THE BREW CREW

THE BREW CREW
By: Sgt. Jeff Stewart

The Boilermaker Brew pop-up coffee shop is not just about selling coffee, it is about empowering special needs high school students and preparing them for life after graduation. The program, which is a collaboration between the Garfield School District's LifeSkills program and the Garfield Police Community Affairs Division led by Sgt. Jeff Stewart, allows students to gain hands-on experience in the food industry while also learning valuable life skills such as financial literacy.

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The program was entirely funded by grants and community members, and volunteer George Leles of Arabica Coffee Co. helped the students source beans, experiment with flavors and roast the coffee. The students even had the opportunity to create their own logos and take lessons on financial literacy provided by a local TD Bank branch office.

The Boilermaker Brew pop-up coffee shop is located at the Century Field House kitchen, located at 60 Elizabeth St. in Garfield and operates in spring, summer and fall. During the winter, it moves indoors to the local YMCA located at 33 Outwater Lane, Garfield, NJ 07026, with winter hours of operation on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 to 11:15 am. Both the Century Field and the YMCA host the students free of charge.

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The coffee shop has received positive reviews, and cups sell for $2 small and $3 large. The second year of the program has been fully sustainable by coffee sales, and the goal is to one day have a brick-and-mortar location.

The Boilermaker Brew pop-up coffee shop is a shining example of what can be achieved when the community comes together to support special needs students. The Garfield Police Department, Police Chief Rich Uram and the Garfield School District should be commended for their innovative approach and for the positive impact they are having on the lives of these students. We hope that other communities will take note of this program and be inspired to create similar opportunities for their special needs students.

More Information:
Sgt. Jeff Stewart
City of Garfield Police
Community Affairs Division Commander
DM @officerstewart Instagram

I Retired for This?

I Retired for This?
By: Kimberly Stratman

Did I work 30 years for this? Did I leave a job I loved for this? Did I leave my friends and coworkers for this?  Did I leave a respected position for this? Did I turn in my uniform for this?

I loved being a lieutenant in the Dallas Police Department patrol. It was by far my favorite assignment, but the admin or support assignments mattered too so I always gave it my best.  Committee appointments were good and bad; nothing worse than “solving” the same problem over and over. I enjoyed being part of the Baker to Vegas Women’s Relay Team back in the day. Running with the DPD Women’s Running Team and then the DPDNPW 5k Team was both exciting and emotional.

Witnessing my officers promote was awesome. They have so much talent, passion and dedication.

Leading classes at the Academy, in-service and basic, was an honor. I always wrote my personal cell number on the board and made the promise that I would help anyone who called me, and I did. Sometimes it was a serious situation that required additional support.  Sometimes the officer just needed someone to bounce ideas off.  Sometimes they needed a, “What the heck are you thinking? You know better! Let’s fix this.”

But, rookies younger than my boys were on the streets. I was being called, “ma’am” off duty by folks who didn’t know who I was. That last footchase at 50 years of age was a bit rough. The cameras and other technology were intimidating. My back was hurting more than it wasn’t.  The losses were getting harder to compartmentalize. It was exhilarating being at the same scene with my SWAT husband! But only after I knew he was OK. Does that even make sense? Apparently not to my gut, because that was getting a bit stressful too.

One of the classes I was invited to lead at the Academy was “Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace” and included Chris Hogan’s “Retire Inspired.”  We all must retire someday, so I put emphasis on the “Inspired.” As I interacted with the weekly class members over the two-year TCOLE cycle, I noticed that some officers had a plan and were excited. They had ideas of how to spend their time after they retired. Others expressed a feeling of concern and even overwhelm, while others stated they couldn’t even think about retirement. When leading this same type of class for officers/employees of various agencies, I saw the same reactions. Which group seemed most likely to retire confidently? I decided to have a plan. It was time.

What did I want to do if I wasn’t a cop? I wanted to do our oil business full time. I wanted to work with plants. A solid workout schedule was a must! I wanted to attend a ladies’ daytime Bible study. I wanted to build and strengthen relationships with other women.  I wanted to read for fun and garden.

Even with some great opportunities, and with great pay, I knew I did not want to put on another uniform. I did not want to drive in rush hour traffic.

My plan came together rather organically. Sharing my ideas came naturally because I was excited! Valuable advice and suggestions were offered.

I retired! The pandemic and the riots proved that I was not in control. But my plan was still solid.  It was not a ridgid schedule but more a list of, “I want this in my life.”

Even when “life is good,” things change. Who knew that I would find the need and the time to do more? I added Yin Yoga to be still and slow down my brain. I enrolled in various online classes to challenge myself. I realized I missed a more active role in serving others. Seriously missed serving others. While I didn’t miss the Job, I missed my people.

Again, an organic plan fell into place once I identified/acknowledged what I wanted to do. I am a Certified Life Coach and a Certified Retirement Coach specializing in Retirement Longevity.

What? Yes! I help first responders, and others, retire confidently so they can live the life they worked for. Topics discussed include health, hobbies and fun, relationships and support systems, career, future endeavors, an action plan and more. I am called to this service because life after “the job” can be, should be, full and rewarding. We can each find our purpose, no matter what that might be.

Should you approach retirement with a well-thought-out plan that focuses on your mind, your body and your spirit? I would strongly suggest you do so.

Yes, I did retire for this.

Kimberly Stratman retired as a lieutenant from the Dallas Police Department after an exciting and fulfilling 30-year career. She and her husband, an active SWAT officer, have two grown sons and two dogs that get lots of attention. Kimberly is the owner of To the Point Coach, a Certified Retirement Life Coach and Certified Life Coach service that focuses on first responders. Her goal is to ensure our law enforcement community thrives. She can be reached @ tothepointcoach.org

Police: Can You Forgive the Wokeists?

Police: Can You Forgive the Wokeists?
By: Peter Marina

The dark specter of “wokeism” is upon us, serving to further divide the American people from developing the solidarity needed to take back control of our country.

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We’ve reached an end stage of modernity where corporate oligarchy has finally secured power and control over our entire society. The American people, largely disenfranchised from the decision-making processes that shape our lives and future, are impotent to impart real material, structural change. Years of media propaganda, culture wars and identity politics further aggravate divisions among the people and prevent any form of class consciousness that can challenge our political and economic elites from arising.

“Wokeists” take their frustrations out on those who can be a helping hand, like police officers, in advancing a better world built on the 1948 U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.

As the last remnants of our democracy vanish, the elite on both sides of the political spectrum collude with their corporate masters to secure endless wealth, profit and power. These clever elites’ preferred strategy to secure endless power is class division — with ever newer and more creative ways to divide us.

Wokeism is their useful and divisive ideology, along with their other ill-conceived concepts like diversity and inclusion (which are almost never truly diverse nor inclusive). Those who refuse to submit to their secular gospel get censored and banished to purgatory.

Many privileged media pundits and woke, liberal, feminist academics (who are usually neither woke, left nor feminist) serve as the tools of corporate oligarchy — “useful idiots” who exacerbate class division.

In what public intellectual Chris Hedges calls “woke imperialism,” identity politics and diversity serve as “gimmicks” mainstream journalists and academics use to further their careers exploiting the suffering of “Black” and “brown” people while doing “boutique activism” that never solves our structural problems and furthers division among the people. As Hedges states:

The militarists, corporatists, oligarchs, politicians, academics and media conglomerates champion identity politics and diversity because it does nothing to address the systemic injustices or the scourge of permanent war that plague the U.S. It is an advertising gimmick, a brand, used to mask mounting social inequality and imperial folly. It busies liberals and the educated with a boutique activism, which is not only ineffectual but exacerbates the divide between the privileged and a working class in deep economic distress. The haves scold the have-nots for their bad manners, racism, linguistic insensitivity and garishness, while ignoring the root causes of their economic distress. The oligarchs could not be happier.

Among the American people, including police officers, we have an “us against them” mentality that is real but misplaced. We’ve learned to resent or distrust our own brothers and sisters based on concepts like race, gender, sexual orientation, sex, ethnicity, documentation status, political affiliation and so forth. While the political and corporate elite pull the strings, wokeists happily play their tune.

Many universities (especially within the humanities and liberal arts), that once stood for debate and critique, now cower to power, evade real debate and refuse to confront the great challenges facing our civilization while they descend into the emptiness of identity politics and cancel culture. According to the great banished scholar Norman Finkelstein, identity politics lacks intellectual substance, and further, prevents class solidarity from emerging that unites people to create real structural change. In his latest book on cancel culture, Finkelstein argues that Barack Obama and his “obedient followers” serve as the quintessential example of identity politics’ final product, that is, standing for nothing except skin color and a hip veneer (and an ingenuine, plastic smile, I might add) while supporting the “corrupt status quo.” This status quo is the support for those political and economic elites that Adam Smith calls the “masters of mankind,” who abandoned the American people.

