A Dangerous Job

I had already written my blog when the tragic events of this week unfolded.

Topping the list is the murder of . The chief’s death provided me the opportunity to reflect on how difficult a job our law enforcement officers have and how fortunate we are here in Concord to have the highly skilled professionals who protect our city 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How many of us can meet the high standards we demand of our officers? Knowing that a call to a domestic disturbance, a stop for a routine traffic violation, a call to a burglary, or any of the thousands of other calls they receive can result in a potentially lethal situation for the officer.

Think of the level of training and how carefully each and every officer is scrutinized before being selected to serve and protect our community. To ensure that even under the most stressful of situations they maintain their professionalism. That at each traffic stop and domestic disturbance they approach each and every citizen in a respectful manner. 

When I worked for the , I had ample opportunity to interact with our city’s finest. It was usually a rules infraction that precipitated the call. The individual or group I was talking with just refused to follow park rules. It starts with the dispatcher and it continues until the issue is resolved and the officer is ready to leave. Calm professionalism. I can’t think of an instance during my 15 years with the city that an issue wasn’t resolved. No yelling, no getting red in the face. Just listening and explaining. When the officer left the issue was resolved and it was rare to have to call back for the same issue again.

For those that grew up in Concord, our city has a small town feel. And for those like myself, who have moved here and have been fortunate enough to have befriended the locals, we too learn to appreciate Concord as a small town with a mix of neighborhoods. Having a police force that understands the dynamics of our community is tremendously important. And having a force with those who grew up here or have resided here for many years helps to ensure that they also understand our city.

Concord, like most communities has seen significant changes over the nearly 35 years I have lived here. More people, more traffic, more crime. Yet if we look closely Concord is still that small town I moved to years ago. Great people trying to make our community a great place to live and work in.

Let’s always remember that the professionalism of our police force contributes to the livability of our city every day. Every day they risk injury and death to protect us and our community. Every day they strive to help make Concord the community we are proud to call home. For the service you provide our community, thank you.