Behind the Badge edition 4
A badge represents honor, integrity, service and dedication.
The men and women who wear a badge made a courageous decision to dedicate their lives protecting people in their community.
Behind every badge is a human being, just like me and you. A real person with emotions, feelings, families, likes, dislikes and even their very own flaws. All too often, society seems to forget that.
A small, but growing, part of the public sees law enforcement officers as just a badge, a uniform, a superhuman, and unfortunately sometimes an enemy. A big reason for this... influence from movies and media. Most civilians have very little knowledge of what a police officer actually does on the job.
While I don't know everything that happens on the job, I can tell you that most of them have seen unimaginable things, things that no human being should ever have to see. They sweat, bleed, and even cry for people that they don't even know. They wear a badge to serve a public that at times can appear thankless and ungrateful. Despite that, they still answer every call for help.
My purpose in this post is to remind you that these police officers are not just a badge or a uniform. They are not superhumans. They are just regular people that go above and beyond to keep peace in our community. They are your neighbors and friends.
I ask that you please take the time to say thank you. Honor those brave selfless individuals. For those who dedicate their lives to protecting you.
Sgt. Baxter
To some he is a uniform. To some he is a news headline. To some he is the calm in a storm. To some he is the ride to jail. To some he is the voice of calm.
To his family and friends he is love. To his children he is the beginning and end of everything. To his community he served them with integrity and compassion for 20 years.
He is one of many of his kind. Everyday he puts on a uniform and a bullet proof vest and with a I love you and I'll see you later he goes on duty. Everyday the last thing he hears before leaving home is I love you Bacon, see you later.
Words that for most are routine. For us it's could this be the last time? For us it's holding your breath for a 10 your shift. For us it's sleeping alone so you can sleep safe. For us it's what we run in our heads a thousand time every time when we hear of an officer down somewhere. I love you, three words that he knows mean we need you, please come home safe, goodnight, goodmorning, please try to eat something other than a drive through tonight or drink water not only coffee all night. Three words that mean everything.
Our family is no different than any other Police officer or first responder out there. Our story is that of many. Our story is a blue family. Our story is love. - Brandy Baxter
