Fallen Texas DPS Trooper James Scott Burns knew as well as anybody that his chosen profession carried the very real risk that his life could end violently.

There is a quantum difference, however, between understanding risk and accepting it as fate. Given what has been said of the slain trooper's pride and joy in his baby daughter, one tends to think Burns believed he was prepared to meet and overcome any dangers his career might present.

When a stalwart member of the law enforcement community is slain, the loss tends to stun a community and, in this case, an entire region.

Police officers, deputies and troopers are often the targets of scorn, especially if they are thorough in their jobs. A crackdown on anything from drunk driving to jay walking can give rise to negative reactions in the public — with grumblings that officers are doing everything from filling quotas to sating a hunger for power.

At sad times such as this, however, the loss of a stellar young trooper such as Burns reminds us of the sacrifices that our neighbors often make for our protection — because in the end the officers we see on the road are our neighbors, be they members of the Longview Police Department, Gregg County Sheriff's Department or the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The sight of flashing red lights in one's rearview mirror might be an experience none of us wants, but the sight of an officer guiding traffic around an accident or through a dangerous intersection where the signals have been damaged by high winds is a different story. So is the sight of a patrol car entering the drive after one comes home to find a door or a window broken in.

The fact that the man who is believed to have killed in Burns was himself once an officer with several local agencies is a reminder that not every person who puts on the badge is a stellar member of the community. But the overwhelming majority of officers are worthy of our trust and admiration. Just a month ago, we in Longview were reminded of that during the 17th annual "Giants of Law Enforcement" banquet.

There is nothing really positive to be said about the loss of a young man like Trooper Burns. His loss will leave giant holes in the hearts of his widow and his young daughter, his parents, his friends and the people of East Texas.

But there is much to be said of the courage, the sense of service and the commitment that steer young people to choose careers in law enforcement. They consider the risks and the pressures, yet decide just the same that service to their community outweighs those drawbacks. They decide they are the people best suited to protect not only themselves and their families, but their neighbors as well. For that, we are grateful to Burns and his many colleagues.

We offer condolences to the Burns family, and warm appreciation to them for sharing a "Giant" with East Texas.