HONOR PARK Many years ago, when I was just a teenager instead of a man in his sixties, two Chester County police officers lost their lives in the line of duty. A third was shot by the same man, who had just killed those brave men. He was left crippled, confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, as I remember. The shame is I could no longer remember any of their names, until I found this THIS IS THEIR STORY, End of Watch May 9, 1970 Deputy William Doster and Lieutenant James Waters were shot and killed while serving a warrant to a local farmer. The deputies, and a third deputy, had gone to the location and served the warrant. The suspect paid the fine on the spot and was issued a bond receipt. As the deputies returned to the patrol car the suspect stepped back out of his house and opened fire on them with a 12-gauge shotgun. Lieutenant Waters and Deputy Doster were both killed. The third deputy was seriously wounded. Read more: odmp.org/officer/4231-deputy-sheriff-william-c-doster#ixzz3Kb667x9D What you see in these two pictures are one and the same, One represents reality, the other only a dream. If you read my posts you have, no doubt, seen this all before The abandoned Springsteen Mill lot has become nothing more than a public eyesore. An embarrassment to the entire community of Chester and Chester County. Grass grows waste high in the summer, rats and snakes must love it there. With the tragic death of City Councilman/ Retired Cop Odell Williams we have a unique opportunity to do something “significant” in remembrance of these men, Doster,Waters,Williams,and all those who came before and sadly will come after. This park and youth center would help the community, the county, as a whole. Would help the inner city youth of the city of Chester and Chester County, school age children. It would get some of them, the ones that want help. off the mean streets. The center would be named The Odell Williams or the Doster, Waters, Williams Youth Center. The building located in “Honor Park”. The park’s name would come from the fact it was built to honor ALL living and fallen, exceptional, police officers, first responders, EMS and Firemen, past community leaders and civil servants, who have dedicated, or given, their lives to public service The city and county will no doubt sing the same sad song we have all heard before, No Money. THE FINANCING Since this would be a joint undertaking of not only the city, but the county as well. Perhaps, instead of (the county) spending millions on ball field upgrades, millions more on what economic development calls a “speculative building” Part of this money could be diverted to this project. The city donates the land, the county provides “part of” the needed funding. To avoid any hint of impropriety when it comes to additional funding. Community leaders could draft a letter with this proposal. Mail or personally hand deliver this to local business and community leaders asking for a letter of intent. The letter saying that once ground breaking begins they will pledge “X AMOUNT” of dollars to the center and park toward it’s completion. Church groups, private citizens, would also be asked to do the same. Again, To avoid the look of any impropriety, A “community bank account could be set up and overseen by a trustee, park committee, and also members of local law enforcement. The balance and pledge amounts of this account published in the local paper from time to time. As we all know Mr. Williams was not only a city councilman for many years, but also, a retired officer of the law. Doster and Waters, as you now know, were also law enforcement. William Doster had been a cop for only two weeks when he lost his life. Additional donations could be sought from any and all police and first responder organizations. Grants, or donations, could be sought from the Springs/ Close foundation, who once owned the land where the park/youth center would be built. Different Areas, within the park, Sports facilities could be named after these other men. A plague erected, center park, with their names inscribed so that none would be forgotten. To help with the contributions. Those who contributed funds, above a certain amount, would have their names engraved on a plague located in a position of prominence, perhaps near or inside, the Youth Center ( teen center on the drawing). This would tell future generations that they cared. No only about these men, but the youth, the people, they all so desperately tried to help, protected and served. Perhaps even some of those that took their lives. This is not my idea. After reading of the deaths of too many young people due to crime, God laid this on my heart, months ago, before this latest tragedy involving the councilman. I didn’t even know what to call the park, what to name the youth center. Now I do Now that you have read this, it will be up to you all to get behind the idea. Up to you to complete this, remember these men. Consider this, Never before have so many different circumstances fallen into place. Because of this tragedy, these tragedies, who was involved, this should be able to garner widespread support from the political arena, business, law enforcement, church groups, as well as the average man or woman on the street. I believe God is showing us all the way. There is no better time than now. For evil people to prevail, Good people need do nothing.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 00:11:45 +0000
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