For the first several years of my life, only my mom put me to bed with. I didn’t get tucked in by my dad, have him tell me goodnight stories, or lay with me when I was scared. I didn’t have my daddy around to protect me from the ghosts of the dark or the monsters under the bed or the bad guys who might break in.
You see, I grew up with a police officer as a father. A father who—for the first several years of my life—worked at night and slept during the day. A man who was my daddy when the sun was up, but then put on his cape when the moon came out to protect his family and his community from the bad men. A dad who sacrificed much of his life and his family to protect yours.
I was accustomed to the scary man in the uniform and the gun he toted on his hip and the flashing lights on his car. I was never scared to approach an officer on duty or feared the trooper driving beside me.
These men and women were my dad’s friends, his coworkers. The men and women who raised me. Who came to my birthday parties and summer barbecues. They are the men and women I’ve seen laugh and crack jokes, even drink a beer on my porch and share life stories.
They are more than their uniform.
These men and women are nothing less to me than the friends of my parents, and they will always have my back.
They are not what the media has portrayed them to be.
Most daughters have dads who are accountants or doctors or chefs. They never have to fear their hero never coming home from duty, just pulling doubles in the emergency room and missing soccer games.
I’ve grown accustomed to the thought in the back of my mind that my dad may not come home from “the office” one day. That he may not get to see me get my degree or walk me down the aisle.
I’ve grown accustomed to the idea that my daddy always has a target on his back.
In light of the recent events with the blue lives matter movement, it hurts so much to know that people hate my father for his career.
My dad chose to sacrifice a part of him; my family has to sacrifice a part of us because he keeps YOUR family safe at night.
How can someone say that my dad—and all those officers—are evil when they are protecting YOUR daughters, YOUR mothers, YOUR fathers?
My dad should not have to fear for his life in, and out of, his uniform because YOU have a “problem” with authority.
Next time you say you hate the “12," remember that they are mothers, brothers, daughters, and husbands.
Next time you need help, don’t call for an officer. If they are bad to you, you don’t need their help anyway, right?
Next time you cuss out the officer who pulled you over for speeding, remember that he is doing his job. And remember that YOU were breaking the law—they are simply enforcing it.
Next time you say an officer should lose his badge because he had to make a decision in a matter of a few seconds, remember that he has been through training and ultimately has been trusted by our leaders. Our society trusted him with the authority to wield a gun and provided him with the proper training—including when and when not to use it.
My father’s life, career, or judgment should not be questioned.
In today’s society, it is common to see videos of teenagers refusing to roll down windows, turn down the music, or even put out their cigarettes during a routine traffic stop. That is nothing but pure lack of respect.
YOU are the problem. That officer should not have to make a judgment call on your life and their careers should not end if YOU decide to be noncompliant.
How can someone tell the difference between a real gun and a pellet gun?
How do you expect an officer to NOT defend his life when rubber tips are painted to intimidate and mislead?
Be respectful. Answer his questions, roll your windows down. YOU made the mistake. YOU broke the law. Now own up to it.
Parents, you should be teaching your children respect—not a lack thereof. YOU should be teaching your teenagers not to break the law. Adults, YOU shouldn’t break the law and expect to be freed because of race or age.
Your skin color is not an excuse. Your age is not an excuse.
I’m not saying that every officer is right and I’m not saying that every officer should do what he pleases at all times. There are bad cops just as there are bad doctors, teachers, and lawyers.
There is evil in this world and police officers are no exception. There are wrongdoings and mistakes. There is racism.
But you don’t create a mass protest or riots over the surgeon who killed your uncle, right?
But how can you judge everyone on the actions of one officer—ONE mistake? ONE misjudgment?
As a “cop kid," I fully support the actions of the officers in my community, around the country, and around the world. I support the officers who have lost their jobs and their lives in trying to protect the disrespectful teenager.
Society, YOU are the problem. Not my dad.
*Author's opinions and views do not reflect those of the officers mentioned in this article or of any officer.
