Respect Our Cops 1
The bottom line is we need cops whether we like it or not. Here are a few reasons why.
Being a cop is a demanding and stressful job. There are not many people (including some cops) who can do the job and do it well. Whether you hate, love, or just tolerate cops, have respect for them. Imagine living in a world without them.
The Traffic Ticket
You’re driving down the road with the radio turned all the way up. You are listening to a song that matches your mood something up beat. It’s a perfect day because you got a promotion and maybe your wife called saying she’s pregnant. Just perfect!
Out of the corner of your eye you see a police car half hidden behind a fence. You hit the brakes and the front end of your car dips almost hitting the street (don’t worry it wasn’t that obvious.) At the same time you look down at the speedometer. Oops, you were doing fifteen over the speed limit.
You keep driving, but don’t look at the cop. You know his head is on a swivel as he eye balls you, but if you can’t see him then he can’t see you, right? Wrong! He’s got you.
The red and blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror make your stomach tighten. Your heart feels like it’s coming through your chest. Breathing suddenly seems impossible and you start to sweat. Let’s face it no one likes to be pulled over. It’s nerve racking. Even cops don’t like to be pulled over, believe me I know.
The cop hands you the ticket and since he was in a good mood he only wrote you for five miles over the speed limit, not fifteen. He probably saved you at least fifty bucks. You are polite to the cop or maybe you’re not, but as you drive away you scream at the top of your lungs (now that you can breathe again.) You curse his mother for birthing him.
Getting a traffic ticket is never fun. I have had my fair share of them. One of them even cost me $230.00 (ouch). There are reasons Police Officers enforce traffic laws. Obviously, the first is for public safety.
There were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the United States in 2005. The financial cost of these crashes is more than 230 Billion dollars. 2.9 million people were injured and 42,636 people killed. About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States — one death every 13 minutes.
The Traffic Complaint
Every day someone is calling your local Police Chief and complaining about a speeding problem in their neighborhood. When the traffic and patrol officer’s start writing more tickets to stop the problem people complain. It’s like a double-edged sword, if you grab the blade you will get cut.
People think cops are given quotas’ to fill. That’s a myth. This is not a money making scheme. This is about saving a life or preventing what happened in the photo at right.
Don’t judge cops too harshly because the gave you a ticket for speeding or some other infraction.
Understand what it takes to attempt to breathe life back into a three-year-old girl that was hit by a car, but in the end the three-year-old girl doesn’t make it.
The job of a Police Officer is a difficult one at times. Sometimes they face and see things they never imagined and will remain with them. There is undeniably a job that needs to be done and we should be lucky there are those who offer themselves to serve the community.
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Post CommentJ Petersen
On April 8, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I loved it! Coming from the side of a cops mother it really states what they go through and why cops are so important to our families, friends and communities. We may not like being pulled over or being arrested or whatever,but if we think about it we all are responsible for our actions and bring these kind of penalties upon ourselves. Could you imagine not having police to govern our streets. We could be another Iraq. Thanks to all of those who serve our country, communities and especially our families. This article also was a serious matter but at the same time had a sense of humor that made me laugh. Great Article!!
Civil Servant
On April 8, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Great read! Keep-um’ coming. Try reading your story backwards. This is a good way making sure there are no spelling errors. like: “the” when you meant “they.” Other than that I want to read more of your stories.
Joseph D. Byington
On April 8, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Excellent article! Our society not only needs more cops, but more qualified ones. The fact that we have one here expressing himself through the written word, and doing a great job of it, gives me more faith in where we are going as a society. Well done Mr. Beavers.
Adrienne Taeoalii
On April 8, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Thanks for the insite. I couldn’t imagine being a cop (though sometimes I wish I was when I see people who seriouly need to be pulled over), it doesn’t seem like a job that gets the respect that is deserved. I hope you are able to see more inspirational things on duty and less things that could possibly destroy you inside. I commend you and your fellow officers for what you do and how you are able to do them. PLEASE STAY SAFE OUT THERE!!!! You are loved more than you may realize!
