Courage Isn’t Something Reserved For a Uniform

When we hear the word “courage,” most people picture police officers, firefighters, or soldiers. The image is usually someone in uniform running toward danger while the rest of us run away. But the truth is, courage doesn’t come with a badge, a rank, or a uniform.

Time and again, we see ordinary people step into extraordinary moments. A concertgoer shielding strangers during an attack. A teacher locking down a classroom and calming terrified students. A bystander pulling someone from a burning car. These are not professionals trained for battle or people who signed up to face danger. They are neighbors, friends, parents, and coworkers who, in a moment of chaos, chose to act.

After more than two decades in law enforcement, I have seen courage in every form. I have watched officers ignore every instinct for self-preservation and run straight toward danger. I have also witnessed everyday citizens do the same without hesitation, even though no one would have faulted them for freezing.

During the One October mass shooting in Las Vegas, courage was everywhere. Off duty EMS workers, military service members, nurses, and countless others risked their own lives to care for the wounded and carry people to safety. These were not coordinated teams with radios and training. These were regular people making split second choices that saved lives.

The same spirit showed up years later during the UNLV active shooter incident in December 2023. Amid the panic, a young woman helped another woman in a wheelchair evacuate to safety. They had never met before, yet in that moment she refused to leave a stranger behind.

Unfortunately, many of these stories never get told. The national narrative after a tragedy almost always centers on the numbers: the victim count, the timeline of events, the weapon used. The human side, the moments of compassion and bravery that prevented even greater loss, are often reduced to a passing mention. Yet these are the very stories that deserve our attention. They remind us that in the darkest moments, there is still light.

When it comes to training, most people know the “Run, Hide, Fight” model for active shooter response. It is simple and practical, and it saves lives. But from what I have seen, something else often emerges when the moment is real: Run, Hide, Help, Fight. People help each other. That instinct to help is a part of courage we do not talk about enough.

Courage is not just about charging forward in the face of danger. Sometimes it is about slowing down in a moment of chaos, choosing compassion when it would be easier to turn away, or standing firm when fear tells you to run. Whether it comes from a uniformed officer or an ordinary citizen, courage is ultimately the same thing:

Doing what is right when everything is on the line.

The next time you hear the word “courage,” do not just picture the uniform. Picture the nurse, the bystander, the stranger who stepped in. Picture the ordinary person who became extraordinary, not because they had to, but because they chose to.