Elwood Police Department, Officer Noah Shahnavaz, 24.

At 8:00 AM, this Sunday morning, a college friend sent me a text inquiring if I knew about the officer killed on duty who belonged to my hometown police department in Elwood. I began scrolling through Facebook and found several posts. It was one of those instances where the officer pulled over the suspect for a traffic violation.

This is a nightmare scenario for those families connected to law enforcement, or really, any of the first responder professions. I grew up with a police family from birth and even with my mother’s retirement more than a decade ago, I have always remained a part of my hometown’s police family, staying connected to Mother’s colleagues, most of whom were like bonus uncles, as well as their families.

My heart and thoughts concentrate on the many folks in Elwood, and beyond, who will be affected by this. I cannot imagine being an officer moving up to a vehicle for an ordinary traffic stop and never knowing what might occur. The colleagues and officers elsewhere must live with these potential horrors every day, and with every moment.

Please remember Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz’s family, friends, and colleagues of Elwood’s fallen police officer.

Rest in power, Officer Shahnavaz…