I’ve spent twenty years give or take being a substitute teacher. I got my social studies credential 12 years ago but I’m a dime a dozen before taking into account that I’m also white. Being 50+ and white there will never be a full time teaching position for me with those strikes against me.
But in those twenty years, I have been a kind of go to sub for a high school near me. As a result, and also because I did my student teaching there for my (now nearly-useless) full time credential I have become friends (Facebook and otherwise) with a number of former students. Amongst those are at least three who have chosen to become law enforcement officers.
I am stating here and now that I would give my life to for those women. They have so much to live for and have chosen a career that the general public shits on. It is thankless and sometimes brutal. I would happily exchange my life for any one of theirs.