The Badge
There are those people out there
That say I'm just made of chrome and tin
But they don't know whom I've been pinned to
Or all of where I've been.
And some would say, I don't do much
Except collect discarded donut dust
And spend working hours sleeping
And erode the collective public trust.
And some would look right at me
And say I have much blame to bear
For justice not truly being served
And that I hardly care.
And some would say that I'm biased
And arrest someone because of skin and creed
And that Is never really there
When there truly is a need.
And because some people say these things
It causes all the badges pain
As words of hate seen to multiply
Orchestrating a cruel and sad refrain.
But please admit, it takes just one badge
To make the rest of us look wrong
And undo all the good we've done
In the war against crimes so strong
And when I was young, I thought I knew
What the future help in store
But as the older badges schooled me
I could have listened more.
So to those out there with voices dark
I hear all of what you say
But in a sense of fairness
Come and walk with me a day.
So come with me my doubting skeptics
In waters cold and dark and deep
And recover those pale and lifeless bodies
Who are destined to an endless sleep.
And will I just meet John Q. Citizen
On my "routine" traffic stop
Or will it be a fugitive or psycho
With a sickened hatred for cops.
And as a badge who guards those in jail
Who seem to have so little to loose
Will I have to fight or counsel
Or drag them down from a deadly noose?
And when dispatch calls, I do my duty
Challenged by the unknown that is hid
Who will leap out from the shadows
A murderer or harmless kid?
And remember you have ample time to judge
The scenes to which I'm duty beckoned
And those fateful decisions I have to make
In the blur of a milli-second.
And with me, rap your knuckles on the door
And deliver the message of life's vanishing joys
To the shocked parents of cruel life
'Cause death has claimed their girls or boys.
And so before you spit on me
Or call me pig with unmitigated nerve
Remember when all is said and done
It's all of you I protect and serve.
But all's not bad or wrong or dark
Or none would pin me on their chest
We all share in pranks and jokes and laughter
It helps us with all the rest.
And when we do our duty proud
By heroic deed or even just a smile
All badges shine much brighter
And prove what we do is worthwhile
So I am proud to be a badge
Lay that down as a damn right certain bet
And if there's a better thing to be
I haven't found it as of yet.
So just remember to those that say
I'm just made of chrome and tin
Remember the proud few I'm pinned to
And all of where I've been.
This was written by an officer by the name of Michael E. Flanery
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