My brother is a New York City Police Officer. He is 26 years old (the wrong side of the twenties) and he loves his job. He leaves his Long Island home and drives the hour ride to his precinct to put on his blue uniform and risk his life to keep people protected. This isn't a debate article, or an article telling you how good my brother is, rather an article from a Police Officer's sister.
Not every cop is bad, I can tell you that. My brother, and all of his friends that also wear blue are one in the same. They all decided to be officers, they weren't drafted or forced into it. They went through testing upon testing followed by training and learning in the academy and they are well trained for their jobs. They all wear a shield and protect others while leaving their families and loved ones worried while they are on the job. With all the recent horrific events of shootings and killings this leaves their families even more worried. My brother can come home after a shift happy, sad or mad, but he never talks about his job. About the things I know he sees and experiences, he keeps to himself and when asked how his shift went he almost always says "It could've been better! How are you?"
When my brother graduated the academy it was one of the happiest days of my families' lives. We trotted into Madison Square Garden, saw him walk down the isles and we beamed with pride. After the joy subsided we realized that he would have to go to work almost everyday now, and his life would be in danger at any given time.
It became a ritual before he left from work, that he would say goodbye to everyone, we would say good luck and stay safe, then he left for his 12 hour shift. We went about our lives, doing what we had to get done. When it was about the time for him to come home, we would wait with our hearts in our throats, scared if he would make it home safely. Those times that he had to stay extra for any reason, he would text our mom and let her know, so she didn't get extra worried for no reason.
For some police families they have the same routine, saying good luck and stay safe, waiting for their loved one to come home only to have them not, because of some accident or incident or horrific shooting. Police put their lives on the line every single second of everyday. They fearlessly walk the streets of gang-filled neighborhoods, and they're at every event, protest and parade, trying to keep everyone safe while maintaining the police.
Behind a police officer is their worried families, cousins, aunts, uncles friends, neighbors and so many more people who spend their tours worrying if their loved one will come home that day, and that is a problem.
So proud of my blue family and hope they all make it home safe after every tour.