While identity politics serve as a tool to divide us, our real enemies are those political and economic elites who use these tools to wage class warfare against the American people. They seek endless profit, war, power and domination — whatever the cost.

Working- and middle-class Americans are on the same team. We need to put aside our relatively petty differences and unite under common causes that advance our collective interests.

Journalist Glenn Greenwald explains what became of our mainstream journalists — an explanation that can be further applied to mainstream academics:

They have insufficient talent or skill, and even less desire, to take on real power centers: the military-industrial complex, the CIA and FBI, the clandestine security state, Wall Street, Silicon Valley monopolies, the corrupted and lying corporate media outlets they serve. So settling on this penny-ante, trivial bullshit — tattling, hall monitoring, speech policing: all in the most anti-intellectual, adolescent and primitive ways — is all they have. It’s all they are. It’s why they have fully earned the contempt and distrust in which the public holds them.

It's unfortunate, and breaks the heart of this romantic liberal arts scholar, but many of my fellow academics have fallen into these sophomoric, churlish acts of “tattling, hall monitoring, speech policing: all in the most anti-intellectual, adolescent and primitive ways.” They do this in the most cowardly fashion behind the backs of their own colleagues, just like they do to the police who protect them. As English philosopher Aldous Huxley stated: “The surest way to work up a crusade in favor of some good cause is to promise people they will have a chance of maltreating someone. To be able to destroy with good conscience, behave badly and call your bad behavior 'righteous indignation,' the height of psychological luxury, the most delicious of moral treats.”

Attacking police and unorthodox scholars have become the delicious moral treats wokeists devour. In their performative, sacramental rituals and chants, they want to force their “wokeist” secular faith on the masses and cast out the demons who challenge their dogma and orthodoxy. But we will not waver until personal belief meets objective reality.

While I’ve personally, as an unconventional scholar and Cuban American, experienced this passive-aggressive, cowardly, “behind your back” bullying and maltreatment, I know that so-called wokeists are not my enemy; indeed, we are on the same side. They are my brothers and sisters, too, in class solidarity. They are our brothers and sisters.

Wokeist liberals, a misnomer, attack real leftist and unorthodox academics, Trump supporters and conservative scholars, as well as their favorite targets today: police officers and conservative Americans. They attack anyone who does not agree with their political orthodoxy, identity politics, anti-intellectual ideology and virtue-signaling.

Police officers, while these wokeists might be annoying, and perhaps worse, they are not our real enemy. They, like many of us, have lost control of their ability to shape the world beyond their cultural milieux and the private orbit of their own lives. They, too, are concerned about an uncertain future where nothing is guaranteed. They, too, fight desperately to hold on to all the fading securities and promises many of us once enjoyed.

I’ve forgiven the wokeists for their unwarranted attacks and baseless accusations. I believe police officers too must forgive and find common ground with the people — including those you police and the wokeists scapegoating you — to develop a sense of solidarity to confront the challenges of an increasingly uncertain world. You can rise above their pettiness and serve as examples of what true solidarity looks like in this age of discontent. With class unity, we can put aside our differences and fight together against our true oppressors to create a world in our collective image.

I’ve been working on the idea of transforming policing from mainly an institution of social control to a human rights organization that protects and serves the American people — all of us. I believe police officers can spread their wings to usher in meaningful change in the world. Just like the best teachers do the hard work of giving the youth life-changing, mind-blowing critical educations that foster new ways of thinking, the best police officers can lift up their communities while keeping people safe and protecting their human rights from those who seek to prevent the enjoyment of these rights.

My message is to forgive and lead through example.

We must rise above identity politics to understand that diversity means nothing when used as a tool against the people. As Hedges states, “Diversity when it serves the oppressed is an asset, but a con when it serves the oppressors.” Let’s not fall for the con. Let’s forgive our wokeist brothers and sisters and extend a hand in solidarity to solve structural problems that cause crime, homelessness, addiction, domestic abuse, inequality and exclusion. They might still attack us with their misguided, anti-intellectual views (indeed, they show little desire to reduce the gap between their personal beliefs and objective truth), but eventually, with effort and strong example, they may one day join us in solidarity. Remember, people are verbs, highly fluid, constantly changing and always able to become more. If we lead by example, perhaps they will put down their cancel culture and identity politics, and all the “tattling, hall monitoring, speech policing” and, perhaps, they will become serious adults and join us in doing the business of making the world better for us all. I don’t ask what I’m not willing to do myself. I will join you in solidarity, and for this humble scholar, my belief in you is unwavering. Our promised land is human rights and solidarity is the path.

Police officers, can you forgive and become exemplars of unity? If so, we can end division, and together, unite the people to the promise land.

Dr. Peter Marina is a sociologist and criminologist at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Along with his father, (retired) Lieutenant Pedro Marina, he teaches human rights policing to law enforcement professionals throughout the United States. He is author of the Human Rights Policing: Reimagining Law Enforcement in the 21st Century with Routledge Press (2022).

Memphis lesson: Character Content is Most Important

Memphis lesson: Character Content is Most Important
By Joel E. Gordon

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. - Martin Luther King, Jr. (1963)

In my effort to resist any rush to judgment and in the spirit of due process and "innocent until proven guilty" I have been reticent to comment on the Memphis case involving the death of Tyre Nichols as recorded in the viral video beating he received at the hands of five Memphis police officers. As facts continue to be exposed, it is my most sincere hope that justice is served for all involved. But the question remains…

How have we strayed away from Dr. King’s wise open-minded philosophy? The “LEFT” today says we need to hire Black cops to police Black neighborhoods. In reality, color shouldn’t matter … how about hire cops with great moral character? The goal should be good, law-abiding cops — irrespective of race. All five officers charged in the beating and death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis are Black, as is Tyre Nichols, but this isn’t about race but rather it is about character and standards.

Did the Memphis PD lower standards to hire these cops for “diversity” and/or because cops are now maligned as “systemically racist”— resulting in early retirements, fewer applicants and therefore lower hiring standards to maintain manpower?

According to a source within the Memphis PD, not all of the five charged officers were hired through the customary PD structured hiring process. City leaders felt the existing process was too strict and kept certain individuals from getting jobs at the department. City leaders then began their own hiring process and pushed new hires into the agency bypassing the rigorous and time tested background requirements and testing procedures in place at the department in order to fill vacancies. “They would allow just pretty much anybody to be a police officer because they just want these numbers,” said Alvin Davis, a former lieutenant in charge of recruiting before he retired last year out of frustration.

The department phased out requirements to have college credits, military service or previous police work. All that’s now required is two years’ work experience — any work experience. The department also requested state waivers to hire applicants with criminal records. And the police academy even dropped timing requirements on physical fitness drills and removed running entirely because too many people were failing.

Many young officers, before ever working with more experienced colleagues, were assigned to specialized units like the high-crime strike force involved in Nichols’ arrest. It was reported that some young officers who transferred back to patrol didn’t even know some basics such as how to write a traffic ticket or respond to a domestic call. “They don’t know a felony from a misdemeanor,” Davis said. “They don’t even know right from wrong.”

Police Director Cerelyn Davis, who took over in June 2021, has said supervision of less-experienced officers is an urgent need, questioning why a supervisor failed to respond to Nichols’ arrest despite a policy that requires a ranking officer to go to the scene when pepper spray or a stun gun is used.

According to an Associated Press report, of the five officers now charged with second-degree murder in Nichols’ beating, two had only a couple of years on the force and none had more than six years experience.

One of the officers was a former tight end on the Bethel University football team and appeared to have had at least one arrest, according to files from the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission, a state oversight agency. But the date and details of the case had been redacted.

The section for arrests in the agency’s file for another officer who worked at a Shelby County Corrections facility before joining the force was also redacted from the state records. He was sued for allegedly beating an inmate there, which he denied, and the case was dismissed because papers had “not been properly served.”

This is not about training any more than it is about race, but it is about character, mindset and decency as prerequisite qualities in the evaluation of those under consideration for hire. At its core it’s not a police culture issue but criminal culture one. By opening the hiring process to those who are potentially a product of the inner-city drug gang culture, where the value to human life is often seen as diminished, it would seem the lower hiring standard increases the chance for bad decisions, incompetence and misconduct.

“I asked them what made you want to be the police and they’ll tell you it’s strictly about the money,” Davis said, adding that many recruits would ask the minimum time they would actually have to serve to keep hiring bonus money. “It’s not a career for them like it was to us. It’s just a job.”

Why the superficial diversity goal of “cops who look like the community,” especially if it means lowering standards? Why should it be a benefit to hire, promote, assign or retain officers from an expanded pool based upon gender, skin color or cultural diversity rather than being based upon candidates of the highest personal character, skill set and potential for success? To maintain integrity and fair and just application of our laws by those given the responsibility for enforcement merit, above all, must be our primary guide.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

DEPARTMENTAL CULTURE: Maintaining Integrity

DEPARTMENTAL CULTURE: Maintaining Integrity
By: Monica Eaton

As a young police recruit, I remember being terrified of the background investigation process. Wracking my brain to make sure every piece of information was in the packet, the location and municipality of my first speeding ticket as a 16-year-old driver, every single address I ever lived at, and any type of office supply I had ever mistakenly taken home and not returned. I was terrified that anything could disqualify me from the job of my dreams. 

