The Blue Line

Blue Line

I am a fan of the Blue line for Law Enforcement. I understand and I get it, I just think the public perception tends to be more divisive than inclusive. Most people are not fans of the Black Lives Matter movement, again, by proclamation the title tends to be more Dismissive of other cultures than its original intent.

This week my heart aches. Within 48 hours stretch I have observed the darkness that can only push our human connection further from each other.

Item 1. - A local FHP officer was killed in an accident this week. Driving home from work in the early hours is something I can relate to as I often find myself Ride-sharing at late night times.  From all accounts, Officer Vickers was doing his best to keep our roads safe.  His lost is a tragedy for the entire LE community.  The Blue Line of Law Enforcement makes sense here.

Item 2.  Amber Guyger tearfully testified in the murder Trial for Bothem Jean.  This is not a complicated case, but overall the LE community has sided with Ms. Guyger in her defense that she was exhausted from a long shift. The Texas Ranger’s went as far as to say that she was “Justified” in the killing of Mr. Jean in his own apartment that she entered unlawfully.  The Blue Line of Law Enforcement does not make sense here.

Items 3.  Officer Sandeep Dhaliwal was murdered in cold blood after performing a routine traffic stop. Officer Dhaliwal was the national first Sikh officer and wore a turban as apart of his official uniform.  Normally a religion of Peace, his appointment was a major step forward for Law Enforcement being more inclusive to the communities they serve. His tragic murder is still being investigated, but could be also classified as a hate crime on top of a capital offense.

Law Enforcement Officers wake up each morning kissing their families to protect and serve.  They lay their lives on the line every day in order to keep our society safe.  This is the Blue Line that separates us from the evil in the world. But they are human. They make mistakes and have bad days, week, and years just like the rest of us.

I support Law Enforcement. I also support Criminal Justice reform including Black Lives Matter initiatives and the protest efforts of Colin Kaepernick. It is possible to understand the valor of LEO while also recognizing that change is necessary to address some systemic bias that exist everywhere in our society.

Where we go from here is going be left up to people who can let their guard (and guns) down and have some open dialogue about this issue. I have some many friends that are in LE through some capacity from dispatchers to SWAT members.  On the opposite side of the coin I have friends who are lock step with the call for criminal justice reform.  I will continue to pray for both sides to come to a deeper understanding of each other wherein that one day in this nation we call home, the brave men and women who put thief lives on the line daily will garner the same respect for those persons who find themselves the victim of Law Enforcement.