville, a rural Ozark Mountain town of about 1,700, Sell stopped Robida's green Pontiac Grand Am. Robida shot Sell and fled before he was stopped in Norfork, Ark., police said.
Yesterday evening, neighbors and friends mourned Sell, a tall, strapping man who owned a modest cattle ranch, favored cowboy hats and boots, and kept his gray handlebar moustache neatly trimmed.
''Everyone loved Jim," said Pam Sullins, a friend. ''He loved being a police officer. At least he died doing what he loved and protecting all of us."
Sell was born in Iowa but lived most of his adult life in Arkansas, where he had worked as an officer for the police department in Blytheville, a town of 18,000, for about 27 years, Swetnam said.
Late last year, his wife, Shirley, died of lung cancer, leaving behind a stepdaughter.
''She was his soul mate," Sullins said.
Sell had been working as a part-time officer for Gassville for the past couple of years, but began taking more shifts after his wife's death.
During his shifts, he routinely stopped by his ranch, nestled in a wooded, sparsely populated area, to check on his German shepherd and another dog.
Sell always found time for one of his favorite hobbies: collecting and working on old cars, including a 1946 Ford and a 1957 Nash Metropolitan he had painted black and white.
''He called it is his little Oreo," Swetnam said, laughing.
Neighbors recalled Sell as a man who would loan one of his cars without hesitation and took good care of his stepdaughter, a woman in her 40s who had been having health and relationship problems and moved in with him after his wife's death.
Richard Albertson, 59, remembered how Sell gave his family bales of hay last year for their ranch when Albertson was fighting throat and stomach cancer in the hospital.
''He was very conscientious," Albertson said. ''He treated everybody 100 percent. He treated everybody like he wanted to be treated."
Swetnam said the last time he saw his neighbor was early yesterday afternoon.
Sell had come by his ranch, probably to check on his animals and get a quick bite, Swetnam said.
He then left in his police cruiser, waving at Swetnam, his wife, and a couple of friends.
Swetnam and his friends went to his garage to work on a car.
About an hour later, Swetnam received a call from his brother's girlfriend, a waitress at the Brass Door, who told him that Sell had been shot. He said he was shocked when he learned the alleged shooter was Robida.
Swetnam said he is certain Sell had no idea who was in the Pontiac when he stopped the car.
Most likely, Swetnam said, his friend probably thought he was making a routine traffic stop.
''He was known to be a very easygoing, very nice guy around here," Swetnam said.
''He didn't stop people for any old thing. . . . He was definitely not an officer just out looking for trouble."
. Good question, starsgoblue. 
.
I live a lttle more than 50 miles away from Springfield. I guess there are ignorant people everywhere.
