“You are to be the lion that keeps all vicious predators away when it roams the neighborhood.”
Abhijit Naskar
A 42-year-old sheriff's deputy was killed in action right up the street from my house tonight. Once again it brings to my mind the bad press that law enforcement as a whole has been getting in recent years and it's stirring a lot of anger inside my heart.
The truth as I see it is that the whole issue is yet another example of an entire barrel being spoiled by a few bad apples. Yes, there are bad cops in the mix. We are dealing with humans after all. But I believe that most are honest, decent men and women who do what they do out of a desire to be of service. The good ones aren't led down dark paths led by the seduction of the power and temptations their positions can wield. They do their jobs knowing full well that their lives are in danger every time they go to work, and sometimes even when they're off duty, yet they kiss their wives or husbands and hug their kids goodbye before going out on each shift not knowing if they will ever see home again.
Because of my medical issues I live with the danger of falling. Thankfully I wear a pendant around my neck that allows me to call for help when I do. Invariably there's a police officer that shows up before the EMTs and I've never met one that wasn't concerned and compassionate with my predicament. One poor soul stayed by my side for nearly 45 minutes until I was loaded onto the ambulance before leaving. This despite the fact that he was very badly allergic to cats, and I own two of them, including one that loves absolutely everyone he meets. Especially, it seems, those that would prefer he didn't!
Another example was the time I was caught yet again with my lead foot fully engaged with my '73 Chevelle and its “slightly modified” 350 engine. He didn't arrest me, though he should have. Instead, as he was handing me my ticket for speeding, he was all but begging me to be more careful. There had been a woman who burned alive inside her car just the week before while he and other officers and firemen were trying to save her. Whether he was more concerned with me or the fear of witnessing such a nightmare again is immaterial. The fact is that he cared enough to warn me, with the shadows of horror visible in his eyes, as he was writing me up for something less than reckless driving said a lot for him. I was little more than a kid at the time, but I was always more careful when driving afterward.
When I was looking online for a quote to preface this essay I was distressed by all the bitter, angry quotes from the same people over and over again about any and all branches of law enforcement. Obviously they must have good reason to feel as they do and I can understand that. But words are powerful things and while it's one thing to warn, it's altogether something different to intentionally poison. I would hope that most people would know to take anything said, both good and bad, with a grain of salt.
No one will ever be able to convince me of the evilness of law enforcement as a whole. For every bad apple in the barrel there must be a hundred or more good ones. So strong is my belief in this that I dare anyone to try to convince me otherwise.
A very good article that needed to be written and posted. Your 2nd paragraph is exactly my sentiments about the matter. For 30 years I observed our University police force. At one time conducted a study of our tremendous turnover. I knew bad apples. One of them, our chief investigator, later became a serial rapist using his badge. There were others. It's human nature.
Just this week, two off-duty police officers working as security guards, spotted and killed a woman intent on shooting into the congregation at Lakewood Church during their televised service in Spanish. Their quick action probably saved many lives because the woman had an AR 15 assault rifle. Able to get a gun even though she was diagnosed as schizophrenic.
This past week, while writing about a cheerful officer in a story about hitting a deer, my editor told me that the officer would not be friendly (always my experience) while dealing with the accident, but "businesslike." Like your experience in your article. Officers, to me, have been friendly and cordial.
Strangely, people never get enough of "bad cop" stories. It bleeds over into reality.
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Serial killer Ted Bundy's murders recounted from the perspective of thirty years after his execution in a Florida prison.
Brutal, compelling, with new updated facts about the case, his victims and the compulsions that drove Ted Bundy to mass murder.
Just this week, two off-duty police officers working as security guards, spotted and killed a woman intent on shooting into the congregation at Lakewood Church during their televised service in Spanish. Their quick action probably saved many lives because the woman had an AR 15 assault rifle. Able to get a gun even though she was diagnosed as schizophrenic.
This past week, while writing about a cheerful officer in a story about hitting a deer, my editor told me that the officer would not be friendly (always my experience) while dealing with the accident, but "businesslike." Like your experience in your article. Officers, to me, have been friendly and cordial.
Strangely, people never get enough of "bad cop" stories. It bleeds over into reality.
Ron