South Bay officer's wife: Husband prays every day he won't have to take a life

One thing that's been interesting since I posted the letter from El Segundo theater gunman Jonathan Taylor's cousin is the number of comments from police officers' wives. As they've showed up in my e-mail Inbox, I've recognized a few names. Here's one I received last night:

"Regarding the El Segundo Police Shooting:

I’d like to speak as a person whose husband and son are both in law enforcement. My husband has been a police officer for over 20 years and my son is in corrections and is currently awaiting an academy date to pursue a career in law enforcement. I also have other relatives in law enforcement.

Several years ago an uncle was wanted for a heinous crime and was contacted by the police. He too chose to violently confront the police and was killed by the officers.  Not to mention, he was killed by the neighboring police department that my relatives work for.

Even though some family members wished the outcome could have been different. Fingers weren’t pointed at the “bad policemen." He chose his fate, as we all do.  My husband doesn’t wake up, get ready for work and say “who am I going to kill today.” He prays everyday that the day never comes that he will be forced to take another person’s life.

People are never the same after taking a human life. Cops are no different. Police officers have the right and duty to protect themselves and others. When a person makes a decision to shoot the police and an innocent bystander and run away, it is not only cowardly, but he is still a danger to the community and must be stopped.

The shooting of these two public servants is a mother’s, father's or wife's worst nightmare. After this ordeal the officers may heal physically and possibly mentally. They will again put on their uniform and go back to work, to continue the job they swore to do.

To the young man’s mother. You have a right to grieve the loss of your son and as mother I am sorry for your loss. You are not to blame for the choices he made."