A Deepening Crisis: The Struggle to Recruit and Retain Police Officers

A Deepening Crisis: The Struggle to Recruit and Retain Police Officers
By: Lt. Joseph Bucco

In recent years, police departments across the country have faced an unprecedented challenge: the struggle to recruit and retain qualified police officers. This growing crisis has far-reaching consequences for public safety, community trust and the overall well-being of our society. As we examine the underlying factors contributing to this predicament, it becomes clear that urgent action is needed to address the root causes and restore the integrity of our law enforcement agencies.

One key factor contributing to the struggle to recruit and retain police officers is the rapid change of public perception of law enforcement. High-profile cases of police misconduct and excessive use of force have eroded public trust and created a negative image of the profession. These rare incidents are amplified by social media and 24/7 news coverage, and have led to increased scrutiny and criticism of police practices. As a result, many potential recruits are deterred by the fear of being associated with a profession perceived as corrupt or abusive.

Law enforcement officers face an unprecedented level of scrutiny in today's digital age. Every action, decision and encounter can be recorded and instantly shared, often without proper context. This constant surveillance, fueled by public demand for accountability, places an enormous burden on police officers. The fear of being unfairly judged or publicly shamed, even for minor mistakes, has contributed to a sense of demoralization among law enforcement personnel. This intense scrutiny is yet another thing that has dissuaded many potential candidates from pursuing a career in policing.

Another significant factor affecting recruitment and retention is the heightened risk and danger faced by police officers. The nature of police work is inherently dangerous, but in recent years, the job has become even more perilous. Officers routinely face the threat of violence, confront armed individuals and find themselves in life-or-death situations. The rising tide of gun violence and the prevalence of heavily armed criminals have exacerbated these risks. The fear for personal safety, coupled with the emotional toll of witnessing trauma and tragedy, has made the profession less appealing to potential recruits.

The issue of compensation and support for police officers cannot be overlooked. Many law enforcement agencies struggle to offer competitive salaries and benefits, making it difficult to attract qualified candidates. The demanding nature of police work, coupled with long hours and irregular schedules, further compounds the problem. Moreover, inadequate funding for training and equipment places additional strain on officers, hindering their ability to effectively perform their duties. The lack of support and resources creates an environment where burnout and dissatisfaction are prevalent, leading to increased attrition rates.

The consequences of the struggle to recruit and retain police officers are dire and far-reaching. Shortages in law enforcement personnel result in reduced police presence and slower response times, jeopardizing public safety. Overworked and stressed officers may be more prone to making errors or engaging in misconduct, further eroding public trust. Moreover, a lack of diversity within police departments hampers their ability to understand and effectively serve diverse communities. This crisis has a detrimental impact on crime prevention, community relations and the overall quality of life for citizens.

To address the struggle to recruit and retain police officers, comprehensive and systemic changes are required. First and foremost, rebuilding public trust must be a priority. Police departments must engage in transparent and accountable practices, emphasizing community-oriented policing and fostering positive relationships with the communities they serve. Implementing robust internal systems of accountability and oversight can help identify and address misconduct, restoring faith in the profession.

Additionally, competitive compensation packages must be offered to attract and retain qualified candidates. This includes competitive salaries, benefits and greater opportunities for professional development. Prioritizing mental health support for officers, including regular counseling services and trauma-informed care, is crucial to mitigating the emotional toll of the job.

Investing in comprehensive training programs and modernizing police equipment is also essential. Emphasizing de-escalation techniques, cultural sensitivity and non-lethal alternatives can improve officer effectiveness and community relations. Collaborating with educational institutions to develop recruitment pipelines and incentivizing individuals from diverse backgrounds to join law enforcement can lead to more representative and empathetic police forces.

The struggle to recruit and retain police officers is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Rebuilding public trust, addressing concerns of accountability and transparency and improving compensation and support systems are critical steps toward resolving this crisis. By investing in the well-being of law enforcement personnel and fostering community collaboration, we can restore the integrity of our police departments, ensuring public safety and promoting trust between officers and the communities they serve.

Joe Bucco is a Municipal Police Lieutenant in New Jersey.  He is currently in his 20th year of service and is assigned to the Detective Division as a supervisor. A certified police instructor since 2011, Joe has taught a variety of topics at police academies and academic institutions across New Jersey. Some of his past assignments include the department’s Patrol Division, Street Crimes Unit as well as an on-loan assignment with a multi-jurisdiction Fugitive Task Force. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Master of Arts from Seton Hall University’s Police Graduate Studies Program. In 2018, Joe accepted a position as a Business Development Manager with a national communications and media company that is solely focused on serving our nations law enforcement officers.   

Understanding the Kill List- For Schools and Law Enforcement

Understanding the Kill List- For Schools and Law Enforcement
By Lt. Joseph Pangaro, CSO, CPM

A Kill List definition:  A list of the names of people a person intends or desires to kill.

We often see “Kill Lists” discussed in relation to a school shooting. In the course of the investigation after an active shooter attack has taken place, the law enforcement agency will often find a kill list in the shooter’s belongings or at their house. Finding this after people have been injured and died is very unfortunate.

In some cases, the kill list is found before any violence takes place. This is a good thing and can save lives if the school and the police know how to respond to finding such a list.

A little personal experience here to help explain the concerns. About five years ago, I conducted a training program for school personnel on the topic of identifying dangerous people by reviewing their writings, journals, drawings, social media posts and other expressions that could indicate their mindset of violent intent.

One of the things we must understand is that when it comes to a young person considering violence such as an active shooter attack on a school, or an adult at a workplace, the people who do this very rarely wake up on a random Tuesday and decide they will kill their classmates or co-workers.

What we find from the investigations after an attack and the lessons learned in these cases is that the attacker often thinks about this activity for weeks if not months before they actually strike out. It is during this “Thinking it over time” that they can express themselves in ways that can give clue to their violent intent. If we can identify this intent, if we can see it, we can intervene to prevent a violent incident.

In this program I talked about the concept of “Leakage” as it relates to people who commit violence. Leakage is a term to describe the things a person planning violence often does, and that we can often see, as they prepare themselves for the attack.

Their intent or plans may be “leaked” out intentionally or unintentionally through their social media posted comments, pictures, drawings, journaling, or other forms of expression. We may see they have written a “Manifesto” or a written record of their frustrations, angers, hatred or descriptions of abuses they are facing, real or imagined. These manifestos often include their plans on how to strike out at the person or people they hold responsible for their suffering.   

Leakage develops as the person falls deeper and deeper into the thoughts and plans for violence. These thoughts become ever present and can overtake their lives. In an effort to vent these feelings, they can reveal their inner thoughts.

Looking for signs of leakage is a way to identify potential danger.  

Some of the leakage we look for or see can include making statements that sound scary or dangerous, offering veiled threats to a person or group of people, posting pictures of themselves in their battle dress or displaying guns or other weapons, writing stories of violence with them as the attacker. 

The change of clothing styles is a sign of potential violence. The person might begin to wear things associated with a violent incident such as battle gear. Think of a law enforcement SWAT team and how they dress. They wear BDU’s (Battle Dress Uniforms), gun belts, camouflage and military- or police-style boots. All of these items have a legitimate use in law enforcement and the military, but the average citizen does not wear such things for style or trends. These kinds of clothing items have a specific purpose that we all know from the news reports of military or police action and from every TV show we have ever watched. You wear those things when you are going to battle.

This is something that many of the active killers we are familiar with have done, both adults and juveniles. This of the Columbine Killers, they wore BDU’s, gun belts, boots, and gloves. The Parkland Killer wore the same things.  The adult killer of police officers and civilians in Dallas about 10 years ago wore the same things, and in recent times we saw the Covenant School shooter in Nashville wearing the same kinds of things -- dressing up for the action is often part of the killer’s activity and it is a red flag if we pay attention it.  

The lesson here is simple: If you have a student or co-worker who starts wearing this kind of clothing or posting social media pictures of themselves dressed like this, we must investigate. 

Their expressions through drawings often take the form of cartoon doodles or very detailed drawings depending on their skill level. These kinds of drawings often depict the person drawing in the first-person perspective. They draw themselves into the cartoons as the person committing the violence or punishing the people they consider as bad or evil.

Shortly after I gave this presentation, I had two teachers reach out to me with drawings they saw made by students. The first one depicted a very active scene with a central theme. The teacher took the picture from the student. Here is that picture:

This picture immediately got my attention and for good reason. The wording itself is disturbing -- “Kill List” was the original title of the drawing, but the word list was scratched out and replaced with “Plan.”  To properly interpret this drawing, we have to see the movement and evolution of the ideas and thoughts of the person drawing.

In its original incarnation, he makes a statement about what the drawing is, it is a  kill list, but over time, as his thoughts evolved, and he was drawn deeper into his suffering he updated the drawing and changed the statement to “Kill Plan.”

This change tells me, the investigator, that the person was dwelling on this concept, the kill list had power and he was trying to develop a way to express his feelings. When he changed it to “Kill Plan,” that told me he had advanced his ideas from a mere expression of anger, hatred, victimization to a plan of action to fight back against that which was hurting him.

Looking closer we can see that after changing his statement to a plan of action he asks “How”.  How would he do the things he was considering, assuaging his negative feelings or emotions?

We see his answer to how he would do this- “A Gun.” And finally, he made a declarative statement- “No More”, his actions were solidified, his plan created.

This tells me that these thoughts and ideas were percolating, developing and evolving in his mind over time and his burgeoning plan was now taking tangible shape.

I visited the school and asked the principal to find the student and bring him to the office, with the caveat that he should be separated from any backpack or bag he may have with him.

This was done and the student sat before us in the office, he was a freshman boy.

The interview.

Once the young man was seated, the principal explained why he was in the office and who I was. We produced the picture, and I asked him if he drew it. He said he did draw it.

I asked him to explain to me what the picture was trying to say. He looked down and shook his head, saying, “I’m not sure.”

I prodded him gently, saying I believed he knew what he was expressing and that it was OK to tell me, I told him it looked like he was sad and angry. He shook his head yes.

I had to build up to what I knew the picture was saying so I started with ancillary parts of the picture. I pointed to the “Cage” depicted in the top left corner of the drawing  and what looked like four people in the cage.  He had labeled them as :   

“Misery, Hate, Sue and Sick”

I asked him who these people were. He said they were kids in his class. He had been a part of a month’s long class project and the people in the cage were kids on his team for the project.

The young man was not a classic bullied kid, but he was not well-liked. He was considered “Different” by other students, a loner, he dressed differently, and he was more solitary than other students. He was excluded from many activities for these reasons.

I asked him why they were named Misery, Hate, Sue and Sick. He said “Misery” was a name he gave to one of the girls on the team who made him feel miserable about himself. The boy he labeled as “Hate” was another young man who treated him very badly and he hated him, He said “Sue” was not a girls real name, she was the least offensive team member who simply went along with the poor treatment, so he wanted her to be sued and go to jail. And finally, “Sick” was another young man he felt was sick in the head for the horrible things he said to him about his clothes, his family and other personal things.

I then turned my attention to the other characters depicted in the picture, the ones on the bottom of the page. These appeared to show young people being shot with a handgun, crossed out, and some were saying “No” as if terrified.

