When I was a child I wanted to be in law enforcement, but growing up I found myself on a different path.
As a kid, the idea of being a police officer was like being a super hero, but, “with great power, comes great responsibility.”
I found myself on a different path because I realized that there was a lot more to being a cop than I ever thought.
It was not long ago that my mother told me how relieved she was that I was not going to be a police officer.
She would be bothered by the thought of how people would portray me, wondering if I was a good cop or a bad cop, worried that I would let the power go to my head and lose my sense of morality.
She would live terrified that one day I would have to make a decision that would either result in me losing my life or having to take one.
Police officers go through these decisions every day but do not deserve to be treated like bad people because a couple of officers ruined it for the others.
If my family and I were in trouble I would not hesitate to call the police for help. Like any other human being should, I treat people the way I would like to be treated: with respect.
Police related incidents have been occurring more than ever.
By incidents I don’t mean false accusations, I mean lives lost like Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown and our community’s own, Kendric McDade.
It seems that now more than ever, everyone is scared. The people are scared of the cops, and the cops are scared of the people.
The motto of most, if not all, police departments is, “To Protect and Serve.”
It used to be engraved in all of the individual badges that were earned whether it is the Los Angeles Police Department or the New York Police Department.
As of 2015, the standard LAPD badge just has your law enforcement title, badge number and city.
It seems that there are some officers that do not think that is their duty at all, but rather to “enforce and collect.”
Law enforcement is filled with good people that live to protect and serve us.
But there are a few who sign up for the power, the gun and the badge. Despite all the recent police related incidents, please keep in mind that some police officers and law enforcement are trying to the best of their abilities to not only follow protocol, but keep their morality as well.
During the process of this article I found it near impossible to find officers via Internet that had no negative feedback and accolades of honors even though there are thousands.
I salute those who still wake up every day to protect and serve their city and country.
