While this issue is coming out a full month after National Police Week, I’d still like to take a minute for it. May 15th is the official National Peace Officers’ Memorial Day, and whatever calendar week it falls in is commonly referred to as Police Week. I’ve always felt it was unfortunate that most Police Weeks start on Mother’s Day and I do truly feel bad for the mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the line of duty. I can’t imagine a greater pain than to lose a child, no matter their age, and I’ve seen too many moms and widows with children walking into the Police Memorial for the Candlelight Vigil services. That’s gotten too big for the Memorial space anymore, but the Vigil itself is still very impactful and emotionally charged. If you’ve never been to a Candlelight Vigil, and you wear a badge or support those who do, you NEED to go to one. It’s an experience like none other.
May also ended with our nation celebrating Memorial Day. Memorial Day commemorates all of the men and women who have died in military service to our nation. It’s a day that, I imagine, is recognized and celebrated with greater honor among those of us in law enforcement because such a large portion of us also served in some branch of the military before pursuing a career on the street. It can be emotionally overwhelming, if we’re not careful, to recognize and think about the numbers of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in uniform—military or law enforcement.
For that reason, I’d like to encourage all readers to also think about the numbers of our brothers and sisters, in either uniform, who commit suicide to escape their own thoughts, memories and emotions. Far too many die by their own hand, and I do truly believe that every one of them wants us to learn anything we can from their loss. When officers get killed on the street, we examine the instance and see if there were any mistakes made that we could avoid so we don’t suffer the same fate. Suicide awareness is much the same way. If we know what drove the loss then we can recognize it if we start to face the same challenges, but in knowing what’s going on we can seek the help or support we need. I believe that sometimes our biggest challenge is in admitting that we need that help or support and we try to face challenges alone. That makes no more sense than taking a fight call and responding alone when you have a whole squad to back you up.
Don’t fight the fights alone. Remember the fallen with honor. Do your best not to join their ranks.
