Have YOU thanked a policeman TODAY
.....or ever??
After a very hectic year for law enforcement as a whole in KZN, in South Africa full stop (!), with the losses of too many lives to crime, to violence, to intolerance, to accidents, be they in the line of duty, or "behind the line", I have come to the decision for the millionth time that ONE police death of ANY sort is just ONE TOO MANY!!
In the video at the end of this blog you will see a clip stating the statistics of police deaths in South Africa compared to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..... We are allowing our police men and women to be killed at FIVE times the rate of police deaths in the USA...super power of the world....TV-famous-for "cop Killings" in their many many infamous American cities....drug cartels on Mexican/Texas borders, the back alley behind-the-bright-lights-underworld of Las Vegas, and so very many more...we have seen them all splashed across our TV screens....yet did anyone tell you that WE are far, far worse!?
But do you know what the saddest thing is? In the USA when a police officer is killed, no matter their unit...homicide detective, highway patrol, deputies, agents, NO MATTER WHAT THE BADGE...their death is a front page stop-the-presses story! A death mourned not only by friends or family, but by an entire Town, or State, and an entire COUNTRY! They are honoured and mourned with honour and respect.
In South Africa, sadly, we are complacent to this kind of thing, it is "just another happening", an "it doesnt matter to ME" (unless I know them!) occurence! A mother, a father, a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, taken away tragically- in every case way before their time...yet it is just an oh well, life goes on, "what were they doing there anyway?", "were they even doing their job properly", "it was probably THEIR fault".... travesty!
We are so HELLBENT on focusing on the FEW bad apples that the entire law enforcement community gets tainted with the same dirty brush, and suddenly any police officer is just a "pig", a human worth less in the ranking order than yourself, than anything! You are quick to judge, and mock, and ridicule....quick to protest the speeding ticket when you are pulled over, quick to protest that you "only had one drink...go and catch some real criminals..", quick to state publicly and unashamedly that the police sit and do nothing, and if they do anything at all, it's just to get a bribe to fund their lavish lifestyles!
Have YOU seen how the majority of our police men and women live? Have you seen how many times the money they make doesn't match the amount of days in the month? Have you seen how many times they have had to leave in the middle of the night whilst you are tucked up safe and warm in bed, to go and protect and save, and SERVE someone they do not even know!? How many times they have put the uniform on, kissed the family goodbye, NOT knowing if that goodbye could be their last? Have you seen how they have had to stretch themselves and their resources, exhausted and demoralised because they just CAN'T be everywhere at the same time, they just cannot save EVERYONE! Have you seen a policeman's broken heart? Because they do not show it easily!
We are a country too quick to take for granted the amazing men and women who have answered the calling to protect and to serve us, to lay their lives on the line for us...and instead of a simple thank you, we are quick to jump before the tv cameras, hasty to jump onto facebook or bbm or the age-old "bush-telegraph" that spreads faster than wildfire in tempesteous winds..that ONE bad cop means they are ALL bad cops!...
BUT BUT BUT...
Who do you call first when you are hurt, or in trouble? Who is the first dial on your phone, the first call out of your mouth?...The police....
I read a quote the other day:
"If you hate cops, the next time you are in trouble...call the criminals!"
Can you imagine if after all the ridicule they face, this became their response??
I saw another quote and put up as a "funny status" on my phone the other day:
"I will never jump in front of a bullet for anyone, because if I have time to jump...you have time to move!"
Our brave men and women do not for one second in their lives, have this thought, although I am sure they wish they could at times just say, no I can't do it...They put their lives on the line EVERY day just by stepping out their front doors every morning, to PROTECT YOU AND TO PROTECT ME!
AND WE CAN'T (AND CHOOSE NOT TO) EVEN SAY THANK YOU?
I am honoured and privileged to be "behind the lines", to know I have friends and family who answered this calling to be "in the line", to protect what is right, to uphold the law, to save lives, and they truly are an amazing bunch! You have to be something special to put that uniform on every day, answer the call when it comes, and be prepared to jump in front of that bullet....
Yes I KNOW we have rubbishes (hey I'm being nice!) in this thing we call law enforcement, this career, this calling, but take the time and get to know a "cop", take a moment and look into their lives, walk a minute in their shoes..
Take a good look into the eyes and heart of a real police officer...
the goodies...
the ones you want on the other end of your speed dial..
and you will never have met a more selfless, honourable and dedicated human being in your life before...
and just say "Thanks"...
it's free and takes only a second of your time..!
Because at one time or another, while you were opening Christmas presents around the tree, or having a family meal at a restaurant, or just sleeping at home, safe and warm in your beds..
a
POLICE OFFICER
was out there
in the cold, in the dark,
sometimes alone and scared
BUT
bravely and courageously
battling the monsters we dont even want to think about...
picking up the pieces of broken things we'll never want to see...
A thank you just doesn't seem enough now does it? But I bet you the lottery, it would mean more than the ENTIRE world to that one police officer who gets to hear it...
Below is a story featured on the website "Law Enforcement Today"
Don't you think it is just heartwarming to read? And sadly something that would NEVER happen in South Africa!
By Sgt. Terry Fedric, Raymore, Missouri Police Department, USA
After 22 years on patrol, you can become a bit grizzled and begin to expect the worst out of people. One of law enforcement’s more dangerous duties is directing traffic at an accident scene. Add a cold downpour. Nobody follows your directions, causing another accident.
I had already fielded about 5 “I gotta go that way” drivers. My patience was worn thin.
Wouldn’t you know it? A car pulls up, parks where it shouldn’t. What else would go wrong?
Out of the passenger side comes a 12-year-old girl, holding a cup. She tells me, “I got you this and wanted you to have it.” It was a hot cappuccino. Simply put, I was taken back and humbled. A simple act of kindness that came out of nowhere to remind me there is still some good out there.
Thanks to the father and daughter team at 58/J tonight
*********************************************************************************
To MY special people, thank you for being in my life, and making me richer for it!
To all the SAPS, and RTI, and every law enforcement agency we have in SA,
for everything that you do...
for the sacrifices you have made...
for the sacrifices you MAKE...
for the honour you uphold...
my THANK YOU!
No copyright infringements intended.
All pictures and music used that are not my own, are used with greatful thanks, and with all recognition to the rightful creators and owners.
Please visit the "Law Enforcement Today" site, and google/facebook the "Whole Truth Project"..although USA based, they do a great job...and we should have more like this & see more organisations like this in SA!!
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST... from "behind the lines"...
an AMAZING piece by: Officer Jody Spurgeon (USA)
THE JOB I DO
You can't understand the job I do.
So what's different, you ask, of me than you?
You see the beauty of life each day,
and take for granted the part I play.
You can go home and leave your troubles behind,
but I am who I am, no matter the time.
To carry a gun and not to abuse it,
and praying to God I wont have to use it.
Everyday to be willing to risk my life,
wondering if, again, I'll see my children and my wife.
In blue or green I'm still easy to see
so there's really never a safe place to be.
When you see danger, you can run and hide,
but I have ethics that I must abide.
To go to work knowing this could be the day
when some crazed lunatic blows me away.
To care for the injured, to deal with the dead,
is always the part I truly dread.
So what's different you ask of you than me?
I am willing to give my life for you...
Will YOU for me?
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