In what is becoming a weekly ordeal across the world, the latest acts of violence have been directed squarely at those who protect us from just that. Protests regarding law enforcement’s treatment of African Americans have escalated to the slaying of a combined eight police officers in separate incidents in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

There is certainly a conversation to be had about law enforcement and its use of force, especially regarding trends of such with certain ethnic and racial groups. There has been no discussion, though, as two men took it upon themselves to murder police officers.

These victims were innocent officers willing to lay down their lives for the citizens of their community — and for a measly $40,000 a year. None of them laid down their lives in the name of protecting their community, though. They had life ripped away from them by men who took out the actions of a slim margin of bad law enforcement officers on the overwhelming majority.

And there are bad apples in every bushel. Just like ISIS doesn’t represent an entire religion and Micah Johnson — the Dallas shooter — doesn’t embody sentiments of the African-American community in its entirety, mistakes made by a handful of police officers across the country don’t represent every man and woman in blue.

It’s getting to the point where these incidents can happen anywhere and at anytime. It’s not always an assault on law enforcement, as recent incidents in Orlando and France have shown.

But, whatever it is, it’s those in blue who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our safety. Here in Beaufort County we have a dedicated group of law enforcement officers who do everything in their power not only to protect residents, but also to make Beaufort County a better place. Most recently, they have opened productive discourse through events like the gang awareness symposium.

So, next time you see officers making their rounds in the county, be sure to stop and thank them because their lives matter, too.