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I’ve been uneasy with what’s going on in the world these days.

With the spree of shootings of police officers as of late, I can’t help but cringe at the seemingly increased divide between police and the public.

I also can’t help but think about one of my best friends, a police officer in one of the largest cities in the northeast.

He’s a guy who knows me better than most. He was one of the first to knock on my door after my mom died nearly 16 years ago. We weren’t too close back then, but he lived across the street and we ended up chatting for hours at a time when I needed to talk to someone.

Ever since, our friendship has stood every test and obstacle imaginable.

We don’t always see eye-to-eye and he knows I’ll never admit I’m wrong even if he has concrete evidence to prove I’m wrong.

Still, I consider him a brother from another mother, and we both know we’ll always have each other’s back.

I spoke with him about why he decided to be a police officer. “Camaraderie” was one of the first words he used. After enlisting in the U.S. Army and now the U.S. Air Force, public service is important to him. Now in his late 20s, he balances his time between being a flight medic and a full-time law enforcement officer.

When he joined the police force in 2013, he knew the risks of wearing the uniform.

“I definitely recognized that it was a dangerous job,” he said of being a police officer, but added being in the military helped him understand the risks.

Those risks have also motivated him to keep himself in tip top physical shape. He told me, along with strength and mixed martial arts training, he does a lot of speed shooting and other combat drills.

That preparedness, however, is something to which his colleagues don’t adhere.

He explained most of his eight months of training at the police academy were spent on ethics.

“You’re only doing range training … maybe 10 percent of that (time),” he said. “I feel like if you aren’t trying to make yourself physically fit, you’re a liability to not only yourself, but to everybody that’s around you.”

In light of the recent shootings, safety is something my friend said leaves a lot to be desired.

He explained standard-issued vests for officers won’t stop rifle rounds, such as those fired from the AR-15.

“We know that we’re not adequately supplied with gear that will protect us,” he said. He also explained what would be a typical dispatch to a 911 call could actually be an ambush in waiting.

He pointed out intelligence suggests gang members in his area have actually made truces just to seek out and attack police officers.

“You almost have to be hypervigilant,” he said. “Your adrenaline is flowing all the time.”

His job also causes anxiety for his wife and child as he works in one of the worst parts of his city, something his family wishes would change.

When I asked why he thought police are being targeted after recent controversial events, he said he believes the nation’s leadership doesn’t provide support for law enforcement.

“I think that they want to pass judgement on police before the facts are even gathered,” he said.

He also thinks there’s a disconnect between the public and the police.

“There’s a huge push to try and test the police to see, basically, what you can get away with,” he said. He added that, in impoverished or high-crime areas, police are the only line of defense to keeping people safe.

In spite of the dangers and the risks, my friend doesn’t plan to leave law enforcement. In fact, he’s open to a federal position if the opportunity arises.

Trying to wrap my head around what would be a typical day for him gets my blood flowing. It’s easy to forget how dangerous and unpredictable a “typical day” is for a police officer.

Ten years ago, I didn’t think this guy would have chosen this particular career path. He’s been nagging me to go on a ride along with him for some time now, even though our lives often take us in different directions.

I do plan to take him up on that offer to get a glimpse into his world.

No matter how fearful I might be for my friend’s safety, I’m proud he has the vigilance and dedication necessary to keep himself and his community safe, even in such uncertain times.

Stay safe out there, brother.

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By Travis Kellar

[email protected]

Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews