The threat against police officers in America

This article was originally published on May 23, 2017.

When I was in the Boy Scouts of America working my way up to the Eagle Scout rank, I stopped by the Anna (Texas) Police Department and interviewed a police officer. His name was Sergeant Jeff, and he helped me fulfill a requirement for the Citizenship In The Community merit badge. It was about major crimes and other issues happening in our city. Mostly traffic accidents and drug busts on the interstate.

This is one of many instances where a police officer helps the citizens in a community.

Since the incident in Ferguson, Missouri, where white Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an African-American teenager, cops across the country have been put under pressure and criticism. This condemnation ranges from the Federal Government to people calling for the deaths of all U.S. law enforcement officers.

2016 saw a spike in attacks targeting police officers, including the shooting in Dallas, Texas on July 7, 2016, that left five officers dead and nine others wounded. Fox News reported on July 8, 2016, that the gunman “wanted to kill white people.”

There’s no doubt some police officers are corrupt, but that doesn’t mean all cops are racist or under the mob’s control. This isn't Gotham, for Pete’s sake! There are plenty of Jim Gordons out there. These men and women put their lives on the line everyday to protect American lives.

The police are here to protect and help us. With new threats against the American public, cops need armored cars, body armor and assault rifles to deal with these growing situations.

There are always going to be a need for cops, firefighters, doctors and teachers in the United States. If that's what you want to do with your life, you should be allowed to pursue that career without the threat of facing discrimination because of the color you wear on your uniform.

This is a pressing issue we all must deal with.