In light of recent events, I've noticed a lot of hate towards all cops in general. How could people sit there and stereotype all police forces as a whole for the actions of a few officers? Now, I'm not trying to sound naïve, I know people's hatred for cops didn't just start recently due to the current shootings. We all know history has documents and stories of police brutality, but once again, how could you stereotype all cops for the acts of the officers who used their power wrongly?

I've recently got to spend time in the Camden County Police Department for an internship and had the pleasure of meeting many of the officers. These men and women are normal people, with regular lives just like you and me. They have families, kids, wives, husbands, and a lot of important people in their lives. They put their lives at risk every day for us and are brave enough to police the street of Camden, which had the highest crime rate in the United States in 2012.

I got to walk the streets with one officer who told me the horrible things he has to deal with during a typical shift, but yet he still has a huge heart for the broken people in the city. He gives meals to the homeless people he's befriended on the streets and genuinely cares for the locals. He's saved countless lives of people who were overdosing by administering Narcan. This officer doesn't sound a monster, does he?

People get upset when they feel as if someone is stereotyping a race, but isn't that what you're doing to police officers? It's interesting how people have a lot to say behind their computer screens and devices, but you are not the one in these situations.

It saddens me that all this is happening because the mistake of individual cops is putting the lives of many other officers in danger. The population also needs to consider that cops have to protect themselves. Now, with all the recent events, cops are going to be afraid to use their guns in situations when they may very well need them, in fear of the backlash.

Our country needs protecting. Can you imagine a world with no one to enforce the law? We'd be living in a world with even more chaos. Who knows? Maybe we'd start running the Hunger Games instead, or maybe we'd have an annual purge.

Please don't let the hateful hearts of some police officers effect your view on police forces as a whole. The majority of officers are here to protect us and use their power for the betterment of the country. Don't stereotype and add more hate to the world.

Remember: all lives matter.