This is my response to comments being made elsewhere by a man who said police are just public employees whose jobs are no more dangerous than any other public employee, including garbage men: As a newspaper reporter I truly believe in a persons right to freedom of speech so this man has the right to his opinion about police officers. And he is correct: They ARE merely public employees much the same as garbage collectors and street repairmen. I cover them all for the paper and each segment carries with it its own set of dangers and responsibilities. However... I have seen police officers (and firefighters) handle situations that go far and beyond their job description. Ive seen them pull dead children out of smashed cars and burning buildings and get down on their knees in front of a family to break that news to them. Ive seen them take children shopping for new coats and toys when those children would otherwise get nothing under their tree at Christmas. Ive watched an officer give a little boy a new bicycle after his was stolen, not because he had to but because he WANTED to. Ive watched them stand in front of a house with their guns drawn, not knowing if the nutball inside had a bead drawn on their heads from behind his blinds; Ive heard them talk those same nut balls into giving themselves up without a shot being fired or anyone being injured. Ive seen them screamed at, punched, spit upon, called every filthy name in the book, had their children and families threatened and all the while they calmly took the persons fingerprints and never said a derogatory word in return. And Ive seen them shed tears as theyve saluted and laid single carnations in the caskets of their esteemed colleagues who served alongside them. No one, NO ONE, will ever convince me that these men and women who wear police uniforms and turn out gear are not heroes... They are the epitome of the word. Happy new year to all those heroes I cover every day. I hope 2015 is a safe one for all of you ~ Jobob
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:45:24 +0000
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