Selectmen: No memorial bench to Crowley-Smilek in Meetinghouse Park
At far left, Michael Smilek proposes a memorial bench in his son's name for Meetinghouse Park. Selectmen, left to right at the table, Drew Hufnagel, Ryan Morgan, Steve Bunker consider the request, but in the end, selectmen voted to not grant the request. At right is Town Manager Richard Davis.
FARMINGTON - Selectmen unanimously voted down a request to install a memorial bench named for the veteran who was shot and killed by a police officer following a confrontation in front of the municipal building on Nov. 19, 2011.
Ruth Crowley, the mother of Justin Crowley-Smilek made the request to have a bench she would donate with her son's name and it would note that he served as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Crowley-Smilek's father Michael Smilek and his wife Lorna Smilek explained the idea to selectmen with a half dozen supporters in attendance at Tuesday's meeting.
Crowley-Smilek, 28, of Farmington, died in front of the Farmington Municipal Building on Farmington Falls Road after he was shot by Farmington Police Officer Ryan Rosie following a reported confrontation. His family has said Crowley-Smilek was suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Michael Smilek said the bench would honor all those who served or are serving in the current war, noting there isn't a memorial in Meetinghouse Park for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He said the idea came from a park in Lewiston in which people can buy a bench and honor a veteran by placing his or her name on it.
"His mother said he should have a bench in Farmington - Farmington is his hometown," Smilek said. Supporters said it would be a positive thing to do following such a tragic end to Crowey-Smilek's life. "He was a casualty of war at home," one person said. Another thought it would help raise awareness towards veterans getting the help they need once they return home.
Selectman Chair Steve Bunker, a veteran, began by offering his sympathy for the Smilek family's loss and said more should be done to help veterans when they return from war.
He noted a lot of people, including a number of fellow veterans, talked to him about the memorial bench proposal. They pointed out that there are three war memorials in Meetinghouse Park, each specific to a war or conflict and honor all who served. With the WWII memorial, the Farmington veterans who died in that war are listed. The veterans Bunker spoke with were united against a memorial to a specific person in Meetinghouse Park.
So, too, were the selectmen.
"This was a tough one coming in," said Selectman Jessica Berry. She offered her sympathy to the family and said she spoke to many people about the bench proposal, too. "It's not about the bench but what they've heard of Justin," she said.
Selectman Dennis Pike said the town-owned park was "not the proper venue" for a memorial to a man "who put a police officer in harm's way" in front of the town office. It's making a martyr out of this situation," he said. "An officer had his life changed that day."
Michael Smilek replied that "things aren't as they seem" and that you can't believe what the news media says.
Selectman Drew Hufnagel said there isn't a memorial for the current war and perhaps something can be done to honor all those veterans which would include Crowley-Smilek.
Selectman Ryan Morgan thanked Crowley-Smilek for his service. He had spoken to more than two dozen residents who believe the park should not be person-specific when it comes to honoring veterans.
Bunker said all seemed to be agreed there is a need to recognize all veterans in the latest wars. Berry said Meetinghouse Park may not be the answer, but that other options could be explored. Bunker recommended the family talk with local veteran groups such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for ideas. The board voted 5-0 to deny Crowley's request for a bench in Meetinghouse Park.
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That was the right decision- good call, everyone.
That's the point, isn't it? We're sorry. We're sorry this man was killed. We're sorry he didn't get the services he needed. We're sorry that we had to deal with this at all. Thanks Farmington for choosing to be sorry, but not to do anything about it. There are those who are called to serve our country, those called to serve our state, those called to serve our town, and some men and women do all three. Sorry, but no one is better than another. My great uncle who is almost 91 was a navigator in WWII, he has led a successful professional life, but he was psychologically damaged by the war. He flew in bombing raids over Europe, and he never engaged in hand-to-hand combat, yet he was a man haunted by what he lived through. How can we not honor those we have asked so much more from? How can we continue to blame those who sacrificed their own mental health and well-being to protect our freedoms? Why do we not honor all our heroes? Was a bench in a park a sacrifice for the town? Or was it a sacrifice of a life that we're too sorry to remember?
He's not some big hero, he forced a young man to kill him, that's not a hero in my book. Good decision not to have a bench, if the family misses him so much, let them have a bench out of the site of Franklin county, because I for one would like to forget about the trauma this guy caused to so many who were involved!
