I Called a Cop by Barbara Edwards

I called a cop by Barbara Edwards

When I heard shots fired in the park behind my house, I called a cop.

When some idiot hit my car and took off, I called a cop.

When I heard a woman scream down the street, I called a cop.

When I got mugged, I called a cop.

And every time, they came.

Thank God.

A hundred years ago a man would hide his wife and children in the cellar if a bad person came to the door. He’d be lucky if he had a rifle for protection and time to use it. before cops, we were at the mercy of the strongest or meanest.

Police have been a sign of civilization. London was a crowded city before they hired men to patrol the streets and provide safety. This is true all over the world. A cop is a sign your neighbors care that the laws are obeyed.

The police are the only ones keeping the local neighborhoods and streets safe. That’s why countries without local police forces, but state, are run by fear.

A cop arrests the drug-pusher in the school grounds. A cop will escort a freezing homeless person to a nearby shelter. A cop is usually the first on scene when a fire alarm is pulled. A cop cleared the way to the hospital when my husband had a heart attack.

You’ll recognize a cop. He’s the one running towards danger.

When I look out the window and a cruiser drives slowly past, I thank God. They’re watching out for me.

When I drive past a bad accident and the police are there, I thank God. It wasn’t me because a cop was enforcing the traffic laws and I slowed down.

When I hear the news and the cops are working to solve a murder, I thank God. My family and friends are safe.

And if they’re not, I can call a cop.

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards 

http://www.shelfari.com/authorbarbara_edwards

Paranormal Love Features Reviewer at http://paranormallovefeatures.blogspot.com

Roses of Prose Contributor on 7th & 21st of month http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

https://about.me/barbara.edwards2

Author: Barbara Edwards

Riveting Romance with an Edge

17 thoughts on “I Called a Cop by Barbara Edwards”

  1. Barbara, thank you for so much for taking the time to call attention to the necessary, dangerous, and difficult job of a law enforcement officer, especially in light of all the bad press police departments have gotten the past few years, particularly in the recent months. It is such a shame that the media neglects to highlight all of the good things that our law enforcement officers (local, state, and federal) do each and every day just as a natural extension of who they are and not just because it’s their job.

    Most people don’t realize the complexities and challenges of the job or how lucky we are that so many dedicated men and women are willing to put themselves in harm’s way each and every day so that the community and country we live in is safer for all of us.

    We are always hearing about soldiers who serve in the military, and I bless them each and every one for the jobs they do (I come from a long line of soldiers myself), but our law enforcement officers (and other public safety employees like fireman, rescue technicians, medics, and 911 operators) rarely get the same praise, honor, or recognition. Yet, they do it each and every day anyway. They too are in a war, a constant one against drugs, crime, violence, and terrorism.

    I served in public safety over half my life (almost 25 years) with 15 of those as a law enforcement officer and forensics investigator, so I know first hand the trials and sacrifice, as well as the rewards, that the profession requires and offers, to those who are dedicated enough, brave enough, and selfless enough, to protect and serve without asking for or expecting anything in return.

    99.9% of the law enforcement officers I know are courageous and loyal men and women who are cops not for the “glory,” or the authority, and certainly not for the pay, but for the chance to make a real difference in the world and to protect not only their loved ones, but everyone’s families and loved ones.

    The job of a law enforcement officer is a challenging and multi-faceted one. In the course of a single day, they may have cause to serve in the role of protector, enforcer, investigator, mentor, problem solver, teacher, counselor, mediator, and/or social worker. They see and experience a lot of horrific and terrible things throughout the course of their careers. Some things no person should ever have to see or experience, but they keep getting up every day and going to work because they know what they do is necessary and needs to be done.

    They also get to experience the feeling of saving lives, helping those who can’t help themselves, and making a real difference in their communities, and the lives of others. This experience many times is their only reward.

    They are selfless and ask for nothing in return. They have to endure and experience the worst our society has to offer and sometimes they are put in impossible situations where they have to make difficult life or death decisions in an instant, and sometimes they are even forced to take a life to protect the life of themselves or others, or worse, to sacrifice their own. It’s unfortunate that so many people don’t really appreciate a police officer and their dedication and sacrifice until they need one, or until it is too late..

    Being a cop is not an easy life to live. It can be hard on the officer as well as on their families, because many times, the job has to come first, but most of the officers I know can’t imagine doing anything else because they the job is just an extension of who they are as people. I for one am very proud to have served and am so honored and appreciative of all of my “brothers and sisters in blue,” who have served, are still serving, and to those who will serve.

    Like

    Reply

  2. What a wonderful tribute to cops, Barbara! I come from a family of dedicated officers and now my son has joined the academy. Thank you! Loved this post and shared it with my family.

    Like

    Reply

  4. Barbara, please thank your husband for his service as a police officer! Law enforcement officers are the ones who put their lives on the line every day. They get up every morning and get ready for work, never knowing if they’ll be coming home. It’s a thankless job. And for all these protests and such going on right now, I have one thing to say: DO NOT RUN. OBEY WHAT THE POLICEMAN TELLS YOU TO DO. What’s so hard about that? ALL lives matter, but if you resist arrest or run away, yes, you are going to be apprehended and it might get a bit rough!

    I don’t know what we’d do without police officers there to protect us. I’m very thankful for them. I was a 911 operator for a short time. My hat’s off to everyone who does that job, and the officers who respond. It’s a stressful, heartbreaking, and in the case of those who must actually respond–a very DANGEROUS job.

    Thanks for this reminder to all of us.

    Like

    Reply

  5. Barbara,
    I agree – well written and poignant. I’d like to flesh out my thoughts here, too. I work as a 911 dispatcher in LA. When you call a cop, I answer the phone. Sometimes people are hysterical, sometimes they are composed. Sometimes you hear the concern aching in their voice. Most of the people who call have a problem. Some problems are major like a shooting, some aren’t – like loud music.

    Cops are trained to be ever viligiant on the job. If they let their guard down, even once, there’s a chance that the suspect/criminal they are facing will kill them. They’re training to elimate a threat before that threat hurts them or others.

    A criminal is a criminal, be they black, white, hispanic or asian, and I think the media have lost sight of that. A cop is also black, white, hispanic or asian. People need to be looked at by their actions, not race. Why were the police there in the first place? Because a good, honest, law abiding citizen called for them. A cop isn’t perfect, but they keep us safe to best of their ability, judgment and training. Not everyone can be a dispatcher – or a cop. The media not only needs to reports about a cop’s actions, but the criminal’s actions as well, and take a more balanced approach to reporting.

    Steph

    Like

    Reply

  9. It is hard to believe how much cops have made a difference in the world. Are there bad ones? Yes but there are bad people in every occupation. I’m glad that cops are here for us.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment