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The death of Officer Robert Wilson III

Mourning the loss of one of Philadelphia's finest

There's so much clutter out there some days you have to cling to the few essential truths. There's none more essential than this: All violence is senseless. It doesn't just destroy the victim -- it rips out the heart of families, communities...and a civil society.

This afternoon, Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Wilson III, an eight-year veteran of the force, was on the job, patrolling one of the city's most crime-ridden neighborhoods in North Philadelphia when he happened on a robbery in a video store at 22nd and Lehigh. Shots were fired, and a heartless punk fired the bullet that claimed Officer Wilson's life. He was just 30 years old, father to a 9-year-old son and a 1-year-old son who will grow up now without a father coming home every night.

And for what?

By all accounts, Officer Wilson was devoted to making Philadelphia safer -- and better. He was also committed to some of the policing reforms that have been in the news in recent months, even making the news as one of the first city police officers to wear a body cam while on patrol.

His loss diminishes all of us. My heart goes out to his children, his family, his colleagues, and all who knew him.