I Have Fallen I chose a career to help others To serve and protect I didnt realize I would be spit at and on. I would be cursed at, along with all members of my family, while doing my job. I would be attacked without reason by those I am sworn to protect. I didnt realize that I would be subject to bias and wild accusation because of my uniform and badge. I didnt realize that I would wear that uniform at a time when attacking me and my coworkers would be popular. But above all I learned to accept it because I took an oath and that meant something to me. The very basis of my training was founded on two very powerful words that were reinforced over and over in my training.Those words are Protect and Serve. Yet still I serve and those who love me ask me why. My answer is simple: I took an oath and they wouldnt understand now above all else I must stand shoulder to shoulder with those who took the same oath. Today was the day I died because of that oath. You see I was sitting in my car trying to grab a quick bite while staying on the street I was sworn to protect. Then that fateful moment came when a thug (no, society cannot call him a misguided mentally ill young man) raised a handgun without warning and without cause and opened fire on myself and my partner. We were viciously and coldly gunned down by that thug because we chose to Protect and Serve. We leave behind our families and friends who loved us, children without fathers, wives without husbands and parents who lost children. The President didnt break into the networks in primetime to comment like he did with the Ferguson verdict. Will Mr. & Mrs. Diblasio sit Dante down on this one? (I doubt it) Reverend Al, though, came out and said he talked to the Garner family and they didnt believe it was connected. Really? Really?! You cant walk away that easily, Reverend. When you walk up to preach at your so called church look at your hands and realize youll never wash our blood off no matter how hard you try. And although nothing says what a tragedy and senseless loss of life better than rioting, burning, and running out of the appliance store with a new flat screen TV, my friends and most didnt act accordingly. They chose a different route. As my body was being removed from the hospital, hundreds of my friends and coworkers stood solemnly along the ambulance route at attention. Can you believe it? Uncivilized brutes like us acting like that. Wait it gets better! Someone called out the command Present Arms and they all saluted us. Can you believe it? Paying solemn tribute to two of NYPDs best without any civil unrest. I know over the next few days my fellow Officers and friends will show my family just how truly special I was, and they will do it with dignity and respect. There is no need for a protest march. You see, one is already planned. Because I lost my life in the service of others, in the first half of 2015 my family, along with several thousand of my fellow Officers, will gather in the nations capital where my name will be inscribed on the wall at the LE Memorial. I will be honored by, but never sought, this tribute. I will forever stay on that wall along with the other heroes who have gone before us and wait for those who come after us. You see, I would love to be the last name inscribed, but I know others will come because they too have chosen to Protect and Serve. A great American once said he dreamt of day when a man would be judged not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character and believe it or not that day has come. When we are called, it is usually that lack of character that has caused others to call. Yet when we respond we are accused of responding because of the color of ones skin instead. Try walking that line! I have to go now. I dont want to be late for my first Roll Call in Heaven. As I leave, I can only hope that somehow society will be better because of my sacrifice; although in likelihood it will not. I will forever miss the smile in the eyes of my child, the pride of my parents, and of the love I shared with a very special woman. I am sorry I have to leave but I and I alone chose to serve and Today I Have Fallen. Tom Comey Retired Chief JCPD
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 07:45:31 +0000
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