It’s hard to look for a silver lining in a rain cloud as sinister and heartbreaking as a teenager’s murder. But when the news broke that 16-year-old Alicia Moore had been killed, her body found in a box in Van Zandt County, it’s only human nature to want to look for some sense in the senseless.
We’re struggling to find it.
As a community, Greenville and Hunt County have to wonder what could have been done — if anything — to prevent this tragedy. It’s tempting to second-guess what might have occurred if someone had a more watchful eye, if word had gotten out faster, or if law enforcement would have taken more aggressive steps in the immediate hours after Alicia’s disappearance.
Things might have been different. Then again, maybe not. It’s impossible to know for sure.
We don’t blame Alicia’s friends and relatives for raising questions about what could have been done differently that might have saved her life and prevented the unthinkable — the pure evil — that appears to have happened. Most of us would probably do the same thing if placed directly in the path of an emotional freight train like they’ve experienced.
For others, though, we want to be perfectly clear. The Greenville Police Department does not deserve some of the criticism it’s received.
It’s far too easy for Monday-morning quarterbacks to sit back, far removed from the situation and not privy to any details whatsoever, to wonder if Greenville’s police force reacted fast enough under the circumstances. That kind of criticism doesn’t do any good and, frankly, doesn’t reflect the professionalism, dedication and character that is evident from top to bottom in the GPD.
Could they have done something better? Perhaps. We all could, no matter what our jobs. But we think the police force as a whole cares deeply about the safety of our community, literally putting their lives on the line to prove it. They should be congratulated for their willingness to do a job most of us couldn’t handle, not second-guessed by outsiders in the heat of an emotional, gut-wrenching investigation.
All of us, though, should do our best to learn from Alicia’s death. Some lessons we’re just beginning to come to grips with:
— Life is precious. Seeing it stolen from an innocent girl reminds us of just how lucky we are to wake up every day and spend time with family and friends.
— You can’t be too careful. Parents should teach their children to always be alert for predators and how to react when confronting strangers.
— We’re fortunate to live in a community that comes together in times like these.
From the tips that have poured in to the Greenville Police Department, to the large turnout for memorial events in Alicia’s honor, to the anonymous donor who paid for her funeral services so the family wouldn’t have to bear that financial burden, few communities come together as well as Greenville in times of need.
This community sticks together. We’ll help Alicia’s family get through an experience that no human being should have to endure. That’s just what neighbors do. Most of all, we won’t let Alicia be forgotten.
And, to the person or people who committed this awful crime, this community has a simple message for you:
We’ll find out who you are, and we’ll give you the justice you deserve — no matter what it takes.
Opinion
Our opinion: Time for reflection
- Opinion
-
-
‘Alexander placed many jobs at risk’
Dear Greenville Community,
Decisions related to termination of personnel are probably the most difficult faced by people charged with managing organizations, whether it is a business or a public entity. -
City deserves better voter participation
We recently posted the voter turnout for the May 11 municipal elections on our Facebook page. Only 14.22 percent of registered Greenville voters, or 1,793 people, participated in the democratic process.
-
Legislature needs to meet every year
Texas legislators have an important choice ahead of them, one that needs to be made sooner rather than later.
-
Sometimes even good friends can butt heads
As the song says, “I get by with a little help from my friends.”
-
Moore’s arrest could lead to closure, healing
When news broke Tuesday that a man had been charged with the 2012 murder of Greenville teenager Alicia Moore, we received strong reactions from local readers.
-
Summer starts with those blockbuster movies
Summer seems to start earlier every year ...
I’m not talking about the annual onslaught of Texas heat and humidity -
Go vote!
Regardless of how you plan to vote in the upcoming May 11 election, the important thing is that you vote.
-
More planning needed on new YMCA
Greenville voters have a big choice on their hands on May 11. The $15 million bond that would be used to pay for a new YMCA/events center is a complicated issue, and one that has our readership sharply divided.
-
Festival helps one forget rest of the world
It is no secret that the residents of the Kellar Estate love going to the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie.
-
Getting involved
There are some major developments on the horizon for Hunt County. You should be paying attention to them.
- More Opinion Headlines
-
‘Alexander placed many jobs at risk’
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
