“If the police force in London stopped working for one day, the city would devolve into mayhem.” My dad told me this years ago, in a thick accent, when I was a teenager. I did not believe him. I thought to myself, “most people are good, and kind, and society can function independent of enforcement officers.”
I was a left-leaning idealistic youth.
I am 41, and I now live in reality. I am divorced and share custody with my ex-wife. Last weekend, an incident arose where the Gilroy Police Department had to get involved over a custody issue. There was no harm or foul, and everyone is safe. But if not for the calming and patient voice of one officer McPeek, I am not sure everyone would have left the situation unscathed.
I write this opinion piece because I am grateful for the police in our country. For the most part, they work hard to keep the community together, at peace, and protect us from violence and our own emotional whims.
Officer McPeek and his colleague spent at least two hours with me, my ex-wife and our son. He interviewed, he soothed, he listened and he advised. This all happened when there were only three officers patrolling the streets of Gilroy. Even though the result of the encounter was not to my liking, I realized how much this officer alleviated the situation.
I find it disturbing when the media panders to movements like “Defund the police,” or when we have protests like “All Cops are Bastards” blocking roads. On that note, I also support truckers and other workers who work with their hands, arms and grit.
We can all notice that the tide is slowly turning, as crime has increased, and people realize that the police are vital. We can see this in places like New York City and Portland, Ore. These are places where police have been shunned, and now the people want peace and order.
I’m a doctor, fairly well educated, and I still think some type of enforcement or community officer is necessary to handle situations with people like me, or people like you. What I am trying to say is: we all get emotional. Police are not just out there to catch the “bad guys.” We can all devolve into beasts. We sometimes need deterrence and mediation from an objective entity, and often the police force is the only available party.
Adam Bolour
Gilroy
