A letter of hope from a police officer explains why hugs matter

A police officer wrote a letter to the Dori Monson Show following a fatal shooting late Wednesday that left a Tacoma Police officer dead. The shooter also died after an 11-hour standoff with police.

A letter from a police officer

At about 4:15 this afternoon, I drove through Tacoma on my way back home from a long day of training — training on tools designed to save people I encounter while working as a police officer. At about the same time, a fellow officer in Tacoma was shot multiple times and later died after responding to a domestic violence call. The officer was murdered less than four weeks from Christmas.

The officer’s death is the 133rd for the year in our nation, 60th for death by gunfire. It has hit home because I know some officers from that department.

In the 22-plus years I have been a cop, over a dozen fellow peace officers have died on the job. I have attended many of the funerals. One line of duty death was the cousin of a family friend. He was an outstanding young officer murdered by a high and reckless driver.

Every death gives me pause, causes me to reflect and ground and center myself to the reality that I am a part of this job and it is a large part of me. The murder of a fellow officer will not stray me from doing what I am meant to be doing. But every DV call I go to will have me continuing to be alert, rightfully wary and on edge. It is expected in our profession and hopefully understood by our citizens.

As a profession, we remain professional in a time of hate, rancor and discontent on all sides. We do what is right and just because we are a good group of people who care, even with the very rare bad souls who wear a uniform and taint our calling.
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There are Those Bright, Shining Moments

We can count them in our career. The ones where a citizen genuinely says, ‘Thank you’ or ‘I appreciate what you do for us.’ They are rarer these days but they can still be occasionally found. To the citizen last week who stopped by the station, gave me a hug while crying and said she prayed for all of us in policing, you are the example of the good people we want to serve. You are the ray of sunshine piercing a dark sky. You are the one we tell our rookies about, when they are down or feeling low about the job.

Ma’am, you were that bright, shining moment in what was a pretty bleak work week. Your hug and words meant far more than you will ever know. A simple hug and words of thanks were the hope I needed for going forward through the holidays. A simple act with profound meaning.
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So, for the next few days, I ask that you, friends and fellow citizens of our great region, state and nation, light a blue candle or turn on a blue light, and say a prayer or equivalent for those of us who are good, honest and trying to be the peacemakers the good book writes about. And if you come across an officer, just say ‘Thank you.’ It may be that last bright, shining moment we have.

The officer who was killed, Reginald “Jake” Gutierrez, had three daughters and a granddaughter. The Pierce County Sheriff’s office says that donations to the family can be done through Pierce County Crime Stoppers here. Just click on the “Donate” button at the top of the screen. Make sure you add the note: For the Gutierrez Family Fund in the donation box. Donations will also be accepted at Wells Fargo Bank.

Note: GoFundMe pages that have been set up are NOT verified as authentic. “They are not authorized, they are not real,” said Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

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