Earlier today we hosted the annual honor and memorial service for police officers killed in the line of duty. The luncheon was attended by officers from several departments and agencies, as well as community leaders. The speaker was the current Sherriff of Chester County, who retired from SLED after a long and very distinguished career in law enforcement. In addition to having been shot, he was involved for many years in the manhunt and investigation whenever an officer in SC was shot on duty.

One of his comments stuck with me. He said that police officers don’t have anyone to call. They can’t call 911 and ask for the police…because they are the police. He spoke with emotion about the risks they face and described a poster that hangs in his office. It depicts a door not fully open and asks if you would be willing to go through that door if you didn’t know for sure you would ever come out again. He said officers face that with each traffic stop, each domestic abuse call, with each drug bust, etc…

Then he talked about the families. The sacrifices they make and the fears they live with whenever their loved one is at work.

I watched a young woman wipe away tears when taps was played and flowers were presented to the families of those deceased offices. She appeared to be about 20 years old. I learned that her dad was one of those officers.

So the next time you deal with a police officer who is on duty, remember they are doing a job…an important and risky job. They don’t know you and they don’t know if you are a nice person or not. So be nice. Make their day easier. In other words, do what God tells us in Titus 3:1-2:

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.”

One final thought. Next time you see a police officer, say “thank you.”

Pastor Steve Hogg