Page 18
The INDEPENDENT, May 7, 2009
From the Sheriff’s Desk…
by Jeff Dickerson, Sheriff
Columbia County
“There never is a cop around
when you need one.” There
have been a number of off-duty
opportunities even for me to ut-
ter that familiar phrase.
But it also underlines the im-
portance of being prepared for
the times when you must act ei-
ther to defend yourself or assist
responding law enforcement in
apprehending a perpetrator or someone who has bro-
ken the peace in our county.
The best way to be prepared for the unexpected is
to visualize your actions in any number of potential
conflicts that come your way. I’m not talking about fan-
tasies of what you’d “like to do to someone” who
threatens you, but reasonable, self-preservation tech-
niques designed to defeat aggression and limit your
vulnerability.
Law enforcement members train incessantly for the
unexpected by running through countless scenarios in
their mind. You can do the same thing, with a goal of
protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Taking a self-defense course and learning how to
use a firearm in self-defense are also good ways to
prepare for the unexpected. I am a firm believer in the
second amendment’s guarantee of the individual right
to keep and bear arms. I believe our founding fathers
understood that the right to self-determination is only
as secure as your ability to defend that right.
There are other times where your personal safety is
not threatened, but events happening around you are
placing others in danger, or victimizing people and/or
their property. Even then, your preparation for the un-
expected can help law enforcement catch up with the
perpetrators.
Your prior preparation should also include training
on how to be a good witness. When something bad
Please see page 21
Tony Johnson Construction
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