Tuesday, May. 11, 2010
A police officer’s wife
Jan Huntsinger, Guest Columnist
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Editor’s note - May 9-15 marks National Police Week, celebrating law enforcement officers around the country.
On Aug. 8, 1882, 128 years ago Independence Mayor James Peacock, led the city councilmen in setting forth the official birth of the Independence Police Department.
An earlier ordinance titled “Night Watch” dated Nov. 1, 1878 had governed the safety of this fast growing bustling town.
Mayor Peacock and the council decided there had to be more control in place because of the increased antics of Jesse James and his gang, as well as others that would push the laws to the limits. So on the evening of Aug. 8, 1882, the old ordinance was repealed and a new one titled simply, “Police,” became law. It was a simple and to-the-point document. No flowery words, no worrying about whose feelings would be hurt.
The council’s concerns were the protection and safety of the town’s people.
In 1961, it was customary for the wives of police applicants to be interviewed by someone from the department. It was the final step in hiring. Little did I know my answers would govern the acceptance or refusal of Don’s quest for a dream come true. It was a plain, blunt, strait to the point conversation. All different kinds of possible scenarios, some rather mind-boggling, were laid out before me, some of which I wondered if they really went on.
Each time the question for me was the same – how did I think Don would react and handle the situation? I never had any doubt that the man I had known since we were 14- and 16-years-old would stay focused. He was always able to think clearly, stay composed and think rationally, never arrogant, and would be compassionate.
Finally, they told me that he would be a policeman 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They stressed that an officer’s actions off duty were just as important as when on duty. His actions would reflect the respect he had for his position in serving the community and the respect he had for the department and his fellow officers, but that his integrity would always be of utmost importance. Don was notified later that day of acceptance and the first step of 35 years of service to the town where he was born and raised began.
Don worked feverishly the night before his first shift. He shined brass, spit-shined his shoes and holster and cleaned his duty weapon, rechecked everything again and deemed he was ready to do this.
I’ll never forget the first time I saw Don in uniform. If he was nervous or having second thoughts he never betrayed himself. All I could do was look and quietly ask God to take care of him - a prayer that I said every day of our 41 years.
The hardest thing I had to do that day, was of all things, kiss him goodbye. Not because I didn’t want him to leave but because in that moment I saw only a policeman. Then I realized that first and foremost he was my husband, confidante and friend. The character traits that made me fall in love with him were the same that would make him a good officer.
In the years to come these same traits would make him a good father of two girls. Girls, that when teenagers, believed him when he said he ran record checks on all their boyfriends and that if they were caught speeding or were seen crusin’ Noland Road, he would know it before they got home.
Sometimes in the heat of the moment when passions and tension are running high, the people in need tend to forget that the men and women in police uniform are just like them.
They have families that love them and are honored to share them with the community at a person’s time of need.
The city of Independence has been served well during these last 128 years with a police department filled with dedicated, compassionate people whose only goal is to take care, protect and serve the citizens that have entrusted their safety to them.
Unfortunately, over time, desperate situations have taken, Deputy Marshall Henry Hughes on Feb. 10, 1877; Officer John Swearingen on Jan. 16, 1884; Sheriff Henry Bugler on June 13, 1886; Officer George Barton, Sr., on Jan. 26, 1922; Lt. David Kraxner on Oct. 31, 1966; and Officer Terry Foster on March 17, 2001. Their sacrifice and their families will not be forgotten.
May they all rest in peace.
Jan Huntsinger, a Blue Springs resident, is a guest columnist for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail editor@bluespringsjournal.com.
