An officer with the Memphis Police Department was shot and killed Saturday night after pulling over a vehicle for a traffic stop.

Let that marinate for a moment.

The alerts began surfacing not long after 9:00 p.m. local time via social media pages. When I first saw the updates, all I could do is shake my head, but then the announcement was made. The officer had been killed in the line of duty. I dropped my head and sulked for a moment.

A traffic stop. A fucking traffic stop.

Let me say this before anyone even remotely thinks about coming for me because I chose to grieve this officer’s death. I grieve every loss of life at the hands of violence. I grieved for Trayvon Martin. I grieved for Eric Gardner. I grieved for Sandra Bland. I grieved for Darius Stewart. I grieved for Vicdarrius Pollard.  I grieved for all the victims. So why would I do anything different for this victim?

Details are beginning to emerge about his life. Officer Sean Bolton was a 33 year old father, husband and marine. Media reports indicate he represented our country in Iraq and was an integral part of the MPD force tackling burglaries in the community he served.

Did I know this man? No, but this hits close to home because I live in this city. I work with members of MPD via my position with my employer. I know some amazing officers who truly love this city and who knowingly accept the every day dangers associated with their responsibilities. Police officers are not paid what they should earn, but, much like me as a fellow government employee, they do it for their community and the love they have for their profession.

Are there very questionable police officers in this country? Yes, we know that as evident from the multitude of police brutality cases we have heard of lately. However, in the midst of our plight and struggle to remind everyone that black lives still matter, let us not forget there are good and responsible officers who protect and serve us every single day.

Lets remember them. Lets pray for them. Lets mourn with them, especially today, as they deal with the reality of the loss of one of their brothers.

This is truly a sad day in Memphis, TN.