Lots of headlines about the ‘American carnage’ on our streets. I just go to and from work knowing the carnage is in our policies and priorities and that we don’t have to be this way. I can’t say much with pure certainty but I can say being a local cop has made me a better person

I tweet much less about work now because often everything I see is a felony. But that doesn’t mean that I believe less in my neighbors. It’s the opposite. I believe more.

In 1991 I was in the coast guard & I focused on people drowning. In 2001 I was with the Capitol Police & then quickly to CIA where I focused on countries drowning. Now in 2021 I’m a local cop where I focus on neighborhoods drowning. And drowning ain’t usually splashy. It’s muted

I’ve seen people called terrorists & I’ve seen people called patriots and I’ve seen both of them be both or neither. I speak out or write when I think I should. I’ve been staggeringly lucky. I’m aware more & more of what that means.

I reject that cops must become jaded because they are ‘around’ criminals a lot. Firefighters don’t think the entire world is on fire. Oncologists don’t think everyone has cancer. Local cops have a tremendous opportunity to help our neighbors. That’s not naive. That’s the job

Anyway, MeanCat is back home and someone has to take off his bandage tomorrow and I’m thinking there’s probably enough National Guard in DC so maybe road trip?