TOM GIERYIC: Police deserve the support of the community

I guess that I will never understand some people’s mentality.

Last week while reading The Herald, I came across an letter titled “Enforce laws equally on all.” Seems to me maybe somebody got a well-deserved ticket and is slightly upset. Though most of the letters this person writes, and he does write often, tend to be on a negative side, this letter seemed way out of line. Sure, he is entitled to his opinion, but his timing is terrible. I suggest he calls a crackhead next time he needs help.

I wish this person could have been present at my shop this last Wednesday morning when a very emotional lady dropped by. One of my employees brought her over to me. She was crying. She walked over to me and gave me a long hug. I asked her what was wrong? She said she just wanted to thank me for doing something positive for law enforcement. She told me her husband was a Police Officer for the Albany Police Department. She shared with me that it seems the only time law enforcement is in the media is when something bad has happened. She told me that the Back The Blue effort has brought a smile to her and her husband’s faces. After many more tears and hugs she left saying thank you again for the 20th time.

I wish this person was at my shop each and every time a member of our Law Enforcement community came by to pose for a photo and get their free Back The Blue yard sign. I wish he was there each time a family member of Law Enforcement came by to get their sign. I wish he was there when the Albany Fire Department and Dougherty County EMS came by to show their support for their brothers in blue. I wish he had arrived when a gentleman who has served all his life in Law Enforcement showed me his five different badges, including badge No. 92 for the Georgia State Patrol.

He began his career in Law Enforcement in 1967, if I remember correctly, and has just recently retired from the District Attorney’s Office.

Perhaps his opinion would be different if a family member of his was in law enforcement and was wounded or killed in the line of duty? Who knows?

We recently started a “Back The Blue” campaign in this area. This is a far overdue campaign. We are trying to show our immense appreciation to our First Responders. In a time when it seems like killing a Police Officer is acceptable, we need to bond together as a community and show our respect and gratitude to these individuals that put their life on the line each and every day so that we may remain safe and protected.

Perhaps this movement will unite our cities across any racial divide.

I invite and challenge this person who wrote that negative letter to come by my shop a pick up his Back The Blue yard sign. I challenge him to devote some of his negative energy into positive actions that will help our movement.

I want to personally thank each and every member of law enforcement nation wide for keeping us safe.

Tom Gieryic is an Albany businessman who is one of the founders of Albany’s “Back The Blue” campaign and a long-time proponent of displaying the American flag.