“Am I going to die today?” It’s a question that enters the minds of countless law enforcement officers when they don their uniforms each morning, a stark reminder of the deadly nature of their chosen profession. Imagine looking in the mirror, straightening your badge, and wondering if this routine act could be your last—if today’s pass could be the one that puts you in the grave.

It’s become a grim routine: almost daily, headlines flash across our screens with news of yet another tragedy involving law enforcement. “Officer and 1 other person fatally shot in Mississippi, 2 other officers injured.” These words, or painfully similar ones, appear with a frequency that should shock us to our core. Yet for many they have become just another statistic, another fleeting moment of sadness quickly buried under the avalanche of today’s news.

But we, as a collective, need to be furious. We need to feel the weight of these headlines to understand the human cost behind these numbers. This is not just news; they are lives torn apart, families torn apart, communities reeling.

As a plainclothes federal agent for 90% of my career, I didn’t have to worry about being an open target. I didn’t have to wonder if my stop at the coffee shop would end in gunfire. I didn’t have to constantly look over my shoulder and wonder if today would be my last.

Matthew Thomas, Chief Deputy for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office, puts it succinctly: “Putting on the uniform and the badge has always carried an inherent risk. You have an understanding that there are those who will target you for violence based simply on the fact that you’re a police officer That’s why you become surveilled when you observe your surroundings.”

This hyper-vigilance is not paranoia; it is a necessary survival skill. Every traffic stop, every domestic dispute call, every routine patrol can potentially escalate into a life-threatening situation. The weight of this reality is a burden officers carry daily, along with their badge and gun.

What is often forgotten in the heated debates about law enforcement is that a human is behind the brand. The officer you see is not just a uniform or a symbol of authority. They are someone’s parent, child, spouse or friend. They have hopes, fears and dreams just like everyone else. And every day they choose to put on that uniform, knowing it could make them a target.

This is not to say that all criticism of law enforcement is unfounded. Like all institutions, policing has its shortcomings and areas that need improvement. But it is important to remember the human element.

We need to equip our officers with more than just a badge and a gun. They need comprehensive training that prepares them for the unexpected. But just training is not enough. Our officers need resources – from advanced protective equipment to mental health without stigma. And when an officer calls for help, they shouldn’t have to ask for backup to come. But in many rural areas, that prayer is all too real. That is why we must demand that those in power understand what is at stake. The lives of our public servants hang in the balance between budget decisions and policy changes.

Our politicians must step up and take concrete action to support our law enforcement officers. The safety of our communities and the lives of those who protect us cannot be reduced to mere talking points or election season promises. We need our leaders at all levels – local, state and federal – to prioritize police funding, training and resources. This means increasing budgets for comprehensive training programs, allocating funds for state-of-the-art safety equipment, implementing policies to ensure reliable backup, establishing mental health support programs, creating incentives to recruit and retain high-quality officers, and promoting outreach initiatives. . The time of empty rhetoric is over. Our officers put their lives on the line every day; the least we can do is make sure they get the support they need.

To our politicians: Your constituents are watching and we demand action. Will you answer this call? Will you make the tough decisions and necessary investments to protect those who protect us? The safety of our officers and our communities hangs in the balance. The next time an officer looks in the mirror and asks, “Am I going to die today?”, let your actions be part of what gives them the courage to put on that badge and serve. Our police officers stand ready to defend us every day – now is the time for you to stand up for them.