THIS DAY

Started by President Kennedy, today is Police Officer Memorial Day. A day specifically set aside to remember all of the fallen.

I remember the shocking experience of visiting the National Law EnforcementMemorial in DC. I’d thought of a few recent names I wanted to find but when I went to the Oregon pages in the index it hit me how many people who I’d had some in contact with who had died serving their community.

These were fathers, sons, coaches, church members, veterans, and peace corps members. They had served their community and paid the ultimate price.

George HW Bush said, “it’s not how these men died that made them hero’s but how they loved their lives. “ there are no truer words.

It’s hard these days to see police officers as a whole demonized. I’ve had so many conversations with educated people who say it’s ok to treat police officers as sub human because they chose the job and are part of the problem.

One of the real problems is that a police officer is equally person and government when they act. This makes for a very complex set of facts when it comes to evaluating responses. They have responsibilities and authority no other individual does. They have experienced others can’t envision They suffer traumas that counselors can’t stand to hear.

We’ve got to stop dehumanizing people. no matter if it’s because of their profession, their heritage, their identity or their faith. It’s no way to solve anything.