[Author’s Note: I give a lot of speeches. Some are at military affairs. Most are at police functions such as academy graduations, Peace Officer Memorial Day, and so forth. I always like to pepper my speeches with a few relevant quotes. From time to time, I’m asked by other LEOs for permission to use them. I always agree to because, really, they’re not mine. My lovely wife suggested that I put a few down in print to share with our CalibrePress.com readers. Here are a dozen of my favorites and, where available, the sources.]
1. “Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, and who is neither tarnished nor afraid.” Raymond Chandler
2. “Wisdom is knowing the right path to take. Integrity is taking it.” M.H. McKee
3. “Blessed are the peacekeepers, for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
4. “Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” George Orwell
5. “I sleep alone, so you can sleep safe.” An unknown police spouse
6. “We face what you fear.” Anonymous
7. “Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid.” President Ronald Reagan
8. “The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1
9. “Bravery is not the absence of fear, but action (the mastery of it) in the face of fear.” Attributed to 18th Century writer John Berridge
10. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon, AKA James Neil Hollingworth
11. “I don’t have to draw a line in the sand. I already have one. It’s thin. It’s blue. It’s mine and if you cross it, I will protect it.” Anonymous
12. “Be the type of person that when your feet touch the floor in the morning, the devil says ‘Oh crap … they’re up!’” Attributed to Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
Let me conclude with one last inspirational bit of prose, sometimes called “The Policeman’s Prayer.” Sadly, I heard this last month at a tribute to a 3-year veteran officer, Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, shot down in Fort Myers, Fla. It was authored by retired Thibodaux, La., Police Chief Scott Silverii, PhD.
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’ve 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.”
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