In the Book of John, Chapter 15, verse 13, (from the King James Version) – it is said; “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” As a police officer, this is a verse I hold dear to my heart.
I have previously written about how important your involvement is to prevent crime and keep our community safe, but I feel things have changed. We are now to a point of extreme urgency. Last year, in 2010, violent deaths of police officers, from gun fire – was up nearly 20% from 2009.
Now, here we are in January 2011 and things are spiraling out of control. Consider this information from the 24 hour period, which ended Monday January 24, 2011:
- On Sunday, four officers were shot in a Detroit police station by a man who walked in, firing randomly. Lamar Deshea Moore was shot to death by police so his motive may never be known, but local reports say a relative was awaiting sentencing for double murder. Two of the police officers remain hospitalized.
- Two deputies were shot outside a Walmart in Port Orchard, Washington, near Seattle, on Sunday.
- A police officer is in a coma and in critical condition after being shot during a traffic stop early Sunday in Indianapolis.
- In Lincoln City, Oregon, a police officer was shot Sunday night during a traffic stop. The officer is in critical condition
- In St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday, two City Police Officers are killed and a U.S. Marshall is wounded, after being shot by a crazed gunman hiding in the attic, of his home.
Eleven police officers were either shot and wounded or murdered in this terrible 24 hour period.
I am well aware there are people who do not care for the police. There are many people who get upset with an officer when they get a traffic ticket or their home gets broken into and nothing gets solved. These are frustrating situations for the common everyday law abiding citizen. Realize though, these same officers have no other goal than your safety and that of your family.
All police officers sacrifice many hours away from their homes, on holidays, birthdays, and anniversary’s, etc. – to keep our community safe.
To some police officers, it appears we are beginning to lose the battle with the evil element of our society and this is where you come in. We need your help to prove these officers wrong and demonstrate support for orderly society.
We can not wage this battle alone. We are counting on your help and even here, in the relative safety of the Missouri Ozarks and the Green Country of Eastern Oklahoma, crime is occurring. How many of you know your neighbors well enough to know what vehicles should be coming and going from their house? How many of you even know your neighbors names? We need to get back to the days of knowing those who live around us and caring for them.
Look out for others and eventually others will return the favor and look out for you. Police Officers care about the community and want a better tomorrow for each of you, but we must recruit you to help. Take time this week to remember and pray for the officers who won’t be going home to their families and vow with me to fight for a crime free community! “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
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