In light of the overwhelming media coverage of police, I thought it would be interesting to highlight what it's like to be a police officer in the year 2016, from a cop who just wants the best for his community.
Michael McKeever has been a part of the Hanover Massachusetts Police Department for 28 years. He grew up in Hanover and became a full-time member of the department when he was 25.
McKeever, however, did not always know that he wanted to be a police officer. He started school at Bridgewater State University, unsure of what career he wanted to pursue. After two and a half years, he left school because he was having trouble finding his niche.
A semester later, McKeever started attending Massasoit Community College where he took a law enforcement class and a criminal law class.
"One of the classes was taught by a Lieutenant at the Brockton Police Department," McKeever said. "After taking that class, I had been inspired to try to pursue law enforcement."
McKeever is also the Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer of Hanover. He works with every fifth grader at the Hanover Middle School and teaches a 12-class curriculum of the D.A.R.E. program. He says that getting to know the kids is beneficial for him and them because when they run into each other later in life for whatever reason, everyone is familiar with each other and more comfortable.
"It's good when you can go to a call and know the kids involved and they trust you to tell the truth," McKeever said.
He also takes part in the Plymouth County D.A.R.E. Camp, a one week summer camp to teach children about the dangers of drugs and to keep them busy for the summer.
McKeever said that drugs are the biggest problem in Hanover, as well as, the entire South Shore.
"A lot of the crime revolves around that," McKeever said. "We were having a couple of break-ins a week for awhile and it all revolved around addicts stealing things to take them to the pawn shop for money for drugs."
In order to combat the increasing drug problem, Plymouth County District Court is implementing a new drug court, where offenders are sent for help instead of being sent to jail.
The perception of police officers has become much more negative in the past few years due to the media, McKeever said, but the Hanover police department has seen immense support from it's community.
"I'm just floored by the amount of people coming by the office supporting us," he said. "We have a whole wall full of cards supporting us and the squad room has been full for the last two weeks of cookies, brownies and baked goods people bring by to support us."
McKeever also made a point to say that police officers do not aspire to do bad things to their community like the media sometimes says. He said what they do aspire to do is catch the bad guys.
"These gestures are nice to help relieve some of the pressure from the events going on. We know our own community supports us and that's all the really matters," McKeever said.
Officer McKeever's wife, Deedee, said that his job does sometimes adds a sense of anxiety to her everyday routine and she gets nervous for him every day.
"You never know what's going to happen," Deedee said. "I think about him every shift."
She deals with the nerves by calling him every night and being supportive of his career.
"His whole family was like that in the community, wanting to help people, so I was never surprised when he chose to do the same," Deedee said.
McKeever said his favorite thing about being a police officer is that each day varies.
"You go from it being quiet with nothing going on to having to drive 70 mph to get somewhere to help somebody. No two days are ever the same."
The variance of the job can sometimes be overwhelming for police officers, McKeever said, but he just has to remember not to bring the job home.
"The gym helps me a lot to relieve stress and take care of my body."
Officer McKeever has nine more years until retirement, in which he plans to spend some time traveling and relaxing with his wife.
As you may have figured out Officer McKeever is in fact my father. While this fact may have made this interview a little bias, the point I am hoping to make is that behind each police officer is the many people who love them. It is so easy to fall into the media trap of hating men in uniform, but please remember that each officer is a person too.
