One of Gumshoe’s favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 6:8; “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, “Who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here I am Lord, send me.”
Gumshoe often thought of this verse when the police radio dispatcher would put out the call, “Any unit in the area”. This would be a definite, butt-puckering, white-knuckling on the steering wheel “hot” call that all real cops actually relish. Really! No BS folks.
These emergencies ran the gamut but not limited to: shots fired, robbery in progress, man with a gun, drive-by shooting, man down, woman screaming, unknown trouble — all of these 911 adrenaline-fueled emergency calls had Gumshoe along with his brother and sister officers put the “pedal to the metal” to get on scene pronto.
Note: Police work is often described as 99% boredom with 1% sheer terror. However, type A police personalities function on all eight cylinders with the 1% figure.
Gumshoe’s brain would go into overdrive as the siren whaled and the unit overheads (emergency lights) would flash while the police radio would take on a life of its own.
Control, contain and communicate were the credo as well as stop the bleeding and keep the breathing were the touchstones for the wounded, injured, and mangled.
It is against the human survival instincts to run to the mayhem and not from it. Our factory-installed fears are loud noises and falling. The other fears we learn from example and from experience.
Cop fears are simply failing. Failing to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time for the right reason.
All good street coppers know that the police admin folks will always play the Monday-morning quarterbacks. Accountability’s sister is responsibility don’t cha know? Comes with the job with the badge on your chest and the powers to arrest. Street warriors accept this SOP.
Regardless, cops take the oath the serve and protect.
Gumshoe once read about the tragic parachute training accident that took the young life of a battle-harden and highly decorated U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. by the name of Chief Petty Officer Bradley S. Cavner in June of 2014.
Chief Cavner once wrote:
To those before us … To those among us … To those we will see on the other side. Lord let me not prove unworthy of my brothers.
Gumshoe thinks that Isaiah could not have said it better. Street cops live by that code. God bless Bradley, may he rest in peace, and may God bless every cop who continues to answer the call.
Gumshoe reminds all of you’uns to always love the ones who love you and even try to love the ones who don’t.
Coram Deo!
Danny first and foremost another great article. I am somewhat reluctant to respond with my opinion as to what has happened over the last year or so. I am no longer “On the Job”. I retired before body cams and everyone having a cell phone. I am so tired of hearing the police vilified as racist or part of the white supremacy group. I am so tired of hearing that the police have a agenda to execute the Black, Brown or Asian man/woman. I realize that policing has changed significantly since I was a cop. Yet what has never changed is the fact that when most police officers strap on the gun and badge we went out there to take seriously the oath that we took when we signed on for the job “to protect and serve” not execute the citizens in the community in which we serve(d). Yes there are a few that let that gun and badge go to their heads and those officers are ones that we don’t want to be around. Believe me when I say this, it was the same when I was “On the Job”. I knew back then that I was being held to a higher standard and I fully accepted that role. I have said it before and I will say it again and again, if you as a politician or citizen really want see what the police officer has to deal with on the street do a ride along. Not for one night. Ride for a week or so. It’s always easy to second guess unless you have been there. I hope the citizens of this great country start asking “who do we send” cause it looks like most departments are losing good police officers.
Thanks again
Great “on the job” insight by brother in blue. No one who has never worked a night shift as a patrol officer will ever know the fears and dreads that you swallow to go forward into harms way to help those in peril. Today’s challenges on the streets for the cop can seem overwhelming, but still we have the men and women in blue that are true to their sworn oaths. Unsung quiet professionals who are definitely the sheep dogs who protect the flock from the wolves. Thanks Tom for your wise comments and insights.
Not everyone who goes into a vocation is qualified or worthy. 10% of the chosen vocations by individuals is not for them. There also has to be vetting that goes beyond the normal testing. In other words, there is 10% of those who put on the uniform every day promising to protect and serve who have no business doing so and who should be weeded out, but the majority of my brothers and sisters in uniform were worthy. Those on the left have so distorted and destroyed or are beginning to dismantle what is good and works in this country out of power, greed and hatred.
There is more vetting, training, probation and continued evaluations for every police officer. It is the hardest profession to pursue and the easiest one to lose. Personal accountability both civil as well as criminal liability face officers who fail to meet the accepted standards. The risks are many and the gains are few who choose to serve their communities. Thanks for your comments Nightingale.
What a great Bible verse Danny…..and it certainly applies to an officer’s willingness to charge headlong into the frey!
Isaiah’s exclamation “Here am I; send me” marked the very beginning of his ministry; the priest was now a prophet, and the Lord’s message for Judah eventually became the book of Isaiah.
Before Isaiah could say, “Here am I; send me,” he had a problem that had to be addressed. Standing in the Lord’s presence, Isaiah is made painfully aware of his sin
Prior to the Lord making a way for Isaiah, he saw himself as an unworthy messenger; once he was forgiven, he immediately desired to serve the Lord in whatever way possible.
The Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”—He wants willing volunteers in His service—and a grateful and enthusiastic Isaiah doesn’t hesitate in taking the opportunity: “Here am I; send me.” And for the rest of his life, Isaiah serves the God who had forgiven and saved him.
The Lord makes the same offer to us all. Eternity hangs in the balance….
Thanks for expounding upon the verse my true brother in Christ. God always puts us where He wants us to serve His purposes. Romans 8:28
I think it takes a special type of person to be a good cop. It is one of those positions that, righty or wrongly, we hold to a higher level of ethics, morals, and duty.
Your correct my friend. Society gives cops awesome powers (arrest to taking a life in rear instances). Accountability is a MUST.