My hero must ten zero.

Many men head out for work - suit fresh from the cleaners, briefcase in hand, business meeting to attend. Their wives kiss their lips, say, “Have a good day…talk to you later”…times when there is never a second thought.

Unfortunately there is no room for such a complacent attitude when you are the wife of a police officer. When someone you love is a police officer, it is a title the entire family holds, we are a police family. There is no way to prevent Mark’s heroic profession from spilling over into our family life; he is proud and we are honored. Shift work is ever present (but same goes for this nurse), the hours can be long, and most of all the day to day work can be terribly unpredictable. A shift can start with 3 hours of shear boredom, building checks, foot patrols, or a run to the DMV…only to be followed by 2 minutes of terror that turns into several more hours of report writing. There are days when he calls home…late call…”be home as soon as I get done”; I often feel a wave of frustration followed by a small kick of my own butt, I should be glad he is coming home…some wives are not so lucky in this line of work.

This job is important, full of risks and serious consequences; injuries are common and a known occupational hazard. Injuries range from torn knees, to black eyes, to lumbar strains, to injuries that change lives, ours and theirs. The cause of injuries: maybe the 15+ pounds of gear they don before each shift, maybe it is the defensive tactics taught in a training class, maybe it is lifting weights in order to stay in shape, but also a chance that it is so much worse…a chance that it is a situation like today, a police officer beaten by a mad man that should have been taken off the streets years ago when he tried to kill another police officer from the very agency that was forced to take his life tonight. Law enforcement is taxing and rewarding, these men can save a life and take a life, in the same situation all in a matter of moments.

For me, the cop's wife, the keeper of our police family, I will kiss him goodbye, tell him to be careful, and make sure that he knows what he is to me…for anytime; anywhere before he heads in to another shift meeting… this could be the last exchange we will share. I love him, he loves me back…no matter where we have been, I love where we are now. I will stand behind him, while he stands behind the badge.

Any Questions?
© Chaos