Send your donation today!  $5.00 - $10.00 - $20.00 or more....ALL DONATIONS ARE SO APPRECIATED!

Officer Street Survival Training, Deputy James F McGrane, Jr., is in need of your donation!  They welcome any amount, since it all adds up and helps to assist our law enforcement officers so they may attend this very valuable training seminar. 

You can make your donation right from this website by going to the "Make A Donation" page, click on the DONATION button and you will be directed to a secure and safe location through PayPal.  Credit cards and/or checks are welcome through PayPal.  If you are not secure with making a donation online, you can mail your check or money order to:

Deputy James McGrane Officer Survival Training 

PO Box 37337

Albuquerque, NM  87176-7337

The holidays have come and gone, but your donation is still needed.  Next time you go to the grocery store or to the gas station won't you ask for a money order for $5.00 and send it  in or trade in those empty cans you have been collecting and donate the money or how about donating $5.00 from a garage sale or ebay sale. 

We hope you inform yourself about this worthy cause and send in your donation.  You will be helping to keep not only our law enforcement officers safe, but you and your family will be safer as well.

A special "Thank You" to all of you that have sent in your donation this year.  You are a contributor to safety in our state!  You are appreciated! 

Posted by D.Gorrell at 08:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is This Just A Game To The Jury?

I suppose a confession doesn't mean anything anymore.  It's a sad day in Albuquerque, NM because Nester Vargas who admittedly aided in the escape of suspected cold blooded murderer Michael Paul Astorga, who gunned down Sheriff's Deputy James F. McGrane, Jr. during a routine traffic stop, was given a "not guilty" verdict by a "jury" today for his assistance in the escape of Astorga.  Vargas claims he did it to protect his family from this "dangerous" man.  Dangerous man?  Did he say dangerous?  Hmmm...Now, if this man threatened my family and I gave him what he wanted to get him away from me, you can bet the cops would be called immediately after he left.  Why do you supposed he didn't call anyone in law enforcement?  BECAUSE HE IS GUILTY!  He was helping Astorga escape because they have been friends for years.  Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe they served time behind bars together as well.  So come on folks!  Something is wrong with this picture!  What were the members of this jury thinking?  Or were they thinking at all? 

Most recently reported to me (after the verdict and outside the courtroom), is Nester Vargas' response to the question:  "What would you like to say to Michael Astorga"?, Vargas responded that he wished Astorga luck and hopes he gets off (not guilty) like he did.  

NOW TELL ME HE WASN'T GUILTY!  Shame, Shame on the jury and legal system in New Mexico. 

Posted by D.Gorrell at 05:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Is Mitchell Serious?  Do The People of Albuquerque Buy That Crap?!

"Mitchell offered into evidence copies of more than 100 headlines on the Astorga case published in the Albuquerque Journal, more than 75 headlines on the case published in The Albuquerque Tribune and 210 Google hits on Astorga as proof of the barrage of media attention his client has received.

"The publicity has been relentless," he said.

Mitchell also said that while most of the publicity and public sentiment has been sympathetic to Bernalillo County sheriff's Deputy James McGrane Jr., whom Astorga is accused of shooting during a March 2006 traffic stop in Tijeras, it had not been so for Astorga.

"There's almost a vehement dislike and comment" for Astorga and his family, Mitchell said."

                                                                 From article in Abq.Tribune

                                                                By Joline Gutierrez Krueger (Contact)

                                                                Originally published 07:39 a.m., December 19, 2007
                                                                Updated 12:27 p.m., December 19, 2007

I know that I am usually about a month or so behind on this news regarding Astorga but the information contained in this article just floored me once again.  Has Mitchell lost his mind?  Does he really believe that we should be sympathetic to Astorga?  Does he really think Astorga deserves the same  sympathy that Deputy McGrane receives?  NO WAY MITCHELL...You are off your rocker!  You are correct on my personal dislike for Astorga and his family!!   Trash!  (see previous blog)  I DON'T LIKE THEM....ANY OF THEM...! 

