Samaritan: 'I couldn't leave him' (union brother helps save downed policeman's life)

[Omaha Steve]

(study break for me) I worked with LaDon for 9 months in Parks District 1. I knew he was a good guy. Now I know he is much more than that.


http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10413060

Published Friday August 22, 2008
Samaritan: 'I couldn't leave him'
BY VIRGIL LARSEN AND ANDREW J. NELSON
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS

Two of LaDon Stennis' sisters say their brother, who is credited with helping save the life of wounded Omaha Police Officer Paul Latschar, never would have thought of running when he heard the gunfire.

He never would have just passed by, Christine Merrell said today.

"He would have died first," she said.

"He is just brave," Sharon Schultz said.

He is also modest, the sisters said.

Merrell, who lives across the street from Stennis, said that when she saw her brother outside his house Thursday morning, she asked why he wasn't at work.

His explanation: He had come across the shooting the night before. However, Merrell said, her brother mentioned nothing about his part in helping the wounded police officer.

Later, at her job, Merrell heard talk of the bravery of a passer-by who came to Latschar's rescue. She put two and two together, and figured the good Samaritan was her brother.

Stennis, 45, said he had been out riding his motorcycle Wednesday night. Eastbound on Camden Avenue, he was approaching 42nd Street and slowing for a stop sign when his evening took a turn.

"That's when I really heard the gunshots," he said. "That's when I saw (Latschar) run across the street in front of me."

The officer was not wearing a regular police uniform. But Stennis said he knew Latschar was an officer by his body armor and military-style pants.

A moment later, the officer was down, his body on the curb.


FULL story at link.

[thunder rising]

1. keep the "good cop" out of here. There are too many that tazer unmercifully and beat to kill