Recruits go from being terrified to make a mistake or get their academy “smoked” with conditioning to figuring out how to be lazy and cut corners. One will sit in a parking lot watching Netflix, while another stays “tactically 10-6” all shift but magically appears on every in-progress call. Many will be inconvenienced by regular in-service training and fail to do more than the minimum to get by.

Granted, this does not dismiss the officers who keep their integrity and hard work and continue to do the right thing. But in light of the recent events that call officer integrity into question, how do we go from one extreme to the next? I’d like to propose a theory: the work environment. Another thing we take note of as recruits are the stories of officers from the  past: The one who had sex on duty and never got punished. The one who continuously talks himself out of taking reports and is rarely heard on the radio. The one you get told to leave alone because he doesn’t like to be bothered. The one who got away with some questionable tactics but was seen as the badass who caught the bad guy anyway.

Recruits come in the new starry-eyed little brothers to the many new big brothers they look up to and want to be like. They get enmeshed in the culture of the department, who show them how to do things, and what things you probably shouldn’t do, but might get away with anyway. The administration often reaffirms some of the norms by sweeping some punishable things under the rug for the well-liked “good old boy.”

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt. Due to a lack of training or often a slippage of department integrity, an officer, civilian or suspect gets hurt or killed. The media storm swirls yet again into questions of the people behind the badge and who we really are. How do we stop the cycle? We speak up.

We speak up for the good and well-intentioned officers who do this thankless job daily and always to the best of their ability. We speak up to continue to serve and protect the people we took an oath for. We speak up to encourage and maintain positive work environments that encourage continued training and punish the misconduct equally and fairly. We speak up to help weed out those who lack integrity and who should never be there in the first place. At the end of the day, we can only control what we do. Will you be the next to speak up, or will you sit back and watch the storm continue?

Monica Eaton is the owner/CEO of Five-0 Fierce and Fit which creates online nutrition and fitness programs designed to help female first responders lose fat, gain strength and take back their confidence in 90 days because “your family depends on you to be fit for duty.” Using her six-year Oklahoma law enforcement experience along with her 15-year background in fitness and nutrition she helps female first responders reach their full potential in life and career. Look her up on Instagram @five0.fierce.and.fit.

A RUSH TO JUDGMENT? PLEASE WAIT FOR THE FACTS

A RUSH TO JUDGMENT? PLEASE WAIT FOR THE FACTS
By: Deon Joseph

There are many people asking me to comment on a recent in-custody death. I want to so badly to dispel disinformation. But I can’t because it happened on my agency, and I have to wait until the investigation is complete.

But what I will say is this; have we not learned across this country from previous incidents about falling for carefully selected portions of videos, activists who exploit dead Black people, clout-chasing celebrities who try to emotionalize the incident to put more credit on their “woke card,” politicians looking to score political points with their voter base by aligning themselves with activist groups, ambulance-chasing lawyers who want to try the case in the court of public opinion only to try to get the biggest payday they can and biased media personalities fanning the flames for ratings?

My friends, the most revolutionary thing anyone can do when these incidents occur is watch the entire footage (not the part you can use to stir people up) and wait for all facts to come out before vilifying the officers or the person they contacted.

It is beyond time for us to think critically and objectively when these things occur.

I literally cannot wait to talk about this incident based on my training, experience and observations over 27 years. Many who know me are aware that I’m not afraid to say when cops are wrong, and will also stand up for them when they are justified no matter how controversial it may seem to people with no experience in policing. Unfortunately, I have no choice but to wait as policy dictates. But you can do several things:

Think objectively.

Don’t allow anyone to emotionally exploit you or guide you to a thought on the guilt or innocence of the officers involved, or the young man who passed away while judging this incident.

Wait until all facts including medical reports and witness statements come out.

Stop sharing edited or carefully selected portions of the incidents, and at least share the whole video without captions that paint anyone involved in an unfair light.

Deon Joseph is a 27 year veteran of law enforcement in Southern California - 23 of those years working in the homeless community to create an environment conducive to change for those in recovery, as a Lead Officer. He’s been recognized for his work locally and nationally, and news stories and documentaries surrounding his work in crime fighting and community relations, featured him. www.deonjoseph.org

Remembrance - Police Officer Geoffrey Redd

Remembrance - Police Officer Geoffrey Redd
Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro

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On Feb. 2, Memphis police officers responded to a public library around 12:30 p.m. regarding a man who was causing a disturbance inside. Officer Geoffrey Redd was a Field Training Officer and was training his rookie partner when they received the call. Just as the pair attempted to talk to that individual inside the library and de-escalate the situation, he pulled out a gun and shot Officer Redd.  The rookie partner returned fire and killed the gunman. The suspect was identified as a career criminal who had been arrested over 30 times in the past. The wounded officer was transported to the hospital in critical condition. For 16 days, he hung on and fought for his life sadly succumbing to his wounds on Feb. 18.

Officer Geoffrey Redd was a 15-year veteran of the Memphis Police Department, and had proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps. He also worked as the director of security at his church. A few years ago, Officer Redd was struck by a vehicle on a traffic stop. He was thrown into the air and landed on his face, nearly losing his eyesight. His injuries were so severe that he had to learn to walk again. Despite all of that, he overcame the odds and recovered, returning to the job that he loved.  Officer Redd leaves behind his wife, who he just married a few months ago, three daughters and four grandchildren. He was 49 years old.

Slavery Aided by the “U.S. Welcome Patrol”

Slavery Aided by the “U.S. Welcome Patrol”
By: Eric Caron

The fight against human trafficking is one of the greatest human rights causes of our times, and our civilization is truly under attack. As far back as humanity goes, people have bought, sold and enslaved other people for various reasons. Naively, Americans believe slavery ended hundreds of years ago.

Shockingly, as you read this article, over two million people globally are being trafficked and over 30 million people worldwide are trapped in “modern slavery”. Yes, slavery is still alive, and humans are being exploited for labor (products we buy) and the sexual exploitation of mostly women and children.

Human trafficking only happens with the collusion of corrupt and inept governments around the globe, including the United States, which has renamed the U.S. Customs & Border Protection to the “U.S. Welcome Patrol”. Washington, D.C., is currently aiding and abetting transnational organized crime (TOC) groups to include human trafficking. A smoke and mirrors approach to U.S. border security has caused the deaths of thousands globally and has earned the human trafficking and terror groups that are also involved over $300 billion last year. It is one of the most profitable crimes in the world.

Over the last few years, I’ve personally traveled to East Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia) mentoring prosecutors and other officials on how to combat transnational crime. During my time on the ground in these countries, I discovered that human trafficking is much, much more sinister than the human mind could ever imagine.

These transnational organized crime (TOC) groups for years have been trafficking or “harvesting” organs, babies, and are involved in ritualistic human sacrifice killings (witchcraft) and even cannibalism. Due to widespread corruption, “shadow” wars in over 20 African nations and poverty, these unthinkable crimes are ongoing in most of Africa.

Recently, the U.N. stated that one out of every three human trafficking victims worldwide is from Africa and the World Health Organization reported 10,000 kidneys were illegally harvested - one every hour. Currently, 62 doctors in Uganda are under investigation for illegally harvesting organs for transnational crime groups. Today, in Nigeria alone, over 10,000 children are missing or kidnapped for their organs, labor, sexual exploitation, soldiers or human sacrifices.

In March 2023, I met with a senior Ugandan police official who helps manage the “Human Sacrifice Task Force”. In 2021, this task force reported 46 murders and, in 2022, 72 murders. In addition, Ugandan police recently discovered nearly a dozen babies in an apartment who were smuggled from South Sudan. The target was and is operating a “nonprofit” in South Sudan for homeless women and children and has ties to the president of South Sudan. It’s alleged that these babies were to be sold into the Middle East but were recently returned to South Sudan. No arrest has been made. The target denies the allegations and is still operating the nonprofit center. In the Gabon Republic which borders the Congo, police arrested three Chinese nationals “in the act” of killing over a dozen African workers for their tissue. Social media reports corroborate the barbaric images received which confirms that human flesh is a “lucrative business in China” since human tissue is a “delicacy.”

Human trafficking is more than a violation of human rights; it is also a threat to global security and to our civilization as highlighted. To ensure the U.S. remains a leader in the movement to end human trafficking, we must implement a comprehensive global response on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic. A war against an unseen enemy that was defeated.

Eric Caron is a Special Agent (Ret) with 25 years of service. He is the author of "Switched On - The Heart & Mind of a Special Agent." His website is: Switchedonlife.com

Mentorship and Coaching: A new tool for recruiting and retaining law enforcement personnel.

