Brother down...
My husband just threw his phone across the room...
It took him a few minutes to compose himself - before he calmed down enough to tell me. An Englewood Police Officer, doing a routine traffic stop was struck by a drunk driver while conducting road side maneuvers yesterday during the Memorial Day holiday. He was taken off life support today and succumbed to his injuries. He had told me about this officer earlier today, but we only learned of his passing a few minutes ago.
My husband and I were out driving to the grocery store, and I became lost in thought about my husband and the other officers he’s worked with over the years and the relationships that must develop in this type of career. I could only imagine the bonds that are forged, when you are on the streets day after day; day in day out not knowing the risks you’ll encounter during your shift. It doesn’t even matter if you worked with the officer or not, you know what it’s like every time you go on a call; a disturbance, an assault, a report of abuse, burglary, robbery - having no idea each time, how this call is going to turn out. This was a simple traffic stop - and out of nowhere...
One of my intentions for starting this blog was to attempt to dissuade public perception of law enforcement officers. To understand what they go through every day - there is no such thing as a typical call because anything can happen.
Just think about one thing for me: how many times can you be called every name in the book or how many battered wives, abused children, dead or dismembered bodies, ground fights with hallucinating drug addicts, rape victims, or walking the halls of a high school not knowing how many dead teenagers will be around the corner can you take before it changes your attitude...? And that can all happen in a typical week and sometimes even a shift.
Please...think about that the next time you encounter an officer. And think about something else; they take this on willingly, the long hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, missing holiday meals, birthdays, anniversaries, children’s activities and milestones. It’s true what they say, they leave their own families to protect yours.
I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind right now...one more colleague, out of how many during his 25 years in law enforcement. He’s worn the black band on his arm and across his badge one too many times, seen the inside of too many cathedrals to attend another funeral service; those bonds formed through a combination of a duty to serve and trauma. No other career asks and demands so much from those who are willing to put their lives on the line every day.
I can understand why he threw the phone across the room...
It took him a few minutes to compose himself - before he calmed down enough to tell me. An Englewood Police Officer, doing a routine traffic stop was struck by a drunk driver while conducting road side maneuvers yesterday during the Memorial Day holiday. He was taken off life support today and succumbed to his injuries. He had told me about this officer earlier today, but we only learned of his passing a few minutes ago.
My husband and I were out driving to the grocery store, and I became lost in thought about my husband and the other officers he’s worked with over the years and the relationships that must develop in this type of career. I could only imagine the bonds that are forged, when you are on the streets day after day; day in day out not knowing the risks you’ll encounter during your shift. It doesn’t even matter if you worked with the officer or not, you know what it’s like every time you go on a call; a disturbance, an assault, a report of abuse, burglary, robbery - having no idea each time, how this call is going to turn out. This was a simple traffic stop - and out of nowhere...
One of my intentions for starting this blog was to attempt to dissuade public perception of law enforcement officers. To understand what they go through every day - there is no such thing as a typical call because anything can happen.
Just think about one thing for me: how many times can you be called every name in the book or how many battered wives, abused children, dead or dismembered bodies, ground fights with hallucinating drug addicts, rape victims, or walking the halls of a high school not knowing how many dead teenagers will be around the corner can you take before it changes your attitude...? And that can all happen in a typical week and sometimes even a shift.
Please...think about that the next time you encounter an officer. And think about something else; they take this on willingly, the long hours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, missing holiday meals, birthdays, anniversaries, children’s activities and milestones. It’s true what they say, they leave their own families to protect yours.
I can’t imagine what’s going through his mind right now...one more colleague, out of how many during his 25 years in law enforcement. He’s worn the black band on his arm and across his badge one too many times, seen the inside of too many cathedrals to attend another funeral service; those bonds formed through a combination of a duty to serve and trauma. No other career asks and demands so much from those who are willing to put their lives on the line every day.
I can understand why he threw the phone across the room...
My sincerest condolences. I have a deep and abiding respect for all law enforcement officers, and am so sad about this wasteful loss of life. Please give your husband an extra hug from me.
ReplyDeleteOn a completely separate note: this is your best writing so far. Somehow it's more authentic. I can't tell you exactly what it is, but it is your voice . . .