Police Officer Tyler Timmins

Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro

On October 26th, Police Officer Tyler Timmins conducted a vehicle investigation on a stolen truck at a Pontoon Beach gas station. Just as Tyler made his approach toward the vehicle, one of the occupants gunned down the officer. He was airlifted to the hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. His killer was taken into custody at the scene.

Officer Tyler Timmins spent 14 years of his life in law enforcement. He joined the Pontoon Beach Police Department in April of last year after proudly serving with three other agencies throughout Madison County, Illinois. Tyler comes from a law enforcement family. His wife, who he just married in September, is also a police officer. Tyler was remembered as the guy who would give the shirt off his back to anybody, and would do anything he could to help people. He was 36-years old.

The War On Cops: REMEMBER the ALAMO!

by Chris Amos

In her book, The War on Cops, Heather Mac Donald traces this “war” back to the shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson Police Officer Darrin Wilson in 2014. Mac Donald specifically points to the false narrative, “hands up, don’t shoot” that spread like wildfire. With full knowledge that this narrative was not true, and in fact Wilson shot Brown while being beaten by the much stronger and bigger Brown, the media fanned the flames of this lie. I was traveling across the country speaking at law enforcement conferences during this time and have picture after picture of very influential people from members of the St. Louis Rams to news anchors of CNN; from crowds in Times Square to even larger crowds in Hong Kong and from actors in Hollywood to performers at the Grammys. In every case, hands were raised, buying into the “hands up, don’t shoot” bogus narrative. This was fake news before the term fake news had been born.

The coordinated attacks on law enforcement we see today may have begun in 2014 with the “Ferguson Effect” but they caught fire on May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN as the perfect storm unfolded. Unlike Ferguson, in the Minneapolis case there were many credible witnesses, including other police officers, and there was video. The anti-police movement suddenly had what they were previously missing, and we all know the summer of fires, riots, looting and violence that followed. The match had been struck and policing would, possibly forever, be changed.

I want to share, as a retired cop and police shooting survivor, what I see unfolding in this war before ending with a word of hope. Initially, I thought the attacks against law enforcement were a reaction to Trump Derangement Syndrome. I remember hearing stories about the hatred held by many for POTUS Richard Nixon. While Nixon was beyond reach for his detractors, his foot soldiers, our Vietnam vets, were not. As a rookie cop I was surrounded by these vets and they would share the animosity and hatred they experienced for just doing their jobs. I thought those suffering from T.D.S. would likewise turn their disdain for Trump toward the law and order POTUS’ foot soldiers, law enforcement and corrections officers. While I am sure this happened, I failed to see that these attacks were far more coordinated and sinister than T.D.S. No, what we are seeing is an attempt to tear apart America and BUILD it BACK BETTER, into some Marxist utopia. A utopia that exists only in the minds and hearts of those who that want to see America, as we know it, destroyed. How might this be done?

STEP ONE: Demonize the police. This has been the sole calling of many within the media, both legacy and social. Paint every police officer as a racist, trigger-happy thug, just looking to violate someone’s civil rights. This is done by taking the actions of a few corrupt and racist cops and applying them to every L.E.O. in the country. And by taking the actions, the policies, the procedures of one corrupt police department and painting every police department or sheriff’s office with that same brush. Following the George Floyd incident, EVERY police department in the country was called on to make reforms, whether they were needed or not. My own department in Norfolk eliminated chokeholds almost 20 years before the Floyd incident. About 15 years ago, having been made aware of positional asphyxia, we did away with dogpiling on a suspect, unless needed to gain control and once done the suspect would immediately be placed in a sitting or standing position. I mention this just as an example to demonstrate how not all police officers or departments operate in the same manner. But those in a war against cops do not want to hear that. No, to them ALL Cops are evil, or in the words of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar while trying to explain the spike in crime in Minneapolis, “the [bad, evil, hateful] police have chosen to not fulfill their oath of office and to provide the public safety they are owed to the citizens they serve.” She went on to describe the Minneapolis Police Dept. as “the most dysfunctional in our state and probably in the country.” This narrative is needed to ensure step two is attained.

STEP TWO: Defund the police. If all cops and departments are evil, negligent, and dysfunctional then it just goes to reason that we have to stop sending money their way. NYC defunded the NYPD $1,000,000,000. That is ONE BILLION DOLLARS! Many other cities across the country followed suit, from rural Asheville, N.C. to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, just to name a few. So let’s take already undermanned, overworked agencies and cut all overtime from their budget. Let’s cut all training from their budget. While we are at it let’s get rid of their SWAT teams, Vice and Narcotics Division, Harbor Patrol, School Resource Officers, Horse and Bike Units, and whatever else we deem unnecessary. The insanity of such a position is clear to everyone except the Marxists calling the shots right now, or is it? I would argue the people making these decisions know exactly what their actions are doing to their cities, both large and small. The irony is many of them have become victims themselves of this rising crime rate from their cars being broken into, to personally being victims of robberies and assaults. Oh they know what is happening, but if allowing their cities to become dumpster fires are needed to initiate step 3, then so be it.

STEP THREE: Dismantle the police. That is their endgame. They want to see local and state law enforcement agencies dismantled or “abolished” in their lingo. They probably would love to federalize all law enforcement, think Mexico and their Federal Police Force. What could possibly go wrong? The last thing the Marxists want is for law enforcement to answer to their respective local communities. We have seen in just the last few months, duly elected sheriffs go on the record, telling their constituents they would not be taking legally owned weapons from their community members, enforcing mask mandates, rounding up their local “domestic terrorists,” AKA, concerned parents speaking out at local school board meetings. Many sheriffs have said they will not be firing professional, experienced, proven deputies simply for refusing to get the COVID vaccine. The powers that be toss and turn at night at the very thought that there exist in this country law enforcement and corrections officers and agencies that refuse to bend the knee in submission to their radical agenda. But they will not give up easily. If vaccine mandate threats do not bring the troops in line, then let’s look at eliminating Qualified Immunity as was done for the NYPD.Thank God, the US Supreme Court just upheld Qualified Immunity involving LEOs. Incidentally, no one dissented on the court. So I’m sure the powers that be took note and have made removing Qualified Immunity a priority. Another tactic is to undercut an officer’s authority by advising him he can not make arrests for crimes that are on the books.Another tool being implemented is to place such a heavy burden of the officers, like The Chicago Police Dept’s 13-page general order on foot pursuits, that officers just throw their hands up in the air and adopt all of these when combined, lead to a massive Blue Exodus from departments around the country. Nursing shortage? No problem! We will activate the National Guard. Law enforcement shortage? Guess what… the answer is simple enough, we will activate the National Guard.

Now for some good news, I believe the opponents to law enforcement and corrections will be DEFEATED. Every day more and more people are having their eyes opened to what is happening. They see the flagrant contempt for the law, and the men and women sworn to uphold it. They are seeing and experiencing the consequences of defunding the police. The distant memories of placing their children in bathtubs to sleep at night for fear of being struck by a random bullet are returning. They are reading about security details they, as taxpayers, are providing for the defund the police politicians in office. They are beginning to realize that the men and women in law enforcement and corrections are not evil. They are not villains. No, they are in fact their neighbors. Their kids attend the same schools. They pass unaware in the grocery store or doctor’s office. They are cheering for the same teams. They are quite simply, “one of us”.

Your part in this chapter is to hold the line. Keep your oar in the water. Keep your shoulder to the plow. Don’t give up! Even if that means moving to a state or department that appreciates, supports, and genuinely wants you. I can’t help but think of the men who defended the Alamo during its 13-day siege in 1836. These men sacrificed their very lives for something much bigger than the Alamo, or even Texas. General Santa Anna would be defeated soon after the Alamo fell. The last thing Santa Anna would hear as the Texans overwhelmed his army where the shouts, “Remember the Alamo!”

Friends, I’m here to tell you that you are as important to America’s survival today as those Texans at the Alamo were to the survival of Texas. Now is the time to double down on your commitment to the thin blue line. I would not be surprised if historians, many years from now, looked back at this moment in history, giving credit to law enforcement officers, corrections officers, doctors, nurses, even those domestic terrorists/concerned parents and write about your sacrificial resolve and commitment in the face of tremendous opposition.

Chris Amos is a retired officer and former spokesperson for the Norfolk Virginia Police Department. He is currently the pastor at Chr1st Fellowship Church in Norfolk. He is married for over 30 years and is the proud father of three children, two of whom are police officers. He serves as the volunteer Chaplain for Norfolk Police Dept. and Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

Hold No Punches : Exclusive Interview 20 Years Later

By Joel E. Gordon & George Beck, Ph.D.

It has been 20 years since 9/11. Blue magazine remembers the sacrifices and the heroes who worked to save us. On Sept. 11, 2001 at 0845 hours American Airlines Flight #11, a Boeing 767, crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Then, 18 minutes after the first plane hit, a second Boeing 767, United Airlines Flight 175, struck the south tower. It was clear that America was under attack.

Emerging from tragedy, two leaders arose to take their place in history largely defining their time as New York City’s Mayor and Police Commissioner, Rudy Giuliani and Bernard Kerik. As both led their city and our nation from rescue to recovery, their example of cooperative engagement with all government professionals, agencies and volunteers in bringing together our country for a common cause should forever serve as a model for emergency crisis management.

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We know where we have been. We have lived, learned, sacrificed and mourned. The question that remains is will we be able to maintain safety while recapturing patriotism as we move forward to what lies ahead?

The Blue magazine thanks both Rudy Giuliani and Bernard Kerik for this exclusive interview. What follows are their reflections and thoughts…

The BLUE Magazine: Now 20 years later, what is the first memory you have of the morning of 9/11 when you learned the towers were attacked?

Giuliani: The first memory is at breakfast. Patty Varrone, who was the detective on my detail, walked in and whispered in Denny Young’s ear, he was my counsel. I could hear a little of what they were saying. And then Denny repeated it right away and said that a twin-engine plane, they thought a twin-engine plane had hit the north tower and it was very bad. And they knew I would want to get down there right away. We immediately walked out, looked up in the sky, saw a big, beautiful blue sky and I said, probably this isn't an accident—it was either a terrorist attack or it's some form of insane revenge against a business or suicide. That was my first three minutes.

That was quite a message. It was not possible to even imagine that such a tragic event of terrorism could occur on your watch. How were you able to perform your leadership duties in such an efficient and exemplary manner?

Giuliani: I think because it was so big and it was so horrible, you just felt like it was bigger than you and you just had to do the best you could. I remember telling Bernie Kerik at some point when we saw a man jump out the window when we were walking to the fire department command post, that this was much worse than anything we faced before. We didn't have a plan for it. We had 26, 27 plans but we didn't have one for airplanes hitting our buildings like missiles and that we were just going to have to use our best intuition, make judgments, and then just pray to God they come out right.

Kerik: As the police commissioner, I had 55,000 men and women under my command but assisted the mayor in overseeing every city agency for the response rescue recovery and investigation. None of us had time to think about the magnitude or scope of that charge. We did the best we could under the circumstances and I am proud of our accomplishments.

What was learned and can you give us any recommendations that you may have for current leaders based on what we've learned that day?

