Police Collection
In my five years with the Los Angeles Police Department I have acquired a collection of items of which I am at once both proud and ashamed. Recently I received two more items to add to the collection: a prayer card, and a black elastic band to be worn over my badge as a symbol of mourning. I am proud of this collection because it holds the memory of those officers who have made the noblest and greatest of sacrifices, one that I too may be called upon to make. And I am ashamed because I live in a world where such sacrifices are made so frequently and are so little appreciated.
I have quite a few of these prayer cards and black bands, and I am sorry to realize that I’ll probably have many more before my career is through. But as I filed out of the memorial service for Jim Pagliotti, I’m sure I wasn’t the only one wondering, “Will the next one be for me?”
DANIEL HORAN
Los Angeles
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.