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Editorial: Reverence for veterans, police
Op-Ed · November 10, 2016


Even though this Friday is Veterans Day, we want to take a moment, in light of the shooting deaths last week of two police officers, to group veterans and law enforcement together.


It is not that we consider their jobs equal. Certainly, the members of our military forces face higher and more frequent risks than the average police officer.

But make no doubt that both groups carry guns for very strong reasons and very valid purposes, many of which overlap. And remember that many police officers once served in the military.

Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Beminio of the Des Moines Police Department and Officer Justin Martin of the Urbandale Police Department died in the line of duty, apparently ambushed Nov. 2 by their shooter. It was a terrible tragedy.

Some 1,500 officers attended Beminio’s funeral Monday at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, and Des Moines Police Chief Dana Wingert said “God sent Sgt. Beminio and we are all better for it.”

Wingert, rightly, focused on all the good of the slain police officer. Those who spoke at Martin’s funeral did the same when they gathered Tuesday at South Central Calhoun’s school gymnasium in Rockwell City.

We are well aware that police officers, nationwide, are not perfect. From Rodney King to Michael Brown, these recent generations have many high-profile examples. The same holds for the U.S. military with cases like the My Lai massacre and the treatment of prisoners in Abu Ghraib.

Yet those awful events do not compare with the overwhelming volume of good our military and police forces do to protect us and our freedoms.

From the War on Terror to the number of arrests for murder, violence, child pornography, these two groups have very long track records of bravery, dedication, sacrifice and commitment to the American people.

That is why, when we hear of the deaths of officers and soldiers, especially those we know or who are close to home, our society is shocked and horrified.

We hold, as a whole, our police forces and military in high regard. This is not just respect, but reverence. We do not worship them since they are not deities, but we do hold them in the high esteem we set aside for those who, as a matter of duty for the oaths they have taken, place themselves in danger so we do not have to. This, of course, includes our West Branch Police Department.

They do not place themselves in danger needlessly, but with the great and high purpose of defending our nation and its citizens, both inside and outside its borders.

And some pay the ultimate sacrifice to do it.

We would call on everyone to take time this Friday to remember our veterans, whether that is by attending one of the West Branch American Legion ceremonies listed elsewhere in this week’s paper, or some other means. However, in light of last week’s shootings in Des Moines and Urbandale, we also think it worthy of adding a thought and, if one feels led, a prayer for our police forces.