Giuliani:  The first thing you got to do is you've got to say in your head, this is very different. I always treated emergencies like that. I'm thinking about today. It seems like these emergencies, they want to turn into political theater. First thing you got to do is you got to say to yourself, this is real life. This isn't political theater, and you've got to make the right judgment. And you're probably not always going to make the right judgment. But if you aim in the direction of making the right judgment, not the right political one, the right one to save lives and bring the city back, you're probably going to more frequently make the right call than if you get all confused with politics.

In the aftermath of 9/11, the recovery phase, how was that? When you remember, obviously, you saw the worst of it initially and then you're actually seeing what I would consider the worst of it for someone who was actually there looking at it.

Giuliani:  It was very hard because some people wanted to recover. Other people didn't want to recover. You were hurting them if you were push- ing them too hard and then others wanted to be pushed. So you had to try to do it very delicately and you had to try to know what audience you were talking to. People are not totally predictable. Well, I'd say they grieve in different ways and they react to things in different ways. I think it's a shame, though, that what we weren't able to preserve is when things happen that are bigger than politics, like that attack, like the pandemic, now we politicize them, whereas then, we were at least one administration away from doing that. It was a better reaction for the country. I mean, the country came out of 9/11 better organized than it was when it went in.

Is today's climate of lawlessness actually conducive to making future terror attacks more likely?

Giuliani: Yeah, no question about it. I mean, I hate to say that, but terrorists feed on weakness. I think those terrorist attacks wouldn't have occurred if Clinton had had a very strong response to Bin Laden. Instead, every time Bin Laden you know, it's terrible to analogize this because this is so meaningless or simple or cute, but it's like a child, you know, the child first grabs the cookie and you don't do anything about it. Then the child grabs two cookies. Then the child knocks over the cookie jar. Then the child breaks that China and child just wants to be told where to stop. And so, you know, he bombed us a couple of times overseas and basically we bombed empty fields. So he had to look at us as a paper tiger. I think Clinton's failure to respond with massive force to protect our Marines or to answer for what happened to our Marines basically didn't give him the idea. He always had the idea and it gave him confidence that he could pull it off. And it was a terrible mistake to do that. It's why Democrats just do it. That's why they create so many wars. They don't know how to be strong. What Biden is doing with China and with Iran. Apparently, he's even relieving some of the sanctions. And I'm telling everybody, just so he can give money to a terrorist state, I don't even get it. But that will convince Iran that we're a paper tiger and China, having met with his deputies and kind of slapped them around, they sort of look at Biden as they probably can't figure out how we elected them. And I know I'm sure Putin must be sitting there thinking, well, they find this guy, must have gone to a nursing home.

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Kerik: Up until about five years ago, for the prior 15 years I had said that one of the greatest threats to this country was the enemy that hit us on Sept. 11, 2001, radical Islam. I’ve now changed my mind and I believe one of the greatest threats facing our nation today it’s the infusion of Marxism and socialism. We actually have radical left-wing Marxists elected to the US House of Representatives. I never thought I would see the day.

Government accountability and taking responsibility for caring for our sick and injured first responders resulting from the 9/11 attack has been lacking. Why do you think the government has been so callous in its responsibility in caring for our wounded heroes and their families?

Kerik: One of the things that came out of 9/11 was the reality that city and state agencies and the federal government must take care of those men and women who put themselves in harm’s way. We lost 23 members of my department, 37 members of the port authority Police Department and 343 firefighters. It was essential that the city take care of their families and those that got sick as a result of being at Ground Zero. We’re still fighting that fight and should not be. If you’re going to ask your public servants and first responders to put themselves in harm’s way then you must have the in sight to take care of them should anything go wrong.

Giuliani: I think it's a question of things move on, and it's a shame to say this, but even though there's some downside to not doing it politically, it's not as front of mind as it was then. Politically, there are more important things now for them to pay attention to in their own interests. I'm not saying this in an approving way. I'm saying this because I think this is part of the corruption of American politics. They're all in it for themselves. You don't find too many people in American politics who sit back and first say what's good for the country and then do what's good for the country. The minute they figure out it's going to hurt them, they stop. And if they don't get benefits from it, they stop. So, I mean, the simple answer is that the heat isn't enough. When it heats up, they do little things. But it's a shame to be that way. And it wasn't that way at the beginning. We got everything we asked for from President Bush. We got more than we asked.

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Can you recall a memory that you have from being at ground zero, something that you've seen that maybe has stayed with you all these years that still haunts you?

Kerik: The two things that stand out to me about that day, was first arriving at the base of tower one and two and watching dozens of people jump to their death. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and as a police officer you’re usually always in a position to take control but this, it was different. There was no way to stop them from jumping. There was no way to help them. The other thing I remember about that day is 5 o’clock in the afternoon walking into the auditorium and having to meet with the families of the 23 men and women who were missing from the NYPD. Those 23 people died that day but I will always be thankful to their families for their strength and support. They were an inspiration to me and the mayor.

Giuliani: Oh, my goodness. There are a couple. That one that I fixate on the most is seeing the first man jump from the 100th floor because my deputy mayor had told me that people were jumping and I didn't see it right away and I didn't believe it. So when I saw it, I was approaching the fire department command post and I saw a man standing up by the... He was kind of looking out and then he just jumped and it was an incredible experience. I can't even, I can't describe to you.  It convinced me that this was a much, much different thing that we have faced before.

How have the continuing deaths and illnesses attributable to the aftermath of the World Trade Center towers collapsing affected you personally?

Giuliani: I think it's terrible because we got the person who spent most of his time on this was obsessive about it, Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota.  We got reports daily about the quality of the smoke and the debris, particularly from the EPA, but also from other agencies. And he published them daily. And any time there was a slight aberration, he'd be right on top of it. So it's hard to figure out who to blame for it with a negligence in not doing the right tests. Or is it possible the tests didn't exist then?  We had never had this before. The building had melted and that was releasing all kinds of things. It's not like when anthrax happened, we knew exactly what to do and contained it beautifully. Right. Take Cipro. We had four million Cipro pills, maybe five million. But this, you didn't know it was harming people or in what way it was harming them.

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In 20 years how did law enforcement and other first responders go from being viewed as heroes to most Americans to zeros in the eyes of the progressive left and their allies?  What has happened to patriotism?

Kerik: Over the last 10 years, the radical left political groups in this country have attacked the police and victimized the thugs and villainized the cops. In my opinion, they’re all cowards. On 9/11 and in the aftermath, they ran like cockroaches when you turn on the lights. They were scared to death, but it was the men and women first responders who did what had to be done just like they do on a daily basis today. The people who criticize them and try to villainize them are hypocrites because they would never do the job of a first responder. They don’t have the courage. It’s a shame that other politicians don’t call them out for their hypocrisy and lunacy.

Giuliani: It's been taken over by communists. I believe that these people either are marching us toward communism knowingly or they're being brainwashed and propagandized. And I think this has been a plan that's been going on for a long, long time. I never would have believed it five years ago. But everything I see I can read about in 1858 with Karl Marx, everything they're doing, tearing down our statues, tearing down our history, making us hate this country, dishonoring the flag. First thing that Mao did in China was to cancel out Chinese history. You know how the Chinese culture is so important. It was to the Chinese people. The Chinese communists don't allow a Chinese culture because that was all bad. Only socialism is good and they're trying to get rid of as many religious people as possible, the Falun Gong, the Uighurs. So I think that disrespect for law enforcement comes right out of Marxism, translated by the three Black Lives Matter Marxists, and then the former Black Panthers police killers who are advising. It's the biggest and most dangerous con job in the history of the country. The organization is a hard-core Marxist organization that spends most of its time not worrying about black lives, but trying to destroy the American family. They don't believe in families. They feel that families subjugate women and fathers are useless. They want to do away with our religion because God has no place in socialism or communism, and God is used to suppress people and they have no  use for the police because the police, I don't know what they think, put innocent people in jail?  Well, they don't want the police, but they want to take over… So I don't understand why anyone buys this communism or socialism thing. It's a complete con job for Putin to be the richest man in Russia or Xi, the richest man in China or. You name it, I mean, they. They live much more opulent lives than capitalists. But people fall for it because they're very good at brainwashing and now they possess the media.

Where are we headed as a nation over the next 20 years?

Giuliani: We're going to find out in 2022. I have the feeling a little bit of evidence in terms of polling that supports it, but not completely. I have a feeling that there's going to be a revulsion by the American people, unlike ever before. In America, I didn't think you could censor, you know, enormously relevant information that the president could run for president United States such as taking bribes for 30 years. And it's provable by the words of his son in Texas quoting. For the last 30 years. I pay all the expenses of the family and I got to give 50 percent of my income to Pop. So since 50 percent of his income is money he's getting from are, in many cases, crooks, what the hell is his father getting the money for, doing favors for? None of the people that they get money from are stupid, by the way. It's not like this is some kind of a naive charity scam. They're getting money from some of the most dangerous people in the world like a member of Ukrainian organized crime who knows how many people he's killed. The wife of the mayor of Moscow, she deposed him. She got rid of him, the mayor. And became very close to Putin, who the hell knows how many people she's had killed? I mean, and he's got his drug addict son dealing with them?  No wonder the guy became a drug addict. I have to believe if you read, any of that hard drive, which I have all of it, you've got to say to yourself who pulled this off; who pulled this con job loss on us? How do we put a guy in the White House who's amassed 30 to 40 million in bribes using his family as bagmen, and is clearly suffering from dementia. Clearly, I mean, when I go visit my ex-mother-in-law in the nursing home, half the people there were functioning better than him. You've got to be a fool not to see it. You've got to just pretend. He can't remember the Pledge of Allegiance. Oh, yeah, Joe's fine. He just can't complete that sentence. He forgot what he was saying. Oh, yeah, Joe's fine. He's president of the United States and the Democrats don't care about this country enough to put up a sane man for president? I think what has happened is the Democrat Party at the very top became completely corrupted by the Clintons. And they're all in it for money; you look at the money Pelosi's made. They all made millions. And their long and pretty useless public servants. But they became billionaires. So we're in a difficult spot. And basically, we've got to kick, we've got to get rid of Pelosi. I think she's a menace. Wouldn't be bad to turn back to send it to and then have a real president in 2024, either Trump or somebody like him.

Commissioner, where is law enforcement headed over the next 20 years?

Kerik: As for law enforcement over the next 20 years, it’s really going to be dependent on the political movement in this country. If the socialists and Marxists are able to take control of the country, the United States of America as we have known it and it was created will be no more. We need leadership in the House and Senate and White House that’s going to abide by the constitution and enforce the laws of our land without political agendas behind them.

Can you please speak directly to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 and in the aftermath? What is your message to them?

Kerik:  People have commended the mayor and I and called us heroes. I look at it this way. I am no more of a hero than those who ran into those buildings on that day, some of whom did not return. They are the real heroes. It was my honor and privilege to lead them in what I would consider the greatest rescue mission in the history of our nation. They took 20 to 25,000 people out of those buildings and the surrounding area and evacuated more than 1 million people out of southern Manhattan into the four boroughs and New Jersey. God bless all of you. And may the memory of your loved ones--our true heroes--never be forgotten.

