“Some days being a policeman is harder than others, especially in this neighborhood. It is difficult to work here all day and then something dangerous happens during the last part of my shift or I spend the whole day loving on the community and then something dangerous happens. Just like God works in us, I have to remind myself that it doesn’t happen overnight, it is a continuum.”

“Why do you do this?”

“I want to serve and a lot of people neglect service from a Christian point of view. Everyone wants to see policemen as crime fighters, but it is more than that, it is helping others and having a sacrificial love like Christ and this is the closest thing that I can find to that. Almost everyone left this area and deserted these people. There are days that I am discouraged and it doesn’t feel worth it, but I have to remind myself there was a time I wasn’t worth it until Christ loved me.”

“It is a call to Christians to stand up and be bold. It is where the rubber meets the road, it is what you guys have done this week and what I do every day. It is a choice. Do you choose to walk through the firey furnace and make a difference or forget God and walk away? There is no greater calling. Every day I pray for protection and for God to use me effectively. In this neighborhood I haven’t seen a change in how I have been treated as a police officer, but I know a few other officers have seen some things, but overall, Albany values police officers. I hope I am included. There has been even more of an acceptance from the majority.”

“The work is difficult, but we can’t give up. The alternative is condemning an entire group of people. I can’t do that.”