I'm sure all of you have seen the image above. I always wonder if the general public knows what the image represents and what they think of it. For those of you who have never seen this image this is what law enforcement refer to as the "Thin Blue Line." Many law enforcement officers have license plates that bear this symbol while still others have bracelets that have the design above. The thin blue line, as its known, does not mean the same thing to everyone. For me the thin blue line means the separation of law enforcement officers from the criminal element. The blue line itself is how I envision police officers being separated from those that violate the law.
The way I envision this concept is that law enforcement officers make dozens of decisions everyday. Each of these decisions affects a persons life and ultimately can have far reaching affects. The decisions that law officers make and the ethics, morals and judgement that they use to make these decisions is what separates us from the criminal element. The thin blue line is symbolic not only because its color matches the uniforms that many in law enforcement are known for wearing, but because the line is "Thin." Think about that concept for a second. The thin blue line is very meaningful in that what separates law enforcement officers from the criminal element is our willingness and desire to do what is right. We all know that as law enforcement officers our decisions will routinely be called into question and from time to time we will make decisions that are wrong. What separates us however from the criminal element is the intent and legal foundation of our decisions. If we have nefarious intentions and we act in a way that is against the law then we have crossed the proverbial thin blue line and have entered the world of the criminal element.
This is an important point for police officers to keep in mind everyday. What separates law enforcement from the criminal element is not something that we can measure or reach out and touch. Rather the separation occurs because of the ethical and moral principles that guide our decisions as law enforcement officers.
For the general public that goes to work everyday and enjoys the weekends with their families they really have no idea what police officers have to deal with on an every day basis. I recently returned to patrol after being in an administrative position for the last several years. One of the first calls I responded to was that of a man who wanted to kill himself. This subject was armed with a knife and was known to be violent. Think about the circumstances of this call for a minute. How many and what kind of decisions do you think an officer has to contemplate before they arrive at a call like this. Well as the supervisor for this particular call I can tell that I made close to a dozen different decisions alone on this particular call. The reason why I use this example and the reason I bring this up is to give everyone some insight on just how many decisions law enforcement officers have to make on a daily basis. These decisions are not always the right ones and sometimes we do really stupid stuff(See all of my previous weeks blog postings). However on the other hand the men and women whom I have had the privilege of serving with over the last 20 years are good people. They knew this job would be tough and they knew the would never be millionaires. They know when they come to work everyday they may not make it home to see their families. The fact is that myself and the officers with whom I work are interested in serving the greater good. We go to work everyday and we try to leave a positive impact on our city and its citizens. Some days are better than others, but you can bet that when we return to work we will do our best to represent our citizens, our families and our fellow officers in a manner that would be respected by all. As I close out this blog I ask you to take solace in these facts and remember to thank an officer the next time you see them. I'd like to remind everyone that the stories you read in my blog over the last several weeks were the exception and not the rule. Law enforcement just like any other profession has bad apples. The facts are however that most officers are good, hard working people that are trying to combat all the ills of society.
Great job, Tony. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about police through your blog. I especially appreciate the "thin blue line" explanation. I always wondered about that symbol. You did a beautiful job describing what it represents to you. Thank you for your service!
ReplyDeleteTony, stay safe out there. It was good reading your blogs. I would have commented more but two of these classes while working and trying to do some family time in between is difficult. Keep your head low and your spirits high. I enjoyed talking with you.
ReplyDeleteJeff
Thank you very m much for your thought provoking blogs every week. I think you did an excellent job wrapping up your blog talking about the good the police do and the fact that we are taken for granted. The police are out of sight and out of mind as we go about our daily lives. We only think of the police when we need them or when they do wrong rather than appreciating the hardships they and their families face every day. Good luck to you in your professional and educational career.
ReplyDeleteTony,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say that I admire you for your service. I have respect for those who do a job that requires them to risk their own lives. In regards to the symbol, I really appreciate you explaining what it means to you. I have to admit; I have seen that symbol on cars before, even my family members.
Please note, that your commitment as well as those that serve in my community does not go unnoticed. You are correct, one bad apple does not spoil the whole batch. Honestly, I do not hold that against the good police who server their community such as yourself. Keep up the great work!!! It was great reading your blogs as well.
I too would like to thank you for your service. As I visit correctional facilities throughout the year, I am constantly reminded of the dedication that it takes to do your job. I appreciate the time and effort that it takes to make good decisions in this arena. Unfortunately, for many citizens the actions of the few bad apples have shaped their opinions of all law enforcement. Just like stereotyping people from a particular neighborhood, this assessment is completely unfair. I do believe that the overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers are good people.
ReplyDelete