Giuliani: My message to them is that their loved ones saved America. The goal of the Islamic terrorists was to crush the American spirit, not just to kill 10 million, three million. Their aim was probably much larger, 12 to 15 million. But due to the evacuation efforts, that was thwarted somewhat. But still, it was terrible. So their whole purpose is to break our spirit, to demoralize us. We have it within our power to make sure that doesn't happen. We have it in our power to make sure that, you know, we were chosen to survive. 

A special message from Bernard Kerik

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In the years since the attacks on America on September 11, 2001, Mayor Giuliani and I have been called heroes for our service and for the heroics by the men and women of the NYPD, FDNY, and PAPD.

I was honored to lead the 55,000 men and women of the NYPD, but I could never have done so without my two pillars of strength, my chief of the department, Joseph Esposito, and my first deputy commissioner, Joseph Dunne. They were at my side in the best and worst of times.

I have always said, and will say until the day I die, my executive staff was the best in the history of the NYPD.

Their dedication, perseverance, and unshaken courage in the face of death resulted in the most successful rescue mission in the history of our country, evacuating between 20 and 25,000 people out of the World Trade Center and immediate area. We also evacuated more than one million people out of southern Manhattan into the four boroughs and New Jersey coastline.

The city of New York, and our country owes them a debt of gratitude that bears no limits.

Leading them, and serving with them, was the greatest honor in my lifetime.

God bless them all.

20 Years Later: Inspiring heroism towards generations ahead

By: Will Sheehan - Legislative Director, New Jersey Veterans Network (NJVN)

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I was a teenager living across the river from Manhattan when the Twin Towers fell. As I walked down my childhood block, I watched as the soot from the collapsed towers drifted down and settled on my neighbor’s cars. Amidst the gray fog was an eerie silence - reducing Bayonne’s daily clamor to only the sounds of sirens as members of the Bayonne Fire and Police Departments reported to Ground Zero.

In our nation’s darkest hour, our police officers, firefighters and EMTs served as our brightest light - running directly into danger, to help others. We have all heard the stories of 9/11’s heroes - first responders charging through the plumes of smoke, past bent steel and into the darkness. For many, that fateful sprint into the towers was the ultimate sacrifice. And for others, it was exposure to carcinogens while participating in rescue and recovery missions at Ground Zero. Each first responder represented the very best of the American spirit - imprinting a legacy of service and sacrifice on my generation, and the ones that followed.

As New York City rebuilt in the months following September 11th, my peers slowly returned to the normalcy of being teenagers, worrying about SAT scores and prom. However, there was nothing normal about a terrorist attack on American soil. I knew that there was no way we could repay our brave first responders for their service and sacrifice - we could only pay it forward, which is why I accepted an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, to join the fight against the world’s evil. I entered the academy as Congress drafted a declaration of war, and graduated during the height of the Global War on Terror. For nine years, I served as an intelligence officer with the SEAL Teams, deploying with Joint Special Operations Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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In Iraq, I had the honor of serving with men and women who were true heroes. Brave soldiers, sailors and Marines who deployed to far corners of the globe not because they hated what was in front of them, but because they loved what was behind them. From the brave first responders who ran into harm's way on September 11th, to our brave troops who ran directly into danger every day after, their sacrifice and service is defined not by their actions, but by their tireless devotion to our fellow countrymen and women. To me, there are endless parallels between America’s troops and our first responders. From the iconic image of six Marines raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima, to the image of three New York City firefighters raising the American flag at Ground Zero - both serve as a reminder that even in our toughest hours, the American spirit always prevails.

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Twenty years later, I have the immense honor of interviewing prospective students for the U.S. Service Academies, all of whom were born after 2001. They don’t remember a world before September 11th because they never lived in it. But, each and every student possesses a steadfast commitment to something larger than themselves. For some, this commitment has already manifested - as volunteer EMTs, firefighters, and junior police officers in their local community. For others, it’s a future career in the Armed Forces. For many, it’s a combination of both.

As we mark the twentieth anniversary of September 11th, we must renew our promise to always honor the heroism of our brave first responders - especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice - and may the generations to come continue to be inspired by their commitment, service and spirit.

Shanksville Pennsylvania: WE WILL NEVER FORGET FLIGHT 93

By Dale Gabriel

Has it really been 20 years? September 11, 2001 was a horrible time for our country, yet there was SOME good that came out of it; it brought us all together. This country needs togetherness like that today.

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We ALL have memories and stories about that horrific day, but for me and those of us in law enforcement and first responders, it is an extremely different memory than most of the general public. In my case, memories of 9/11, as a trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police, working in the troop assigned where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed.

It started out like any other day. I was working daylight shift. I was on patrol, enjoying the sunny fall day. Since I rarely worked daylight, I enjoyed being seen, especially by kids. I was following school buses and waving to the kids, driving around the school as they made their way inside. I was very active volunteering in the school, and a great majority of the kids knew me. They loved seeing me in uniform. Little did we all know that a short while later, our lives would change forever.

I heard something on my police radio about a plane crash, since the 911 call from Flight 93 came into my county dispatch center, but I really did not pay that much attention to it, as I was heading to a DUI hearing. I strolled into the Magistrate's office, and everybody was abuzz, talking about the tragic plane crash, yet at that point, nobody knew exactly just HOW tragic it was.

As more details came to light, it was obvious that this was NOT like any other plane crash, and this was a day unlike any other.

Initially, we thought it was nothing more than a horrible accident. Then we heard about the second, then the third. America was under attack, specifically New York and Washington, D.C., followed by a crash right here in our back yard, Shanskville, Pennsylvania, in the midst of my troop, Pennsylvania State Police Troop A. Nobody knew what might get hit next.

My fellow troopers and I were all called into station to discuss what was going on, even though nobody was sure. The PA State Police had to create and develop a plan they had never even considered, a plan they really had no clue about. What exactly was PSP going to do? How do you develop a plan when you really have no idea what is going on? Are we protecting the public? Are we going to war? I was proud at how quickly everything came together, and even more proud being just a very small part of it.

I cannot say it too many times. All of our lives changed forever that day. Innocence was lost. Those of us who had kids had to painstakingly explain to them what was going on, which was difficult, because to be honest, we didn't have a clue ourselves.

Personally, for a small amount of the population, those of us in law enforcement, fire rescue, EMS and especially the military and our families, it was much different for us than the rest of the world especially with Flight 93 crashing so close. As the plan was being created, my PSP brothers and sisters were told to pack a bag, say goodbye to our families and be ready to head to Shanksville at the drop of a hat for only God knew how long.

Nobody knew what our task would be. Would we be digging for bodies? Would we be gathering evidence? Would we be standing guard? Nobody knew for sure who was going, when they were going, what our task would be, or when we might get the chance to see our families again. In the end, we did ALL of those things.

I called my wife and told her to grab our three kids at the middle school and elementary and bring them home. I wanted to see them and give them a hug, not knowing what the future was going to hold for any of us. In addition, how do you explain something like this to a 12-, 10- and 7-year-old? How do you tell them what happened, and worse yet, what might STILL happen? How do you keep them safe, keep them from being terrified? It was a very trying time to be a parent, even MORE trying to be a trooper. But it was about more than just us. It was also about our families. What we all were able to do in the end would not be possible without our families.

Sometimes, I think the families made more sacrifices than those of us who were forced to work because of the attacks. My wife spent the next couple months like a single mother while I worked 12- and 16-hour days, seven days a week. With half our complement spending months at Shanksville, we could not forget the general public we were sworn to serve and protect. We were very short-handed but got the job done. As I reflect upon it, we were fortunate that crime was down during this time. People were actually treating each other BETTER.

It's been said over and over, but it's necessary. Life as we knew it would never be the same. From all that devastation, however, some good did arise. Patriotism tops the list. People in all walks of life started to appreciate America as we should have before. Red, white, and blue could be seen everywhere. Patriotic songs were heard continuously. New songs were written. Americans began to take on an "us against them" mentality, and THEY were NOT going to win! They could not keep us down!

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People finally started to appreciate the firemen, the EMTs, the police, those of us who worked every day before, and every day since, to keep them safe, those of us who worked all night, weekends, holidays when they were out celebrating with family, as well as through storms that people were not supposed to go out in. I always had a sense of pride for what I did but never like this. As EVERYBODY seemed to appreciate and respect us, I had an even bigger sense of pride that I never really experienced any other time in my career as a trooper. People would routinely thank us for our service, pick up our checks at lunch, or simply smile and wave to acknowledge us. Their kids wanted to shake our hands. This is what being a police officer SHOULD be like.

I don't even know how many days straight I worked. I lost count. On my first day off after the attacks, baseball was getting back to being played. The Pirates were having their first game after a long layoff. As a huge baseball fan, I wanted to just forget about everything going on, and enjoy watching the game. A stranger, seeing me post something about my situation, gave me tickets to that first Pirates game for the whole family; the best seats I have ever had for a ball game in my life. A stranger!

To this day, the national anthem still makes me cry. I stand tall and proud, and think of the words as they are being sung, the words about OUR Star-Spangled Banner. I reflect upon everything in my life that I have to be thankful for, especially for my dad, a proud Marine who served in the Korean War, and all the veterans who fought, many making the ultimate sacrifice to give us freedom. I think about all the first responders who lost their lives helping others that fateful day and the families they left behind. I pray for all those afflicted with post-traumatic stress syndrome, and those who are still passing, from afflictions developed that day. I think about the countless police shootings we see on the news now, nearly every day. Then, I start to think of all of these professional athletes, many of them backed up by so-called “celebrities” disrespecting the flag, our military, our police, and the country by refusing to stand, ignoring the national anthem, and it makes me absolutely sick and disgusted.

So as you go about your business today, take a moment to reflect on it all. Think of how lucky you are to have survived that day and the period after it. Pray for those who did not and their families. Think of all the heroes on Flight 93 who may have saved thousands of lives, with their efforts, while surrendering their own. Think of the people who rebuilt New York. Think of all those first responders who risked their own lives to help others. Think of how many did not make it. Think of the families they left behind. Think of the sacrifices made by the families of all those first responders, as my wife and daughters had done. Think of anyone and everyone who did something, ANYTHING, to help America recover. Think of all the military personnel then, and ever since then who risk their lives to keep us free... and please, STAND for the national anthem.

And let's pray we never have to endure another incident like this for the rest of our lives, nor our children's lives, our grandchildren and so on, but let us also pray for togetherness. Pray that we can all come together as a nation, as Americans, pray to stop the hatred.

God Bless America and PLEASE BACK THE BLUE!

Dale Gabriel is a retired patrol and community services officer with the Pennsylvania State Police. After 25+ years of service, in retirement, he has been working on a book of his many PSP memories. He also coaches a baseball team in a Miracle League for those with special needs. He holds a communication degree with English minor from Saint Vincent College in Western Pennsylvania.

9/11 : America Must Unify

By: Joel F. Shults, Ed.D

As the news stunned the reporters as they relayed the unfathomable tragedies of the weaponized passenger jetliners, I stepped outside the student center between classes and looked to the sky. Was this the beginning of targets all across America? Would I be donning the uniform I still had in my closet from my Army days? Would my family, even here in my small Missouri town a thousand miles from New York City and Washington, D.C., be safe here in the heartland?

With a recently issued chaplain credential and a hunger to serve, I sought out a place where I could volunteer. I just had to go. I also knew that just showing up to a disaster is a double-edged sword for crisis managers. Self-deployed volunteers can become an additional burden to manage, so I searched internet message boards to see where I might be useful.

