A Part of America Died Today Somebody killed a policeman today, and a part of America died. A piece of our country he swore to protect will be buried with him at his side. The suspect who shot him will stand up in court, with counsel demanding his rights, while a young widowed mother must work for her kids and spend alone many long nights. The beat that he walked was a battlefield, too, just as if he had gone off to war. Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half-mast, to his name they will add a gold star. Yes, somebody killed a policeman today. It happened in your town or mine. While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors, a cop put his life on the line. Now, his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street, and he stands at each new rookie's side. He answered the call and gave us his all, and a part of America died. In A Cop’s Days Work I wish I could take back some of the things that being an officer in this town brings. I never imagined this world was so cruel. I pinned on my badge and was a different fool. It doesn't protect you, but makes you aware of how hard you work and how little they care. You're doing your best to protect everyone you become a target because of your gun. I can't count the times I've heard someone say "Cops never grow up, they just like to play." I only wish these "games" weren't for real. They are often deadly and the wrong move kills. I get out everyday and have loads of fun. Wouldn't you, looking down the wrong end of a gun? Or fighting a kid gone wild on PCP. How many of you would trade places with me? Or stand up beside me when I arrest your kid, who spits on me and claws me for something he did? Or stand up in front of a partying crowd, and tell them that they're being entirely to loud? Or writes a ticket to your pastor's mother, and that DUI was your best friends brother? How would you handle a kid smoking dope, who says he does it because he just can't cope? Could you be the one to tell a mother her son just died at the hands of another? Or arrive on the scene of a two car wreck where an infant just died from a broken neck? Or walk in a house that you live beside and discover a head blown off in suicide? Not me, you say, then tell me just who will do a job you don't care to do? It isn't all bad, Thank God it's true. A few of them say, "Officer, thank you." In my heart I know I'd rather be doing this by far. It is not what you do, it is who you are! Just a Cop The funeral line was long, There's an awful lot of cars, Folks came out of the restaurants, They came out of the bars. The workers at the construction sites, all let their hammers drop. Someone asked, "What is all this for?" And they said, "Aw, just a cop." Some chuckled at the passing cars, Some shed a silent tear. Some people said, "It's stupid," "all these dumb policemen here." "How come they're not out fighting crime?" "Or in a doughnut shop?" "Sure is a lot of trouble, For someone who's just a cop." They blocked the intersections, They blocked the interstate. People yelled and cursed, "Damn, this is gonna make me late!" "This is really ridiculous!" "They're making us all stop!" "It seems they are sure wastin' time, On someone who's just a cop." Into the cemetery now, The slow procession comes. The woeful Taps are slowly played, There's loud salutes from guns. The graveyard workers shake their heads "This service is a flop." "There's lots of good words wasted, On someone who's just a cop." Yeah, just a cop to most folks. Did his duty every day. Trying to protect us, Until they took his life away. And when he got to heaven, Saint Peter put him at the top. An angel asked him, "Who was that?" And he said, "Aw, just a cop." Tears of a Cop I have been where you fear to be. I have seen what you fear to see. I have done what you fear to do. All these things I've done for you. I am the one you lean upon. The one you cast your scorn upon. The one you bring your troubles to, All these people I've been for you. The one you ask to stand apart. The one you feel should have no heart. The one you call the officer in blue. But I am human, just like you. And through the years I've come to see That I am not what you ask of me. So take this badge and take this gun. Will you take it? Will anyone? And when you watch a person die, And hear a battered baby cry. Then so you think that you can be All those things you ask of me? What is a Cop? Cops are human (believe it or not), just like the rest of us. They come in both sexes and in all sizes. Cops are found everywhere, on land, on sea, on horses, in cars, in the air, and sometimes in your hair. In spite of the fact "you can't find one when you need one", they're usually there when it counts the most. The best way to get one is to just pick up the phone. Cops deliver lectures, babies, and bad news. They are required to have the wisdom of Solomon, the disposition of a lamb, and muscles of steel. They are the ones who ring the doorbell, swallow hard, and tell you a loved one is dead. Then they spend the rest of the night, wondering why they took such a crummy job. On TV, a cop is an oaf who couldn't find a bull