This week brought some horrifying reminders of what a dangerous job police officers have, and how they put their lives on the line every day to protect the public. Those who preach about how they should be doing their jobs from the safety of their homes that the police protect should take a look at these stories and ask how they would act if their jobs required them to deal with people like this. Needless to say, I hope you will join me in praying for all the victims and their families.

In Watauga County, North Carolina, five people are dead after a 13-hour police standoff with a shooter who eventually committed suicide. Two deputies who were called for a welfare check were ambushed and killed. Another was shot in the head, but saved from injury by a protective helmet. When the stand-off ended, police discovered a mother, stepfather and son dead inside the house, but it’s not clear at this writing which one was the shooter who killed the other two and the two officers.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-deputies-shot-watauga-county-standoff

In New Mexico, Las Cruces police officer Adrian De La Garza was shot by a suspect wanted for killing another state trooper during a traffic stop. But De La Garza got up, returned fire and survived. The shooter/alleged cop killer did not.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-mexico-police-officer-fires-back-after-shot-by-accused-cop-killer-video-shows

In Delmar, Delaware, police Corporal Keith Heacook has died of injuries from being viciously bludgeoned by a suspect who also assaulted two elderly neighbors. Heacook had no backup when he was sent alone to investigate a report of a fight because of “major understaffing and underfunding within the department.” Please note: Defunding the police kills people.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/delaware-officer-who-was-brutally-assaulted-dies-from-injuries-suspect-now-charged-with-murder

In suburban Phoenix, a violent felon stole a car and led police on a wild chase, during which he struck and killed 18-year veteran officer Christopher Ferrar and critically injured another officer.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Arizona-1-officer-killed-1-hurt-by-suspect-in-16141371.php

Yes, I know there are examples of bad policing, and a need for reform and better training in some cities. But those who blame the police for every interaction with suspects that turns violent never seem to consider whether the suspects might bear any responsibility. Nor do they show any empathy for officers who never know when they leave for work each day if they’ll come home alive, and who never know what’s waiting behind that closed door or inside that dark car that they have to deal with. It’s a job that I can’t imagine their critics being able to handle for a single day.

And speaking of those critics who can’t see how unreasonable they’re being, check out this professor at California’s Cypress College berating a student in class for saying that cops are heroes and there's nothing wrong with showing them on a children’s show called “Paw Patrol.”

https://www.toddstarnes.com/campus/video-college-professor-lashes-out-at-student-for-saying-cops-are-heroes/

You know who are definitely not heroes? Nasty, arrogant college professors who impose their radical politics on a captive audience of students.