Ethics Scrapbook

Ethical Scrapbook

Robert C. Gomez

CJA/324

03/09/2015

Professor Avallone

Ethical Scrapbook

Team Assignment – Week 4

1 Act of Kindness and 1 Act of Vigilantism

                                                     Act of Kindness

This example of an “Act of Kindness” happened early last month in Detroit MI. it is about a man that for approximately the last ten years has had to walk a distance of an estimated 21 miles daily to and fro work (42 mi. round trip) in good weather and bad.  James Robertson is a man of resilience that travels to his job and back in about an eight hour trek each day that matches the eight hour shift that he puts in at his job five days a week, and all this without ever missing a day (Detroit Free Press).

Good Samaritan Blake Pollock had noticed this man walking up and down the road for several months, and wondered what his situation was.  He finally had the opportunity to meet this man in the parking lot at the bank that he works at, Pollock then promised to give Mr. Robertson a ride.  Some months later Mr. Pollock saw Mr. Robertson standing on top of a snow bank at a corner, and said to himself, “Well, I promised this guy a ride.”  So he pulled over and gave this man a ride, and found out that he was an interesting person.  Over the last two years Pollock has given Robertson dozens and dozens of rides spent countless hours of quality time with this man, and as he says “I had a fun time doing this for him” (Detroit Free Press).

This story of friendship and kindness does not end here, but does not because of a 19 year old student at Wayne State University by the name of Evan Leedy.  Evan had gotten wind of this story, and started a GoFundMe Site to raise enough money for Mr. Robertson to purchase a car.  Well this all went viral over the Social Media sights and Media, that it far surpassed the 5,000 dollar goal that had been set by Evan Leedy, in fact the sum grew to a whopping 320,000 dollars.  

That would have been more than well enough, but now Ford got involved and gave this man a brand new Ford Taurus for free on top of that.  All this goes to show that one “Act of Kindness” can steam roll into something more than one can fathom (Detroit Free Press).

                                                         Vigilantism

This next example is an act of vigilantism that also shows that not all vigilantism is bad.  This is about a police officer that acts as Judge, Jury, Prosecuting Attorney, Bailiff, Stenographer, and Executioner.  This story is about Lt. Buck Roth of the Oakland Police Department, and who is referred to as loose cannon by his superiors for his unorthodox procedures.  Despite all the controversy that this officer receives, due to his methods and procedures this renegade detective stands steadfast to his convictions, and maintains that his approach gets results (theonion.com).