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