You turn on the news and it is hard to ignore. Endless controversy over policemen and brutality. Most of the time, my initial reaction is sadness. Sad because I have spent 20 years under a household run by a father who has devoted himself to law enforcement, and sad because the reputation of policemen across the United States is constantly being damaged.

I am not here to defend the incident involving Sandra Bland, but I am here to defend what the U.S law enforcement truly encompasses.

I agree, racism is still an ongoing issue within our society. However, I also believe that as a country, we have made progress in the right direction in order to end racism. Yet it seems this past year, more and more, policemen and women are being targeted as the instigators of racism.

Part of the blame is the media and politicians, and the way they are portraying this social issue. It seems as if instead of joining together to sort out this problem, our country is divided more then ever.

But what we forget is the importance of law enforcement, and the importance of policing with force – when appropriate and necessary. While we have witnessed incidents of officers abusing their titles and clearly being in the wrong, what about those incidents when they use appropriate force and save several lives?

I always tried to ask my father about his career, if he has ever shot anybody, if he has been shot at, etc. But he never spoke. He instead tried his best to protect us from the reality that he faces everyday. What he did do for us, was to make sure we understood what goes on outside the safety of our home.

I would watch my father read the newspaper every day, and then every night turn on the television to watch the news. I'd beg and beg him to change the channel so I could watch Disney or Cartoon Network, but he'd always refuse. But because of that, from a very young age, I was exposed to reality – the good and the bad.

My favorite moments were when he made the news. He'd come home full of excitement and then we'd turn on the television and there he was, partly-balding, mustache and all, policeman in the background of the footage included in the report. He tried to act like it wasn't that big of a deal, but it was. My dad was important to this world. My dad was doing good.

So this past year, when I've seen reports of police officers abusing their titles and misrepresenting what law enforcement is truly about, I've been heartbroken. What I want this country to be reminded of is that they care. They care about their community and they care about the well-being of this country. They would not get up every morning and put their lives at risk if they didn't care.

I think the best thing my father has told me about his job was this summer. He described the feeling when he put his uniform on. He said, he might be exhausted, drained and feeling as if he didn't have the energy to go to his shift. However, the instant he put on his uniform, he felt like he could do anything; he felt like a hero, because he is a hero.

So next time you come across an officer, don't hesitate to show them the respect and appreciation they truly deserve.