A Police Officer Has My Heart

As a spouse to a police officer, my life is different than most spouses. I question whether or not his life is worth the safety of a city and why does he feel the need to hunt down every lead he gets. The one thing that I have never questioned is whether or not I support his career. I get tons of questions and comments all the time about “How do you do it?” or “I don’t know how you handle it.” The truth is, I just love him so much and I want him to be fulfilled in the career path that he has chosen.

In light of the recent attacks on police all across our nation, I have struggled with one particular question; one that my husband and I have had before, but since moving to a new state, we needed to readdress it. We needed to discuss who I wanted to be the one to inform me if, God forbid, something happens to him in the line of duty. He just looked at me and said, “OK, who do you want?”

How many women have this conversation with their husbands?

A couple of years ago I actually had a US Marshall come to our door (don’t ask: shady neighbor), and when I saw him through my peep hole, my knees went weak and I was already crying when I slowly opened the door. I know he thought I was crazy, but when he explained why he was there, I just cried even harder, but out of joy. When I explained to him why I was in hysterics, he apologized profusely.

When an officer is injured in the line of duty, his/her department will send someone to notify the family. As difficult of a conversation as this would be. We discussed who I was comfortable with giving me that type of information; it had to be someone I viewed as family. Someone who could handle me in my most vulnerable state and someone who loved him. It’s not an easy thing to talk about, but we had the conversation in a matter of fact style and made our list. Those who made that list will know they are on it and will take on that responsibility if it comes to that, in which I pray feverishly daily that it doesn’t.

Because when I hear stories about my husband’s day, I am in awe of him.

In awe of him tracking down a murderer so a victim’s family can have justice and closure. In awe of him recovering stolen items from a family that didn’t have much and what was stolen was precious family heirlooms. In awe of him arresting a drunk driver, ultimately ensuring that he/she doesn’t recklessly take another’s life. In awe of him saving a child from continuous child abuse at the hands of drug induced parents. In awe of him because when our former city voted to revoke health benefits for the family’s of fallen officers, and many of his fellow officers went on strike, he didn’t because he couldn’t bear the thought of losing an officer while he stayed home to prove a political point. He went to work every day because he took an oath; he could not stand to think that someone would need help and not get it.

This is what my police officer does; he serves and protects. Goes where he’s called to help anyone who needs him. He is a good God-fearing man, a family man, and a man that will do anything he can to protect the people of our city. It’s not to get accolades, or to be seen on TV; he does this because it is his calling.

Every night I pack his lunch and I leave a note in his lunch box. I want him to know what an amazing husband, father, and man he is. And every night, I say a prayer for him along with every other law enforcement officer serving our nation. As soon as I hear that door open the next morning, I can finally take my first deep breath of the day.