Day in and day out police officers across the United States come face to face with threats and danger in the normal course of their jobs.  This is unlike many other professions and not the path most would choose.  The American Alliance of Airport Police Officers (AAAPO) would like to remind our neighbors in our communities that law enforcement officers are here to help, not hurt.

As is well known, five police officers lost their lives in the line of duty in Dallas, Texas this summer while protecting the right of protestors to protest against the very police who were there to protect them.  There is no clearer example of the lengths officers will go to protect those who they have sworn to defend.

As police around the country continue to be negatively labeled by pundits, activists, community leaders, policy makers and others, as officers we still come to work every day with the sole mission to protect these very same people. We remain committed to finding solutions to making our streets safer and our airports more secure.  We remain committed to protecting the public from threats and when others run away we will protect and serve.

“We are criticized in the media every day,” said Marshall McClain, President of the Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association, and co-founder of the AAAPO.  “They paint a picture of police officers with such a broad stroke that it makes it seem as though we are all monsters intent on hurting people. But it is simply not true.  We go to work every day with the safety of the public on our minds.”

“I speak for all of my officers when I say that we are proud to be police officers,” said Paul Nunziato, President of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, and co-founder of the AAAPO. “We are out here on the streets to serve and protect the community.  It is not our mission to cause pain and suffering, but many think it is.  We want to make sure that they know that is wrong and that we’re here to help.”