Driving while dumb.

The Field Negro education series continues.

Sometimes it takes other people doing really dumb things to make you realize what kind of decisions you should not be making in your own life.

I happen to drive a particular type of vehicle which causes others with the same vehicle to acknowledge me when they see me driving down the road. It drives my wife nuts. "Seriously, do you all really have to do that?" Yes, as a matter of a fact we do. It's the kind of bond we have. Folks who don't drive this particular vehicle would never understand it.

The thing is, though, my connection with these individuals stop with the type of vehicle we choose to drive. Men who happen to share my race have a deeper connection to me regardless of what type of car they drive, what they do for a living, or where they happen to live. Unfortunately society made it that way.

So recently there were two incidents involving men of color which caused me to say: Really Negroes?! 

The first one is from right here in my hometown of Philadelphia.

"A Philadelphia police officer was charged Saturday with DUI and aggravated assault after he was discovered shortly after midnight inside his damaged police vehicle, police said.

Darryl Cathey, 26, a six-year veteran, was charged after he was seen driving the damaged vehicle and parking it at the 12th District station on 6500 Woodland Ave., police said.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey ordered Cathey suspended for 30 days with intent to dismiss.
Cathey pulled up to the station in the car with three flat tires and bent rims, a 12th District sergeant said.

The sergeant described Cathey as having bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on his breath. He was not aware his vehicle had been damaged, police said.

As Cathey was being taken into custody, he allegedly began struggling with the supervisor and other officers from the 12th District. He was taken to a police detention unit for DUI.." [Source] 

I think I am speechless.

Then there is this other fellow from Fresno, California. (See my HNOTD)

"The arrest of Fresno Police Deputy Chief Keith Foster has sent shockwaves of disbelief throughout the city of Fresno. The high-ranking deputy chief is one of six people facing a slew of federal charges.

Foster is accused of working with accomplices to deal oxycodone, pot and heroin. The nearly 30-year police department veteran, his lawyer said, could hardly believe it himself.

"That has transferred to him personally and emotionally. He's very upset about that. He loves law enforcement, and now he is dealing with this," said Marshall Hodgkins, Foster's lawyer.

After a federal court arraignment Friday, Foster and another suspect -- Jennifer Donabedian -- were both released from custody. Of the six suspects they are the only two without criminal histories. Donabedian's attorney says that was the main reason for their release.

"She's obviously thoroughly scared. I mean, she's a young lady that's never been in trouble before," said Gerald Schwab, Donabedian's lawyer.

Schwab says Donabedian is a lifelong Fresno resident who's dating Denny Foster -- another suspect. Denny is Keith Foster's nephew. Schwab maintains his client's innocence and believes she may have been roped in by association.

"I think people are kind of jumping to some conclusions based on kind of what's been put out on the Internet or on TV or in the newspapers that may not be perfectly jiving with the facts," said Schwab.

Suspect Randy Flowers, 48, is also related to Keith Foster. But it's unclear how the final two suspects -- Sarah Ybarra and Rafael Guzman -- became involved in the alleged drug ring. Guzman is a felon who's been convicted of drug charges in the past. " [Source]

If what is being alleged about these two individuals is in fact true, it is both sad and tragic.

It's sad. Two men representing their community, their families, and the cities that they are sworn to protect; allegedly commit acts to betray the public trust.

I will close this post how I started it:

Sometimes it takes other people doing really dumb things to make you realize what kind of decisions you should not be making in your own life.