The Real Thin Blue Line

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and for the last twenty four hours I’ve been mulling over something. For about the last decade I have read and watched the press and pundits talk about the thin blue line. While not all portray it in the following manner, most have framed the thin blue line in exactly the following manner at one time or another or consistently– Law enforcement solidarity to cover up a crime or excessive force with silence or outright falsehoods. This could not be further from the truth.

Across our country we were peacefully gathered around our tables with friends and family enjoying Thanksgiving and remembering why we should be thankful. Many of us honor traditions before meals that include discussing why we are thankful. I’ve participated in a few of those discussions, and topics range from health to new family members gathered in the warmth of the candle light. But, rarely is there a mention of those who are out working at that very moment making certain that the darker elements, the wolves of our world remain outside the fence allowing us to enjoy…our peace.

When I started this blog, I said “no politics”. This is as close as I’ll get, and I’ll only go this closely because this issue is very closely related to first responder wellness and is vitally important to law enforcement.

Let’s briefly talk about why these characterizations are horrifically damaging. First and foremost, no one wants law enforcement officers who color outside the lines corrected more than cops do. No one. But that simply does not always mean being fired and arrested. There is due process. Trial by press is not part of our criminal justice system. No matter how ugly something looks, the accused has a right to a full, complete investigation without undue political pressure or threats of cities burning. Then, and only then, should the decisions be made. Retraining? Discipline? Termination? Prosecution? Police cannot do their jobs under the weight of the pressure such as we have seen and I have described. The levels of stress, attrition and disinterest in the profession are testaments to that fact. We can’t bury problems, but they can’t be solved by crushing political pressure and burning cities either. Swift, transparent action (when possible) on the part of law enforcement leaders is the answer. Imagine going to work in fear every day worried that you’ll be fired or imprisoned if you make a mistake. It is simply not sustainable.

Now that a situation has been created where top tier law enforcement candidates are not interested in employment, second tier candidates are hired more often and standards have been lowered. The result? Who knows? But, most likely, mistakes are going to be more likely to happen rather than less likely. If I call 911, I want the best possible police officer to respond to my call for help. I think the community wants the highest caliber cops out there keeping the wolves at bay, not the “Well, we couldn’t get our first choices, so we got these guys” like middle school dodgeball selection. And, if you are a top tier officer and are now forced to work with folks coming into the profession that are not as well educated, motivated, trained, or morally guided, how do you suppose that effects you and your desire to remain in the profession?

When I first started in law enforcement, I wasn’t that long out of college. I had taken some courses on journalism. I had innocent ideas based on my limited education (only a couple of classes on this topic) and life experience. I began going to major crime scenes, seeing the press there and reading what they wrote later or seeing it on TV and frequently having the reaction “That isn’t what happened!”. As we moved into the twenty first century and “journalism” began moving at the speed of light this began happening more frequently. Then, the struggle to make money for these outlets came into play with fierce competition and truth became less interesting. Sound bite sensationalism reporting is the flavor of the day. Five seconds of a five minute encounter aired designed to enflame emotions were the big sellers. Then, at the apex of all this, a funny thing happened. Law enforcement agencies all across the country began purchasing and utilizing body worn cameras and…the unprecedented assault on police and slanted discussion of the thin blue line began to fade. I wonder why…I’ll give the reader a hint; policing hasn’t changed, the public just gets to see what really happened now.

Now, I’ll close with what the thin blue line really is. There are dedicated, professional. community servants all across our country who tirelessly pursue peace and safety in our names. They are the thin blue line. When we wake in the middle of the night because someone threw a brick through our window, call 911 and sigh with relief when the lights appear, they are the thin blue line. When one of the dozens of the officers looking for the lost child on a cold night find her and return her home unharmed, that, is the thin blue line. When shots ring out in a crowded mall and an off duty officer tells her family to go the other way then runs towards the sound of gunfire, that is the thin blue line. At two am an officer does a traffic stop on a speeding car and finds a woman in labor in the back seat and delivers the baby in the back seat before the ambulance can arrive, that, is the thin blue line. And, yes, the officer sticking his thumb in the femoral artery of his zone partner who has been shot responding to a home invasion robbery as he also applies the tourniquet is the thin blue line.

Every night, every holiday, every weekend, every special event, every time we are gathered around the table with our loved ones enjoying peace, professional members of the thin blue line are working to keep the wolves at bay. They have tens of thousands of contacts with citizens from all demographics every day across the country that we never hear a word about because those contacts go perfectly. And, perfect police contacts don’t sell so media outlets don’t report them.

Many of you reading this may be thinking “So? What can I do? I’m helpless in this matter.”. Let me suggest two things: First, be discerning consumers of news and information. When salacious information crosses your path, fact check it. Most of us have supercomputers in our pockets or on our desks the likes of which colleges and research labs only dreamt of a few years ago. Cross check that story. Especially if it has a five second clip of an officer seemingly behaving poorly. If you routinely catch your media outlet pushing out bullshit, call them on it. Let them know about it and then, stop consuming information from that outlet. Secondly it is vitally important that if one of these incidents takes place in the area where you live that you not remain silent. Advocate the CEO of the law enforcement organization (Chief, Sheriff etc.) to be open and transparent but follow due process. Advocate politicians (local and otherwise) not to apply pressure on law enforcement to do anything aside from doing a thorough investigation with plenty of updates and briefings. And, remind them that you vote. All this can be done from the comfort of your home via email. Remaining silent conveys approval for this foul pattern of behavior and threatens to undermine public safety, the safety of our law enforcement officers, and places our officers in a terrible situation. Of the 127 law enforcement officers who have died in 2024, 64 have died from suicide and 47 from gunfire…a sobering statistic. It’s not an easy job. Lets at least afford the folks who stand in the gap the curtesy of full, complete investigations and due process before verdicts.

I’d like us all to take a moment to reflect on all the first responders and members of the military who quietly went about serving us and keeping the wolves at bay while we ate our turkey and shared time with our family. Doing so allowed us to be at peace with those we love, ponder why we are thankful and sleep easily. For that, I submit, we should all be grateful as well.

They are the real thin blue line.

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