By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

There's another side to the issue of police brutality. Oh, I know the side that claims that police officers are out of control and are abusing suspects. Even Hillary Clinton, in her quest for political power, has gotten into the act by recently acting as judge, jury, and executioner, proclaiming that four police officers under investigation are guilty of murder.

Evidently, Hillary thinks that a constitutionally mandated fair trial and a presumption of “innocence until proven guilty” isn't to be extended to police officers accused of wrongdoing.

Undoubtedly, there are police officers who abuse their authority and should be held accountable. There are strict criminal and civil penalties for renegade cops.

But what about police officers who are the victims of brutality? What about those who are injured, or worse, by the lawbreakers who prey upon and plague society?

Over 65,000 cops will be injured each and every year in altercations with “alleged” criminals. Of those, nearly 200 will die, some of them in our very own state. Where are the Hillarys demanding justice for the injured, maimed and murdered police officers?

A few years ago, I was awakened from a sound sleep about 2 a.m. The female voice on the other end said, “Is this Mr. David Epps?”

“Yes, it is. How may I help you,” I said groggily.

“Is this the Mr. David Epps who has a son named John who is a patrolman for the Senoia Police Department?” she said in an overly official tone.

She had my full attention. I bolted upright in the bed and demanded, “Who is this?”

“This is the emergency services dispatcher, sir. Can you come to the hospital, sir?”

Suddenly terrified, I said, “What's wrong with John?”

“Can you come to the emergency room, sir?” she asked again.

By now my wife was awake and wide-eyed. “Listen,” I said shakily, “I need to know if John is all right. I'm a police chaplain and police officer. Tell me the situation right now, please!” Every fear I'd ever had about police work rose to the surface that night.

The woman replied, “John is okay, sir. He's been injured, but he's all right. He will need you to drive him home.”

I fought back tears of thankfulness as I drove to the hospital that dark and foggy morning. John, my middle son, had been attacked, from behind, by a person wielding a flashlight as he was attempting to make an arrest on another individual. Fortunately, John always did have a hard head.

Just last week, I received another call as my wife and I were spending a few days in Arkansas. Our daughter-in-law called to tell us that our oldest son, Jason, a detective with the Peachtree City Police Department, had been injured in assisting in an arrest of an “alleged” criminal. After the “alleged” bad guy was safely tucked away in the patrol car, my son was taken away in an ambulance.

This week, I sat in the hospital waiting room as doctors worked over four hours reconstructing my son's severely damaged shoulder. The surgeon said that the ligaments and tendons had been “shredded” and that, when he made the incision in my son's shoulder, the collar bone just “popped up through the skin.”

Later, in the recovery room, I saw the agony on his face as the pain medication began to wear off. He has a metal wire protruding from his arm as the wire keeps his shoulder immobile.

He'll become very familiar with ice bags and pain medication over the next several days. The wire will be removed in three weeks... maybe.

And maybe the shredded material in his arm will be as good as new. Maybe his shoulder will fully recover. Maybe he will be able to return to full duty in less than three months. Maybe he will not develop long-term problems in his right shoulder as he grows older.

Maybe someone can wipe the tears out of the eyes of his children, ages 3 and 5, and explain to them why daddy can't pick them up and hold them tonight. Maybe someone can calm an incredibly sweet and supportive wife or a worried mother who fear for the safety of the cops in their lives. Maybe someone can take the hurt out of a father's heart when his sons are damaged by people who insist on (allegedly) violating society's rules and (allegedly) turn their violence on society's protectors.

Or maybe society just doesn't care about cops, the dangers they face, or the sacrifices they make.

Tonight, over 178 police officers in these United States will be assaulted by “alleged” criminals. Before this time comes again next week, as many as four of them will die protecting those who work, or play, or sleep.

And tonight and every night, all over the country, small children will pray to God on behalf of their police parent. It will be a simple and forthright prayer, devoid of eloquence or theological profundities. The only thing they will ask of God is that Daddy or Mommy can, please... just please... come home.

[David Epps is rector of Christ the King Church. The church meets at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Carmichael-Hemperley on Ga. Highway 74 in Peachtree City. He may be contacted online at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com.]

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