It’s come to this
By Retired Manalapan Captain John Alliano
You take the job to protect and serve,
But you often get what you don’t deserve.
You suit up daily with weapon and armor,
You do it to help; it’s not for the dollar.
It’s the law that you are sworn to uphold,
“Society needs it” you been told.
So when you enforce it something changes,
Gone are the praises, they turn to rages.
Man with a gun, resisting arrest,
Puts all your training right to the test.
Shoot, don’t shoot “my god” nothing’s working, escalation of force,
“Stop resisting” you scream until you are hoarse.
No mistakes can be made, must be perfect every time,
But totality of the circumstances dictates the crime.
You’re stuck in the middle; it seems no place to turn,
You start to feel you’re left there to burn.
You are accountable for everything you do,
If they can’t indict you, they can always sue.
Seconds for action, years to criticize,
They make accusations and statements, anything flies.
Many shout and protest about the case,
Not a clue do they have, it’s all about race.
No time to wait for the facts to emerge.
Social media just goes and feeds the surge.
Leaders make hasty statements to keep the lid on,
For the facts don’t really matter, there is no regard,
For you are expendable in this day and age,
The only regard is for the rage.
er
229 memb
pan Local
la
a
n
a
M
d
Retire
o.
John Allian
Self-serving leaders and those in the news,
Only care about ratings, agendas and views.
News “experts” and contributors they all abound,
They have no facts and only make sound.
They know now that the momentum is growing,
Emotions peak without anyone knowing.
What just happened is not really important,
Get on the news just for a moment.
I matter, you matter, they matter and we matter,
No one doing anything about what’s the matter.
No respect for authority, challenged at each turn,
Address the problem, what can we learn?
Accountability is something that starts at home,
Not something they get by texting on the phone.
Political correctness has gone to extremes,
Everyone’s afraid to address the problem it seems.
There are those who believe that you’re a machine,
With no emotions, or tears to be seen.
We feel, we bleed, we die, like you.
We are no different because of the Blue.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ OCTOBER 2016 71