I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine,
squad or my personal vehicle, the driver with his foot pressing down
hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as
you fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When
you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be, \"It took!
you forever to get here!\"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage
years from the remains of her automobile. \"What if this was my
daughter, sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents reaction
going to be when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in
hand?\"

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and greet
My parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did
Not come back from the last call.

I wish you could know how it feels dispatching officers, firefighters
And EMT\'s out and when we call for them and our heart drops because no one
answers back or to here a bone chilling 911 call of a child or wife
needing assistance.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes
physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express their
attitudes of \"It will never happen to me.\"

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain or
Missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition to all
the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping
Save a life or preserving someone\'s property, or being able to be there in
Time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy
Tugging at your arm and asking, \"Is Mommy okay?\" Not even being able to look
in His eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to
have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy having CPR done
on him as they take him away in the Medic Unit. You know all along he did not
have his seat belt on. A sensation that I have become too familiar with.