Golarz: In defense of good cops: They're just trying to clean up our mess

I still cannot deal with the killing of George Floyd and others. I know that my God asks us to forgive these rogue cops, but, as yet, I cannot for they not only killed, but tarnished a noble profession. This writing is intended to honor that profession and to also set the record straight.

It was winter and I was in a Calumet City alley late at night with two cops, Teddy and Billy. We were looking for an abused, missing kid. In the darkness ahead I saw what appeared to be a guy lying sideways against an alleyway garage door. I moved to help.

Billy grabbed me by the back of my jacket and said, “Hang back, Ray.” He then pulled out his baton and nudged the guy several times in his buttocks while Teddy kept his hand close to his holster. The guy didn’t move.

Billy nudged him harder.

Still the guy didn’t move.

Finally, he struck him with some force. The guy screamed out, got immediately to his knees, and flashed a seven inch hunting knife. Billy backed up and said, “Steady big guy, steady.”

It took both Ted and Billy a while to calm him down. Later, at the Brooks House all night soup kitchen, while Billy was helping the guy eat, Ted told me that they often find homeless vets in one of those alleys. Last winter one died from the cold. So, they don’t leave guys there. It’s often dangerous to approach them, but they would rather try to wake them and get them something to eat.

Lately, I’ve been wondering what would have happened if someone was taking a video with their iPhone while Billy was nudging the vet with the night stick. What do you think? Remember, he eventually hit him pretty hard — police brutality?

During my lifetime I’ve learned to admire cops: I taught police for 10 years, worked with street cops for over 20 years, and had uncles who wore the uniform proudly. But today, given the hate and animosity directed at cops, I’m not sure that I would encourage one of my grandchildren to take the oath.

We are a nation that has lost respect for those who serve and protect. More importantly, we fail to understand that the immense poverty, lack of control over guns, racism, rampant illegal drugs, and the inadequate support for veterans that now exist were created by us — not by police. Their daily challenge is pretty much attempting to clean up our mess while they pray that they themselves don’t get shot.

Most cops chose their line of work because they wanted to help. I taught hundreds of them, and during the personal conversations I had with them they expressed repeatedly only that we understand what we have asked them to do and then cut them some slack.

Therefore, when I see a law enforcement officer on the street or on TV attempting to do his job while any number of persons around him are taunting, harassing and taking videos with their phones, I, like many of you, become enraged. In that moment I want to shout out the words of Col. Jessup from the movie, "A Few Good Men": “I would rather you just said, thank you, and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post.”

According to a published 2022 Ruderman Foundation study, more cops die annually from suicide than die in the line of duty. What do you think, America? Is it time to point the iPhone cameras at ourselves for a national selfie?

Remember, it’s our mess that we’re asking them daily to clean up. Record straight now?

By the way — really want to support your police? Get rid of your guns!

Raymond Golarz is co-author of “The Problem Isn’t Teachers” and “Sweet Land of Liberty” and former superintendent of the Richmond and Hobart schools. He is a Bloomington resident.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Columnist: In honor of the good cops just trying to do their jobs