I saw that the United Way in New York City had swiftly established a donation website and had been absolutely overwhelmed with donations. I offered myself and my 18-year-old civic-minded daughter and we were on our way. It was already early October when we arrived in New York. The flights and hotel rooms were cheap, as travelers were still hesitant to risk not only hijacking, but the anthrax and white powder scare continued since its first appearance a week after the towers fell.

In just those few weeks since the attack, I saw America at work. Rescuers were still pulling bodies out of the depths, honoring each one solemnly. Ashes still accumulated on all the buildings, some of which had been opened to first responder respite. Tables displaying souvenirs being hawked by the entrepreneurial capitalists the terrorists despised were full of Americana. I bought a dozen American flag and ribbon pins – doubtfully made in the USA, but precious because they were covered in the microscopic remains of the buildings and bodies destroyed.

A motorcade with Mayor Giuliani swooped onto the grounds of City Hall to the cheers and admiration of everyone watching. He bounded up the steps, turned to give an authoritative wave, and disappeared flanked by his security detail.

It was all there that day. Rescue. Volunteers. The American vendor circus. Posters pleading for missing loved ones. Impromptu memorial decorations. The ordinariness of life moving on. Churches serving and seeing strangers come to pray or mourn. American flags. Anger at the enemy. Military recruits lining the offices. Hero stories. Respect for leaders who stood up, got their hands dirty and resolved to rebound. I rode with officers from the Bronx who welcomed me like a brother and continued to answer the calls for service that had not abated in the shock of the aftermath.

When my daughter and I arrived at the United Way office, we were assigned follow-up duty to donors. The website had some glitches so we had to call and verify donations that ranged from $20 to $20,000. We talked to widows who wanted to give, and to Hollywood studios that had collected from their shows’ cast members. There was already a storeroom of boxes of unopened letters bearing checks and cash.

I returned to continue serving my local law enforcement as a reserve officer and chaplain. With renewed concerns, we patrolled the lock and dam system on the river, the power plants, government buildings, all with the fears of attacks on our vulnerability. It is a fear and awareness that remains to this day.

No other event in American history created a sentiment that so many of its citizens shared at least for a few short months. We were united. Must this be how we become united once again?

Wear Positivity Memories Like Armor: Counterbalance to a Crazy World

By Lt. Joseph Pangaro CPM, CSO

In 2001, after the attacks on the World Trade Center, I was a detective with 16 years on the job. From my perspective, the profession I was in was one of the best things a person could do for a career I could imagine. The public thought very highly of us law enforcement types, thanks to the brave officers who died trying to save lives in the tower collapses.

Their act of bravery and dedication to duty exemplified what every cop already knew, but the public had to be reminded of from time to time; that the men and women of law enforcement don’t just talk about service, honor and duty, they live it every day with sacrifice to the point of death.

The public opinion of law enforcement was at an all-time high. People openly thanked you for your service with a smile on their faces and you could feel that it was genuine. We officers felt pride in our work and chosen profession and there was an overall consensus that our work was important to the entire country. It was, and still is no matter the current slump in public opinion we see today.

We felt that our mission to protect the innocent and weak from the criminals that plagued our cities and towns was one fully supported, funded and easily understood. In fact, proactively targeting criminals as individuals or groups was the right thing to do; it made for a safer society for everyone. Yes, those were the days.

Fast forward to today.

Through the slow drip of time and circumstance, media coverage and the ascendency of “woke” thinking and political correctness we find ourselves in a totally different place when it comes to public opinion.

The illegal and highly inappropriate acts of a few of us in our ranks has added steam to the anti-police culture shift we are all living through currently in modern America. We are the newest scapegoats for society’s ills. As a result, the once-vaunted practice of pro-active policing has now taken on a stigma of advancing multiple sets of “Anti” behavior, even where no such real belief exists. Of course, I mean the perception that law enforcement officers negatively target certain groups of our citizens for racial, ethnic, religious or socio-economic reasons.

None of that is true. I have never attended a meeting where we sat around before a shift and decided who we wanted to “get” that day to satisfy our hatred or feelings of superiority. In fact, the belief that we do that kind of thing at all is left high and dry by the fact that our ranks are now very diverse and every group they think we hate is now represented in our profession at every level and we stand as brothers and sisters in blue.

Nonetheless, that belief exists and is repeated by many people who have ulterior motives for their anti-police rhetoric, or can gin up ratings on their TV shows or otherwise use the made-up conflict between law enforcement and the public we serve to suit their own needs, personal and political.

This struggle is real and the internal conflict it has caused for the public and for every member of law enforcement to one degree or another is detrimental to our country on a large scale and to each human being on the small scale. The anger directed toward our law enforcement community members can cause a form of PTSD. It is a constant attack on us, albeit it in small and occasionally large doses, but the damage can and is being done.

The open conversation about the “Ferguson effect,” that being officers abandoning proactive police work for a reactive response status, is common among our ranks and is a symptom of the PTSD and damage to our mission that is taking place. What the public is missing is the reality that it is pro-active police work that keeps us all safe in our communities. Without it, crime rises as we are seeing every day.

So, if we accept this premise we have to ask a few questions: One, is this sustainable? Can our society survive where crime runs rampant, and criminals have the advantage? And two, can our officers survive this constant barrage of mental and physical attack?

The answer to both, I posit, is no.

Our society cannot sustain itself if we continue on the road we are on. But the solution to this societal downturn is a larger question for every citizen and requires a response that only the people of the nation can answer and solve by the choices they make.

As for our law enforcement community we do have some options.

We cannot or will not quit in droves. Some may leave the profession as we have seen, but we will not leave in numbers significant enough to make a real difference. What we can do is understand the concept of creating a counterbalance to the negativity we may be feeling as individuals so we can survive the adverse impact of the attack on us as law enforcement officers and people.

We create a counterbalance by understanding the concept of counterbalance as it relates to human emotions and perceptions we feel internally.

A counterbalance is a concept that if we think of the scales of justice, you know, all the statues we see of Lady Liberty and justice with the blindfold and the scales. If one side of her scales is over-filled they list in that direction, but if both sides are filled then they reach equilibrium and are in balance; same thing here.

There are some old sayings that offer some insight as well- “Junk in – Junk out”, or “you are what you eat,” I’ll offer a new one: “If all you hear, see, and feel about yourself and your profession is negative, you will be negative,” So the key here is counterbalance the negative we hear with positives so we can be leveled.

We could add to our lives more positive things such as church or religious activity, more time with friends (and not talk about work), more time with family, develop or explore a new hobby or an old one you have not had time for, and the dreaded one - find a counselor and talk about how this negativity has affected you.

There are many ways to counterbalance ourselves and build up resiliency, the new buzz word for “dealing with it.” No matter what you choose, it helps to choose something because we can’t wallow in it. We must stop listening to the news and dwelling on the difficulties. Think about the people you have helped over the course of your career. Even if you have a hard time coming up with incidents, the reality is you have helped some people and some of them in significant ways you many never know, but trust me you have. These are all positives that help us displace the negatives and buoy our spirits. We need to do this.

In 2019, the statistics showed 14 people per 100,000 die by suicide each year. For law enforcement the number is 17 per 100,000, higher than any other profession. That is a dangerous statistic for each of us because that statistic in based on active-duty law enforcement officers and doesn’t include the retired people who kill themselves in their retirement years. In the COVID year of 2020, the numbers were higher for every group. It’s like playing Russian roulette and it’s not a game we need to participate in.

I won’t dwell on law enforcement suicide other than to identify a bridge between PTSD, suicide and living an unbalanced life of stress. The connective tissue here is obvious and we should all take note of it and take a personal stake in it as well as for our profession.

We must support the idea of creating counterbalance personally and professionally since our lives and mental health depends on it. It is something in our grasp if we seek the positive and work hard at it.

Ours is a noble profession, one that society needs. Without us, the Blue line of law enforcement, our society will crumble, and they know it as well as we do.

In my 30-plus years in this profession I have seen the pendulum swing both ways, as we were regarded as heroes to zeros and then back again. As sure as the sun rises, law enforcement will regain its place of esteem and respect. It is inevitable because we represent good, decency and justice and evil will always be present. Someday, in some way, evil will rise again and people will clamor for the centurions in Blue and we will, as we always have, answer the call, come to the rescue and do our duty and society will be grateful we are on watch at our posts.

Hang in my brothers and sisters, things will get better. In the meantime, find the positives where you can and wear them like armor and counterbalance the negative at every turn.

Let me know what you think. JPangaro@TrueSecurityDesign.com 

Tribute: Walk to Remember Detective Melvin V. Santiago

By Vincent DeFazio

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We started our annual walk in July 2019 in Melvins memory for his 5th year taken (I do not call it an anniversary bc an anniversary is something you celebrate, Melvin being taken is not a celebration).

We continue the walk because we don’t want Melvin’s memory or his sacrifice to be forgotten, especially during these times when police are so disrespected and their lives disregarded it is extremely important to make sure that no officers ultimate sacrifice is forgotten and the public understand that the men and women who put that uniform on to protect their communities are human beings with families, friends, people who care for them. Their life matters too. Melvin’s mission as an officer was to show a new side of “community policing”. He went to the projects on his lunch hour and played basketball with the kids on the court, he spoke with the youth and seniors, bringing a new respect and understanding to the job and community. His time was cut way too short. Mel would have done amazing things for Jersey City and community policing.

We plan on making the walk a yearly event for Melvins memory, all officers lost and for our present LEO working.

http://MYM2650.org

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A New Approach: Chief Medina & Pastor Paul work to prevent Blue Suicide

By Robert Foreman

Chief Gustavo A. Medina of the Tequesta Police Department in Florida has worked in public safety for over 23 years. However, he began his career in New Jersey where he worked for the New Jersey Department of Corrections, the Newark Police Department, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office (ECPO) and the Professional Standards Bureau.  His years of experience in New Jersey have given him some valuable insights into officer training and support that he continues to draw from today. However, he did not realize how greatly both he, and his current department, would be impacted when their paths converged with Paul Beresford, a retired Baptist pastor.

“I am so blessed to have met a person like Paul Beresford. He is one of the most sincere, caring, empathetic individuals you will ever meet. He has a genuine love for all, but especially for our men and women in blue. He often stops me in the morning and lets me know if we lost one of our heroes to suicide. He can quote the numbers and tells me every day – 'we need to do more; we need to do better,'" said Chief Medina.

“When I came to the Tequesta PD, I knew I wanted to help implement a program that focuses on the mental health of all our officers. Pastor Paul was sent to get certified in Crisis Intervention, after which I designated him the Critical Incident Stress Manager, a position he will tell you he finds even more personally rewarding than his previous role as a pastor. He is constantly learning new ways to communicate with our officers, and his love and commitment for our men and women is the reason we have been successful with our mental health efforts.”

Chief Medina noted that they started by providing Pastor Paul with his own private office within the police department. In the entry to his office, a sign reads, “Friends, Family gather here.”  The sign is Pastor Paul’s way of letting all the officers know that everyone is family and that they are in this together as one.

