Yesterday afternoon as I headed down First Avenue North, I noticed that there were more people than usual out. One or two people here, a few gathered there, along the sidewalk, block after block, on a stretch of street where one seldom sees a pedestrian. I wondered what was going on. Then I saw a man, standing near a pick up truck, with a hand made cardboard sign that said, “Thank you David.” Now I knew what this was about. This had something to do with the Police Officer David Crawford who was killed recently. As it turned out, the funeral procession was to head down First Avenue, and people were coming out to pay their respects. I pulled over and parked and joined them.
The procession included a huge contingent of law enforcement officers on motorcycles; more motorcycles, it seemed, than you would ever see even in a Shriner’s Parade! The police cars came next. And they kept coming. And coming. For almost a half an hour. And while the majority were from the St. Petersburg Police Department, there were cars from other jurisdictions statewide as well. Cruiser after cruiser.
A woman across the street from me called out, “I’m sorry,” again and again as the police vehicles passed. Another woman with her son, about the age of the young man who killed officer Crawford, watched solemnly as the procession went by. She had her hand on her heart. One spectator left in the middle of the procession, apologizing to those of us nearby. He had to go because he didn’t want be late for work. There we were. Varying ages, races, and backgrounds, all paying our respects.
There were so many police. Car after car after car. I had no idea St. Petersburg had that many police officers. Some of the officers waved and said, “Thank you,” as they passed. And to think that every one of them goes to work each day not knowing whether or not they will come home after their shift. Not knowing what might happen. Putting their lives on the line. It was truly amazing and moving to see that there are so many people willing to risk their lives for the sake of others. Those of us paying our respects should have been the ones saying, “Thank you,” as they passed.
What does it mean, this paying our respects? Maybe we should be paying our respects to the police who are alive by creating a community where people are educated and have meaningful work and do not feel that they need to resort to crime to survive. Maybe we should be paying our respects to the police by helping people who have been to prison to return to society and make a legitimate contribution. Maybe we should be paying our respects to the police who “protect and serve” by working to eradicate the culture of violence that is taking over like a malignant cancer.
Maybe we can pay our respects to the police by expecting them to direct traffic when a traffic signal is not working, and help someone who is locked out of their home, and return a lost dog. Not face armed combat on the streets. Will we line up for that? That’s how I want to pay my respects.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 
The first thought in my mind after hearing that the shooter was 16 years old was to pray that he was not a former student of mine. So many of our children lead troubled lives. Many of them have experienced more violence and hatred than I have in my 54 years. Another way to honor our police is to rid the violence our children experience. Love and respect MUST be the way to bring peace into their lives.
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