A law enforcement center is much like a bag of popcorn tossed into a microwave oven. When the heat comes on, most of the kernels will pop, blossoming to their full potential. Some will only pop halfway - some wont pop at all. I guess the un-popped kernels are made to be kaptains or korporals. (A little militia rank humor there). I think its that way in police and sheriff departments, highway patrol post - even the DCI, FBI, DEA, ATF. Popcorn. A week or so ago, Tim Morairity, sent me an invitation to join an event called L.E.A.D. National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. I dont join many events, but I took some time to think about police officers that I know and have known. Then joined this event. In my years in radio, through the news department, Ive had the opportunity to work with, and watch, a lot of different officers work. Seeing what I saw officers do over the years, makes it really easy for me to tire quickly of people who post these asinine pages calling for the attack on cops. I would not say all cops are good. Of course there are some bad ones...there are some bad guys in every profession, every industry, every work field, even in broadcasting. Fortunately, bad cops are few and far between. In reference to the situation in Ferguson, Missouri, a lady recently posted, Was it necessary to kill a man for a few cigars? The cigars were not the issue, and even if they were, do we want cops to allow people to walk into stores and just take what they want without paying? Before we judge a cop, lets be sure we know all the facts. I certainly would not want to live in a society where cops just let the bad guy go in order to avoid conflict. Sometime back in the 80s I was on the south side of Ottumwa, covering a standoff between the OPD and an armed gunman inside a house. The gunman had his children in the house with him threatening to take their lives. After the police talked the man into giving up his weapon and surrendering, I asked one of the young cops on the scene if he was scared. He said, Would you be scared if someone was pointing a loaded gun at you? Of course I was scared, but I still had to do my job. That statement changed my view of cops and what they do. Another cop I knew was the object of criticism for shooting a man. The cop was laying on the porch where he tackled his suspect, when someone inside the house came out and pointed a gun directly at the head of the cop. The officer shot the gunman, the man died. Unjustly, some people called him a lot of undeserved names. A few months later, I pulled up to an automobile accident. A car ran deep into the ravine by the Leisure Living trailer court. That same cop was the first to respond. I walked down a very steep embankment with him, to the victim. She was bleeding badly and had stopped breathing. Without any of his protective gear, he began mouth to mouth resuscitation. The compassion he showed that night clearly demonstrated that he was none of the names a few people had called him. I knew a cop who brought his own son in for arrest on murder charges. A female officer was alone on a call downtown, she took down and controlled a man over twice her size, getting his knife away from him, and hand cuffing him by the time back up arrived. The list of difficult duties these men and women perform goes on and on. Cops have a tough job. They protect you and your community daily, never knowing what the day will bring. Is it going to be a calm or life threatening day. Take time to find, and thank, a cop today during Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. ...and remember, the next time you get mad at a cop for giving you a speeding ticket, consider who was speeding? You, or the cop? (Radar enforcement areas, excluded). To all the cops I know, Happy L.E.A.D. I truly appreciate the work you do.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 17:22:08 +0000