I remember posting that night, asking DUers to keep the first responders in their thoughts, and ...

[11 Bravo]

if they were so inclined, their prayers. Now we are hearing more about the emotional trauma those individuals experienced, and continue to deal with.

Unfortunately, I have witnessed first hand the effect of high powered weaponry on human flesh and bones. Some of the victims were "the enemy", and others were my friends and my brothers. But all of them were grown men, and while I will never be able to forget, I have been able to move on.

However, I don't believe that I could make that same claim had I ever been called upon to wade through the sights and smells engendered by a classroom full of massacred six-year olds. I wish it wasn't possible to so accurately envision what they are haunted by, but I can; so please ... again ... spare a thought for them.

[RoseMead]

1. Thank you.

[OldDem2012]

2. Done. nt.

[longship]

3. Bravo to you! Nice one. Will do. nt

[Demo_Chris]

4. I have seen some horrors myself, but I cannot even imagine this

[UnrepentantLiberal]

5. Most people would enjoy hauling ass in a bad ass car chasing bad guys.

But your OP is the part of police work that never gets talked about.

[LongTomH]

8. I wouldn't enjoy it, and I doubt if you would either!

A former co-worker was a special policeman back in the 90s. He took part in some beat-down-the-door drug busts.

He left the force when he suddenly found out: Gee! Bad guys shoot back!

[SunSeeker]

6. K&R

[Spryguy]

7. I'll keep that in mind...

...when I see the next video of them beating down a black man.

[w8liftinglady]

9. Very good thought.

Sometimes (Heck,most of the time), first responders suppress feelings. It causes issues (I know,because I've been there).

[Skittles]

10. I cannot even READ about what the first responders went trhough

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. Absolutely. nt