News-Record.com

Saturday's No. 2 editorial.

Greensboro police Officers Patricia Wright and M.E. Merritt earned their Medals of Valor the hard way.

Especially Merritt, who was shot twice while he and Wright grappled with a suspect on East Market Street last year. Fortunately, he was protected by his bulletproof vest and was able to prevent the suspect from also shooting Wright. She was knocked down but immediately returned to the fray. “She’s a fighter,” said her sergeant, Tom Kroh.

Wright, Merritt, Officer of the Year Robert Mayo and others were honored Thursday by the Greensboro Merchants Association at its annual Police and Citizens Appreciation Dinner. It’s an outstanding event that appropriately recognizes the extraordinary acts of courage and devotion law-enforcement officers perform in the line of duty.

Harrowing tales of battles with armed bad guys command attention, but doing everyday tasks exactly right can be just as important. A case decided just last week by the N.C. Court of Appeals illustrates the point.

The court looked at a suspect’s complaint that she was subjected to an illegal search when she was found to be carrying cocaine on East Market Street two years ago. The court denied her appeal, spelling out that Greensboro Officers Roman Watkins, Nicholas Ingram, S.J. Langholz and Jennifer Mauney acted properly at every step. As a result of good police work, the suspect’s conviction for trafficking cocaine will stand.

Not every officer can win a Medal of Valor, but every one who deters criminal activity, arrests a suspect and gathers evidence correctly helps make the community safer. The work is often difficult and sometimes very dangerous. It always demands patience, persistence and professionalism.

While it’s necessary to hold police to high standards of conduct and to report mistakes, the public also should thank them for their daily service and sacrifice.