To each of the Selectmen: There is a nice black shiney monument in the corner of the park nearest Pleasant street. Take a look at that. It does indeed honor all of those who have served in the Middle East - including Iraq. There are no names or dates. But the monument includes two benches for folks to sit on and reflect... I believe Charlie Bennett was the catalyst to get that memorial erected. And Thank You for the right decision on this matter.
"An officer had there life changed that day" Well some kid with psychological stresses from the war whom served for all of us sitting in front of our computers, lost his life that day. I feel it was a horrible tragedy for both parties but don't you think this might of helped his parents and other veterans who are suffering?
They also said the would look into a memorial for this war for ALL of Farmington's heroes to be remember not just one.
I have deployed three times to combat seen some pretty horrible things but I did not put a police officer’s life in danger. The right call was made in this case.
Thank you selectpersons for making the right decision on the matter of the bench. I am sorry for the families loss but I am also very sorry for officer Rosie for what he had no choice but to do that tragic day. He has to live with that the rest of his life but I am sure he is getting the help and support he needs from the community. There is help out there for the veterans and some choose not to go for the help that they can get for free. I have seen what the VA has to offer and they try to work with the veteran but if the veteran choose not to work with them they cannot help them. Having been the wife of a veteran on two occassions I have seen this first hand.
I am glad, thank you for talking to and listening to the community. HOnoring whole groups not individuals is as it should be.
Can you imagine the precedent if each indivual who served and died got a bench? No more park to enjoy. Good call, hope someone makes it a part of park regulation.
I don't know whether there should be a memorial bench or not. But here's the crux of the problem:
"Selectman Dennis Pike said the town-owned park was 'not the proper venue' for a memorial to a man 'who put a police officer in harm's way' in front of the town office. It's making a martyr out of this situation,' he said. 'An officer who had his life changed that day.'"
"Michael Smilek replied that 'things aren't as they seem' and that you can't believe what the news media says."
We don't know what happened in front of the town office that day, because there were only two witnesses, and one of them is dead, having been shot and killed by the other. Officer Rosie's account may have been accurate, but we don't know that, and we should not be talking as if Justin had been tried and convicted.
Police say Justin Crowlet-Smilek attacked a man earlier this year in the parking lot of a local Farmington bar. He was seriously injured. The man's son was in Boston Children's Hospital with serious health issues at the time and he was so badly that he'll probably never be able to support his family again! Rewarding this kind of behavior with a memorial is untenable and his mother should donate the money to my friend's wife and child...they are the real victims here!! Hero, not by a long shot. I know a lot of Vets and none of them ever crippled an innocent man.
I agree with the towns decision. For one thing if they let Justin have a personal bench and that becomes the trend with more local people wanting a personal bench for their veteran family member then Meetinghouse park would have 20, 30, 40 or maybe more personal benches that it does not have enough space for. I do feel bad for Justin and what he had to go through but he also the guy police said got totally drunk and beat the heck out of a innocent guy just because he would not give him and his drunk friend a ride home. Even thought he is not the one to blame for what he had to go through in the war he was accused of crimes here at home. That blame for what he had to go through in the war goes to all our state & federal government officials behind a desk who send our armed forces into dangerous situations without worrying about the consequences because they are safely behind a desk and not in harm's way themselves. They get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year (much more then they deserve considering the current state of our country) and wastefully spend our tax money instead of spending it where it should be spent and fixing the systems that are not working.
I am sorry for the family, but the right decision was made here.
I may not have made my point the way I meant to. I believe that a bench would be a good thing, to remind us all that when we ask men and women to defend our country the costs can be far greater than anyone imagines. It is a tragedy that a man died, and it is a tragedy that another man killed him. Our laws prohibit murder, and for those of us who live a faith tradition, we are called not to kill others. Our children must know that military service, and police service are more than just the games they play at recess. So many boys idolize the military and the use of weapons. I want them to know that those weapons are real, those men and women are real, and that sometimes they really die. Our video game/tv/movie reality of unreal deaths and fake injuries cannot and will not show our youth that truth. Please, let's find a way to honor the gift of service that was given, and work to prevent another tragedy like this from happening.
The town of Farmington will forever remember Justin Crowley-Smilek. His blood has left a permanent mark on this town- literally and figuratively. For his family he will be remembered for all of his wonderful atributes. For the rest of the town he will always be the tragic story of a veteran who did not receive the help he needed.