I asked him who they were, and he said they were the kids in schools he hated for how they made him feel, including his project team.

I then turned my attention to the central character in the drawing, a stick figure of a young male. This character was larger than the others and centrally placed.  Notably the eyes of this character were crossed out and closed.  I think it is clearly an expression of a dead person when we see their eyes ex’d out and closed.

I asked the young man who the person in the middle is. He began to tear up and said -- “That’s me” I said are you dead in this picture, and he said, “Yes, after I kill them, I’m going to kill myself, I can’t take it anymore.”

This picture was filled with information about the young man’s state of mind, his stresses, his thought process, his intentions and his plan of action. The investigator who can interpret this information can take action to prevent tragedy.

The teacher who saw this picture was moved to action because she was given the information before she saw the picture to understand it had important meaning and she took action.  In fact, she told me that if she had not had the training and understanding about what drawings can tell us, she might have just taken it and ripped it up, advising the boy not to draw such ugly things anymore.

What else was this drawing besides an expression of pain by the young man who drew it?  It was also a kill list, it said so in the title. It told us so because specific people were targeted (His project) even if not named by their real names. It showed us the progression of his thoughts and actions.

For an epilogue, I can say that he did have access to guns, and he told me that he was going to act on it sooner rather than later. When pushed he said “maybe two weeks”

The young man was removed from the school that very day for psychological evaluation. His parents were not aware of his feelings or intentions or his suicidal ideations, they were shocked. He did not return to the school, but reports I’ve gotten indicate he is doing very well; he no longer has a desire to hurt anyone including himself. He got the psychiatric help he needed and in the 10 years since he drew this picture and harbored thoughts of homicide and self-destruction he has thrived. Education and observation saved his life and his classmates as well.

First-Person

While the young man in this first example drew in first-person and the drawing was about him and his plans, my second example is a bit different, but just as important for police investigators and school personnel.

A short time after I received the first picture, a different teacher in another district sent me another drawing of concern.  She also attended one of my training sessions on the topic of interpreting drawings.

This teacher said she saw a young man, high school sophomore, drawing in his notebook and the picture scared her.  She took the picture and sent me a photo of it. I responded to the school and met with the student and the principal. 

Here is the second drawing:

This drawing depicts a young man with an ax attacking the Kool Aid Guy. The Kool Aid guy is injured, he is bleeding out, and his face shows fear, distress and pain and he says, “Oh No!”. The young man depicted appears to be smiling.

You can see why the teacher was concerned. It is a violent picture.

When I interviewed this young man, he said he drew the picture. When asked what was happening to the Kool Aid guy he said, “That guy is annoying, he breaks through walls yelling ‘Oh Yeah!’ so somebody got sick of it and shut him up.”

I asked him if he was the person with the ax attacking the Kool Aid guy.

The young man smiled and said, “No, man, that’s not me. That’s just some dude who’s sick of his nonsense”

After some other conversation and review of the young man’s history, it was clear that this picture, which is disturbing, was not a threat to anyone veiled or otherwise, it was simply a cartoon.

This drawing was not in the first-person, the attacker was not even the drawer, and the injury was not to a person but to a real cartoon character. The attacker was smiling. A cartoon in poor taste, yes, but not a threat.

I spoke to the teacher and thanked her for sending it to me and for paying attention to signs of potential violence. The takeaway here is similar to the first teacher, with information and knowledge we can get people to report potential problems or threats so we can act.   

Journaling, Writing and Social Media Posts

Journaling and writing can also be expressions of our inner thoughts, concerns, angers and joys. Many people of all ages journal to keep a record of their lives or activities. What we look at with young people is the time and place of journaling and writing, the topics and the action that takes place in the writings.

As anyone who deals with children as they grow and mature, we know that they can experience the world in different ways at different ages. Little children can draw things that are scary to them. We know that some abused children will draw horrific pictures of the abuse or how it feels to them. These pictures are often the only way they can express these feelings, since writing might not be a mastered skill yet.

When an investigator or teacher sees these kinds of pictures, they will often set off alarm bells and initiate some kind of an investigation by school personnel, doctors, parents or guardians. This is appropriate because it is information that tells us something is not right.

In little children, drawing a picture of abuse or of sexual organs at ages under 8 or 9 is not the normal thing of childhood. Of course, there can be legitimate reasons that some kids might draw those things and not be victims, but we would investigate none the less because it is out of the ordinary expectations of what young children are experiencing in a normal healthy life experience and it would draw our suspicions.

We also know that around the age of middle school, 11-15 or so, a young person’s understanding of the world around them begins to change and expand. This change comes from heightened awareness of the world around them, increased intelligence, exposure to TV, social media and other outside stimuli of the adult world.

At this age, a young person can understand that family members and friends get sick or die for many reasons, including the modern phenomenon of teen suicide which is on the increase.

When a young person begins to see these kinds of things, they will often reflect that in their writing or journaling. They begin to see the dark side of life and they can internalize that by drawing dark themes or writing stories with dark themes as a way to deal with this new understanding that the whole world is not the safe place of mom and dad’s house. This is normal in most cases where young people journal and write darker themes. But it is here that we can also see signs of potential violence growing.

Stories about killing or hurting people, first-person or otherwise, can be an indicator of a developing problem or potential danger, attack or suicide.

When reviewing the writings, journals and social media posts of anyone, we must look to the essence of what they expressions are about. In some cases, it will be clear such as the journaling and writing of the Columbine Killers.

They left detailed journals describing their anger, hatred and self-doubts as well as their plans to attack and kill their classmates. Several years ago, on Long Island, a young man was journaling about attacking his school and left the journal behind at a fast-food restaurant. It was found and turned over to the police who intervened and thwarted his planned attack.

And recently in the Covenant School shooting in Nashville, we know the killer had a detailed manifesto describing why he was angry and what he wanted to do.  Had someone found this document, it could have prevented tragedy. 

As for social media posts, many people who harbor feelings of violence will post those feelings as a way of expressing them or threatening those they dislike. The shooter in the Virginia Tech attack created and posted a video manifesto, the Parkland School shooter also posted threats and plans on social media.

The lessons here are this: The need to express these negative feelings, threats and plans is fairly common. We must be aware of them and try not stay ahead of any potentially dangerous act as best we can by looking for leakage and investigating properly.

Using digital assets like “geo fencing” can help. Geo fencing is the use of software that can be focused on social media posts that have keys words about violence or attacks or killing, etc. The geo fencing can be targeted to a school property, a business or an entire town. When the specified key words appear in a post, notifications are sent to whoever set up the geo fencing. This is usually the school district or the local police. In many cases they split the cost. It is a good but underused technology that can help us keep our communities safe.  

Monitoring journaling and writing might be harder because they are more private. As law enforcement and school personnel, we should encourage the parents and guardians of our children to review their writings and drawings and provide them with training to recognize the signs to looks for.

As I conclude this piece, I want to cover the actual kill list and how it should be investigated by schools and law enforcement. This is an area of action this is often not handled correctly by either group.

First, some problems I see that can lead to improper investigation or reaction by schools and law enforcement.

Many people see a kill list as simply an inappropriate activity by a student. Something unpleasant, rude or, scary, but not life threatening. The reaction by this group can be to destroy the kill list and admonish the student not to do it again. There is no proper follow-up with parents or law enforcement. I have seen this happen in real life too many times, even today with our heightened awareness of the dangers of attacks on schools.

When law enforcement is notified, many officers don’t understand the significance and investigative value of getting the kill list before violence happens. I have seen officers take the list and throw it away, leave it with the teacher and not follow up any further. As professionals, we have to train our people to treat the kill list very seriously and do the follow up that is needed to save lives.

How do we do this?

First, create a school policy that requires training for staff to recognize potentially dangerous writings, drawings, journaling or social media posting. Then, include a requirement that any identified writing, drawing, journaling or social media post be preserved and kept by the school. Then include a provision to ensure local law enforcement is called and responds to the school to conduct a follow-up investigation.

Schools should add that any student who creates any potentially violent writings, drawings, journalings or social media postswill have their lockers and backpacks searched (Follow local and state law for guidance) for weapons or other evidence of potential violence.

Create a tip line where a student can report dangers anonymously and include how the tips will be followed up. Develop a training program for properly investigating threats.

These steps can help prevent violence. We have seen many incidents where students have come forward to report potentially violent students and this reporting has prevented attacks. 

For Law Enforcement:

Train your officers to take kill lists and other threats very seriously and investigate them properly. A kill list investigation should include parental notification, a police officer visit to the student’s home to inquire about weapons, a request for a consent to search the student’s room (or a search warrant if probable cause exists), and taking into custody any evidence at the home or from the school.

These may seem like simple things, but they can make a huge difference.

A kill list is an important red flag we must all recognize as such and respond properly.

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

You Mean Law Enforcement Is the Answer?

You Mean Law Enforcement Is the Answer?
By: Lance J. LoRusso, Esq.

I recently completed four interviews on national news sources in fourteen hours prompted, as usual, by the poking of a hornet’s nest. In this case, it was the deployment of National Guard members to New York City. I answered their questions, took an opportunity to educate, as always, and expressed the same thoughts I have had and voiced hundreds of times: Law enforcement is not the problem.

Societal problems are truly unique. Developing solutions is free, everyone has an opinion. A glaring lack of experience or knowledge does not impair your ability to grab headlines, and the more outlandish your theory, the more press it will get. Consider the “defund the police movement” which I have described as the fastest conceived, implemented and failed social policy in United States history. Perhaps it is wisdom disguised as old age, experience leading to patience, or an ability to float at the 10,000-foot view to gain a different perspective, but with all the nonsense I see on a regular basis, I remain optimistic about law enforcement in the United States.

Optimistic? Does he have a bottle of tequila next to his laptop? No, but what I do have is the perspective of a lawyer who has represented approximately 180 officers in shootings and critical incidents. I also bring the insight of a trainer with thirty years of experience watching amazing candidates increase their skills through dedication and perseverance. Finally, I witness every day the dedication of the men and women in law enforcement who still show up, do the job and put their lives at risk for strangers.

The National Guard stories allowed me to highlight some interesting points. Although the defund movement relies upon a premise that the presence of a uniformed law enforcement officer will deter crime, the National Guard is being brought in as a uniform presence - to deter crime. In a world where activists scream and holler about the militarization of law enforcement and work to remove armored personnel carriers from SWAT teams and prevent officers from wearing outer vest carriers because they look too much like the military, the same activists are supporting the use of actual National Guard soldiers in civilian environments. In a city where activists complained about stop and frisk, those same activists are supporting the use of uniformed soldiers to search every bag, purse and backpack in the name of safety. The reason? Their failed social policies have made their communities more dangerous, in many cases uninhabitable, and they recognize “something” needs to be done. The infamous “something” often to be done by “somebody” in a place known as “somewhere.”

Rather than getting angry about these hypocritical stances making headlines, find comfort in the fact that the public knows that law enforcement is not the problem. Some of you may ask, why don’t they just bring law enforcement officers back, refund police departments and increase the presence of uniformed officers to deter crime? That answer is simple: That would require the activists to admit they were wrong. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen. They own one tool, and it is a shovel.

