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Justice Catches Up with O.J.

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By ROD REDER Special To The Tampa Tribune

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

Some days you never forget. One was Oct. 3, 1995. I turned 40 years of age. I was a sergeant with the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office and that afternoon was traveling across the Howard Frankland Bridge on my way to a co-worker's sister's funeral. She had died tragically at a young age due to a botched simple medical procedure. It was not a good day and soon would get worst.

WFLA News radio came on and was set to announce the verdict in the infamous O.J. Simpson murder trial. We sat in the unmarked car waiting when finally the verdict was announced. Innocent on all charges.

I turned to my boss and said, "Can a 40th birthday get any worse?" How do you explain a verdict like this to the Browns and the Goldmans? I would never forget where I was when the greatest miscarriage of justice in American history was announced.

But some good came from that injustice.

You see, I have said since then, at every training seminar I conduct, that O.J. Simpson, the media's darling, the Heisman Trophy winner, NFL renowned running back, and movie star was, and still is, the reason so many women have been saved from domestic violence.

If not for Simpson, the domestic violence community would have never been able to bring this country to realize domestic violence is a crime, and its perpetrators should be brought to justice. Since the mid 1990s domestic violence has finally been treated as a crime and not a "family matter or spat." Countless victims of domestic violence, who were at potential risk of being homicide victims, have benefited from early law enforcement intervention, which is vital in breaking the perpetual cycle of domestic violence.

Now, let's go to Oct. 3, 2008, my 53rd birthday. My son, the Auburn University senior, drives seven hours down from Alabama just to see the Tampa Bay Rays in the playoffs. The brothers-in law, son and I pile in and get to Tropicana Field. The crowd is electric, and the Rays are too. What a good birthday. Good family, good health, good Rays.

At 2 a.m., I am back home watching replays of the game, when breaking news proclaims that the jury has reached a verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial. I wait and wait and then finally it was announced. I'm exhausted but some things you just got to see. Then, the verdict is read: Guilty on all counts - multiple serious felonies. O.J is 61 years old and will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. I am grateful that the Las Vegas legal community can hold a trial with a celebrity and not make a mockery of the judicial system. I can't sleep. I think about the Brown and Goldman families. Do they feel that the long-awaited justice has finally been served? Are they OK now? Can they move on? I think not. I just hope they smiled a little knowing that Simpson probably won't be able to hurt anyone else. We should all be able to sleep a little better knowing the "Juice" has been squeezed for the last time.

Rod Reder is a retired sheriff's captain and owner of Reder Investigations & Security Consulting. He lives in Lutz.

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