Officer.com Editor's Blog: Deadly Times

The say, “Bad things come in threes.”  I beg to differ.  The past three days have proven that bad things can come in unexpected numbers, at unexpected times and in ways we’d prefer not to deal with.  As law enforcement professionals, “dealing with it” is often our job.  We pay a price.  Unfortunately, this morning I sit to type about how seven officers have paid the ultimate price, their life, and just in the last three days.

Understand, this is NOT a political blog.  It is NOT about gun control, the need for it, a statement against it, etc.  This is NOT about anything except the fact that we’re losing officers all too quickly, all too violently, and it’s an outrage that our nation… our society… our “leaders” aren’t even acknowledging it.  It’s an outrage that what could be considered opening skirmishes in a war against law enforcement are happening RIGHT NOW and no one in a position of public power is saying a word.  In this case, as in ALL cases of criminal or terroristic violence, if you don’t speak out against the crime, you imply that you condone it.  If you are not so morally outraged that you speak out against it, you allow yourself to be perceived as sympathetic to those who commit these heinous acts.

February 9, 2016: Deputy Derek Geer of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado, shot and killed.

February 10, 2016: Deputy Scott Ballantyne of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in California, died in a plane crash on duty.

February 10, 2016: Senior Deputy Mark Logsdon of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland, shot and killed.

February 10, 2016: Senior Deputy Patrick Dailey of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland, shot and killed.

February 11, 2016: Major Greg Barney of the Riverdale Police Department in Georgia, shot and killed.

February 11, 2016: Officer Jason Moszer of the Fargo Police Department in North Dakota, shot and killed.

February 11, 2016: Officer Augustine “Gus” Vegas of the Richmond Police Department in California, shot and killed.

Seven officers lost in less than 72 hours; six of them murdered.  Two of them killed while trying to extend a compassionate hand of sympathy and support to their murderer.

February 11, 2016: One officer and one deputy shot but expected to survive in Cordele, Georgia.

That’s EIGHT officers shot in less than 72 hours.  We used to average an officer lost in the line of duty every 53 hours.  It was and is far too many, but do the math now: One officer shot every NINE hours?!

To my brothers and sisters in blue, I say this: Every officer lost in the line of duty, somewhere in their soul, wants us to take something away from how they died.  They want us to learn something if we can. They want us to do something different than what they did (IF it’s possible).  They don’t want any of us to die any more than we wanted any of them to die.  Get and stay fit. Wear your vest. Clean your weapon. TRAIN. Do your duty to the absolute best of your ability.  It is, unfortunately, inevitable that we haven’t lost our last compatriot in the line of duty.  Our losses will NEVER end as long as there is evil in a human heart.  Knowing that, we do our duty anyway.  Stand strong together.

To all the people we serve and protect: Yes, we know you know and appreciate what we do.  Yes, it’s still great to actually HEAR, “Thank you!” every now and then.  It’s nice to get some expression of appreciation.  It’s good to hear, “Not all citizens hate or fear you; some of us truly appreciate what you do, who you are, and what you go through. Please let us know what we can do to support you better.”  You, the law abiding citizens we serve, are WHY we do what we do.  Your acknowledgment and appreciation is an emotional recharge to our batteries that you can likely never truly understand or fully appreciate.  Just know that your expressions of appreciation make us stronger.

To all the criminals who would do us harm:  You can never kill us all.  Every one of us you take brings the rest of us closer together.  We have the moral high ground.  You DO NOT want us all coming for YOU.  You MIGHT manage circumstances so you can enjoy a brief moment of “glory” as you die in a gunfight (if that’s your choice).  But your name won’t be remembered more than thirty seconds and our sacrifice and service lives on in eternity.  Rethink your outlook; understand that we are NOT your enemy.  We serve you as well as the law abiding, but we are required by our oath and duty to enforce the law. Maybe if you took a few seconds to think straight and appreciate what we do for YOU as well, you wouldn’t be quite so damned blood thirsty and eager to instigate acts of violence.  But… well…  it’s your life.  Manage it as you see fit.  It won’t hinder us or slow us down.

Our commitment is to something far bigger than any single individual. Our commitment is to society as a whole, and keeping the peace.  Our commitment is to justice and our legal system.  Our commitment is to all and we balance it as best we can.

Bow your heads.  Say a prayer.  We’ve lost a lot in the past few days. We’ll likely lose more in another few days.  Stay strong.  Take strength from the Thin Blue Line. None of us is alone.