Like you, I hate watching a steady flow of headlines bashing law enforcement. However, I can tell you without hesitation the public overwhelmingly supports law enforcement. What you are seeing right now is a struggle between the easy side of the equation - namely blaming law enforcement for every societal ill – versus the most difficult side of the equation - actually doing something to fix the problems that cause and perpetuate criminality and victimization.

Holding people accountable when they commit crimes is not only a good idea, it’s a basic obligation of government. When elected officials fail to do so, they should be held accountable. Many have asked me what standard we should use to hold those public officials accountable. Let’s use the same high ethical standards to which we hold law enforcement, and the public has the ability to do so. Reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, people with whom you attend church, little league games and other events. Encourage them to speak loudly to support law enforcement, and pay attention when they thank you for your service. It is heartfelt, reflecting a mixture of gratitude and fear - that one day your beat will be empty, your patrol car will sit idle, and the politicians condemning you will be nowhere to be found.

Stay safe.

Lance LoRusso, Esq, is national thought leader and expert on use of force. As a litigator with a law enforcement background, Lance focuses his practice on cases involving first responders, responds to critical incidents and shootings, and handles catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases on behalf of injured first responders & their loved ones. Lance serves as General Counsel to the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police and was named 2021 Attorney of the Year by the National Fraternal Order of Police. Lance is an author of educational books for first responders as well as fiction books inspired by his experiences as a first responder and representing them during some of the most trying times of their lives. His print & audio books are available on lancelorussobooks.com. Lance founded the Blue Line Lawyer Institute – a think tank for LEOs and their lawyers – that hosts the annual Force Forum training conference. For more information, visit lorussolawfirm.com or bluelinelawyer.com to sign up for his newsletter and learn more about the upcoming Force Forum May 19-22, 2024 on Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Lessons Learned From My Mental Health Struggles

Lessons Learned From My Mental Health Struggles
By: Stan Popovich

I struggled with fear and anxiety for over 20 years. During these times, my anxieties and fears were so powerful that I had trouble getting through the week and there were times I felt like giving up. I learned numerous lessons from my struggles, which I will share in this article.

To get through these trying times, the first thing I did was admit that I had a problem. I then took the steps to find a mental health counselor who could help me with my situation. I also made the effort to learn as much as I could in dealing with various anxiety disorders and depression by reading a lot of books and doing a lot of personal research.

I knew that the answers I was looking for were out there and all I had to do was try to find them. Over time, I learned how to deal with fear and anxiety which helped me in the long run.

It was very tough — however, I did not lose hope.

With time, I became better able to conquer my fears and anxieties, and I applied the techniques I learned from professionals and my own research when I encountered such situations. I tried to find out which techniques worked for me. I would then write down this information in a small notebook. When I encountered a similar situation, I could better face my fears by reading these notes. This prevented me from repeating the same mistakes I had made in the past.

Instead of looking at my struggles as a problem, I tried to look at each situation as a learning experience. For example, I remember when I first learned to ice skate. Initially, I fell all the time, but I kept getting back up even though it was very difficult. Over time, I did not fall as much and eventually I was able to skate without falling.

Whenever I struggled, I made it a habit to take things one day at a time. I tried to not dwell on my fearful thoughts which were telling me that I was not going to make it. I also realized that you just can’t predict the future. A person may be 99% correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is that 1% to make a difference. There are factors and circumstances that you can’t predict or anticipate that can make a difference in your current situation.

Happiness is not from seeking one joy to the next, and research indicates that happiness involves times of considerable discomfort. Our intrinsic genes, environmental interactions, achievements and social connections all influence how happy we may feel. Therefore, taking small steps to create pleasurable situations, undertaking various tasks or challenges and setting and meeting goals can all increase life satisfaction. The key is to pursue activities which make you happy.

I found it can often be very challenging to remain optimistic when dealing with depression, fear and anxiety. Depression is often associated with overwhelming feelings of loneliness, despair and hopelessness.

Here are a few tips I used in my personal life when I struggled with my mental health:

1. Socialize With Others

It can be tempting to confine yourself to solitude when you are struggling with depression. Unfortunately, this can simply exacerbate the negative feelings that you are experiencing. Reaching out can go a long way toward supporting you during your more difficult stages. Experiencing depression can certainly make socializing feel exhausting, but there are many benefits to engaging in social activities when you are struggling with depression.

2. Exercise Regularly

Physical activity helps to produce hormones, such as β-endorphins, in the body that are great at lifting the mood and fighting feelings of depression. Though improving your health can certainly help with depression, it doesn’t require substantial exercise and exertion to provide ample benefits. If you don’t exercise regularly, it can be particularly beneficial to simply invest some time in walking around the block. Sunlight, for example, provides many positive benefits to your mental health. It has been shown to boost levels of serotonin, which can substantially improve mood and feelings of well-being.

3. Reduce or Avoid Drinking

Alcohol can affect your brain chemistry, increasing the risk of depression. Many people turn to substance abuse as an alternative to facing the extreme negative emotions associated with depression. Though they may provide a numbing effect, they are certainly not helping. If you drink regularly, reducing the amount you drink, or even quitting altogether, can substantially help you handle the struggles of depression.

4. Implement a Routine

Those who struggle with depression often find that their sleeping patterns deteriorate and become unhealthy. Sticking to a routine can help to prevent you from falling into these habits. In addition, a routine will help to ensure that you eat regularly and obtain the nutrition that you need to stay healthy and manage your mental health issues.

5. Seek Help for Your Mental Health

It is important to seek help when handling mental health issues. Regularly visiting a therapist can go a long way toward providing you with the tools and mental strategies that you need to find happiness while living with mental health issues.

6. Practice Meditation

Meditation has been shown to provide a multitude of mental health benefits. When you incorporate meditation into your routine, you can often manage stress more effectively and ensure a more positive mood. In addition, meditative practices can help you to focus on gratitude and positive feelings to minimize your negative emotions.

In summary, the key is not to give up, and to seek help from professionals. You are not alone when it comes to your mental health challenges. There are many support groups where you can get assistance and where you can meet others who can relate to your circumstances. Your situation is not hopeless and by making the right decisions, you will eventually be able to get your life back on track.

Stan is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear" http://www.managingfear.com

A First Responder’s Retirement: The Vital Role of Friendships

A First Responder’s Retirement: The Vital Role of Friendships
By: Kimberly Stratman

Ask most police officers, and they will affirm they have a wealth of friends. They'll often add, “We would die for each other.” This is truth and has been proven. The bonds formed between officers are unique, conceived in shared experiences, challenges and victories. These relationships, often as intimate as family ties, are created in critical moments, where reliance on each other can mean life or death. However, as officers transition into retirement, these friendships often evolve, sometimes leading to their end.

During their careers, police officers develop profound connections with their peers. These relationships are established on mutual respect, understanding and an unspoken bond that is rare in other professions. They share the physical risks and the emotional toll of their duties, fostering a camaraderie that becomes an integral part of their identity. In addition, they experience life's significant milestones together — from attending each other's weddings to celebrating the births of their children and mourning the on-duty deaths of colleagues.

Retirement often ushers in a sense of isolation as the structured support system of the workplace disappears. Even with days off and changing shifts, the officers still “worked together.” The loss of this close-knit community can be one of the most daunting aspects of retirement. After 20, 30 or even 40 years of working together, officers cannot imagine the connections ending. Thus, the unexpected realization that relationships have waned can be painful and confusing.

Relationships may end or diminish, not due to a lack of effort or desire to maintain them, but rather due to the shift from a shared daily mission to individual pursuits and lifestyles. New hobbies are explored. Family commitments can no longer be brushed aside due to “the job.”  Retirees might live inconvenient distances from each other.

The end of a career doesn’t necessitate the end of these meaningful connections. Retired officers can take active steps to maintain and adapt their friendships to their new phase of life. Regular meet-ups in various parts of the town, county or metroplex encourage retirees to have coffee or a meal together. Shared hobbies can lead to fun and potential income generation. New or re-energized traditions can help recognize and preserve important bonds. Social media and technology also provide ways to stay in touch, share life updates, and continue offering mutual support. Retirees should never underestimate the value of a simple text or call saying, “hello.”

It's equally important for retirees to broaden their social circles beyond their former colleagues. First responders often retire young and have several decades of energy and vitality to enjoy. Engaging in community services, volunteering or joining groups can lead to new friendships with people who have similar interests and values, offering fresh perspectives and enhancing the retirement experience. While learning to be comfortable in non-law enforcement groups can take time and intention, the results can be life changing.

Retirement can and should be a rewarding life chapter for police officers, filled with the joy of old friendships and the excitement of new ones. Witnessing the ongoing life stories of friends and former coworkers can be fulfilling and comforting. With intention and action, the relationships that once defined their careers can evolve to define a vibrant retirement.

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

A Fateful Night in the Village: The Heroic Story of Marshalik and Pekearo

A Fateful Night in the Village: The Heroic Story of Marshalik and Pekearo
By: Christian Durante

The night of March 14, 2007, was unseasonably warm to the point where spring, which was fast approaching later that month, had already arrived. It was a Wednesday, which meant, at least for me, a school night. I was in my last year as a 17-year-old senior in Fort Hamilton High School. It was an exciting year for me because I was debating what I wanted to do as a career. It was in that frame of mind that I decided to volunteer and become a NYPD Auxiliary Police Officer a few months earlier. I started a basic training course at my local NYPD 68th Precinct in October 2006 and graduated from the course with the highest grades in March 2007. On March 12th, I was privileged to receive my NYPD Auxiliary Police ID card and shield. It was one of the proudest moments of my life.

On that Wednesday night of March 14th, 2007, I was doing my homework in my bedroom. As was my normal practice, I had my television on tuned into the news. My Aunt Janet came into my bedroom to put away some of my clothes in my closet. Suddenly, a breaking news broadcast came on as the broadcast began with a huge banner across the television screen: “TWO NYPD AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS SHOT IN GREENWICH VILLAGE.” The news crew started showing aerial footage of the scene in Greenwich Village where the streets were filled with NYPD vehicles with their flashing red lights lighting up the night sky. It was at that moment that my aunt stopped what she was doing and started to sit down on a chair with a concerned look on her face.

While I was doing my homework earlier that evening in Brooklyn, a couple of miles away in Manhattan, Auxiliary Police Officers Nicholas Pekearo and Eugene Marshalik were on routine foot patrol in the crowded bustling neighborhood of Greenwich Village. The restaurants and bars were packed with crowds of people enjoying the spring-like weather. They were both young men who had struck up a friendship during their volunteering with the NYPD’s 6th Precinct Auxiliary Police Unit. APO Marshalik was in his 13th month of volunteer service while APO Peakero was in his fourth year of volunteer service. APO Nicholas Peakero grew up, worked and now also volunteered in Greenwich Village. APO Marshalik was a student at the nearby NYU campus. They both had strong, close connections to the neighborhood.

These young men were in the prime of their lives and felt the need to give back to the community. They both had dreams for the future. Peakero worked at a local bookstore with his girlfriend and wanted to be an author. Marshalik wanted to be a NYPD officer at first but had recently changed his career goal to that of being a public service prosecutor in a district attorney’s office.

