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The Thin Blue Line (2)

I've written about this before:

http://billcobabe.blogspot.com/2009/07/thin-blue-line.html

Friday morning I heard this news:

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=36210030&nid=148&fm=most_popular&s_cid=popular-1

Paul Kotter is a friend of mine. He lives in our neighborhood, which means that he attends the same LDS ward as me and my family. He serves in the Young Men organization with me, has a son who is 17 years old (who is friends with Ammon), and a daughter who is 13 (like Elise), and he even served his mission in Korea, which means he's practically a brother. His son is 14 and in the Teacher's Quorum, where I am an advisor. On our recent trip to Lake Powell, he and I talked at length about what he does and why. I was impressed by his dedication and willingness to serve, as well as his motivation for doing so. He said he liked being in the Highway Patrol because he's got a good career with decent benefits and retirement, and that he's able to provide for his family. All of which is just amazing, particularly in light of what happened this weekend.

He can't wait to get back to work. It's going to be some time before he can heal up enough to get back to work, but he is in good spirits and in relatively good health (he is a runner and a bit of a fitness junkie).

There are parts of the investigation that are continuing, and I don't know much more than what's in the news article. But Paul said that there were aspects of the event that are nothing short of miraculous, and that he felt angels around him, both protecting him and guiding him. And I'm grateful for that. I am grateful that something that could have gone much worse has turned out the way it did, for everyone.

I am reminded just how grateful I am for this thin blue line that protects and defends the rest of us from the evil and ugly side of society. They're working while we're sleeping. They're working while we are totally oblivious to the dangers and evils around us. They're working while we take them for granted, ignoring their sacrifices and personal dangers they face every day. And they do an awesome job.

Of course there are anomalies. There are significant steps that must be made so we can get to a truly just and equitable society. But by and large, these brave men and women do so much for so little recognition... And I think we should all be more grateful.

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