I have not written about any fallen officers or commented on this sad continuous loss of our men and women in uniform who protect and serve every single day, in many days. Police Officers don’t get up each day and say first thing, “ Today I think I will look for someone to “Kill”.
They are so many men and women who love what they do and do it with courage and strength. As a mother myself, and now a grandmother, I can only imagine what the mother, father, and husband are going through with the loss of their beloved daughter, wife, and young mother, Lesley Zerebny. She was gunned down along with officer Jose “Gil” Vega on Saturday as a result of a domestic disturbance call. Vega due to retire the end of the year to spend the rest of his time with his own family.
Domestic Disturbance calls are the most dangerous calls that officers respond to because we never know what we are going to encounter. As it is, the suspect in this incident was pulled from the house wearing soft body armor. He was prepared!
I often think of the times I responded to the same type of call; you think you are going to go home every night because you have been trained in every way, but you are never trained for someone you will encounter who cares nothing for life or for those who protect and serve. The hate towards officers is increasing. Something has to change.
Lesley was a new mother; leaving behind a 4 month old daughter she will never see grow up. Officer Vega was looking forward to retirement. The attack on police officers is escalating. There is little sign of greater appreciation for what officers do each and every day to protect the city or county they work in and the people whom they serve it seems.
I entered law enforcement in my late twenties at a time when women were not accepted, let alone wanted. I had to prove myself over and over again in order to gain the respect of my male counter parts. I ask myself, “Would I do it all over again today? (I would have to seriously think about it). There is so much satisfaction when you know you can help someone in a time of emergency, prevent someone from being a statistic, turn something bad into good, put someone away who had taken the life of another. However, I can’t imagine today what is going through the minds of who are considering this profession.
My heart goes out to all the men and women who put on the uniform everyday with the desire to protect and serve, despite the ugliness of many who look at police as monsters, killers, everything but what they are! True hero’s, who only want to do a good job, make their community safe and go home to their families at the end of every shift.
If police really wanted to kill people, all they would have to do is not respond to the calls. Period. But they continue to respond; even when another fallen officer has made the news that they have been brutally shot down.
Officer’s “Gill” and Lesley, rests in Peace………know that you will never be forgotten. My heart and prayers go out to all officers who have fallen, which include every officer killed in the line of duty since the beginning of 2016 and before.
Lynn: I think what we are seeing is part of a total cultural melt down. It starts with no training in the home. I, and my generation, were taught to respect others, particularly those in uniform…military, fire, police, etc. There are those in our society that, for whatever self serving reason, fan the flames of hate after every incident. Politicians, organizations like Black Lives Matter, and most of all the media make every incident into a hate rally.
It is hard not to see a conspiracy in all this hate mongering. Even the White House pushes it.
Thank you Vincent. We have a strong support for the men and women in blue and you are 100% right in all that you said. So what do we do? There does not seem to be anything we can do. I wish that there was a group who would grow and be strong to support our thoughts.
Lynn, as your heart goes out to officers of law enforcement and their families, mine does too. My heart breaks as I read your poinant truth about the dangers of being in a role that is to be honored and respected but is instead regarded as opportunity to defy authority. People who have no intention of accepting help to defuse a volatile conflict should not be involving peace officers. But when called to the scene, they go, because they have taken an oath to serve and defend. Life is no less fragile because they are putting themselves in the line of duty. As in the days of Noah…….
Jane, I am always blessed to hear your perspective. I can only hope that the hearts of the people in the United States will begin to see the truth and pull God into their hearts. He will let us make our own choices knowing that the consequences will be great if we make the wrong choice.
I know what you mean, Lynn. I don’t think we take consequences seriously enough. And of course some people think they are above consequences – which is why we have a mess. Keep sharing. Keep writing. Your words are important.