Mentorship and Coaching: A new tool for recruiting and retaining law enforcement personnel.
By: Ron Camacho

Almost all police departments across the United States have recruiting issues; many have trouble retaining their officers. Consequently, a new industry revolving around police recruiting was created by enterprising marketing executives who brought their expertise to policing through courses and conferences. Attendees of these events listen intently to the presenters hoping to learn that nugget of information that will solve their recruiting and retention needs. However, no magic bullet exists to solve our recruiting and retention issues. Law enforcement organizations are working with marketing firms, offering sign-on bonuses, using geo fencing advertising and other imaginative methods to attract quality candidates.One idea gaining traction is to develop a positive work culture through mentoring and coaching programs.

Recently, I spoke with a human resources director working for a hospital system and asked what the main reason employees gave for leaving their jobs was. Without hesitation, she said, “The employee had a bad relationship with their supervisor or management.”A lack of growth opportunities and advancement came in second, with a desire for a higher salary a distant third. These reasons are also mirrored in law enforcement. A respected professional colleague who works with police departments across Pennsylvania shared that his practice was seeing a mass exodus of officers from larger departments. Those officers took massive pay cuts to escape the harmful and toxic environments surrounding their former agencies. While police executives and supervisors do not have the authority to address salary demands, they can influence boss-to-employee relationships and limited growth opportunities. Creating a robust mentorship or coaching program is an effective way to achieve that goal.

Entrepreneur and podcaster Patrick Bet-David described a mentor as an inspirational person who saves you time and frustration in your career by sharing advice and guidance. Essentially, they provide a “cheat code” to follow on your way to a successful career. Mentors tell you about their mistakes and illustrate what happens when you step on a career “landmine.” More importantly, they share their success stories and lessons learned during their careers. Mentors freely share their knowledge with those who seek and understand its worth. It is up to the mentee to follow the mentor’s wise advice and make the correct career decisions.

It is always possible to find a mentor. I was in my early 40s when I found my first one and was fortunate enough to find another two to help me round out my professional well-being. I can say unequivocally that my career would have taken a downward spiral without the guidance of these important figures. Simply put, they changed my life. My mentors freely shared their wise words and vast experience with me. Their advice helped me rededicate myself to the craft of leadership. I followed their examples and took heed to avoid replicating their missteps. In their separate and unique ways, they each inspired me to push myself and strive for goals I did not think were possible. I now pay it forward by mentoring several police officers of all ranks, from rookies to chiefs. I take great pride in seeing their careers flourish and only ask that they also pay it forward when they can. 

So, you may ask yourself, what does this have to do with recruiting and retention? As police leaders, we must invest more time and effort into developing our officers if we want to keep them. Additionally, to attract recruits, we must create an organizational culture that respects and cares for our troops by setting them up for success.Building a mentoring program or finding coaches for our officers is a start. Coaching addresses two reasons people leave an organization: lack of personal career growth and bad leaders. If we tackle these two areas, factors that we have the power and authority to influence, we can attract good candidates and keep officers from leaving the organization.

 A coach is there to improve employee performance through a supportive process emphasizing trust and accountability. Unlike a mentor, a coach is not there to advise the employee but to help them discover a positive course of action. Coaches ask the right questions to help the employee gain self-awareness. This process often results in the employee seeing an issue they are working on from different viewpoints and developing positive solutions from within to solve the problem. Coaching fulfills the employee’s need for personal growth and helps build an individual’s leadership capacity. Happy, fulfilled employees who become better leaders, supervisors and managers sounds like the ideal environment every police executive wants to create within their agency.  

Coaching has now entered the law enforcement profession with positive, tangible results. Companies like Performance Protocol (https://performance-protocol.com/) offer coaching services for police officers of all ranks. Officers can access hundreds of vetted, trained coaches with diverse and varied backgrounds. With how specialized policing has become, an officer can search the pool of talented coaches for one with shared experiences or interests. While the coaches come from different agencies and career paths, they all have one common goal:, to help officers reach their fullest potential in their careers and life. Coaching is the perfect strategy to build a positive, caring workplace culture. You provide a program that will improve officer excellence by developing the tools they need to think critically and problem-solve at a high level.

Coaching and mentorship programs can significantly enhance an organization’s recruiting efforts with the right marketing.The first step is to advertise how your organization, by prioritizing a future officer’s success, differs from other agencies. Additionally, implementing a coaching program demonstrates that your agency “talks the talk and walks the walk,” possessing the tools to support an officer’s fruitful and triumphant career. Coaching and mentoring also address the need for employee growth within the organization as well as improving the officer’s ability to lead. These positive and distinctive coaching and mentoring aspects should be prominently displayed in any departmental recruiting literature, website or video. Remember, we are all competing for the same recruits; highlighting your coaching or mentoring programs is the first step to attracting that quality candidate.

Coaching and mentoring programs are an enormous gift for the organization, officers and the community. Your organization has a tremendous marketing tool to recruit and retain officers. Present and future officers belong to an agency that cares about their careers and wants to see them succeed. Finally, the community benefits significantly with improved and motivated officers possessing the tools necessary to police in these challenging times effectively.

Chief Ron Camacho is an accomplished law enforcement executive who spent time as an advisor in Afghanistan and Mexico. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, has a master’s in criminal justice from Liberty University, and is the chief of the Chambersburg Pennsylvania Police Department. He is the owner of Camacho Consulting LLC, a leadership and management training company. Camachoconsulting.net

NEW JERSEY VETERANS NETWORK IN ACTION

NEW JERSEY VETERANS NETWORK IN ACTION
By: Michael D. Boll

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The New Jersey Veterans Network (NJVN) is a mobile outreach team that aggressively seeks out veterans in need.  For our charity to be successful, we need to have teammates who love our veterans the same as we do. Both  Joe Motes, owner of the Red Cadillac Restaurant, and Paul Carvalho, owner of Paul’s Garage, are two men who have always put others first and constantly help our veterans live a better way of life.

Joseph Montes has been with the NJVN since its creation.  I met Joe in 2014 and have worked with him and the Red Cadillac ever since.  Joe and the members of the restaurant are a family that treats people like they are a part of the family.  Joe has so much respect for our veterans that he feels obligated to host regular feeding events for the men and women who have served our great nation.

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For the last few years, Joe and the Red Cadillac family have hosted various feeding events for disabled veterans from nearly all the VA shelters and memorial homes.  Also, they delivered food directly to disabled veterans who were unable to get to the restaurant.   Providing food is not the only thing that Joe and Red Cadillac do for our veterans; they have purchased numerous pieces of equipment for our recreational therapy activities.   Over the years, Joe has hired veterans and has helped them get through some difficult times.  Our charity is blessed to have the Red Cadillac in our family.

Paul Carvalho joined the team in the beginning as well. I met Paul when he reached out to me about donating a newer car to a disabled veteran.  Paul and his employees have been providing car repair assistance to veterans for a long time.  They have always gone out of their way to help veterans and show them gratitude for serving our country.  However, Paul and his staff have done a lot more for veterans by hosting fundraising events and donating money for our recreational therapy activities.   Paul also has hired veterans and treats his entire staff like family.   The NJVN couldn’t be happier to be a part of this family as well

Even though both Joe and Paul aren’t veterans, the NJVN is fortunate to have teammates like this who step up and help our uniformed heroes live a better way of life.

If you are interested in joining the team, please send me your name, email and phone number to NJVN1775@gmail.com or call us at (973)332-1556

Michael D. Boll is a retired police sergeant in NJ. He previously served as a United States Marine and is a Gulf War veteran. He is the founder of Operation Rebound Racing Team, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans and first responders enjoy a better quality of life.

Have We Forgotten 9/11 Accountability?

Have We Forgotten 9/11 Accountability?
By Bernard Kerik

In the aftermath of the attacks on America on Sept.11, 2001, there were two days that I recall feeling a sense of pride unlike anything I had experienced in my lifetime.

On that Friday, Sept.14, then-President George W. Bush came to what had become known as Ground Zero and told the world that those responsible for attacking New York City, and Washington, D.C. would be held accountable.

No one doubted his words.

Six days later, I joined first lady Laura Bush at the U.S. Capitol as President Bush addressed Congress with an unprecedented message of unity, and again, in a voice heard around the world, committed to hunting down those responsible for the horrendous attacks on 9/11, and bringing them to justice.

I believed him, as did New York City’s first responders, as did the family members of those lost in the attacks, and as did, anyone else who was listening.

Close to 22 years later, that unity is long gone, as is the desire to hold those accountable that were responsible for the most substantial terror attack in world history, and supporting global terrorism.

That became evident recently as Majid Khan, a Pakistani national walked out of Guantanamo Bay, on his way to Belize after spending 20 years in captivity.

"Today, I feel like I am reborn. I have reentered the world… I’m in a little bit of shock because I have been waiting so long to be free, and I can hardly believe it has finally happened." Khan said in a statement.

