By state Rep. Sarah Lightner, of Springport

Over the past year of my time serving as state representative, I’ve had the opportunity to observe firsthand the fantastic job that our law enforcement officers do in the face of struggle.

From visiting many of our state’s prisons and talking with the corrections officers that guard them to participating in ‘ride-alongs’ – both on the road and in the air – there are a couple things that all of those sworn to protect have in common: their courage and a passion for service.

Few can fully understand the amount of hours our men and women in uniform put into keeping our communities safe, or even have a grasp on what a day in the life of law enforcement encompasses. I’ve made it a priority to connect with our first responders to better understand how I, their community and state can better serve them.

When I accompanied the Michigan State Police for a ride-along in their helicopter, I was told it was possible the evening would be relatively quiet given the night of the week and the time of the year.

Not five minutes in, we found ourselves involved in a car chase. Observing law enforcement in hot pursuit from the sky was truly an amazing experience. The level of communication among multiple departments, the keen attention to detail and on-the-spot coordination to ensure the safety of the public was incredible.

On top of it all, the two officers I had the privilege to shadow for the night could not have been any kinder or more willing to explain the full extent of their line of work. While this recap of my experience doesn’t do it justice, I know have an even greater appreciation for the job that these men and women do every day.

It doesn’t matter the rank, our men and women in law enforcement and corrections have chosen a profession that puts their own lives on the line every day to protect their communities. With a calm demeanor and unwavering determination, these local heroes perform an often thankless job.

Although National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day falls in January, that doesn’t mean we can’t honor and thank our local heroes year round. The service our law enforcement officers provide for our communities should never be taken for granted. We can, and must be better at showing our support for their service.

There are several ways to show support and respect for our local, county and state law enforcement agencies. Sending a note of thanks, personally expressing your appreciation, wearing blue, donating to police charities – the list goes on.

These types of small gestures carry significance and will go a long way. I challenge everyone to be more conscious of the magnitude of our local heroes’ service. They need our support just as much as we need theirs.