Thoughts from Behind a Badge

The general public are sheep, cops are sheepdogs that watch over the flock, and criminals are the predators that prey on the sheep. This analogy has inspired books, seminars, clinics etc.... Many cops like this analogy for it's simplicity in categorizing society. Nothing derogatory is intended by referring to the public as sheep, but for the purpose of creating an understanding into the role of law enforcement in society it is a comparison that works. I apologize up front if anyone finds it offensive. My goal is simply to help promote a better understanding of the law enforcement profession and the mentality of the officers sworn to serve and protect.

A retired army Colonel (David Grossman) wrote a book titled "On Combat", in which he says's, "In nature, the sheep, real sheep, are born sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision. If you want to be a sheep, you can be a sheep and that is okay. But you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog to protect you. If you want to be wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down. You will never have any rest, safety, trust, or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warriors path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day, to dedicate, equip, and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door."

There is great nobility in dedicating yourself to police work. The general public for the most part, sees cops as figures of authority but seldom consider that at times, great personal risk is involved in serving and protecting.

Take for example, a deputy or trooper conducting a routine traffic stop. Everyone has seen a car pulled over with a cop standing beside it, and more than likely thought very little about it. Most people certainly wouldn't have thought about the calculated risk the officer took in making the stop. It could have been conducted for any number of reasons.

It then became necessary for the officer to make the stop in a location and manner that presented as little risk to the car being stopped, other motorists, and of course with his own safety in mind. The general public probably does not consider that the driver or other occupants of the car being stopped are now potentially dangerous unknowns that in many cases the officer will be facing alone. The best case scenario is that the officer encounters cooperative subjects and no serious incidents occur.

Unfortunately, not all traffic stops are routine, and not all subjects are cooperative. My point in all this rambling is that the average passer-by saw only a cop writing a ticket, when in fact; there was a servant of the community, performing a potentially dangerous task, at great personal risk.

Traffic enforcement is only one activity among many during which law enforcement officers could encounter mortal danger. Crowd control in a large public venue is another and drug interdiction another. Domestic violence cases are yet another, and frequently erupt into explosive conflict. The potential for injury or worse is present in all of these activities, and cops face these dangers every day.

I consider it a privilege to be able to serve my community as part of the law enforcement profession. I feel that I am well suited fort his kind of work. I understand the risk involved in my job and willingly accept them. I am not looking for thanks or gratuities. It is simply my wish that people understand that my professional peers and I are more than just uniforms. We are the sheepdogs that protect the flock. We are the minority serving the majority.

Now that you can relate more personally with cops and their role in the community, who are the sheep?

Grossman said that real sheep are naturally peaceful creatures, only capable of hurting each other by accident, and like sheep, the general public seldom have aggression towards one another. I believe that to be mostly true. Sadly, like sheep, many in the general public lack the survival instincts necessary to defend themselves when confronted by the wolves. Hence the need for protection.

Who are the wolves? The wolves are those who prey upon the weaknesses of others. They are the criminals who have no regard for society and could care less about the effect their actions have on other people.

As a rule, the general public knows more about criminals and the crimes they commit than it knows about the law enforcement community and its efforts fight those crimes. The media has made sure of that. Crime is news that sells. Most average citizens view crime in the news quite impersonally because of the way it is reported. And like sheep seeing another one of their kind mauled by the wolves, they distance themselves and are simply grateful that it isn't happening to them. It's just television or radio, or an article read on the internet. It is presented with commercial interruptions, pop-ups, or colorful banners, so it's no surprise to me that it is not taken more seriously or felt more personally. Like me, most cops view crime in the news very personally. I often ask myself how I might have prevented an incident I viewed on the news, if I had been an officer there at the time.

Not all wolves look like wolves, and crime comes in many different forms. Violent crimes naturally receive the most attention, but it is non violent crime that makes up the bulk of criminal activity in this country. Consider that there are roughly 300 million people in America, most of whom are peaceful, law abiding citizens. Only a very small percentage are violent criminals. Of those, many are repeat offenders. It is for that reason that most people will go through life without ever being the victim of a violent crime.

It's the other criminals; those wolves in sheep's clothing that commit the greatest share of crimes in America. Because they blend in with the rest of society they are able to undermine authority with frequent success. You won't know them for who they really are because they disguise there ill intent very well. They live among us, work with us, and sometimes represent us in public offices. Their crimes usually affect great numbers of people. Counterfeiters, extortionists, and identity thieves are among these hidden criminals. Some are small time, presenting little danger, but others are in positions to have a huge affect. Take for example the Savings and Loans scandal. The affairs surroundings the CEO of AIG, or a Governor selling a vacant senate seat to the highest bidder. I am always quite pleased when these types of criminals are brought to justice.

Now back to the good guys.... Who are we really?

We are just like you. We are husbands and wives, parents and students. We are baseball coaches and scout masters. We volunteer in our communities. We have the same concerns and responsibilities that you have, such as caring for our families, and paying our bills. And we are not super heroes. We get sick just like you, and depressed just like you. And just like you we know joy and love, fear and anger, and every other possible human emotion.

But, by choice, we are also very different than you.

As law enforcement officers we have made that conscious, moral decision to dedicate, prepare, and equip ourselves to act on your behalf when the need arises. We have willingly and knowingly become the sheepdogs whose responsibility it is to watch over and protect the flock in spite of the dangers associated with that task. Placing ourselves between you and those who would bring you harm is a driving force in our lives and we consider an honor and a privilege to do so.

The material in this article is the opinion the author and not representative of any agency or government office. Readers that wish to comment on this article are welcome to do so. Only objective comments and opinions will receive a reponse.