I’ve lost a family member today
My heart will break once more
though not by blood do we relate
But by the duties that we swore.
Your on the street
You keep us safe
They called you officer
I’m in a room
Behind the mic
You called me dispatcher.
A brother gone it matters not
The color, Badge, or Name
We are but one among the many
The uniforms the same.
A brother gone, we’re all alone
It happens oh so quickly
In the silence or our room
We mourn the loss so deeply
We may have never seen your face
But your voice we know completely.
You are our sons and daughters
Though we’d never tell you that
We’ll protect you and defend you
until the very end
That’s when God waves his hand and say’s
Come walk with me my friend.
We’ll relinquish our duty sadly
and hate to say 10-7
A higher voice is on the air
But we’ll meet again in heaven.
Farewell my brother
We’ll meet again
Along Gods chosen path
And if its just a voice I hear
I’ll know I’m home at last.
by Jackie Barnes
Dispatcher, Banning Police Department
Banning California
2012
Last year there were more than a few lost heroes. I was on duty early one morning when a neighboring city lost one of their police officers in the line of duty. They called me to say they would be escorting the body of the officer to the coroner’s office, would be traveling through our city, and didn’t want to alarm us when all the escort cars with their emergency lights went past. I informed our on duty watch commander of the procession, and was very proud when they all went onto the freeway over crossing. And when the procession came by, they all turned on their lights in salute. A few hours later two of the officer’s friends came to the station to thank our officers for their concern and respect.
After I had received the call about the officer, I started thinking of all the officers we had lost in the past few years and started writing a poem to help me cope with the loss of someone I had never personally known, but to whom I felt shared a kindred spirit.
I wrote this over a year ago, but never had the heart to send it in. I hope someone else can ad to it or be comforted by it.