Another police officer was murdered in NYC while doing his job protecting the public from thugs. Officer Daniel Enchautegui, 28 years old, with 3 years on the job was slain as he interrupted a break—in next—door to his home in the Bronx.

Enchautegui had finished his 4pm to midnight shift at the 40th Precinct and returned to his Pelham Bay apartment. About 5am, he heard the sound of breaking glass in the building next door. He dialed 911, quickly threw on some clothes, put his shield on the front of his shirt and went to investigate.

His landlord heard him yell, 'Police, don't move,' just before the shooting began. His warning to the burglars was answered by a hollow—point bullet to his heart. Although he managed to return fire and wound both attackers, his life drained away on the cold sidewalk next to his residence. As other officers responded to the scene, they apprehended the 2 assailants as they struggled to get to their car, leaving a trail of blood behind them. The murderers are now in police custody and will face a trial, but Officer Enchautegui is dead and buried.

How many Hollywood celebrities will hold public demonstrations to praise this fallen officer who sacrificed his life for law and order? Will we see Susan Sarandon, Mike Farrell and Snoop Dog organize protests against any further cop killings? Will Jesse Jackson give a speech about the need to respect the symbols of justice in America?

Nah! They're too tired out from trying to keep a cold—blooded multiple—murderer from paying the penalty for his brutal rampage of death.

Will this brave officer be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize?

Nah! All he did was risk his life for his fellow man. How can you compare that to what 'Tookie' Williams did? After using a shotgun to murder 4 people, he laughed while listening to the last gasps of life from his victims. He bragged about sitting down and eating a sandwich as he watched them die. Yet, in the twisted, topsy—turvy, drug—induced myopia that has become synonymous with the glitterati of Beverly Hills society, 'Tookie' deserves star status and a large memorial service in Los Angeles because he supposedly wrote some children's books while in prison and said he's been rehabilitated.

His victims have been dead and buried for 26 years. Their bodies were blown apart by a savage animal with no respect for their lives; the same inhuman beast that now clings tenaciously to his life.

The mere fact that this case became part of the national dialogue is indicative of a culture suffering from a mortal disease. Victims don't matter anymore. We put them in the ground and give little thought to how they got there.

Their murderers, however, remain alive and capable of putting up a defense against those who seek to make them pay for their crimes. The longer they live, the more ditzy members of the liberal left they can persuade to fight for their lives. The longer they live, the more time they have to come up with fraudulent schemes to con the public into believing there is new evidence that might prove their innocence. The longer they live, the more opportunities they have to throw roadblocks in the path of their executions.

Keep in mind, they didn't give their victims any time to plead for their lives. They didn't give their victims the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. They didn't give their victims the slightest hope for mercy. That's why it's up to us, the living, to represent those who can no longer represent themselves.

Why not give Peace Prize nominations to those who obey the law and serve as guardians of the peace and defenders of justice? Why not give celebrity status to Tookie's victims, who worked for a living, paid their taxes and behaved as civilized human beings? Is there an iota of sanity in the efforts to bestow glory on their executioner?

It's reported that one of the creatures accused of being involved in the murder of Officer Enchautegui has appeared in some Hollywood movies. It remains to be seen how long it will be before these alleged cop—killers will be nominated for something on the level of an Academy Award.

These homicidal cretins may become the latest cause celebre, while their victim's name will be forgotten. Meanwhile, the rest of us continue to obey the rules, stepping carefully over the bloodstained sidewalks, convincing ourselves that such things only happen to other people.

Bob Weir is a former detective sergeant in the New York City Police Department. He is the excutive editor of The News Connection in Highland Village, Texas. BobWeir777@aol.com