“The goal was to create an environment where officers feel comfortable to simply talk, air their frustrations, discuss a troubling call or share personal struggles they are experiencing. The officers know that what is shared with Pastor Paul remains between them and he would never violate their trust,” said Chief Medina. “I then made it a point to go in his office, close the door and have my own de-stressing sessions so that my officers could see that it is OK to speak with the pastor. We are all humans first and if a chief, director or superintendent is serious about helping reduce blue suicides, they must lead from the front and be the example.”

Chief Medina believes that the keys to the program being successful are consistency and trust. Without consistency, one would not be able to build trust with the men and women in blue. He noted that the designated person must always be accessible, regardless of the time or day. Additionally, the designated person must be properly trained, not rush the process, and be real and genuine with the officers at all times. Above all else, the person must follow up with the officers and never violate their trust.

“We have also made our program available to other local police departments and we continue to spread the word of the work that Pastor Paul does.  I once asked a neighboring police department chief if we could come by on their training day to tell them about the necessary work that Pastor Paul does for us and to let them know there is no shame in asking for help,” said Chief Medina.

“We must never stop working for all of our officers. Not until the day where officer suicides are non-existent, as anything less than that is unacceptable.  Our program should not be the exception but instead the norm in law enforcement.  No matter the size of your department, if you are blessed to be in charge then be in charge and protect your officers. Our profession is in desperate need of strong leadership that stands up for the great work that our officers are doing in this nation. To repeat Pastor Paul’s words - we need to do more; we need to do better!”

SEPTEMBER 2021 : Editor's Point of View

Welcome to another significant issue of Blue Magazine. It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the attack on 9/11/2001. I am sure many of us can recall exactly where we were on that morning and how this national tragedy from New York City to the Pentagon to Somerset County, Pennsylvania, and beyond had changed our lives.  We recently sat down with former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani to get their perspective on 9/11 then and now. A lot of things were brought out from that day and the rescue effort that you're not going to want to miss. We also discussed a lot about where we are today — how police went from being heroes to zeros, how they went from being respected to disrespected and how our so-called woke culture contributed to that, and what this means for law enforcement and society.

We are proud to announce we have a new managing editor, Joel Gordon. He's a retired chief. He has great talent and expert journalism skills. Chief Gordon's ability to work with our writers is unmatched. He is the perfect person for the job. We're happy to promote him. We're glad he's a big part of Blue Magazine.  As many of you know, Blue magazine started as a very small local magazine in New Jersey. Founder Daniel Del Valle was literally publishing and distributing the magazine from the trunk of his car. Over the years, we grew to become the leading national law enforcement publication. Our success didn't happen overnight.  Chief Gordon helped us bring Blue Magazine onto the national stage. We appreciate him.  Once again, congratulations Chief Gordon. You deserve it!

 Blue Magazine and Moment of Silence are teaming up again for a Blue Suicide Event like none seen before. This year we will have a retreat here in New Jersey starting Friday night, Sept. 17, and ending Sunday, Sept. 18.  There will be many speakers and workshops to teach us skills to help others and ourselves.  The event will be held at Saint Paul’s Abbey (Andover, NJ). All 500 private acres are reserved for us! We hope to see you there!

Enjoy this issue of Blue Magazine.  Every article is worthy of your time.  Should you need us, be sure to reach out. We are here for you.

The Bag: A warrior's mindset

By Kirk Lawless

I like to tell the kids at the police academy about “The bag.” I ask them, and none seem to know what I’m talking about.  They apparently weren’t issued one. They didn’t issue one to me when I was in the police academy and I thought by now it would be standard equipment. It should be.

Back in the day, you just rummaged around and found your own.  I still have mine and there are many of them.  They are cumbersome and everywhere.

I’m not talking about “The bag,” as in the uniform. I’m talking about the other “bag” the one every cop gets whether they want it or not, they’re enormous and plentiful. In fact, the supply is endless. 

“The bag” and what goes into it, comes with a formula. Let’s say that with every call you go on during your career you receive an appropriately sized rock, or brick, or cinderblock, and that’s where “The bag” comes into play.

Every natural death you respond to is sad.  The ozone in the room where the body lays has changed, you can smell it. It’s a sort of staleness, the void created by a human life snuffed out.  You’ll remember that smell and you get one “brick.”

Death from illness, also sad, “two bricks.”

Accidental death, sad, “two bricks.”

Suicide, sad, tragic, and pathetic, “three bricks.”

Homicide, sad, tragic, anguish, rage and disgust washes over you, “five bricks.”

Rape/sexual assault, anger, empathy and the rage, when it kicks in, “the bricks” will flow in, in appropriate numbers commensurate with the shit you see.

When the victim is a child the sadness, tragedy, the rage is incomprehensible, and gut-wrenching, “10 to 100 bricks”

Maybe you know the victim. You factor in all the variables, grief, sorrow, and pity, “500 bricks.”

Any of the above, when the victim is a brother or sister officer, you’ll get the sadness, anger, thoughts of revenge, pity, sorrow, loss and the “bricks” will probably become cinderblocks and the weight will be measured in tons.

“Shit, my bag is full. What now?”  Grab a new bag and start filling it.  “The full one, what I do with that?”  You can try to get rid of it, but you won’t be able to shake it.  Tie a knot in it and stuff it in your locker.  When that’s full, you’ll probably start taking them home (that’s where the fun starts) folks want to see what’s in the bags.  They want to hear about the bricks.  For me, they are private things, and it’s best not to talk about “the bags” or what’s inside. Soon the bags will be everywhere: in the garage, in the attic, in the closet, way up high, top shelf, near the old gray wool blanket reeking of mothballs that will one day be your own death.

Your heart will grow heavier, likewise the badge, heavier than when you first pinned it on. After 20 years it feels as heavy as a ¾ ton pickup truck pinned to your uniform.

You shoulder the weight as best you can. Maybe you will start to struggle with it back bent, leaning into the wind.  Your legs might buckle, but you power through it.  It’s hard to ask for help, so you don’t. That’s the cop way.

Every bullet hole you see or apply direct pressure to, to staunch the flow of blood, will weaken the mental dike and you keep hammering in those plugs, but as fast as you do, another leak springs, but it ain’t water, it’s blood.  Gallons of it, sometimes it’s a stranger’s blood, sometimes it’s another officer’s, sometimes it’s your own.

So now you’ve got these damned bags of brick, cinderblocks, hunks of asphalt covered in blood.  You start accumulating them in the attic of your mind, in your dreams, your nightmares.

In the basement of your mind, where it’s dark, that’s where you’ll put the blackest, bloodiest bags.  They’re heavy and they leave a slick trail down the cellar steps, the weight of what’s inside thumping against every stair. Once hidden, you turn and run up the steps as fast as you can, because whatever was in that bag sounds as if it’s chasing you, breathing down the back of your neck, but you’re able to slam the door and throw the bolt.  Whatever had been chasing you slams against the door bowing it from its frame, heaving with every inhaled and exhaled breath coming from the other side. “It” wants you, not today but maybe someday.

Shotgun suicide to the face, “Hollow head” is a frequent flyer with me. When he gets out of his bag, he’s annoying mostly.  He doesn’t do much, appearing from my peripheral vision, walking quickly and steadily near the foot of my bed and coming around to my side. His hollowed head has no eyes, no ears.  I can see the inside of his skull where his brain once sat, before he made an extraordinary and grisly piece of carnival “spin art” out of his head with a 12-gauge shotgun while sitting near a ceiling fan on its fastest setting.

His body language is inquisitive and with what’s left of his head nodding, neck craning from side to side trying to listen, but without ears to hear. No eyes, but straining to see. He’d like some answers, maybe some help, but for him they just aren’t coming.

Picture a locomotive, tons of steel, cannonballing down the track. No brakes, curve ahead, and beyond that a bridge, but the trestle is out.  So fast, so fast, off the rails, plumes of smoke, hot ash and flames, then nothing, blackness, zero sound and waking up in a puddle of sweaty, torn sheets.

Shit, shower and shave, put on the “bag” (uniform) and head out the door to “Get back after it.”

Maybe you should talk to somebody? You might. One day. No shame in that at all. You’ll know when it’s time to do that.  The older cops know. Find a good one and reach out. Chances are they will lift you up.

Roll call is over and it’s time to hit the streets.  The old Sarge whispers, “Don’t forget to grab a new bag kid. I think you’re gonna need it.”

Kirk Lawless is a 28 year, decorated veteran police officer from the St Louis area. He’s a former SWAT operator, narcotics agent, homicide investigator, detective and Medal of Valor recipient. Off the job due to an up-close and personal gunfight, he now concentrates on writing. He’s a patriotic warrior, artist, poet, actor, musician, and man of peace.

Now he needs us: President Biden is depending on cops to save him from progressives.

By: Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr.

The president doesn’t want to alienate the liberal wing of his party. But there is little to no proof that his non-police proposals work. Considering the social, political and research implications currently at hand, it’s possible that nothing will work.

I was part of a team creating presidential briefing papers on crime when I was a Senior Specialist for the Department of Justice’s clearinghouse. My counterparts today are delivering similar messages to the president’s staff. They are saying that his proposals except those encouraging cities and states to use federal money to hire more cops have little to no proof that they work.

The only thing that has a research base for lowering crime is proactive policing.

We Need the NYPD

The primary message from a second crime summit came from Eric Adams, the pro-police probable next mayor of New York City who, I believe, told the president that his agenda (and that of Democrats throughout the country) depends on a strong approach to violence based on research proving effectiveness.

Per Mr. Adams’ campaign website, “If we are for SAFETY – we NEED the NYPD” - Eric Adams. He was a New York City cop for 22 years, retiring as a captain.

Mr. Adams and aides are telling the president that exploding violence is creating a huge political liability for him and his party. They are also advising him that his proposals (i.e., violence interrupters, programs for ex-offenders, gun control and social programs) are not going to reduce violent crime.

They are telling him that because it’s true. Go to the Department of Justice’s Crime Solutions.Gov (the supposed gold standard as to what works to reduce crime) and search for programs rated as successful focusing on violence interrupters, programs for ex-offenders, gun control and social programs. There is little evidence that they work.

Proactive Policing

The only thing that works is proactive policing. That’s the message being delivered by Mr. Adams. Police operations under the banner of proactive policing seem to have the best track record of violence reduction. Proactivity is probably the only modality with a research base as to reducing crime per a literature review from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Proactive policing prompts officers to take action (i.e., a person with a history of violence suspected of carrying a gun) when they have a legal right to investigate. But proactivity requires enormous risks and is the center of endless complaints against law enforcement.

In the final analysis, many make insistent and passionate claims of success for a wide variety of violence prevention programs. Most are wrong.

There are no easy solutions. Police-based programs seem to work where others fail. But hiring more cops when police officers are leaving in droves and with recruitment down by 63 percent (per the Police Executive Research Forum) will be a monumental task. There is an anti-cop agenda painting one million employees with a broad brush of violence and corruption and it’s mostly being delivered by progressives and liberal media.

There are real concerns with reintroducing proactive policing when city cops refuse to engage in the practice and residents are unwilling to support it. Considering the social, political and research implications currently at hand, it’s possible that nothing will work.

Biden Risks Alienating Liberals 

In a meeting at the White House, President Joe Biden urged mayors from some of the nation’s largest cities to invest in police departments and establish community-based programs that could help rebuild trust between people of color and law enforcement, saying Americans owed law enforcement and community leaders “big time.”