Later that night in Brooklyn, as the news broadcast continued, my aunt and I sat in silence watching the news in disbelief. You could see she was concerned and looked at me with a look of, “What have you gotten yourself involved with”? Amazingly, she never said anything to me. Once the newscast ended, she left my room without saying a word, which was rare for her. Being from Brooklyn, she has been outspoken and never hesitates to voice her opinion. In this instance, her action spoke louder than words.

Around 11 p.m., another round of local newscasts followed with footage from the shooting scene in Greenwich Village and both the mayor and NYPD commissioner holding a press conference to a shocked, horrified city. For New York City, where everything is possible in a city that never sleeps, the execution-style killing of two young volunteer NYPD auxiliary police officers shocked even the most hardened New Yorkers who have seen it all. Even 17 years later, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly’s words during their news conference at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village echo to those who remember that long-ago fateful night:

“Tonight, was a horrible night for the New York Police Department and for our city. Two auxiliary police officers were killed in the line of duty, two men who volunteered their time to make our city the safest big city in America lost their lives helping to keep it exactly that way.”

“What this indicates is that this tragedy, as horrific as it was, could have been a lot worse and without the actions of our brave officers, most likely would have been.” -NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg

"The gunman fled down the street where he encountered unarmed volunteer auxiliary police officers Eugene Marshalik, 19 years old, and Nicholas Pekearo, 28 years old, two of the city’s unsung heroes who as part of our 4,500 Strong Auxiliary Police Program, serve without compensation, as the eyes & ears of this police department”.

“The fact that more lives were not lost is due in no small measure to Auxiliary Police Officers Nicholas Pekearo and Eugene Marshalik.”
-NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly

The next day, each member of the 68th Precinct Auxiliary Police Unit was called into the precinct stationhouse for a meeting with the commanding officer of the precinct and our auxiliary police coordinator. The NYPD was in shock like the rest of the city, and wanted to make sure all their volunteer auxiliary police officers were safe. To their point, all of us, auxiliaries, at least in the 68th Precinct, were asked if we wanted to stay on the volunteer auxiliary police force. The cold-blooded reality of this noble volunteering on patrol in uniform unarmed was made clear the night before and the NYPD wanted to do everything in their power to avoid a repeat incident. At the end of our auxiliary police unit meeting, not one of our fifty-nine volunteers including myself or my recent graduating auxiliary police class raised our hands to quit. We all decided to stay on to continue to serve the NYPD, our community and our city.

The hardest part of this surreal experience for me was preparing for the NYPD funerals of Marshalik and Pekearo. I never wore my uniform before and now for the first time ever, I was going to wear it at the funerals for two of my fellow NYPD auxiliary police officers including one, Eugene Marshalik, 19 years old, who was only two years older than me..I was getting ready to graduate high school in a few months and start college in the fall. Marshalik was in the midst of his college experience while I was about to start mine.

Although both funerals were tragic to witness, unless you wore the blue uniform, no one can tell you how it feels to be in a “sea of blue” all around you with thousands of officers standing at attention where you can hear only a “pin drop” and helicopters only a few hundred feet above flying in a “missing man formation”. It was surreal tribute to a fallen comrade in blue.

I never regretted volunteering for my community and the NYPD Auxiliary Police. It was a huge part of my life for many years. I “retired” from volunteer policing in 2019 as an Auxiliary Police Sergeant. In those twelve years of volunteer police service, I went from being a naive 17-year-old high schooler to a mature adult who has a federal career and is still volunteering, although for a different agency and volunteer mission these days.

On that fateful night in Greenwich Village, two young men in the prime of their lives, wearing the uniform of New York City auxiliary police officers, unarmed, except for a radio and nightstick, confronted pure evil, their heroism displayed in delaying a mad gunman’s shooting rampage in the crowded streets of Greenwich Village that night. It was a selfless act of heroism that saved many lives but cost them their own. As the 17th anniversary of March 14th, 2007 comes, many of those countless bystanders in the village that night along with the family, friends and colleagues of NYPD Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo will pause during a moment in their day to think of two heroes who by fate that spring-like night served as their guardian angels in blue.

Christian Durante is a retired volunteer NYPD Auxiliary Police Sergeant and is currently a federal employee. An alumni of John Jay College of Criminal Justice who graduated in 2013 with a Bachelors Degree in Police Studies & Minor in Cinema Studies, he continues working full-time & volunteering for his community with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

MONMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ESTABLISH MEDSTAR AMID EMS VOLUNTEER SHORTAGE

MONMOUTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ESTABLISH MEDSTAR AMID EMS VOLUNTEER SHORTAGE
By Cynthia Scott, Public Information Officer and Ted Freeman, Executive Undersheriff Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office

On February 7, 2024, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden announced at a news conference that the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, with the support of the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, is initiating a county-run emergency medical services operation called MedStar that will assist local agencies in need with emergency medical calls to ensure the most timely and effective emergency medical responses for the residents of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

“Volunteer EMS units play a crucial role in serving Monmouth County’s fifty-three municipalities. However, challenges have resulted in staffing shortages that are impacting response time and safety, so we are here to help,” said Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden. “This launch of the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office MedStar initiative is a testament to our dedication to public safety and resolve to address the shortage of EMS volunteers head-on. It bridges the gap and will enhance emergency response capabilities in struggling towns that have entered into an agreement with Monmouth County.”

During calendar year 2023, there were more than 60,000 calls for service in Monmouth County that required an ambulance. In addition, out of the twenty-one counties in New Jersey, Monmouth County ranked 19th in response times.

The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office MedStar initiative will assist by helping to fill that need and supplement the efforts of existing volunteer EMS squads.

“On behalf of the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners, I want to commend Sheriff Golden and his staff for developing the County MedStar initiative to fill an important need for our residents,” said Commission Director Thomas A. Arnone. “Safety is at the cornerstone of everything we do here in Monmouth County, and the Board of County Commissioners is proud to provide financial support for MedStar for this essential service.”

 “The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has obtained seven ambulances and two Tahoes, which will be stationed at EMS Central, located at the former site of Fort Monmouth in the building formerly used as a fire station, and is currently being renovated for its new role as EMS Central.  Monmouth County MedStar will consist of highly trained, dedicated full- and part-time EMS professionals who will assist and work collaboratively with existing volunteer EMS squads in Tinton Falls and surrounding areas in the central region of Monmouth County.

The process will begin in the Monmouth County  911 Communications Center when an emergency call comes in and an ambulance is requested from the town with which an agreement has been made with the sheriff’s office. MedStar will respond, ensuring that the medical services provided are efficient and accessible. The services will be subsidized through insurance.

Michael Bascom, who has been the Monmouth County EMS Coordinator for over 30 years and is the president of the NJEMS Task Force, said, “I appreciate that Sheriff Golden and the Board of County Commissioners have listened to those of us in the EMS community who have been sounding the alarm that help is needed. With call volume continuously growing, volunteer and career staffing difficult to find and the profession failing to receive the level of support needed at the state and federal levels, this new initiative will support local EMS agencies in their efforts to ensure that requests for emergency medical assistance are answered in a timely manner, prioritized by acuity and NOT intended to replace successful local EMS programs, but rather to supplement them and fill gaps where they may exist throughout the county.”

Timothy Sidley, Director of EMS Operations, indicated that the Central Monmouth area, encompassing Tinton Falls and Oakhurst, is presently the focus area for MedStar. It is estimated that approximately fifteen calls for service per day will be answered in the coming months.  By summer 2024, the renovations to the former Fort Monmouth firehouse should be completed and EMS operations centralized at that location. The average response time for MedStar has been under six minutes.

Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office MedStar plans to maintain four ambulances on the road during days with two ambulances during nighttime hours. In addition, two supervisors will be on the day shift and one on the night shift. A dynamic staffing model will be used to analyze and adjust staffing levels to anticipated needs. Supervisors will have the authority to make decisions based on the volume of requests for service and available resources to cover those needs. The dynamic staffing model provides statistical analysis to project high, medium and low demand and permit scheduling of resources to meet the projected needs indicated.

Requirements for MedStar applicants will be: National and/or NJ EMT or Paramedic Certification, American Heart Association BLS CPR Certification, and a New Jersey Driver’s License. Preferred applicants will have the following: 3 years of Emergency Medical Services experience, Haz-Mat Awareness, ICS 100, 200, 300, NIMS 700, 800, CEVO, EVOC or equivalent, and TECC or TCCC.

Andrew Caruso, Director of EMS Training, will be responsible for providing and tracking training for all full- and part-time employees to ensure that all required certifications are met and maintained and  conduct continuing education on topics specific to the ever-changing climate of EMS in the community. By the end of March 2024, it is anticipated that there will be twenty-six full-time employees, ten part-time employees and eight supervisors for a total of forty-four employees.

Sheriff Shaun Golden noted, “One of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” He also said, “Success is the residue of planning.” I commend the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners for their foresight in creating MedStar as we continue to meet the public safety needs of those who live, work and visit Monmouth County.”

Voodoo and the River “Rescue”

Voodoo and the River “Rescue”
By: Dale Gabriel

January 7, 1995. I was working midnight shift. This one REALLY sticks out in my mind because I was going to my first Steelers playoff game that day against our biggest rival at the time, the Cleveland Browns.

I was hoping for a nice and easy, quiet, peaceful shift. Maybe I could even sneak out a little early, which would allow me to get home right away, since I was only going to get a couple of hours of sleep before going to the game, if that. One thing those of us in law enforcement know is that you cannot always count on making it home right at the end of your shift. You don't punch a time clock. And or course, another thing we knew was not to plan for anything, because things often don't work out the way you plan.  Most people don't realize how difficult law enforcement can be for the families, how many things you are forced to miss out on because you never know what a shift is going to turn into.

Now, back to the story!  Right around 0400 hours (That’s 4 a.m. for you regular folks!), we got a call about “a body.” For those of you NOT in the law enforcement profession, that is about the worst call you can get. The report came in that this particular body was hanging from a high bridge over a local river right at the edge or our patrol area.

This may sound cold and callous, but to be honest, I try to tell these PSP memories as truthfully as I can.  On a call like this, your first thought is: “How is it going to affect ME?” As a police officer, you always try to stay one step ahead and prepare for your next move, especially when you want to get out of there as quickly as you can.  On the way to the call, I am thinking about everything I would need to do once I got there and assessed the situation.

Who would I need to call? Fire Department? River Rescue? Coroner? Criminal investigators? I was really dreading it, knowing these types of calls always take time. I was worried I was going to have to miss the Steelers playoff game. Would I be eating my tickets? Could I find someone to call to use them? So many thoughts going through my mind, both professional and personal.

We arrived at the scene. There was a rope tied to the bridge. It was hanging down with a body far below. It was a LONG way down. What exactly did we have? Was this a suicide? Could it be a homicide? We called out to the person, just hoping for a miracle that they would respond. But there was no answer.

Fire Department and River Rescue were already en route. I had my dispatcher contact the on-call criminal investigator and get him on his way. Sometimes, these guys take a while to even get here. This was going to be a bit of a tough one. There were so many thoughts running through my mind.  What was the best way to handle this? How were we going to get this body? We could not just cut the rope and let it fall into the river. We could not just pull it up. I couldn't tell from my vantage point just how far it was above the water, if River Rescue would even be able to get to it easily. Would they be able to lower a ladder down to get it? I had no clue. This was the kind of incident where all you can do is stand back and let the other professionals do their job. I kept watching the time, just hoping they could do it quickly so I could make the game. I know bad sounds bad, but it was reality.

