The Police and Public Perception article focuses on crooked cops who make honest, hardworking police officers look bad. Now it's time to give credit to the good officers.
In sharp contrast to the above article, Police and Public Perception, and in support of the majority of police officers, the truth is that the majority of these officers will go the extra mile for the citizens and communities they serve. This is also the case in most other professions; they also have a few "less desirables" that they must deal with.
The Caring Cops
The Police News reported a story by Jim Hague, of the Hudson Reporter, who saud there was a happy ending after police officers assisted a Chinese tourist, who was stranded and then spent the night with them them at the Weehawken Police station.
Weehawken Deputy Police Chief, Jeffrey Fulcher said the 66-year-old female tourist was vacation, and traveling by tour bus , which stopped at a plaza around 11:55p.m. because she wanted to see the Manhattan skyline.
The tourist couldn't speak a word of English, and was inadvertently abandoned by a tour bus,which left the senior citizen stranded at Weehawken's Hamilton Park. About 10 hours later police officers were able to determine the woman's identity.
It all started when two police officers observed the woman wandering around the park. They then convinced the tourist to return to police headquarters with them so they could find out where she belonged. After the woman told the officers that she had stayed at a Holiday in for at least one night, the officers checked about 25 different Holiday in in the area of northern New Jersey and New York, which didn't turn up any leads.
During her stay, the Weehawken Police did their best in trying to make the Chinese visitor feel at home. While one officer took care of her getting her some tea and food, other officers were busy trying to find out who she was, even calling the Chinese Embassy, U.S. Customs, and local airports, but came up empty handed. The officers gave her a couple meals during her 10-hour stay with them, even calling the Chinese Embassy, U.S. Customs and local airports, but again came up with nothing.
The bus driver arrived at the Weehawken Police Station to pick up his lost tourist the next morning after he had backtracked everywhere the bus had been the night before.
Public Opinion Today
A police officer can no longer go out for a cup of coffee without public accusations of abandonment of his duties. This occurs even though he is still actively on-duty and ready to respond to calls for service.
But, at the same time, the officer cannot go out and enforce traffic laws because if he does, he'll be accused of harassing the motoring public at 6:00 or 7:00a.m. while these 'innocent' people are merely on their way to work.
Many people today say that police should be out handling 'real' crimes, such as murder, rapes, and robberies, and since the majority of these crimes do not occur at 6:00 or 7:00a.m, one must wonder, what is a police officer to do during these hours.
Police Officers' Sacrifices
Let's not forget the countless police officers who suffer permanent life-changing injuries in the course of their duties, and the many other officers who have given the 'Ultimate Sacrifice' while serving their communities.
Sources:
The Police News
Jim Hague, "The Hudson Reporter"
