A Police Officer Speaks!

[JackinDe]

When I read this article, I got a pit in my stomach. I have a close friend who helps protect us for a local police department in DE. Share it with someone you know in the law enforcement field.


A POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS

(The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown
of the Virginia State Police. More about him at the end
of the article.)

Well, Mr. Citizen, it seems you've figured me out. I
fit neatly into the category where you've placed me. I'm
stereotyped, standardized, characterized, classified,
grouped, and always typical.

Unfortunately, the reverse is true. I can never figure
you out. From birth, you teach your children that I'm the
bogeyman, then you're shocked when they identify with my
traditional enemy ... the criminal! You accuse me of coddling
criminals ... until I catch your kids doing wrong.

You may take an hour for lunch and several coffee breaks
each day, but point me out as a loafer for having one cup. You
pride yourself on your manners, but think nothing of disrupting
my meals with your troubles. You raise Cain with the guy who
cuts you off in traffic, but let me catch you doing the same thing
and I'm picking on you. You know all the traffic laws ... but
you've never gotten a single ticket you deserve.

You shout "foul" if you observe me driving fast to a call, but
raise the roof if I take more than ten seconds to respond to your
complaint. You call it part of my job if someone strikes me, but
call it police brutality if I strike back. You wouldn't think of
telling your dentist how to pull a tooth or your doctor how to
take out an appendix, yet you are always willing to give me pointers on the law. You talk to me in a manner that would get you a bloody nose from anyone else, but expect me to take it without batting an eye.

You yell that something's got to be done to fight crime, but you can't be bothered to get involved. You have no use for me at all, but of course it's OK if I change a flat for your wife, deliver
your child in the back of the patrol car, or perhaps save your
son's life with mouth to mouth breathing, or work many hours
overtime looking for your lost daughter.

So, Mr. Citizen, you can stand there on your soapbox and
rant and rave about the way I do my work, calling me every
name in the book, but never stop to think that your property,
family, or maybe even your life depends on me or one of my
buddies.
Yes, Mr. Citizen, it's me ... the cop!

The author of this article was Trooper Mitchell Brown of
the Virginia State Police. He was killed in the line of duty
two months after writing the article.

As a salute to the millions of police officers who put
their lives on the line for us everyday, please observe a moment of silence for them.

Jack

[EBONY POETESS]

Interesting article
All cops aren't good and aren't bad.
Remember they are people before they become officers.
My father has been a cop for 20yrs.
He's narc and he is very fair and prides himself on the work he does.
He told me that there are good and bad officers everywhere just hope that you get one as fair as my dad.

[2teensNabean]

Thanks Jack! I did enjoy reading that and I think that sometimes cops do get a raw deal. My cousin is a cop in NC and some of the storys he told.

[leighleigh]

Yes, that is sad, but true. And the media plays all that up. You never hear about anything good about cops in the news anymore.
I myself have had more than one bad experience w/ Louisiana cops. Still though, I make no pre-judgements about anyone in the field. Overall, these people in law enforcement risk their lives every single day for complete strangers.
Could all of us, as citizens, do that without any hesitation whatsoever?
Thx, Jack. I am sending it to my father-in-law, who is a retired sheriff.

[JackinDe]

2teensnabean:

Your welcome Michelle, glad you enjoyed it.

LeighLeigh:

Yes, a whole new perspective on this subject, everyone has had some bad incidents with the Police, but overall, the good outweighs the bad.

Jack

[missus]

Humm, I would never tell anyone that cop is the boogeyman, or say bad things. There's bad people in all walks of life, whether a cop, priest, teacher, husband, wife, minister. I would, however, tell my children to be aware of their surroundings in case of racial profiling, stalkers, etc. And, the good cops far outweigh the bad cops. I think life would be terrible without our men and women in uniform. And with this being said, I respect them. Sorry about the trooper. I'm sure he touched many lives.

Missus