Khan had actually grown up in Maryland and returned to Pakistan to join al-Qaida after the Sept. 11 attacks.

He was subsequently captured close to 20 years ago and was sentenced in 2021, to 10 years in prison with time served, for allegedly cooperating with U.S. authorities in the war on terror.

He pleaded guilty — conspiracy to commit murder, spying and "providing material support for terrorism."

In a 2014 U.S. Senate report, that documented the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program, Khan was mentioned as being one of the detainees that was subjected torture techniques used on prisoners, at their facilities.

It is reported that Belize has a program that prepares terror prisoners from Guantanamo for resettlement into their country, supposedly for humanitarian reasons.

Really? Why?

Knowing that horror and devastation of the attacks of 9/11, Khan then decided to join al-Qaida, and conspired to murder Americans, and provide al-Qaida with intelligence and support for their jihad against the United States.

Nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11; thousands more have died since, both first responders in New York City, and in our armed forces abroad.

 Khan and his comrades were responsible for those deaths, yet allowed to walk out of Guantanamo Bay, and trot off to the resort country of Belize.

What happened to being held accountable?

What happened to insuring those responsible could never carry out these acts again.

Back in 2001, then Sen. Joe Biden talked a good game. He was Mr. United! "We will not rest… we’ll never forget," and "we’ll never give up," but he has.

Allowing Khan and others like him to be freed, to return to the evil for which they were initially captured, is the ultimate betrayal, and for that, he should never be forgiven.

As New York City’s 40th Police Commissioner, Bernard Kerik was in command of the NYPD on September 11, 2001, and responsible for the city’s response, rescue, recovery, and the investigative efforts of the most substantial terror attack in world history. His 35-year career has been recognized in more than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan, two Distinguished Service Awards from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and an appointment as Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

“GAME ON” - Investigating the Truth on COVID-19

“GAME ON” - Investigating the Truth on COVID-19
By: Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (Ret.)

So here we are, a little over 3 years into COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2. Republicans have takin the House and it’s “game on” with investigating the origins of COVID and the politicization of the disease that followed. (See CSPAN/YouTube) No more Democrat subterfuge and cover-ups supporting their tyrannical agenda. Now that Elon Musk has exposed the collusion between Twitter and our government to stifle any dissenting opinions about the origins of COVID and the scientific community and doctors who resisted the powers that be. This includes WHO (World Health Organization), the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of whom Dr. Anthony Fauci was director.

Just so you understand the magnitude of the lies perpetrated by Dr. Fauci and the U.S. government, I’ll give you a snippet of what Dr. Russell L. Blaylock, of SNI (Surgical Neurology International) wrote in a recent article. I suggest you look him up for more.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most manipulated infectious disease events in history, characterized by official lies in an unending stream led by government bureaucracies, medical associations, medical boards, the media, and international agencies. We have witnessed a long list of unprecedented intrusions into medical practice, including attacks on medical experts, destruction of medical careers among doctors refusing to participate in killing their patients, and a massive regimentation of healthcare, led by non-qualified individuals with enormous wealth, power, and influence.” End quote.

Two years ago, Dr. Robert Redfield, formerly of the CDC under Trump’s watch, seemed to be the only expert who “bucked” the system, opining that he believed that COVID leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan, China. The lab was close to the “wet market” where Dr. Fauci, in an apparent cover-up, claimed that the virus mutated from a bat. Although Redfield had scientific evidence to back up his claim, Twitter, Facebook, Democrat politicians and the liberal media completely scoffed at the idea. Anyone regurgitating the doctor’s conclusion on social media was warned about spreading “misinformation.” Continuing to spread misinformation or calling it “The China virus” could get you suspended from Twitter or sent to Facebook Jail for 30 days. Guess they didn’t have this problem during the “Spanish Flu” which didn’t even come from Spain. And for the record, Dr. Redfield also told Congress that he was against, “Gain of Function” research that Fauci supported. (Viral Gain of Function is a laboratory technique that genetically manipulates a virus and can increase its transmissibility.)

Sen. Rand Paul in 2022 called Fauci on the carpet for not only supporting, but encouraging “Gain of Function” research, and shipping it off to the Wuhan Lab, with a $600,000 grant. Unfortunately, the senator didn’t get too far as the majority Democrats on the committee, constantly ran cover for Fauci at the time.

Jamie Metzl, founder and chair, OneShared.World, testified on Capitol Hill that the Chinese government destroyed samples early on, hid records, imprisoned Chinese journalists, prevented Chinese scientists from saying or writing anything on pandemic origins without prior government approval, actively spread misinformation, (sound familiar) and prevented an evidence-based investigation. Furthermore; “It is unconceivable that over three years after this deadly pandemic began, no comprehensive and unfettered investigation into pandemic origins has been carried out nor is one currently planned.”

Nicholas Wade, former science and health editor of the New York Times, testified before Congress how Fauci used unverified data to dismiss the lab leak theory early on, in favor of natural transmission. So, it was a cover-up from day one.

And if the virus wasn’t bad enough, the negative side-effects of the vaccine is now also being covered up. Autopsies were done on 15 patients who supposedly died from COVID. It was determined that 14 of the 15 died as a result of the vaccines and not other causes. Dr. Arne Burkhardt, pathologist, Reutlingen, Germany, observed widespread evidence of an immune attack on the autopsied individuals’ organs and tissues, especially the heart. This evidence included extensive invasion of small blood vessels with massive numbers of lymphocytes, which cause extensive cell destruction when unleashed.

Dr. James Thorpe, an expert in maternal medicine, demonstrates that these COVID-19 vaccines given during pregnancy have resulted in a 50-fold higher incidence of miscarriage than reported with all other vaccines combined.

Was it stupidity, incompetence, fear or money that drove the government and medical agenda that followed a virus with a 98.8% survival rate? Why did our government ban the use of Hydroxy-Chloroquine and Ivermectin during early treatment, thereby killing thousands of Americans who could’ve been saved? These were safe drugs being used for years with very few side effects. And now we’re finding out that all-day masking of our children, and vaccinations, caused insurmountable damage, too.

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.

MANAGING EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW

MANAGING EDITOR’S POINT OF VIEW

"Sunlight is the best disinfectant” is a well-known quote attributable to former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis (served 1916-1939), referring to the benefits of openness and transparency.

But why did Brandeis say that sunlight is the best of disinfectants?  Because he was referring to a statement by James Bryce in his 1888 book, The American Commonwealth: “The conscience and common sense of the nation as a whole keep down the evils which have crept into the working of the Constitution, and may in time extinguish them. Public opinion is a sort of atmosphere, fresh, keen, and full of sunlight, like that of the American cities, and this sunlight kills many of those noxious germs which are hatched where politicians congregate.”

As time pushes ahead into the New Year and beyond, more truth in the court of public opinion is becoming apparent on a multitude of issues of importance to law enforcement.

From the predictable and nonsensical results of defunding police and the abolishment of some long-standing qualified immunity to revelations of alleged federal law enforcement improprieties appearing to be based largely upon political motives to the overall detrimental effects of the “woke” philosophy, we are witnessing the pendulum begin to shift in favor of truth, law and order in real-time.

We who are dedicated to honest law enforcement maintain that our job is to investigate and report truthfully, not suppress.

The staff of BLUE Magazine writers, being comprised of many astute observers and trained investigators, are always open and transparent in our viewpoints while sharing experiences, knowledge, war stories, and solutions-based teachings. No matter which side of the political aisle you identify with, it's hard not to agree that sunshine is, indeed, the best disinfectant.

In this issue, Ken Dye opines in his article Want to Defund Police…No Need, Just Repeal Qualified Immunity. Professor Peter Marina touts changing positive views toward police in schools in School Resource Officers: “Momma Bear” and the Human Rights Approach. Chief Richard Rosell reminds us all that America is Still Behind Us. And don’t miss our cover story on the magic of Christmas with the help of Moment of Silence and BLUE Magazine.

As truth continues to trump many of the false ideological politically based narratives we remain committed to making our communities safer and more successful each and every day.

Reach out to us. We are here for you, always, as we continue to be of service and help one another. Stay safe as we take on 2023 together.

Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor

Santa Comes to Paterson

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What happens when Santa and his elves get a boost from Moment of Silence and BLUE Magazine? Magic!

Once again in 2022 an army of volunteers collected and wrapped gifts before descending upon the streets of Paterson New Jersey to distribute holiday joy to nearly 5,000 individuals and families.

Amongst the participants from Moment of Silence were individuals who have felt the hopelessness and despair in their personal journey against Blue suicide.

On this day, any feelings of hopelessness and despair were replaced with the sounds of joy, laughter and gratitude as the elves distributed gifts.

All differences aside, law enforcement and the community came together with people of all backgrounds, nationalities, and beliefs replacing any differences with the magic of giving in the best of the holiday spirit to some of the lowest-income households on the dangerous streets in the city of Paterson. On that day it felt like all were in one of the safest neighborhoods in the nation. It felt safe because regardless of ethnicity or beliefs everyone felt the spirit of Christmas. 

