for the HPS

Nowhere is it more apparent that one or two bad apples can taint an entire bushel than in a Police Force.
The public, as influenced by the media, seem to be very quick to judge and dismiss all as corrupt and untrustworthy because of the actions of a few.
I was brought up in a generation that was taught to respect and honour our heroes, be they military or emergency service workers. We never would have thought about calling for help for anything less than a true emergency. We always pull over to the side of the road to allow safe passage for their vehicles when they are responding to an emergency. If we get caught speeding or not wearing our seat belts we take our lumps and don't refer to the officer by some nasty, condescending name. Our children have never heard us badmouth them and have been taught to show the same respect we expect them to show everyone, including themselves.
I think it is time that the public understands that all emergency service and military personnel are HUMAN. Some of them make mistakes. Some of them are not worthy of the job or the respect. But the number is so small. The majority of these people get out of bed and go to work because they want to make a difference. They want to help someone in their time of need. They want to be the voice of reason at an unreasonable time. They devote an unbelievable amount of their own time to quietly doing things behind the scene that the public seldom hears about. They do a lot of charitable work. They don't do these things for recognition. They do it out of a genuine care for their fellow human beings.
It causes me no end of distress to see when one of them fails and lets down the rest of the group, causing embarrassment. It causes me even more pain when I read the snide comments people feel free to make about these people while hiding behind an anonymous screen name. These are jobs most of us are not equipped to even try to perform, never mind judge.
To the honourable and deserving members of the Hamilton Police Force I say 'keep your heads up and keep up the wonderful job you do"

you are truly heroes

10-7

There is a profession out there that I have been honoured to be a part of for the last eleven years. A group of very special men and women who put their own lives and problems on hold to provide assistance to those in times of distress. They offer calmness in a time of chaos. They are emergency services communicators, more commonly known as 911 operators or dispatchers.
A very special group of people indeed. They deal with incredibly tense situations and usually don't get to know the outcome. They genuinely care about others and do whatever they can to help.
Sometimes they care too much and the stress and strain become too much to bear.
That is where I find myself today. I can no longer provide the calm, caring voice people need at such times. I care too much.
So it is with sadness in my heart I am saying 10-7.
To all my fellow radio room persons I say "see ya, take care, thanks for all the laughs, it's been a slice!"
To the officers I got to know and care about I say " stay safe, look out for each other, I am going to miss each and every one of you"
To everyone else I say "remember the person on the other end of the phone or the officer at your door is there to help you, appreciate them"

this control is 10-7