Jan 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 1

FROM THE GUEST EDITOR’S DESK
rex evans
Since January of 2020
through December of
2021, a total of 872 Law
Enforcement Officers have
lost their lives in the Line
of Duty. These incredible
men and women gave
everything of themselves,
so that others might go on
living.
You’re seeing the right
number. 872. Just under
1,000 people, good
people who were just
like you and I. They left
their homes, families and
friends to serve and protect
their respective communities.
Each of them,
finding within themselves
the strength to face the
age-old dangers of police
work, coupled with the
new invisible and deadly
threat of COVID.
Some of these men and
women were beaten, shot,
stabbed, struck by a motor
vehicle or drowned.
Others, by some medical
condition which occurred
while they were in the
performance of their duty.
Then of course, there are
the hundreds of Law Enforcement
Officers who
fell from the effects of
COVID and the terrible
toll this virus takes upon
the body.
If you were to review the
“ROLL CALL” of names,
you’d see behind each
name was a face. A son or
daughter. A husband or
wife. A mothers or father.
You’d see the loss of these
amazing people who, just
like you and I, wore a
badge, was not only profound
in their respective
communities but throughout
the Nation.
Not since records have
been kept and monitored
with regards to Law Enforcement
Officer Deaths,
have there ever been such
extreme numbers. In a
very real sense, our profession
has skyrocketed, not
only being the most dangerous,
but the deadliest.
Therefore, I wish to convey
my deepest sympathy
to the families of these
fallen officers. I know
these past two years have
been extremely trying and
difficult for every who
carries a badge. But I ask
you to please never give in
or give up. What you do
matters. What all of us do,
matters.
For the only thing between
us and those that
would harm us is a Thin
Blue Line. It is that Thin
Blue Line that binds us
together and gives up
strength to carry on the
memory of those we’ve
lost.