I became a Police Officer at the ripe old age of 19. I have spent my entire adult life proudly wearing a badge but sometimes look back at some of the decisions I made in the first few years of my career and cringe. The world was black and white to me then, a simple universe of right and wrong. The color grey was not in my visual spectrum and so I rode my patrol car like a white steed, with a self perception that I was indeed a righter of wrongs. I led the department in arrests and citations, believing that those statistics were the measurements of success. Fortunately, in my third year a new Sergeant took over my squad, a man whose courage and leadership would profoundly affect my life. One morning after a particularly busy shift he invited me to breakfast which I eagerly accepted. I remember looking out of the greasy diners window while I regaled my Sergeant with my nights exploits of arrests and action. He listened and smiled and when I was done, he said, "Randy, you are really a good cop. You know the laws, you work your butt off and I can trust your word. But do you know the difference between being a good cop and a great cop?". I beamed with pride at the accolades but was completely flummoxed by the question. I think that I stammered something about not knowing when he smiled at me and said the words that would forever change the way I viewed myself and my role. "The difference is only one thing Randy. The difference is compassion." That was a defining moment in my life and the legacy of that Sergeant will live on through the many lives that I have touched along my life's journey.
Submitted by Anonymous
We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.
Tell Us Your Story All Everyday Hero StoriesClick the like button above to access our facebook page, then ‘like us’ to get a dose of positivity in your feed.
No thanks