What kind of persons leave their homes on cold or stormy nights?
Rushing to chase bad guys and braking up barroom fights.

They patrol the streets of America to tame this troubled land.
Hoping in their hearts they never have to draw their weapons so close at hand.

Lost dogs, lost kids, shoplifters at the malls.
Vagrants, drunks and theives, drug atticts in the halls.

Eight short hours, a lifetime for the police who work the streets.
Donut shops and fast foods, broken bodies under sheets.

But when their watch is over they slowly drift back home.
Life and death held in their hands, they find themselves alone.

Who are these men and women, those heroes who wear blue?
They're fathers, wives, brothers and they're known to me and you.

Officer DeSantis has been with the Lawrence Police Deptartment for 30 years and has written many short stories and poems that have been published in magazines all across the country, such as Potpourri Magazine, Portals Magazine and Sentinel Magazine to name a few.
Officer DeSantis has also published two books, one of them is a pictorial history of the Lawrence Massachusetts Police Department and can be puchased through Barnes & Noble Lawrence Police Department-Heroes Wear Blue (Images of America Series) the other is collection of his poems titled, "An Artshow Without Paintings"

*Please do not copy or take any part of this poem it is owned by Ronald J. DeSantis*