There is a great amount of controversy in the news recently about police officers and the Black Lives Matter movement. However, most of the controversy is created by the media and what they choose to report. Many times, their portrayal of the officers makes them appear as the “bad guys,” but this is simply not the truth. Why limit it to just police officers though?

Every time a person dies, gets shot by an officer or has something go awry in their life, the first person they look at to investigate are the Police, firefighters and EMS personnel who were involved in the situation. They look to blame these individuals and claim that they did something wrong, but I know for a fact that most of the time, this couldn’t be more false. As a public servant myself, I’ve had the privilege to meet and work with some of the greatest men and women on this planet. Each work tirelessly around the clock to dedicate their lives to helping others and when you need them the most, they will always be there.

This is why it is hard for me to understand why so many people in the nation choose to blame these servants and ask for them to be stripped of their jobs every single time they don’t like how a task is carried out. Rarely are these individuals doing their jobs wrong. Instead, the media chooses to show these mistakes more than they choose to show the good, which I believe causes the public to turn their backs on the folks that are there to protect them. I understand if a person is upset when a mistake occurs, but is that reason to cause a national movement such as Black Lives Matter?

Essentially what people need to understand is that while you are out there protesting and going on about how bad the police are, they will still be standing right by your side to make sure that it is done peacefully and nobody gets seriously injured. They still protect you. If your home catches fire in the middle of the night and you’re trapped inside, the brave men and women of the fire department will still come to pull you out, no matter what. If you get into a car accident and have serious injuries, the EMS personnel will do whatever they can to make sure you make it through to see another day, no matter what.

All I ask is that you take a second to step back and understand that these people have a job to do and that they don’t do it just because “it’s their job,” but instead, they truly care about serving the community. No matter what, they will keep you safe, even if you disagree with their ways. So keep protesting, keep hating; when you need us the most, we will always be there to help you.