August 9th was 133 days ago – the day Officer Darren Wilson fired the shots heard 'round the world. Since then, 49 police officers have been killed in the line of duty. Again, that’s FORTY-NINE police officers killed. Thirty of those deaths were by violent means (gunfire, assault, vehicular assault). The other 19 were auto accidents and heart attacks. THREE of those murders have occurred since the sun came up yesterday. Yet, our media and politicians want to scream from the rooftops about THREE OTHER deaths – the ones of felons fighting with officers. It feels like open season on officers. The hate mongers are getting their way while the news channels talk about Sony’s movie about a dictator.
For the year, 113 officers have given their lives. That’s up 11% over last year. The gunfire deaths alone are at 46, an increase of 56%. Have you seen any protests? Any outrage from “the reverends”? Our president? I haven’t. And I’m mad. But I’m more scared than mad. And more sad than scared. If mine gets killed or injured, he’s a statistic and they’ll say he signed up for it. Or he had it coming. Or that another pig got wings today.
People want to be furious and outraged over being stereotyped and profiled, yet these officers are dying because of the uniform they wear. A color that sets them apart. And a brass badge that weighs heavy on their chests. It seems like I’ve been cracked on the head and have woken up in Oppositeville.
I urge you to go out of your way to say ‘thank you’ to any officer you may see. Put a blue light in your window. Wear blue in support. And if he asks you to get out of the street – do it. It seems so simple.
A teenage boy and a new bride will lay their officers to rest this week while the rest of us celebrate Christmas with our families. Thousands of officers across America have put on their uniforms like a target on their back and gotten back out there. Hate is the Grinch that stole Christmas this year.
If Officer Wilson died in the street 133 days ago, nobody would've known his name.
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