Respect

Can I get on my soapbox for just a minute?
I usually don't comment on this sort of thing because I like to keep this space lighthearted and sweetly sarcastic (is that an oxymoron?).  And besides, disrespect just kinda goes with the territory of being a police officer.  But sometimes I get defensive for my Gumshoe and need to vent!

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I love this picture.  Many of the detectives in Gumshoe's department have this picture in their cubicles.  This iconic Norman Rockwell of a police officer and a runaway boy conjures up notions of respect, safety, pride and trust among other things.  But do these feelings even exist among the general population anymore regarding their city's police officers?

Gumshoe had to work this weekend.  He got up on Saturday morning at 5am in order to make it to work by 6 so that he could direct traffic at an event. I was asleep and we didn't get to say goodbye in person. Instead, Gumshoe called a little later to say “hi” and “I love you”, but when we got off the phone I had that pit in my stomach. That feeling I sometimes get, although rare, where I think: “Is this the last time I'm going to hear his voice?”

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Okay, so it was a Shriner's parade. Not the most dangerous event, unless Gumshoe were to get hit in the shins by a tiny car...but sometimes that feeling just hits me.

During the course of the day, the mercury crept up as it got hotter and hotter.  Gumshoe was in his black uniform and Kevlar vest with all his gear on.  His back hurt, his neck hurt, his hips even hurt from his utility belt.  He was hot, sweaty, and tired.  There was another officer bringing water to the guys along the parade route, but Gumshoe was at the end of the route and the water only got to him once during his 8 hour shift.

The roads were very clearly marked with 6'x6' signs in 3 different areas "closed", but car after car continued to roll up and ask in snotty tones "can't I get through?"  Ummm...no.  You're not special.  You cannot go through.  Gumshoe (of course) didn't respond that way, but politely answered "no" and directed them to a different route. He tolerated their disgusted sighs and eye-rolls directed at him because that's part of his job.

Then came one particular guy.  This guy was the second car in line at a red light.  Gumshoe and another officer were on either side of the front car giving directions to the out-of-town couple when the light turned green.  Gumshoe was finishing up with the couple when the guy behind them laid on his horn, angry because the line wasn't moving and the police officers were in the way.

After angrily laying on his horn so that it blasted in Gumshoe's ear while he was trying to communicate with the couple, he proceeded to argue with Gumshoe as to why the line was being held up. This guy was so angry that he was shaking.  Gumshoe kept his cool and handled the situation because, again, that's part of his job. But what is wrong with people?

I mean, If I'm at a red light and there are 2 officers in front of me speaking to the people in the car, I'm assuming there's a good reason and I'm gonna keep my mouth shut and wait.  And that's not just because I'm a cop's wife, but because it's common sense and common decency.  Seriously, what is wrong with people? These guys work their tails off and they don't deserve the disrespect that is often rampant.

This story isn't even close to most of the stories that Gumshoe has of people being completely rude and disrespectful.  And there's always the standard comments he (and most cops) get when working patrol:
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Just give me a warning. Why not? A**hole!"
"Shouldn't you be fighting real crime?"
"You're giving me a ticket?  I'm calling to complain on your a**!"
"I'm not signing that.  F**k you!"
"You're a racist!"

It just comes with the territory, I suppose.

He's been spit on, kicked in the groin, hit, screamed at, called countless obscenities, and been struck by an inattentive driver while directing traffic.  (Side mirror in the arm and happy it wasn't worse!)

He's called me from the hospital, waiting on test results because a suspect's blood got splattered into his mouth.
He's seen many dead bodies. Murders, suicides, children. And comforted their families.
He's had to interrogate child molesters, murderers and other scum and act like their friend. Act as if he understands their warped minds in order to get their confession.

He sees and does all this and then removes himself from it, comes home and plays his other role of daddy and husband.
And he's no different than any other officer across this nation. It's just part of the job.

Unfortunately, the majority of news stories we hear about cops are negative. And the comments we've heard can be venomous...
These guys aren't cops because they're too dumb to do anything else or lack a college degree (Gumshoe has 3, in fact)
They're certainly not in it for the money (Gumshoe's department hasn't given raises or COL increases in 4 years)
They're not in it because they're power hungry.  In fact, they're likely to be sued by a suspect for using their authority properly, and the suspect will probably win!

No, they're in it because this is what God created them to do. It is in their DNA to protect people and defend those who can't defend themselves. They do it because they love it and it's a calling.

So a little respect, please.

I have now stepped down from my soapbox. Uhthankyouverymuch.

Linked up with Casey...