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11-29-2009, 10:38 PM
Gunman kills 4 police officer in ambush:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34194122/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

You are in our prayers.

"Police Officer's Sacrifice"
While you sleep, we're there.
When you're sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner, or celebrating Christmas, we're there.
When it’s raining and cold, and you're glad to be in your home with your family, we're out there.
When it's your children's birthday, we're out there.
When it's our children's birthday, we're still out there.
You put on a suit and dress to go to work, we strap on a ballistic vest and a gun.
There's little room for error in your job, in ours there is none.
An error by you means a demotion; an error by us means a funeral.
When you tell your families "see you tonight" as you leave for work, you mean it. When we tell our family that, we pray we will.
At your job you strive to succeed, at our job we strive to survive.
In your job, one bad person is the talk of the office, in our job; one bad officer makes the news and suddenly we’re all bad.
In these headlines it's not what good we've done, but how much better it could have been done.
When you're scared you call us, when we're scared, we must carry on.
While you're eating a home cooked meal, we're having another hamburger.
While you're asleep with your spouse, ours sleep alone.
So the next time you're out with your family or friends, and you see a patrol car go by, remember the incredible sacrifice made by these officers every day.
Inside that car is a person that sacrifices his/her life, both professionally and personally Everyday.

- Author Unknown-

11-30-2009, 01:14 AM
This was just an ambush. :evil:

Is this the sign of the times? I don't recall a mass ambush that targeted only cops. This was not even a call for service.

You will not see this in any other profession (except war, but the rules of engagement are different ) :cry:

Be careful all. You never know what is walking around in society.

11-30-2009, 01:41 AM
"The Final Inspection"

The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't.....I'll understand.

There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell."

Author Unknown

11-30-2009, 04:00 AM
Amen.

11-30-2009, 05:33 AM
You will not see this in any other profession (except war, but the rules of engagement are different ) :cry:
Huh? I can think of many instances in other professions and institutions (workplace violence, school violence, violence at religious centers, the "DC sniper", shooting incidents at military bases in times of peace etc.) where a disgruntled perp pulled an ambush, shot the place up and killed a bunch of people. Don't get me wrong, this is tragic and all, but getting ambushed and killed it not a peril unique to law enforcement. Not even close...

11-30-2009, 11:22 AM
True - many have been targeted based on where they congregate. It's a hard reminder for officers to be aware and to avoid complacency. It speaks to being alert when pulling up to convenient stores, when sitting in restaurants with fellow officers, or anywhere else where officers are known to congregate.

And we continue to pray for the families of those lost in this tragedy as well as for the swift apprehension of the suspect.