Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thank you officer

Thank you officer for putting on the uniform every day and going out into the night to face danger on my behalf.

Thank you to your loved ones who must worry about you responding to danger each and every day.

Thank you to the 126 families of police officers killed in the line of duty in 2013 for the sacrifice your family has made on my behalf.

Thank you for the restraint you show every day as you confront the worst among us.


Thank you for your professional response and compassion at the accident scene and other personal tragedies in my life.

William Butler Yeats likely captures your feelings in this time of turmoil writing:

“Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”

At a time when some try to redirect attention from the true failings of our society to your doorstep.

At a time when the most senior leadership of our nation does not dispel that effort.

At a time when you must feel unsupported, unappreciated, and even threatened.

Do not despair.

There are many out there who support you more than you know.  They are grateful and indebted to you for your willingness to confront those who would do harm.

Be safe.

3 comments:

  1. This posting appeared in the Cape Cod Times on Dec 10, 2014 and is available at http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20141210/OPINION/141219983/101050/json

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  2. This posting appeared in the SW Florida News-Press on Dec 7, 2014 and is available at http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/readers/local/2014/12/06/sundays-letters-editor-dec/20016215/

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  3. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund reports 50 law enforcement officers were killed by guns in 2014. That is an increase from 32 in 2012. The average is 55 annually over the past decade. See the report here http://www.nleomf.org/facts/officer-fatalities-data/

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