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A Thin Blue Line
Another police officer was killed in the line of duty here.
This one was especially tragic because he was killed by another police officer, though an off-duty one. It was a head-on collision on the highway. The off-duty officer from another jurisdiction was travelling the wrong way, and hit the Bridgeton policeman, killing them both.
I've always been pretty vague about my job, necessarily so because it's an uncommon application of a common job. There are men and women all across the country with the same job title, but very few with my job description. I'm employed by the city, but I spend very little time with other city employees. I'm assigned to the police department, but I'm not a cop. I do however, spend most of my day with cops, as well as some time outside of work as well.
My job is to work with the SLMPD to eliminate nuisance properties--dope houses, gang hangouts, whore flop houses, shooting galleries, etc. I've done this for 10 years now. Long enough that one Captain joked that I knew the radio codes and protocols better than his FTO's (Field Training Officers) and maybe they should ride with me for a day. Several cops have referred to me as their partner, and I know full well how high that praise is.
Over the years I've seen a lot. Some good things, some bad things.
Well, mostly bad things. I only get called out to the very worst things that a police officer sees. The stuff that makes a 20 years veteran say 'that's the most horrible thing I've ever seen' is my routine. My experiences have stretched my liberal beliefs almost to the breaking point. But only almost.
There's a real misconception about police officers out there. There's a belief that most of them get off somehow on the power of the badge. This is not the case. Sure, there are few, but most of them are young, and they lose that pretty quickly. Most of the job of the uniform on the street involves relatively boring stuff, and lots of downtime writing reports or doing other mundane errands. Most of the police officers got into the line of work for the following reasons:
- They want to help people
- They're following in the footsteps of a relative
- They're ex-military
- They needed a job, and the department was hiring
There are a lot more who fall into that last category than you'd imagine. It's just a job to them. If truth be told, that's how most of them see it. There's no malice in their most of their hearts as a general rule, but I have seen an officer get a 'hard-on' for an individual, and they do work hard to make that individuals life difficult.
I really can't fault them for this, that's my job too. These are generally individuals who are really bad people. That's one of the things I've learned: There are some people out there that are bad, and they will never change.
So when an officer encounters an individual for the first time, the officer has no way of knowing what they are dealing with. Is this person violent? Are they crazy? Are they lying? The officer must walk a fine line between being maintaining control of the situation, and being so aggressive that the situation escalates.
I remember a woman who arrived at a house during the execution of a search warrant to pick up her infant granddaughter. The child's mother was going to jail, but the police allowed her to call the grandmother so as to keep the child out of Family Services. The grandmother was outraged that the police wanted to look in her purse before they'd let her in. "Do you really think I have a gun in there?" She asked.
"No Ma'am". replied the Sgt. "But if you do I'll look pretty stupid if I let you in with it, won't I?"
Sadly sometimes these misconceptions run both ways. Too often an officer begins to equate the individuals he/she deals with on a daily basis with the general population, and forgets that they are unlikely to come in to contact with %90 of the people out there, other than as victims.
Too many police officers develop an 'us-against-them' mentality.
The media will study in great detail the things that maybe an officer could have done differently in the split second before the officer decided to fire their weapon, but a random sniping of a squad car is not news. The suspect who ended up in the hospital is interviewed along with his family at length, but the officers injured in scuffles with suspects every day go unremarked on. No wonder that many officers become convinced that most people are scumbags.
This was brought home to me during a funeral procession for an officer killed in the line of duty. The procession winded its way from the center of the city to the graveyard in the southern part of the county. Along the entire route were people standing in their front yards, holding up signs of support. All of the car dealerships we rode past had the headlights turned on on all of their cars facing the street. At the intersections where the traffic was stopped for the procession, the drivers were out of their cars standing respectfully, hats in hand. As we rode by the throngs of supporters, a friend turned to me with tears streaming down his face and said "My God, I never knew there were people out there who appreciate us."
Most of the conversation I heard back at the Association hall later was about the throngs of people who showed up to support a man they never met, simply because they knew that he gave his life for them. Sadly, most officers expressed surprise. Since they seldom deal with the average citizen, they forget they're there.
I'm not really sure where I'm going with this. The words just kind of flowed here. I hope it makes some sense.
All I know is that 4 years ago I was at a funeral for an officer I knew well, and worked with. He was killed by a suspect who was handcuffed in the back of the squad car. Obviously, someone missed it on the pat-down before they stuffed him in the car. Whether it was him or his partner who missed the weapon was a detail I've never bothered to find out. I really don't want, or need to know.
