Respecting Those Who Risk It All

On the late night of Feb. 19, 2001, Clinton Township Police Officer Richard L. Vauris responded to a frantic call from a home. Inside, a family had called police out of fear that one of their relatives living with them was suicidal. Officer Vauris was a negotiator, and while trying to calm the man, a struggle between the man and Officer Vauris broke out. The man stole Officer Vauris’ gun and shot him in the chest, killing him. A wife would never hold her husband again, and feel his heart beat. A son would never again be able to play with his father.

Police put their lives on the line each time they put on a badge at the start of their shift. Officer Vauris’ death is only one real example of how police officers are killed each year.   

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a law enforcement officer is killed in the United States every 53 hours. Since 1791, over 19,000 law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty.

Many people don’t respect the police. To some, the police represent corruption, the loss of freedom, brutality, and even death. This is just another stereotype in a society that judges people based on how they are portrayed through the eyes of their peers and on television.

Stop and think for a minute. What would the world be like if there was no law enforcement? Riots, theft, murder, and civil disobedience would rule the streets. The police do more for the community than just stop speeders and break up parties. They put their lives on the line to protect all of us from the rapists, murderers, and sociopaths on the streets.

I am the son of a police officer. Most nights, my father leaves at 11 p.m. to put on a badge and put his life on the line to protect the community. I recently rode with him on a shift. At the beginning of the night, we put on bullet proof vests and headed out onto the streets. Each time we pulled up to a house, an industrial complex, or a car, there was the feeling of uncertainty. What if the person we were about to talk with pulled out a gun? What if this was the last time I would see my father?

In law enforcement, there is no such thing as a routine day. Each traffic stop holds the risk of the driver taking off and running over the police officer they are speaking with. Each call to a house holds the risk of turning the corner to find a bullet with their name on it.

Police officers across the country risk their own lives to protect the community, but what does the community do in return? They decide to cuss officers out when they are pulled over. People break the law, and then try to run away or fight back when they have to face the consequences. They try to kill police officers, just for driving down the road.

I believe in a lawful society. In order for it to be successful, law enforcement officers must be present, and when someone breaks the law, they need to face proper justice. I am exasperated by people not showing respect to police officers. They risk their lives and for all of us, yet we treat them abominably. It’s time to put an end to the disrespect.