Santa came to Paterson with gifts for everyone in the community; not only the kids but also homeless people. A lot of homeless people felt happy seeing us and receiving gifts. 

People that didn’t really get along with the police on this day put their differences aside. There is a recognized gap between the cops and many in the community but on that day everyone was exuberating love and respect. 

The officers and law enforcement supporters behind this event benefited greatly, too. To get a hug from community members during these times and to see a kid smile, to see parents cry of joy and happiness, to see older ladies come up and say “wow you guys really love us” validated our mission and intent.

In the end, perhaps we benefited the most. This couldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for all the supporters throughout the nation. Many supporters come from police departments everywhere.

To all of those who volunteered, donated and supported us we say thank you.

Now the planning begins to continue the magic in the years ahead. Make plans to join us!

Santa comes to Paterson 2022 was made possible by:

Moment of Silence is a nonprofit organization founded to support, promote and develop programs for our law enforcement, military, and first responder communities. We take pride promoting our two main missions: Blue Suicide and Youth Community Outreach.

            • Blue Suicide raises awareness about the epidemic of suicides amongst law enforcement, military personnel and first responders.

            • Our Youth Community Outreach program reaches out to at-risk inner-city youths through a holistic approach of one-on-one mentoring, providing guidance, employment, and education assistance. We strongly believe that the relationship between law enforcement and the youth is a priceless and worthy endeavor.

“Never give up, Stay in the fight.”

momentofsilenceinc.org/

The Blue Magazine is the unfiltered and independent voice of American law enforcement officers. It is owned and operated by active and retired law enforcement professionals who recognize the inherent dangers, and challenges, in all aspects of law enforcement.

We at The Blue Magazine aim to strengthen the ties that bring us together as brothers and sisters in blue. There are relevant, helpful, and interesting articles in the magazine and on the website. These articles are uncensored and written by men and women in law enforcement, as well as those who support them. We shine a light on anyone who attacks our profession for self-serving interests.

We honor the service and sacrifices of our brothers and sisters in blue whom have lost their lives defending and protecting their communities. We honor the men and women of the military who protect our freedom, both at home and abroad. There is a price paid, by our military and police officers, in blood or anguish.

We Are Blue.

thebluemagazine.com

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THE ‘MOTORCYCLE’ DEBACLE

THE ‘MOTORCYCLE’ DEBACLE
By: Wes Wise

In the late ‘60s or early ‘70s, the Baltimore City Police Department purchased a dozen or so enclosed three-wheeled Cushman scooters for use by officers patrolling large city parks and golf courses. It was an overtime assignment, and since I needed the money, I jumped at the chance to patrol the parks during some of my days off.

Because I was one of the few officers who volunteered for park duty and would, therefore be one of the officers patrolling the parks/golf courses from time to time, I needed to have a motorcycle license. I’d never been on a motorcycle in my life, so I was sent to the Police Academy to “earn” a motorcycle license.

What’s interesting about that is I never even saw a motorcycle while qualifying for the license. The academy simply had me drive one of the Cushman scooters (designated as a motorcycle) around the parking lot a few times to prove that I could drive a stick shift (the scooters had an automobile-like standard shift) and whammo - they certified to the state and the world that I was qualified to operate a motorcycle (even though I wasn’t), and the state issued me a motorcycle driver’s license (with a wink and a nod, I believe).

Before that, I’d never operated any motor vehicle that required you to balance it when at rest or a vehicle with a foot-operated shifter and handbrakes. Nevertheless, I was now officially licensed to operate a Harley-Davidson or an Indian on the street if I cared to. Little did I know just how much my unfamiliarity with motorcycles and possession of the required motorcycle license would influence what happened to me some years later.

Fast forward two years to 1973, the evening shift, and my motorcycle adventure. The department obtained on loan from Honda a Honda 90 for experimental purposes to possibly replace the Cushman scooters for park use. For those not familiar with them, the Honda 90 was the Mini-Cooper of motorcycles; heck, this thing was shorter and smaller than the twenty-six-inch English bicycles I’d ridden as a kid.

But, unlike my childhood bicycles, this powerful little beast had ninety horsepower. It also had a foot-operated clutch, handlebar brake and throttle controls, and only two wheels just like a “real” standard-size motorcycle. The day the bike was received from Honda, my clueless sergeant approached me and said, “I see from your personnel sheet that you have a motorcycle license, so I’ve chosen you to test our new Honda 90.

He instructed me to drive it to Clifton Park and use it to patrol the park that day. I told him that was a terrible idea, that I’d never ridden a motorcycle of any size before, and that I was afraid of them. Even though it was small, it still scared me. I told him my motorcycle license was bogus, that it was thrust upon me by a department desperate to find drivers for its then-new Cushman Scooters, and that I would not comply with his order to use the Honda for the night.

After he pointed out some examples of what would happen to me if I continued to refuse his order, I relented. But I advised him that as a precaution and in the interest of self-preservation I would first write an administrative report objecting to the order and to the task. This infuriated the sergeant but seemed to me to be necessary, no matter how it might affect our professional relationship going forward.

In the administrative report, I pointed out with great specificity the totally non-existent motorcycle training I’d received, stressing that during the sham training/testing the department provided for me I never once touched or even saw an actual motorcycle. I ended the report by writing that I was proceeding under protest. I submitted the original report to the sergeant, who said he would file it.

In what could only have been an attempt to ameliorate my objections, the sergeant told me to push the Honda over to the Montebello Filters (a big water filtration plant right across the street from the police station house) and use the non-public roads which threaded among the little water pools there to practice riding the unfamiliar little motorcycle until I felt comfortable using it – any vehicle that was ridden rather than driven was problematic for me. Following orders, I pushed the Honda across the street to the filters, started it, and began a classic misadventure.

The next time I saw my sergeant was only about ten minutes later back at the station, and the following conversation (more or less) ensued. Yes, my sergeant was indeed just as obtuse as it seems from the conversation I’ve outlined, and yes, I was really so ticked off that I was purposely being difficult and sarcastic:

Sergeant: “What are you doing back so soon?”

Me: “I’m finished with the Honda 90 experiment.”

Sergeant: “What happened to your uniform?”

Me: “I fell.”

Sergeant: “You fell where?”

Me: “Across the street”

Sergeant: “How did you fall?”

Me: “I fell off the seat.”

Sergeant: “Where is the motorcycle now?”

Me: “Over at the Montebello Filter plant.”

Sergeant: “Why is it over there?”

Me: “Because you told me to practice over there, and I fell off the seat of the damn thing.”

Sergeant: “Is the motorcycle in one of the pools?”

Me: “Yes, sir.”

Sergeant: “You nincompoop!! You mean to tell me the Honda I assigned to you is in the middle of one of the Montebello pools?”

Me: “I don’t know if it’s in the middle exactly, but I’m pretty sure it’s on the bottom. I saw bubbles and steam coming up from the bottom after I fell off the seat of the damn thing and it ran itself into the pool.”

Sergeant: “##$^?%#*&&!!”

When he stopped yelling at me, I asked him if I should call the Traffic Investigation Section (TIS). TIS investigated all departmental traffic accidents, and you were required to call them immediately if you had one. I didn’t know if they had to investigate this because the Honda was not really a departmental vehicle - it was on loan from Honda.

When he stopped yelling at me again, he told me to just go home and nurse my sore knee and backside and come back to work as scheduled the next day. He added that he’d take care of the problem I’d caused him.

Before I left the station, I went upstairs to an empty office and wrote a complete report about what happened, date and time-stamped it and attached it to the report I already had in my hat. Then I went home and nursed my minor injuries by watching TV.

But of course, that’s not the end of the story. At about three o’clock the next morning I got a call at home from my still highly irritated sergeant. For some reason, he had not gone home at the end of his shift and was still at the station. In no uncertain terms, he ordered me to return to the station IMMEDIATELY! So I got dressed in street clothes and drove back to the station. I took my uniform hat with me.

With him at the station were a lieutenant, a sergeant, and an accident investigation officer, all from TIS. The lieutenant had been called in the middle of the night by his sergeant to deal with the “motorcycle in the pool incident.” The first thing anyone said to me was from the lieutenant, who told me I was in a pile of trouble for not notifying TIS about my stupid accident.

Calling TIS to the scene of a departmental accident was required in the event one occurred, he said. So, I took a little haranguing from the TIS lieutenant, and a little more from the TIS sergeant, before I even got a chance to speak. But when I did speak, the first thing I told them was that my sergeant had specifically instructed me not to call TIS, but instead to go home and that he would take care of it himself, whatever that had meant.

At that point, I reached into the uniform hat that I had carried in with me and pulled out two reports I had written, dated, and time-stamped. The lieutenant read them slowly, looked at the date and time stamped on them, and told me to excuse them for a few minutes while they discussed the matter. I told the lieutenant they should be discussing the incident with me, since my sergeant had no real idea what had happened or which of the pools the motorcycle was in, and he yelled, “Just get out and wait for me in the desk area!”

