January '10 Community—Parker Philpot's From Parker's Pen Column

Not-So-Secret Service Protects Us

Twice, since I joined our community here online at VCO, I’ve been compelled to write a segment in tribute to a slain public servant with a badge. This week, as our Las Vegas community is painfully aware, veteran officer Stanley Cooper, 72, was shot and killed in the line of duty; another longtime law enforcement officer, U.S. Marshal Joe Gardner, was injured during the one-man, homicidal-suicidal attack at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas.

Yet again, I will post the image of another slain father, son, community member and friend of many, and someone who deserves a tribute for his service. I did not know him, but as a member of the public, I was covered by these officers’ self-less service.

Veteran Officer Stanley Cooper

Officer Cooper’s photo joins that of Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns slain in the attack on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in New York (see “Bigger Than Hate,” From Parker’s Pen, June 9, 2009). I extend my same written sentiments to our local servant, his family and bereaved community, as well.

All of the officers killed and wounded were victims in the moment; innocent targets of separate shooters, thousands of miles apart. It calls each of us to conscious action and responsibility to make a change in our thinking and in our outreach.

IN TRIBUTE TO OFFICERS

Every fallen protector along with those injured, serve as tragic metaphors for society’s responsibility in critical areas. We must be proactive in a positive response, not a vengeful one, but one of collectively using insightful action to prevent as many future incidents as possible.

Remembering Their Service

For one, we must each better respect those who protect us, serving with honor and integrity. They are not perfect; they are human. They may not all call for being named “heroes,” per se, but they serve a heroic duty every day of their careers.

I’m encouraging a greater public consciousness about the risks and daily commitments every law enforcement officer undertakes for our greater safety.

Never take it for granted, and honor them before they show up in eulogy on sad news reports and obituary photos with closing years on both sides of the dash.

Set aside any personal beef arising from the actions of one or more badge-wearers who would be better placed in another profession; those stains in law enforcement that comprise a small group of rogues are a tiny minority to be weeded out (and some of them may even be salvageable with help, support and professional counseling services). Recognize that even they, too, have served largely to protect in some favorable ways in their service careers. The majority of our protectors take their jobs seriously enough to die for us.

Take Time For Them
Know that at any future, unpredictable moment, any one of the living brave men and women in law enforcement could and would willingly take a bullet for you or me—even that cop who gave out a traffic ticket and didn’t cut a break or a smile the way a driver would prefer. Thank him or her, too, even while accepting the ticket with a grumble or a mumble. You can’t foresee if that motorcycle cop may be the one in the future to save your life in a crisis event. That’s the job police officers sign on to do, not to bum out your day with a traffic stop.

Community Events Promote Public Safety

Think about that. We often casually say, sometimes tongue-in-cheek, that the job of any U.S. Secret Service agent is to “take one” for the prez—any president he or she serves.

Well, each American citizen and visitor has a contingent of not-so-secret service agents: police officers, security guards, campus police, courthouse marshals, mall cops and countless others who wake up every day, put on a uniform, a weapon or proceed undercover amongst us, all willing to “take one” for a stranger. They would take the bullet in order to protect you and me. So sadly, many have.

Animals who serve us with a badge.

Let’s give them an extra dose of respect. Give a bigger smile to the next one you pass on the road. Give them your help and support when asked. Give them your input at community meetings held all across the valley. Metro substations hold open meetings once every month. Go. Speak. Shake their hands, now, because you can.

Give them only constructive criticism to help make the field of law enforcement better by resolving internal problems when there are legitimate concerns or conflicts. Gripe about the “bad ones” you may have encountered, but give the overwhelming majority of “great ones” your trust and best regards without biased stereotyping.

Value their existence more with each passing day, because with each turn of the calendar, our society grows more restless in its spirits. Those amongst us who have internalized rage, fear, shame, resentment, confusion, hatred and other things hidden in troubled minds and damaged spirits are in need of fast help.

Training to Protect Our Public Safety

When help isn’t found in time, then the result could be a human tragedy that threatens to involve any of us, at any time. In this regard, another thing we can do collectively is to embrace the message and carry it to others that there should be no secret shame in seeking any kind of help needed. Look on VCO for numbers of mental health centers and hotlines.

Our neighborhoods, work sites, schools, recreational places, towns, cities and United States of America are blessed with relative calm compared to many war-torn places. So rest assured in the comfort of knowing that together we can keep it that way, but only through responsible actions and respect for our peace officers in every area of public safety and law enforcement.

Without walking in fear or distress, today, walk safer and more secure, knowing that we have some superb not-so-secret agents surrounding every one of us, every day and always.

Photos Courtesy: LVMPD emAlbum Gallery