Each officer sworn into the Suffolk Police Department goes through the same rigorous training.

Candidates face months of physical, psychological and skill-based tests. It’s an intense and stressful process, but one that creates a knowledgeable and capable force that is entrusted with the safety of Suffolk.

Future police officers must learn to deal with criminals and relate to victims, they must master state and city laws and must swear to uphold those laws.

But there is another role police officers play on the streets of Suffolk. It is perhaps a less visible role, but one that is equally important. Once Suffolk’s police officers hit the streets to serve and protect, they also become role models.

We see officers shaping our children through community events, such as the annual National Night Out. They are in Suffolk’s schools, helping to guide the future of Suffolk and teaching students to keep themselves safe. They even shape future officers, through the Youth Public Safety Academy, which introduces young people to the role of police officers and firefighters.

But beyond serving as role models for children, they can also serve as role models for adults.

For example, when a Suffolkian wrote a letter to the Suffolk News-Herald thanking an anonymous officer for showing mercy to a dying deer that had been hit by a car, that officer became a public example of doing the right thing even when it is uncomfortable.

And a recent ball gives Suffolkians another view of those that serve and protect this city.

At the Suffolk Law Enforcement Ball, we saw our officers take the opportunity to have a little fun, but also give back to a worthy cause. The ball, organized by the Suffolk Police Association, gathers sworn and nonsworn employees of the Suffolk Police Department, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department and the Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to celebrate and remember their heroes while raising money for the Genieve Shelter.

The Genieve Shelter, which has seen its funds and ability to help shrink as the economy worsened, serves as one of the only escapes for women in Hampton Roads who are trapped in abusive relationships. By donating their time and money, Suffolk’s public servants not only support the shelter, they also bring awareness to the shelter’s plight.

By taking our cue from those who serve and protect us, perhaps we will remember to serve and protect others, if only by donating what we can to worthy causes like the Genieve Shelter.