A few minutes later the lieutenant came out and assured me that they would take care of things and that I should just leave and forget about it. I told him I would be glad to leave, but that I would never forget about it, and I sat down at a desk and started writing. After demanding that the lieutenant counter-sign the report I had just written and also copies of my earlier administrative reports, I did go home.

It was no surprise that I never heard another word about it, though I was treated a good bit more gingerly by my sergeant from then on. Of course, I never forgot about it and never told anyone about the situation until now.

A thirty-six-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, Wes retired in 2006 as the Commander of the city’s 911 System. While recovering from a stroke in 2014, he wrote two books about his experiences as a Baltimore cop. Wes has also self-published fourteen books for other writers. Need publishing help? Contact Wes at weswise78@gmail.com. A father of two and grandfather of ten, he and his wife of 49 years live near Baltimore, Maryland.

Victory Announced in New Jersey

Victory Announced in New Jersey
By: Timothy R. Smith, Esq.

The law firm of Caruso Smith Picini has announced that the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided in favor of Officer Greg DiGuglielmo in his Special Disciplinary Arbitration case against the New Jersey Institute of Technology. The law firm of Caruso Smith Picini is a criminal and administrative defense firm that represents police officers all throughout the State of New Jersey.

Caruso Smith Picini acquired the case for the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 pro bono. The firm felt that it was clear that Officer DiGuglielmo had his rights violated and that the employer, New Jersey Institute of Technology, improperly impeded on the officer's rights.

The case was before the courts to determine whether Officer DiGuglielmo, an NJIT Police Officer, was permitted to pursue a claim challenging his termination through the Special Disciplinary Arbitration Process. Officer DiGuglielmo, who was the Fraternal Order of Police Union President for the New Jersey Institute of Technology Police Department, was terminated from his position of police officer without a hearing and without requested discovery to present a case for his defense.

New Jersey Institute of Technology not only terminated Officer DiGuglielmo without a hearing and due process, but New Jersey Institute of Technology also continued its efforts by appealing to the New Jersey courts that Officer DiGuglielmo and all New Jersey police officers who patrol college campuses are not entitled to their rights under New Jersey Statutes 40A:14-209 and 40A:14-210.

Caruso Smith Picini stood with the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police and Officer DiGuglielmo and fought this injustice to the bitter end. The victory for Officer DiGuglielmo is also a victory for all campus police officers throughout the state..

Caruso Smith Picini is proud of the work it does on behalf of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police and police officers throughout the state of New Jersey. We will continue to fight for the rights of Officer DiGuglielmo and look forward to a complete exoneration of Officer DiGuglielmo and expose the improprieties of the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Timothy R. Smith, a certified criminal trial attorney (less than 1% of New Jersey lawyers have satisfied the rigorous requirements necessary to achieve such a designation), devotes much of his practice to criminal and disciplinary defense. Smith was formerly employed as a police officer, detective, police union president and member of a prosecutor’s office legal staff prior to transitioning into private legal practice. Smith has served as an adjunct professor of graduate studies at Seton Hall University. He has also served as a private consultant to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey instructing police recruits in the area of search and seizure.

Crime in the Nation’s Capital: Can You Change Violent Offenders?

Crime in the Nation’s Capital: Can You Change Violent Offenders?
By: Leonard Sipes

I was the senior public affairs specialist for a federal criminal justice agency in Washington, D.C. I sat in endless meetings with federal and D.C. officials as they discussed efforts to stop or modify violence. Washington, D.C. has the best-funded justice system in the country. It has access to crime control and prevention experts from its endless think tanks. Its courts, parole and probation, prosecutor’s office and pretrial services are well-funded federal agencies with very low caseloads (compared to the rest of the country). Even non-federal D.C. agencies (i.e., the police) get a ton of money from the federal government.

Collectively, these agencies come into contact with an endless number of offenders on a daily basis. The services they provide to those caught up in the justice system are the envy of the country (while noting that advocates insist that it’s not enough).

If you spend time in D.C. examining crime issues, you will come into contact with an abundance of well-educated, very experienced, compassionate people who fervently believe that given enough resources, you can stop people from engaging in violence. This discussion has been going on for decades. Yet when you look at a list of the most dangerous cities in the U.S., Washington, D.C. is often near the top of the list.

With a resource-rich and dedicated justice system powered by federal dollars, one would expect D.C. to get complicated initiatives right. There are thousands of articles on evidence-based programs to guide them. There are hundreds of nationally known experts who will tell you what to do and how to do it.

At one point, the D.C. government set out to do whatever it took to save Jahmeze Williams, the 20-year-old slumped over in the back seat of a car, a bullet lodged in his right arm.

He died within half an hour, shot inches above a tattoo of his mother’s name.

Williams was one of about 230 D.C. residents the city had dubbed “People of Promise,” a diplomatic way of referring to a list of those considered most at risk of committing violence — or becoming a victim of violence themselves. The initiative, a key pillar of D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s effort to combat crime as homicides continue at a pace that could reach a two-decade high, was designed to bring intense government services to those on the list, assigning a cabinet-level official to supervise each person’s case.

But about five months after the city formally launched the program, two people, including Williams, had been killed, at least eight others on the list had been shot and more than a dozen had been charged in connection with non-fatal shootings, carjackings and unlawful possession of firearms, according to city officials and a review of the list by The Washington Post against court and other public records.

City officials said they enlisted a wide swath of agencies to implement the program — including behavioral health, public works and transportation. But they acknowledged missteps in the process, and they conceded they have yet to even make contact with about half of those they want to protect. Asked to grade the initiative, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Christopher Geldart said he would give it a “C-plus.”

The Washington Post reviewed a copy of the list of People of Promise, which the city declined to provide. The document includes dozens of repeat offenders, multiple members of families linked to generations of violence in D.C., and people charged in some of the most high-profile shootings in the region.

Those on the list appear to be men between 15 and 64 years old, with the majority between 18 and 35. Most people are affiliated with a known gang or crew and have previous charges ranging from low-level drug offenses to first-degree murder. At that point, 52 people had been slain in the District since January. Over the next five months, that number about tripled. But by late September in D.C., the number of slayings was about even compared to the same time in 2021 — when there were more than 200 killings in a year for the first time in almost two decades.

Bowser has said she can bring gun violence down by 90 percent by focusing on “the people and places where most of the crime is happening.”

Over the last two fiscal years, the city spent $139 million on efforts outside policing to combat gun violence. It is unclear what subset of that funding went directly into People of Promise, since the program is meant to streamline an array of services from multiple agencies, rather than offer new ones.

People of Promise grew out of an analysis performed by David Muhammad, executive director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, on shootings in 2019 and 2020. The District government paid him $65,000 over two years for a process that included identifying the 230 or so people most at risk of committing gun violence or being victimized by it. As of mid-September, Geldart said the city had made contact with 122 people on the list of about 230 — about 40 of whom are currently incarcerated. He said government workers had been able to “actively engage” about 94 of the people they reached. That, he said, means they did something like providing employment or mental health services, or successfully conducted safety check-ins.

The mayor suggests a 90 percent reduction in gun violence by focusing on high-risk people and places. She relies on an abundance of criminological data stating that a minority of offenders and places are responsible for most violence. Focus your resources there and you will get significant reductions. If you have the best possible resources, talent, and data, what could go wrong?

For those of us writing about crime and violence, the overwhelming majority of what we read comes daily from very progressive national sources.

To summarize their message, cops and prisons are inherently flawed responses to crime and criminals. What are needed are “proven, evidence-based” modalities that offer the services necessary to assist people caught up in the justice system. They will offer an endless array of programs they deem successful to guide the rest of us. The problem with their assessment is that the overwhelming number of programs and modalities provided have little to no proof of effectiveness. Criminology relies on well-constructed, methodically correct evaluations that have been replicated over time using independent evaluators. Using this as a benchmark, there are few studies that indicate that providing services to offenders works. In a massive meta-analysis of rehabilitation programs, interventions either didn’t work, or they didn’t work well, resulting in the vast majority of offenders returning to the justice system.

This can be an intimidating thought. When I offer this analysis through my writings, there are many who insist that these programs do work. Critics offer small studies using tiny numbers without independent evaluations (i.e., violence interrupters) that suggest huge reductions in recidivism. There was a study called Project Hope out of Hawaii that was probation based offering very significant reductions in new crimes. It was the darling of many of us until it was replicated in a variety of states and deemed ineffective.

To summarize, I believe the problem is not with D.C.’s implementation (while acknowledging that there are issues). I believe that it’s the “science” itself. The mayor correctly relies on criminological data suggesting that a focus on people and places without understanding that high-risk offenders are notoriously difficult to change based on massive rates of recidivism. Regardless, the vast majority of untargeted offenders are still committing crimes. A 90 percent reduction in gun violence was wildly unrealistic.

