Update

An update on the insanity that went down Sunday morning: Officer Al Del Vecchio, a 16-year veteran, is going to be okay. The bullet apparently entered near his nose and exited near his ear, but did not do any brain damage. After he was shot he fell back on one knee but managed to fire back at his attempted killer Adolfo Benny Carreras, the driver of the stolen car that they were investigating. Carreras is a three-time felon. The other officer on the scene was Justin Bradley, a rookie just two months out of the police academy and three weeks on the job who was being trained by Del Vecchio. He was apparently also level-headed enough to fire back at Carreras, and combined the officers managed to hit Carreras multiple times, but didn't injure any of the 25 or so people who witnessed the incident which took place outside a popular bar. Carreras is also recovering from his injuries.

Like everyone else, I complain endlessly when I get stopped for speeding (which BTW hasn't happened for years now), but events like these make you realize how little law enforcement officers get appreciated for the incredible risks they take.