The Fire Department and River Rescue arrived on scene. With the help of the firemen, we shut down traffic on the bridge completely. Thank goodness it was early on a Sunday, because the alternate route made people go far out of their way. See, I WAS still thinking of others!

The River Rescue team put a raft into the water. I remember thinking how thankful I was for them. Throughout my career, I always appreciated the other first responders. They did so many things that I did not WANT to do and would never be ABLE to do. I especially would never want to be on the frigid water like they were on this particular night.  More often than not, the ones locally are volunteers and do not even get paid. THAT is dedication. Thank you to ALL the volunteer firemen out there!

Anyway, they made their way out to the middle of the water, just below the body. With high visibility spotlights on, it was freaky seeing it hanging there, just above them, like a scene out of a scary movie.  I personally focused on the body with spotlight shining directly on it.  I was watching from the warm patrol car.  I have to admit.  At this point, I was thinking mostly about the football game and calculating how late I could get home and still make it, or who I could call, and when, to go in my place.

After a short time, I could see the firemen start to pull the rope up to the bridge. From my perspective, this was really bad news. I could not imagine them pulling the body up in that way, if there were any chance the person was still alive. I guess I knew in the back of my mind there was no way he was alive, anyway, but you always hold out hope till there is no more left. I had my dispatcher contact the coroner to get him rolling.

The end of my shift was quickly approaching. As shameful as it sounds, I was still trying to do what I could to get out of there as quickly as I possible. Our dispatcher told me on the radio that the criminal investigator would be here shortly. A supervisor was called out and was on his way, too.  It's not every day we have what could possibly be a homicide. I was still hoping I could pass on all the preliminary information I had and still make it home early.  Once the supervisor arrived, along with the criminal investigator and coroner, all they really would need was my preliminary report, and I could get out of there.

As I could see the firemen pulling the body up, it was nearly to the top of the bridge. I figured it was time for me to make my presence at the scene more obvious, to take control of the crime scene.  I got out of my nice toasty patrol car and went to the top the bridge, just as the body was almost there. I was standing back a little, giving the firemen room to do their job. They knew what they were doing. They knew to preserve any evidence as best they could while doing all they can to help the person. Medical personnel were standing by.

Just as they pulled the body over the top, they literally threw it on the road. What the hell?  I could not believe they would handle a body that way. None of them started working on the body, even checking for vitals. I was hoping it was cold enough to slow the body functions down, so that there could be some kind of miracle, and he would have survived. Seeing how they were treating it, however, I guess I knew that really was not possible. I took control of the scene and moved in, right to the body, to do my own personal inspection, to gather and subsequently document my own observations and evidence.

OH MY GOD!!!  What the hell????  I could not BELIEVE my eyes!! The body was a life-size mannequin dressed in full Vinny Testaverde Cleveland Browns uniform. Game on!!

I quickly canceled the criminal investigator, supervisor and coroner, and I made it to the game in time to watch the Steelers’ defense pulverize the REAL Vinny Testeverde.

Maybe it was actually a voodoo doll... Vinnie went 13-31 as the Steelers killed the Browns (well, maybe KILLED is the wrong word!)

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

A HILL TO DIE ON

A HILL TO DIE ON
By: Monica Eaton Crawford

One morning driving into work to report to another day of the police academy, I noticed a pain in my chest, in the middle of my sternum. At the time, the drive to work was around 30-40 minutes and I had plenty of time to have my thoughts to myself at 6 a.m. before the sun came up. That dark drive into work, riddled with anxiety, in fear of another day of being in physical pain with the shoulder injury caused by the same academy.

I knew I had the mental toughness to get through whatever bullshit they wanted to throw at our academy class that day, like making up shit to "smoke" us for (extra running, PT and the like), but each day it got harder and harder to keep that mental toughness. Each day, the emotional stress and the physical pain wore on me.

I spent many mornings in the parking lot, being the first one to arrive, contemplating driving back home and never looking back. I was miserable.

I had zero control over anything going on in my life at the time, other than my sleep. The stress and anxiety limited my appetite and I had the stress shits and night sweats daily. The insane level of physical activity limited my ability to control my own workouts and activity outside work. I did all I could to keep my mental health intact on my off days, but it just wasn't enough down time to recover during those 6 months of hell. But that was only the beginning.

Fast forward to five years later and my mind and body are still paying the price for the chronic stress I endured over a three-and-a-half-year span.

If there's one hill I could die on, it would be advocating for self-care and ongoing mental health care.

I can't tell you all how many conversations I've been having lately with others where the topic of chronic stress, toxic work environment, anxiety and panic attacks comes up. I just had another one at the gym this morning with another female who has never been a first responder. Doesn't matter, though, it can exist in any career and in any work environment.

Looking back at that academy, I honestly don't know if there's anything I could have done differently to mitigate the trauma I endured. I think all of us are tough enough to make it through a 6-month academy stint that is less than pleasurable. It's a big part of training in a first responder field and really just what we do.

But I think this story makes a good argument to look inward in times of high stress and doing what we can to prioritize self-care to not only survive during hard seasons, but to tip the scales back into balance so we are not always enduring chronic stress from one event to the next. We can't live that way long-term. It will literally kill us from the inside out.

So I'll keep dying on this hill to always take a step back and encourage other first responders to put themselves first. To fill your own cup so full you can pour onto others versus draining yourself empty and having nothing left to give.

Here are a few ideas to help you prioritize your own self-care and mental health:

1. Schedule 10-15 minutes each day to have to you. This can be first thing in the morning or right before you go to bed. You can find silence and be present in the moment, read a book, or do any other activity you can find some peace in doing.

2. Journal. Any time of day is great for a mind dump. To get things out on paper that are directly on your mind.

3. Meditate. Meditation helps to bring you to the present moment without thinking forward or behind. I recommend using the Calm app. It will guide you through how to start. (If you'd like a free trial, respond to this email and I can send one over to you.)

4. Go for a walk. Getting outside in nature and in the sunlight has so many great benefits. You're getting in movement, you're getting in vitamins from the sun, and it can be very relaxing.

These are just a few ideas to help get you started. Self-care can look different for everyone, but ultimately it can be anything that relaxes you, gives you joy or gives you peace.

If this resonates with you, I would love to hear from you!

Stay safe out there,
Coach Monica

Monica Eaton Crawford 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.

THE JOURNEY

THE JOURNEY
By: Darci Werner

“Back to normal” is how a recent email read.  I chuckled to myself after reading the line.  Normal?  What is that? Civil servant families do not have “normal” in their day-to- day lives.  At least that was my experience as a police family for twenty-two years.

Our journey began on a single day.  The day our son was born was the same day my husband tested for a local department.  He was already serving as a reserve deputy for the county.  That day began a career for him which encompassed the entire family with schedules that constantly rotated. Non-family friendly shifts making relationships a challenge and the hardest one, being on duty 24-7 when you are the police chief of a small community.

We were always on guard; always watching our backs.  Is this a friend or foe?  Our family encountered many distressing encounters from notes left on the door “to get out of town,” a teenager driving a four-wheeler past our home several times repeatedly to annoy us, our house egged and even a volatile drug addict deciding he could just waltz right into our home because he wanted to talk.  One of the most emotionally painful was a dinner at a firehouse to celebrate a holiday.  As we sat down at the table, the firefighter couples already seated stood up and all moved to another table.

 Due to some of the people’s actions and reactions to an officer in their midst, we were reluctant to hire a babysitter, only eating at trusted restaurants and always careful of any location that would cause someone to destroy our reputation, even when my husband was off duty. There were supporters, too.  People that appreciate the duty and mindset involved in keeping them and their own families safe. They were the beacons of light that kept us sane.

Parenting is a full-time job from the onset.  Add a police officer parent and the entire mix of emotions, with worries; complications get tumbled into the mix.  When an arrested drug addict threatened to harm our son, he was never left alone.  Some form of protection device was on hand at all times.  My husband carried his concealed weapon and I had a Mace stick that never left my hand.  Toward the end of the tour, another threat from an arrested person had me working toward a concealed weapons permit to include in my parenting arsenal.  Then the teen years hit, where the complaints from our son included how he was never invited to anyone's house because his dad is a cop.

Having a father as a cop wasn't all bad for him.  He actually wanted to follow in his footsteps. He grew up having a real patrol car to pretend play. Due to budget cuts, my husband volunteered to do routine maintenance on the squad cars, therefore, one was always sitting in the garage.  He rode alongside him in parades, riding shotgun and handing out D.A.R.E items, or badge stickers.

As the wife, there were many days on my knees praying for safety from storms when no man or beast should have been out.  Yet they were! So he had to rescue them from ditches and take them to safety.  News of bank robbers and an officer shot are the worst for any law enforcement spouse.  Is it him?  Pleading for some phone call to confirm or deny the thoughts running through my brain.  Then facing the guilt of gratitude that it was someone else, who now has to face this pain among their own family. A constant stream of people coming by or calling and all having a concern that needed immediate attention even when he was off duty.  They would become his priority and we would take a backseat.

We were proud of our police family.  Even though only one wore a badge, all of us took on the duty of behind-the-scene support.  I say “were” because that hat has been hung up, the duty belt disarmed and set aside.  The badge and stripes from over the many years are now pinned in a shadow box.  Just as this adventure began on a single day, so it also ended.  On one day my husband retired, and the very next day our son graduated from college with a criminal justice degree.

It has not been easy to find normal after twenty-two years.  It has not been easy to flip the switch and change a mindset that has been a daily process for so long.  The job can be negative and therefore distrust slips in from time to time when there really is no need.  The mental release of the job is slowly dissipating.  Questioning the new purpose in your life when you now focus on yourself instead of others can be challenging.  We are still not feeling normal.  We are working on it.  There are still mental, emotional and physical pounds to shed from the arsenal worn around the hips; the hunched shoulders to straighten from a weighted vest; stress to release from city government leaders or even from within the department.  Each day taking a breath and moving one step at a time to find our “back to normal”.

Darci Werner is a police wife residing in Province, Iowa. She thanks Blue Magazine for providing alternative topics for all who support law enforcement and is honored to share police family life stories.

A SAD TRAGEDY

A SAD TRAGEDY
By: Deon Joseph

Before activists and activated journalists spark flames here, I’m going to give my professional opinion on the shooting of a 15-year-old autistic teen.

My first thought is to offer my deepest condolences to his family. In their grief, I know there are no right answers anyone can give. 

But for the rest of us, the facts based on what we have seen are important.

Contrary to many people’s indoctrinations about cops, the vast majority of police contacts with the mentally ill, even violent ones, do not result in killings. I’m pretty much an expert on this. I work in the mental health capital of the world and dealt with thousands of people with mental illness in varied stages of crisis.

For those wondering why the officers didn’t “De-escalate” and why mental health experts were not called instead:

In fairness to these officers, the individual did not appear to give them time to assess him. He just went on the attack. That’s a key factor. If it were two metal health clinicians he charged at, they would run and call the police, because the situation was dangerous. They will not approach most people on the spectrum of mental illness when in a volatile state.

