[StephenC]

Todd:

I understand your anger and frustration. It was all I could do not to respond to the statistics. The mere fact they were posted, shows the depth of their inability to understand. To compare what a police officer does and the sacrifices we make to the job of a salesman, or logger, or whatever, may be insensitive and unknowing, but it is not based in malice.

God knows I would be the last to defend some of those who have made highly questionable comments here at CC concerning police officers. However, I have come to believe (many years ago) that unless they have served in an occupation where they daily placed their life on the line for complete strangers, it may be unfair to expect them to understand. Nor will they ever understand the bond between police officers. Only those that man the "thin blue line" know how little separates our functioning society from total anarchy.

I suspect firefighters and military people often share our feelings, particularily when they suffer a loss. I find it very emotional when my father, who's unit was almost wiped out at the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, quietly cries when he talks about those who were lost and did not come home. It's been almost 60 years. I can only try to understand the depth of his sorrow.

Again, please pass along my best wishes for a full recovery and speedy return to duty to your officer.