Roy Exum: The Policeman’s Prayer

  • Wednesday, October 22, 2014
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum

Every year, when the Law Enforcement Foundation of Greater Chattanooga holds its annual luncheon, it is one of the most heartening displays of what America really believes, down deep inside. The most prominent and influential leaders in the community – well over 1,000 -- gather to pay tribute and pledge their support to our heroes in blue who are unfaltering in their devotion, service and love to what we all hold dear.

On the surface, Tuesday’s gathering at the Chattanoogan Hotel was the best ever as yet another sell-out crowd sat with members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and the police chiefs of seven of the county’s municipalities.

But almost unnoticed were the special guests -- members of the Chattanooga Police Department, with new chief Fred Fletcher leading the crowd in our Pledge of Allegiance.

For whatever reason, the Chattanooga Police Department has chosen in the past three years to distance itself from Sheriff Jim Hammond’s brainchild. No more -- Chief Fletcher, keen on his persistent vow to become an integral part of “everything Chattanooga,” and his top commanders were there to proudly be part of “a partnership that provides technology, specialized training, and support to ALL law enforcement agencies in Chattanooga.”

Mike Mears, an internationally recognized expert in leadership, delivered a wonderful talk to those assembled but Jonathan Parker, a seven-year veteran of the Chattanooga Police Department, had already stolen the day’s thunder. Mears, a West Point graduate whose work with the National Security Agency’s leadership teams and the CIA enabled him to present a common-sense approach to being “a good boss,” was enlightening and entertaining.

But Officer Parker, who of all things is now assigned as a compassionate School Resource Officer at Brainerd High, summed the feelings of every man and woman in the cavernous room when he stood at the podium to deliver the Invocation following the Honor Guard, County Detective Ed Merritt’s bagpipes and County Deputy Breeland Kilgore’s rendering of the National Anthem.

Officer Parker’s prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We honor you today for giving us life, health and strength, and for the opportunity to once again come together as a community.

We are grateful for all those serving in the law enforcement profession – sworn or civilian, probation and parole, dispatchers, corrections, and all others. We are grateful for spouses and family members who also experience the stress and sacrifice of service to our communities.

And today, Lord, in a time when service in this profession is almost vilified by some, we are grateful to those in our communities who support and appreciate law enforcement professionals.

We understand that not all of us were called as pastors or evangelists, but all of us are ministers. We are called into a ministry service to the most elite and the most marginalized, to those in the work place, in our neighborhoods, in our workout facilities, and everywhere in between.

For those in law enforcement, we are ministers serving God for good. We pray that You would grant us integrity and strength and protection as we continue to serve. Grant peace in our community.

Bless those who are supporting us, whether financially or physically, whether in prayers or in deeds. Bless and prosper them. Bless the food we will enjoy in a few moments, and give Your favor to those who have prepared it. Anoint, heal, strengthen, encourage and bless every person under the sound of my voice.

I ask all of these things with confidence in the name of the One who died, but rose again; the stone that the builders rejected but even now is the foundational cornerstone of our faith; even Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Amen.

* * *

Amen indeed! Officer Parker captured the feelings we treasure when a patrol car with blue lights blazing is racing to help one of us, when men in badges calm frightened children, and when families in our communities gather for the night absent of any fear.

In order to do that, police officers throughout the room as well as across Hamilton County pray earnestly and unashamedly, and as members of the Chattanooga Police Department’s incoming cadets were given a rousing welcome, the gratitude that highlighted yet another Law Enforcement Foundation Luncheon was best exemplified in one policeman’s earnest prayer.

royexum@aol.com

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