This morning in the Capitol I ran into one of my friends, a classmate who served as a sheriff before coming to Congress.  As a young 21-year-old deputy, he responded to a domestic violence call.  When he arrived, he found a man holding a butcher knife to his wife’s neck.  Sneaking to the back of the house, he climbed through a window, grabbed the man, and saved the woman.  In the process, he was stabbed and his throat was slit three times, just missing the jugular.  He survived and had 45 stitches.  Congressman Dave Reichert is an example of bravery and commitment, and is the essence of what it means to be a law enforcement officer. 

In my recent travels to meet with Nebraska community leaders, a constant theme emerged among law enforcement officials with whom I met:  interest among young persons in the profession is declining, and there are difficulties in recruiting qualified individuals to become police officers.  Only a few years ago, there were not nearly enough jobs for the number of applicants.  The process was highly competitive and only the most qualified earned a badge.

There are likely a number of converging factors that explain this decline.  Among young persons is the hard reality that a tiny number of “bad cops" have stigmatized the entire profession.  The media's shrill reporting of tragic events involving police creates an indicting atmosphere for law enforcement.  In this light, police can be seen apprehensively, as an occupying force in daily life. 

Being given a gun and a badge is a solemn responsibility.  For their safety and that of the community, police must be trained and extremely mindful that violent force must be a last resort.  The job requires competence, patience, and an abundance of temperance.

Most of our experience with police officers is traffic stops, so it tends to be a negative.  But those in law enforcement will attest that the vast majority of police officers are honorable people trying to do the right thing.  Most of their deeds we never see.  They are on the front lines trying to calm volatile situations before violence or arrests occur.  When families are in need, they help.  When the elderly person is alone and frightened, they arrive.  In the dark alley, they go, not knowing what may be around the corner.  These daily acts of duty and mercy are carried out without tally, without much note.  

As a nation, we have done a remarkable job of honoring our veterans — and rightly so.  Even persons who disagree with overseas deployments or certain conflicts stand united as Americans in honoring their service.  Perhaps it’s time we show the same universal respect for law enforcement.  The bedrock value of our republic is security, from which all other social goods flow.  Without safety for our nation--or in our homes and communities — society cannot easily flourish. 

Police officers are citizens too, with families and friends of their own.  They also want to return home safely after a hard day’s work.  They are also all-too-human and, in the heat of the moment, can make mistakes.  However, when they are being their best selves, their mere presence in community policing reminds us of our better angels.  While we should be quick to repair any broken aspects of law enforcement, National Police Week reminds us of the indispensable role our law enforcement officers play in keeping  us safe--and the recognition they deserve.

As I prepared this report, one of my young staffers told me that when her mother was nine months pregnant lightning hit, and significantly damaged their house.  Her father, a police officer, was deployed overseas in diplomatic security at the time.  The local police force gathered resources, and gave them $3000 to help get back on their feet. No one knew, no one asked for any credit — that’s just what the police do.