I am the father, brother, son-in-law, and close friend of law enforcement officers (local, state, and federal, as it happens), all honorable and chivalrous men who have embodied the highest ideals of that noble profession.
When I was in my fire department career, I used to tell the Baltimore cops I encountered that I could never do their jobs because I have no tolerance for idiots, and because the cars aren't big enough to hold all the ammo I'd want to carry.
Now, however, the sea change that has taken place in our society in recent decades has done something to the field of law enforcement that isn't funny.
Police officers get no respect these days, from anybody. Nobody, at any level, truly supports and stands with them, even in the starkest and most unambiguous circumstances, when they most need it. "Back the Blue" is an empty, meaningless slogan, and the only people cops can truly count on is each other. It saddens me beyond words to imagine how they must feel...
Prayers for those officers wounded in San Antonio...