Police Collection

In my five years with the Los Angeles Police Department I have acquired a collection of items of which I am at once both proud and ashamed. Recently I received two more items to add to the collection: a prayer card, and a black elastic band to be worn over my badge as a symbol of mourning. I am proud of this collection because it holds the memory of those officers who have made the noblest and greatest of sacrifices, one that I too may be called upon to make. And I am ashamed because I live in a world where such sacrifices are made so frequently and are so little appreciated.

I have quite a few of these prayer cards and black bands, and I am sorry to realize that I’ll probably have many more before my career is through. But as I filed out of the memorial service for Jim Pagliotti, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering, “Will the next one be for me?”

DANIEL HORAN

Los Angeles