Editor,

Next to my letter to the editor, I saw the Sound Off opinion written by Island County Sheriff Mark Brown, and I just wanted to say “thank you for writing it.”

I come from an extended law enforcement family, and my relations are good people who got into the field to try and make the world a better place. It’s kind of a family mission.

My mom was our town’s first “policewoman” when I was little. She typed, filed, was in charge of the school crossing in front of my elementary school, and did crowd control when the male officers marched in our town’s Memorial Day parade. She wasn’t allowed to drive a police car unless a male officer was with her. She didn’t carry a gun — it wasn’t ladylike. But she was very proud of her blues. And she saluted with pride.

My brother grew up to become a police officer and he married a police officer. At their wedding, their limousine was stopped in every town they went through, by all the police departments with whom they had mutual response agreements, and they were pulled out and patted down to stunned passersby.

Law enforcement people are extraordinary; I know this firsthand.

My dad and I were the “black sheep” because we went into journalism, but we loved and were totally proud of our family members in law enforcement.

I planted blue flowers in my flower boxes yesterday. My brother said that putting a blue light into an exterior light fixture is also a tribute.

So if no one thanks you or says they understand, I’d just like to be the first. Please feel free to share this with everyone who serves you and our cities on this island.

It’s just so tragic that five officers had to die for this country to wake up — hopefully.

With deep respect and gratitude,

Barbara Moran

Clinton