Police Week is May 12-18. 2013
Honoring our Fallen.
Scanning through my Facebook account, I have found
several of the pages related to law enforcement promoting Police Week. I piqued my curiosity, so I conducted a
little research.
“In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation
which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the
week in which that date falls as Police Week.
Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the
world converge on Washington, D.C. to participate in a number of planned events
which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page (www.odmp.org)
in 2013, Nationally fatality statistics reported a total of 41, which is up
21%. These are reflected in the
following numbers: 16 by gunfire (up 7%), 15 by auto (up 36%), and 10 by other
means (up 25%).
Recent deaths were reported in Polk County, FL,
Shenango Township, PA, and Arizona Department of Public Safety, AZ.
In Alabama, we have seen a few of these fallen
heroes. Since 2006, there are 25
officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Alabama. We are familiar with Justin David Sollohub,
of the Anniston Police Department, who died in August of 2011 and Phillip
Davis, of the Pelham Police Department, who died in December of 2009. Within the last year, in February of 2012,
Steven Green of Mobile Police Department was stabbed to death by a
prisoner. Then in November of 2012,
Scott Ward of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office was shot while answering a
domestic call of a disturbed individual.
One that stands out in my mind more than all others
was in Crossville, Alabama. I was
visiting with a friend and his brothers family on Lookout Mountain one
evening. We were laughing and talking,
as Craig White told stories about his work at Collinsville Police
Department. The scanner was on, because
Craig’s brother was a volunteer fire fighter for the Adamsburg Fire
Department.
Sitting, laughing and drinking the scanner noise
intensified, then complete silence before the unmistakable ten codes came
across the air: “00 (said as ‘DOUBLE ZERO’); 10-0; 10-33 only!” The dispatcher was relaying the message
that an officer needs assistance, all
responding units are to use extreme caution, and all radio traffic is to cease
for emergency traffic only.
We sat in silence, as our blood ran clod, and our
ears perched to hear every word that was coming through the small radio. Then we caught the unmistakable words, which
seemed to bounce around our small minds: “Officer down, I repeat, OFFICER DOWN.
Justice Street, Crossville PD. All units
responding 10-17.” The dispatcher
relaying the message to all available units was urging them to hurry (10-17).
We wanted to run to Crossville. We wanted to help in some way; anyway
possible. Yet, there was nothing we
could do. We were not able to do
anything but sit, cry and pray. Later
the word came that Stevie Thompson had died, the subjects were in custody and
everyone was safe.
In order for the public to be safe, I thought, an
officer of the law had to die. He died
bravely; he died doing what he felt was a calling. He died doing his job.
At the age of 29,
Patrolman Stevie Thompson was on duty protecting the quiet streets of the small
Sand Mountain town of Crossville.
Stopping a car on Justice Street, Patrolman Thompson arrested the driver
for DUI. Her two sons, riding the vehicle,
exited the automobile and attacked the officer.
Gaining control of his service weapon, they shot him in the chest twice
before fleeing the scene with their mother.
All three were
apprehended a short time later. The
suspect who shot Patrolman Thompson was sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole on August 14th,
2006, and again on May 15th, 2012.
Patrolman Thompson was
survived by his expectant wife and young daughter. His second daughter was born three months
later.
It is not an easy life for a law enforcement
officer. It is dangerous, demanding and
desperately underpaid work. The officer
is always mindful that he or she may not see the end of their shift. They are out on the streets and roads and
county lanes protecting those of use who live in safety. They serve us in various ways. Sometimes they are required to give their
life for someone they have never met. Yet,
they do it, not because of the pay check or the honor that comes with the
respect of the public (because sometimes they get no respect), but they do what
they do because they want to invest in others lives.
As you may know, I am a law enforcement
chaplain. I serve with the Coosa County
Sheriff’s Office. We have 25
full-time/part-time paid employees and 30+ members in the Reserve Unit. As part of my formal training for the work of
a chaplain, I have taken courses in various functions of the spiritual and
emotional aspects of law enforcement.
These have given me the ability to work not only with the officers, but
the public at large in the event of a death or major catastrophic event.
Policeman’s Prayer
When I start my tour
of duty, God wherever crime may be, as I patrol these darkened streets alone,
let me be close to thee.
Please give me
understanding, with both young and old, let me listen with attention until
their story’s told.
Let me never make a
judgment, in a rash or callous way, but let me hold my patience, let each man
have his say.
Lord, if some dark and
dreary day, I must give my life, Lord with your everlasting love, protect the
loved ones in my life.
-From Facebook
Riding with the officers, spending time talking with
them and having time to discuss spiritual matters has afforded me to learn a
valuable piece of information. It is
something I never realized until the last four years. I have learned that even though we look on
them as super human beings-you know, “jumping buildings in a single bound”-they
are real people that hurt and bleed just like the rest of us.
At the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office our Sheriff,
Terry Wilson, each year declares a motto for the year. This year it is “The Year of
Preparedness.” Every chance he gets,
Sheriff Wilson reminds us that we need to be prepared for whatever may come our
way, and that means we must be ready mentally, physically, emotionally and
spiritually. Whether taking a life or
our life being taken, it is important to be prepared.
This week we remember those who have fallen, doing
what they loved to do; doing what they were called to do. We will honor the men and women who put a
shield on everyday and walk out of their homes and away from their families
wondering if they will return at the end of the day.
Take a moment and write a note, make a phone call or
speak to a law enforcement officer. The
encouragement you give them may be what they need at this moment.
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