I have a deep appreciation for our men in blue. Those who wear the uniform put their lives on the line every day in order to uphold law and order, peace and tranquility, and safety and security for all of the citizens of our great state. However, a lot has happened recently regarding our law enforcement officers, so today I would like to highlight three ways we can support our law enforcement officers.

The first way we can support our law enforcement officers is to thank them for their service. Police officers risk their lives and their health every time they go to work. For example, on October 17th a man from Chicago boarded a city bus in Lincoln without paying the bus fare. When police responded to the incident, they asked the man to get off the bus. The man refused and a scuffle broke out in the back of the bus. The man pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the officers in the neck. Then the man reached for the officer’s gun, prompting the officer to shoot the man, sending both of them to the hospital. I share this story with you in order to magnify the risk that police officers take every day. No police officer should ever have to face getting stabbed in the neck and hospitalized over a $1.25 bus fare. So, remember to thank them for their service to the community.

The second way I believe we can support our men in blue is to pray for them. Besides praying for their safety, we should also pray for their integrity. Because local police officers, county sheriffs and the state patrol represent the front lines for upholding our laws, they are often put in situations that invite them to compromise their integrity. Such was the case with the Wahoo Police Chief, Bruce M. Ferrell, who abruptly resigned from his position on November 11, 2021 after his own body camera captured him having sex with another woman while on duty. Here in Western Nebraska, the Scottsbluff police captain, Brian Wasson, remains under investigation for a personnel matter. Nevertheless, both men will likely be faced with the harsh reality of losing their law enforcement certifications.

The third way we can support our officers is to help them do their job in appropriate ways. Law enforcement officers often depend upon the public to be their eyes and ears in the field. So, whenever someone sees suspicious activity, it should be reported. Such was the case recently in North Platte after four juveniles escaped from the Greater Nebraska Youth Center. The youths were safely apprehended and returned to the youth detention facility because a local resident tipped off local police concerning their location. Police especially need the public’s help when it comes to fighting crimes such as human trafficking and child abductions.

I hope that these stories move you to have a greater appreciation for the work that our law enforcement officers do each and every day. Because we live in an era where many have been calling for the defunding of our police departments, demonstrating against police brutality, and calling for lighter sentencing for lawbreakers, we need to remember that no society can exist for very long without the enforcement of civility in our streets.