Once again my heart goes out to the Cook family for their loss, however, Robert Kimberling was shot during a traffic stop by a fleeing fugitive, Deputy Cook, while not wearing a seat belt, pulled out in front of a semi to chase a speeding motorcycle, as he had a citizen passenger in tow for a "ride along". Comparing the two seems to be wrong some how.

It's too bad that Senator Shields can not or will not spend as much if not more time creating a bill that will toughen the sentences on those who commit crimes against children. Perhaps that task is a little more difficult than getting a patch of highway renamed. I hope when he is up for re-election the voters will take notice of his "accomplishments" or lack of them when it comes to serious issues, to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

FYI rush620 Charlie didn't pull out in front of a semi,the semi was pulling onto the belt hwy as Charlie was cresting the hill.Charlie was a friend of mine and I don't believe this is the place or article to vent about Mr. Shields.

and Mr. Shields won't even be up for re-election, he will be term limited

He DOES NOT deserve a highway named after him! HE put himself, and others in danger by traveling at over 80 MPH on the Belt! Trying to catch a high performance motorcycle?? WOW!!

All though I am sorry for the loss of a fine deputy, naming a road after him is just stupid!

As mentioned above, Robert Kimberling was shot trying to take out a mad man that would have killed others had he not have been stopped, I do not see where a speeding motorcycle was ANYWEAR close to posing that kind of threat.....

He was all hyped up on adrenaline thinking about a chase, not thinking about the public!

As I said before barney, I don't mean any disrespect to Deputy Cook or his family as I know he is desperately missed, and was a good man, my point being, does this warrent a stretch of road being named after him, especially the exact area in which the wreck happened? Wouldn't a scholarship fund have helped more people to explore law enforcement as a proffession and kept his memory alive rather than a street sign? There are many worthy charities and programs out there that a "Deputy Charles Cook Memorial Fund" could have been a part of. As tragic as the whole thing is there are still people who believe that Deputy Cook was partially at fault. Right wrong or in between, I feel that there were better ways to remember Deputy Cook than to rename a portion of the Belt Hwy that will always be the Belt Hwy.

I think a lot of people have questioned the justification of this rush, but I think berney's point of now debating this only instills more pain in the family. I think it's better to just let it be now, your opinions aren't going to do anything to rescind the naming of the highway. It's unfair to cause the family anymore pain or grief because of your feelings on the highway renaming, whether it is right or wrong.

joetowner - you are right. I'm done.

If it is OK to name things after people who made a name or difference in St Joseph without any discussion as to what they are getting recognized for is right or wrong, I have a suggestion. If that is the case, Joetowner, maybe we ought to change the name of the town to Jesse James, Missouri. Discussions are healthy. If I were a relative or friend and had thin skin about the situation, I don't think I need to be on this site.

I am with Joetowner on this. Let the family be. This really isn't the place to debate this. I neither disagree nor agree with anyone's thoughts on this. I just think we need to leave it alone. Discuss it in person with your firends and family. Not in a place where his family can read it.

What do people mean this isn't the place to discuss this?

Is this a local event?

Is there a story being printed?

Is there a, "comments" section below the story?

I don't know that I could find a more suitable place to discuss this issue.

One of my fondest memories of Charlie was driving from Sacremento to San Fransico together in a Mustang convertable. Getting lost in San Fransico together in March in our short sleeves, top down and watching all the area natives walking the streets in parka winter coats! It was a lot of fun and we had a blast that night. I'll always remember it. We played softball together and were consistently the teams punching bags, lol.

Having shared friendship, laughs and slept in the same room as Charlie before, is someone going to tell me I can't voice my opnion?

I said from the very begining that this was a poor choice for doing something. A scholarship fund would have been nice. Or how about a Deputy Charlie (not Charles, he was not Charles) Cook outreach program - a program that would allow a weekend a year to display the vehicles, equipment and objectives of local law enforcement to the public?

This would have given citizens a platform to ask questions, get to know their local law enforcement and shed some light on things people are most confused about when it comes to law enforcement. They could've showcased the abilities of their K9 units, held a meet and greet and give citizens an idea of just what goes on inside a police cruiser.

For far too long we have allowed our civil service professionals to run around in wrap-around shades, windows sealing them off from the public - these people have become, "non-humans" and they really only have themselves to blame.

Police need to make themselves more approachable. Take the damn sunglasses off when you're driving through neighborhoods. Rool down your friggin' windows and wave to the children you see admiring your neat cruiser with it's cool lights on top.

All of this could have been done in the name of Charlie. Instead we have a junk section of the Belt Highway in his honor.

Why does that leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Charlie, you will be forever missed, buddy. I miss wrestlin' with ya and tossing back some cold Busch lights on Darrin's front porch. I wish things could be different for you and yours but I will always hold fond in my heart the memories of a young man who was always his own person, never let people get him down and had the most infectious country-boy laugh I've ever heard.

RIP good buddy.

I'm with Joetowner. My heart goes out to the family.

That's cool MichaelH. All I am saying is that the debate should be brought elsewhere in regards to whether it was right or wrong because of what he did. He ides in the line of duty. I respect that. I feel that he is deserving of something. I was trying to shut up the negative comments. Not you. Remembrance is awesome. You shouldn't have taken it so personally.

No offense taken, I simply wanted to express that this should be an avenue for discussion if that's what people choose to do.

If flaggrant insults are thrown around, the NP will remove them.

As said before, discussion is very healthy and breeds critical thinking which can help both in our personal lives and the decisions we make in them.

Charlie was a wonderful person. He would do anything for anybody anytime. In my opinion if you dont like the fact that they re-named part of the belt, just dont look at the sign when you drive by it. And hopefully, we can leave it at that.