What is Greatness? How do you measure greatness? If you are a business selling a product; then greatness might be a product that is superior to any other on the market. If you are restaurant, greatness might be an award winning chef. In both of these types of business greatness might be excellent customer satisfaction.
Many years ago, when I was a young officer assigned to the police academy, at the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. we all learned that our product was dedicated service to the citizens of the District of Columbia, and all its visitors. We had many award winning officers on the Department, and our officers were dedicated to improving the delivery of police services every day. Winning awards is great, but it is not greatness.
Greatness to us were the officers who put themselves in harm’s way in service of our citizens, and who paid the ultimate sacrifice giving up their lives in the service of our great city and our great country. Most people run from danger, while the police have to run towards danger. It is what they have sworn to do.
On September 20, 1974, Officer Gail Cobb was a young officer conducting a traffic stop, when citizens alerted her that a man with a gun ran into a parking garage. Without hesitation and with all that she was and all that she had in her, Officer Gail Cobb ran into the garage after the armed gunman. This armed gunman had just been part of an armed bank robbery, and was determined to get away. He shot and killed Officer Gail Cobb. Officer Gail Cobb was found lying on the concrete floor of the garage with her radio in her hand. Her service weapon was still in her holster.
Whenever an officer is injured or killed, many ask what went wrong. A few things went wrong, but let’s talk about what went right. On the morning of September 20, 1974, Officer Gail Cobb got up and took her time getting ready for work. She believed in looking sharp to be sharp. She reported to roll call and was given what was to be her last assignment. Again, here is what went right. Officer Cobb believed in her God. She believed in her family. She believed in this great city where she was born and raised. She believed in her training and she believed in this great country.
Officer Gail Cobb was the first female officer killed in the country. She was also the first African American female Officer killed in the performance of her duty. She demonstrated unwavering faithfulness to the values and the safety of the good citizens of our great city. That earned Officer Gail Cobb her greatness.
Join us as we remember Officer Gail A. Cobb, her family and all our first responders with a Salute on September 20, 2024. Moving forward, we would also like to designate September 20th, of every year as the date to honor all our first responders and their families with a salute for their services.
President of the Association of Retired Police Officers D.C.