Son Of Fallen Officer Paul Rutherford Says A Needed Conversation Has Turned Ugly In Phoenix

Press release from the City of Phoenix:

September 10, 2020

PolicePolice

Son of Fallen Officer Paul Rutherford Says a Needed Conversation Has Turned Ugly September 10, 2020 12:00 AM

"March 21, 2019 is a date that will forever be ingrained in my memory," Chris Rutherford wrote in this AZCentral.com opinion piece.

It has been nearly a year and a half since Chris Rutherford lost his dad.

"He was my hero, and a mentor to many of his colleagues," Chris wrote. "His name was Paul Rutherford, a proud 23-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department."

Officer Paul Rutherford was killed in a collision near 75th Avenue and Indian School Road while responding to a call. His son, Chris, is feeling that loss now maybe more than ever.

So he took the pain, and put it to paper in an
oped for AZCentral.com.

"I provide this description and background about my father because in recent months, I’ve heard a lot of negative commentary about police officers," Chris wrote.

In the article, Chris said a much needed conversation has turned ugly. Important discussions on racial equality have morphed into debates about "abolishing police departments and labeling police officers as abusive monsters."

"My dad gave his life for that job," Chris said in an interview about the article. "And it's not right. It just kinda makes you think like what he died for wasn't important."

Chris acknowledges that every profession has bad apples, but he said to not hold the handful of bad against the whole lot.

"It's just a yelling match back and forth," Chris said of the current climate. "We're very close-minded to one another. And that goes for both sides to have an open conversation."

Chris said he hopes this article, written by someone who has lost a family member in the line of duty, will provide a different perspective than the one commonly seen in the headlines, and maybe be a catalyst for those conversations he says we all need to show up for.

"If we want to be better as a society, we must lead with empathy," Chris wrote in the article. "We must care for our neighbor. We must talk to each other — not shout. And most importantly, we cannot forget that there is much more that connects us than divides us."

This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author’s own.