Even at mental health facilities, they have security and/or hospital police. Also, there is minimal access to potential weapons someone in crisis can harm others with.

I know many will be caught up in the emotionalism of the reporting.

“He’s 15,” “He’s autistic” so automatically it’s the cops’ fault, right? That’s your process, right? The truth is in this rare occurrence, the officers had no time to assess this as they do in many others.

The truth is, officers responded to a call of a disturbance because someone was in fear for their safety. When they arrived, they were immediately charged by a male with a weapon that could cause injury or death.

It was later discovered that he was autistic. But based on the immediacy of his actions, the officers had no time to assess this. They had to act.

Whether the shooting was justified or not will be determined by experts. If the weapon used had the potential to seriously injure or kill anyone, that shooting could very well be justified, even though we all wish it never came to that.

Before you jump to conclusions, before Ben Crump and others exploit this young man and his family, think a bit more critically before you judge.

No, the young man wasn’t a bad person. No, the officers were not trigger-happy and untrained. It was just a situation that got out of control before the officers could even make an attempt at de-escalation. A sad tragedy.

Deon Joseph is a 28 year veteran of law enforcement in Southern California - 24 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

In a Blink of an Eye

In a Blink of an Eye
By: Marty Katz

There is a term used in police work — in a blink of an eye — which often refers to how danger happens. For example, “Anything can happen in a blink of an eye,” or “That accident occurred in a blink of an eye.” To drive a point home, I’ve used this term many times in classes I’ve taught. It is a term that has instance recognition. Rookies need to hear about the dangers of their new profession, and the veterans must hear it to remind them not to become complacent.

After a 34-year law enforcement career, the term blink of an eye has taken on a new meaning. There is some truth to the fact that the moments are long, but the years are short. In a blink of an eye, I went from the interview process to get hired into law enforcement to my retirement party. Where did the time go?

From the moment I decided that I would like a career as a police officer, everything I did seemed to take forever. During the hiring process of completing the application, waiting for the testing date, taking the written test, waiting for the results and then waiting for the physical testing date, nothing was ever quick. After the physical test, there was the polygraph test, followed by a psychological one, followed by more interviews with a lot of waiting between each step of the process. Finally, I was hired and had to wait for the next academy class.

The academy took months, 720 hours of classes, testing mental and physical abilities, and waiting for that graduation day. I began my career walking a beat. My shift was eight hours of walking, talking, and handling calls and mounds of paperwork. Every shift seemed to last about a week. I walked in the snow, ran between the raindrops and sweated in the summer heat. I had to wait until there was an opening in a patrol car.

When I finally got a seat in a patrol car, I had to wait for the hot calls. Sometimes, I would find exciting things to fill the time, but for the most part, in the beginning, it was waiting until I was called.

When I decided to relocate to Florida from New Jersey, the entire process started again. The hiring process was a bit shorter but still took weeks. There was endless testing, but luckily, I only had to attend a shorter version of the police academy. As fate would have it, I had to wait until the class was scheduled.

As I gained experience — which, by the way, takes time — I wanted to transfer to other assignments. Some of my assignments were Field Training Officer, property crimes detective, SWAT, undercover narcotics detective and academy instructor — each came with its own brand of waiting. Waiting for the opening, waiting for someone to retire or taking the required classes was always some form of waiting.

Of course, there was also waiting for court — constantly waiting for court. In Florida, every case appears to be tried three times. First, there is the deposition, the defense’s search to find out what you know and what you did. Second, there is the motion to suppress. Did you have all elements of the crime, and was everything obtained legally? Third is the trial itself. At each level, you are subpoenaed, and once you arrive, the waiting begins.

Each waiting period seems like it will never end, like standing in the rain at an accident scene. The hours just seem to hang in midair, in slow motion. For all those classes, a break every 50 minutes, standing around waiting for your turn at the firearms range, if it pertains to police work, then waiting is always included.

For some, there was the occasional disciplinary wait. Time goes slow when you are waiting to see the command staff, knowing it will not end well for you. Even minor meetings take their toll in the minutes running into hours, especially the waiting days before the meetings.

Then there is the dead time of investigations and stakeouts — long hours of doing nothing but waiting. Have you ever been assigned to a wire tape? That is like a slow motion moving slower. In other words, it appears that if it is related to this job, the minutes tick by slowly. Well, not if you are involved in a chase or a critical incident. That has the tendency to move quickly until the moment it is over, and then the endless paperwork, court, explanations or things even worse, such as getting injured on the job, which now creates a super-slow day. Usually, the wait at the hospital is not very long, not as long as others have to wait. The actual wait comes as the required paperwork must be completed before you finish your shift.

There is the wait for a promotional exam and then the wait for the list to be posted. The wait as the department moves until you finally get the nod.

Unfortunately, the ultimate wait is that of the funeral procession. I have attended far too many, and the wait for the pain to ease never really seems to end.

So, as you can see, the entire career is made up of periods of waiting for this or waiting for that.

The strange thing about all of this waiting is that it seems like I began this career just yesterday. It seems like yesterday I was excited about the upcoming entry test. It was like yesterday that I’d been nervous about completing that first application. Now, looking back, I wondered where the time went. It seems to have flown by, and the years all melted together. I don’t remember the change from being a 21-year-old man pinning on the badge for the first time to a 55-year-old man thanking everyone for attending my retirement party.

It seems like just the other day, I was learning how to shoot my handgun, write a report and shine my shoes. Now, I’m writing about all my memories since that day.

Take a moment to stop and think about each moment. No matter what you are doing — responding to calls, writing a report, cooling your heels outside the courtroom or waiting to get your ass chewed by the captain — at the time, it might seem forever, but at the retirement party, you will wish you had just a few more minutes of those times.

Marty Katz is a retired sergeant with the Broward Florida Sheriff’s Office. During his 34-year career, his assignments included FTO, SWAT, narcotics, crime suppression, and supervisor of recruitment, investigations, and patrol. Marty is a certified instructor, expert witness for Use of Force issues, and past Florida Chapter Director for the International Association of Ethics Trainers In addition, Marty has trained with the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police and is a martial arts instructor. He is the owner of Crimewave Solutions, a training company for officer survival and common sense self-defense and the author of the books Past the Uniform, and Hot Potato.

Waiting For the Other Shoe to Drop

Waiting For the Other Shoe to Drop
By: Chris Amos

Recently, videos went viral of two of NYPD’s finest being assaulted by a large group of illegal aliens. The suspects were arrested and immediately released from custody. The firestorm that ensued resulted in the re-arrest of several of the suspects. They are currently in jail, pending their trials. That is unless they have been released a second time. Am I confident that justice will be served in this case? Not hardly.

I always thought the blindfold on Lady Justice represented an unbiased justice system in which, in theory, justice was to be served regardless of race, sex, nationality, religion, etc. I’m beginning to think I was wrong. It appears in recent years the purpose for the blindfold has become more of a kind of see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing, do nothing system of justice in which crimes can be caught on camera, smoking guns can be recovered and even confessions given, and yet little, if any, price is to be paid by the guilty. As one entrusted with the dangerous, ugly, at times messy work of enforcing the law, such a system can break an officer’s or deputy’s spirit, rendering him or her absolutely indifferent to “protecting and serving”. 

I’d like to share an observation and then two Biblical truths that I hope will bring a level of sanity and hope to you, the men and women on the front lines in this battle for justice.

First, an observation. I am amazed by your sense of duty, honor and service, or maybe it’s just your need for a steady paycheck, but whatever the reason, you continue to show up, stand up, and put up day after day, night after night, shift after shift. You show up at your respective department or agency despite the current state of insanity sweeping much of the country. You stand up for what’s right, and just, and true despite the concerted effort to completely redefine what is right, just, and true. And you put up with all the garbage previously mentioned, day after day, night after night, shift after shift. Amazing, absolutely, unbelievably, mind-blowingly, amazing that you continue to do what you do!

As a pastor and retired police officer, let me try now to give you a Biblical perspective that I hope will bring a little sanity, peace, even encouragement as you strive do the impossible, under the most challenging of circumstances. Take hope in knowing God has the final say. He is not impressed nor persuaded by money, elections, special interests, politicians, district attorneys, or their woke policies.

As a young police officer, back in the late 1980s and ‘90s, I would get so angry as suspects would skate with a slap on the wrist, while their victims were left struggling to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. All of that changed after I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. God opened my eyes and mind to two great Biblical truths. The first filled me with tremendous gratitude, appreciation and humility. The second gave me a much-needed dose of peace.

What were these truths? First, and hear me on this friends, the Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned or broken God’s law and as such we are all guilty. In other words, in God’s eyes, we are in the same boat, spiritually speaking, as most of the knuckleheads we arrest as guilty and deserving of condemnation and punishment. The great news is God loves us so much He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty of our sins [John 3:16] that we might experience the unearned, undeserved, gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Heaven. Simply put, Jesus jumped on the proverbial hand grenade intended for you and me. He died that we might live. That kind of unconditional love continues to blow my mind, 37 years later. One can’t help but be filled with gratitude, appreciation and humility in light of God’s love for us.

The second great truth is simply this: God is the final judge, and His judgment is holy, righteous, just and true. Though our current justice system is inundated with injustices and miscarriages of justice, this second truth assures us every wrong will be made right. I don’t care who they are or how well-connected they may be, everyone will stand before God and give an account for his or her actions. Criminals may be able to evade justice in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, or a thousand other places but trust me, their victory over the justice system will be short-lived. The other boot will drop soon enough and when it does, they will find themselves answering for their actions; no exceptions. They will stand before the Lord of lords and King of kings, and might I add Judge of judges. Justice will be achieved.

So friends, keep doing that which is right, just, and true. God sees. God knows, and with God we can rest assured that righteousness, justice, and truth will have the final say, if not on this side of eternity, then most assuredly on the next.

See you at the finish line!

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

WESLEY WISE: A LIFE WELL-LIVED

WESLEY WISE: A LIFE WELL-LIVED
By: Joel E. Gordon

We have lost one of our own. Frequent BLUE Magazine contributing writer Wesley Wise passed away peacefully early on the morning of January 19, 2024. He was a wonderful husband to Margaret, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to so many. He was a published author, and a well-respected law enforcement professional, earning the rank of Major within the Baltimore City Police Department. He was a coach and mentor to so many during his career of 36 years.

Wes retired in 2006 as the Police Commander of the city’s 911 System. While recovering from a stroke in 2014, he wrote three books, all of which are available on Amazon.com:

·         A Blue and White Life: Policing Baltimore in the 1970s & 1980s

·         A Life in Blue

·         Wise Musings: A collection of Essays

Wes also assisted in the self-publishing of fourteen books for other writers.

He was a prolific writer of books, articles and Facebook posts and was never one to mince words. He was a master of the art of writing, expressing his thoughts succinctly and devoid of double meaning. His teachings and opinions were always well thought out with logical thought behind them. Who would have known that his final published article in the BLUE Magazine would be titled IN THE END, where Wes reflected on a life well-lived while encouraging us all to live life to its fullest. But that was Wes, on-point and timely.

A life well-lived and an impactful legacy that will be remembered serving as an example to all. His written words left behind will be everlasting. He is missed. May he rest in eternal peace.