His memory does not evoke warm sentiment, instead it brings with it a time the Town would rather forget. This may seem like a bury your head in the sand sentiment, but I feel the Selectmen made the correct choice.
You guys are all disquting not to honor our vetrans
Farmington does honor its veterans and does a good job!
The selectmen made the right decision in this matter.
The right decision was made by the town of Farmington. Perhaps if Justin's mother wants to honor and remember her son she can establish a fund in his name to help our veterans who are returning home from combat get the necessary counseling and psychological assistance they need to help them recover and carry on as a civilian in a healthy, healing way. My heart goes out to the Crowley-Smilek family for their loss, but I'm afraid a park bench in his honor would be inappropriate. There are other, more productive, ways to honor his memory.
Licia, you are right on with your comment.
It's sad that many people feel the need to confuse the issue of having a memorial bench for veterans of our current conflicts that includes the wording of who donated it and for who. For me, a veteran is a veteran.
Farmington appears to not want to recognize the emotional damages that war brings- they'd like to forget it.
But, veterans and families and friends of veterans feel otherwise. If I had five million dollars you bet I'd
have a wing at Franklin Memorial Hospital or somewhere saying donated by in memory of.
As for the infamous case at the bar parking lot, it is a closed case. Justin never had his day in court to face his accuser. In the USA one is innocent until proven guilty.
"This was a tough one coming in," said Selectman Jessica Berry. She offered her sympathy to the family and said she spoke to many people about the bench proposal, too. "It's not about the bench but what they've heard of Justin," she said.
Isn't it interesting that everyone that was at the meeting (except the selectmen) were in support of the proposal-
why didn't those that are against it not show up? It's like saying I'm going to vote for so-and-so and then never showing up the voting place.
Interesting, what if I heard some things about you or someone else? Reporting news and acting on the news needs to be verifiable- otherwise it's just small town gossip, and frankly I think thats where the direction of
of these comments go.
Glad to see the man who was badly beaten was remembered in this discussion. I hope he is doing ok. I wish peace for the beating victim, the officer and Justin's family. May they all heal in thier own ways.
The Ranger Code does not include threatening or harming innocent civilians or police officeers. He gave up his right to be treated as a former Ranger when he gave up the values of the Ranger Code. Go ahead, look it up.
Lorna and Michael,
“Isn’t it interesting that everyone that was at the meeting (except the selectmen) were in support of the proposal?” No, it’s not. That would be expected, since those very personally invested are those in support of the bench. That the proposal for a donation was even made demonstrates that you are willing to put your money where your mouth is in support of Justin. We all get that, and I respect your desire for a memorial. However, being so close to the events, it is difficult to take the balcony view and appreciate all of the different implications.
“Why didn’t those that are against it show up?” That is democracy. I vote for my selectmen, and they represent me. When I feel strongly about a situation, I contact a selectman and let them know my position. It is then the job of the elected official to represent the majority of their constituents. I don’t need to go to every town, school, and county meeting to represent my views, because I did that when I voted and passed my authorization along to the elected official, even if I did not vote for him. If there is an issue that I feel strongly about, I will contact that official. If I feel that my position needs to be heard by the entire community, I will attend the meeting and speak up. I can only imagine why others decided to contact selectmen but not be present, but I would guess that a part of it was avoiding conflict with Justin’s family and supporters over a tragedy.
In the end, I believe that they made a good decision because they looked at both the short and long-term ramifications of their decision.
I am sorry for your loss, as I am sorry for those affected by Justin’s actions. I hope that you can find a constructive way to deal with your grief in a venue more considerate to those negatively affected by Justin.
Michael, you are confusing philanthropy with a memorial. But I wish you the best in healing from your loss.
Right decision, selectmen. Thanks.
"This was a tough one coming in," said Selectman Jessica Berry. She offered her sympathy to the family and said she spoke to many people about the bench proposal, too. "It's not about the bench but what they've heard of Justin," she said
So, the truth comes out.
I am so glad that the people of Farmington can state their negative opinions freely. What do we say about our veterans, they die for our freedom? So, yes you are all free to have and spout your opinions that you got by reading the local newspapers and talking over the fence. I could not be at the meeting last night, as I live in Portland , Oregon. I wish I could have been there.Where were all the negative votes last night?
