Most of my officer's stories are hilarious. They make for excellent conversation pieces at dinners, weddings, or at any party. In fact, he's even thought of writing a book of all of the ridiculous and incredible stories on the runs he has been sent on.We will see about that. Don't forget that I can also take adorable pictures.
But then there's the shitty stuff. The real shitty stuff.
For instance, once he saw a man take his own life by shooting himself in head. He watched his brain matter fly all over the street. Once he was bitten by a stray vicious dog that literally tried to eat his arm. He had to shoot it. He loves dogs. This broke his heart.
Overall, he's been kicked, punched and spit on..a lot. Do you get punched or spit on at your job? That's never happened to me in any job I've ever had. In fact, if that happened to me, I would have probably quit..
He goes into disgusting nasty ass houses on a daily basis. I know when he comes home and opens the garage door that he needs to strip down and wash his uniform ASAP bc he went through a bed bug ridden home. We sure as hell don't want bed bugs at our house. He went into a home recently where the dogs that the homeowners had were never let outside and the smell of dog shit and piss was so overwhelming, he almost threw up.
When he hears gun fire, he has to run toward it. He's had people put guns in his face.
He works most weekends and almost all holidays. 10 hour shifts, all through the night that sometimes don't end because after his shift, he has to then go to the courthouse for his cases.
Guys, this is real life. This is our lives.
And after all the shit he puts up with every day. He goes back to work on a day to day basis. He loves it. It is his calling. Probably like most of the other law enforcement officers out there.
That's why it fucking sucks that he had to watch one of his brothers be laid to rest today. I was there too. It was the most beautiful yet tragic thing I've ever witnessed. My eyes streamed with tears from time I heard the first note from the bagpipes to the very end.
The burial was exceptionally hard when they did his last call over the radio. Watching my husbands eyes well up with tears is something I will never forget, and I hope I never have to see again. While the casket was brought up to the burial site, the heavens opened up and it poured...I can't even remotely tell you how hard it was raining...Not one officer moved.
They stood at attention and listened to the last goodbyes to Officer Kim. It was almost like God was helping mask the tears coming down their faces.
What I witnessed today was almost indescribable. There were really high points and really low points. The law enforcement family is nothing short of amazing. I saw officers from New York City, all over Ohio, Kentucky and even Pittsburgh. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh "hate" each other..But today they didn't.
What amazed me though is to see how many don't hate law enforcement... How many people just came to pay their respects and show the officers and the family how much they really do respect the badge.
I hope this is my last police funeral I attend, but I'm glad I got to witness it and I am glad to be a part of the Cincinnati Police Department. Even if it's just as a police wife.
Rest Peacefully, Officer Kim
