R.I.P. STEPHEN DOWNING!

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: 449

Some of the best people I have ever met have come about from my involvement in the Drug Policy Reform Movement. And one of those at the top of the list is Stephen Downing, whom we lost this past month. I am still grieving. Steve had a distinguished career in law enforcement, in which he rose to the rank of the Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. And throughout our friendship of more than 25 years he continually demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the core values of the integrity of being a Peace Officer, which strongly helped to legitimize the public’s trust in law enforcement. In fact, that effort carried over into Steve’s work in television, where Steve insisted that the police hero in MacGyver never carried a gun. Why? Because Steve believed and demonstrated that there is almost always a smarter and more humane way to uphold and enforce our laws based upon restraint.

I met Steve when he attended a talk I was giving about drug policy, and he expressed his agreement. As a result, he quickly joined a national organization called LEAP, which then stood for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition but, due to its expanded scope, now stands for Law Enforcement Action Partnership. And, given his integrity and leadership capabilities, Steve soon became a leader in LEAP. In addition, once he retired, Steve started writing regular columns in his local newspaper in Long Beach about public policy, where he was often critical of the Long Beach Police Department for its lack of restraint. So, since he “had been there” in real life, Steve had a strong and positive effect upon us all! Thank you Stephen Downing!~ And may you Rest in Peace knowing that you have been a role model for us all!

(Question: What grows down as it grows up? Answer: Geese – ever heard of a down comforter? And Happy New Year -- almost!)