Police Officer Son to His Mother: 'You Do Not Have to be Scared for Me'

Worcester, MA — Karen Powers, a Worcester resident, animal activist — and mother of a police officer — shared her feelings recently on racial tension and police, as well as the president's speech in Dallas.

She also shared a heartfelt response from her son, a humble soul who would rather not be named

"As many know, my son is a police officer," Powers wrote on Facebook. "I was having a very hard day yesterday. I was so hopeful after the president's speech at the memorial. l was hopeful there would be a middle ground for dialogue. But instead, I saw more polarization and hate. My son, my love, the peacemaker who faces danger everyday, gives me hope!"

"In every group there are extremists," Powers told Patch. "There are people who might not be capable of being in a frightening situation. I never know if I will get a call that my son has been shot or has shot someone else or made a decision that will change the life of not only someone out there, but his family, his child. He really comforted me, because I do worry about him, but I know his head is the right place. That's what I care about. If something happens, God forbid, he's doing what he feels is right. He takes care of people and I'm an animal advocate."

This is what her son, a Worcester police officer, sent her that morning:

I know you're worried and scared, mom. I am, too. But just remember that Black Lives Matter was founded to address some pretty serious social issues of black poverty, lack of education, the lack of opportunities and the being deprived of basic opportunities and human rights. The fact is that black on black violence is almost at a genocide level ,and our prisons are filled with a skewed number of black people, not because they are more violent, but because they are not given the opportunities to reach their full potential and grow into who they were meant to be. They have barriers of teen pregnancy, drugs and gang violence at a level that no other race does. It is important to me to remember that BLM was founded to address these issues and it is a noble and true goal. It is important for me to remember that BLM is not synonymous with anti-cop or hating whites. It is just like with all good things; it's been hijacked by people who hate, politicians with agendas and media outlets with a need to divide.

You do not have to be scared for me. You have taught me how to see people as people and not their behaviors. To help create a framework in people's lives so they can be their best and make choices they can be proud of. To be there with a hand up when people fall and to be humble and thank God and be grateful he gave me the opportunity to do so. I am scared everyday that I will be killed out of anger or a hatred bred for someone's personal agenda, but I am not scared to die or of getting hurt for bringing equality and value into someone's life.

Do not worry about me, mom. I have had the best role models, examples of kindness and the best parents the world could offer.

Photo via Shutterstock