Thursday, February 16, 2017

16 Years

16 years.  Let's think about that.  16 years.  It seems like just another number.  Or is it?  

If you look at it as a time period from the birth of your child, 16 years goes quickly.  All too quickly.  You are able to witness the growth of a human in its truest form.  You help them learn, grow and become independent.  You see them in their moments of sheer joy and laughter and you see them in their most sad moments.  You are their protector and you hope you have raised them well.  You now take a supportive backseat and watch how they react when life slaps them in the face.  Sometimes that slap is gentle, other times, not so.  You're hope is you have done your job well.  

Let's look at 16 years from a different angle.  16 years of a career in law enforcement.  A career that is extremely challenging and a career that can be very rewarding.  Much like birth itself, the start is rough.  This is a new world that requires many hours of training before you are even allowed to "hit the street."  The training and the on the job experiences further shape you as person and a professional.  Your protector is still there however, this role has now been taken on by many.    

After 16 years, much has been accomplished.  Whether in childhood or career, we believe there is much more to come. As happens all too often though, much more to come is not always the reality.  This is a sad reality that I am more than happy to never experience again.    

I'm talking the same amount of years, 16.  Each come with their unique difficulties just the same.  Most times those difficulties are overcome.  When they are not, often the hurt is real and goes deep.  This is yet another thing I could live without for the rest of my life.  

This has been a rough few days and this road is just beginning to be traveled.  Travel it we will and it is a journey that, like many others, will never be erased from my memory.

Tom-23, you will be missed.  

     

Saturday, February 11, 2017

Help Me To Understand

I'll never fully understand life.  I'll never fully understand people.  This is why I find myself saying the words.....help me to understand.....more and more the older I get.  Yesterday, an outstanding group of professionals I have the honor and privilege to work alongside lost one of our own.  Yesterday, a community lost a man who took the oath to serve and protect them.  Serve and protect them he did.  He did so with that big smile and often with a very subtle mischievous look on his face.  That's what I'll remember.

Here's what I do understand.  We are a family and we will carry on.  We will do so in honor of those we have lost during the course of our time together in this profession.  We will continue to answer the call to duty for the community we serve, and more importantly, for each other.  We have to.  If not us, then who?

Jason will be greatly missed and I know there will be much that may never be understood.  I'm O.K. with that, for I know and understand much of his time on earth was spent in the service of others.  Can't beat that.

Peace be with you, Jason.