"Guardian" or "Warrior"

The debate has gone on for quite some time now, primarily regarding law enforcement. Should our police be considered Guardians or Warriors? In my opinion, there is no right or wrong answer to that question. Many LEOs, especially those in bigger metro areas, have a right to believe that they should be considered more of a warrior because of the difficulties they experience every day. Who am I to argue against that? Fifty percent of my job is sitting behind a desk, and the other half is tending to multiple tasks in a factory setting, safely behind four walls and a roof. I have no idea what it's like to do their job or what mentality they must have to perform their duties at a high level every day. But deep down at the heart of what these everyday heroes do, I feel that the basics come down to protection. So often in the past, we saw the phrase "To Serve and Protect," and maybe that's where my perspective comes from. Was it just ingrained in me that it was a police officer's job to protect me and society from harm? Possibly. I believe these people have chosen this profession not to be a Warrior, but to be a Guardian, and that the Warrior aspect is simply a product of what they must occasionally do while performing their duties. Sure, some embrace it, and that is certainly okay. But I'd be willing to bet that even those who take on this persona find it extremely satisfying when they can take on the Guardian role and help someone. We all look for ways to help someone. Maybe not every day, but when that opportunity presents itself, most of us will not turn it away. I would think those in law enforcement would have a similar attitude to be the one to help. The one to "Serve and Protect." The one to be a "Guardian." That's the reason I decided to find a way to honor these heroes. - RB