01/01 VIOLENCE TIJUANA A LOCAL HERO

Luis Lopez Medina (courtesy AFN):

The latest crime report from Rosarito Beach states that crimes of high impact have increased by fifty percent in that town. The most recent crime stats are not complete for Tijuana yet, but the last eleven days of December witnessed thirty executions and shootings, drug related. We all know things are bad. Do we as St. Paul said, "hope against hope" (or to hope for something although there is little or no chance of the wish being fulfilled), carry on with current conditions in a state of apathy and denial, or give up hope entirely and stop trying to work for a better world?


AFN reports that Jose Luis Lopez Medina was awarded and recognized as a local hero receiving a plaque, a monetary stipend and a medal last Christmas week from the civil organization, "Tijuana Agradecida" for defending his son and other civilians during an assault last spring in Tijuana.


It was last March when Lopez Medina was present at an armed assault on an auto-service store in Tijuana with his son and other customers. Two young armed men entered the store, threatening the customers who even included the instructor for the Police Academy. Lopez Medina, who is now referred to as "Commandante Medina" by his co-workers drew his weapon on the assailants. We gather from this report that he stopped the gunmen.


After the incident, Jose Luis Lopez Medina resigned his job as an engineer in a maquiladora plant in Tijuana and became a Tijuana Police Officer, following the footsteps of his father. The goal in his heart - to care for his fellow citizens.


He is proud to be considered a hero by his own son, and invited all agents to always be an example to their families, to work with respect towards the population and to always hold their position as agents of the Tijuana Municipal Police Department in a place of honor:


TEXT


We need more heroes with good intentions and compassion like Sr.Lopez Medina and honest leaders in both countries in my opinion to foster hope for the future.


TEXT


I'll be back...