Posted on 07/03/2013 1:44:36 PM PDT by EXCH54FE
While watching the Martin-Zimmerman trial this week, combat veteran and Navy Cross recipient, Jeremiah Workman noticed a particularly disturbing decoration on Doris Singleton’s Sanford Police Department uniform when she took the stand. Singleton’s uniform had two ribbons — the World War II Army of Occupation Medal and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal – which Workman knew could not belong to someone who had only served in the Army for three years.
“I worked at the Pentagon with Sgt. Maj. [Carlton] Kent and Gen. [James] Conway for two years and I was around every general in the Marine Corps. I know these high ribbons, I know just about all the ribbons anyways,” Workman told The Marine Corps Times.
Workman, a former Marine who fought in the second battle of Fallujah, posted a picture of the woman on Facebook with the caption, “Am I going blind or is this police officer in the Zimmerman-Martin trial wearing ribbons that she doesn’t rate? I see a WW II army occupation medal and a Defense Distinguished service medal. Wow! On the stand she was asked about her military career. She said army for 3 years. So she received in three years what a 4 star general receives after forty years of service. Wow. What a superb 3 year army career!”
Gina Harkins, who writes for The Military Times, saw the post and contacted Workman, who had already talked with the Sanford Police Department by telephone. He told Harkins that according to the conversation he had with a Sanford PD official, since the department doesn’t have their own awards system, they simply went to the Army-Navy store and picked out Defense Department military ribbons. The official also stated that they intentionally chose World War II ribbons because there are not many veterans still alive from that era and they did not think anyone would notice.
The response left Workman thinking, “So that makes it all better now because these guys are dead?” He told Harkins, “The fact that that was their response is still pretty shameful, I think.”
Shameful, indeed.
He questioned, “But what kind of professional police department would send Bob the patrolman around the corner to go pick out some ribbons for our officers to wear when they do something heroic or have good service over the years?”
Workman also said that the official told him that they were working to set up their own awards system.
The police chief, who is also an Air Force veteran, replied to Business Insider via email stating that they “apologize if any veterans were offended, and promise to rectify the situation.”
Also according the website, other veterans have emailed the police chief insisting that the use of the ribbons be immediately stopped.
Yes, the Stolen Valor Act. But the supreme court shot it down.
Police Chief being a veteran and all, he should know better.
“The official also stated that they intentionally chose World War II ribbons because there are not many veterans still alive from that era and they did not think anyone would notice. “
effing’ scumbag. Why didn’t they just get it over with and buy a clone Medal of Honor?
Shameful.
IIRC, the “Stolen Valor” law was ruled unconstitutional by some liberal weenie judge/court.
Well, they are ribbons not a military uniform, but rather a police uniform.
So this is odd, but legally OK, I would think.
Their newest recruit.
I want to know when her police department gave her the awards and if they had given the ribbons to other policemen. What did she do to earn the ribbons? Were they used to make her look more impressive at the Zimmerman trial?
Why should we assume that the meaning of a particular-pattern ribbon means the same thing on a police uniform as on a military uniform?
Probably the P.D.'s way of getting in on the "rainbow" craze that's been so big lately!
Really does look just divine!
It was thrown out by SCOTUS.............
I'm not a veteran but I'm offended. Do I get an apology?
Wouldn't the fact that she's not 80 years old be a giveaway that she didn't earn a WWII medal?
As a veteran, I see no stolen valor here. The officer is wearing an award earned in the service of and duly authorized by the Sanford PD. She does not claim to be a WWII vet.
If there is any fault here, it belongs to the PD for electing to use DoD ribbons for its awards.
The solution is for LE agencies to use a consolidated set of awards, just as the branches of the military do.
Careful, or Obama will want one of those too. He's got a Nobel Peace Prize, and a Grammy, and control of the White House - all for being diverse without accomplishments. I'm sure he can steamroll the Medal of Honor for himself, or even his and hers Medal of Honor awards so Michelle will match him, once he and his fans get the idea.
Hey,dipstick. WE noticed.
Is there something in the water in Sanford?
When I first saw Ofr. Singleton, I couldn't believe she was wearing military ribbons. I have never seen them on a police officer.
Which one was for perfect attendance?
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