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March 2020 Blues Vol 36 No 3

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The BLUES Police Magazine, March 2020 Blues Vol 36 No 3

WHY? Do We Do What We Do

WHY? Do We Do What We Do ? The Final Inspection The policeman stood and faced his God. Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass. “Step forward now, policeman. How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My church have you been true?” The policeman squared his shoulders and said, “No, Lord, I guess I ain’t. Because those of us who carry badges can’t always be a saint. I’ve had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough; and sometimes I’ve been violent, because the streets are awfully tough. But I never took a penny that wasn’t mine to keep…though I’ve worked a lot of overtime when the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, though at times I shook with fear; and sometimes, God forgive me, I’ve wept unmanly tears. I know I don’t deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fear. If you’ve a place for me here, Lord, it needn’t be so grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don’t…I’ll understand.” There was silence all around the throne where the saints had often trod. As the policeman waited quietly for the judgment of his God. “Step forward now, policeman, you’ve borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven’s hell.” Now I’m sure many of you have heard this prayer. I know myself it’s been read at a number of fallen officers funerals I’ve attended. And perhaps it’s true, some don’t want with an old-style emergency brake. us around until they need us. Until (you youngsters have no idea what they’ve been hurt, scared or robbed; I’m even talking about) Anyway, or comfort them when they’ve been my younger brother and I decided shot, stabbed or severely hurt in an we were going to drive that beast, accident. We’re the ones they call. and we did! My brother released the Not just Cops, but all first responders. emergency brake, and I took the wheel and we drove that bad boy So why do we do the job we do. down the steep driveway, across the Why do we run towards gun fire, street, up the neighbor’s driveway when everyone else is running and straight into their garage door. away? Why do we stand in harm’s BAM…we were driving…and having way to protect people we don’t our first accident all at once. Needless even know? And why in God’s name to say, the popo showed up. would we run into a burning building Now I was 5. The only place I saw when everyone else is trying to coppers was on TV. And they were get out? shooting people and throwing bad Why indeed. Because it’s in our guys in jail. And hauling them off in DNA. It’s what we were born to do. a paddy wagon. Oh crap! Me and my Ask most any cop or first responder brother were going to jail! why they do what they do, and most Well I remember this HPD cop will say “because it was what I was talking to my dad. Pointing to me meant to do.” Maybe it was some and my brother. Here it comes, event in their lives that brought we’re going to jail. He walked over them face to face with danger and a to us and asked if we were OK. My cop or fireman saved them. Or a bad brother was hiding his 4-year old accident as a kid and a paramedic self behind me and I said “Yes Sir. held their hand while they were cut We are OK. Will you be taking us to out of a car. Whatever the reason, jail now?” I remember him kneeing it transformed them. It gave them a down and saying “No son, you won’t purpose in life that was larger than be going to jail. This is what we call themselves. an accident. It’s called that because For me it came when I was only that’s what it is. An accident. No one five. My parents had gone to the meant for it to happen, it just does.” grocery store and when they returned “This won’t be the first time you’ll home, my dad had backed be in an accident and probably the car into the driveway. It was an streets, you’ve done your time in old car with a manual transmission Continued on Page 12 6 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 7

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