an officer's life

This is a forward from a friend and local police officer. Sometimes we forget or take for granted what these men and women go through. The author is unknown.



You wonder why he pulled you over and gave you a ticket for speeding? He just worked an accident where people died because they were going too fast.
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You wonder why that cop was so mean? He just got done working a case where a drunk driver killed a kid.
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You work for 8 hours? He works for up to 18 hours.
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You drink hot coffee to stay awake? The cold rain in the middle of the night keeps him awake.
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You complain of a "headache", and call in sick? He goes into work still hurt and sore from the guy he had to fight the night before.
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You drink your coffee on your way to the mall? He spills his as he runs code to a traffic crash with kids trapped inside.
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You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket before you leave the house? He makes sure his gun is clean and fully loaded and his vest is tight.
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You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you? He watches his buddy get shot at, and wounded in front of him.
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You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls? He walks down the highway looking for body parts from a traffic crash.
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You complain about how hot it is? He wears fifty pounds of gear and a bullet proof vest in the middle of July and still runs around chasing crack heads.
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You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong?He runs out before he gets his food to respond to an armed robbery.
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You get out of bed in the morning and take your time getting ready? He gets called out of bed at 2 am after working 12 hours and has to be into work ASAP for a traffic homicide.
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You go to the mall and get your hair redone? He keeps the bloody hair out of a college girl's face that just smacked the windshield in a crash while waiting for an ambulance.
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You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over? His shift ended 4 hours ago and there's no end in sight.
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You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight? He can't make any plans because on his off days he still gets called back into work.
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You yell and scream at the squad car that just passed you because they slowed you down? He's in the driver seat of the squad car, going to cut somebody out of their car only to find out that they're dead when he gets there.
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You roll your eyes when a baby cries in public? He picks up a dead child in his arms and prays that it was crying.
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You criticize your police dept and say they're never there quick enough? He blasts the siren while the person in front of him refuses to move while talking on their cell phone and doing their makeup.
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You hear the jokes about fallen officers and say they should have known better? He is a hero and runs into situations when everyone else is running away in order to make sure no one else gets hurt and loses his life doing it.
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You sit there and judge him, saying that its a waste of money to have them around? Yet as soon as you need help he is there.

my friend is an officer here in Central Oregon. also, my father-in-law is retired Portland police. if you think about it, say a prayer for all the men and women who serve and protect us as police officers, fire fighters and EMT. Their lives are of service to us. Make sure and thank them for it.

D