The meeting sent a clear signal to progressives in his party and Republican critics that he would crack down on crime, reports the New York Times. It is a difficult position for Biden, who risks alienating liberals in Congress and voters who are pushing for criminal justice reform after police killings of Black people last year.

Biden’s plan also includes urging communities to use $350 billion in funds from his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to increase hiring at departments as well as support more community-focused organizations. And by inviting Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president who won the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in part by making public safety a centerpiece of his campaign, Biden is reflecting his support for balancing reform with strong anti-crime efforts. The “first responsibility of democracy,” the president said, “(is) to keep each other safe.”

The White House is encouraging state and local governments to use funding from the COVID relief package passed earlier this year to address a summer rise in violent crime as pandemic restrictions loosened nationwide.

The administration’s strategy to combat crime, a White House memo obtained by CNN said, “uses the American Rescue Plan’s $350 billion in financial support and clear guidance to provide state, local, territorial, and tribal governments the money they need to put more police officers on the beat — including hiring above pre-pandemic levels in communities experiencing an increase in gun violence associated with the pandemic — as well as the other resources, training, and accountability they need to engage in effective community policing.”

They Need To Hire More Police Officers

“I’ll underscore his commitment to ensuring their state and law and local law enforcement have the resources and support they need to hire more police officers and invest in effective and accountable community policing,” White House Press  Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Still, Republicans have attacked Biden for being “soft on crime.”

I have no agenda regarding the president. I wish him (and any president) well in all endeavors.

But we’re in a pickle. The president doesn’t want to alienate the liberal wing of his party. But there is little to no proof that his non-police proposals will work.

It’s clear that there are a wide variety of people who want more cops engaged in proactive policing, but can we hire more officers when so many are leaving and recruitment is dismal?

Even if we hire more, will they return to proactivity after years of violent protests?

It’s fair to suggest that we have created a massive problem with growing violence and fear without solutions.

While I wish the president well, he’s the same person who railed against police abuses, painting all officers with a broad brush. He’s the same person who supported alternative solutions with little to no evidence that they work. He’s the same person who called for bail reform and cutting the prison population in half.

And now, he’s dependent on cops to save him from a problem partially of his own making.

Frank Voce: Sober living for success

By Frank Voce

 Frank Voce graduated from the police academy in July 2015 and has spent the last six years of his life as a law enforcement officer in New York State. However, my drive to serve the community began as an Eagle Scout and a volunteer firefighter during my late teenage years. I played football in both high school and college, where I majored in Criminology.

Additionally, I spent much of my time in the gym training for powerlifting competitions. In 2014, I graduated and went on to pursue my personal training certification as a way to help other people reach their fitness goals. Yet few people knew that as a police officer I was enduring my own private struggles with sobriety.

When I first started drinking it was on the weekends… you know, ‘normal,’ social drinking. Just out with the boys after a shift for a few cold ones that sometimes went to three or four in the morning. It’s what young people do in their twenties, and it’s especially what young cops do. Drinking culture is practically threaded into the career of a law enforcement officer. I thought my drinking was just what guys like me did. I didn’t see anything wrong with it for a long time.

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I felt invincible and totally in control. That is until my drinking started interfering with my life, my relationships and my personal happiness. What I failed to realize was that I was not in control at all. My ego was at the wheel, and right beside it was fear. I was fearful of being judged by my co-workers, by others in the weight room and even by friends and family. And I masked it with alcohol.

I wrestled with my demons in 2018 and 2019, and have been sober since September 2019. Yet I was not just content to address my own demons; I wanted to help other first responders find a safe haven to face their anxiety, depression or addiction. From that calling, I founded Reps For Responders (RFR). One of the first people Voce helped was his own father, a true public servant and volunteer firefighter for over 40 years. Voce’s father has been sober since November 2019. The mission of Reps For Responders is to support the mental health and wellbeing of all first responders, whether they are active or retired. First responders are at greater risk for anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse and suicide than their civilian counterparts. As a result, RFR focuses on spreading awareness about mental health in the first responder community through its social media channels and community events. 

The group promotes three pathways to “recovery,” which include (1) physical activity, (2) proper nutrition and (3) peer support. When needed, referrals are made to a specialist who is trained to work with first responders. Through fitness, support groups, addiction peer recovery coaching and live/virtual group events, first responders have a family within the RFR community.

The myth that a cop can’t have a career and live sober is now a relic of the past. I give people so much credit for being sober and facing their problems head on, rather than masking them with drinking. For myself, living sober has taught me that I don’t need to impress anyone, I only need to be better than the ‘Frank’ from yesterday.

Reps For Responders is a Non-profit 501c3. If you are struggling with addiction, or wish to make a donation, feel free to learn more at repsforresponders.org

Frank Voce has always felt called to give back to his community. His service to others began as an Eagle Scout and a volunteer firefighter in his late teens. In July of 2015, Frank graduated police academy. After battling with personal struggle in 2018 and 2019, he finally reached out for help and support. Once Frank improved mentally and physically, he felt called to help other first responders who struggled the way he did, and provide them a safe space to face their anxiety, depression or addiction in an environment that had brought Frank so much mental and physical strength once before. From that calling, Reps For Responders was born.

Pure Psychosis: A World Turned Upside-Down

By: Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (ret.)

How is it possible that our country has changed so dramatically, in only a few years? How did so many fringe ideas that we thought were ludicrous for decades suddenly become mainstream and pervasive throughout our society? The answer would seem to be in the insidious indoctrination taking place within our educational system. Yesterday’s liberal “hippies,” (think of the 1969 Woodstock era) became many of our college professors who, apparently, fed our children Marxist ideas over time. Suddenly, the 1970s Critical Theory, which evolved into CRT, now has wide acceptance in academia today.

Most Americans for years basically believed that America was a good country, with core values and a strong Constitution that ensured freedom and basic human rights for all. Duh! It’s 2021. Nowhere did we see this more than when a young, charismatic, African American got voted into the White House, twice! And we all know that Barack Hussain Obama, wouldn’t have stood a chance without the majority white vote. Today, there are countless Black millionaires across the country, and millions more earning 6 figure-plus salaries. In fact, America has more Black millionaires than any other country in the world. These men and women range from businesspersons to entrepreneurs, athletes to entertainers, political figures and so much more. So often many of our largest cities are run by Black politicians; from the Chief of Police, to the District Attorney, to the Mayor; but somehow, they are still “racist” cities! WHAT?! Do people realize that 60% of the NYPD is made up of minorities? American companies over the years have bent over backward to hire capable Black workers while also embracing affirmative action. Blacks in Hollywood are represented by a much higher percentage than 13%, although Blacks make up only 13% of the U.S. population. Although

many inner-city Blacks may have few white friends, suburban whites and Blacks hanging out together is very common, and many form close friendships. So why do so many want to ignore all the progress America has made in the last 50 years, and pretend we’re suddenly back in the Jim Crow era? Jim Crow laws came from the Democrats, as did the Ku Klux Klan, after the Civil War. Democrat politicians over the years have done a good job distorting our history, however, since a Republican president freed the slaves. Blacks became Republicans in droves after the Civil War, and even Republican politicians.

Hey look, slavery was a horrible thing, and believe it or not, still goes on in other countries today. But none of us, both Black and white, had anything to do with that horrible time in American history. Also, the population of the United States in 1800, at the height of slavery, was 5,308,483. Today, with a population of 330 million, our country barely resembles that long-ago state. People have immigrated to America for over two centuries since, and today have no ancestors alive that were here back then. Are they still responsible because of the color of their skin?

Blacks on the west coast of Africa in 1619, when slaves first started to arrive here, at King George’s 13 Colonies, kidnapped their own people and sold them to white Europeans with their massive ships. There were many tribes in Africa and many rivalries existed. Had Europeans gone into the jungle, they surely would’ve been overwhelmed and slaughtered. So, forget “The 1619 Project” about America being founded then, as the United States of America was not yet even a dream, and the “Founding Fathers” weren’t even born yet.

As a teenager in 1968, I witnessed racism first hand. But playing basketball with my best friend in 8th grade, who happened to be Black, I didn’t pay it much mind. I did witness; however, things dramatically improve over the last 53 years since. So why do so many want to lie about the state of race relations in America today? The Democrat/Socialist party has an agenda, and unfortunately, there’s a lot of useful idiots around to propagate their lies. Maybe now we should look at some truths?

Black males in America make up approximately 6% of the population and Black females make up about 7%. Black males, however, are responsible for almost 50% of violent crime, including homicides. That’s a crazy number to be sure, yet the “left” thinks it’s a good idea to defund the police to get us off the backs of these criminals. But polls show that 80% of Blacks in America do not want to defund the police, and would actually like to see more cops in their neighborhoods. Remember, every time a dopey white liberal wants to save a criminal, they simultaneously throw their countless victims under the bus. Fourth of July weekend 2021 saw over 400 shootings across the country, with 150 fatalities; that’s ONE weekend! Congratulations BLM, and their enablers, you got what you wished for.

Body Count Rises: Reimagining the police is a complete failure

By David A. Clarke Jr., Sheriff (Ret.) Milwaukee County

 As crime and violence rises in major cities all across the United States, all under the spell of progressive soft on crime policies, the casualties continue to mount in the form of human carnage stacking up like cordwood.

 All of this is preventable. The problem is that this new age of police executives have either gone soft or on the way up the ladder to their current positions, they have gotten a case of amnesia about crime control strategies. It’s embarrassing and untenable.

 Front-line cops are frustrated about a lot of things. Chief among them is that they know what to do to suppress crime, but they have been turned from crime fighters into security guards. That is not a knock on security guards. It’s that security differs immensely from police work.

 There seems to be a renewal in a push by police chiefs about this call for more community policing. I have heard numerous times in the last several months where police executives have held a press briefing relative to the rise in violence by saying we need more of an emphasis on community policing. What, I asked?  What the hell exactly does that mean?  Are they suggesting that community policing will lead to a reduction in crime and violence at street level? Seriously?

I started in policing with the Milwaukee Police Department in 1978. That is when this new form of policing was introduced. It was called community policing. Millions of dollars in federal grants were passed out to local police agencies to embrace street cops “getting to know the people on their particular beat.” It was a flop from the start. Front line cops abhorred the thought of this idea that was hatched in some think tank and recoiled that it was being shoved down their throats. It was a social engineering experiment that had no front-line officer’s input. I know cop behavior.

 So for the next 40 years of my working in policing, executives have been on this fantasy that community policing was the ticket to crime prevention, suppression and reduction. So here we are today still on this antasy about community policing.

 Here are a few thoughts on this nebulous, elusive esoteric concept of community policing. When have the street officers never worked with the community to keep neighborhoods, businesses and schools safe? That is the only way police could have achieved the success that they have. Imagine that! Additionally, police in the past had more time for a tactic called preventive patrol where a good part of their tour was spent being a visible presence in the neighborhood. That no longer exists. It made street crime tough for criminals to pull off. It is why much of the violent crime occurred when streets got dark. It offered crooks the advantage of concealment.

 Now much of the street violence occurs in daylight hours. Why? Because police ranks are so thin and 911 calls keep them going from assignment to assignment with no time to spend on preventive patrols. There was actually a strategy implemented after that said a particular assignment should only take so long to handle. If a cop was on assignment and exceeded an artificial time for that type of assignment, a sergeant would show up to see what was taking so long. I am not making this stuff up.

