Chris Amos
[Letter written on Facebook]
An Open Letter to Colin Kaepernick,
Dear Colin guess you have been pretty busy these last few days. For the
record I don’t think any more or less of you for not standing for the
National Anthem. Honestly, I never thought that much about you, or any
professional athlete for that matter, to begin with. I’ve read your
statement a few times and want you to know I am one of the reasons you
are protesting. You see I am a retired police officer that had the
misfortune of having to shoot and kill a 19-year-old African American
male. And just like you said, I was the recipient of about $3,000 a
month while on leave which was a good thing because I had to support a
wife and three children under 7-years-old for about 2 months with that
money. Things were pretty tight because I couldn’t work part time. Every
police officer I’ve ever known has worked part-time to help make ends
meet.
You know Colin the more I think about it the more we seem
to have in common. I really pushed myself in rehab to get back on the
street, kind of like you do to get back on the field. You probably have
had a broken bone or two and some muscle strains and deep bruising that
needed a lot of work. I just had to bounce back from a gunshot wound to
the chest and thigh. Good thing we both get paid when we are too banged
up to “play”, huh? We both also know what it’s like to get blindsided.
You by a 280- pound defensive end, ouch! Me, by a couple of rounds fired
from a gun about 2 feet away, into my chest and thigh. We also both
make our living wearing uniforms, right? You have probably ruined a
jersey or two on the field of play. I still have my blood stained shirt
that my partner and paramedics literally ripped off my back that cold
night in January. Fortunately, like you I was given a new one. Speaking
of paramedics aren’t you glad the second we get hurt trainers and
doctors are standing by waiting to rush onto the field to scoop us up.
I’m thankful they get to you in seconds. It only took them about 10
minutes to get to me. By the grace of God, the artery in my thigh didn’t
rupture or else 10 minutes would have been about 9 minutes too late. We
also have both experienced the hate and disgust others have just
because of those uniforms we wear. I sure am glad for your sake that the
folks who wear my uniform are on hand to escort you and those folks
that wear your uniform into stadiums in places like Seattle!
I
guess that’s where the similarities end Colin. You entertain for a
living, I and almost 800,000 others across this country serve and
protect. Are there some bad apples within my profession? Absolutely and
they need to be identified and fired or arrested! But you know what, the
vast majority do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason.
Did I mention that seconds before I was shot, an elderly African
American gentleman walking down the sidewalk, turned to my partner and I
as we rode past and said, “Get them.” Get who you ask? The thugs
terrorizing an otherwise good and decent neighborhood, home to dozens of
good, decent African American families trying to raise those families
in communities not protected by gates and security guards. No these
folks and families depend on America’s Law Enforcement Officers.
Colin I have buried 7 friends, killed in the line of duty and three
others who have committed suicide. I have attended more funerals than I
care to remember of neighboring departments who have lost officers in
the line of duty, during my career. Law Enforcement Officers with
different backgrounds, upbringings, and experiences united by their
willingness to answer the call to protect and serve their fellow
citizens.
Colin I am sorry for the endorsement deals you may
lose and the dip in jersey sales, but please know you will NEVER lose
what these men and women and their families have lost. And so whether
you stand or sit during the National Anthem means very little to me. As
for me and the men and women on whose team I was privileged to serve, we
will put on our ballistic vests, badge, and gun, kiss our loved one’s
goodbye, for some tragically for the last time, and out into a shift of
uncertainty we will go. We will continue to protect and continue to
serve and we will be standing at attention Colin, not just for the
playing of our National Anthem, but far more importantly for the playing
of Taps.
V/R
Chris Amos
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