Chatsworth train crash

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Trooper_IHB

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All, I was assigned into Devonshire Division on the night of this crash. The officers that were there pulling bodies out were absolutely shell shocked. The hardest part is, we lost one of our own.... Officer Spree DeSha of Office of Operations and formerly North Hollywood Division. She had just finished her watch and was on the train home. Metro Link allows us to ride for free if we are in full uniform.... and my officers saw her getting pulled out in that suit. Lots of tears from some hard charging LAPD Centurians a couple of nights ago....



A moment of silence please.



<img src="http://www.lapdonline.org/assets/jpeg/desha1.jpg" alt="" />
 
Story from our LAPD website.



<a href="http://www.lapdonline.org/home/news_view/39351">lapdonline.org</a>



I think it is also important to add that Spree was a lesbian, and her female partner is also an officer with LAPD. Her partner of 5 years is a Valley Traffic Motorcycle officer. She rolled up on the train crash to assist with the triage, not knowing Spree was on the train. Spree usually was on the next train but her unit had gotten out early on Friday....so her partner was there helping remove people when she saw Spree. Needless to say, it was an emotional moment for all of us.



This is what I want you to do. Read the LAPD article link and tell me....does it recognize her lesbian partner of 5 years ? No, it doesn't..... Do you have any idea what she's going through right now ? Suffering in virtual silence, not recognized by the department, the city or the state ? It may be by choice, but it certainly isn't the way it SHOULD BE. Spree's pension will not go to her either.



<em>"All you can do is go home and hug your wife and kids, I guess," he said. "These people were regular working people like you and I and headed home looking forward to a weekend with their families ? and they're dead in an instant."</em>



Come on people. We are human too. Can't you please vote No on Prop 8 in November ? Let us get married and protect ourselves from circumstances just like this ?



<a href="http://news.aol.com/article/warning-came-too-late-in-rail-crash/172531">news article on crash</a>
 
Trooper,



I am so sorry... I don't even know what to say. When ever news breaks of an accident like this, train, plane, auto, whatever... my mind immediately goes to "Oh my God, someones entire family/friends, reality just completely changed". Time stops, nothing else matters, everything else is insignificant.



No doubt that her partner is going though the worst moments of her life right now, no doubt they were family. Everyone who lost someone, all the injured, permanently disabled... just very difficult to take it all in...
 
Thx GITOC.



<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-desha14-2008sep14,0,2470697.story">another article that doesn't mention her life partner</a>



<strong>LAPD officer killed in crash was a standout</strong><span style="font-size: 15px;"></span>



<em>Romero and Lt. Maria Acosta, another supervisor, recalled how Desha spearheaded a cancer charity fundraiser in the station. In exchange for pledges, officers shaved their heads -- a symbol of solidarity with cancer patients who lose their hair during treatment. Desha was one of the few women to part with their locks.



Before she took a razor to her head, Romero asked her if she really wanted to take the leap.



"She had such beautiful hair. But she didn't hesitate," he remembered. "She said, 'I'll do what the patients do, I'll deal with it."</em>





<img src="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-09/42338276.jpg" alt="" />
 
<a href="http://brokencontrollers.com/forums/police-lined-up-for-body-of-spree-desha-t24610.php">another article</a>



<em>venturacountystar: Los Angeles police Officer Laura Gerritsen rushed to the Metrolink crash in Chatsworth Friday afternoon along with hundreds of her fellow officers, unaware that <strong>her best friend and co-worker</strong> was among the dead.



It was only later, said Gerritsen's father, John, that his daughter realized that Spree DeSha, 35, was likely on the train.



DeSha's uniformed body was found in the lead passenger car, the one that suffered the most damage in the crash.



Gerritsen said his daughter helped remove DeSha's body from the crumpled train car late Friday evening.



"The body was draped with an American flag as they took her out," said Gerritsen, his eyes welling in tears, as he stood in the front yard of the one-acre lot in Simi Valley <strong>where DeSha lived with his daughter.

</strong>

Gerritsen said his daughter was too overcome with emotion to make a public statement about DeSha on Saturday. </em>





Again, I emphasize <strong>"BEST FRIEND"</strong> and "<strong>CO-WORKER"</strong> in the media articles. These are "code words" when referencing gay relationships....it makes everyone "feel better".



<strong>THIS WAS HER LOVER, HER PARTNER FOR LIFE</strong>.....do you all see the discrepancy here ?
 
What a sad day. I wondered if you knew her or ended up being assigned to the crash.



