If you want a reason to respect police in the midst of all the recent bad publicity the profession has received recently, read the story on the Cleveland policeman who just lost his life.

Monday, June 26, 2000

If you want a reason to respect police in the midst of all the recent bad publicity the profession has received recently, read the story on the Cleveland policeman who just lost his life.

He was patrolling on a city street on a Sunday morning when he pulled in beside a car that was loitering on a gas station lot. He called in the license and got out to talk to the driver. There, on the parking lot, the suspect pulled out a gun and shot him in the face. Today, 32-year-old Officer Wayne Leon died.

There aren’t too many details about Leon in the news yet. All that we know now is that the young officer died simply for doing his job. No one knows yet either why the suspect shot Leon. That will come out in the days to come soon, too.

The problem with casting stones at police officers is that there are many more heroes among them than crooks. The men and women who risk their lives every day face dangers that the rest of us can only shudder at on cops shows. We have no idea what it is like to pull in behind a car and worry what might be coming at you next.

Crimes against law enforcement officers are more common than you think and have long-lasting, tragic consequences. They should carry with them some of the stiffest punishments we can come up with.

Today’s tragic end to a terrible story should remind us all, too, of the risks our law enforcement officers take – and the gratitude we owe them.