Officers at risk: Scrutiny of police, methods, OK, but there are other concerns, too

There is no one who wants to see a young person shot and killed. Deadly force should be a last resort, period.

And asking for a review of any shooting is absolutely justified -- unless the circumstances are clear cut.

So, if the problems in Ferguson, Mo., make us think twice about procedures and encourage law enforcement personnel to reinforce strict guidelines for the use of deadly force during an arrest, that is something that all of us should support.

But as we do, we need to think about something else, too -- the thousands of men and women who put their lives on the line every day to keep this country safe.

The police in this country are not a band of racists out to kill minority offenders or innocent teenagers. They are not trigger-happy idiots without sense or compassion.

But they do face a world that most of us will never encounter -- and a job that the majority of us would never take on.

They often have moments to decide whether to shoot or not to shoot. They often face suspects who are not interested in negotiations or who would not hesitate to turn a gun on a police officer.

They deal with incidents we only read about after the fact -- and disarm many an encounter before it reaches a point where someone gets hurt.

We do not know what it is like to face a suspect who could, in a moment, take your life. And we do not know what it is like for their families to wait and worry, either.

There are some who just want answers in Ferguson. They just want to see an investigation into what happened that day. Both sides want justice -- no matter what the outcome.

But there are others who are looking for another fight -- another chance to demonize a profession that has plenty of people who serve with honor and dignity. They don't want to talk about the whole story, all the details. Those don't matter according to their definition of "justice."

As we wait for the grand jury's decision and more information on what happened in Missouri, let's not forget that there are police officers killed every year in the line of duty. And let's also acknowledge that there are officers who do not belong in the profession.

This issue should be about truth and keeping our young people and our communities safe -- nothing else.

Let's hope it creates a dialogue that makes a difference -- and one that sparks similar discussions around the country.

Published in Editorials on August 28, 2014 10:59 AM