He Signed Up For This

That’s usually the rebuttal when you try to talk about the overwhelming responsibility police officers have to deal with.

This is usually when someone with zero knowledge about police procedures tries to arm chair quarterback a recent event that they were spoon-fed from mainstream media.

“They chose this career….they knew what they were getting themselves into.”

I choose to be grateful he signed up for this job…..knowing the outcome could mean he ultimately gives his life.

I choose to be grateful he signed up for talking a suicidal person off an overpass.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up for sifting through a landfill for the body of a missing baby.

I choose to be grateful he signed up for holding a dying person’s hand after they were just shot.

I choose to be grateful he signed up for running into the face of danger…..instead of away from it.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up for working countless hours to track down a serial rapist.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up for coming home with blood, vomit, and other unmentionables spattered on his uniform.

I choose to be grateful he signed up for dealing with the worst society has to offer…..in hopes of making a difference.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up for helping a family find the man that tried to kidnap their child.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up to help the young wife press charges against her abusive husband.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up for accompanying social workers on their visits to the homeless population, mentally ill, and other at risk individuals–so they are kept safe.

I choose to be grateful he signed up for being the one who has to let the family know their loved one has been murdered.

I choose to be grateful that he signed up to go to work and protect people that hate him because of the color uniform he wears–not because of the type of man he is.

I absolutely reject the idea that his life doesn’t “mean” anything because he signed up for this job.

I choose to be grateful that knowing all of those things…..knowing he could give everything including his life to the job…..

He signed up anyway.