Christian Living

THE UNTARNISHED BADGE

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
11/01/16
For Sale
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

"For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."(Romans 13:4)

One need only read the local newspaper, tune in the nightly TV newscast, surf the Internet, or even talk to that snooping neighbor across the fence to see the current negative mind-set against the local law enforcement officer. This should not be.

The law enforcement profession more than any others, aside from the ministry, has always been a "fish bowl" profession. Law enforcement officers see the best and the worst in mankind. They may be thanked for saving a life one minute, and then spit upon the next. Often times, this tends to leave officers totally confused, as to how the public they serve feels about them. And yes, how they may feel about the public. "Are there no more good people left in this wicked world?", one may say.

So, what has happened in recent months, for the populace to take such a negative stand against law enforcement? It seems that the injuring or killing of law enforcement officers is now the order of the day. Why, just in a matter of a few weeks, we have had more than the average number of officers killed in the line of duty. This attitude must stop, if our "Republic" is to remain free.

Times have changed, and so has law enforcement. Technology has replaced the "old fashion" heavy handed, light-in-the-eyes interrogation room. Yes, the early day crude and simple law enforcement officer has by nature become more detailed and complex in this new demanding society. Today’s law enforcement officer must serve the community by taking on the schizophrenic, split personality of legal aid, information clerk, minister, or even a psychiatrist.

Why would one want to be a professional law enforcement officer in the first place? Psychiatrists would probably tell you there's no one reason why anybody does anything. Instead there is a combination of reasons, and these reasons are oftentimes not clear, especially in law enforcement.

One may have been interested in adventure and excitement or may have had a childhood dream. Whereas another simply knew some person who had been in a particular career and seemed to like this particular person. Or perhaps, it just happened. It doesn’t matter so much why one chose the law enforcement profession as it does what they do with it and how it’s handled.

There are special strains which the job brings by virtue of being in a fish bowl. Everybody has an eye on a law enforcement professional. Just because their father is on the force, people want to see whether the officer’s children are well behaved and don’t break the laws, but they also keep an eye on the children of ministers, so law enforcement is in good company.

As an officer, one works in an emotional climate. Situations arise every minute that can make for anger. Law enforcement must learn to return to normal quickly so as to not take it out on the next citizen who comes along. They must keep their temper even when others are losing theirs. Such is a day’s work.

Occasionally, officers are required to face danger. Some officers worry about the fact that they may be afraid. All men have certain fears, but some just do a better job of concealing them than others.

Some may even brag to cover up such fears, but we all learn early in life to be suspicious of the individual who goes out of the way to show their fellow officer how brave they are. The best remedy for fear is to know in advance exactly what to do and how to react, if and when trouble develops. The more one knows how to react and what to do, the better one can handle a potentially dangerous situation when the time comes, whether it is handling a serious traffic accident, a violent, mentally deranged person or a domestic dilemma.

Many people have certain prejudices. Law enforcement officers may have some as well. A prejudice may be against certain groups who are different, but feelings must not get in the way of doing their duty.

The public respects the helpfulness of law enforcement professionals, but as part of the job one sometimes has to do unpopular things. In America, we all feel sorry for the underdog. When an officer at a football game tries to catch a youngster who has climbed the fence, everybody cheers for the kid and will attempt to hide him.

Officers may have an inner conflict from time to time. After all, they are just like any other individual and may be tempted to break some of the very laws they enforce. However because the officer represents the law, they are expected to obey the laws at all times.

One of the outstanding things about the law enforcement job is the power that is held over the general public. This power may lead in the direction of liking to make people suffer. Sometimes this is no more than bawling someone out but this can be very frightening to the person who is on the receiving end. Some officers, often without realizing it, enjoy this sort of behavior. Some officers by their mannerisms force individuals who have been arrested into action that is dangerous.

Yes, law enforcement has a very difficult job which brings about a tremendous amount of stress and strain daily. They live in that proverbial fish bowl and are continuously forced into an emotional climate, sudden danger, and certain preconceived prejudices..

So next time you come across your local "COP", reach out and give a friendly handshake of approval. You may even elect to pay for their coffee and donut. After all, they are human too.