Tom Stamatakis Jr

Don’t forget to appreciate your ride or die: I didn’t want to be a cop. I had to be a cop. I couldn’t get hired anywhere when I was unemployed. I was a good man, hard worker and had integrity but no luck. The only place that would hire me was the police force which I dreaded at the time. I met this wonderful woman who loved me when I was good and when I was broke. I needed to to be a great provider for her. So I took the job. A job that would cause me to lose friends, receive hatred and animosity for things I never did. A job that would have people ridiculously questioning if I loved myself because of the path I chose. Even my wife’s family (wonderful people) had strong reservations based on their history with law enforcement in the 70s and 80s. But there was one person who never left my side. Never judged me. Never questioned who I was. She was their from the orientation to the graduation. Always lifting me up. Always telling me I was a good man and how proud she was of me. She never questioned my so called “Blackness” as many ignorant people did. There for the tears. There for the punched holes in walls when I saw heartbreaking things no one should see. There when I got love, there when I received hate. All the while reminding me I was good mo matter what. She told me I was special. The wonderful meals when I came home from the time we met in 95’. No woman has to do that these days, but she did. No matter what kind of day I had, her chicken wings, pot roast and other creative variations of soul food healed all my battle scars. She was there when I was honored across this nation. Has been there when I was black listed, buried and silenced and no one would tell me why. Celebrating me when I had incredible victories in this job I fell in love with. She picked up the broken pieces of me when I experienced failure. There for me when I people turned on me for doing the right thing. There when I won and lost. There to sooth me in her special way (which is non of y’all’s business). To share her wisdom and strength at moments I experienced weakness. Sometimes she had to be father and mother to my kids when riots and protests broke out or when I was injured. What an incredible human my wife is. As I see the end of my career on the horizon. I can’t thank her enough for being my peace. Even though sometimes I forget to tell her with so much on my mind. No matter what accolades or hate I receive, my wife will never be the good woman behind me. She will always be by my side. If you got a real one in your life, and you are a first responder or military… or any stressful occupation. Always appreciate the one who stands beside you through the ups and downs.