Despite the politics and criticism that law enforcement as a whole receives, it’s important to remember that the men and women of law enforcement are people, too.
On Jan. 10, Officer Natalie Corona of the Davis Police Department in California was conducting an investigation on a motor vehicle collision when an individual unrelated to the call approached her and opened fire without warning. The gunman killed himself shortly after killing Officer Corona.
Officer Corona’s death is a reminder that there are people who target law enforcement officers simply because they wake up every day and choose to don a police uniform.
Despite being only a few weeks into the new year, eight officers have already died in the line of duty. In 2018, 148 officers died in the line of duty. Of those deaths, 26 were killed in motor vehicle collisions, while an astonishing 52 were killed by gunfire. This recent trend is alarming, as previously officers were more likely to die in the line of duty from a traffic accident.
Many people try to make the case that law enforcement is not even among the top ten most dangerous jobs. While this is technically true, law enforcement is one of the select few jobs where people actively seek to take their lives because of the uniform that they wear.
Despite naysayers that choose to view law enforcement in a negative light, police officers are people-oriented and motivated to serve their communities. Officers have an affinity for adventure that gives them the courage to protect others, regardless of the dangers they may face.
While there are certain common traits among law enforcement officers that are necessary for them to be successful in that line of work, it is crucial to remember that they are individuals, too. Officers may have backgrounds in unique fields and interests such as economics, professional sports and even music. Despite the illusion of conformity and similitude that a uniform provides, officers are a remarkably diverse set of people with different experiences and paths in life that led them to their chosen profession.
Officer Corona was no exception. She was much like many of us on campus — 22 years old, a recent graduate holding three associate degrees and waiting until her first year on the job was complete to finish her bachelor’s degree. She was described by Davis Police Chief Darren Pytel as being “the perfect cop,” hard-working and enthusiastic about the job and the community she served.
In many ways, officers like Officer Corona embody the best that our generation of Americans has to offer. She and others are what many of us aspire to be — educated, athletic, motivated and hard-working.
Police officers have a deep sense of purpose and are determined to make a true and lasting impact on the world. Like most other citizens, officers wake up, say goodbye to their families and head to work. Americans must remember that the men and women in uniform are just as human as the rest of us.
