Being a police officer is certainly honorable work, but it is also very dangerous.
I have had that perspective for years, but it was intensified even more last week.
As a part of the distinguished Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Class XXXVII (shout out to my classmates), I had the opportunity to do a ride-along with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).
It was an insightful, yet jarring experience.
Insightful, because I was able to see first hand what officers do day in and day out; and jarring for those very same reasons.
My day at IMPD’s North District began at roll call. There, our city’s finest were briefed on a multitude of items, but also commended for a recent highly dangerous incident that was averted because of their rapid response. As roll call concluded, the command staff ended the meeting reminding officers to be safe.
As I watched each officer leave the building, one-by-one they tapped a plaque dedicated to fallen officer David Moore, who died two years ago after suffering multiple gunshot wounds during a traffic stop near 34th and Keystone Avenue.
When I asked an officer to explain the ritual he said, “David was our brother. We do our jobs in honor of him. His death also reminds us of the danger we face. When we have those things at the forefront of our minds, it translates to the job we do and how important our oath is.”
The oath this particular officer referred to is to serve others. To run to danger, not away from it.
That oath reinforces the dangers of an officer’s job.
I was assigned a wonderful officer during my ride-along. At one particular point Lance took me to one of the worst apartment complexes in the city. Many of the windows had torn blinds or were covered by bed sheets in place of curtains.
As we drove through a particular section of the complex that only had one way in and one way out, Lance told me of some of the crimes that occurred there. He also mentioned that most of the people who live in those apartments hate the police. While riding in the patrol car I took note of the different people – white, Black and Hispanic – who were seemingly doing nothing, but hanging out. As they watched us, you could see dissension on their faces.
It was a look of disgust.
Perhaps guessing my hesitancy or presumable fear, Lance asked me if I felt safe.
I quickly replied no.
Even though I was in a police car with a trained officer, I still did not feel safe during our time in that isolated spot.
That put things into perspective for me.
Cops are people too and they probably feel the same sense of uncertainty I felt. The difference is, I can choose not to go to certain high crime areas, police officers don’t have that option. They have to protect and serve. They have to run toward danger.
As soon as we left the apartment complex, I texted a close friend of mine who recently retired after nearly two decades on a police force in Mississippi. My text read, “I’m glad you don’t do this type of work anymore. It’s so dangerous.”
My friend is a man’s man, so he always talks about protecting people, even at the risk of his own life. It’s a philosophy I don’t quite understand, but I certainly respect.
Everyday, law enforcement personnel risk their lives for us, yet so often they are not highly regarded.
I understand that some people have had bad experiences with cops. And I know that there are crooked cops out there and even those who abuse their power. But I also know the good cops far outweigh the bad ones. Rather than disrespecting our public servants, we should be thanking them for the admirable and courageous work they perform every day. Rather than spending government money on irrelevant, nonessential things such as bike trails and planting trees; more money should be invested in putting more officers on the streets and increasing their pay – making it commensurate with the day-to-day risks they endure.
And rather than despising a police officer because you or someone you know has broken the law, how about striving to be a law-abiding citizen.
At the end of my ride-along, I was mentally and physically exhausted. That evening I learned that a homicide detective in Jackson, Miss., was gunned down and killed by a suspect.
I did not sleep a wink that night.
I don’t know how police officers can endure challenging and even life-threatening situations, yet still report to work each day and abide by the oath. While an officer’s responsibility to protect and serve is honorable, citizens and lawmakers have a job to do as well. We have to protect and serve them. That begins with not only showing respect and reverence towards officers, but also compensating them well.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
