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Guest Post: We Must Work Toward Peace

July 26, 2016|by Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA)

In 1982, I lost my partner and best friend, Sergeant Sam Hicks, who was ambushed and shot to death while attempting to arrest a homicide suspect. Sam would not be the last friend and colleague I lost over my 33 years in law enforcement – eight of which I spent as the elected Sheriff of King County, WA. The pain of their deaths will never go away. 

My experiences with loss are not unique for those in the law enforcement community. Men and women in uniform face threats every day. This is part of the job, and officers go into law enforcement knowing this reality.

But something has changed. Now the threats go beyond the day-to-day perils of patrolling the streets and responding to calls for help.

As we have seen in Dallas and in Baton Rouge, members of law enforcement have become victims of growing tensions. We cannot let this continue. The consequences are too great.

Working towards peace starts with recognizing that we are all on the same team and are mutually dependent on one another. Communities need law enforcement to maintain stability and keep us safe. They are the local guardians of our democracy. Our men and women wearing the badge also need the partnership and support of the people they serve to protect neighborhoods to the best of their ability.

As representatives of our great country, the burden is on Congress to put politics aside and demonstrate by example that Americans can come together and work to end the tensions that permeate communities across the nation. This means walking in each other’s shoes and having what at times can be uncomfortable conversations. We have already begun to do so with the start of the Bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group, but there is a great deal to be done. 

I understand in some areas the wounds are deep, the rifts are wide and healing will take time, but we owe it to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives to work toward peace.