The problem with many offenders is that they have vast histories of mental illness or emotional problems plus substance abuse issues. Most were raised by single mothers in high-crime areas where the literature cites high numbers of abuse and neglect, brain damage and PTSD along with a host of other disturbing emotional conditions. As a parole and probation agent once told me, “They have chips on their shoulders the size of Montana.” If you were raised in a climate of extreme dysfunction, you are (or can be) at war with the world.

Many of us have been calling for a massive increase in the research funding of the Department of Justice to figure out why so many programs seem to fail. There should be a multi-day national conference to address these issues. But admitting failures is sort of like conceding that the science itself (as we currently understand it) is flawed.  Programs like “People of Promise” and rehabilitative efforts need to continue as long as they have the funds for comprehensive, independent, and replicated evaluations throughout the life of the program and beyond. Everything should be on the table using the same criteria. Let the results speak for themselves.

But in the meantime, we have cities with immense violence problems that need to be addressed. And yes, at the moment, all we have with a proven track record is law enforcement, proactive policing, and separating the dangerous from the rest of us. That’s not progressive, but for the moment, it’s the truth.

Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr.is a retired federal senior spokesperson. A former Adjunct Associate Professor of Criminology and Public Affairs - University of Maryland. Former advisor to the “McGruff-Take a Bite Out of Crime” national media campaign. Past police officer. Aspiring drummer. Operator of CrimeinAmerica.net. His book based on thirty-five years of criminal justice public relations,” Success with the Media: Everything You Need to Survive Reporters and Your Organization” is available at Amazon and additional booksellers. He can also be found @ leonardsipes.com

America is Still Behind Us

America is Still Behind Us
By: Richard Rosell, Ph.D.

I often wonder what that world would be like if the majority of the news media were as honest and transparent as law enforcement.  I don’t ponder that for long, though.  It will never happen in our lifetime.  It may never happen in 100 lifetimes.  The data is there for them, should they desire to use it honestly.  Sadly, it is much more convenient for them to consistently ignore the facts in order to create chaos and instigate mistrust against us.

Consider that a 2022 Gallup poll reported that 41.5 percent of both black and white Americans had faith in the police, 56 and 27 percent by whites and blacks respectively.  This data represents an increase from the 37.5 percent total in 2020.  But the most interesting aspect of this increase is that, while there was no change in the percentage of white Americans (56%), confidence among black Americans jumped 8 percent, from 19 to 27 percent. When all Americans are included, the average confidence in law enforcement jumps to 48 percent. Only two institutions of the 16 included in the poll, small business and the military, top confidence in law enforcement, garnering 68 and 64 percent respectively.

Now, I know what you are thinking. “Gee, we only have a 48 percent confidence rate?” While I would love to see that percentage double, when you put it into the proper perspective, we are doing much better than most institutions.

The Supreme Court, the institution upon which we depend to properly interpret our most sacred document, the United States Constitution, only enjoys the confidence of 25 percent of Americans.  

The American public school system, responsible for educating the next generation, and all subsequent generations, of American children, rates only slightly better than the Supreme Court at 28 percent.

Confidence in the presidency has dropped dramatically to 23 percent. Without getting political, I think we all know why.

At the bottom of the sixteen institutions included in the poll we find the United States Congress, with a mere 7 percent confidence rating.  How disturbing is the state of our republic that the institution charged with creating federal law and providing for the common defense can boast that 93 percent of Americans polled have no confidence in it?  In my humble opinion, it certainly earned that 7 percent rating.

While I take no joy in that fact that many of our institutions have become so morally and ethically corrupt that they no longer enjoy the confidence of the average American, I am not surprised.  Nor am I shocked, that Gallup reports that only 11 percent of Americans have a “Great Deal” of confidence in television media, and 16 percent in print media.  Don’t you remember when these embarrassing stats appeared on the front page of the New York Times and the Washington Post on the same day?  Oh, wait, that’s right.  That didn’t happen.

I’m not satisfied with 48 percent, but I am also mindful of the possibility that if the media portrayed law enforcement as we truly are as opposed to how they want us to appear, our confidence percentage would be significantly higher.  So, keep your chins up and continue to do your best. It could be worse; we could be Congress.

Richard Rosell, Ph.D. is currently the Police Chief and Public Safety Director for the Town of Indian River Shores, Florida, the former Director of Public Safety for the Town of Dover, NJ and Township of Springfield, NJ, and a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, retiring at the rank of Captain.

Police Officer Steven Hernandez

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Police Officer Steven Hernandez
Article & Artwork by Jonny Castro

“Whatever his struggle, he deserves to be remembered.”
On the afternoon of Jan. 10, 2023, NYPD Police Officer Steven Hernandez took his own life by jumping from a 17-story building in Queens. Moments before the tragic incident, the distraught officer had just left a mandated appointment at a department psychiatrist office in the NYPD Medical Division, which was located within the same building complex. He had recently made a series of posts on social media pleading for help with the mental health issues that he had been battling. “Please help me. Please love me. Please care for me. Please listen to me…” was one of those posts.

Officer Hernandez joined the NYPD in 2017 and was assigned to the 121st Precinct in Staten Island. He leaves behind two young children. He was 30 years old.

College Killings in Idaho: The Incel Danger Grows

College Killings in Idaho: The Incel Danger Grows
By Lt Joseph Pangaro, CPM, CSO, MOI

A blast of gunfire or the slashing of a knife and tragedy descends on innocent victims. Is it an active shooter angry at their school, or workplace? Who is this killer?

We have many kinds of dangerous people in the world today, and we have become familiar with some of them, like the school-age student shooter or the aggrieved workplace shooter who kills their classmates or co-workers, but have we ever heard of the incel killer?

“Incels” or involuntary celibates as they are known, are mostly males who believe that they are entitled to and are desirous of sexual relationships with beautiful women but are denied these relationships by some cruel realities of life. There are some “incel” females, but their numbers are very small.

The cruel realities of life they believe they suffer from are defined as a set of circumstances they believe are dictated by human nature. More specifically, they believe that women will only engage in sexual activity with a limited number of high-status and very attractive men. They call this the 80/20 rule.

Eighty percent of women have sex with only 20% of the very attractive and high-status men in the world. This leaves many men lonely and unfulfilled sexually and in relationships devoid of sex. 

So, as the belief system goes, an average-looking man has limited opportunity at best to find female sexual partners and an unattractive man has almost no chance of engaging with women.

This belief system and the inability to connect to the female partners they desire leaves these men involuntarily celibate, or as incels.

Several active shooter events have taken place in which the shooter was a self-described incel. The recent college killings in Idaho where four young college students were brutally stabbed to death, apparently in their sleep, is an example or I believe it could be an example of the killer being an incel or at least being on that road.

I posited this idea after seeing reports about the crime scene and method of operation of the killer in the house the victims were staying in. The violence of the attack, the repeated stabbings and the use of a knife as the weapon of murder all indicated to me that this was perhaps an incel-related attack.

In a recent news report, a retired FBI agent from the profile unit said he thinks there may be incel tendencies involved in this crime. 

The use of the knife in an up-close and personal attack such as these four killings is also indicative of the mindset of the killer. A knife, when used to repeatedly stab a victim, can be a sexually motivated action; the knife is a phallic symbol. We often see this pattern of behavior in a domestic violence homicide.

I have personal experience with this kind of investigation when I was the lead in a brutal double homicide investigation. The killer was the boyfriend and father of one of the victims’ children. The other victim was the killer’s elderly grandmother.

The killer was jealous of the girlfriend and believed a possible sexual affair was taking place between the girlfriend and another man. In an attempt to prove this, he sneaked into the home anticipating catching the girlfriend in bed with the boyfriend.

The killer did not find his girlfriend in bed with a lover, but the topic came up and a screaming fight ensured. The killer, in a rage, used a large knife to stab the victim 33 times.

This motive came out in the course of the investigation and revealed the repeated stabbing; the overkill with the knife was a statement of sexual power over the victim.

It is this experience and my research on the actions and thought patterns and beliefs of the incel community that leads me to believe these killings in Idaho are also incel-related. Time and evidence will tell.

The Idaho suspected killer (he is charged with the murders), used a large knife to repeatedly stab the victims, three of whom were attractive young women, with one being a male who was in bed with one of the women. The Idaho suspect was reported to be very awkward with women and was teased by women when he was in high school.The reports of his other behaviors have not been revealed yet, but a picture is starting to come together.

These facts all combined give indication that incel actions are involved in this case.

For all of us in law enforcement who investigate crime, this tells us clearly that we must consider this rising concern of incel crime as we look at incidents going forward.

Joseph Pangaro is a 27-year veteran of law enforcement. He retired in 2013 at the rank of Lieutenant and currently serves as the Director of School Safety and Security for a large school district in NJ. He is also the owner of Pangaro Training and Management, a company that provides training to the public and private sector on a host of topics. Email: JPangaro@Yahoo.com