Orders you don't ever take lightly
Last Sunday, we published the story about a sub-plot to the horrendous murder of Kelly Pease.
The idea was to explain the pros and cons of both a civil protection order (CPO) and a court-mandated no-contact order (NCO).
Each is designed to keep someone who poses a threat away from a potential victim.
In the end, neither saved Pease from the violent intentions of alleged killer Steven Denson.
As it happens, I know a little bit about protection orders.
I considered filing for one myself.
Yes, I know that most cases involve women who are trying to escape the attention of a man who has abused them previously, or seems extremely likely to do so in the future.
But men can be targets, as well.
It’s not nearly as common, of course, but there are people of both genders who simply are wired wrong — and capable of almost anything.
IN MY case, there was no case of previous harm.
But I honestly believed — and the police agreed — that a woman I knew might not have any rational social limits.
I was just plain scared.
The whole scenario played out years ago, when I was working for a newspaper in central Illinois.
We hired a female reporter who was originally from the southern part of the state, but had gotten married, moved to New York City, divorced and moved back to the Midwest.
At first we just talked in the office, and since we were in different departments, it wasn’t all that often.
But since there weren’t a lot of single women in a town our size, this lady caught my attention.
Somehow, though, she asked me out first — and to see the Chicago Symphony, no less, as they were on a regional tour.
I enjoyed the evening, and we agreed to go out again.
This is how I know problems can happen to anyone.
We dated two more times, and on the first one she just exploded into a temper tantrum over a minor mistake in a restaurant.
OUR FINAL date, however, ended with her asking me about long-range plans, and whether we might make a great item for the future.
I had to say, “Barb (not her real name), you’re smart and attractive, but I have no thoughts of getting into a serious relationship at this point in my life.”
She snapped, calling me awful names and adding: “Men like you should be hurt.”
The next night, every flower in front of my house had been cut in half — and there was a note taped to the door that said: “It could be you!”
Two nights after that, a rock was hurled through my bedroom window.
Oh, and I must have gotten about two dozen hang-up phone calls.
As it happened, I had friends in the police department and I asked what could be done.
Protection orders were explained. Since we worked in the same building, but rarely at the same time, an order could be served and modified for that.
In the end, a cop buddy told me: “I think she’s crazy as a pet raccoon, and we can watch her — but if you get this order, I’m really afraid what she might do.”
So I didn’t.
And I got lucky, because “Barb” made a mistake at work that got her in trouble. She screamed at an editor, quit on the spot and moved out of town.
I was so relieved, I can’t even tell you — and hell, no actual harm had been done.
We all should feel deeply for anyone who’s ever put in that position.
Nobody should have to live afraid.
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Steve Cameron is a special assignment reporter for The Press. Reach Steve at: [email protected].