“Rookie” can mean so many things. When you’re an officer with three years of experience, the rookie is anyone still on their field training program. To the veteran of twenty years, the rookie is anyone who has less than five years of experience. To the veteran of thirty years… well, you get the point. “Rookie” almost always is in the eye of the beholder. But just about every law enforcement officer in the world, including the rookies themselves, would agree that an officer who was sworn in yesterday and is working their very first shift today is, beyond all doubt, a rookie. The question is, does that make them any less a hero?
Most especially in today’s day and age where the mainstream media sensationalizes and exploits to their maximum profit, any and every mistake an officer makes, no matter how small or inconsequential, I call anyone who even applies for the job of police officer a hero. For sure and certain, it takes a strong and competent individual to complete the academy, get sworn in and report for their first shift. I can honestly say that I clearly remember my first shift, my first day after graduating from the academy. I worked a bad traffic accident involving a motorcycle. When I reported for that shift I was a mish-mash of emotions that included fear, wonder, insecurity, delight, self-doubt, excitement and so many other things.
Yesterday, Saturday, February 27th, 2016, a rookie hit the streets for her very first shift after graduating from the academy and having been sworn in on Friday, February 26th. Her name is Ashley Guindon and she served Prince William County in Virginia. This sad news comes just days after the Chief of Police in Hesston, Kansas entered a building and neutralized a man in the act of mass killing.
Think about it: two opposite ends of a career: the brand new rookie, on her first shift, first day versus the Chief of Police, years on, top of the food chain in the PD (so to speak). Yet both are heroes. Both had/have the heart of a compassionate warrior. Both swore to do a job that is so wrongly vilified in today’s society. Both will be remembered for their accomplishments, although Officer Guindon was robbed of her opportunity to rack up as many as Chief Doug Schroeder.
For some reason, and I honestly can’t explain why, it feels like the death of a young officer is somehow more tragic than the loss of a veteran. Perhaps it is simply her youth and the snuffing out of a light that was just beginning to burn with its brightest potential. Perhaps it’s the fact that she had her entire career to grow and shine and display all of her motivation, dedication and eagerness to serve. Perhaps it’s because the circumstances of her death remind us all that the bastard we call Death does not care about our age; he’ll visit us at his whim and none of us really knows for sure how long we have. Whatever the reason, I – like so many others – have tears in my eyes this morning.
Officer Ashley Guindon was younger than three of my four children. As a graduate of the police academy and newly sworn in, she must have been filled with pride and excitement and, no doubt, had no expectation of facing a lethal threat in her first shift on her first day. There is also no doubt that, having completed the academy, she was fully aware that it COULD happen. All officers are aware that it can happen anywhere, anytime, without any warning and with no guaranteed outcome. Awareness and expectation are two different things. How many of you would report for your first shift (heck, or your most recent shift) if you were expecting to be killed before it was over?
This young lady… this rookie officer… she entered police work during a time when our profession is being attacked at an ever increasing rate. That alone makes her a hero in my eyes. She completed the academy, proudly graduated and was sworn in; a highlight moment in every officer’s career. She formally joined the family of the Thin Blue Line when she crossed that stage, received her certificate and got that badge pinned on. It may seem similar to other happenings like graduating high school or college, or getting your first “real” job, but you need to understand that it is vastly different.
When you graduate from the police academy you’re still not a police officer. When you get sworn in… when that badge is first pinned on; THEN you are a police officer and you join a family that is far larger than most. You have more big brothers and sisters than you’ve ever had before and you’ll soon have more younger siblings than you can ever imagine. And the reality is that, as part of this family, you’re happy to take on the responsibility of living up to the expectations of your older siblings and passing on the lessons you’ve learned to the younger siblings. Those you graduated from the academy with become your twins and they’ll forever be special in your heart. I can only imagine how the academy classmates of Officer Guindon are feeling today.
Remember this young officer. Remember this rookie – but say that word with honor. Her first day; her first shift and the ultimate sacrifice.
Go with God, Officer Guindon. Look down on your family and guard them as you can.
Lt. Frank Borelli (ret), Editorial Director | Editorial Director
Lt. Frank Borelli is the Editorial Director for the Officer Media Group. Frank brings 20+ years of writing and editing experience in addition to 40 years of law enforcement operations, administration and training experience to the team.
Frank has had numerous books published which are available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other major retail outlets.
If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email at [email protected].