Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- You may notice this Sunday that all flags at government facilities are flying at half-staff, and wonder why.
It will be to honor the state's police officers, and in memoriam for those who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The proclamation by Gov. Gary Herbert to recognize Sunday as "Peace Officer Memorial Day" follows President Barack Obama's proclamation, which also declares next week as "Police Week" in America.
The work of law enforcement demands a quiet courage, and an uncommon commitment to duty. To set aside a week to acknowledge that commitment is entirely proper, not so much as an opportunity to salute or celebrate, but as an opportunity to be grateful.
The declaration was issued without a lot of fanfare which, in a way, is fitting. The men and women who serve as peace officers do so without expectation of flashy recognition. They are called to their profession out of a desire to serve and protect, and for the most part, they do so with integrity and professionalism, day in and day out.
There are times when the actions of individual officers bring embarrassment to their departments. Every profession suffers occasionally from the misdeeds of a few. Such incidents are fortunately rare, but unfortunately for the officers and their departments, they are highly public.
Cases of police misconduct attract a lot of coverage in the news media not because of a desire to inflict shame, but simply because there is so much riding on the character and professional virtue of those who enforce our laws.
On the eve of Police Week, we witnessed the spectacle of a high-profile and highly-respected police officer rise before a judge and accept his punishment for a misdemeanor crime. Beau Babka, the county's former undersheriff, was sentenced for stealing a little more than a hundred dollars' worth of gasoline.
As one would expect from an officer with a legacy of accomplishment, Babka did not retreat from the consequences of his conduct. "Shame on me for what has happened," he said, fully aware that as a law enforcement officer, he would be held to a high standard. "When we put the badge on, that's what the public expects. They expect it that way."
Expect it, depend on it and, one hopes, fully appreciate it. The work of law enforcement demands a quiet courage, and an uncommon commitment to duty. To set aside a week to acknowledge that commitment is entirely proper, not so much as an opportunity to salute or celebrate, but as an opportunity to be grateful.
Email: cpsarras@ksl.com
