Let’s be careful out there

I had a different topic in mind for my monthly blog but felt compelled to comment on the recent police officer shootings throughout the country. I would like to give my condolences to the family, friends and brother and sister officers of all the individuals who were slain and wish a speedy recovery for the injured officers. As a former police officer myself, my biggest fear was of having to tell a loved one that their husband, wife, sister, or brother had perished in the line of duty. Fortunately, in my 32 years I never had to break such horrific news to a family member. I have attended funerals of fellow officers from other departments who were killed in the line of duty and my heart went out to the families and police departments. You could see in their eyes and faces the shock and sadness of dealing with the tragedy of loosing someone in such a tragic way. When I left the West Warwick Police Department the issue for which I felt the most pride was the fact that I never lost an officer on my watch. It’s because of police officers like you that make this country so great and, in the words of Sgt. Phil Esterhau of Hill Street Blues, “Let’s be careful out there.”