It takes a special person to be a police officer. To put on a uniform and go to work day after day, knowing that there is a chance you may not even make it home-- but to still serve proudly-- is incredible. What's even more incredible is that the men and women who do this for us every day, without even thinking about it, continue to do so, even after their brothers and sisters in law enforcement get injured, and even killed, in the line of duty.
Two years ago, in the early morning hours of April 19th, my boyfriend's phone rang. It was a friend of his who is a Deputy in Erie County. The call was to let him know that his friend Andy, a Sandusky Police Officer, had been shot while on duty and his odds of making it weren't looking good. Just a short hour or so later, we received the call that he was gone.
As he listened to the news, my boyfriend reached over and squeezed my hand. My heart shattered into a million pieces. This officer was a police officer for the city of Sandusky because that's what he wanted to do... but he wasn't only an officer. He was a friend, husband, a brother, a son, and a father, among other things. And just eight short days prior, he turned 30.
These people who put their lives on the line for our safety and security do so without a second thought. They leave behind families and friends to go off and do what they love. To do what they believe in. I always used to hear about officer shootings in other areas of the country, and feel for the families and say some prayers... but having one hit so close to home was a huge wake up call.
This man was 30 years old; the age of my boyfriend. In fact, they went through the academy together. A part of me felt terrible for secretly being glad it wasn't my boyfriend... I don't know what I would have done if it had happened to him. It put into perspective the things Andy's family went through.
And then it hit me that not only does it take a special person to be a police officer, but it takes a special person to love a police officer. The families of these men and women know the risks of the job, and they love and support them anyway. I have never seen such an overwhelming support system than the law enforcement community. I am so thankful for the law enforcement spouses and families who let us have their loved ones for hours of a day, knowing that they may not make it back, and praying that they do. It takes a special person to love, and to be what is a true hero.
I am no longer with the boyfriend I stood beside during all of this. I always thought that afterward, I would be more on the "outside" of everything than I ended up being. Two years ago, I was a little less of a stranger than those who had never met Andy, but more of an outsider than those who knew him better than I did, those who worked with him... those who loved him. Today, I have been a dispatcher for over a year, and my officers fill the place in my heart where I truly don't know what I would do if this were to happen to any of them. Those men are my heroes, and I am truly fortunate to get to work with them day in and day out, supporting them in all types of situations.
I thank God for the men and women who serve and protect, and put their lives in danger, so that yours and mine may be safe. So the next time you get pulled over for any reason, please don't see just an officer. See someone with a family and friends who love them. And instead of cursing the officer for giving you a ticket, why not thank them, or pray for them? After all, they are out there to make sure you are safe, while it's ultimately their safety on the line. It's time our society turn its thinking around when it comes to our police. Most of us choose not to see it, but those heroes are our angels on earth.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to all of the men and women who protect our communities day in and day out. What you do does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Every day, I wake up and pray for our officers all over the country, and thank God for letting us have them. And every night, I pray for them again, and thank Him for letting them (especially those I care about) make it home safely. But sometimes, the angels He's let us borrow are needed with Him and they get called home earlier than we'd hoped. Rest in peace, Andy. Every day, I pray for your family and the others you left behind. You're always in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
