COLUMN: Asking for a moment of prayer

Submitted photo.

Ellis County Sheriff Johnny Brown.

Each week in this column I try to bring you some words that will serve you in some way, whether they’re a reminder about a crime prevention tip, insights about the way your Sheriff’s Office runs or another topic of interest. It’s an opportunity for me to share some thoughts with you – but this time, the words haven’t come easy at all when thinking about the loss of five officers in the line of duty. Our heartfelt condolences are extended to those officers’ families and to Dallas PD and DART, the agencies where they served.

This calculated, planned shooting of police officers in downtown Dallas this past Thursday evening has given us all something to reflect on: What has our world come to? At the same time, we also have to be thinking about what can be done. It’s not an answer that’ll come overnight but it is one we all have to be involved with as we move forward.

I can’t imagine the pain felt by the families of those five officers who are never going home to their loved ones again – and the pain doesn’t stop there. Each of those officers has also left their friends and their fellow officers behind. As we learn their names and stories about their lives that are beginning to be written about them, we learn more about the individuals they were. They didn’t deserve to die because of their badges and what they did for a living.

These were good men who had chosen to serve their communities as protectors of law and order. They were officers whose names and stories you’d likely never have known otherwise – because it’s not too often stories get written about good men simply going about doing their jobs.

It’s a given when you raise your hand and take the oath of office in law enforcement that you’re also affirming your willingness to put your life on the line on the behalf of others. It doesn’t mean you don’t still want to go home at the end of your shift.

I’m asking you to please take a moment and say a prayer for the safety and wellbeing of law enforcement officers across our country, for the good men and women who have chosen to put their lives on the line for you. Please continue to pray for the five fallen officers in Dallas, their families, friends and colleagues, and also for those who were injured that they might heal.

As always, keep our military and service personnel in your thoughts and prayers as we remember that the rights and freedoms we enjoy begin with their service and safekeeping of our great nation. May you have a Blessed Week.

Johnny Brown has served as Sheriff of Ellis County since Jan. 1, 2009, and is a graduate of the National Sheriff’s Institute. He has been in law enforcement for more than 20 years and holds a Master’s Peace Officer’s Certificate with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.