This week I attended a one day training event hosted by The Texas Department of Public Safety focusing on officer involved shootings. As a law enforcement chaplain, I have been privileged to experience extensive training in this particular area. I have been called to assist with officer involved shootings on several occasions. The course I attended Tuesday was a great refresher.

I enjoy watching old classic movies like Dirty Harry as much as anyone. Gene Hackman is pretty good in the French Connection. The list of male bonding movies is extensive. Shooting incidences in real life is not likened to Dirty Harry. The officers I serve are every bit as cool as Clint Eastwood, but they are not actors. They live and serve in the real world with real bad guys.

During Tuesday’s training we were privileged to hear presentations from two officers regarding their own experiences of having to discharge their weapon and take another person’s life. The two stories were very different. One officer was serving on an undercover narcotics task force at the time he confronted an armed felon attempting to take his life. The second officer encountered an equally dangerous individual wanted for questioning in an out of state criminal case during a routine traffic stop. He too was forced to take the man’s life.

I attended this training to be refreshed on my role as a chaplain in serving officers during the immediate aftermath of such incidences. Our role is important and valid to the officers and their families. But as I listened to the stories of the two officers, I was processing the information from a different perspective.

What would it would be like if these officers were not out there doing their job? It is possible that a member of my family or your family could be threatened or otherwise placed in harm’s way, if dangerous felons were allowed to roam freely. When the media reports an officer involved shooting, the story is frequently misrepresented. Sensationalism sells. Officers that are fully justified in using deadly force are often demonized on the news. It is inexcusable, but it happens.

I realize that the average citizen is not aware of deadly force policies that are adopted by law enforcement agencies. I also know that normal people have no clue how many armed felons are out there walking around just waiting to prey on someone who is vulnerable. But I do know that we all have a responsibility to be supportive of those that are sworn to protect and serve.  Make a cop’s day…Pick up his or her check in the restaurant this weekend.