Officer Shot

Every copper knows that a typical day is usually everything but. One minute it's scrounging around for traffic cones and barricades to block off that pothole that's blowing out tires on the drive and the next it's lights and siren because the dispatcher says a police officer is shot and you're only a few blocks away.

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Traffic never moves fast enough when it's important to get somewhere. Is it a false alarm? Is it a crank call? No, this time the call has been made over the radio by other officers. Sirens can be heard from every direction as officers respond. A fellow policeman, a brother, has been attacked!

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Is it bad? Will we be going to yet another funeral? We are good at funerals. Our full honors funerals are a sight to behold. Not a dry eye among the hundreds who show up from all parts of the country. Lots of practice I guess.

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There are police cars every where. There is also a lane open for the ambulance. Police officers know to leave a lane for the ambulance. The scene looks chaotic in a controlled way. Again, too much practice.

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A big sigh of relief, the only body on the ground is not wearing police blue or the body armor of a plainclothes officer.

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Leaning on the hood of a police car with a look of terror and shock on his face is one of us. The man in blue, a brother officer who has survived to serve and protect another day. His shirt is torn where the bullet tried to pierce his always worn, but seldom really appreciated, bullet proof vest.

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The good guys win.

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This time.