I would like to express my appreciation for the many mortal risks police officer take when they:

* respond to the emotional nature of domestic violence

* have to evade a suspect accelerating a vehicle towards them

* make instantaneous decisions in the face of knives, firearms and other weapons

* approach a suspect that may be drunk, on drugs, or mentally unstable

* search for suspects in dark or a difficult environments

* have biased crowds threaten them while conducting an arrest

* are attacked in the media for doing their job and

* have to discharge their weapon with adrenaline and distance impairing their accuracy

Needless to say, I know that their job is extremely dangerous and it is difficult to show restraint with their life on the line. Too often, a hesitation on their part may result in their death and the loss of another caring spouse, parent, sibling, son or daughter.

Despite ineffective drug and illegal immigration policies, the police have helped keep our communities stay relatively safe. Without them, we would not have law and order for our society.

Harvey Gillis, Bellevue