Thursty
Well-Known Member
- Location
- Green River
I would just like to say as a Sheriff's Deputy here in Utah I appreciate all the comments on this post. We as LEO are very lucky to work and live in an area with so much support. I have been to my share of LEO funerals and the show of community support is always amazing. To go back a bit and answer the question of why funerals are done the way they are, here is my take. It's because we can and I don't mean this in a self centered or "better than you" sort of way. We in the LEO and Fire community just have the ability and resources to do it this way. I appreciate the sacrifices made by our military personnel as much as anyone and when the call comes out to assist with an escort for their unfortunate return home (or in any other way) I'm the first in line. I also appreciate sacrifices made by anyone who dies on the job. No one who goes to work should have to worry about not coming home. Those that have accepted that possibility as a matter of course do what we do.
The following are not my words but those of a friend when they were posed the same question. "“Why?”
Somebody asked me that today. “Why do they do all of THIS when a police officer dies?” They didn’t say it disrespectfully…they were asking about the tradition and meaning behind each of the different parts of the funeral and services. Why bagpipes? What is the “End of Watch”? Why do the helicopters do a fly over? As I sat with them and explained, the question begin to weigh heavily on my heart. You see, “why” isn’t the question we should ask – the question we SHOULD ask is:
How?
HOW can a police officer strap on a gun and step out into a world that more and more exhibits only distaste and mistrust…and sometimes, downright anger and resentment? Day after day, HOW do they pin that badge on and step out into such a dangerous world?
HOW does a firefighter, over and over, slide down that pole when the gongs go off? How do they put on their turnouts and run into danger?
Is it courage…yes. It’s also great training and professionalism that help them do the job and do it safely. BUT it is so much more than that.
They do it because they KNOW that when an officer calls 10-33 or 9-1 on the radio. When a firefighter calls “MayDay”. When the call of “shots fired” rings out. WE’RE COMING!! In that moment it DOES NOT MATTER what patch you have on your shoulder, what color your car is, or whether you come from a big department or small – WE’RE COMING – WE’RE ALL COMING!!! When those calls come on the radio…that unseen but critical part of our team listens closer, codes the channel, and 4 beeps or warble tones and sends help – A LOT OF HELP. Ambulances are coming, chopper blades are turning, and WE’RE ALL GOING TO DO ANYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO HELP YOU GET HOME TONIGHT. My department car’s radio scans the channels of the police departments we respond with. Two Sundays ago, I heard it! THEY REALLY WERE ALL COMING!
And if, heaven forbid, we don’t get there in time…if it’s too late…WE’RE STILL COMING. What we saw today, was those thin blue, red, and gold lines coming for one of our own. Last weekend we saw family doing their best to fill a father’s shoes, and what you saw today was a lot of people, who have the guts to put it all on the line every day to protect and serve and preserve lives and property because they know, that if fate calls for one of us, WE’RE ALL COMING!!!
Today I paid respect to a man that I have only met a couple of times…I shed tears for someone I hardly know…because I believe that had the roles been reversed he would have done the same. Because if it was ME, I take comfort in knowing that Y’ALL WOULD BE COMING!!!
Generally, my Facebook friends are made up of my family. That may be my blood family, my fire family, my brother’s and sisters in blue, or those in gold sitting at the console…they are all my family and I love them. In a few cases my blood family and my public safety family are one in the same. I’ll defend them all. And if something goes wrong, remember - WE’RE COMING!!
If you have something disparaging to say, please keep it to yourself. I’ll delete it and I’ll unfriend you. I’ll debate with anyone the circumstances we’re in – and what brought us to this point…but not here, and not today. Today, please show the respect for these men and women I call family and friends – and stand with me – and them – as we honor Officer Barney."
Now my words again. I can personally say there are few sounds more comforting to an LEO than the cavalry (in the form of a pissed off American V-8 motor) coming when you call for backup. When we couldn't be there to backup Officer Barney, or anyone else, we will be there to back up their family. We will be there!
Sorry for the lengthy reply. Thank you.
The following are not my words but those of a friend when they were posed the same question. "“Why?”
Somebody asked me that today. “Why do they do all of THIS when a police officer dies?” They didn’t say it disrespectfully…they were asking about the tradition and meaning behind each of the different parts of the funeral and services. Why bagpipes? What is the “End of Watch”? Why do the helicopters do a fly over? As I sat with them and explained, the question begin to weigh heavily on my heart. You see, “why” isn’t the question we should ask – the question we SHOULD ask is:
How?
HOW can a police officer strap on a gun and step out into a world that more and more exhibits only distaste and mistrust…and sometimes, downright anger and resentment? Day after day, HOW do they pin that badge on and step out into such a dangerous world?
HOW does a firefighter, over and over, slide down that pole when the gongs go off? How do they put on their turnouts and run into danger?
Is it courage…yes. It’s also great training and professionalism that help them do the job and do it safely. BUT it is so much more than that.
They do it because they KNOW that when an officer calls 10-33 or 9-1 on the radio. When a firefighter calls “MayDay”. When the call of “shots fired” rings out. WE’RE COMING!! In that moment it DOES NOT MATTER what patch you have on your shoulder, what color your car is, or whether you come from a big department or small – WE’RE COMING – WE’RE ALL COMING!!! When those calls come on the radio…that unseen but critical part of our team listens closer, codes the channel, and 4 beeps or warble tones and sends help – A LOT OF HELP. Ambulances are coming, chopper blades are turning, and WE’RE ALL GOING TO DO ANYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO HELP YOU GET HOME TONIGHT. My department car’s radio scans the channels of the police departments we respond with. Two Sundays ago, I heard it! THEY REALLY WERE ALL COMING!
And if, heaven forbid, we don’t get there in time…if it’s too late…WE’RE STILL COMING. What we saw today, was those thin blue, red, and gold lines coming for one of our own. Last weekend we saw family doing their best to fill a father’s shoes, and what you saw today was a lot of people, who have the guts to put it all on the line every day to protect and serve and preserve lives and property because they know, that if fate calls for one of us, WE’RE ALL COMING!!!
Today I paid respect to a man that I have only met a couple of times…I shed tears for someone I hardly know…because I believe that had the roles been reversed he would have done the same. Because if it was ME, I take comfort in knowing that Y’ALL WOULD BE COMING!!!
Generally, my Facebook friends are made up of my family. That may be my blood family, my fire family, my brother’s and sisters in blue, or those in gold sitting at the console…they are all my family and I love them. In a few cases my blood family and my public safety family are one in the same. I’ll defend them all. And if something goes wrong, remember - WE’RE COMING!!
If you have something disparaging to say, please keep it to yourself. I’ll delete it and I’ll unfriend you. I’ll debate with anyone the circumstances we’re in – and what brought us to this point…but not here, and not today. Today, please show the respect for these men and women I call family and friends – and stand with me – and them – as we honor Officer Barney."
Now my words again. I can personally say there are few sounds more comforting to an LEO than the cavalry (in the form of a pissed off American V-8 motor) coming when you call for backup. When we couldn't be there to backup Officer Barney, or anyone else, we will be there to back up their family. We will be there!
Sorry for the lengthy reply. Thank you.
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