Some in the town are concerned that benches of many colours and designs will sprout up all over Meetinghouse Park. What is the problem with that? What is the problem with a town that has benches and trees; places for people to visit one another or just enjoy a moment of the day.
Mr Pike, you spoke out of turn.
Veterans will be returning home and they will have injuries, some overt, some hidden. Justin appeared to have no injuries, he was handsome! Boy was he handsome. He had a beautiful smile, so what could be wrong with him? He had severe 100% disability PTSD, but you wouldn't know it to look at him. You had to know him to see his injuries.
I am only asking for a bench under some lilac trees. A bench won't bring Justin back , but it will offer a quiet, sweet place for family, friends,veterans, and town's people to enjoy.
Justin is the reason you are all able to have and speak your opinions.
Thank You,
Ruth Crowley
Let's let the Farmington incident of a year ago go, as Justin never had his day in court. He will never have his day in court.
Bob 1234 We won't ever really know what went on at the municipal building on Nov 19th at 11:04 AM, now will we. There are two sides to every story and one player in that story is dead. When will we all stop believing everything we read or hear?
Veteran Courts, like the one in New York have a Zero Recidivism rate......imagine that?..... So let's be proactive and start up Veteran Courts here in Maine like they have in 44 other states. As for the death of my son, that case is pending. All I ask is that you get the facts before spouting off- otherwise the Bulldog becomes nothing more than a cheap Hollywood version of some small town rag.
I'd like to begin by asking Marie if she was there in front of the municipal building on November 19th at 11:04 AM when Justin Crowley-Smilek was shot to death with not one, not two, not three...but four bullets. If you were, please come forward, because as of this moment there seem to be no eyewitnesses, other than some people driving by, who wish to remain anonymous.
Secondly to No Hero, were you at the bar the night your friend was allegedly rendered "crippled" as you describe it? If you weren't and I think I'm safe in assuming you were not, then your comments come not from a fair examination of the facts, but simply a one-sided version of the event. Furthermore, to suggest that a grieving mother who wanted to do something positive to honor her son's service and those of other veterans, should write a check for your friend is careless at best. The request to give a gift to the town came from the heart, something you seem to lack.
And lastly, Call Me A Cynic, I'm sure there are many in Farmington who would like to forget about Justin. Why not? What does it matter that he served his country and came home forever changed by PTSD? What is PTSD? Oh...who cares what it is? And that blood stain...damn...what a mess that was...
I'll tell you who cares: The mother who loved her son since birth, who watched him grow up, who listened to his dreams of someday wanting to be a police officer or a game warden, who asked him to please not go in the service because his heart was too big and the atrocities he would witness, too great, who was proud of his decision nonetheless...a mother who found some peace of mind when her son came home from Afghanistan alive only to stand by a pool of his blood a few years later, never to see him again. The father who also has loved him since birth, who took great pride in his son being a kind hearted young man and a soldier, who did everything within his power to get him help when he came back from war, broken, who heard the untinkable news on Nov 19th and had to make that call to Justin's mother some 3500 miles away. The sister who loved him from the moment she knew what love was, who carries a world of childhood memories of the time they spent together, whose only brother is dead at 28 years old. The rest of us who knew him, some both before and after his time in the service, who witnessed the profound change, who knew the struggles he faced everyday, who bore witness to the heart of gold that the media and the gossip mongers shrouded in their systematic efforts to demonize him because he didn't "fit" back in, when he got home.
If any of you have children, take thirty seconds to imagine the unthinkable and tell me again why a mother wanting to do something good is so bad.
perhaps we should ask the beating victim if he wants to let it go....I'm sure the selectmen read all the comments in the previous article and took those residents sentiments to the vote...
I also think the right decision was made, unfortunately professionals cannot help those who do not ask for hlep or those who do not help themselves.
Last evening, when I got home from work, I read the negative comments on this site, and allowed emotion to get the best of me. This morning I woke up feeling a tinge of regret, not for the passion that was behind my words, but for the fact that I had allowed myself to stoop to a level of public opinion mud wrestling. The views of those who loved him and those that didn't are solidly formed. There's nothing I can say that is going to sway them one way or the other. I simply wanted to point out that while the soapbox is getting it's fair share of use, a human being, a son, a brother, a nephew, a friend, a soldier is dead and in the midst of the grief that is being experienced by those who loved him, a mother proposed gifting a bench to the town where he lived, to honor Iraq and Afghanistan vets. The request was heartfelt.
