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In Honor of Ashley Guindon: A Fallen Officer

Tales Of Nightingale Lynn[su_dropcap style=”flat”]S[/su_dropcap]PEAKING OUT for Ashley Guindon (of Virginia), the female police officer who was shot to death on her first day as a police officer after training, in today’s news.

I have to pray that this message will be received with awe, and not prejudice because that is not the case. The suspect was dealing with his own issues, domestic violence. It didn’t matter who the suspect was, what matters is that a police officer, starting out on her career of serving the public is over in a blink of an eye.

One night after I was ending my shift, being only in the field a few weeks, I was headed into the station to end my shift. While waiting for the light to change, a car breezed past me and blew the light at the intersection.

I looked over to the driver in the car next to me, and it was as if to say; well? What are you going to do… so I threw on my rotators, (emergency lights) on and went in pursuit. Making a U-turn and heading up onto the freeway overpass, the car stopped just short of the on ramp. I slowed and put my spotlight on to their rear view mirror as I was trained by my exceptional FTO, we will call him “D”; the car came to a stop.

police-fallen-officer-honorAs I watched those in front of me, I noticed the driver fidgeting and bending forward, I exited my vehicle and something told me in a clear voice, “don’t’ go up there”. I decided to call for back up and waited.

When my back up came, (as we were usually one man unites), unless you had a ride a long or partner assigned, I was alone.

I told the backup what I had observed, and we went through the routine of having the occupants exit the vehicle, When all was said and done and we were on our way back to the station, both in custody, I spoke to the passenger, at the station, asking, what the heck? What was going on with you two? I arrested the driver for driving under the influence, possession of a hand gun, and the passenger, also under the influence, but at lest he was able to articulate the following:

“My friend; just returned from six months at sea, a naval officer. He was looking forward go his homecoming with his wife, but found her in a compromised position with another man, hoping to surprise her, and yes he did! Not fair to him who served our country, so wrong….

He walked out, called his friend (the passenger I was speaking to) and said, “lets go”. They drove from Long Beach California all the way into Orange County where they encountered me. But because I was a female, the driver saw when I stopped him, the message was, “ When she comes up to the window, I am going to kill her”.

That was the movement I was seeing in the car, the leaning over, grabbing the 38, and waiting for me to get close enough. But that voice I heard, I believe was my guarding angel. And I listened.

For Ashley, she never had a chance, and my heart goes out to her and her family, and I will forever remember her in my prayers. To all the officers who work the streets in any capacity, I also pray for you. Our officer’s are being judged and sentenced without anyone who does so, putting themselves in the same place and being able to do what our officers deal with in a blink of an eye.   Ashley, rest in peace.

God Bless …

Lynn Forrester-Pitocco
Lynn Forrester-Pitocco
LYNN is Retired from Law Enforcement as a Police Officer, with a background in nursing and previously a member of the Search and Rescue Team with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, A retired member of the Orange Police Department, she became the first female SWAT member on an elite team while becoming a member of the Olympic Shooting Team during the early years on the department. A mother and a grandmother, a devout Catholic who currently resides in Houston, Texas. Her hobbies include writing, painting, and a contemplative prayer life. She is in love with her faith, but the love she carries for her two grown children and grandchildren who rest in her heart surpasses everything except her faith in God. Since retirement, Lynn has done private investigation, worked as a gang counselor with middle schools, A member of Bl. Mother Teresa’s Order called the (Lay Missionaries of Charity), she is also a pro-life advocate, often called upon to give testimony and speak to youth groups, as well as adult forums. She has published a children’s book entitled “The Children’s Garden” and is currently working on two additional children’s books. She is currently working on the major one focused on her experience in Law Enforcement entitled “Heels and a Badge”. (copyright). Her paintings and sketches, writings, can be viewed on her Pinterest boards (click on the Pinterest ICON below). Her dream is to one-day write a movie for Hallmark. Dreams do come true … See Lynn’s entire collection of thought-provoking Articles by clicking on her byline. Lynn is a contributing author to the inspiring book Chaos to Clarity: Sacred Stories of Transformational Change.

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4 CONVERSATIONS

  1. That is such a sad story. I mean it’s great that you listened with your senses to all that was going one instead of just your ears to what might have been audible. I’m thankful that your guardian angel was on watch with you your entire career.

  2. I join you, Lynn. How tragic. I also believe in guardian angles. I have one. He/she is pretty disheveled by now though. Looks like he/she was tossed off the back of a speeding turnip truck on a gravel road and then run over by a herd of panicked sheep.

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