Public Safety
Do you remember Norman Rockwell, the painter the public loved because of his warm and often gently humorous depiction of ordinary life—back in the day? This particular painting, "The Runaway," appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in 1958. It shows a police officer caring about an eight-year old boy, who was most likely not very happy at the time with his living situation.
Did that situation happen only in the 1950's? Hardly! I love hearing the story of Alan Evans, CEO of the very successful, non-profit Helping Hands Re-entry Outreach Center, who is working with homeless people today. For twenty-seven years he himself was homeless — until a police officer took a personal interest in him. It changed Mr. Evans' life.
The basic job of today's police officer is not that different from what it was back in the 1950's: to protect individuals and their property from those who would hurt them. People who do what is right and good should not have to fear the police. People who do wrong—hurting others or their property — should fear the police.
Often police officers go beyond their basic duty and reach out in kindness to provide more—time and energy to listen to a little boy or a homeless man. Such officers deserve our special thanks and commendation!
Occasionally, a rogue police officer hurts people wrongly and unnecessarily. That officer needs to be held accountable. But how foolish it is to cry out, "Defund the police!" when the great majority of them are serving their communities and laying their own lives on the line to protect their communities . . .
. . . except when they are told to "stand down." There's something wrong when the police are "handcuffed" and the rioters are allowed to freely hurt others and their property. Political leaders who impede law enforcement from doing their lawful and needed work should be removed from office.
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