Those within law enforcement have seemed to always been looked at more negatively than they should. Why? Is it because an officer ticketed them for driving 95 mph on the way to work? Is it because they pull vehicles over when they see the drivers texting behind the wheel? Think about how these people who are “against cops” would feel if one of their family members had gotten injured in an accident due to reckless driving. Now it’s the other way around, right? Believe it or not, it is their job to help you, not piss you off. Of course, there are some officers that make mistakes. Police misconduct is out there sometimes as well. The negatives seem to only capture the media’s attention, and I would like to remind you all about the vast majority who take pride in their jobs. Please take the time to thank your local law enforcement. Unfortunately, these brave individuals do not receive the amount of thanks that they deserve.

1. They work for you

It is their duty to protect and ensure the safety of the communities. They wake up every morning to serve and proactively prevent a crime that you could possibly be a victim of. Thank you to the most selfless human beings on this planet.

2. They are putting themselves at risk for you

No matter how high or low the crime rate is within their jurisdiction, they are at risk during any time (on-duty or off). They may be unbadged in plain civilian clothing, but that will not stop a former inmate from recognizing the face of the person who incarcerated them years ago.

3. They have to make rapid decisions

Within seconds, our heroes need to decide what is best for their community members and themselves at any moment. These are the situations that are most likely a lot more dangerous than the usual events. There are many factors to consider and procedures to be followed before an officer can efficiently take action.

4. They are forced to keep calm

No matter what kind of a situation they are in and how dangerous it might be, they have to stay calm. This in no way means that they are not trembling, but it is their job to maintain order within the community and prevent panic.

5. They have a family also

Our heroes are just like the rest of the individuals in their community. They have a family back at home, too. They most likely have a loved one (parent, spouse, child) patiently waiting for them to safely return at the end of the day. Also, officers have to see sides of our communities that we would never hope to imagine. They witness these horrifying events and often keep it inside of them so that they do not heighten their family member’s nerves any more.

Please recognize what these individuals do. A simple “thank you” and a smile may make more of an impact than you would think.