The Life of a Cop

These days, I fear a lot of people think that Cops are evil people. Some believe that they holster their guns and go out looking for trouble. But, that police man or woman is the one who much like you, gets up in the morning and helps to get his/her children off to school. Then they get ready for their shift, don on their blue uniforms with their badge in place, adjust their belts, which are laden with a holster, gun, Taser, handcuffs, night baton, and a small compartment which has latex gloves inside. Half the time the police officer doesn’t have time to eat lunch or is interrupted when he/she is trying to eat.

A Cop’s typical day is working an 8 hour shift. A lot of Cops work extra details for more income. Cops are trained and follow procedures, regardless of what the public thinks. Not all cops are perfect. There are some good and bad police much like, doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, or the average human being.

I know a lot about Cops because my oldest son is one. He is a wonderful husband and a great dad. He spends his days with his kids, helping his wife and working an extra detail. He also manages to come over and help me out when I need it. He is always willing to help his siblings whenever they need him. I know underneath his gruff exterior, he is a real softy.

Cops do not start their day thinking whose life can I make miserable and arrest. Before their shift ends, they don’t want to get into any unnecessary altercation, where they will have to spend hours answering questions, doing paper work, and seeing themselves tried on the evening news, along with giving out their name and all the rest of their private information. They just want to go home and see their family. They want to be just like everyone else. But they are not like everyone else – they are the first line of defense. They are the ones who stop a traffic violator and might get shot and killed for doing their business. Or they make those routine domestic calls where they are the ones on the defense. Or they find when they do the right thing…the news media or some of the so called witnesses lie or distort the facts. Protecting citizens is what a police offer does. They are here to help and answer all those dangerous calls. That is a job that I would never want, no matter how much money it pays. Is it worth it…I can’t answer that. Just go and ask one of those men and women who wear that blue uniform.

Maybe it is time to show the police some support instead of throwing them under the bus and making them the sacrificial lambs for inept policies and loud mouths. For whatever the reason, the cops are not the cause for looting or robbery or for rising catch phrases that are not even truthful, or for agitators, politicians, or the news media who use dead bodies and the police as stepping stones for their own lime light.

All I know is that I worry about my son and all the other police; men and woman out there. My prayers are with you. I do support you.