When you were younger, a lot of things may have scared you. You were afraid of the dark. You were afraid of monsters. You were afraid of getting lost. And you were, and maybe still are, afraid of dying. So, your parents and teachers did all they could to show you that there is nothing to be afraid of. You grew up and learned how to protect yourself.
Back in kindergarten, we had “safety day,” and police officers came to our classroom. We learned how to dial 9-1-1 and other ways to stay safe. We learned that we can always rely on the officers if we ever need help. After that day, the boys and girls in my class, myself included, considered joining the police department. Everyone wanted to grow up to be a hero.
So thank you to the police officers who came to my classroom that day. It’s been 14 years since I’ve been in kindergarten and I still look back on that lesson. Thanks for helping me feel safe from the monsters under my bed and of the dark. Thanks for guaranteeing me that if I ever got lost, you would help me find my mom and dad again.
Thank you for patrolling the parks near our houses. The park is supposed to be a safe place for kids and families to go for fun outdoors. Thank you for keeping it that way. Thanks for breaking up the fights that high schoolers got into on Saturday nights. Thanks for trying to stop the violence and promote peace between those teenagers filled with angst.
Thank you for not only trying to stop violence between teenagers, but for trying to stop it for everyone. Sometimes, instead of having days off, you spend them working downtown. You are thrown into riots and protests and asked to stay calm and stop anything dangerous from happening. Thank you for sacrificing your time with your family so that my family is safe to walk down Michigan Avenue.
Thank you for all the extra hours you donate off the clock, too. All of the police officers I know are very involved in the school community and recognized by the greater community as well. Whether you are a supportive parent who shows up to as many of your kid’s events as possible, or you are the head coach of the cross country and track teams for 60 grade school kids, thank you for being involved in our lives.
Lastly, thank you for your continued service to the city of Chicago. This year has been long and hard and the city would not have survived without all that you do. The Chicago Police Department has been criticized and attacked consistently, and does not deserve it. The CPD has been reduced to a stereotype, and in no way is it okay.
So to all the police officers out there, please remember your service is not overlooked. There are boys and girls of all ages who view you as a personal hero and want to grow up to be just like you.
Thanks again for all that you do every day. We’ll appreciate it forever.
