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In 1962, National Police Week was established by a joint resolution of Congress. That same year, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. In the years since, this particular week has been set aside across our country as a means of giving thanks to those who wear the blue and remembering those fallen officers who have given their lives in service to others.

On the front lawn of City Hall there is a memorial bearing in granite the words “In Memory of Law Enforcement Officers Who Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice,” and it lists two names: Danny Burks and Walter Watkins. Both gentlemen served honorably, and their loved ones and our city grieve their deaths to this day. Thankfully, by the grace of God, the list on that memorial has not grown longer with the passage of time. But the safety of those who serve should never be taken for granted.

This special week of giving thanks took on special meaning in Natchez as an incident played out in our city that could have resulted in the loss of two of our bravest and finest. On patrol during the evening hours of Sunday, May 11, these officers attempted to apprehend a suspect wanted for attempted murder. As they made their approach, the suspect immediately opened fire. Our officers acted appropriately to protect themselves and to neutralize the suspect. Thankfully, they were not injured. The suspect, critically injured, will no longer be able to inflict damage on our community, and Natchez is a safer place as a result.

In a time when those who serve have been maligned all across our country, with angry mobs clamoring to “defund the police,” I am grateful to live in a city that supports our law enforcement and shows appreciation for all who serve and protect our citizens. I don’t know what we would do without them. On May 1, at our National Day of Prayer observance, we prayed for all who serve, including our first responders. We pray for them often. And I truly believe our prayers are answered.

Incidents like the one our city just experienced serve as a grim reminder of the risks our officers take every time they wear the badge. And as much as I think we as citizens truly care, I am not sure we truly understand. Being a police officer has to be one of the toughest jobs on the planet. Imagine being the first on the scene when the worst of humanity is on full display. Imagine walking into a domestic situation where all reason is gone and tempers are explosive. Imagine walking into a mob scene where crime has just taken place, wondering who in the crowd is going to draw their weapon next. Imagine coming upon an accident where a person is fighting for their life or already expired. Imagine dealing with the emotional trauma of grieving family members on the scene of a fatality. Imagine saving someone who is attempting to commit suicide only to have them turn on you. Imagine coming upon the scene where a child has been abused. I hate to be so graphic in these descriptions, but I worry that we as a society tend to sugarcoat the idea of what being a police officer or sheriff deputy entails – and these are real situations our officers have experienced, right here at home. Sugarcoating is a disservice to their sacrifice, for what they do is truly a matter of life and death.

Next time you see a hero in uniform, be it law enforcement or a first responder of any profession, be sure to thank them. As leaders, whether at the city, county, state or federal level, we must do all we can to support them, not just with better pay and the equipment and training they need, but with the emotional and psychological support that is critical for them to effectively deal with the traumas they encounter on a regular basis. And we should always remember their families and loved ones – they make sacrifices as well.

Thank you to our Natchez heroes in blue. We love you. And you deserve more.

Dan M. Gibson is mayor of Natchez.