fiddle in a phone booth. In real life he is expected to find a blond boy, "about so high", in a crowd of half a million people. In fiction he gets help from private eyes, reporters and "whodunit fans". In real life, most of what he gets from the public is, "I didn't see nuttin". If he serves a summons, he's a monster. If he lets you go, he's a doll. To little kids, he's either a friend or a bogeyman, depending on how their parents feel about it. He works around the clock, split shifts and holidays. When a cop is good, "he's getting paid for it." When he makes a mistake, "he's a jerk and that goes for the rest of them, too." When he shoots a stick up man, he's a hero, except when the stick up man is "only a kid, anyone coulda seen that." Many cops have homes. Some of them are covered with ivy, but most of them are covered with mortgages. If he drives a big car, "He's on the take," if he drives a little car, "Who's he kidding?" A cop sees more misery, bloodshed and grief than anyone else. His uniform changes with the weather, but his outlook on life remains about the same, mostly upbeat and optimistic, hoping for a better world. Cops like days off, vacations, and coffee. They don't like auto horns, family fights, or anonymous letters. They have unions but they can't strike. They must be impartial, courteous and remember the slogan "at your service." This is sometimes hard, especially when some character reminds him, "I am a taxpayer, I pay your salary." Cops get medals for saving lives, stopping runaway horses, and shooting it out with bad guys (sometimes the spouse gets the medal). But the most rewarding moments come when, after some small kindness to an older person, he feels a warm hand clasp, looks into grateful eye and hears.... "Thank you and God bless you, officer." Who Cries for the Cop? Who cries for the Cop... Walking his beat... Down a mean street... Where violent men hold sway... Where life is cheap... And Death doth keep... His tally day-by-day... Who cried for the cop... When assault is made... With flashing blade... And guns that shatter the night... And scanners sound... Of "Officer down!" Tells of his helpless plight... Who cries for the cop... When the ambulance wail... Tells a mournful tale... Bringing tears to a widow's eyes... Who gives a damn... When triggers slam... And a brave policemen dies? Who cries for the cop... With bloodstained shield... As life doth yield... And his labored heartbeats stop? Tell me true... I'm asking YOU... Who cares? Who cries for the Cop? Police Sacrifice While you are asleep, we are out there. When you are sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, or celebrating Christmas, we are out there. When its raining and cold, and your glad to be in your home with your family, we are out there. When it's your children's birthday, we are out there. When it's our children's birthday, we are still out there. You put on a suit and dress to go to work, we strap on a ballistic vest and a gun. There is little room for error in your job, in ours - there is none. An error by you means a demotion, an error by us means a funeral. When you tell your family, "See you tonight" as you leave for work, you mean it. When we tell our family that, we pray we will. At your job, you strive to succeed, at our job, we strive to survive. In your job, one bad person is the talk of the office. In our job, one bad officer makes news and suddenly we are all bad. In these headlines, it is not what good we have done, but how much better it could have been done. When you are scared, you call us. When we're scared, we must carry on. While you are eating a home cooked meal, we are having another fast-food hamburger. While you are asleep with your spouse, ours sleep alone. So the next time you are out with your family or friends, and you see a patrol car go by, remember the incredible sacrifice made by these officers every day. Inside that car is a person willing to sacrifice his or her life, both professionally and personally, Every day. A Cop on the Take First he takes the oath. Now look at all he takes... He takes it in stride when people call him pig. He takes time to stop and talk to children. He takes your verbal abuse, while giving you a ticket you really deserved. He takes on creeps you would be afraid to even look at. He takes time away from his family to keep you safe. He takes your injured children to the hospital. He takes the graveyard shift when it’s his turn. He takes his life into his hands on a daily basis. He takes you home when your car breaks down. He takes time to explain why both your headlights have to work. He take to job no one else wants - reporting that a loved one has died. He takes criminals to jail. He takes in sights that would make you cry. Sometimes he cries too, but he takes it anyway because someone has to. If he is lucky, he takes retirement. He takes memories to bed each night, that you couldn't bear for even one day. Sometimes, he takes a bullet. And, yes, occasionally he may take a free cup of coffee. Then one day he pays for all he has taken, and God takes him. |
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