EDITOR:

2020 is a rough year for everyone, COVID-19, elections, limited travel, lost jobs, etc. One group that suffers nationally is the Blue, our law enforcement officers, having to deal with all kinds of disruptions, additional crimes and rioting.

Police officers deaths are up 70% since last year, and each year there are more than 50,000 assaults on them. Too many American cities have become war zones.

The Trump administration has the back of public safety — to the extent that most officers, even unionized, supported him. Hopefully now the new administration will do similarly and put an end to the needless rioting. Voters, notably in Upper Michigan, have made it clear that we are very displeased with the lack of support for the Blue in major cities. The City of Minneapolis had the gall to send the federal government the mega million dollar bill for its downtown riot destruction. I guess they could not find the elusive address for Black Lives Matter. Seattle found its first female black police chief resign when the city council laid off 100 officers and cut pay. When “Defund the Police” movements arise it is then even harder for the police to obtain necessary protective safety gear they need as politicians gut department budgets and even move to dismantle departments.

There are a few bad apples in every barrel, and yes, they need to be deal with rightly, but overall our public safety officers are out there risking life and limb to keep the peace. We can support them, and the number of Back the Blue signs we see in Democrat and Republican yards locally indicate that.

A famous broadcaster said it best — a policeman is a composite of what all men and women are, a mingling of saint and sinner. Less than one-half of one percent of police misfit the uniform. That’s a better average than you’d find among clergy. He must make instant decisions which would require months for a lawyer to make. But, if he hurries, he’s careless; if he deliberates, he’s lazy. He must be able to start breathing, stop bleeding, tie splints and above all, be sure the victim gets home safely. The office must know every gun, draw on the run and hit where it doesn’t hurt. He must be able to whip two men twice his size and half his age without damaging his uniform and without being “brutal”. If you hit him, he’s a coward. I he hits you, he’s a bully. (Law suit city.) The policeman must be a minister, social worker, diplomat, tough guy and a gentleman. And, of course he’d have to be a genius, for he will have to feed a family on a policeman’s salary. Paul Harvey, good day!

Mike Olson

Escanaba