Last year I went to the funeral for another officer killed by a suspect. I didn't know him at all, but I know his dad. This was an instance of the son going into the family business.
I'm sure I'll go to more funerals. But not this one.
OK. I'm done.
Stay safe.
~Easy
On behalf of my fellow brothers, THANK YOU! That's an exceptional post and
very, very true!!!
Sometimes I feel getting injured in the line of duty actually saved my life,(or at least my soul) because I was burned out and still am some even now after being out of the department!
Excellent words!
Visit me @ http://middle-aged-guy.blog-city.com/
Anytime. I'm still in touch with a couple of guys who've retired. In fact, I'm meeting The Duke for lunch on Thursday. ~Easy
Wow. Thank you for an excellent, interesting, moving post.
Visit me @ http://wheresmyplan.blog-city.com
Thanks, Easy, you told it like it is.
My former department was lucky in that they've not lost an officer in the line of duty since 1975. In my years down there, I only saw one officer death, in a neighboring department, a rookie, two months out of the academy, and our community showed the same respect and appreciation that you describe in this post, and today there is a park and walking trail next to the Sheriff's Department building named in his honor.
Visit me @ http://confessionsofalibertine.blog-city.com/
By the way, there is an excellent organization here called Backstoppers
that helps out the families of firefighters and police officers killed in
the line of duty. They are selling wristbands as a fundraiser. If you're
interested, go to http://www.backstoppers.org/wristband.htm
True story, on December 31st, 2004.
I've been 21 for just over 6 months, and on this above date I went to purchase alcohol for New Year's at one of STL's own "Dirt Cheap" stores. Anyways, there was a cop who was undercover who was taking peoples' IDs who tried to buy who were not yet 21. Everyone he stopped had a "Fuck you asshole" or a "Screw you, you fat pig."
After purchasing my bourbon for the evening, I went up to this officer, shook his hand, and said, "thanks for doing your job. I haven't always agreed with the law saying you have to be 21, but I understand the responsibility that is required of someone purchasing. Have a safe new year."
I think I saw the wrinkle on his brow lessen as I left, and damn, that felt good to say what I said.
Visit me @ http://thejoof.blog-city.com
Just like *cough cough* lawyers, the police are often picked on, but they
are your best friend if you need their services!
We have large memorial events here, too, if an officer or a firefighter falls. People who you would least expect to show respect often make no secret of their feelings in such a case.
Visit me @ http://pimme.blog-city.com
Yes, but lawyers DESERVE it. *lol*. No, I shouldn't say that. Some of my best friends are lawyers. ~Easy
Thank you for this post Easy.
Dropping by to say "Hello, Michele sent me." Yes, you are it.
Oh crap! It's all a mess. I'll tidy up and start the coffee. ~Easy
Michele sent me today!
very sad about the police officers. I could never do their job. it would scare the crap out of me.
Hello, Michele sent me. Wow, that's so sad for your community to lose two
officers. Very sad.
Dave Diamond [blog19@jadbury.com]
Hello, Michele sent me - and so glad she did. My heart goes out...
Thank you, Easy, for writing this very moving post. I have a tremendous
appreciation for the work done by the police officers in my community, as I
cannot imagine doing the job that they
do.
Kimberly [musicandcats@gmail.com]
Oh, and I almost forgot, Michele sent me!
Kimberly [musicandcats@gmail.com]
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights. Very moving and quite a
different perspective than the ubiquitous cop shows on TV.
Incidentally,
I *am* in Iceland and my car doors are not frozen!
Oh, and Michele sent
me.
Alda [alda_kalda@yahoo.com]
Yes. As near as I can tell, the most realistic cop shows were Barney Miller and The Job. BTW, didn't I read on your site that NY city has the same yearly average temperature as Iceland? In any case, it is STILL friggin' cold here. ~Easy
I belive that regardless of the jokes and snide comments most civilians do
realize all that police officers as a whole do for this country. Although I
have met at least one who was overzealous to the point of stalking.
BTW
Michele sent me
Camellia [blackkat1979@hotmail.com]
Yes, I've known cops like that too. They're not all great guys. My whole point--which I do think you understood--was that cops are just people. But, like any other job, some of them are real assholes. ~Easy
I'm so glad Michele sent me.
This was an enlightening post.
kristal [kristyk.org@gmail.com]
Great post. I have a lot of friends and relatives that are in law
enforcement, not only as local cops on the beat, but also as state troopers
and federal agents. A few random thoughts. Pimme made a comment about
lawyers, and I thought I'ld run with that a little bit. There are some bad
lawyers out there, and because of that lawyers get a bad rap. There are
some bad cops out there, and because of that, cops get a bad rap. It is
wrong to give either a bad rap because of a few bad apples.
