Police officer worries who will protect communities with law enforcement recruitment, retention at all-time low

Editor:

As I woke this morning and checked my phone, I was greeted with the sad news that a resident of our village lost his life in a horrific house fire overnight. As I kept reading, I further learned that two more heroes of our state made the ultimate sacrifice in Syracuse.

First and foremost, on behalf of the Village of Albion Police Department, we offer our condolences to the family, friends and neighbors of the gentleman that tragically lost his life this morning. I know our officers, our Fire Department personnel, our dispatchers and all first responders in our county were ready and willing to put their lives on the line to save his life.

To the family, I know that no amount of sympathy will fill the void, but we are sorry for your loss. We are sorry we couldn’t save him. Know that we all stand here ready to help, ready to talk and ready to listen if you ever need anything. Do not hesitate to ask.

What I would like to say next, I say to all those willing to listen.

Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?

One month ago we said goodbye to a hero, Sgt. Sanfratello of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Now a month later, we must lay to rest two more heroes of the Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga Sheriff’s Office. That is three families forever changed, forever broken.

For those out there that say, “You knew the risks” or “That’s your job,” we know. And for those of us that are left, we will continue to fight. We will continue to roll out of bed, kiss our families goodbye, and do our best to serve and protect, knowing that it may be the last time we ever get to. We will continue to sacrifice our weekends; we will continue to lose our holidays; we will continue to miss our children grow. We will do all of this, day in and day out, until we no longer can.

But I say this, not as a threat nor a dire warning, but rather as a harsh reality of the world we live in. Police recruitment is at an all-time low. Police retention is at an all-time low. Departments all over our area, our state and our great nation are understaffed and struggling to keep up with crime. And those of us that are left, we are tired. We are so tired. We are ridiculed by the media, we are claimed to be “overpaid” by those in charge. We are vilified because of the actions of one bad cop. We are condemned, cussed at, spit on, attacked and murdered.

But we continue to fight. We continue to serve and protect, whether we are supported or not. Because “we know the risk,” and we do not care. But eventually we will be gone. And I don’t know if there will be anyone left to take our place and pick up that shield. So again I ask, Who will you call when there is nobody left to answer?

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” – Matthew 5:9

Daniel J. Baase

Police Officer

Albion Police Department