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Let's make every day Law Enforcement Day |
J.C Edwards
Guest Columnist
Jimmie Carl, wave to the nice policeman, he's our friend." Today those enduring words from my grandmother still bring a smile to my face.
Until we need help, or if we have broken the law, how often do we wave at, speak to, or even think about our State Troopers, our Sheriff and his Deputies, our Police Chief and his officers, our Constables and their deputies, etc maybe one day a year on Law {Enforcement Day?
The men and women who have the awesome and dangerous responsibility of protecting us, and like our fire-fighters and schoolteachers (two other dangerous occupations) our lawmen and women are highly underpaid.
Entry level for a Conroe Police Officer or Deputy Sheriff is about $35,000, with a max of "maybe" $50,000. Why in the world can't we pay our lawmen and women $50,000 at entry level, and at least? $100,000 max?
** Let's Get Our Priories
Straight
lf we can pay big bucks for a broken down new building, an overpriced old building, an useless "grassy knollpark," and spend $17 million on a football stadium, surely we can pay our lawmen and women a fair wage. Remember 9/11 and all the promises the feds made to law enforcement? Boy, howdy! Those promises sure made our "politicos" look good. Just think, six hundred illion ($600,000,000) for law Enforcement grants. It sounded like someone in Washington really gave a tinker's damn about our local security and law enforcement.
Well, a couple of Sundays ago, how do you think our high Sheriff and our Police Chief and their officers felt when they read in the Sunday Chronicle and Courier that the new proposed federal budget cuts law enforcement grants 90 percent? I mean, a 90 percent cut! The six hundred million has shrunk to only $60 million.
Our underpaid lawmen and women must be brave, know the law, follow procedure, respect a suspect's rights, and the paperwork must be correct.
The very best arrest, if not written up "by the book," may allow a guilty person to go free. Newsprint and television time is often dedicated to heroism or tragic mistakes by law officers, but what about the everyday, best-of-the-best cop on the beat?
Because of his training or his experience, or maybe he was just born with the ability, he or she can sum up a situation, whether it's a simple incident, or a serious crime scene.
Bravery beyond the Call of Duty
A 28-year old deputy sheriff is doing a routine drive, he gets a hot call, and backup is 20 minutes away. He's on the scene in three minutes. The deputy finds a 43-year old male beating a 19-year old girl. When the officer approaches, the man turns on him and a full-fledged fistfight occurs.
What is this well-trained, clean-cut father of two thinking? He must make a judgment call! Several adults and children have gathered. The deputy tries his pepper-spray, to no avail. If he draws his weapon someone may be injured or killed.
He chooses to subdue the man without using his weapon. The officer is fighting one-handed. He must protect his weapon from the man's grasp.
When backup arrives the suspect has been subdued and handcuffed. Just a Feeling or a Sixth Sense?
A jailer has an uneasy feeling about an 18-year old, first offender. He makes an extra check, prevents a suicide, and saves a life.
An officer decides not to arrest a 13-year old dropout for fighting and abusive behavior toward an officer. Instead, he returns the boy home, and a few days later drops by to chat and "listen" to the teenager.
They talk about school, the problems of having just one parent, trouble with neighborhood children, and the boy's future. A few years later the boy graduates with honors.
Just Being There
An old man stopped on South Fannin at a convenience store for gas; three men walked up and asked to "borrow money." It was obviously not a loan. There was no one else in sight, no help, and no witnesses, only the passing cars.
He was scared but stubborn; the men cussed and threatened him. Not knowing what else todo, with shaking hands, he pointed the gas nozzle toward the men, and said, "No." They threw down their cigarettes and their threats were louder. Suddenly, a deadly calm came over the old man.
A state trooper had stopped at the convenience store for coffee. The trooper was inside, but that glorious black and white chariot was right there.
Smiling, feeling very brave, the old man said, "You will burn in hell or go to jail." One of the would-be muggers said, "We were just kidding around, Mister." Then they were gone. The trooper, with cup in hand, got in his unit and left, unaware that his very presence may have saved a life.
Let Montgomery County Lead
I would like to speak directly to any peace officer reading this column: The work you do and your very presence anywhere, anytime is very important to us, and if I may be so bold, on behalf of the folks in Montgomery County, we say Thank you! Maybe we Montgomery County residents could lead Texas into making every day "Law Enforcement Day".
Living is great in Montgomery County!!
J.C. Edwards is a long time Montgomery County resident, a former Conroe ISD teacher and administrator, and businessman.
His thought for the day is "Our peace officers pay 6.4% of their salary to social security, Carlos Beltran pays about 1 millionth of 1% of his $20 million salary to social security. Raise the cap, for goodness sakes!"
