Tap Tap

     This week is National Police Week, as we recognize all the police officers that have given their lives in the line of duty to protect the citizens of this country. You wont find it printed on your main stream calendars, or see it on the national news, but its here.

     I have been lucky enough to be in and around law enforcement since my first full time job at a police department in 1987. I was hired as a dispatcher but I was bitten by the bug and havent escaped it yet. I have dispatched, given breath tests, testified in court, done ride alongs, auxillary, and patrolled as a part time officer on my own. Been spit on, been in fights, been one of many officers on scene, and been on my own and needed more. Have felt the chill up my spine telling me something just isnt right, and layed in the pitch black darkness in the grass as gunshots rang out, wondering if I would make it home again. I have seen bad guys killed by law enforcement, and officers killed by "suspects".

     This country is full of men and women that strap on a gun and a bullet proof vest just to go to work. These arent ten foot tall immortals with capes and superpowers, but moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Officers that are well trained but may have to make a life or death decision in a milli-second, just to have to face a court and answer to a lawyer that has had two years to study all the facts. Officers that were killed for what they stood for, not for who they were personally. An officer represents the front line of defense in this nation..the thin blue line between right and wrong. Someone that will stand up and say, I will protect the ones that cant protect themselves, this I swear. Often they due this under ridicule of the public, low wages, and long hours. They go home, look at their sleeping children, and vow to go out the next day and do something to make a difference.

     The Law enforcement officers today dont want recognition or awards. They dont want parades or cheers. They just want to know that they have the support of the community to do a very tough job with very little resources. I am fortunate enough to be an officer on the Sheriffs office SRT team. The key to that is team. Everyone working for a common goal. Just like the citizens and community should do for their law enforcement officers. On our SRT team, we we stack up, or form a line to make an entrance into a building, the last man taps the shoulder of the man in front of him, and it works all the way up to the front man. Its a way of saying, I'm here brother, I've got your back...I'll be there for you.

     So this week we will hang blue ribbons in honor of those who gave their life in service to the community. We will gather and say prayers, read the names of the fallen, and go forth into the next year hoping the list wont be as long at the next ceremony. As the police officers stands in front of us to protect us, lets give him a tap tap on the shoulder to let him know we are all behind him, and will be there for him.