Strange how that number is repeating in my mind these last few days. It is wrapped around three events from the past week and the meaning of each has very different perspectives and impacts.

First off and most tragic, two NYC police officers were murdered when they responded to a domestic violence call. The youngest was only 22 years old, he was a newly-wed, married just 4 months to his childhood sweetheart. Detective Rivera was called to do a difficult job, a job not many understand or appreciate for the real challenges and dangers they face.

At his funeral his wife said, “The system continues to fail us. We are not safe anymore, not even the members of the service, I know you were tired of these laws, especially the ones from the new DA.”

These men and women face risk every day and these risks are compounded by the leadership and justice departments in many cities that in an attempt to feed the maddening crowd are becoming appeasers. They are appeasing the crowd by implementing no cash bail policies, minimum sentences, no arrests for crimes under certain values all of which has led to releasing offenders repeatedly back to the street. The criminals are emboldened, they are brazen in committing crimes because they know the consequences have fallen to an acceptable level and like most criminals, they are going to take advantage of an opportunity to game the system. The leadership, the district attorneys, and the judges know, or should know, the hazards the police face and what they personally lay on the line each day but they do not seem to care. They don’t seemed to care about what it is costing them or what it is costing departments in loss; loss of morale as well as life.

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police, “…as of midnight on 31 January, there have been 30 officers shot in the line of duty so far in 2022 (+67% from 2021 YTD). Of those officers shot, 5 of them were killed by gunfire.” When is it enough? A young man, only 22, lost his life.

Just like NYC, the leadership in many areas have put the morale and well-being of its officers second to the movement to remake the justice system. Officers are leaving, especially those who have seen all the horrors one too many times. It is society’s loss.

Secondly, as I have written about before, I am the mother of a Law Enforcement Officer. He has 22 years of service between two different departments and last week he left law enforcement. Between his service in law enforcement and the time he served in the Army he has devoted over half his life to public service.

Over his 22 year career, he has received numerous life saving awards, been part of major efforts to get drugs off the street, located underage children, stood against the riotous crowds during the BLM protests, and everyday he walked out of his front door, as every officer does, knowing that even if he did everything right that day it could be his last.

On the first day of 2022, by noon, he had already been to three deaths due to drug overdoses. How long can one see those horrors day in and day out and push it aside? At some point your health, your happiness, and your life become more important especially when you hear the leadership, your leadership, are not concerned about officer morale. There comes a time when you want to live the life you have left in peace, no conflict, no senseless deaths, no critiquing your every move and hating you for the job you do.

Best wishes to my hero, my son, as he begins this new chapter in his life. I pray the remainder of his life is filled with love, in a peaceful place, with someone he loves and maybe a donkey.

Finally, the last event is about Tom Brady who is retiring from football after 22 years. Yesterday and today all I have heard about is –The G.O.A.T. Yes, he is a talented athlete, his career has latest longer than most athletes in the field, he lead his teams to seven Super Bowl victories. He’s had an amazing life, full of accolades and stadiums full of cheering fans, but is he a hero?

Police officers have been heroes to many – they may not hear it about it in this life but know there are many, many people out there that remember them in their hearts. These are people they have helped, comforted and rescued, to the officer they may have melded into one person, but the people they helped remember them on the day that was their lowest; they remember that officer in front of them that helped them get through it. It is a tragic fact that many true heroes get no acknowledgement until they are gone.

In the few short weeks of this year 2022, I will remember these heroes.
~ Officer II Fernando Arroyos, 27, Los Angeles PD, killed 1/10/22
~ Detective Jason Rivera, 22, New York PD, killed 1/21/22
~ Corporal Charles Galloway, 48, Harris County Constable, killed 1/23/22
~ Detective Wilbert Mora, 27, New York City PD, killed 1/25/22
~ Campus Safety Officer JJ Jefferson, 48, Bridgewater College PD, VA, killed 2/1/22
~ Officer John Painter, 55, Bridgewater College PD, VA, killed 2/1/22