Talk:Law Enforcement Purple Heart

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As a career soldier, now retired, I am frankly troubled by the increase in what I regard as heraldic plagiarism by police organizations who freely adopt the trappings of the military. Seeing a city police officer buried under a U.S. flag, though having never served in the military, is particularly disturbing and increasingly common in the past thirty years. It's not illegal -- just in particularly bad taste even though lamely rationalized as due to the "national war on drugs and crime." Police officers should be buried under the flag they served under -- city, county or State -- and not the flag that has been traditionally reserved for the military and a few Federal officials.

Several jurisdictions have simply appropriated -- perhaps mis-appropriated -- the insignia of elite units, such as the British SAS or the French Legion Etrangere, for their SWAT teams (Spotsylvania County, Virginina, being one example).

At some point it crosses the line from just being tacky to being downright dishonorable. When you not only adopt the name "Purple Heart" but clone the exact ribbon color pattern and an only slightly-modified medal, I think it has crossed the line.

I realize that this may not be the most appropriate forum to discuss the issue, but on behalf of all my infantry, armor, cavalry, and airborne friends in the Army who served long combat tours and either died or lost limbs to receive the Purple Heart, I register my objection to its "cloning" for award to police officers whose actual exposure to physical risk cannot even be remotely compared to military combat service.

Police officers have an absolute right to legitimate honors -- to be buried under the flag they served, and to awards and decorations, but THEIR OWN, not a cheap copy of someone else's medal. They should be as insulted as we are, and demand their own distinctive honors.

I don't expect to be buried under a City flag, or wearing a NYPD uniform, or an LA Deputy Sheriff's badge, or anything else I didn't earn. Police officers SHOULD be proud enough of their own profession to insist on their own traditions, not steal someone else's.

I find it disturbing and offensive that you believe police officers have not earned the right to be buried under the American Flag. While I understand, somewhat, your position on medals I disagree with your position on the Flag. I also have the utmost respect for your service to our country. Police officers not only serve their local residents, city, town or what have you, but also the their country. police officers from all over the country respoded to tragedies such as the Oklahoma city bombing, 9/11, and Huricane Katrina just to name a few. Police officers are also the first line of defense against domestic and foriegn terrorism, because the military can not act as law enforcement. Anyone who believes that police officers are not serving their communities,and their counrty, at the same time has a gross misunderstanding of the responsibilities of police officers.EMT1871 02:52, 1 February 2007 (UTC)