KEVIN HALPERN, Courier Co-Editor
Sunday, May 22, 2011 2:18 pm

peace·mak·er
n.
One that makes peace, especially by settling disputes.

This past week was National Police Week. Events were held locally, statewide and nationally to honor and pay special recognition to those law enforcement officers that have paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

The truth is, any time officers go out on a call, stop a car, or perform any law enforcement duty, they risk paying the ultimate sacrifice.

Because of that, Cannon County is blessed to have members of the Woodbury Police and Cannon County Sheriff's departments to keep the peace.

It is easy to respect and admire local law enforcement officers when one looks at the types of situations they encounter almost daily. People with guns or knifes. People acting hostile, violent and belligerent. People drunk or high on drugs. People trying to flee in cars. People threatening them verbally. People attacking them physically.

Manufacturing meth is one of the largest, more common serious crimes in Cannon County. Every time officers come across a meth lab they are putting their health at risk because of the dangerous, volatile chemicals used in making the drug.

In many ways Cannon County is a small war zone. Battles break out between people nearly every day. Domestic violence incidents take place between married couples, friends living together, co-workers, extended families, parents and children.

That's when the troops are called in, in the form of the WPD, the CCSD, or often both. Though under different leadership, they work as a unit time and again to cool down heated situations.

Blessed are the peacemakers - Those who strive to prevent contention, strife, and war; who use their influence to reconcile opposing parties, and to prevent lawsuits and hostilities in families and neighborhoods.