Oh and the 210 google hits were probably mine Mitchell!  I am always reading about what ridiculous garbage you are going to throw at the intellegent people of Albuquerque next.  Sometimes I click on your trash (see previous blog) more than once in disbelief!   

Remember Mitchell and Mitchell Fans:  You and your families sleep safely at night because of the many law enforcement officers that patrol YOUR streets day and night, and because one of them, a honorable, decent, ethical, principled, respectable, upstanding officer, Deputy James F McGrane Jr., lost his life to Astorga, who is also a gang member, lets not forget that!  Oh and let's not forget his family, you know, the mother and aunt who violated your privacy by entering the MVD and accessing your personal information.  Let's not forget what upstanding citizens they are! 

This isn't just an issue of the death penalty, this is an issue of THE KILLING OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER!  Hey Gary, I want to know how many death penalty cases you defended that were the cold blooded killings of law enforcement officers??? 

Posted by D.Gorrell at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Woodmen of the World Give Back Once Again!

Although I have heard of the Woodmen of the World, I never knew what they were about.  I recently found out about them through Jim and Rita McGrane, who informed me that this giving organization has helped them to reach their goal this year to provide Officer Street Survival Training for the 2nd year since Deputy McGrane's death.  Jim and Rita have dedicated their lives to assisting law enforcement officers with much needed training.  This training isn't cheap and they have worked diligently to raise money for the second year in a row.  Raising money is getting more difficult for them because they don't have others to help them.  They can only be in so many places at one time. Through their grief over the loss of their son, Deputy James (Jimmy) McGrane, there were able to hold the 1st Annual Officer Street Survival Training, March of 2007, which provided much needed survival training to 300 law enforcement officers.   The 2nd Annual Officer Street survival will be held again in March of 2008, thanks to the Woodmen of the World's generosity and so many others that have sent personal donations.  So many have been so generous.

As for the Woodmen of the World, I decided to research this organization so that I would be able to understand what they are about.  They are a family oriented organization that assists you in obtaining financial security for yourself and your loved ones.  They are great givers in the community!  They are a part of giving through:  

The Red Cross Partnership                         Make a Difference Day

Disaster Relief                                          Youth Service Projects

Join Hands Day                                         Arbor Day Foundation

Flags Across America 

In Honor and Rememberance

They offer memberships, camps, youth organization and lodges.  They are givers in the community .  I just think this is such a great organization.  They are about family and community and there really isn't anything more important. 

I hope when you decide to purchase life insurance, investments etc... that you consider going to their website and giving your business to them.  Here is their website so you can check it out too: 

http://www.woodmen.org/

Just when you think you might not make your goal....you say a prayer....and it works...it happens....it comes together......

A "Very Special Thank You" to The Woodmen of the World for helping Officer Street Survival Training, Deputy James F. McGrane, Jr. meet their goal! 

Posted by D.Gorrell at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Trash", The Definition.

"His mom cried afterward," Armell said of Wednesday's aftermath. "She was saying, 'That's my son; no matter what, that's my son.' He's got family. Every inmate has got family. Those are the forgotten victims of the crime.", says Christy Armell.  (Taken from the Albuquerque Tribune article by Jolene Gutierrez Krueger, December 20, 2007.) 

Christy Armell says she is not a member of the Astorga family, but felt the need to sit with them in the court room, (she is against the death penalty).  She also stated that if she would have been sitting on the side of the prosecution, she would have been treated better.  YOU BET HONEY!!  YOU WERE SITTING WITH A "FAMILY" THAT HELPED THEIR ACCUSED COLD BLOODED KILLER FAMILY MEMBER ESCAPE THE COUNTRY.  Christy, you just picked the wrong side of the court room.  So sorry honey.

This statement above from Theresa Romero and quoted by Christy Armell, who doesn't believe in the death penalty and feels sooooo bad for Theresa Romero and claims she is a victim, gives me the opportunity to finally bring up this definition that I promised you I would do at a later blog. 

It is just so fitting, so here it is: 

Posted by D.Gorrell at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)