I Came To Work Today

I started this little blog project a while ago, but I stopped.  I didn't want to continually deal with the assault on my profession, but after last night, I just can't be silent anymore.  So, I'll re-initiate contact...

I woke up this morning and I came to work.  I was up very late last night, but I still got myself out of bed at 0430 and came to work.  I know, you're thinking, "Good for you buddy, I came to work too." You're right, you did, but it's different.  Last night five of my family members were ruthlessly assassinated while protecting people who were protesting their very existence.  Seven more of my family members were grievously wounded .  This happened while they were protecting a group who despises everything they stand for.  Yet my family protected this group, even when they began receiving gunfire, my family shielded these protesters with their own bodies and ran TOWARDS the gunfire to confront the evil. But we, "The Police," we are the bad guys, right?

Like I said, I came to work today.  I got up, I strapped on my vest, put my very distinctive looking uniform on, and I buckled on my duty belt.  I walked out of the house knowing I was a target, knowing people will hunt me, knowing when they see me they will instantly think, "Ah crap, why are the cops here?"  But this morning I left my wife and my children to go to work.  Because this is who I am, this is who WE are.  We will not be afraid, we will stand the line between you and the evil that you claim doesn't exist.  You will second guess every decision we make, you will spend hours dissecting something we did while reacting in a split second and trying to save our life.  We know this will happen, but we still came to work today.

Yes, I came to work today, I really hope I go home after my shift is done.  I have a family, I have lots of things I still want to do in this world, I'm really not that much different than you.  So, we both went to work today, you know you'll  be home later on.  Me, I'm not so sure, but I came to work anyway.

Stay Safe out there.

Original content by Michael McCarthy, posted to his Blog:  The Highway Ranger.