By Hunter Dawson
Viking Longboat
Haslett HS
1st Place
Division 3, News Writing
Bylined Opinion Article
Growing up, I would often boast about the fact my dad was a cop. As kids, we all thought cops and firefighters were awesome. I could just bring up the fact he is a cop and the other kids would flock to me like I made the game winning shot. But now that has changed.
Nowadays, I don’t brag about my cop dad. In fact, I hardly mention him anymore.
This is all because the public opinion of police officers has changed. Now when I walk through the hallways I get to hear “@#$! the police.” Some of this hate is just because the stereotype is teenagers should not like the cops. But a lot of the hate is because of a few mistakes made by bad cops. One cop screws up, and next thing you know everyone is calling for every cop’s badge.
When I look back on growing up, it seems like it’s a whole different world. So much has changed.
Back in elementary school cops weren’t hated. Of course some people disliked them, but when I say they were not hated, I’m talking about recent statistics that show public trust of police officers is at a 20 year low. A Gallup poll shows that, only 52 percent of the population still has confidence in police. The last time it was this low was in 1993. This means that just under half of the population doesn’t have trust in law enforcement. What a depressing statement. People are supposed to trust those who uphold the law.
Today, cops are known for seeking out people to arrest and for shooting unarmed black men in the back. The events in Ferguson, Missouri with Michael Brown on Aug. 9, 2014, is one incident that brought all of this to the forefront. I’m not saying these crimes aren’t serious, but you can’t blame all law enforcement because of a few cops who don’t deserve to be officers anymore. Just because there are jerks out there who get a badge doesn’t mean all cops are bad.
I’m in no way, shape or form trying to say the officer who shot Michael Brown was in the right. But that event has altered the view on police officers. More people than ever are now afraid of police violence.
As a result of these incidents, it seems more police are dying in the line of duty due to shootings or targeting. The few officers who screwed up have put other officers’ lives at risk, including my dad. Some people have decided to take matters into their own hands, and have decided to limit the amount of cops out on the street.
This year alone we have had 31 police officers die throughout the U.S. from shootings, according to the Officer Down Memorial page.
While others seem to only hear of cops shooting unarmed civilians, I always hear of cops being shot. The more I hear of cops dying, the more afraid I get for my father every time he leaves the house.
When I was little, I never worried for him. Even just a few years ago in middle school, I never thought about the danger my father was in on his job patrolling. But really this year and the last have changed all that. The fear of losing your mother or father is natural when you’re older. But if you’re the son or daughter of a policer officer or firefighter, you live with that fear everyday.
While the public may be out calling for blood and badges, I will be forever proud of my father. I idolize him. While all these ideas that cops are evil and always shooting unarmed citizens are going around, I will stand strong with my faith in my dad and his job. I know he is out there making Haslett a safer community.
Twenty years from now when I have kids, I want them to know of their grandpa’s job, and not think he was an evil person. I want them to be able to look at his job with the pride and respect it deserves.