The Final Inspection

The policemen stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
Can't always be a saint."

"I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was rough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough."

"But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills just got too steep."

 

"And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears."

"I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear."

"If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much.
But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was silence all around the throne
Where saints had often trod,
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, policeman.
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell."

-author unknown

 

Police Chief Charles E. McNany was killed in the line of duty on July 13, 1957.

His name is listed on the "wall of fame" at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

JUST A COP

The funeral line was long,
There's an awful lot of cars,
Folks came out the restaurants,
They came out of the bars.
The workers at the construction sites
All let their hammers drop.
Someone asked, "What is this all for?"
And they said, "Aw, just a cop."

Some chuckled at the passing cars.
Some shed a silent tear
Some people said, "It's stupid."
"all these dumb policemen here."
"How come they are not out fighting crime?"
"Or in a doughnut shop?"
"Sure is a lot of trouble,
For someone who's just a cop."

They blocked the intersections,
They blocked the interstate.
People yelled and cursed,
"Damn, its gonna make me late!"
"This is really ridiculous!"
"They're makin' us all stop!"
"It seems they are sure wastin' time,
On someone who's just a cop."

Into the cemetery now,
The slow procession comes,
The woeful Taps are slowly played.
There's loud salutes from guns.
The graveyard workers shake their heads
"This service is a flop."
"There's lots of good words wasted.
On someone who's just a cop."

Yeah, just a cop to most folks.
Did his duty every day.
Trying to protect us,
Til they took his life away.
And when he got to heaven,
St. Peter put him at the top.
An angel asked him,
"Who was that?"
And he said, "Aw, just a cop."

-author unknown

Blood Upon the Shield

Confrontation in an alley.
The Centurion does not yield.
But this time the good guy loses;
there is blood upon the shield.

And the mournful sounds of bagpipes
play out across the land,
drowned out by the sobs
of a lonely young wife
and a child too young to understand.

While the killer pleads his case in court,
the thin blue line is one man short.
And we're one step closer to society's fall;
another cop's name is engraved on the wall.
Another state funeral, with an army in blue,
and we know it could've been me and it
could've been you.

We all look ahead
to what the future has in store,
front line troopers in a country that's at war.
At war with itself and at war with its cops
and we're out there everyday
'cause the battle never stops.
It's not the way it is on TV shows
or like we learned in school;
no cool music in the background,
no playing by the "rules."

We're disillusioned warriors,
but for right we'll always strive.
We just pray
that at the end of our stress-filled day
we'll get back home alive.

You stand out on the corner,
ignoring the insults and the stares,
close to the point of believing
that no one really cares,
when a six year-old boy walks over
after watching you for a while,
reaching out to shake your hand,
on his face a friendly smile.
To him you are a hero,
a protector of our land, and he wants
to learn about you,
as a cop and as a man.

And when he asks you why your badge
is covered by a black elastic band,
tell him about or Brother -
A cop who made a stand.

- by Randolph Liebec
President, NJ Lodge #27

 

Upon the markers of their graves
Our heroes etched in names we save
For all the life they gave with pride
To keep the peace within life's stride

To honor serve and do their best
To keep us safe through any quest
They gave up what was theirs to share
Their spirits shall be always near

No fear within the hearts and minds
To keep us safe within our times
The glory that is ours to see
Those special hearts of bravery

They have walked where no man dare
Their lives in danger with no care
For they have given all they could
For their courage we have stood

In awe of every one who gave
His life for others who they saved
So we will know their contribution
Their firm resolve and resolution

For those they left with hearts so broken
In every whispered word that's spoken
We bow our heads in confirmation
In every word life's revelation

Those who stand within their shoes
Will follow courage as they choose
And give to all the best they had
They carry on with spirits glad

We will know that they walked through
With colors bright and hearts so true
No Island stands alone they say
For heroes they are born this way

Protecting those with loyalty
A glimpse of so much royalty
Within the years of courage bound
These officers have earned their crown

Upon the earth we shall remember
The special goals and all their thunder
That proves a hero came our way
Who left their hearts on earth to stay.

~ Francine Pucillo ~
(c)Copyright November 16, 2004
In Memory of all those lost in the line
of fire with courage, strength and love.