During the morning of July 23, a tragedy reminded the public about the hazards a dedicated group of men and women face every day as they protect and serve the public.
Deputy Shawn Hess of the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a call at a Richlands, Va., mobile home park about a 15-year-old girl who had just given birth to a child and was in an active seizure. Hess and other deputies were dispatched to assist.
Tragically, while driving to the scene, Deputy Hess lost his life in the line of duty. He died in a motor vehicle accident.
Every day, members of the law enforcement community, fire fighters, rescue squad personnel and others put themselves in harm’s way so they can help other people. They face armed and dangerous individuals, dangerous traffic, dangerous weather conditions, raging fires and hazardous materials. They must stay clear headed in the face of danger and heart-rending tragedy while doing their duty. All of this is done on modest salaries.
Every day the community’s protectors go on duty, they and their families do not know if that day will be a last day. Every dispatch sent by a 911 center could easily become a life threatening situation in a matter of moments.
For example, the simple act of pulling a vehicle over for a traffic violation exposes an officer to hazards known and unknown.
Officers must get out of their vehicles and expose themselves to the traffic hurrying along the highway. Often these stops are made during the night and during inclement weather. Officers ask that motorists pull over into the far lane to avoid getting too close to parked vehicles, but not all of them do.
Then the vehicle’s driver and passengers must be considered. They may be honest people or they may be dangerous fugitives. It’s hard to tell the difference just by looking at them.
The list of hazards can go on. Fire fighters face dangerous traffic, hazardous materials, flames and toxic smoke. Rescue squad personnel also face dangerous highways and frightening situations people outside the profession can scarcely imagine.
Members of the public should keep the sacrifices of law enforcement, rescue squad and fire department personnel in mind whenever they hear sirens and see emergency vehicles hurrying down the highway. Every day they put themselves in harm’s way so the rest of us can stay safe.
Editorials
July 28, 2010
Protect and serve: Tragedy underscores heroism of public servants
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