COMMAERNTTARY
Heroes Dese rve
Our Res pect
By Dick Crippen
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139
Respect seems to be on
the wane in our current
society. Yet, respect is
something we need
to practice and appreciate more
often. It is important for the word
“respect” to have meaning and for
us to have respect for others. My
generation was raised with strict
rules concerning respect. It was
expected and demanded. In my
own case, I know I am all the better
because of it.
In 2001, I went on a Joint Civilian Orientation Conference trip.
It was put on by the Department of Defense, and we visited eight
military bases in seven days. We flew to and landed on an aircraft
carrier at sea, fired machine guns and rifles, had briefings and met
a wide variety of servicemen and servicewomen. All combined,
the experience gave me a tremendous amount of respect for those
who wear the uniforms of the U.S. military.
A month or so ago, I developed respect for a different group.
As an honorary deputy in the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s
Department, I was invited to a training day at the facility that
the department has near Wimauma. Essentially, it was to educate
me about the training of law enforcement officers and what they
face daily in the line of duty.
Despite the serious aspects, some of it was fun, like driving
a Sheriff’s Department car with lights and sirens going. We
drove on a course that was laid out to test our skills. Most of us
maintained a speed of 40 mph, however, we traveled the same
course with a deputy driving at speeds well over that, as he
expertly negotiated the turns without a second thought.
Later, in one simulation, we were
fitted with a laser detector vest and a
laser gun. We individually entered a
building that had an interior similar
to a school. When it was our turn,
as shots were being fired, each
of us tried to follow their sound.
When we closed in on the sound,
a gunman came racing out of one
of the rooms with his laser firing.
The laser vest was set to give you
a small electric shock if you were
hit. My vest showed I had been hit
three times. Yet, my adrenaline had been flowing so hard that I
never felt a thing. I took the guy down with my shots.
My point is that these officers (like the military and firefighters)
face situations on a regular basis where they have very little, if any,
knowledge of the current conditions. Therefore, their reactions
must be made in a split second, as they try to minimize the
problem and keep it under control and confined. They are also
trained to talk their way through situations if they can, rather
than resorting to drawing their weapons.
Just as I gained respect for the military many years ago, this
year I came away from my experience with law enforcement
training with a tremendous amount of respect for those who
serve us in that capacity. In both cases, they deserve our respect
for what they do regularly on a daily basis. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dick Crippen, a staple in Tampa Bay broadcasting
for more than 40 years, is a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay Rays,
and works extensively with the military. He is active in the world of
charity fundraising and sits on 11 boards for nonprofit organizations.
Dick Crippen