Thank You 60 NYPD

The following is an editorial post sent to us from Barbara Russo.

Barbara Russo

Everyday I go to work, I know I’ll be in a safe environment. That is pretty much true for most people. But for police officers, it couldn’t be further from reality.

I don’t come from a police family. My blood doesn’t run blue. But I don’t think we have to be that connected to someone who works in law enforcement to understand the harsh realities of the job. If we all stop absorbing the one-sided stories often told about police and imagine what it is like to deal with a part of society most of us never have to see, only then can we stop judging these brave men and women for what they do each day to protect us.

Yes, they signed up for this job. No one forces anyone to go into law enforcement. But without these heroic fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters, who would we call when we need help? Who is going to come to our aid when burglars break into our homes? When we are accosted or assaulted crossing the street? When our children go missing? Or when our loved ones are murdered?

I’ve spent a lot of time talking to police officers from all over the city. On a daily basis they are harassed: Things are thrown at them from the windows of buildings, the very residents they are trying to protect yell out demeaning slurs about police, and even something as simple as pulling a car over for speeding can have dangerous consequences: Who is in the car? Are they against cops? Are they hiding something more in that car than just a lead foot? Will they try to shoot me to avoid being caught for something more serious?

As a resident New Yorker, I would like to give cops of this community and our city a big thank-you. I know because of them and the sacrifices they make, I and many others can sleep easy at night. I hope when people read this, they’ll want to thank a cop for their work this holiday season.

Here’s to the NYPD, their families, and everyone in this wonderful city!