In a Newsmax TV interview recently, I was asked to opine on the rise in street crime and violence across America and what could be done about it. My response was simple, just like I like to keep things.

 First of all, I said that I am not hearing from chiefs, a comprehensive CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY. They keep taking about more community policing. This is irresponsible. People are dying while they engage in progressive initiatives that tie the hands of officers on the front lines. We don’t need more community policing, we need a crime reduction strategy with metrics so they and we can see how they are doing. How do you measure community policing? We need a return to what worked. Quality of life enforcement as defined by broken windows strategies would be a good start. This led to historic reductions in violent crime all across America. Think of the lives and misery saved with fewer crime victims. 

 Recently in Chicago, Superintendent David Brown introduced yet again a new crime plan.  It is the same leftovers from last year that resulted in nothing. It targets the gun and goes after gun manufacturers. That’s right, gun manufacturers are committing the gun violence. That is akin to going after automobile manufacturers for drunken driving deaths. That’s stupid. So is Superintendent Brown’s idea. He should announce that he is going to allow his officers to engage in the strategy of stop, question and frisk, increased traffic stops in high crime areas and quality of life enforcement. This along with warrant sweeps and working with probation and parole to do searches of residences and cars of people out on probation and parole. Anyone arrested should be intensely debriefed to collect info to develop intelligence that can be passed onto front-line officers. Brown needs assurances from the Soros backed Cook County States Attorney Kimberly Foxx that people arrested for a violent crime will be held on high bail and charged.  The goal is to keep them off the street for the longest time allowable by law.

 The objective has to be to target the criminal and their violent behavior, not the tool they use.  This is not new. We did before.

 In 1994 then-Sen. Joe Biden authored the Clinton crime reduction bill. It went after violent offenders and utilized the federal code to punish career violent offenders. It didn’t go after gun manufacturers. As I said previously, it led to historic reductions in crime and violence.

 Let’s stop listening to nonsense about reimagining and reinventing police and let’s get backed to what worked.  Identify, arrest and lock up career repeat offenders.

Strength: Captain Salerno shows vigor & courage in cancer battle

By Catherine Angel

LODI, NJ - Police Capt. Robert Salerno has served the Lodi community for over 30 years. He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to the community not only through his work as a police officer, but also by serving on the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education for three years, and with the Hasbrouck Heights Fire Department for four years. Capt. Salerno also volunteered as a baseball coach and lent a helping hand to the Junior Aviators football program. He is happily married with three children.

Recently, Salerno’s simple life was turned upside down with the unfortunate diagnosis of Stage 4 liver cancer. However, his story is not one of sympathy — it is a testament to his strength and courage. While faced with tremendous adversity, Salerno continues to work, and maintains his normal routine, keeping a positive outlook while many other people would have crumbled.

Capt. Salerno is a true inspiration — a stable ship in a storm, and a role model for everyone facing challenges. Blue Magazine wishes Capt. Salerno much success ahead as he continues the fight.

Catherine Angel: Tell us about yourself and your career.

Capt. Salerno: I've been a police officer here for 32 years with the police department. I was hired on January 2nd, 1990. I was promoted to the rank of sergeant, January 4th of 1999. I was promoted to lieutenant in 2014 and last year I was promoted to the rank of captain. I've been assigned to patrol for 19 years before currently being assigned to the records division where I'm in charge of records. I process firearms applications. I do a multitude of other things from grants to telephones. I assist with the IT stuff. So, I have a broad spectrum of responsibilities that I do here.

What was the proudest moment in your career?

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I think probably the proudest moment of my career was when I attained the rank of captain last year.

Have you had any negative experiences?

There's nothing really negative. There are things that come with the job that cause you to go on—negative things that affect you for a while. All cops deal with many of the negative aspects of our careers. But, you know, you deal with them and you move on and work through them.

Can you tell us about your health condition?

Sure. Recently I went to the doctor because I was having some pain in my side. He sent me to the hospital for a series of tests. And he told me that I had Stage 4 liver cancer. I'm currently being treated up at Sloan Kettering for liver cancer. I have a few spots on my lungs that metastasized from the liver. So that kind of created a little bit more of a situation than I was really expecting. And when I received the news, I was actually devastated and so is my wife. I couldn't believe it and it's still hard to process it because I'm still trying to think, you know, ‘how?’ and ‘why?’ and ‘where?’

Can you take us back to the day of your diagnosis? What was that experience like?

Well, I thought I was having some pain in my side here by my ribs. And, at first, I had thought that I had pulled a muscle. But my doctor said there may be something more to it. So he poked around my abdomen and said something didn’t feel right. He said I needed further tests and ordered a series of them at the hospital. So I went to the hospital on a Tuesday afternoon around four o'clock, after I left work. I had a CAT scan of my liver, my abdomen, and my chest to see what was going on. After I was in the emergency room for a number of hours, they came back and they told me they were going to admit me overnight, and the next day my doctor wanted to come see me around six o'clock in the morning. The next morning my doctor came knocking on my door, kind of woke me up, and said the news wasn’t good. I've developed a relationship with my doctor that is very good so he was straight with me and said I have liver cancer. After that, we did a biopsy. We did a couple of other tests including an MRI of my brain to make sure the cancer didn’t go to my brain. My doctor ordered more tests and told me we’re going to get through this. He set me up to go to Sloan Kettering for treatments. I remember he asked me if I wanted to call my wife. I said, I really didn't think I could do it so he called my wife and informed her of my condition. And after that, you know, we dealt with it. And that's the morning I spoke with my chief, who also gave me hope that we will get through this. He said 'we're going to work through it.' And that's exactly what we're doing now. He told me I have the support of everybody here. Also, everyone in my family has been extremely supportive. The number of friends I have supporting me is unbelievable. The outlets I have right now make it so much better for me to deal with what we're dealing with.

You mentioned something about support from the officers here. Can you elaborate on that support?

Sure, they call me constantly. There is a sergeant who works in my office who continually hounds me to make sure I drink water, making sure I eat something. He’s a wonderful friend. Everybody that I work with here, including the guys that are behind me here, they constantly reach out. They check to see how I am doing and how they can help. How can they help my family. And for me, that's huge. Even with the support from the people in the borough hall that know that I have this. They ask what they can do to help. ‘What do you need?’ ‘Can we get your food?’ ‘Can we get you this?’ ‘Can we take you for your treatment?’ Just those things, in general, are like amazing things that when the chips are down, you see who actually comes out and who is going to help you. And for everybody here, we have 46 cops, and they will do whatever they have to do to help me.

Is there a message you want to tell your kids today?

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Well, I actually have three children. One daughter, who lives in South Carolina and is currently a dialysis nurse, and I’m constantly on her to ‘make sure you take care of yourself ,’ ‘make sure you're doing what you have to.’ I have another son who lives in South Carolina. He's a state trooper. So I constantly tell him some of the things that I just told you. ‘Be on the street and be respectful to the people.’ ‘Do what you have to do again.’ He was a football player. He played college football, great high school football, so he knows how to maintain his health. So he's always doing it. I have another son who lives in Pennsylvania who is an IT guy. He's a part-time college football coach. And I tell him the same thing. You know, ‘make sure you take care of yourself— go for walks, lose weight, eat a good diet’, so they never end up in the situation that I am in. And again, they're all far away, but I talk to them every day, sometimes four times a day, so we constantly have communication.

What do you want to be remembered for?

I have been here for 30 years. My biggest legacy is to know that when I do leave here, I leave the place the way I wanted it to be. And the people that I worked with will always remember me. And, you know, I think, ‘oh, yeah, he did that’ or ‘he put this into place.’ So that's important to me.

A Hero Remembered: Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French

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Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro

On August 7th, Chicago Police Officer Ella French and two other officers assigned to the Community Safety Team were conducting a traffic stop on Chicago’s South Side. During the vehicle investigation, the passenger pulled a gun and opened fire, striking two of the three officers. Though gravely wounded, they were able to return fire and hit the gunman. Officer French suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head during the attack. Her partner remains in critical condition, fighting for his life after being shot multiple times. All three suspects involved have been taken into custody.

Officer French is remembered as one of the good ones. She was a bright, charismatic young woman who joined the Chicago Police Department back in 2018. She was proud to wear the badge, and brought honor and distinction to what it stands for. Officer French was a person of integrity and always believed in doing the right thing. Most importantly, she took this job to help people. Officer French was assigned to the 10th District, but respectfully requested to be detailed to the Community Safety Team to try and make a difference in a city plagued by gun violence. Officer leaves behind her mother and brother, and would have celebrated her 30th birthday at the end of August.

My, Oh My How Things Have Changed: Harness the power of Christ

By: Chris Amos

Perhaps one of the characteristics about Jesus that I am most grateful for is found in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” As I watch everything around me change at a frightening pace, I am so thankful Jesus Christ does not.

Many reading this may have experienced the pain, the emotional heartbreak from the ever-changing affections of a loved one. Maybe your spouse has fallen out of love with you. His or her feelings for you have changed. They aren’t what they once were. Divorce soon follows. Or maybe your dream job has changed, becoming more and more like a ball and chain around your ankle. Maybe your best friend in all the world has died, or perhaps even worse, moved on no longer having the time or interest in keeping your friendship going. Things inevitably change, for better or for worse.   

As we recognize the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, I remember watching this scene play out on television from the comfort of my office while serving as a Norfolk Police Officer. In the days and weeks that followed I remember the wave of patriotism that swept the country. I remember that while in uniform my money seemed to be worthless, as people would eagerly pay for my meals as a sign of support and appreciation. I remember the cards from elementary school classes that were made by the kids and mailed to the Chief’s Office. I remember being stopped everywhere I went by folks just wanting to shake my hand and thank me. I remember the pride I had, not a personal pride, but a much greater pride I had just for the uniform and the countless men and women willing to sacrifice all, in service to their respective communities. 

Well that was then and this is now and my, oh my, how things have changed. Twenty years after first responders could do no wrong, now seemingly, they can do no right. In New York City where police officers and firefighters were once hailed as national heroes, now they are racist, intolerant, incompetent buffoons who are good for nothing. Not just in NYC but in many parts of the country, but none more so than in our major cities. A profession, once revered as being professional, noble, and one of great integrity has been reduced to a job fraught with minefields that no one in their right mind desires to pursue.

The era of proactive policing has given way to officers who operate under a constant state of fear and second guessing. Oh, they are not afraid of doing the job. They are afraid of what would happen if they don’t do the job perfectly, 100% of the time! They are afraid of becoming the next headline, forced to take a life because of the criminal actions of another. They are afraid of renegade Commonwealth and District Attorneys wanting to make a name for themselves. They are afraid of chiefs and sheriffs that might abandon them in their greatest hour of need. They are afraid of losing their jobs, their homes, their freedom all because of decisions they are forced to make in seconds, without the luxury of knowing the full story. They are afraid of making mistakes in good faith, realizing that they are no longer afforded good faith. Ironically, according to the recent Gallup poll, police officers are still one of the most trusted professions in the country, and yet they are operating in an environment, where far more time is spent coddling the guilty, while ignoring the victims of crime.