When a tragedy likes this occurs we all have a choice to make. We can become better people or bitter people. I'm chosing better. It's the best way I know of to move forward and the best way I can honor Justin and his life. Love will always trump hatred and compassion will always be far superior to condemnation.
I hope Justin's family can find some peace out of all this and I can empathize why they cant understand why people are negative to the idea of memorializing Justin and there are other ways to help his legacy. Hopefully someday they will understand the park idea is not the right way.
It is silly to think that there have not been several wars/conflicts that caused immeasurable misery and emotional scars to those who served prior those conflicts that have occured within the last 10-15 years. It is also silly to think that those men who fought in our previous wars did not come home deeply scarred and badly damaged in many ways. Most of them lived as best they could with their personal nightmares------raised their families, did their jobs and sucked it up. Most of them, God bless them did it with maturity and dignity. Some of the younger generation (i.e. my Vie tNam War generation) are still dealing with their issues; and most of them also have pulled up their Big Boy Panties and dealt with it.
I have no personal knowledge of the police officer involved in this tragedy nor the young man who died as a result of a very stupid act, but it makes no sense that a cop would pump 4 bullets into someone outside the police station door for reasons that do no suggest he did not feel seriously threatened.
One can purchase a cemetery plot and erect a headstone or a memorial bench to honor a loved one. It is how it should be. His personal memorial does not belong in a public park for numerous well-publicized reasons................and most especially because his life and death was no more significant, nor heart-wrenching, nor dignified than any of those other town-of-Farmington or Franklin County names that are on that list in the park.
I for one agree with this decision; of course, his story is tragic, and we can discuss "till the cows come home" how responsible the mentally ill are for their actions, but the fact remains that because of some of the things he was reported to have done in the months before his death, Justin's name caused only fear and apprehension to those of us who didn't know him or his story. It's therefore not one I would have preferred to see memorialized (by itself) in a public spot.
To the parents of Justin Crowley Smilek I thank you (as a resident of Farmington) and as the mother of a veteran who as served in two wars, for the offer of a bench at the town park. I gladly would have sat there and would have been honored to do so. PTSD is a fact of war and not all will be able to 'pull up their big boy panties.' PTSD is an issue that needs to be 'dealt' with, not trivialized nor ignored. We have not even begun to see the horrors of this 'very real mental illness.' Again this resident thanks you for your heartfelt offer and I wish you peace.
@summerzonly: right on! As if this kid is the only franklin county resident to experience the horrors of war. None of our other veterans has reacted by threatening community members or law enforcement in such a way. Why don' we errect a bench in the park to thank them for their restraint?
Justin Crowley-Smilek's parents have been quoted many times as saying that those leaving messages were not there when Justin's "incidents" occurred. I would just like to point out that neither were they. Their version of speculation is no greater than that of the multitudes. As for Justin not having his "day in court" I thought his day in court was Friday November 18, 2011 when the judge ordered Justin to receive a full Psych evaluation. I admire the family looking for a way to memorialize their loved one. I think there is an appropriate avenue out there some where. I hope they are able to find it.
Seriously folks, how about a little rationality. Yes, only two people were there and one is dead. The other is a police officer. Are you seriously suggesting that Farmington has a rogue rookie cop who kills people for no reason and covers it up by lying? Then why has the officer gone through so much over the shooting? And on top of that we are supposed to believe that because there was no conviction, that a man beaten nearly to death unfairly blamed the wrong man. And there were witnesses in that case.
And there were services available to Justin if he had chosen to access them. The main issue appears to be that the system did not force him to get the help he needed. But there would be more people voicing concern if the law returned to the age that other people could force someone into treatment with out legal due-process.
Perhaps this was all caused by the trauma of war. But I have not heard a single person here, regardless of opinion, disrespect victims or victims of trauma. The park has no monuments, none, that honor a single individual. Maybe someday that might change. But I agree that this is not the place to start.
If people want to honor the life of this man, there are innumerable ways to do so, and in doing so I wish them well. The angst in this case is mostly caused by family and friends attempting to force the Town of Farmington to honor him in an official way.