On Combat: The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and Peace by Dave Grossman & Loren W. Christensen

Author:Dave Grossman & Loren W. Christensen [Grossman, Dave & Christensen, Loren W.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780964920569
Publisher: Human Factor Research Group, Inc.
Published: 2011-05-10T07:00:00+00:00

Knights and Paladins

Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing so gentle as real strength.

—Francis de Sales

The 7-year-old girl clutched a piece of metal wrapped in a handkerchief tightly to her chest as she retold the horrible details of sexual abuse she had suffered four years earlier.

When she glanced at the faces of the jurors or felt the hot stare of the defendant, she squeezed the handkerchief ever more tightly and locked her eyes on the face of Michigan State Police Trooper Jeffrey Miazga.

St. Joseph County Prosecutor Douglas Fisher knew his August 2002 case against the pedophile rested squarely on the testimony of the young girl who had frozen on the stand an hour earlier, unable then to utter anything but her name.

St. Joseph County Circuit Judge James Noecker granted Fisher a recess, but more than an hour of begging, cajoling and reasoning by the victim’s adoptive parents and her psychologist were unable to temper her terror and convince her to return to the stand. Fisher watched as his case unraveled, knowing dismissal would free the perpetrator and leave the child’s psychological and physical wounds unassailed.

Just as Fisher was preparing to return to the courtroom without his young witness, the man in the blue trooper’s uniform pulled his chair close to the girl and acknowledged that he also felt fear at times as a police officer.

“He bent over and spoke to her in a very quiet and private manner,” Fisher recalled. “He shared with her his secret that many of the things he had to do as a Michigan State Trooper made him very much afraid.”

As the young girl’s eyes widened and her tears slowed, Miagza removed the silver shield from his uniform shirt, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and placed it in her hand.

“He told her how his Michigan State Police badge is what protected him and made him safe,” Fisher said. “ . . . He told her the thought of his badge protecting him gave him the courage to go ahead and do his job. [Trooper Miagza] told her whenever she became afraid, she should squeeze the badge and that would give her the courage to go ahead and testify. She took the badge, held it tightly, and promised him she would try.”

Miazga was honored by the St. Joseph County Criminal Justice Council Friday for his empathy and creativity which allowed the young girl to return to the stand in August, delivering testimony which convinced a jury to convict Shaun Roberts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The case, which resulted in a life sentence for Roberts, remains emotional for Fisher who wiped tears from his eyes Friday as Lieutenant Mike Risko, White Pigeon State Police Post commander, read aloud Fisher’s commendation letter.

“When he admitted to her his secret fear and the way that he was able to overcome it, he was able to lend her both his badge and his courage.”

—“Michigan State Police trooper earns honors”

Kathy Jessup, Sturgis Journal, Sturgis, Michigan

The best model for the warrior to internalize is that of the knights of old.

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