Video: Local Police Focus on the People and the Job During Trying Time

NORTH MISSISSIPPI (WCBI) – Violence is what the country has been witnessing for the last two weeks, and now cops are finding themselves in the cross hairs.

An officer’s oath is to serve and protect citizens, even if it means putting their life at danger.

In situations like we’ve been seeing, it’s very important to look at all aspects, and that’s exactly what law enforcement is doing.

Columbus Assistant Police Chief Fred Shelton is a cop, soldier, an African American, and pastor, which means he understands life as an officer and fighter, racism, and how important it is to love everyone.

“Criminality has no color. If you break the law, we don’t necessarily look at what color you are. If you have an expired tag, you have an expired tag. That’s a violation of the law. We deal with people on a daily basis in law enforcement, and 95 percent of the time of what we have to do has no enforcement action,” says Shelton.

Trying to get the public to understand what it’s like to walk in officers shoes is what Aberdeen Police Chief Henry Randle is doing by speaking at community functions.

“The best way to get them to understand, to see what’s going on in law enforcement is to put them in our shoes. Basically, you know, what would you do? You know, you’ve got a guy that’s a pretty large stature, you’ve got a female, you’ve got weapons, you don’t have weapons, you’re trying to give verbal commands, and sometimes, they just don’t want to understand,” says Randle.

The men and women in blue take the good with the bad when it comes to their jobs, but Shelton says it’s not all bad.

“There’s some negativity sentiment, and I understand that sentiment, but however, for the most part, people still love and support the police officers. Mothers, tell your children, I’m not the bad guy. If you don’t behave the police, I’m not going to hurt your child. I’m going to love your child, even it means putting my life on the line.”

Chief Randle says the recent killings are tragedies for both officers and civilians.

“To me, all lives are important. We don’t take anything for granted, but at the same time, when law enforcement gives a verbal command, or something you know, just adhere to them, what they’re saying whether you know, whether you agree or not. I mean there’s some things in law enforcement that I don’t agree with, but I still have to follow the rules, regulations, and policies.”

Both of the officers say regardless of what’s going on, it’s not going to stop them from doing their jobs to the best of their ability.