Police officers deserve your thanks

I decided to start the new year by writing my first letter to an editorial page. I feel compelled to compose this letter due to the nightly bashing of police officers on the news by political activists and liberal media outlets.

I feel qualified to express my views on this subject as I am a retired Arlington Heights police officer with 25 years of service. I grew up the son of a Chicago police officer and at age 17 saw my father almost get killed on a "routine" traffic stop. He tried but could not discourage me from following in his footsteps.

Ironically he helped to steer me toward the suburbs, where there is less danger. So in 1975 I joined AHPD. There I had a front-row seat when a friend was run over and killed by a drunk, another was shot on a suspicious person call, and another took his own life while seated in the squad car. Since I left, two other officers almost died in horrific traffic accidents and another was shot in the neck on a domestic dispute. These dangers do exist in the suburbs.

Police work is a calling, and you know going in you are never going to get rich and many personal sacrifices will be made. I don't miss the long and odd hours, no lunch breaks, working weekends and holidays, spending days off in court, or trying to sleep during the day in order to work all night.

What I do miss after all these retirement years is the friendship, camaraderie and brotherhood of the law enforcement community. Till the day I die I will miss the great men and women I had the profound pleasure to work with. I had their back and they had mine. So when you see on-duty officers, thank them for their daily service and sacrifice. They deserve it.

Robert Turro

Arlington Heights

A.H.P.D. Retired

Star #115

847-259-2704

bturro@comcast.net