I knew the reality TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition had pulled out all the stops to make a new wheelchair friendly house for the paralyzed LAPD hero, Kristina Ripatti. This beautiful young wife and mom was trapped in a small home that prevented her from doing those special things moms want and need to do. This was an excellent opportunity for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to make some fantastic television, of course with the hearts, minds and talents of builders, fellow cops, firemen and lots of just plain folks. They did a two-hour special show that was terrific.
I knew this sweet but sad story would make any grown man cry. I also knew that there was a special screening with the guests of honor at an overflowing Torrance church that I could have attended as a journalist. I just could not deal with the emotional side of this story so I chose not to attend and instead experience the show at home.
This fantastic act of kindness is merely a jump-start for this young family to deal with a lifetime of hardship. Kristina Ripatti and Tim Pearce lost their privacy as part and parcel of the tragedy but they also gained the love and prayers of an entire nation. Kristina Ripatti and your family, we love you.
5 comments:
Yes, it's tough that Rapatti was shot and paralyzed... but she's not the first nor last LAPD officer who was or will receive a job-related injury.
I, for one, could not get too excited about Rapatti or her ordeal. She's taken care of, earning a full pension (appx $60K/yr tax free) for the rest of her life and staying home to take care of her children. Her LAPD husband will also stay on the job and she'll be home - where she should have been in the first place. Building her a new house makes everyone feel good, but there are many more deserving officers who did more than get shot.
There are some things far worse than injury and death. Heroism is NOT defined by whether you get shot or not. She was shot - so what? There are many more officers, male officers, who get shot and just "go away," without a new house and fanfare. Why get excited about an anomaly?
LAPD's women cops represent about 14% of their uniformed officers and yet they account for almost 60% of all excessive force complaints for excessive force - (my sources inside the City Attorney's office confirm this, but I can't get anything official and LAPD has ignored FOIA requests so far.) So if women are doing most of the excessive force, why are no female officers ever charged for brutality?
I wish Rapatti well and, with God's grace, she'll have a long and fulfilling life in her new house with her children. But she's no hero - nothing more than an affirmative action experiment that got shot. Staying home and being a great mother is a far more honorable thing than helping LA pursue misguided notions of diversity.
Silly sentimental people may think otherwise... and the Rapatti circus makes everyone feel good... but there's more to being a cop than being a woman and getting shot.
I watched it and was very impressed for their going the extra mile for her. My best to them all as they find their new normal.
To: Dec 11 8:36 AM---
8:36 AM , You are one sick motherf--ker to say all that bullsh-t about one female officer. She didn't pick her time to be shot she didn't pick the time to rebuild her house she along with a lot of other PO's were injured in the LOD and the others got nothing but she did atleast they tried to help her as best they could. If your so fucking concerned with the 100's & 100's of other officers that are in the same type fix she is in. Then dig way deep down in your pocket book and write a check. You are and always will be a f--king MORON !!!!!
Ripatti chased an armed robbery suspect and actually grabbed him when she was shot. That was truly a brave act in the highest tradition for any officer in any department.
Its true that nearly every other officer in the same situation may never get the kind of help that Ripatti has received. That’s an all too real problem for cops everywhere.
The fact is that this television show capitalized on and successfully exploited the Rippatti situation and that’s what made this different.
It was Rapatti's fellow LAPD coppers that contacted the TV show on Ripatti’s behalf. I can only hope that all officers disabled in the line of duty can get this kind of assistance.
The pension you talked about is worthless in Los Angeles to keep any quality for life for a disabled parent.
Ripatti deserved all the support. Love, and assistance she got for putting her life and health on the line for others.
Ripatti did not get the help because she’s a woman but because she is a hero and role model for every young American.
Yes, female officers do use more force, more often because they are not as strong as men. If the offenders don't like that then the should not commit crimes or resist officers.
As for Ripatti I somehow know she will still do more than be a great wife and mother even with this horrible injury.
I watched the show and blubbered like a girl. It was really excellent. The show showed us how much of a stud Tina Rapatti really is. She's a true warrior and was doing a warrior's job when she was shot down.
To the first poster: You don't rate to carry her colostomy bag, you f*cking turd. Go back to the hole you crawled out of.
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