Police officers deserve respect
Every week there is a new story of some police officer somewhere in this nation who is seen to have used excessive force or may have even shot an offender who witnesses claim was innocent of any wrongdoing. I don't disagree that these types of incidents should never take place. They are most unfortunate.
Far less often we hear of police officers who are wounded trying to protect someone from imminent danger or perhaps went out of his/her way to help a youngster, senior citizen, or mentally challenged person who is lost or disoriented. Every single day across this great nation men and women of our law enforcement departments are called into situations which may initially appear to be minor incidents which could suddenly turn out to be a life and death situation.
Television is certainly no better. On TV a few days ago, on one news broadcast, I saw the incident in South Carolina where the school police consultant dragged the female student from her desk played over and over at least six times. Isn't once enough to get the message? And each time an incident like this happens, they also manage to replay previous events of the sort again and again. Yet when on the rare occasions when they do show a police officer who performs an extreme act of kindness, they play it once, never to be seen again.
I realize that the stories of the wrongdoings are what sell papers, but couldn't there be some sort of balance? If all we ever hear of are the stories of corrupt or unprofessional police officers, won't there come a time when the number of candidates for law enforcement will dwindle and respect in the eyes of the younger generation will erode? Where would we be without those brave men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis for our protection?
The holiday season is upon us. Since Thanksgiving is less than a month away, wouldn't it be nice if people would take the time to go out of their way to thank their local law enforcement officers for all the good that they do? Emails or cards of appreciation might go a long way toward giving some positive reinforcement to those individuals who lay their lives on the line for us. And don't forget the retired police officers as well!
Frank P. Sesko
Inverness