Today, the people of Minot join with those of North Dakota and with all decent people in the United States in mourning the loss of Jason Moszer, the Fargo police officer who died on Thursday after being wounded in the line of duty.

Moszer leaves behind a wife and two children children who will grow up missing a father but knowing that he died a hero.

Every slain law enforcement officer is a stain on this society unlike any other. Every day, most Americans leave home to go to work to advance their own interests and to benefit themselves and their families. In this, the most charitable nation in the world, many will also spend part of their weekly lives helping others. With police officers, it is different. Every day, they leave home to go to work to help and protect the interests and well-being of everyone else, putting their lives on the line in so doing. Perhaps in a week’s time, they will have time for themselves. However, those who know law enforcement officers know that they are our defenders first, and private citizens second.

Sadly, there is an epidemic of disrespect for police in this country, allegedly brought on by the questionable behavior of a tiny percentage of officers. Police officers reflect society in that there are many good and a few not-so-good. So this epidemic of prejudice is more a result of sensationalism and the political machinations of a tiny few with the ambition to foment civil disorder and create racial discord than it is significant malfeasance on the part of law enforcement. Trying to cast general aspersions on police officers is an act of unparalleled moral cowardice and intellectual dishonesty.

Disrepect for police fosters an atmosphere that endangers police and civilians, and that leads to incidents such as this one in Fargo and to too many others in recent times.

North Dakotans should stand up for law enforcement officers as North Dakotans do for decency, truth and civil society, should mourn for Jason Moszer and never permit ourselves to forget all of those who protect and serve.