'make a difference'... cliche?

[Oldbillplod]

Everytime you put someone away for domestic violence you make a difference to the partners lifestyle.

[Kenpokev]

I teach every school kid in 6th grade about abduction avoidance...every year. I teach our crew defensive tactics every year. I try to encourage our inmates to make better decisions in life...some listen.

This is exactly why I stepped away from a great paying desk job to work crappy hours, lousy pay, and work with some of the finest people I've had the privelege to meet in my 45+ years.

[Group9]

Most definately. You arrest a drunk driver before they wreck their car against a family of 4, you made a difference.

Great example. Most of the time, you will never know what a huge difference you have made. A few times you will.

[TX-LEO]

And, it's true what's been said about expecting thanks and recognition. Some departments do it internally, as does mine, but dont expect it from the public thats for sure .

[dwf]

I backed into this line of work and quite honestly did not come into it hoping to save the world one bad guy at a time. What I have found though is that I have had some profound influence on several young lives.

There are the obvious and unmeasurable impacts on the community (the DUI example, stopping the crime before it happens, etc.) but the things that make it easy for me to over look the fairly predictable souring of outlook, is hearing a thank you from someone I was able to pull back from self-destruction or see another I stuck my neck out for and took a chance on; make the most of the opportunity and pull themselves together.

I have heard countless stories from people who at one time hated Cops and an unnamed Cop impacted on thier life in a way that shook them awake. Sometimes it was via an arrest while others it was just a talk. I was talking with someone this weekend about this very thing, and she told me that if it weren't for a Cop reaching out, she would have continued to slide into a world of drug addiction and all that goes with it. What was once a young lady on her way to an early grave is now a successful and happy woman unrecognizable to those who knew her as a teen.

Hell yes Cops can have an impact, sometimes large and sometimes small. We lose many more than we win, but it's the victories both large and small that keep me trying.

The recognition is rare, but being able to lay down at the end of the day knowing you've done something meaningful and you've done it well is worth more than any medal or letter of commendation I have ever received.