Op-ed: An open letter to cops
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With all the present racial tension, rioting and hateful rhetoric directed primarily toward those in law enforcement, should we not take time to seriously consider what is happening and learn from it rather than just having knee-jerk reactions and our own personal comments about what we think is right or wrong? We all have our opinions but what good does an opinion do without facts to back them up?
First, there has been and is racial inequality, as well as blatant and cruel racism among our law enforcement organizations. No one can deny that. What we have witnessed in recent weeks of policemen going way beyond the need to apprehend and arrest someone of color, even to the point of the person dying at the hands of those who should be "protecting and serving," is horrible and those responsible should be given the same penalty as any other person committing such horrible acts of violence. Black lives DO matter.
But think about it: Are all cops bad cops? Of course not. Most are men and women of character and purpose. There are bad doctors, but most are a great help and comfort to their patients. There are bad teachers, but most love their students and work hard to provide the best educational foundation they can for them. There are bad business owners, but most are just endeavoring to achieve a high level of success for themselves and their family. There are bad religious leaders, but most are sacrificing themselves to help their congregation to be prepared for what this life brings them and to be prepared for life after death. There are bad parents, but most love their children and many would even die for their children if necessary.
In every organization and vocation, there is that small minority of selfish, cruel, evil and immoral people who use others for personal benefit rather than serving them. To them, other people are just a means to an end that satisfies their need for power, fame or fortune.
But do we look the same way at all in a group simply because a very few have done horrible and selfish things? Of course not. Does this in any way diminish the pain caused by the cruel acts we have recently seen? Of course not.
What was done to these people and their families is unconscionable and wrong.
But what about the cops who serve faithfully day by day as they protect their community? For one, cops never have an average day. They never know what a shift might bring or if it will be situations where their life will be risked to help others.
A person cannot be a wimp and be a cop.
There is no such thing as a normal traffic stop in today's world When the officer approaches a vehicle they just stopped, they do no know if there is a timid grandmother at the wheel or a convicted, gun-wielding felon.
When they go to a situation where there is a domestic dispute, they have to quickly decide what is best to do and they are expected to be right every time.
When they are called to the scene of a tragic automobile accident, they not only are expected to direct traffic but often get to the scene before medical help arrives and periodically save the lives of those involved.
Cops deal with people driving while intoxicated, mental health cases, tense hostage situations, irate cop-haters, shoplifters, drug dealers and those addicted to illicit drugs and alcohol, automobile drivers who do not think of the safety of others as they speed or drive dangerously down the busy highway …
The variety of situations is great and requires quick thinking and decisiveness not normally required by the common worker in our society. And again, they are expected to be right in their judgment every single time regardless of the danger or difficulty in discerning what would be the correct action to take.
Who would we call if an intruder was trying to invade our house? Who would we call if a drunk driver was weaving in and out of traffic, potentially causing a fatal accident? Who would be call if any other situation threatened your life or the lives of your family?
911 -- and the cops would be there as quickly as possible running toward a difficult situation while others would be running from it. Again, this does in no way excuse what we have witnessed from the horrible experiences caused by a few cops who should be dismissed and sentenced for their racism and cruelty.
But, given an opportunity, I believe the great majority of Americans would say to the majority of our cops:
We appreciate you.
We need you.
We respect you.
We admire you.
And we thank you.
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William J. Henry is a Parkersburg resident.