I admire and appreciate that there are some who actually choose to be a police officer, sheriff, state trooper and highway patrolman. Many years ago, when I was enamored with “Get Christy Love”, I wanted to be a cop.

My family did not think that I was cut out for it. I took many administration of justice courses, but eventually lost interest, and got married. I guess I agreed with my family, I was not cut out for it. I’m a wimp. I had a very sheltered life. My mom was over protective. So, me being a wimp and not worldly, would have never made it.

So, I’m glad I figured it out.

I am dismayed that there are some who choose this profession and don’t realize that they are not cut out for it. I believe you have to be a people person, an all-people person. You must have the makeup that you can talk to anyone regardless of what they look like. Sure, they may not look like you, nor speak like you, but you have absolutely no problem engaging in a conversation with them.

I believe that you have to be comfortable with people of other races, so that when you come upon someone like them in the course of your job, you are not immediately threatened. You know people like them; some are your friends, acquaintances and want the same things you want.

But if you find you are afraid to approach someone of another race in the course of your work, being a cop is not the job for you. If you have a race bias that went undetected in the application process, being a cop is not the job for you.

I know that there are bad apples in every profession, but this profession is critical as it deals directly with people who may be at their worst. We need cops to able to calm situations, de-escalate out of control situations.

We put a lot on cops. It is a profession where they regularly may place themselves in harms way.  We need them. We need to respect them, honor them.

The Bible says that they are here to deter the lawless and protect the law abiding. They are ministers of God. That is why it is critical that they are people of integrity.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. wilt thou, then, not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same; 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Romans 13:1-4

We cannot live without the protection of the men and women in blue and khaki. We need to pray for them, and their families, who live in constant fear of whether their loved ones will make it home.

However, something must be done to ensure that those who do take the oath to serve and protect are qualified, having passed comprehensive background checks including psychological tests that measure or detect biases. In addition, the shoot to kill policy should be revisited.

Warrensville Heights Officer Nakia Jones’ whose video went viral after the officer involved shooting of Alton Sterling  this past summer, expresses her opinion on officers who should not be cops.

This post is in response to another officer involved shooting. The life of Terrence Crutcher was taken last Friday evening. He was unarmed. It is reported that the female officer who fired the single and fatal shot felt threatened.