At a certain police station, in a certain city of a certain town, a man was hired. He was a normal guy, easy going, popular with the masses, simple man just doing what he loved. However, these characteristics can just be a cover up can’t they? Now, it doesn’t exactly have to always be a deliberate cover up, due to the fact that no one really truly knows themselves. No one on this planet truly knows what they are capable of, or what they can become, when they are placed into different situations. This man, whom we will call Officer Landow, was no exception to this idea. In a span of a couple years, Landow would create his own demise.
Moving along, Landow was signed onto that certain police force in that certain city a few years ago. On his first day, he had to prove to the Chief that he deserved that badge. That badge, in his eyes, contained the “shine of justice”. That badge gleamed and shined, gave off an aurora of justice and honor, simply the one thing that many men before him have tried so hard to keep up and maintain. To Landow, justice and honor was the ultimate goal of humanity, the one thing that should be maintained and accomplished, no matter how that goal is accomplished. But that’s the right thing to do, right? Surely justice and honor have no true boundaries, they wouldn’t need them because its for the betterment of society correct? That badge and its shine represented his ideals, represented the righteousness of bettering society by shutting down the rebels.
Continuing where the story left off, Landow was sent out on his first day on the job, accompanied by a certain Sergeant from the station who, in the eyes of the law, was a flawless individual. He always got his man, always allowed for justice and peace to prevail. However, on the humane level, this man would be considered a monster. He had been on the police force for many years, doing what the honorable justice carriers do, keeping peace. From the outside, as mentioned before, he seemed like a strong statue of a man who truly believed in justice for all. But there was something interesting about him. His badge just wasn’t as shiny as Landlow’s was. Now, one could say that over the years the metal would fade,simply due to the wear and tear of always being worn and exposed to the elements. That has got to be the case right? Right?
In Landlow’s eyes, this was the case. He believed that the thing that he called “ the shine of justice” did not reflect the officers decisions. But, instead, represented how justice could wear down, but never consume a man of justice.
Now, once again, from an outsiders view, that so called “shine of justice” represented the officers decisions not only as a law enforcement agent, but of a man.
It’s quite funny how easily authority can be corrupted when given the chance to not have direct consequences for their actions. Now, it’s not only authority that is vulnerable to these ideas. To elaborate on this, human nature, for the most part, is centralized around oneself. Most people only do things in order for themselves to get something out of it, and more often have no care or consideration for the other individual they may be hurting. Now, back to the story.
For the next few months, Landlow observed the numerous officers he patrolled with. Landlow noticed numerous things about each person, but the one thing that always reoccured was the seemingly nonexistent care for the suspects they apprehended. The other officers always displayed slight brutality when apprehending their suspects. They would beat them when they went down, tazed them at the first sign of slight resistance, spit on them when no one was looking. Yet for some reason, Landlow wouldn't mention any of this to his senior officers. Landlow figured it was the right thing to do, yet he still felt slightly morally wrong for allowing his coworkers to beat on innocent people. However, all of this was to have a long lasting effect on Landlow.
Sometimes, the most upright people can fall victim to the powers of the unconscious. One day, when Landlow was on patrol, he was called to help settle a protest. When he arrived, the protest was peaceful, yet, the officers on scene discussed using force to intimidate the people who were making a stand. Landlow watched as protester after protester was beat down. However, this would not be it. Something in Landlow cracked that day, some humane part of him repressed.
There was a protester who looked him in the eye, just so happened to make eye contact. He mouthed the words have mercy. Landlow reached to his belt, unfastened his holster, and watched as the man dropped to the ground, Landow’s badge reflected in the mans eye, the badge seemed duller than usual, the “shine of justice” was extinguished.
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