Somewhere Out There Today
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will tell you that there’s no other job that comes close to this one.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will save the life of a complete stranger. And they will risk their own life to do so.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will talk someone back from the edge. They will find the missing woman, they will confront the knife-wielding man and they will defend the vulnerable child. They will go where most wouldn’t and do what most couldn’t.
And they will show uncommon bravery.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will deal with the consequences of society’s addiction to violence. They will tell you that domestic violence is a disease of pandemic proportions - and that violent crime involving young people is one of the most urgent issues of our time.
Somewhere out there today, the call will come too late and a police officer will become the bearer of unbearable news.
Somewhere out there a police officer will suggest that people don't often call us to say that they're having a good day.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will explain that even those who hate us might one day need us. And they will reassure you that we will be there.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will make a critical, split-second decision – one that the rest of us will have forever to pick over. They will tell you that policing from the comfort of an office or an armchair – with the benefit of hindsight and all the time in the world – is just not the same as doing it for real.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will put up with all sorts of nonsense from someone who really ought to know better.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will get seriously hurt.
Somewhere out there today, a uniformed police officer will go into a supermarket to buy their lunch. And it really won’t be the stuff of headline news.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will tell you that the 4 things you need most to do this job are courage, compassion, the ability to communicate and a large helping of common sense.
And they will remind you that, actually, it’s still OK – essential in fact – to have a sense of humour. They will put boot polish round the rim of their colleague’s hat and empty the contents of a hole punch into the patrol car’s air conditioning system. Satisfied with their efforts so far, they will then add some creative illustrations to the inside pages of someone else’s pocket book.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will suggest that laughing or crying are sometimes the only real choices.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will do their level best to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will suggest that, if alcohol was invented now, it would be illegal.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will make a mistake. But they will tell you that, in the headlong rush to apportion blame, it can be difficult to admit to that mistake - never mind to learn from it. Somewhere out there today, a police officer will point out that it’s so much easier to point a finger than it is to offer a hand.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will close their eyes and remember. And they will tell themselves to stay strong.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will tell you that this job can hurt sometimes. They will tell you their stories and show you their scars. And they will tell you that only those who have been there can ever truly know.
Somewhere out there today, I salute them all.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will save the life of a complete stranger. And they will risk their own life to do so.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will talk someone back from the edge. They will find the missing woman, they will confront the knife-wielding man and they will defend the vulnerable child. They will go where most wouldn’t and do what most couldn’t.
And they will show uncommon bravery.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will deal with the consequences of society’s addiction to violence. They will tell you that domestic violence is a disease of pandemic proportions - and that violent crime involving young people is one of the most urgent issues of our time.
Somewhere out there today, the call will come too late and a police officer will become the bearer of unbearable news.
Somewhere out there a police officer will suggest that people don't often call us to say that they're having a good day.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will explain that even those who hate us might one day need us. And they will reassure you that we will be there.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will make a critical, split-second decision – one that the rest of us will have forever to pick over. They will tell you that policing from the comfort of an office or an armchair – with the benefit of hindsight and all the time in the world – is just not the same as doing it for real.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will put up with all sorts of nonsense from someone who really ought to know better.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will get seriously hurt.
Somewhere out there today, a uniformed police officer will go into a supermarket to buy their lunch. And it really won’t be the stuff of headline news.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will tell you that the 4 things you need most to do this job are courage, compassion, the ability to communicate and a large helping of common sense.
And they will remind you that, actually, it’s still OK – essential in fact – to have a sense of humour. They will put boot polish round the rim of their colleague’s hat and empty the contents of a hole punch into the patrol car’s air conditioning system. Satisfied with their efforts so far, they will then add some creative illustrations to the inside pages of someone else’s pocket book.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will suggest that laughing or crying are sometimes the only real choices.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will do their level best to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will suggest that, if alcohol was invented now, it would be illegal.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will make a mistake. But they will tell you that, in the headlong rush to apportion blame, it can be difficult to admit to that mistake - never mind to learn from it. Somewhere out there today, a police officer will point out that it’s so much easier to point a finger than it is to offer a hand.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will close their eyes and remember. And they will tell themselves to stay strong.
Somewhere out there today, a police officer will tell you that this job can hurt sometimes. They will tell you their stories and show you their scars. And they will tell you that only those who have been there can ever truly know.
Somewhere out there today, I salute them all.