Because I have family in law enforcement, I feel obligated to show appreciation for police officers, as their profession is a sacrifice they make for the protection of society. Their own well-being is secondary to that of the public, which is something people have to respect. The world is an unforgiving place. For those who put their lives on the line and face danger, it’s better to be safe and alive than sorry.
Policing has an aura of authority because of its aim to uphold the law. But what’s the point of having a police force without any force? I’m not saying that the police should make examples of people to instill fear in the hearts of men. But when force is necessary, why are cops blamed? Americans love having someone to pin the blame on, to be the scapegoat. So, we lump all cops together and hate them when it’s one or two who have abused their power. But if we’ve learned anything at all, it’s that any stereotype is dangerous.
The media will sensationalize instances of police brutality and ignore the instances that show their humanity. There’s this misconception about police that they want, even like, to kill people. But for any person, taking another’s life, even in self-defense, is devastating. CNN reported that an officer, Grant Morrison, fatally shot an unarmed man after he refused to comply and keep his hands visible. After realizing the man was unarmed, Morrison broke down in tears, collapsing on a police car, barely able to breathe.
People can’t expect cops to show up at the scene relaxed, guns at their sides, politely asking if there’s a criminal around. They have to take all calls seriously, whether they are false alarms or not, because they can’t predict what they’re coming up against. But at the same time, cops must also be careful that they don’t endanger innocent people who are at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s all about respecting people and treating them right. No one, not even a cop, has the right to needlessly treat people like they’re less than human.
A lot of innocent police officers die at the hands of violent and unstable people who go cop hunting. In the wake of Michael Brown and Eric Garner’s deaths, two officers were shot and killed by Ismail Brinsley, who took it upon himself to get revenge. Prior to the shootings, his Instagram post showed the gun he used to kill the officers, and he said he was “putting pigs in a blanket.” The officers he killed had nothing to do with the tragic deaths of either of the wrongfully killed men. There are countless other officers who lose their lives in and out of the line of duty simply because people stereotype all cops as a threat to society’s peace, instead of its guardians.
The cops, and people in general, who we should have a problem with are the ones who let their authority get the better of them and have no respect for the inherent dignity of human life. It does no good to blame those who protect us because of the select few who choose to racially profile and abuse their power.
It’s a vicious cycle of people condemning cops and bad cops supporting the image that all police officers are soulless monsters. When a bad cop acts out, it gives (ignorant) people the chance to say, “See? I told you cops are evil.” What everyone needs to stop and realize is that one bad apple, or even a couple of them, doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.
The police are still people, and they respond to pretty traumatizing things in order to keep us safe. They see car accidents, the aftermaths of a suicide or a murder, kids who are abused and domestic abuse victims, and they deal with hostage negotiation. You can’t criticize police officers and then turn around and call 911 when you’re in danger because that makes you a hypocrite. Deep down people know that police means safety, that they’re the ones who will try their best to rescue you, so why condemn them? Why the needless hate?
At the end of the work day, it’s as hard for cops to cope with what they see as it is for soldiers who return home from a tour. If we can have respect for the people who protect us overseas, we should be able to scrape up some sort of respect for those who protect us at home. Without cops, we’d be lawless, and there’d be no need for the military if we couldn’t even protect ourselves on our own soil.
My family who are in law enforcement can die on the streets protecting the public and upholding the law. Their daily sacrifice is enough for me to want to defend them from the people who insist all cops are “pigs.” No, cops are human with human feelings and human reactions to danger. Law enforcement, as an institution, is society’s barrier against murderers, thieves, rapists and any other threat to our peace of mind and safety.
We, at some point in our lives, have some sort of relationship with a cop, whether they are family or a friend or even someone who pulls us over. You can’t get mad at a cop for stopping you for something you did wrong. Their job is to maintain the law. For cops who aren’t racist, apprehending people is nothing personal; they’re just protecting a fragile peace.
