Posted on 06/28/2005 6:48:39 PM PDT by ecurbh
PHOENIX - A tabloid promised Monday to give money to an organization for burn victims after labeling as "ugly" a police officer who suffered disfiguring burns in a crash while on duty.
American Media Inc., owner of the Weekly World News, which ran a list of the "top 10 ugliest people" in its Feb. 7 issue, agreed to make a donation to the Foundation for Burns and Trauma.
The tabloid also ran a post-surgery photo of the officer and his wife with the article.
The amount of the donation to the foundation, which provides care to burn victims in Arizona, was not disclosed but those involved called it "significant."
Officer Jason Schechterle suffered fourth-degree burns to his hands and face when his patrol car was hit from behind by a taxi and exploded in flames in 2001.
"Something bad has been turned into something very good," Schechterle said at a news conference Monday.
American Media — which owns the tabloid featuring articles on UFOs and the whereabouts of Elvis — fired the employees responsible for the inclusion of Schecterle's photo in the "ugly" list, said Stuart Zakim, senior vice president for American Media. He said the tabloid was "incredibly happy" to make the donation.
Schechterle was so badly burned that surgeons had to strip away his face, covered in dead tissue, to save his life.
The photo that appeared in the Weekly World News was one taken by The Associated Press for a series of award-winning stories chronicling Schechterle's accident and fight to recover.
Agreed. It was low. Weekly World News should stick to just making up stories about alien babies.
That someone would say such a thing makes my blood boil! This poor man has been traumatized more than any of us can ever know.
I've seen the story on this guys ordeal.
There was no excuse for this, even by a scandal rag.
They need to stick to the "Hillary Carrying Alien Baby" stories.
I checked, this was one of the Crown Vic incidents.
This fine officer is a star here in the Phoenix area -- we love this great man. I cannot say how I feel about WWN without launching into a profanity-laced tirade, so I'll just keep it to myself.
That's disgusting, obviously he suffered a great deal in the line of duty. What a nasty rag to print something like that.
Just when i thought the Weekly World News couldn't get any lower.
Well, I feel terrible for him and all, and there is no way that such a cruel thing as what was said is acceptable, but 4th degree burns? Never heard of those before. I suspect a bit of sensational journalism.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=63D11647-9116-43EA-8D757FEFDFCD33CB
If I knew whether we are permitted to post articles from the Arizona Daily Star, I would post the story about this guy available at the link above. If anyone is interested, take a look. It's really incredible.
And the guy has a great story of recovery. That was beyond low. It was inhuman.
WOW. That's quite a sacrifice. Bless his heart!
Actually, the are SIX degrees of burns. I recall studyng them while in nursing school a number of years back. In first degree, there is redness and pain at the burn site. In a second degree burn there is blistering. Third degree burns involve some charring of the skin. Fourth degree burns injure the tissues underlying the skin, such as bone or muscle. With a FIFTH degree burn muscle is irretrievably lost. A sixth degree burn leaves you basically with bone char.
I'd say this brave officer is incredibly lucky to be alive, and whoever is STUPID enough to belittle his suffering by calling him "ugly"......well, all I can say is this person is totally beneath contempt.
pattyjo
Officer Jason Schechterle before the accident.
Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor
It is wrong I know to Wonder if we can get the guy that anthraxed the Enquirer to mail a package to the editor at WWN
Did you see that story on him about a week or two ago? I forget what it was on. pretty amazing story. Amazing too, the way his wife has stood by him.
That is very interesting... thanks for the correction. And yes, anybody who would insult this man is the lowest of the low.
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