TOWN IN MOURNING

MY TOWN IN MOURNING:

I am a resident in small town America, Orting, Washington. I want to share some thoughts with all of you regarding Compton Crew.

When Compton Crew was announced I saw the joy at the city council meeting held at the Orting High School, the town residents cheered. Quickly it became clear to me that the man who created and ran Compton Crew, Chris Hopfauf was a man engulfed by grief. As you know there are many stages to grief and anger is one of the emotions.

I have seen the anger scream from the website Compton Crew. I saw a man angry and mad at the world as a friend was taken too soon. I did not know Mr. Hopfauf personally at that time; however, I did make it a point to get to know him. In getting to know him I found that I have seen the very worst in him and the very best. Mr. Hopfauf has a stubborn personality but I found he displayed a passion for Orting and for all the people in this town. I found him to be quite the character for sure. One thing clear is his mission and intention was meant to be honorable.

I have noticed lately that there seems to be a calm within this storm. Because I believed that some of this anger being displayed was grief I patiently waited for signs of improvement. Since I have seen this improvement I decided to reach out to my community and Mr. Hopfauf.

Like I said, Mr. Hopfauf, I have been patiently waiting with understanding; and I have something simple to ask you. Mr. Hopfauf do you have my back, my families back and my neighbors back? Let me tell you who my family and neighbors are. Most of my family and neighbors are the best of the best but within this family there are troubled teens, drug addicts, the thieves and some who just like to make trouble. You see each of these trouble teens, drug addicts, thief and trouble makers most likely have a mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, niece and nephew that live in this town and they are loved. If you see my family or neighbor committing a crime please do observe and report. Please call 911 as sometimes jail is the only way they will learn. Another request is please, in your Facebook page if you see a thief steal, call them a thief, if you see the drug addict, call them an addict, if you see a trouble maker call them just that, trouble maker.

To tell you a little of my family, we are all about second chances and forgiveness. We just want to know that you have heard us and consider what is being asked. We will watch your Compton Crew page and if you say, you have our back, our families back and our neighbors back we will forgive you and we will support you 100 %. We are not requesting any apology because we know and have had to withstand the stages of grief; we understand your anger all too well. We also hope others in this great community feel the way we do. We hope all of you reading this letter find it possible to believe in second chances, consider the grief and find within yourself the ability to forgive. Chris Hopfauf, we believe that Compton Crew can do wonders in this town but we must settle this. This family considers you a friend.

To my fellow Orting citizens, I have watched what I believe is an entire town trying to deal with grief. I have read through and commented on the many Facebook pages that have been created. I have seen your grief as well and have felt your anger. We are angry about murder, we are angry about the drug problems, drug houses and crimes that besiege our homes way too often. We are angry that our little town has grown, there is an old Orting and a new Orting, we are angry at Compton Crew, we crave and yearn for the good ole days. I have been involved in the Facebook discussions showing my anger, right along with you, yes, we are grieving. I have also had the pleasure to witness the best in all of you and I have learned that each and every one of us is very special. We all have a strong sense of community, we are all extremely proud to live in Orting, Washington and every individual has a purpose. The funny thing is we all want exactly the same outcome for this town we call home. Our community stubbornly continues to struggle through this, as it seems, to the bitter end. Somewhere we vowed to hold onto the anger like a dog with a bone.

Amazingly as a result of all this struggle, we are now volunteering and providing service like no other. The programs and ideas that have flowed through these Facebook pages are exceptional. There are so many new initiatives there are too many for me to list. You all know who you are and what you are doing and we thank you from the bottom of our heart. What strikes me is we are not just talking about these new ideas to improve Orting we are actually acting on them. I have lived in small town America and in several big cities through my life and I have been around for a good many years, (well I'm not terribly old but I am a mature adult). In all the places I have ever lived I have never had the pleasure of being involved in a community as tight knit and wonderful as this.

With this said, again, I believe in second chances and I recognize the grief and I will tell you I have no hard feeling for anyone in this wonderful town. I have gotten to know many of you in person and through the internet wires, I have seen both the best and worst in you as well, (hope this don't sound sappy), but I now consider you all my friends. I am proposing that it is a time for a new beginning. I think it is time to start the healing process. Let's get back to being good neighbors and good friends. It's simply time to wipe the slate clean, life is indeed to short (the dog can let go of the bone). I will watch the Facebook pages hopefully to see that you are willing to start a new phase here in Orting. What will I get...If I see this it will only further prove my point, that the people in Orting are the very best, world class.

I have noticed some wonderful changes in the Orting Police Department and all of the City of Orting employees, both elected and hired. You too have made some very important changes and adjustments in how you operate. I can see that you are listening to the people of Orting. I thank you so much for this and I ask that you continue to work with the citizens of Orting as we continue to propose that you stretch your budget as far as you can for the sake of safety and for programs that will improve the life of the residents in Orting.

The things I am asking for here are easy to do. I ask for Compton Crew to acknowledge that you do hear me, my family and neighbors. It's simple; just acknowledge that you have our back, our families back and our neighbors back. By stating this, I will know that you have taken the time to reflect on these months and that you understand what needs to be done. Separate from Compton Crew, on a personal level get back to being friendly with all of us. As a result of all this anger I think one of the worst things that has happened is you cannot reach out with a friendly hello or help someone with a problem without being accused of some of the most unthinkable acts. I want to see you and your family live in this town without being attacked or feel that you are being threatened in any way. I believe you deserve that. And for me and my family, we want to be able to stand tall and be proud to say we support Compton Crew.

Compton Crew has done some wonderful things and they have not gotten noticed because the accomplishments became lost as people were dealing with anger. In a short amount of time Compton Crew has already done great work for Orting, it's too much to list, some of the accomplishments is your active involvement in city council meetings, public safety meetings and your outreach to state representative regarding issues that directly impact the citizens of Orting is to be commended. Compton Crew has made many people who were fearful report that they are no longer afraid. They are comforted by your patrols. My family recognizes your love and passion for Orting, we can see that you care for everyone in this town. Speaking for my family we want to see Compton Crew be a success here in Orting and we are willing to work with Compton Crew . Lets get the growing pains addressed and move on.

To everyone else, let's get back to basics and enjoy our Facebook communities. Use the Facebook to further the good work that is being done. Use it to continue to develop and improve programs here in Orting and of course use it to continue fostering great lasting friendships. I do hope that after this is published and read, that I find others feel just like we do. I hope to see a town committed to moving forward in a new direction, building bright futures for our loved ones and showing we do believe in second chances and forgiveness.

As a Christian I am taught to always forgive but I will say this. To the individual(s) who murdered Michael Compton I cant forgive you for what you have done. I have seen the pain and anguish first hand. I wait for the day that you will be in front of the judge. I will pray for nothing less than the maximum sentence and only God can decide if you deserve forgiveness, this I cannot do.

With Respect and Hope