POLICE K-9 PARTNERS: The Largely Unsung Heroes of Law Enforcement

POLICE K-9 PARTNERS: Law Enforcement’s Unsung Heroes
By Marcelo Hagopian and the BLUE Magazine Staff

K-9 Police Prayer and Bible Verse

I will lay down my life for you and expect nothing but love in return.
I will protect my officer with my life, and would gladly take a bullet in his place.
I am sent in to find lost children and fugitives on the run.
I find drugs and weapons and even bombs.
I am the first sent in and sometimes the last to leave.
I am the nose and ears of my officer.
I protect and serve him.
I would die for him and for you.
I only ask for compassion and a kind word.

“Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will be with you wherever you go” - JOSHUA 1:9

A police officer and their K-9 partner share a special bond of trust and friendship. It is a bond that is based on loyalty, respect, and commitment to one other. The officer must trust the K-9 to perform their duties in the best way possible, while the K-9 must trust their handler to provide them with strong direction and support. This bond is essential for both parties ensuring that they are able to work together in a safe manner.

The relationship between a police officer and their K-9 partner begins with basic training. During this time, officers learn how to properly handle their canine companion, as well as how to read the dog’s body language. This helps establish a mutual understanding between the two so that they can work together seamlessly in any situation.

Dog’s have an uncanny olfactory sense, possessing up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses as compared to about six million in humans. Being attracted to new and interesting odors, once detected, a part of a dog’s brain is devoted to analyzing smells 40 times greater than humans. Every drug, person, arson accelerant, explosive or other target for locating has a unique scent.

Bergen County NJ Sheriff Office K9 trainer Officer Marcelo Hagopian has been with the Bergen County Sheriff Office for 22 years and is assigned to its training division.  He told Blue Magazine, so a towel that smells like cocaine, for instance, becomes the dog’s new toy in training. So you throw the towel, the dog brings it back. You play with the dog, you throw the towel, and the dog brings it back. You play with the dog. You do that about a thousand times. Then eventually you hide the towel. Now the dog can't see the towel. Well, he can smell it and he knows it's under the bed and he's got to go under the bed to get it. So when he starts to scratch towards the bed because he can't get it and they don't scratch, you teach them. You reward them with another towel. So he goes, oh, look. The dog thinks to himself, if I scratch where my toy is, the toy appears. So you play with that towel that appears, and then you throw that towel and you hide it again.

Then eventually you take that towel out and you hide the source. You would hide cocaine, let's say, in a dresser, in a bedroom. You can't get to it, but he can scratch through it. So now you give him the word to search. Because, every time you throw that towel you tell them search or find it, whatever the case may be. It comes to the dresser. He smells what he thinks is his towel because this seems like cocaine, but its actual cocaine. He'll start to scratch at the cabinet. So here comes a towel and appears right at the cabinet. So he goes, oh, I scratched out the cabinet where the toy was and it automatically appeared. So now every time these searches and he knows cocaine, he's going to scratch at it. So now you take another towel that you throw as a reward. The only thing he gets is the odor. He doesn't get the drug itself. They'll never come in contact with it. And that's how it's done. And then you do the same thing for explosives. You do the same thing for arson. Everything's a play for the dog. Everything's a play. And the dog works to please you. He just wants to please you. So, when he does a good job, he gets rewarded.

Once the initial training is complete, the bond between an officer and their K-9 only grows stronger over time. As they continue to work together on more difficult tasks, they learn to appreciate each other’s strengths to a greater level. Officers also come to rely on their canine partner’s unique skill set when it comes to search-and-rescue operations or crime scene investigations.

Officer Marcelo Hagopian further spoke to Blue Magazine on breeds of dogs often utilized for police work and the logic behind it. If an aggressive dog is needed that's going to track criminals, usually used are German Shepherds or the Belgian Malinois. They're very aggressive dogs. They're very powerful dogs. So that's mostly for people that have experience with dogs. German Shepherds are more of a companion, but when they need to perform, they will perform. For criminal apprehension, let's say. But then you can get into Labs for more passive work. So if you go to the airport, you see Port Authority has a lot of Labs. They'll use it for explosives or for air sniffs of individuals where it doesn't engage. It's not aggressive and it doesn't bite. So if you see somebody at the airport walking with the Lab, that dog's indication if he sniffs some kind of explosives on an individual is going to be a sin. So if that dog sits by individual, he's kind of indicating that there's a presence of odor of explosives nearby where a German Shepherd or a Belgian, when they indicate for either they could also be used for explosives and narcotics. They're more aggressive. Sometimes they're taught to scratch at the source for narcotics, explosives. You don't want scratching because obviously it's a bomb. You don't want it to be touched.

We also use a German Shorthaired Pointer. Those are almost like a hunting dog. They're like bird dogs. The military started using them a lot for explosives. We've tried it. We have one that detects arson. And then you can get into your Bloodhounds. That's more for tracking suspects. Or let's say, more of lost parties. Because if a Bloodhound gets to you and you're a bank robber, he's not going to bite you. He's probably going to lick you to death. So they'll use that for missing persons. The thing about Bloodhounds is that they can pick up scent that's ten hours old, a day old, and they can still pick it up. So they're totally different work ethics with the Bloodhound.

Officer Hagopian estimates the cost of a police K-9 and equipment at $15,000-$20,000 with an additional investment in police salaries during training and specialized vehicle costs, so agencies that can justify the expense typically make a room in their budgets for the expenditure.

Perhaps you have heard of some famous police K-9’s? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, a golden retriever named Inty (short for Intrepid) has been credited with over 100 arrests and the recovery of more than $63 million worth of narcotics, making him a world record holder.

Then there is the true story of a shelter dog turned K-9 hero depicted in a Netflix movie titled Rescued by Ruby. Ruby, an Australian shepherd and Border Collie mix, ended up in a Rhode Island animal shelter as a puppy because of behavioral problems. Several families adopted her in turn, only for each to return her because she was too difficult and full of pep. Shelter volunteer and dog trainer Patricia Inman repeatedly intervened to keep Ruby from being euthanized. When State Police Cpl. Daniel O'Neil needed a search-and-rescue dog in 2011, and was informed that his department lacked sufficient resources to purchase a police K-9, he was taken by then eight-month-old Ruby's energy and intelligence, and after Inman vouched for her, she was actually trained as a police K-9. In October 2017 a teenage boy got lost for 36-hours while hiking and Ruby succeeded where a human search party failed. She found the boy, who was unconscious and in grave medical condition. He turned out to be Inman's son. Divine intervention? It does not go unnoticed the word Dog is God spelled backward. “Ruby was given a chance at life and ended up saving a life,” the American Humane Hero Dog organization said in a 2018 citation naming her the nation's “Search and Rescue Dog of the Year.”

Police K-9 success stories are plentiful all across the globe. It is not lost on us, however, that because of the dangerous nature of police work, and the willingness of police K-9’s to lay down their own lives for others in a fearless capacity, that not all K-9 careers have a happy albeit a courageous ending.

The bond between a handler and their K-9 partner goes beyond professional collaboration – it is a deep emotional connection. The handler relies on the K-9's acute senses and specialized skills, while the K-9 looks to their handler for guidance and protection. This mutual dependence forms the foundation of their partnership, leading to the successful execution of their duties. It requires dedication from both parties in order for it to be successful, but it also provides immense rewards for both parties. The police canine becomes a part of an officer’s family and officer and K-9 spend more time together than any other members of their family. With a bond of complete trust and respect, officers and their K-9 partners are able to protect each other while working towards a common goal of keeping others safe from harm.

The Blue Magazine is most honored to support the men and woman of police K-9 units everywhere and their brave K-9 partners, Special thanks go out to K-9 handler and trainer Marcelo Hagopian of the Bergen County New Jersey Sheriff’s Office for sharing his own insights and expertise.

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Managing Editor’s Message

Managing Editor’s Message

“The bond between a dog and its police handler is a strong one. It is based on trust, respect, understanding and love.” – Cesar Millan, The Mexican American dog trainer widely known for his Emmy-nominated television series “Dog Whisperer.”

Police K-9s are an integral part of law enforcement. They are fearless, often risking their lives and many have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Having an incredible ability to detect drugs and explosives, as well as track suspects and missing persons, police K-9s are also adept at searching buildings, open areas, and vehicles for evidence or suspects.

Once extensive training is completed, they are a real asset to any law enforcement agency. Each police K-9 is paired with a dedicated handler, forming a close-knit partnership built on trust and cooperation. The handler and K-9 work together seamlessly, relying on clear communication and mutual understanding to accomplish their objectives.

Police K-9s also play a crucial role in fostering positive relationships between law enforcement agencies and the community. Their presence at public events and demonstrations helps to engage and educate the public about the valuable contributions of these remarkable animals.

This special issue of BLUE Magazine is dedicated in honor of our K-9 partners in law enforcement. Some of the many best of our canine partners are featured here.

On our cover is Lanzer, the deputized Executive Protection K-9 of Deanna and Caesar DePaco, mega supporters of police K-9 operations globally and owners of Summit Nutritionals International, the makers of Droi-Kon® a specialized, 100% water soluble chondroitin powder supplement that has been shown through scientific studies to play an integral role in the formation and maintenance of joint cartilage specifically in promotion of canine health and vitality. Don’t miss their amazing story of generosity and support.

Please review the other stories of heroic K-9s in our Cover Story and throughout this issue. And don’t miss The History of the Police K9 by: Robert Bowling to see how it all began.

As always, Blue Magazine and Moment of Silence are here for you. Reach out to us whenever you need us. Wishing all a safe and productive 2024!

Joel E. Gordon
Managing Editor

Deanna and Caesar DePaço Remain Impactful in the World of Police K-9’s

Deanna and Caesar DePaço Remain Impactful in the World of Police K-9’s
By Daniel Del Valle and the BLUE Magazine Staff

Publisher Daniel Del Valle recently had a chance to speak with Deanna and Caesar DePaço who are the proprietors of Summit Nutritionals International, manufacturers of raw materials such as U.S.-made Chondroitin Sulfate (Bovine, Chicken, Porcine & Marine) & Cartilage Powder. Since its inception in 2001, Summit Nutritionals International has been the leader in manufacturing and delivering 100% USA-made and 100% BSE-free Chondroitin Sulfate to the world.

Summit Nutritional International proudly offers Droi-Kon®, a specialized, 100% water-soluble chondroitin powder supplement that has been shown through scientific studies to play an integral role in the formation and maintenance of joint cartilage, specifically in dogs.

Prior to the creation of Summit Nutritionals International, raw nutritional supplements were primarily manufactured in Europe and other parts of the world. Over time, a growing concern of worldwide animal illness and quality control became apparent.

Through their love of dogs and admiration of law enforcement and their K-9 partners, Caesar and Deanna began to generously donate to police agencies beginning with their first K-9 donation to the Hillsborough Police Department in 2013. Officer Chris Engelhardt was the K-9 handler. To date, Caesar and Deanna have since donated a total of 202 K-9s to police departments and sheriff offices nationwide and abroad. The cost donated exceeds a total of $3.5 million in K-9s. This amount does not include other law enforcement equipment donations.

