Spring to the Rescue

This is the most awesome time of year! The Easter/Conference/Church Anniversary always makes for the best start to spring. Which certainly makes up for the increase in crimes we go to thanks to the nicer weather. 

I was struck by Mervyn B Arnold and his talk "To the Rescue: We Can Do It" this conference. It was an interesting concept given our profession. Think about this:

A Code 3 call comes on the radio.  You are close to the call. Someone is facing serious danger and you have the potential to rescue them from it. Do you go?

Of course you do. Beyond policy or "being a good beat partner," we are sheepdogs. We rescue those sheep who are under attack by wolves.  Code 3 lights and sirens, guns drawn, adrenaline pumping, mind focused rescuing. No hesitation or crippling fear. 

Now let's change it slightly:

You become aware of someone who needs help. Small... Big... Not important. They need something and you have it. You are the closest person to them.  Do you go?

Now I will start with the worst option. Passing it on to a Home/Visiting Teacher, or the bishop to see if they can help. Maybe we sit on it to see who takes the fill (sorry, had to make the metaphor). But why? 

Fear is always around in this world. It is Satan doing it. He nurtures it. We can literally fight off fear in our work but crouch behind insecurity or inadequacy when the spiritual call arrives. 

Elder Arnold gives us the hope to fight through the fear. Take the same courage we have at work and push through. Pepper spray sucks but we can still fight. Getting a drugged up giant to comply is hard but we can do it. As Elder Arnold says, "we must never give up" on the rescue.

My fellow LEOs, use your skills on and off the field. You are a hero. Be a hero. Not just like some comic book but like the greatest hero of them all: Jesus Christ. 

Godspeed LEOs

- LDS Sheepdog