It’s been a hard year for Law Enforcement officers, not just in my city, but across the country. Sadly, I’ve attended three police funerals and sat by the bedside of another who was critically injured. Thank goodness he is recovering. Several others on our department have also been injured. Even as we speak, a local Sherrif’s Deputy is fighting for his life. All this just here in Memphis, and the year is not over. It’s too much! It’s too much on our officers and too much for our law enforcement families. And this tragedy is happening all across the country, in communities large and small. What can we do?
There are a number of things we can do to cope and to move us toward a safer society. First, if it’s your thing, you can pray. It really does help. I’ve seen the power of a police mom’s prayers. We can remind our officers to wear their vest! It is not required in every department for every officer and it should be, in my opinion. We can encourage our officers to continue their training, especially in physical fitness and on the shooting range.
One of the most helpful things we can do to cope with our worries and the “what-if’s” is to come together. Make a connection with another police mom in your area. Join an in-person or on-line Police Moms group. Reach out to other moms who’ve been touched by tragedy and offer comfort. I promise, it’ll make you feel better too. We really are Stronger Together!