I personally find tremendous peace, comfort, and hope in knowing that while the society in which we live is constantly changing, and many of those changes are not for the better, I can rest in knowing Jesus Christ NEVER changes. His love for me is as great, as deep, as wide and certain today as it was yesterday, and as it will be tomorrow, for all the tomorrows of my life. I rest in knowing that no matter how society changes with its attitude toward law enforcement officers, Jesus does not. His calling does not change. His need for, and love of police officers does not.

I am reminded of Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the shouts of praise by all of those in attendance knowing that within five days the shouts of praise would be replaced by shouts of condemnation and “crucify Him!” And yet Jesus stayed the course. He did not allow the fickle and feckless mob dictate how He would fulfill His own calling. To my Law Enforcement Friends, so too I encourage each one of you to stay the course! Jesus knows what you are going through; in fact the promise of His never-changing nature is only surpassed by one more promise, the promise to never leave you nor forsake you. You are not alone. Look to Jesus for peace, comfort, and for the assurance that this world has long since abandoned.

Spineless Law Enforcement Leaders Castrate Themselves For Cop-Haters - By Sheriff David Clarke Jr

By Sheriff David Clarke Jr. (Ret.) Milwaukee County

Police chiefs have reached a new low in being accomplices in the War on Cops with the revelation that law enforcement officers all across the country are being disciplined, up to and including suspensions, demotion and dismissal from the service, for expressing on their own time and on their own social media sites, posts expressing a dislike for the cop hating scumbags from Black Lives Matter (BLM). I called them scumbags, not the officers who posted.

Here is a sample of what officers have posted on social media about Black Lives Matter according to a Washington Times news story. Two officers in New Jersey have been fired or demoted for calling BLM, terrorists. In one post, one of New Jersey’s finest was investigated by her agency for denouncing BLM tactics and called them terrorists. Another officer from the same agency “liked” the post and offered support for her colleague’s post. Even though the agency took no action, a town committee fired one of the officers and demoted a sergeant for calling out local politicians who sided with rioters. The chief did not back the officers. The chief should have exercised leadership here and refused to carry out the town committee’s obviously retaliatory firing and offered his own resignation instead. Now that would have been an act of courage, but I digress.

In another instance, an officer from the Bellevue, Idaho Marshals’ Office was suspended for a week for a posting calling out NBA basketball star LeBron James after he put out a tweet regarding an Ohio officer who used deadly force on a knife-wielding suspect who was attempting to stab another girl. James posted the officer’s picture in the post with the sentence, “You’re next, #Accountability.” He deleted the post from his account that has fifty million followers. The damage had been done and he knows it.

And in yet another incident, a Norfolk, Virginia police lieutenant anonymously donated to a defense fund for a man, who in an act of self-defense, shot and killed two suspects and wounded another during a riot in Kenosha, Wisconsin last summer. The man was charged and is awaiting trial. The lieutenant did use a city email address but did not identify himself or the agency. He wrote that the rank and file were behind his claim of self-defense. After what the police union said was a cursory investigation, the officer was fired.

A Los Angeles Police Dept. officer shared a meme on Valentine’s Day that had a picture of George Floyd with the caption, “You take my breath away.” He didn’t create the meme, he shared it. Should he have used better judgment? Of course. Should he be fired? Absolutely not, but LAPD Chief Michel Moore wants the officer fired. A reprimand would be in order here but again, Chief Moore’s moral preening and virtue signaling is more important to him than having his officers’ backs. George Floyd unfortunately has been elevated to icon status. This is the creep who held a loaded gun to the stomach of a pregnant woman in a home invasion robbery looking for drugs and money. He served eight years in prison. George Floyd’s death has caused enough damage and destruction all across the United States. He was involved in a criminal act, geeked up on fatal levels of fentanyl and not complying with an officer’s lawful commands to take him into custody. Chief Moore using the career of one of his officers as cannon fodder is disgraceful.

One defense attorney was quoted as saying, “You shouldn’t have officers sounding off on political issues.” He went on to say that, “Officers, have to represent and protect everyone in the community, and how are you going to be able to do that effectively in a majority-black city if you’re posting anti-Black Lives Matter stuff?” He cites no example where police have refused to serve and protect. He also does not point out that BLM is a Marxist movement that advocates for the killing of police officers.

Now let me stop there for a moment to sound off on that claim by a defense lawyer. As to whether or not officers will protect everyone in the community regardless of their personal feelings, this defense lawyer needs to be reminded that five, count them five Dallas police officers were ambushed and killed with another nine wounded in 2016 while working to protect Black Lives Matter sympathizers at a protest. They were killed by a Black Lives Matter sniper. How is that for protecting everyone in the community?

Two New York police officers were assassinated in a New York City borough as they sat in their cruiser, serving and protecting a very diverse population. In Los Angeles, two LA sheriff’s deputies were ambushed and shot as they sat in their cruiser serving and protecting a very diverse community in Los Angeles. They were rushed to an area hospital and were met by a group of BLM sympathizers who blocked the emergency entrance at the hospital not letting the ambulance through while shouting anti police slogans.

There have been no reports or accusations that police are refusing to serve minority communities in spite of this hateful BLM movement. Officers have been spit on, have had rocks and bottles thrown at them along with urine- and feces-filled balloons and shot at as they are ordered to “stand down” while protecting a diverse group of people as they protest and even riot. There is obviously a need for law enforcement executives to be able to set standards for off-duty conduct. In fact, there are court cases allowing it. As a former elected sheriff responsible for the good order of the service, a balance needs to be struck on this, however. It should be narrowly applied. I read all the posts referenced in the previously mentioned cases. None of what was posted in my view was over the top nor did it discredit their agency. In fact, I feel the same way about BLM that they do. If this was brought to my attention, I would not have ordered an “investigation.” This didn’t warrant an “investigation.” I would have called the officers in and told them to be careful what they post on social media. I would have ordered that a memo to go out to the entire agency reminding them of the good order of the service because the cop haters are on the prowl and looking to take them out through internal discipline. The end. A verbal warning would be appropriate. Suspension, firing and demotion for this is overkill and unnecessary. It is nothing more than virtue signaling trying to appease the cop-hating goons. It doesn’t work.

Our officers are under tremendous stress. They are working long hours due to riots, defunding efforts and short staffing due to retirements and resignations. It is affecting their mental health and quality of life outside work. These are human beings, not drones. Don’t these spineless police chiefs realize that? Do they even care? Our cops need a release from time to time and some empathy from their top commanders. Maybe if law enforcement executives said something that pushes back against the cop haters of Black Lives Matter, rank and file cops would not feel a need to spout off in their own defense.

Sheriff David Clarke Jr. is former Sheriff of Milwaukee Co, Wisconsin, President of AmericasSheriff LLC, Board member of the Crime Research Center, author of the book Cop Under Fire: Beyond Hashtags of Race Crime and Politics for a Better America. To learn more visit www.americassheriff.com

In a World Gone Crazy: Politicians Abandon Police and Citizens

 By: Lt. Patrick J Ciser (Ret.)

 When I was a younger man, 30-40 years ago, I saw division on many political issues. Sure, we had both extreme left and right groups, but they were certainly in the minority, and few people took them seriously. I remember a time, believe it or not, when Democrats believed in and supported law enforcement and the rule of law. And for the most part, I always saw some wiggle room for reconciliation on both sides.

A few months ago, we saw a radicalized party, against all odds, take the White House, the House of Representatives and the Senate, at the end of a very tumultuous year. I’m struck with deep sadness that we find ourselves in this position. Democrats seemed to be on the wrong side of so many important issues facing our nation, yet still won. Let’s take a look at a few of these extreme positions one by one.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

There was a day, as I said, when ALL politicians wanted to protect our citizens from crime; especially violent crime. We all have loved ones we wish to protect, and most of us have repeatedly supported victim advocacy groups over the years. We’ve seen the strengthening of domestic violence laws and the increased prosecution of sexual assaults. So why are many Democratic politicians doing everything in their power to assist criminals? Sounds extreme, right? But it is happening in all of our Democrat-run states coast to coast. We’re suffering from bail reform on steroids! Even some violent criminals are immediately let out so they can terrorize their victims again. Witnesses are being threatened and are now scared to death of testifying, even more so than before. Why do you think that half of the homicides in our inner cities aren’t solved? “Warn a Brother” and “No Snitchin” are some serious shit to be sure! Victims learn quickly that our feckless judicial system isn’t going to save them or their kids any time soon. Why do we parole cop killers who should’ve gotten the death penalty? Why do Democrats turn a blind eye to the destruction caused by BLM and Antifa, and even support bailing them out like Vice President Harris has done? Why are Democrats not in favor of deporting criminal aliens and passing “Kate’s Law?” And there’s so much more!

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

At the DNC primary runoff last year, all the candidates from Joe Biden to Kamala Harris were asked, raise your hand if you’re in favor of giving free health care to illegal immigrants. Every hand on that stage went up! There are an estimated 18-22 million illegals currently living in America. That admission alone could entice a million more to cross the border in the coming four years of the Biden administration. And you know who gets hurt the most, even more than the taxpayers? The illegals who are already here. If an illegal farm worker goes from $5 to $8 or $10 an hour over a few years, he/she will now lose their jobs to the new immigrant willing to take $5. Some Democrat governors curtailed interstate travel from certain states because of COVID, while the Biden administration is welcoming all immigrants regardless if they’re bringing in any disease from COVID to tuberculosis. He’s actually sending out letters to illegals who were deported by the Trump Administration to come back for a new hearing. Many gang members, like MS-13, are no longer in jeopardy of deportation under Biden’s rules.

TRANSGENDER RIGHTS

I never understood bias against gays/lesbians in America. Ultra-religious groups, unfortunately, seem to have disdain for them to the extreme. I always thought, even decades ago; who are they hurting? Certainly not me. So why don’t we simply wish them well and move on? But today, this “group” has grown to be called the LGBTQ community. Now I, like countless others, definitely have a problem. You see, gay rights never infringed on other people’s rights, but transgender “rights” absolutely do! None of us want a man, who believes that he’s a woman, to share the same bathroom with our teenage daughters. No one wants to see their little girl dreaming while growing up, of competing in the Olympics one day, suddenly beaten by a transexual. When your rights trample another’s rights, that’s where we have a problem! We have “Special Olympics,” perhaps we need “transgender” sports.

FIRST and SECOND AMENDMENTS

Censorship; did you ever think that in America we would see such a thing? The CCP, Russia, North Korea, among many others, have always had Government Controlled Media. For you old guys like me out there, remember during Watergate, when we actually had investigative reporters who looked out for the people? Today, we have liberal media that actually acts like an arm of the DNC. Progressives have infiltrated our media outlets and universities to a point where they’re able to snuff out free speech at every turn. Why is it for years now you can’t hear a conservative lecture at our top universities? And now we actually have censorship on all social media platforms. Mao would’ve been proud.

Biden and company also have BIG plans for our Second Amendment; how do they win with this stuff!!

Pat Ciser is a retired lieutenant from the Clifton Police Department, and a 7th Degree Black Belt. He was a member of 5 U.S. Karate Teams, winning gold medals in South America and Europe. He is the Author of BUDO and the BADGE; Exploits of a Jersey Cop (BN.com/Amazon), and is a guest writer for Official Karate Magazine.