A Call to Duty...?!
A couple of years ago, I decided to face one of my biggest fears. With growing tension between law enforcement and local communities, I signed up for the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Volunteer Program.
Over the years, I met a few local deputies and police officers who encouraged me to learn more about their profession.
Honestly, I was terrified listening to the stories of personal experiences from friends and families. The local and national news stories intensified this fear.
My question is, why are we so afraid of law enforcement when they are the first people we call in dire need?
My answer began with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office volunteer program.
The volunteer program lasted for three months meeting at various locations investing hours learning, participating, and experiencing the world they live in with the day-to-day duties they perform.
Participation was completely voluntary and I participated as much as I was allowed to. I admit, a few of these exercises really gave me an inside perspective on the fears of patrolling, protecting, and providing safety for our communities.
Like many organizational institutions, there is a darker side that law enforcement and first responders have to face every day, on or off duty. The choices they have to make have impactful consequences that ripple out into society. However, there is a holistic community of first responders that contribute to the betterment of our communities via educational events, programs, and one-on-one interactions.
Upon completing the program, we were honored by Sheriff Bill Brown with a graduating ceremony and a certificate of achievement. At which point we became honorary volunteers for the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department.
Before Covid 2020, I had the privilege to participate in four community events. At each event, I learned and observed something uniquely special. These are everyday people with loving families and friends going that extra mile to keep their loved ones safe and sound. Another aspect that gave me a sense of reassurance is the inter-relationships developed between various organizations, community projects, outreach programs, local businesses, and non-profits. A few of the organizations that have had a positive impact on my life and in my community are the Red Cross, Aware & Prepare, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Goleta Prepare Now, Isla Vista Youth Project, and the City of Goleta's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
In the last couple of years, we have experienced some natural global and local disasters. The fact is, we are living on a rapidly changing and living planet. Accidents do happen in our homes, at our schools, where we work or play. Being educated and informed has strengthened my civic responsibilities, developed growing friendships, and calmed my general fears.
The point is we need to help each other learn and grow with our first responders. These are the people that do care about helping you, your loved ones, your family and friends, and the communities you belong to. What I discovered is there are people, as first responders, that do care about you and me during a crisis or not. Some people believe, like I do, that becoming a first responder is a calling in life. That makes sense to me, because at the end of the day, who are you going to call?
Bob Dylan once said, "a hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with our freedom."