Caesar goes on to say, “Deanna and I both have a passion for dogs. Dogs have always been a source of fascination for us, and our admiration for them only grows stronger with time. Their unwavering loyalty and dedication to their owners or handlers is truly remarkable, and it is particularly evident in the K-9 officers who serve as police / sheriff dogs. These remarkable creatures not only possess incredible physical abilities, but they also possess the remarkable talent of communicating with humans and intuitively understanding their needs. It is truly awe-inspiring to witness the emotional support they provide to humans in need. In light of these qualities, it is no wonder that dogs have rightfully earned the title of ‘man's best friend.’ Their unique bond with humans is a testament to their exceptional qualities and their significant role in our lives.”

Our own K-9 Lanzer, who is featured on the front cover of this special edition of Blue magazine, is our utterly loyal and faithful Executive Protection K-9 who has been deputized and honored by numerous agencies.

In Lanzer, we are able to observe all of the aforementioned characteristics. His training has been exceptional, and it is evident that he has acquired mastery in all the essential aspects required to become the finest K-9 we have ever encountered. His perceptiveness and capacity to process information, along with flawlessly executing his duties, leave me truly astounded. Despite his seemingly robotic approach to performing tasks, he also possesses the ability to display remarkable gentleness and affection, appropriately adapting to different circumstances. It is truly remarkable to fathom that all these remarkable traits coexist within a single creature.

Law enforcement should be informed about the invaluable contributions that K-9 officers bring to their departments. Through my personal observations, we have witnessed the profound astonishment experienced by police officers & sheriff’s deputies when they comprehend the remarkable effectiveness and extensive range of assistance that these K-9 officers can provide in diverse applications. The capabilities of a K-9 officer are virtually boundless, as they offer unwavering support and unwavering dedication to their human police/sheriff officer or handler. Their presence undoubtedly enhances the operational capabilities of law enforcement agencies, making them an indispensable asset in maintaining public safety and combating crime.

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The importance of trained police K-9 officers cannot be overstated. These remarkable animals demonstrate not only the unwavering loyalty and dedication that we associate with dogs, but also a remarkable level of skill and intelligence that is truly awe-inspiring. As animal lovers, the K-9 community is well-positioned to understand and appreciate the incredible contributions that these officers make to law enforcement. Witnessing a police K-9 officer in action only serves to reinforce the fact that they are truly exceptional and indispensable members of our law enforcement agencies. Over the years, we have made it a priority to allocate significant resources to provide police departments and sheriff offices across the United States with police K-9 units. However, despite these efforts, there remains an urgent need for additional K-9 officers.

It is our fervent hope that the K-9 community will step forward and offer their support to bridge this gap, ensuring that our law enforcement agencies have the necessary resources to continue their vital work. Together, we can make a difference and further enhance the capabilities of our police departments and sheriff offices with the invaluable assistance of these highly trained and remarkable K-9 officers.

The Blue magazine is honored to have partnered with the DePaços in being able to tell their remarkable story and dedication on their impactful vision and contributions to the police K-9 community. Caesar and Deanna have earned our admiration and respect and the respect of the entire law enforcement community. We are happy to feature their Executive Protection K-9 on our cover of this special K-9 edition of Blue magazine.

Santa's Flight to Paterson: The Spirit of Christmas is Alive

Santa's Flight to Paterson: The Spirit of Christmas is Alive
By: Daniel Del Valle

On the morning of Dec. 23, 2023, many children were amazed as Santa Claus himself flew the skies above Paterson, NJ. Santa had sidelined his sleigh and reindeer, opting for the sleek New Jersey State Police helicopter, courtesy of Colonel Patrick Callahan. After a memorable morning flight, Santa arrived knowing the children (and their parents) were excited for his arrival on the city streets — because just as years passed — Santa was coming to Paterson with individually wrapped presents for the children!

Santa arrived at our Blue Magazine and Moment of Silence headquarters to meet his helpers — an eager group of volunteers, who waited with stocked truckloads of toys, trucks outfitted with Christmas lights, and speakers blaring Christmas music for all to hear. What unfolded in the hours ahead was a testament that the wonderment of youth is precious and that the spirit of Christmas is alive and well.

We set out for all the neighborhoods in Paterson irrespective of blight conditions and potential safety concerns; we'd known the children were waiting for Santa. And it was our job to get Santa there.

We witnessed so many beautiful experiences. As we saw the joy on the children's faces and big ear-to-ear smiles, we noticed the parents were elated, too. Some were crying, expressing how they'd not even had enough money to purchase a Christmas tree this year. We believe every child and family should experience the magic of Christmas — the love and fellowship of neighbors — the selfless spirit of giving, and the incredible power of kindness.

We were blessed to provide over 8,000 toys this year thanks to Moment of Silence, the DePaco family and the Blue Magazine. These entities worked in unison for this event to be a significant success. It takes a lot of passion from well-intentioned people for this event to occur. I am thankful we have such a wonderful team of selfless and devoted patriots. Special thanks to the New Jersey State Police, the Passaic County Sheriff's Department, PBA 197, the Paterson Police and the many officers nationwide who come to volunteer year after year. We had over 50 volunteers in the streets giving out toys all day. All our volunteers worked very hard, and we were happily exhausted when we finished the tour.

We are very grateful and happy to be able to serve the community. Thank you again to everyone who made this possible. It was a beautiful experience.

Stay connected, because Santa is returning next Christmas for our 14th year of assisting Santa Claus!

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Sheriff Clarke Comes to NJ

Sheriff Clarke Comes to NJ
By Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine

Recently Sheriff David Clarke (Ret.) was in New Jersey as a guest of the Blue Magazine and sponsors Deanna and Caesar DePaço while enjoying camaraderie along with a special dinner at Donald Trump’s Bedminster National Golf Club.

The visit was multi-faceted with a busy three-day itinerary. To meet the DePaços and express appreciation to their generous support of Police K-9 operations throughout the world, become more familiar with some of the officers and some of the sights in New Jersey, and specifically to also learn of the good work of the Avatar Alcohol and Drug Recovery Center which avails itself to a wide variety of individuals including first responders.

Sheriff Clarke got to visit the Paterson NJ Police Department, where he had the opportunity to speak to the administration and some of the staff in the chief's office, as well as the frontline men and women who are assigned to patrol. The police officers in Paterson were enthusiastic to meet him. The sheriff thanked all in attendance for their courage and commitment and encouraged them to keep fighting because without the men and women in law enforcement, the community would fall into chaos. Sheriff Clarke also met the new Paterson PBA president, Angel Jimenez, and took a tour of the police station.

Jimenez took Sheriff Clarke to the Paterson Museum for a private tour, having the opportunity to look at a submarine and some airplane engines that were made. The Paterson Museum is well known for the educational aspects of its interpretive exhibits. A major strength of the museum lies in its varied collections, including local archaeology, history and mineralogy. Paterson has been the birthplace or springboard of many innovators and inventors such as John Holland -"Father of the modern submarine," Sam Colt - who perfected the repeating cylinder revolver, and John Ryle - "Father of the silk industry." Upon leaving the museum, the participants viewed Paterson Falls, which is a historic landmark.

Sheriff Clarke was also taken to meet Pinal Patel, who is the owner of Avatar Rehabilitation and Detox Center in Ringwood, New Jersey, for a tour of the facility. The sheriff met the staff there, including retired police officer from Upper Saddle River, Vinny Syracusa.

Avatar Alcohol and Drugs Recovery Center is dedicated to offering trustworthy drug detox, behavioral, mental, and other special therapies for people suffering from any substance abuse specializing in alcohol, benzodiazepine, hydrocodone, opiates, suboxone, tramadol, valium, vicodin, xanax, and all prescription drug detox. Treatments are supported by multiple mental health and spiritual therapies such as 12-steps, yoga, earthing, oxygen, animal-assisted, wilderness, volcanic, family, group, music, art, and more. A case manager prepares and follows a customized long-term and short-term care approach for each patient.

With 10 acres of beautifully landscaped facility in North Jersey, the center is ideal for rehab treatments. A peaceful, comfortable, and holistic environment is a perfect place to recover from anxiety, depression or any other mental issues. For additional details visit http://www.avatarresidentialdetox.com/

Sheriff Clarke has been a longtime staunch supporter of the BLUE Magazine and law enforcement and we are always honored to be in his presence. Thank you to Deanna and Caesar DePaço for sponsoring these activities.

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

SNP FOUNDATION GIVES BACK VIA NJ STATE POLICE

SNP FOUNDATION GIVES BACK VIA NJ STATE POLICE

Stephanie Nicole Parze was a beautiful, caring, 25-year old woman from Freehold, NJ.

She was a student athlete, a talented artist and a compassionate, loyal friend to everyone she met. Her natural-born talent as an artist brought her much joy as a make-up artist. She also loved children and enjoyed spending time on the beach, on the river or on the ocean. 

During the summer of 2019, Stephanie met and became involved with someone new. During this time, she had been extremely sick, and he was very attentive to her.  What started out as an apparently caring relationship soon turned violent.  After enduring physical, sexual and emotional abuse during their on-and-off-again relationship, Stephanie disappeared the night of October 30, 2019.  After 87 days of searching by a countless number of family, friends, community members and law enforcement, her body was found on January 26, 2020.

Stephanie’s fate, while tragic, created an overwhelming desire to develop a unique organization that would bridge the gap in services for people in domestic violence, sexual abuse and missing person’s situations.  That is why the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation was created - to prevent future domestic violence relationships from ending this way. The Foundation aims to provide quality, compassionate and nonjudgmental services to all who need it.

By way of giving back and assisting law enforcement in bringing closure to other families of missing persons, the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation is donating funds of $12,649.00 for a Police K-9 to the NJ State Police as well as additional funding for a portable dental X-ray machine to the Forensic and Technical Services Section to assist with identification.

The Blue Magazine was recently invited and was in attendance at the NJ State Police HQ in Trenton for a special donation ceremony. Introduced at the ceremony were Trooper Tyler Straube and K-9 Sparze. Prior to becoming a trooper, Trooper Straube was in the U.S. Marine Corps with multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan. 

Straube and Sparze are being trained to track live people and to detect human remains (cadaver). Sparze will not be trained to apprehend (bite) criminal suspects. Trooper Straube and Sparze have a long training pipeline ahead of them.

The current training teaches them obedience and how track odor. They are reported to both be performing well in training to date. They are going to graduate the week after the donation ceremony. In March 2024, Straube and Sparze will then begin a 14-week human remains detection training course that will conclude in June 2024.

Straube and Sparze will be fully operational for the NJSP in June 2024. The cadaver detection K-9 teams will also be sent to advance training hosted by the FBI. There are four levels of advanced training, each lasting one week, that take several years to complete. The length of time is due to infrequent class scheduling. Once they complete that training, Straube and Sparze will be used by the FBI to search for human remains across the Mid-Atlantic region of the country.

The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation’s mission is to provide education, intervention and support to families and individuals dealing with domestic violence, sexual abuse and missing loved ones as well as training to learn how to deal with these situations and setting up response teams for missing persons throughout the community. More information can be found at https://www.snpfoundation.org

The Blue Magazine on behalf of law enforcement, the NJ State Police and countless families salutes the Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation for their generosity and willingness to provide enhanced tools to help locate and identify those needing to be found.