I'm not the author but had this sent to me by a friend from my LEO days. Please excuse any typos or misspelled words, those errors are all mine.
Always A Cop: Once the badge goes on it never comess off, whether you can see if or not. If fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride can ever sleep through the call of the wild that wafts through the bedroom window in the deep of night.
When a good cop leaves the job and retires to a better life, many are jelous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired wonder. We wonder if they know what they are leaving behind because we already know. We know that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if they are thrown away they will remain on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart, still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You still look at people suspiciously and see what others do not see, or choose to ignore. We will always look at the rest of law enforcement with respect for what they do, only known from a lifetime of work. You are escaping the "job", only in the sense that you're being allowed to leave active duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, that in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the children of G-d, and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.[/I]
Always A Cop: Once the badge goes on it never comess off, whether you can see if or not. If fuses to the soul through adversity, fear and adrenaline and no one who has ever worn it with pride can ever sleep through the call of the wild that wafts through the bedroom window in the deep of night.
When a good cop leaves the job and retires to a better life, many are jelous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired wonder. We wonder if they know what they are leaving behind because we already know. We know that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the law enforcement life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet. We know even if they are thrown away they will remain on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart, still is.
These are the burdens of the job. You still look at people suspiciously and see what others do not see, or choose to ignore. We will always look at the rest of law enforcement with respect for what they do, only known from a lifetime of work. You are escaping the "job", only in the sense that you're being allowed to leave active duty.
So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, that in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called the children of G-d, and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.[/I]
