Police and Violence

A law enforcement officer's credo is, "If you need me, I will be there for you. I will risk injury or death to get to you, because that is my promise" (citizensforpolice.org). A day in the life of a law enforcement officer is unlike that of any other profession. There are many people eager to stand up and criticize the many fine men and women that work in law enforcement. While it is true that some wayward people do end up in a police uniform, that too can be said about people in every profession. Police officers are in a very precarious position every day of their lives, on duty and off duty. It is necessary to be fair and open-minded when a police officer is being accused of excessive force or when their use of lethal force is being questioned. People have enough to fear in today's world without being led to believe that the police are the enemy. They are not. In most cases, the only people that have any reason to fear the police are the people that are breaking the law. "Police brutality" has become an easy scapegoat for many people, but an officer's use of force in the line of duty is often necessary and justifiable.

A police officer's day is unlike that of any civilian. While most people spend their nights at home with their families, all police officers must have their turn at the graveyard shift, which is usually between the hours of midnight and eight o'clock in the morning. This also happens to be the time period when most serious crimes and drunk driving accidents take place. On an average shift, a police officer is likely to experience things that would devastate most people: child abuse, drug overdoses, suicide, fatal car accidents, and violent crime. On a regular basis, officers have to be physically up close and personal with people who are HIV+, people who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, in addition to violent criminals. The average citizen will hope never to encounter such a person. Even while off-duty and trying to enjoy an evening with family or friends in a public place, an officer may be recognized and harassed by a suspect that he or she has arrested, and then have to worry about the safety of their loved ones