Heroes, indeed

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

We were reminded once again last week of the danger facing police officers, even in our small more-or-less safe communities when two Milford officers – Sgt. Kevin Furlong and Officer Eric Wales – were honored for their actions during the early stages of the investigation of the murder and attack in Mont Vernon in October.

The story is well known – five young men have been charged in connection with the murder of Kimberly Cates and the attack on her young daughter – but the role the two officers played was less well-known. Furlong and Wales were first upon the scene and likely saved the life of Jaimie Cates. And after giving her first aid, they made sure the house was free of the perpetrators.

They modestly said it’s all in a day’s work and they’re absolutely right: Everything a police officer does is, in some way, all in a day’s work for him or for her because any day could involve anything.

In our more-or-less safe communities, we tend to take police officers for granted, except when we’re irked at them for something, perhaps giving us a speeding ticket. We don’t seem to realize how valuable they are until something like the Mont Vernon incident occurs. Then we sit up and take notice.

The fact is, though, police officers put their lives on the line every time they put on the uniform and go out on patrol. It is impossible to know what they’ll face on any day. Could Furlong and Wales have even imagined what they’d find in Mont Vernon when they responded to radio calls? What if the alleged killers had still been in the home?

Men and women who put on the uniform never know for sure what’s out there, but they know this:

They’re going out there anyway and they’re going to live up to the Milford Police Department’s motto – To Protect and Serve.

Furlong and Wales did exactly that, just as their brethren in every town around here do.

The recognition given to Furlong and Wales is, in a way, a recognition for all of them. We’re certain the two Milford officers would agree.