A Kalamazoo Public Safety Color Guard stands at attention at the gravesite of slain police officer Eric Zapata in Lake Odessa in April 2011.

File photo | MLive Media Group

After a particularly harrowing incident, a character in the latest Joseph Wambaugh police novel, "Harbor Nocturne" tells his partner, “We came close to a bagpiper on the hill.”

It's a reference to the tradition of bagpipers playing at police officers' funerals. Every police officer whether in a large urban area or a small rural community will have close calls in their career. It is a part of the job, perhaps it is a part of life.

Many of us in our lifetime have had times when we have been terrified or scared that death may be close. For most of the public an internal promise “not to do that again” or “that’s it — I am cleaning up my act” will suffice to enable us to power on with the rest of our lives.

For first-responders (police, fire, and emergency medical teams) or the military, it is a little different. After an incident that might have taken your life, there is an immediate sense of joy that you survived.

If you were part of a team when such an incident occurs, there are high fives — or the social equivalent at the time — and smiles. There may be beers after work to celebrate “cheating death” once again or just achieving something that you silently feared impossible. The grass is greener, the sky bluer, and your loved ones are even more important to you.

After the incident, when the celebration and the adrenaline have metabolized out of your system, there is a realization — wow that was close. When one is alone with his or her thoughts, it may even cause a shiver, thinking about how close “bagpipers on the hill” or Taps were. The inevitable question in the back of one’s mind is: “How many close calls will I get?”

For the first-responder or military personnel, it is best to keep moving forward and stay busy. One should not dwell on it, because tomorrow or maybe a few minutes after the incident or realization of what might have been, that person might have to strap on his gunbelt, throw on his turnout gear or shoulder his rifle once again and move out.

In the immortal words of John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death — but saddling up anyway.” It is a part of the job. If fear overwhelms a person in such a job it is time to get out and do something else.

Many officers keep themselves safe by invoking, as I have, astronaut Alan Shepard’s colorful and much misquoted prayer as he sat on top of the first U.S. manned rocket. To paraphrase Shepard, he asked the Lord’s guidance to help him avoid doing anything stupid that might compromise his mission.

In Shepard’s case, a nation and all the people who had worked on his space mission were depending on him. For a professional, the thought of making a mistake or doing something stupid that causes someone else or a comrade to get hurt or killed actually overwhelms one’s fear of death.

In critical situations I have found that if there is time and one must wait to face something “interesting” — dangerous — keeping the mind occupied on the job at hand can have a calming effect. Running “if” and “then” scenarios through your head helps keep the anxiety at manageable levels. This is a form of mental rehearsal where an officer thinks if “A” happens, then I will counter with “B.” Running through “tactical” plans keeps your mind occupied and your heart rate lower while waiting.

One should also remember that the fear or dread that builds up in our minds is very seldom the reality. Things are usually never as bad as we build them up in our mind, when we have to wait and fret over something. Instead of worrying it is best to make a plan and contingency plans.

In other instances things may happen so quickly that an officer has no time to be scared. They must just react. This is where training comes in because in times of high stress an officer will revert back to what is familiar and what they have practiced. Unfortunately in these budget strapped times, training dollars are the first to be eliminated from police budgets — except for mandatory federal and state training.

Next week is Police Week, and May 15 is the Peace Officer’s Memorial Day. It is a time to remember those courageous souls who have lost their lives or been permanently disabled in the field of law enforcement. It is time to appreciate those who devote and may well sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.

Last year in the United States, 163 police officers died in the line of duty. Five officers made the ultimate sacrifice in the State of Michigan last year. The officers who died in Michigan included: Livonia Police Officer Larry James Nehasil who died on Jan. 17, 2011, Michigan State Police Trooper Jeffrey James Werda who died on April 6, 2011, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Officer Eric Emiliano Zapata who died on April 18, 2011, Detroit Police Officer Charles Edward “Chuck” Armour who died on June 11, 2011 and Walker Police Officer Trevor Parker Slot who died on Oct. 13, 2011.

It is easy to get cranky at the officer who corrects us by issuing a ticket or gives us a lecture, but next week please consider and appreciate what it takes to wear that badge and carry a gun. Next time you want to complain about what you feel are inflated salaries and pensions of first responders, remember the adage, “First responders are not paid for what they do, but what they might have to do.”

This year in Michigan, so far, no community has had to hear “a bagpiper on the hill.” Let’s hope it stays that way. To all those who wear a badge — Thank You and Stay Safe!

Lock it up, don’t leave it unattended, be aware and watch out for your neighbors.

Rich Kinsey is a retired Ann Arbor police detective sergeant who now blogs about crime and safety for AnnArbor.com. He also serves as the Crime Stoppers coordinator for Washtenaw County.