LET: February - On Your Watch

Feb. 16, 2015

The Sanford, N.C., photo that appeared in the news said it all: men and women of a multitude of races standing side by side in the rain, hoisting candles and pledging their support to local law enforcement. It wasn’t an isolated incident.

  • In a small New England town, a rally for police had to be moved to a larger venue to support the bigger-than-expected crowd who showed up.
  • In Kentucky, a group delivered homemade cookies to officers in order to show their appreciation — and encouraged other in other areas to do the same.
  • At a New Jersey concert, singer Jon Bon Jovi wore a tee-shirt supporting police and shouted out his respect for “his brothers” from the concert stage.
  • Pro-police rallies took place across the nation from Nashville to Annapolis.
  • A man in Minden, Nev., stood outside a post office with a pro-law enforcement sign to let officers know they are appreciated.
  • In Tennessee, a group held a chili dinner for officers as a thank-you for all that they do.
  • A West Virginia town held a service in honor of the fallen NYPD officers.
  • Citizens in Denver gathered to show their support for police and sympathy for the families of fallen officers.
  • The New York Yankees sports franchise announced it would pay for the educations of the children the slain officers left behind.

Across this nation, the vast majority of Americans are weighing in with their messages of support and appreciation for law enforcement officers. But it’s understandable that many LEOs feel both betrayed and unappreciated, especially in light of the media’s insistence on portraying police as brutal and dictatorial, and the people who physically attack them as “victims,” when they are, in truth, perpetrators.

It’s hard to feel anything but bitter when LEOs see individuals wearing “I can’t breathe” tee-shirts or parroting the behavior they’ve seen in the news, putting their hands up, or calling for the deaths of police officers—a threat that has now extended to retirees. What officers should remember is that the agitators, idealistic, inexperienced young people, politicians and media have no idea what it is to walk in your shoes. Nor do they have the courage to emulate you.

They don’t know how it feels to fight for your life with someone who is attempting the wrest away your gun or look down the barrel of a loaded weapon or put themselves in harm’s way for another or walk into the dark hoping to come back out alive on the other side.

Are there bad apples in law enforcement? Sure, just as there are bad apples everywhere. But law enforcement works hard to root out the unsuitable ones. And, the good news is that the great vast majority of Americans of every race stand behind you, believe in you, support you, and know the work you do is important.

Americans depend on police to keep their streets, families and children safe. We are the first line of defense against evil. Only when that evil strikes home do some realize how terribly hard it is to do what we do, as well as the price we pay for our devotion to our jobs.

Police work is not for the average man or woman. It’s for those who soar. Cops are smart, resilient, hard-working, self-sacrificing individuals who choose to dedicate themselves to helping others through their profession. It’s a noble and special calling and one that most who denigrate law enforcement officers could not and would not be able to cut it. Only a select few are good enough to become cops.

Be careful out there. Believe in yourself. And know the majority of Americans appreciate you and what you do. 

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