Taucia Jensen
On April 9, 2008 at 12:13 am
Thank you for the reminder of how important it is to be a “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER”. I use the words “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER” to remind us that they aren’t just a generic word, they are enforcing the laws that we voted for. They enforce the very laws that we need to keep this blessed land running peacefully. They enforce the laws that we either aren’t able to enforce or that we don’t want to enforce by ourselves. I find it funny that I read this article today, because I was just pulled over last night. I had a broken tail light and the officer asked me if I knew that it was broken, I happily and honestly told him yes. He then happily asked for my license, registration and drivers license. He then ran my information and found out that I was not a criminal and there were no other outstanding warrants for my arrest. (This is funny because I live in such a small town that everyone knows everything about everyone. I was actually surprised that I didn’t know this particular “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER”, he must have been new to the force. We must have him over for dinner some time in the near future) Even though he was only pulling me over for a very minor offense, this article has made me reflect upon the service they are doing for our community (small as it is), and that if there were ever anything serious to happen, our “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS” would be the people we would expect to help us. We are trained as small children that you can always trust a “LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER”. This article has given me a new outlook on how much respect we give them and that maybe everytime we see them we should salute them like we would a returning soldier from war. THANK YOU
Keith Sargent
On April 9, 2008 at 10:00 am
I liked your article. I liked the humor and the reasoning. I think we, as a public, need marketing material – written and visual – that shows the reasoning behind traffic tickets. Maybe if we read and see enough heart wrenching stories, we may start to be a little more aware of how our actions affect the lives of countless others. I respect your office and honor you as much as I do the service men and women that serve in the military. God bless you and stay alert and safe!
Elizabeth Wilcox
On April 9, 2008 at 11:20 am
I, too, liked your article. Although you expressed a little humor, you hit some good points, and not just from your own perspective either. I believe it was last summer that I got pulled over. I forgot what the speed limit was and was going a little too fast. The funny thing is that he got me in my drive way. He ran my information and warned me so slow down. We thought it was funny that it happened in my drive way. So, just because you drive that road everyday, does not mean that you should speed or not follow the law! Be careful out there!
Skye Sargent
On April 9, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Well I thought this article was well put together. I enjoyed reading the thoughts of an Officer on the job. I too have been pulled over a few times for my inability to let up on the peddle. It has cost me plenty of money. At times I felt that some officers were just filling their quotas, but I would like to believe they were just protecting the public. I don’t believe that quotas are a myth, they ARE a revenue making scheme. Cities and departments have admitted to this over the years. In June 2005, MSNBC reported that the New York City police department used a quota system. In that story, two police sergeants said they were assigned quotas, and their supervisor admitted writing a memo in which quotas were only part of an officer’s assessment. I believe Mr. Beavers you are a good cop based on your writing and wit. I only hope you do not fall under these circumstances of pressure to fulfill QUOTAS. Good luck and continue your great work as a Police Officer and an interesting Writer. I look forward to reading future work from you.
Dayna
On April 10, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Very good incite! Great Job!
Tandra Coomans
On April 10, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I enjoyed reading this atricle very much. I have had quite a few experiences with our law enforcement,by getting pulled over for speeding running light. however i have to say that not all of our law enforcement officer are mean almost all of the times that i have been pulled over i have been let off with a warning.I have had to pay a couple of times too. I have had a few friends that were in law enforcement, I know that people think that there is a quota, but seriously why would they put that kind of pressure on our law enforcement like that. there job is dangerous enough.I am very greatfull to each and every one that is in lawenforcement. May god bless each and every one of you and i look forward to reading more articles about our law enforcement.Thank you for all of your information it is very insiteful.
JoAnn Ramos
On April 14, 2008 at 11:50 am
Isn’t it amazing how soon we forget what the Police Officer really does for us, and how sad it is that children aren’t being taught to respect the law and those who uphold it? Personally, I’m glad that we have them to help us when we need help, to get the people that would do us harm, to be our friend, to be our lifesaver, and countless other jobs they do at their own risk of life. Thank you for all you do. Fabulous article!