Growing up as the child of a police officer is not usually something you sign on for but it is something you learn to respect very early on in life. When I was young, I watched my dad ‘dress up’ in his uniform every day but as I got older my perspective changed. I no longer just watched him put his shiny pins on his freshly pressed uniform, tie his polished boots with perfection, and buckle that mysterious belt with all those clips and gadgets. As I matured, I found myself looking to see if I noticed a bulkiness under his freshly pressed uniform. Was he wearing his vest? Was that mysterious looking belt that I used to glance up at as a child now secured appropriately with all of the things that would protect him? I no longer considered his uniform as ‘dress up’; his uniform now represented every wish and prayer of safety I said for him.

Growing up as a police officer's daughter, I have to say it’s not like having a parent in any other field of work. When I was younger, I never really understood the consequences of him simply going to work every day. It wasn't until April 12, 2007, when a local police officer was shot and killed, that I realized how dangerous and selfless his job was. My dad’s good friend and fellow officer was killed unsuspectingly by a coward as he sat in his police car.

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Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

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I remember watching my parents and the entire community pause to honor his death and then realizing life would never be the same. From that point on, my mom said goodbye to my dad just a little differently each day, community members thanked him for his service, everyone pulled together to try to live with the grief of a senseless death.

My dad is retired now, but I know that each time he hears of a police officer killed in the line of duty, it stings just a bit more than it does for the average person. I remember his eyes and the expression on his face that April day and I know what that sting looks like. He may not wear a badge anymore but I know he will never forget his oath. That oath not only ties him to the pride he feels as a police officer, but unfortunately to the pain also.

One thing I feel strongly about is seeing violence toward police officers. This violence is something that hits home for me and many other people throughout this nation. I have read too many articles and watched too many breaking news stories about two important things relating to this violence.

The first being about how many officers have either been injured or killed in the line of duty by people in this country. "At least 64 law enforcement officers have been shot and killed this year, the most in five years, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. The 2016 shootings have spanned the nation, from California to Massachusetts. They've exceeded the annual average of police shooting deaths over the past 10 years, 53. And this year's total is higher than the number of firearms-related police deaths in 2015." Many lives of police officers have been taken from us just for doing their job and putting their lives on the line. These people that are breaking the law or are angry about what is happening are holding their guns up and aiming at the people protecting them.

The second thing of importance is that these people who fight the law and are responsible for the increase in the number of deaths this past year don't realize who they're hurting. Holding a gun to one police officer is like holding a gun to the entire city. I have seen the bonds my father has with his partners and co-workers and they are truly all in this together. If you hurt one, you hurt all. Not only are you holding that gun to an entire city, your holding that gun to every family member of that police officer. You’re not just hurting that police officer and taking his life, your devastating every member of that family by taking away his or her life to them. These officers wake up every morning to serve and protect their city, nation, etc. and to fight to protect you, so why aim the guns at them?

I have lived through a decade of violence toward police, and have witnessed my share of police deaths that have affected many cities so severely. Now as the daughter of a retired police officer, I can say that I don’t have to worry about my father coming home safe everyday. To my father, I thank you and have the utmost respect for you. You are the most courageous, selfless, and warmhearted man I have and will ever know. You have shown me what it is to be brave, and taught me to always give back and help out when I can. The lessons you have not only taught me, but showed me in your line of work are lessons I will hold onto forever and hopefully pass on as I get older. Lastly, for the police men and women that span the nation, and as a daughter of a retired police officer, I thank you for your service.