Open Letter To Dothan Police Candidates From Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Feb 24 2018 9:04 AM

Open letter to Dothan Police candidates:

I have heard reports that several deputies in the Parkland School shooting incident “hid” outside while the shooting was actively taking place. I sure hope that story is not true because it sheds a bad light on our profession.

Being a law enforcement officer has and will always require compassion and “guts”. If you don’t have both of these, then you need to find another line of work.

We in this career have experienced a lot of hate and distrust toward law enforcement in our country over the last few years. That also creates a feeling of passion and support for law enforcement; and we are proud to have that support. However, that passion also compels people to pursue a career in law enforcement who are not cut out for it.

So to the candidates who recently applied to be a part of the Dothan PD team, you better have the guts to walk in a school when the bullets are flying around you and deal with the threat with vicious resolve.

I had rather have a heartbroken family crying over me, and a flag-draped casket around me, than to live with the disgraceful memory that I had a duty to protect children and failed to do it.

You candidates think about that before you show up for the PT test next week; and long and hard before you take that oath of office.

Chief Parrish

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