I would also like to comment on another part of the equation. While we all read about funerals, we don't hear enough about the effects of the constant stress that many cops live under. I think that MrBob hints at this a little bit. We need to support officers not only while they are in uniform, but also after their retirement
Enough for now.
BTW, Michele sent me.
The stress can be amazing. I've seen many come and go who couldn't handle it. I've also seen a lot of them who think they're handling it, but aren't. ~Easy
As the wife of a police officer, thank you for this. Most people have no
idea what it's like to stand in a cop's shoes - it's good to hear from
someone who understands.
Oh, and Michele sent me!
Thanks. I hope your husband acheives his #1 goal every time he leaves for work. ~Easy
Very thoughtful post. Sometimes people get an attitude and think that the
people out there to protect them are infringing on their rights. It's a
fine line sometimes. My children only have a view of the police as
helpers, and in our small town, know many of the local police and their
families. I think this helps to humanize the uniform. Oh, yes, Michele
sent me too!
Thank you for reminding us that everyone sees things from a different
perspective. I know that I have met very few (if any, now that I think
about it) police officers in real life. Just as they forget about the 90%
of us that are normal, it is easy for Jane Q Public to let movies shape our
view of the men in blue. Cops on the take seem to be the bad guy of choice
these days and it's easy for us to forget that they aren't the norm. So
glad Michele sent me over! :)
Michele sent me and I'm so glad she did. Wonderful read.
Grins [grinsnlaughter@aol.com]
Hi, Michele sent me - and I'm glad she did, you wrote a fascinating and
moving post. Thank you.
Michele sent me this time, but after this I'll be coming back on my own.
What a great post, and what an interesting blog! Thank you so much for
sharing.
Mamacita [mamacitag@gmail.com]
Thanks for letting us into your world a little bit. I have the highest
regard for officers. And I have a lot of respect for the men like you who
have to endure such a job and can still find a daily smile for their
families.
Almost Lucid (Brad) [brad@almostlucid.com]
My uncle is a police officer (now a detective). I've always had tremendous
respect for what they do, its unfortunate there are so many out there that
view the police as the enemy. Even more unfortunate that the world is such
that the police must be so wary to protect their lives and ours.
Thank you for a lovely post.
Oh and Michele, sent me.
sleepingmommy [sleepingmommy@gmail.com]
You are absolutely right that Police officers and other civil servants
rarely get the credit they are due. Since Sept. 11 and the fact that I now
have a lot of friends that are officers and fire fighters, I see things a
lot differently. Now when I get a ticket, I thank the officer and not for
the ticket, but for doing what they can to keep this crazy world safe.
Michele sent me, but I'm gonna be back.
Jazzy [jasmine.avery@twrcc.com]
that was touching.. and something i believe is true about a lot of us.. we
judge the world based on the miniscule that we see everyday, and this is
something that we really have to work on.
appearances can be very
deceptive too, and thank you for that one.
i'll probably be back!
;-)
I guess the public's perception of police officers are the same wherever in
the world you are from.
Even though I am the grand-daughter of a policeman, I often find myself judging these individuals who, for the most part are only doing their jobs.
Thanks for putting it back into perspective for me, Easy, because even though there may be bad cops (like there are bad corporate heads, and bankers and politicians), it is important to remember that they are just people trying to make a living like the rest of us.
As with any profession, there are a few doing it who probably shouldn't be. Usually they're balanced out by the ones who are exceptionally good at it. ~Easy
Thank you. I am the mother of a police officer. My daughter, Kristi, is a
Los Angeles Police Officer. For more information see my post titled, My
Poster Child. It is in the archives under Family and Friends. We are
extremely proud of her. Your writing was very moving and very appreciated.
The Bridgeton officer was a friend of mine. Known him for more than 1/2 my
life. He will be greatly missed, just like all officers who give their
lives for their job. It was nice to see all the support for officers the
day of Scott's funeral...
Thank you for telling it like it is. As a female officer I found that I
had to work twice as hard to prove myself to both my male counterparts as
well as to the individuals I dealt with on the street. As thankless as the
job seemed to be, there's no other like it in the world. I had the
opportunity to be a part of an amazing group of people and I developed the
best friendships I've ever had. There's a special bond that occurs when
you endure a life threatening event and you know that the individual you
are with is willing to put their well being on the line for you. I recently
left my department, with a heavy heart, in an effort to save my marriage.
But the memories and the experiences will be a part of me always. To all
of my brothers and sisters in blue, THANK YOU for all that you continue to
do!!!!