Take This Badge

Take this badge I don't want it back,
I would rather dig a ditch and break my back.
Then go home and try to put it behind,
The terrible things that constantly run in my mind,
If one minute sooner I could have arrived,
I could have prevented it and he would still be alive.
I wanted to help and make difference you could see,
But it seems now the only person needing help is me.
Where is my help, where do I turn,
In this job there is one thng you learn.
You're here to help others and nothing more,
You must always keep your problems behind closed doors.
Your expected to be strong and never show any fear,
To see horrible things and never shed a tear.
Someone has to do it, I thought it could be me,
But now I am scared of everything I come to see.
So, take this badge I don't want it back.
Because when I wear it, a normal life is what I lack.

Written by a 23 year old police officer
with the Tiltonsville, Ohio Police Department.