5K provides positive interaction with law enforcement
Law enforcement doesn’t always receive the most thoughtful opinions. Whether labeled as crooked offenders of the law or as fun-sucking predators, public opinion has its fair share of views about the men and women sworn to protect our communities.
Our daily Internet feeds rarely exemplify the just actions of our law enforcement, preferring to instead point out the moments of shameful officer action.
Being pulled over for going five mph over the speed limit leaves a police department ridiculed. Meanwhile, an officer responding to a domestic violence case at 2 a.m. goes unnoticed.
Maybe it’s not fair, but users of social media often speak first instead of thinking about what they’re saying, and we forget the human element of those men and women who serve us.
Law enforcement officers return to their families — sometimes after not seeing them for long periods of time. Sundays can be spent on-call, not on the couch watching football.
That’s why it’s nice to see the Vermillion community’s participation in projects such as the I Ran from the Cops 5K.
Local law enforcements can take off the shades, the vests and the carrying items to interact with citizens personally. It’s not citizen vs. cop. It’s fun.
The run had 40 average citizens try their luck against the cops. It might have lacked the “running from the cops speed” adrenaline, but in the process, a statement was made.
The statement: The cops aren’t just trying to pick pockets with parking tickets — they live in the same community we do.
It’s healthy to have a community looking to build relationships and ignore stereotypes, even if for one morning run.
This event comes at the dawn of the 100 anniversary of Dakota Days, a notorious time for haste between students and cops.
The relationship isn’t going to be perfect in a college town, but the opportunity to put personal bashing aside is welcoming to Vermillion. It’s also welcoming to our men and women in uniform.
(University of South Dakota student and Vermillion community members run in the second annual I Ran from the Cops 5K Oct. 28 in Prentis Park. Emily Niebrugge / The Volante)
