By Tom Wetzel
I had the privilege of running into a retired chief from the college that I attended as a younger man. He’s a highly respected professional within the Cleveland area, and I believe he has helped many young men and women over the years develop into police officers committed to our mission of serving and protecting.
While speaking with him, he handed me a Guardian Angel gold pin and requested that I wear it on my bullet proof vest in honor of his daughter who tragically left our world at a young age. I gave him my word that I would.
I am deeply confident that this young woman in Heaven will flank me whenever, wherever and however she can, just as she will for all the other officers who this dear police executive has given the privilege of having this Guardian Angel pin.
Police and correction work presents us with so many challenges, whether they are to our health, our sanity or our very lives. The strains from rotating shifts, poor diets and stress from seeing so much suffering can often leave many of us struggling to make sense of ourselves and the world we live in. It is easy to question whether we do make a difference and if anyone really cares.
With all the negative influences that surround us today, it is vital that we learn to turn to something greater than ourselves to find clarity, develop the wisdom necessary to make our communities better places to live and become public servants who serve with distinction and honor.
By recognizing that we are serving God our Creator besides our fellow men and women, it’s much easier to appreciate the work we do, resist the temptations we encounter, find the courage to address the serious risks we run into and withstand the various stresses we find during a tour of duty.
Understanding the spiritual connection of our special service and its relationship to those we serve can be an enlightening moment which gives us the strength and focus to complete our mission.
Just as I am confident that the next time I am in need I can turn my thoughts to a young angel and ask her to cover me, all of us have an opportunity to turn to something much deeper than ourselves and ask for help.