“Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?”
Last evening I had the privilege of riding along with Officer Brent Johnson of the Wichita Police Department. I first met Brent many years ago as he was finishing eighth grade, so we have walked a lot of miles together since then. I rode with him as he patrolled parts of south Wichita. A few thoughts…
1. Whatever we pay these folks, it isn’t enough. Their hard work and dedication give me the opportunity to sleep safely at night.
2. It is a joy to see someone following their passion. A few years ago, I had the privilege of interpreting Brent’s Birkman scores. He is doing exactly what he is wired to do and that in itself is delightful.
3. A “police officer” is the description of what a person does, not who they are. Whenever we group people together under a large heading (Whether job, age, race, etc.), we lose sight of their individuality. Grouping people together makes it easier for us to idolize them or write them off. The men and women of the Wichita Police Department are individuals. A bad experience with one cop does not give permission to indict all. In my experience, I have met far more good people – like Brent – who wear the uniform.
Riding with Brent was a lot of fun and something I will definitely do again soon. I am grateful for our many years of friendship and I am thankful for his commitment to our community.
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2 comments:
I hold a wildly different opinion of police. And that isn't just a local issue. My opinion spreads to cops of all nations.
I'm glad you had a good time. I look forward to it again. Hopefully next time you can see the more interesting work as well, but I had a great time just driving and chatting with you.
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