My goal of this article is to be a voice for those who can’t speak out.
I am trying to speak with the families, friends and even those who have been emotionally influenced by a police officer. We are so proud to let people know that you are a part in helping get the criminals off the street. Being as thankful as we are, we are also happy we don't know your job description in detail. We would worry too much; along with be immensely terrified for your safety.
Due to the media even today, we are still terrified.
We turn on the TV and our stomachs drop, hearts ache at the thought of another fallen officer, or even an officer the made a choice that the world views as wrong.
But the media doesn't share all of the information with the public, police officers die every single day. Tens, maybe hundreds. Does the media share that with you? No. African American officers kill Caucasian people in the same situations, but is the world torn up about receiving justice for those with a lighter skin tone? No.
- Just this past week, several victims including a police officer were reported after a gunman opened fire inside of a courthouse.
- An African American woman thanked officers for protecting her during the Dallas shooting, after she was hit. And she was one of the people protesting “Black Lives Matter”.
- An officer’s home was ambushed as a man threw a 50-pound concrete planter through his window.
- Officers around the country have had threats from people giving promises of violence; videos have been posted and photos have been sent out.
- A suspect during the Dallas shootings taunted police officers, writing messages in blood and laughing at them, even asking them how many people they had killed.
- Officers were hurt from demonstrators throwing rocks, bottles, fireworks and bricks at them.
- There was even a man who sat in his car behind a police unit saying that his purpose there was to kill a police officer.
No one reads that side of the story, the news reporters don't push to report on the side of those who lay down their lives for us every day.
Even if the world and the media have every negative feeling for those who wear the badge, could they have the decency to respect the ones that do?
Every day we witness officers pin a badge to their chest, and a gun to their hip. We don’t know if they will make it home again to say goodnight. We don't fully understand the sacrifices they make, but we witness that they are affected by their job at all hours of the day.
Being a cop is not just a 9-to-5 job, it's a lifestyle that selfless people carry.
The stress, the time, the ridicule, the talking back, the belittling by convicts, the getting spit on, and cursed at, the underlaying thought that people generally don't like them, and even the tiring work they put in doesn't go unnoticed, even if some are blinded by hate to notice that side of the commitment.
Officers put everything they have on the line every day. This is the story about the heroes dying for the villians. It takes someone so selfless to put their life at risk for those who don't even respect them, mock them even.
Even based on the acts throughout the country today, I guarantee an officer has not woken up in the morning thinking, “I’m going to kill someone today.”
They want to help, protect, and serve the city that they know and love. Cops aren’t robots with no emotions or tin men without hearts. They have families they want to get home to as well. They have friends to watch Sunday Night Football with just like you do.
But you only want them, when you need them.
Remember it was the cop who caught the rapist and drug dealer on your street the other week. They are passionate for you, because they wouldn't want someone terrorizing their children or loved ones either.
Remember it was the cop who stopped the drunk abusive partner and comforted you saying you deserved better. Trust me, they understand.
Remember it was the cop who helped you when you were scared from the break in and robbery at 3 a.m. They know how to help you, and they are doing everything they can to make you and your family better again. They wouldn't want to go through it either.
Remember it was the cop that stopped you while you were texting and driving so you wouldn't kill yourself or someone else. Because they wouldn't want to get the call that their loved one took a life, or ended their own by a simple one word message that could have waited.
But don't you worry now, they will still be there by your side to help you when you call them, even if you curse them, ridicule them and hate them.
If nothing else, remember that the officer you despise for pulling you over, or subtracting you from a potentially harmful situation is someone’s spouse, child, parent and friend.
They might mean nothing to you, they might be a nuisance to your day…but to someone else they are the world.