I can certainly see your frustration and understand it. For the life of me, I cannot understand why the news articles won't write the truth and recognize this officer's relationship. I just don't get it, but I can see that society still has a long way to go when it comes to recognition of gay and lesbian relationships.
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1221495138]<a href="http://brokencontrollers.com/forums/police-lined-up-for-body-of-spree-desha-t24610.php">another article</a>



<em>venturacountystar: Los Angeles police Officer Laura Gerritsen rushed to the Metrolink crash in Chatsworth Friday afternoon along with hundreds of her fellow officers, unaware that <strong>her best friend and co-worker</strong> was among the dead.



It was only later, said Gerritsen's father, John, that his daughter realized that Spree DeSha, 35, was likely on the train.



DeSha's uniformed body was found in the lead passenger car, the one that suffered the most damage in the crash.



Gerritsen said his daughter helped remove DeSha's body from the crumpled train car late Friday evening.



"The body was draped with an American flag as they took her out," said Gerritsen, his eyes welling in tears, as he stood in the front yard of the one-acre lot in Simi Valley <strong>where DeSha lived with his daughter.

</strong>

Gerritsen said his daughter was too overcome with emotion to make a public statement about DeSha on Saturday. </em>





Again, I emphasize <strong>"BEST FRIEND"</strong> and "<strong>CO-WORKER"</strong> in the media articles. These are "code words" when referencing gay relationships....it makes everyone "feel better".





<strong>THIS WAS HER LOVER, HER PARTNER FOR LIFE</strong>.....do you all see the discrepancy here ?</blockquote>


Trooper - I am very sorry you lost a fellow officer. However, I am just wondering if in fact those two officers were "out of the closet". My first thought is perhaps Gerritsen didn't tell the reporter about their relationship? Or maybe the family didn't want to disrespect them by out'ing them? I don't know - just a guess. Again, sorry to hear.
 
[quote author="Trooper" date=1221491101]

Spree's pension will not go to her either.



</blockquote>


Troop did they have an official domestic partnership or civil union? I would think if they did her partner would have to receive her pension by CA law, no?



I realize that is only part of the issue. My condolences.
 
Troop, just to let you know - her partner Laura was at a news conference this afternoon with Spree DeSha's parents and it was said twice by the KCAL reporter that Laura was her life partner. Laura also said that they had been together for six years.



I'm glad it was acknowledged and not ignored.
 
I did not know Spree or her partner so I can't answer some of your questions about their legal status and if they were "out" or not. Many gay officers are concerned about the stigma of being gay, so many choose not to go down the path of civil unions, et al. It was premature for me to make the statement about Laura not getting Spree's pension, I guess I was just assuming. I'll know more when I get back to work and will update.



Also, I searched around the web for a link to that TV interview that Laura gave. Can anyone direct me to it so I can watch it ?



Thank you all for your kind words.



<img src="http://llnw.image.cbslocal.com/18/2008/09/14/370x278/deshaspree_chatsworth_091308.jpg" alt="" />
 
Here ya go, Trooper. <a href="http://cbs2.com/local/Metrolink.LAPD.Officer.2.818350.html">Family news conference</a>. This looks to be the taped version but it's the just about same thing I saw live. In the tape, they show Laura's name and relationship at the bottom of the screen. The video is to the right of the print version.
 
Troop,



When I heard of the news I was shocked and I immediately thought of you. I was happy when I saw your pink handcuffs in the aftermath postings but I am sadden to hear your comrad.



In our "politically sensitive society" media often don't publish the truth in fear of lawsuit by surviving family members.



I remembered almost 2 years ago Vientos was published on the local Irvine newspaper regarding a specific floor plan was designed for the gay demographic and many of the residents in Irvine felt the article was indecent and insulting to the morally conservative families. The same article was later edited to a more politically fashion in the OC Register. Brian Martinez the reporter answered to many threatening calls.



Google lead me to ISM's post here.
 
<object width="325" height="250"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/youtube" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="325" height="250"></embed></object>



It was a nice gesture that LAFD took their helmets off when Spree was removed from the train.
 
Trooped, All I can say is that I'm terribly sorry for Her Partner, Family, Friends, Peers and everyone else who knew Her...



My thoughts are with everyone involved in this horrible tragedy...
 
I finally got confirmation last night that Spree and Laura had not taken advantage of California's Domestic Partner Registry, nor marriage. From what I've been told, both were so deeply in the closet they feared that people would find out about them if they joined legally.



It's just hard to imagine, in this day and age....in California....gays are still afraid to protect themselves legally......and to show their commitment publicly.



So Laura will receive nothing from Spree's estate, she did not have a will so everything will go to her surviving family. I hope they didn't own the house together.....



Just something to think about.
 
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