Friday’s Heroes: Remembering The Fallen
Officer Giovanni Gonzales, 23
Miami-Dade Police Department
Officer Giovanni Gonzales was killed in an automobile accident on June 16, 2009.
Trooper Jorge Dimas, 23
Wisconsin State Patrol
Trooper Jorge Dimas died on June 14, 2009, from injuries he received in a May 1009 automobile accident.
*Thanks to ODMP
Of course, this refers to the policeMAN because it was penned probably 30+ years ago. If Paul had written this today, he would have to write for the police officer, since so many woman are now numbered in the ranks, but the difficulties are the same for women, and perhaps even more so.
Lee, It occurred to me that posting the following might be appropriate for this “Friday’s Heroes” blog.
By the way, did you know Paul Harvey’s father had been a policeman and was killed in a robbery in the 30’s?
What Are Policemen Made Of? By Paul Harvey
Don’t credit me with the mongrel prose: it has many parents-at least 420,000 of them: Policemen.
A Policeman is a composite of what all men are, mingling of a saint and sinner, dust and deity.
Gulled statistics wave the fan over the stinkers, underscore instances of dishonesty and brutality because they are “new”. What they really mean is that they are exceptional, unusual, not commonplace.
Buried under the frost is the fact: Less than one-half of one percent of policemen misfit the uniform. That’s a better average than you’d find among clergy!
What is a policeman made of? He, of all men, is once the most needed and the most unwanted. He’s a strangely nameless creature who is “sir” to his face and “fuzz” to his back
He must be such a diplomat that he can settle differences between individuals so that each will think he won.
But…If the policeman is neat, he’s conceited; if he’s careless, he’s a bum. If he’s pleasant, he’s flirting;if not, he’s a grouch.
He must make an instant decision which would require months for a lawyer to make.
But…If he hurries, he’s careless; if he’s deliberate, he’s lazy. He must be first to an accident and infallible with his diagnosis. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and, above all, be sure the victim goes home without a limp. Or expect to be sued.
The police officer must know every gun, draw on the run, and hit where it doesn’t hurt.He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being “brutal”. If you hit him, he’s a coward. If he hits you, he’s a bully.
A policeman must know everything-and not tell. He must know where all the sin is and not partake.
A policeman must, from a single strand of hair, be able to describe the crime, the weapon and the criminal- and tell you where the criminal is hiding.
But…If he catches the criminal, he’s lucky; if he doesn’t, he’s a dunce. If he gets promoted, he has political pull; if he doesn’t, he’s a dullard. The policeman must chase a bum lead to a dead-end, stake out ten nights to tag one witness who saw it happen-but refused to remember.
The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman.
And, of course, he’d have to be genius….For he will have to feed a family on a policeman’s salary.