Startup Fiance

Last year in Minneapolis, eight officers with SWAT training raided a home that was allegedly connected to a major drug operation.  Upon entering the home there were shots fired at the officers by the homeowner, Vang Khang.  Acting out in self defense, Mr. Khang, who thought he was being robbed, began firing shots at the officers until he was able to resolve their identity.  The entire Khang family was home that evening including Mr. Khang’s wife and their six children aged 3 to 15, all of which have suffered trauma related to the events of that evening.  Read the full story here – Minneapolis Police

The Minnesota Police Department has since apologized for the events that took place that evening and has acknowledged the raid was a mistake.  Despite this, the Minnesota Police Department and city council felt that this incident was a good reason for the police officers to receive medals, since they, “performed very bravely under gunfire and made smart decisions”, according to the police commissioner.  So, in July 2008, the eight police officers that unlawfully entered a regular citizen’s home donned in full attack gear with guns drawn, received an award for their actions.

What kind of person stands up to accept an award like this?  Never mind the decision by the city to actually these ludicrous award medals; a real policeman would never have accepted such rubbish. They might as well have named this award the, “good job not totally slaughtering the family when you raided the wrong home” award.  I think instead of bestowing honor on the group that traumatized an unsuspecting family, the family itself should be awarded for enduring such an unsettling experience. The Khang family should receive, not only an award, but a monetary prize for surviving a police raid.

I guess we all should just sit back and wait for the next installment of intelligent police work done in the Minnesota area.  I can just see the headlines now, “Minnesota SWAT Team Raids Twin Cities Retirement Home”, followed by, “Minnesota Officers Awarded for Bravery in Face of Poor Hygiene and Difficulty Hearing”.  Way to go Minnesota, way to strike fear in the hearts of your residents, and excellent use of meaningless medals to try to cover up the mistakes of your organization.