I was watching the news the other night and again...another shooting, another #blacklivesmatter protest, fires and funerals. With all the recent chaos around the world and the constant pressure toward police officers, I wondered how they are handling it. I get so busy in my own life that I never stop to think what is their daily routine like. What is it like to live with this media cloud over their heads? So I decided to interview a good friend of mine who is a local sheriff for my county.
To no surprise, throughout the interview he completely backed what he does and what he stands for everyday. Even with the scary headlines and horrific stories on the news, he does not regret his decision to join the force. With that being said this article is not meant to sway one way or another, but simply introduce you to one of my heroes and to applaud him for his job. The police are not here to scare you, but protect you. They are human just like everyone else. So here is my interview with Officer Ray Borchert Jr.
Q: What is your title?
A: I am an officer with the Lake County Sheriffs Deptartment assigned to the Patrol Division.
Q: How long have you served in your occupation?
A: I served as a correctional officer in the Lake County Jail for five years and I have been in patrol for four years.
Q: Why did you join the force?
A: I joined the force due to a long family history of police officers.
Q: What is the daily routine of a police officer? (getting dressed, kids, getting to work, etc.)
A: My daily routine changes depending on my shift during my 7x3 shift I wake up, go to work, go to the gym and then home to spend time with my wife and kids - if I'm not working a side job. While I'm on 3x11 shift I get to spend time with my kids and wife before work, then I get dressed for work [and] go to my shift. After the shift I go to the gym and then home to sleep.
Q: Married? Kids, Ages?
A: I have been married for five years and have two children, a 4 year old daughter and a 2 year old son.
Q: What traits do you feel are necessary to be an active police officer?
A: I believe the traits to become a good police officers are loyalty, professionalism, indignity, honesty and above all, be truthful.
Q: What do you like best about your job?
A: I get to go out with a great group of men and women and help people everyday, it could be the worst point in someone’s life and they call us to come help. They might not like me or the job we do, but we will always come when someone needs our help.
Q: What do you like least about your job?
A: I would have to say spending time away from my family working holidays, but then again my family knows that I love what I do and eventually I will be home at the end of my shift to celebrate with them.
Q: How do you feel about the recent attack on the police force?
A: Of course I don’t like it, but we are doing our jobs. People are always going to say how bad we are, or how we are doing our jobs wrong, but as soon as those people need us they will call and again we will be there. My goal every day is to make sure my partners and myself go home at the end of our shift to see our families.
Q: How do you defend your duty as a police man with the media blow up of #blacklivesmatter?
A: I don’t have to defend what I do if the police weren’t around the world would be chaos. I work beside some of the best men and women I know and color doesn’t matter [to] me. I [was] sent to do a job and I do it to the best of my abilities.
Q: Do you make mistakes while on duty?
A: Everybody makes mistakes, nobody is perfect. It's how you correct the mistake you made that defines you.
Q: How do you defend your occupation?
A: Again, I don’t have to, I took an oath to do a job and do it to the best of my abilities if people don’t like it that’s their opinion. There are a lot of people in this world that support the police and I believe in what I do
Q: With the recent pressure on all police officers across the U.S. do you wish you would’ve chosen a different career?
A: Not at all. I love what I do!
Q: Do you ever discourage someone from becoming a police officer?
A: Never
Q: Do you ever have to explain what is displayed on TV about police officers to your children (or just the public in general)?
A: My daughter is at the point where she asks why a lot. I have been to a lot of police fire and military funerals and when I get dressed in my Dress uniform she asks what happened and where I'm going and it's hard to explain to her what I'm going to do. The best way is to tell her that one of my friends is going away and I'm going to say good bye.
Q: Do officers become officers because they enjoy power?
A: I believe some do, but it’s a very small percentage.
Statement request: In a nutshell, can you defend police against the hate? What does the blue line really stand for?
A: Police officers will always be around like us or hate us when you need us we will be there. When gun shots go off you won’t see me running away from them, you will see me running toward them to protect you with my life and make sure you go home. I will lay my life on the line for people I have never met before.
The best way I can describe the thin blue line is an officers stands a thin blue line between the order and anarchy.
