The Peacemaker

The following is an article written by a good friend of mine.  It is a very personal reflection on his life and the lives of his colleagues. Because I believe his words speak to an important truth that is so rarely heard anymore, I am going to share them.  One reason we are given the privilege of enjoying our own merry Christmases is because peacemakers like him are out doing their job.

“I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good.”

That is a quote from one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs called Wishlist. Every day I open up my news feed on various media outlets looking and wishing for some good news. Unfortunately, we live in a world that often only focuses on the bad news, from a bad economy, homelessness, unemployment, and poverty, to the daily murders and violence that seem to be corrupting our planet like some sort of deadly virus. It is easy to understand why so many have lost hope in humanity.  However, I want to shed some light on some good news you may not see on your local news channel, or Facebook, Twitter or even at your local watering hole.

          Every day in every nook and cranny of this great country, there are thousands of nameless, faceless men and women getting ready for work. It starts the normal way, with a shower and getting dressed. These men and women put on their pants the same way as everyone else; they strap on their boots, comb their hair and get dressed. For them, now, a “switch” has been activated in their minds as they begin strapping on their tools.  They will put on a hot and uncomfortable protective vest restricting movement which will be worn for the next 12-16 hours. Notice how I didn’t say bullet proof vest… which is because there is no such thing.

 Next is the uniform, either brown or blue, that they will make sure looks sharp and will pass any spot inspection. The badge attached is a symbol of their commitment to protect their community at any cost. Then it is time for the 15 -20 pound duty belt. This belt contains a gun that they pray every day they don’t have to use, a couple pairs of well used handcuffs, at least one flashlight, a radio, a Taser, and anything else one can fit on a size 34 waste. Now that they are physically prepared, they begin to mentally prepare themselves for their shift. 

          The next step is the most important and difficult. They walk downstairs to explain to their kids why Daddy or Mommy won’t be able to make it to their Christmas play at school, or birthday party or baseball game, or any other meaningful event they have missed over the years. If they are lucky enough to still have a spouse, they give them a kiss and tell them they love them and promise to see them in the morning. They tell them this, both of them knowing it is not something they can promise. Tragically, so far in this year 114 men and women have been unable to keep that promise, not to mention the countless others who have been badly injured or mentally scared at the very hands of those whom they swore to protect.

          They then drive to work and begin to settle into their shift. They start out dealing with the effects of politicians and leaders that don’t seem to have their back unless it is an election year. They are bogged down with red tape, paper work and legal issues handed down by the bureaucracy of government. They see humanity at is frailest moments and some of its most evil members. They see a fractured mental health system that has left so many broken and lost. They see horrific traffic crashes that take so many innocent lives. They see children with no loving, responsible parent to teach them, love them, or take care of them. They see the horrible effects of drugs and alcohol and how both are destroying our families and communities.

          They are cussed at, spit at and despised, not for their own actions or words but because of a hate filled lie that police officers are racist pigs and are only here to harass the public. They are forced to make split second life or death decisions and are expected to be perfect every time.

 If, for example, they use their Taser, someone will say they should have used their baton. If they use their fist, someone will say they should have used their Taser. If their lives are in jeopardy, and they fear they will break that promise to their wife and kids and are forced to used their gun, they will then be crucified by people who have never walked in their shoes but are quick to tell them how to do their job.

          God willing they will get off work somewhat on time at the end of their shift, drive home, kiss their kids and go to bed. Now, here is the good news.

About 10 hours later these brave men and women will do it all over again. They will do it not for money or fame, or because they are out to get anyone. They do it because they took an oath to protect their community, enforce the laws of this nation, state , and local communities. They do it because, without them, who else would?

Who else will handle those accidents? Who else will protect those abused children or elderly? Who will stop and help change those tires in the middle of the night, or catch those armed robbers or murderers?

 It is time for the good, honest members of our communities, politicians, and media members to stand up and support these brave men and women of Law Enforcement. We are in a symbiotic relationship with the public. The public need the police to do these jobs no one else wants to do, and we police officers surely cannot do our job without the public’s support.

          I am very proud to be called these names: Police Officer, Crime Fighter, Cop, and, most importantly, Peacemaker. “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”