Today,
I officially consider myself done. Today is the last time I wear a
badge and uniform to work after 9 years. I wish I could say it took a
fancy job or a substantial pay raise to
bring me to leave a career in law enforcement, but that simply isn’t the
case. I’m done being randomly flipped off, cursed at, attacked, and
hated based on what I wear to work. The tension is exhausting.
I’m done
being forced to watch lawlessness and savage behavior while it’s being
normalized and used for political gain. I’m done dealing with the
horrible things that take place every night while people go about their
lives clueless and judging those who do face those evils. The
willingness to serve the community like I once believed in is gone. The
way society is becoming and the war on police make the sacrifice no
longer worth it. Seeing parts of the city look like a third world
country while excuses are made to normalize it just isn’t something I
can maintain restraint and witness take place anymore, especially after
the recent chaos. The fact cities and departments have to plan ahead
knowing the normal behavior is to expect more lawlessness and riots
regardless of the outcome of the election is something I’m no longer
going to be a part of. It’d be a different story if these same cities
allowed police officers to be police officers and maintain order. The
physical restraint is gone after these last several months and I’m to
the point I’m going to react, I’m not going to stand there another night
shaking in frustration while I’m taunted, having things thrown at me,
or attacked.
A warranted reaction that almost anyone would have in a
given situation isn’t something there is room for as an officer since we
can’t rely on our localities or departments to back and support us.
They’ve literally stripped police from having the ability to effectively
do their jobs and maintain law and order. I struggle to understand how
the masses find this safe for any American citizens. It’s made coming to
work an uncomfortable and miserable feeling which is draining. It makes
me feel like sacrificing my peace of mind to maintain peace for the
community isn’t worth it anymore. I didn’t join to bring terrible shit
home with me at the end of the night. I didn’t join to fight anyone or
make everything a pissing match. I didn’t join to always feel tense and
under attack. I didn’t join to babysit adults who don’t know how to act
civilized. I didn’t join to be painted as the bad guy while we bend and
cater to criminals with no sense of accountability. I damn sure didn’t
join to lose myself and become syndical while dealing with all the worst
things our world faces. I sacrificed time with loved ones, friends, a
normal life, and my overall health.
I lost sleep over things that while
encountering them, I related to in a way or was affected by. After 9
years of wearing a badge, I quit. I quit prioritizing the safety and
needs of strangers in the community while sacrificing my own. I quit
being a pawn to be put in the middle of current affairs and made out to
be the enemy to the people I encounter and keep safe every night. I quit
being away from my loved ones to be there for yours in time of need.
Those who seem to be the most opinionated also seem to base opinions and
actions on emotion rather than educating themselves with facts or
having first hand experience. There is a lot of ignorance running
through our communities and a major lack in accountability. However
officers are being hung out to dry for doing their jobs. I’ve seen
coworkers treated unfairly in the court system and internally in the
department they work for purely to appease the citizens and make an
unwarranted example of an officer. However there remains a level of
expectation to be a police officer with your hands tied behind your
back. It’s building hesitation and distrust, which is an even more
unsafe dynamic. I’ve seen officers put out of work while acting in good
faith and doing their best in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t
situation.
Regardless of an individual’s feelings and beliefs, pushing
hatred and acting aggressive towards another person without any cause
other than their profession or race is wrong and common sense should
tell us that. Common sense should also tell us that an asshole is an
asshole and just because an encounter involves people of different
races, doesn’t mean it was racially motivated. We should also take into
account the differences between unfamiliarity, discomfort, or biases
towards a person or group that someone may not understand or necessarily
have a good memory of vs racism. You want to remove police, I’ll remove
myself happily. An officer that’s volunteered with underprivileged
youth, one who instead of issuing drug charges sought help and got
placement in a halfway house program for strangers, one with good
community relations and one as capable in any situation as any other
officer. I will worry less, stress less, and cry less. I will sleep
better, smile more, and feel better overall. I will be another civilian
but I will always stand for what I believe in and I will stand behind
those who continue to hold down our communities and keep this country in
tact while it’s being ripped apart from all directions. I just won’t be
representing a department or put in an impossible position that risks
my life, my freedom, or my ability to provide for my family. Simply put,
Ima do me and take my talents elsewhere ✌🏼
P.S if you think there aren’t officers trying and ready to leave law
enforcement across the country, better think again. A lot of people are
behind the scenes finding a way out while lowering their standards as to
what it’d take to bring them to leave. Officers are beginning to hear
from former co workers how much better they feel after getting out of
law enforcement and can relate to the areas which are impacted and
matter most to many. Officers are tired of being targeted and silenced
while sacrificing more than most can imagine, including peace of mind
which can’t be bought. They’re tired of their family life being affected
or entirely stripped from them because of this job. Officers are
congratulating those who do find their way out of the profession, that’s
how unhealthy of an environment it is becoming. Keep pushing because I
look forward to seeing people live better and feel better when they stop
burdening themselves with everyone else’s bullshit and get on with
their lives.
I’ll hold my loved ones down and keep my household safe and
then when shit hits the fan and there’s nobody to call or cry to, will
you?
~~ ~Zach Davis
