World War II Veteran and Retired Newark Police Officer Philip Alfano, Passes Away at 98: Celebrating A Life Well Lived.

By: George Beck Jr. Ph.D.

Philip Alfano Jr. grew up in North Newark, born in Jersey City on September 19, 1924, to the late Philip and Blanche (Conversano) Alfano. He lived a long life of good health, devoted his life to service and inspired many of his children and grandchildren to seek vocations in public service. The Alfanos are legendary in Newark, mainly in the Fire Department, where generations of Alfanos continue to protect and serve the city proudly. 

 During World War II, Alfano was a gunner on four U.S. Navy ships protecting fuel and supplies into Guam and Saipan — where the B-29s would launch and bomb Tokyo. The Navy took him all over the world and through hostile areas of the South Pacific, supporting the war effort as a 17-year-old kid from New Jersey.

Police Officer Phillip Alfano Jr. inspecting a driver at a roadblock stop in 1965

 While at a port in Portland, Oregon, in 1943, Alfano met his future bride of 74 years, Beryl. After the war, he’d return to Portland, and the happy couple would resettle in Newark, NJ, having seven children who grew into dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 After the war, Alfano worked in a jewelry factory, got laid off, and at that time had five children and needed steady employment. A friend on the Newark police force suggested he’d make a good officer and urged him to take the upcoming police exam.

 Alfano began his career in law enforcement in 1958 and spent the next decade working the radio car, making many arrests and risking his life in a city where eventually, the infamous riots would break out in 1967. 

By 1982, Alfano retired and traveled frequently. He divided his time half the year at Culver Lake in Branchville, NJ, and Boynton Beach, FL. Alfano was active until his last day on Oct. 22, 2022. He was a cherished friend of Blue Magazine and regularly attended events. His life was exemplary and inspiring.

Alfano in the Navy during WWII

Blue Magazine salutes PO Phillip Alfano Jr. for his life of service, heroism and love. Rest in peace our dear friend.

Eddie Gallagher and the Pipe Hitter Foundation

By: Eddie Molina

Eddie Gallagher, retired Navy Seal, spent years on the battlefield fighting for American freedom. His journey began with a desire to serve his country- but his decision to pursue a career as an elite warfighter was fueled by 9-11.

“9-11 was the reason we all stayed in. We kept fighting for the past 20 years.” Eddie tells the Blue Magazine in an exclusive interview.

His Navy Seal career, full of accolades and heroism, nearly ended abruptly. But not by an enemy sniper rifle or a roadside bomb.

It nearly ended with him in behind bars for the rest of his life.

Fighting ISIS

In 2017, Eddie and his platoon were tasked with eliminating the ISIS stronghold in Mosul, Iraq. A role best suited for a world class fighting unit- Navy Seals. What made this particular unit so effective was their Master Chief, Eddie Gallagher.

Eddie brought with him the years of direct combat experience that was needed to overcome the ruthless, barbaric enemy known to the world as ISIS. Eddie’s unit retook the city and help set the stage for bringing back peace to the volatile region.

But his biggest fight came while he was home in San Diego. Bitter members of his unit who still held a grudge against Eddie because he was “too tough on them” accused him of illegally killing an ISIS fighter. He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned until his trial. The case was so nationally recognized and highly publicized that Donald Trump stepped in and released him from custody until the conclusion of the case.

After all was done, Eddie was found not guilty on all but one minor charge of taking a picture with an enemy corpse.

“Obviously, looking back, I wouldn't have taken that picture with a dead body. Even though that's been done a million times before like that's business as usual over there.” Eddie tells Blue.

The Pipe Hitter Foundation

Eddie Gallagher’s case was embroiled in a media firestorm that nearly cost him everything. When a case is as highly publicized as his was, prosecutors with political aspirations start watering at the mouth hoping to get a conviction. In fact, the lead prosecutor was relieved of duty during the case over email spying. [That story here: https://www.navytimes.com/news/2019/06/04/lead-navy-prosecutor-in-seal-war-crime-case-out-over-email-spying/]

Having lived through this ordeal has lit a fire in Eddie and his wife Andrea’s spirit to help others from becoming unfairly victimized by prosecutors with agendas. But not for military personnel. Instead, first responders, especially law enforcement officers. It’s known as the Pipe Hitter Foundation. www.pipehitterfoundation.org

“We support active-duty law enforcement and first responders if they are put in a situation where they're being unjustly accused, or unjustly treated by whatever system they're going through. We will advocate for them. Through our process [and] what we went through, we made a lot of good connections with some of the media out there, and some really good congressmen.” Eddie tells Blue.

The last two years have put the profession of law enforcement on the ropes and mainstream media keeps throwing punches. Eddie and Andrea are on a mission to change that.

“We also put out the facts. As you know, the media distorts the truth. They take out context, as you see in the Dages case [Dages Story here: https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/ex-la-mesa-police-officer-matthew-dages-found-not-guilty-of-filing-false-report/]. I mean, they smeared the officer within 48 hours, taking out the context of what was really in the video. So we will use our social media platform and also the media to actually put out the facts of the case like, Hey, this is what's really going on.” Eddie continued, “That way people can get the facts and then critically think for themselves instead of being told what to think by certain media outlets.”

Although Eddie was in the military and not in law enforcement, he understands the current plight LEO’s are dealing with.

“I think officers have it 1000 times worse than we do. Because you guys are operating within the United States that are doing the job on a daily basis. Especially in today's environment, you can see they are turning the villains into heroes, and the heroes into villains. And you watch it on the media all the time. It's absurd.” Eddie said.

After all he has gone through, he still has delicate level of optimism when it comes to the future of law enforcement.

“They (the general public) need to go and get back to respecting that (law enforcement) job. Respecting what these men and women do for us on the streets every day.” Eddie continued, “But I'm hoping. It doesn't seem like it's getting any better. Right now, it seems like it's at this plateau. People don't know whether or not to hate the cops or love the cops. And I'll tell you what, we've seen it in cities across the country, the ones that are like defund the police, those cities turn to shit. It's because they don't have law enforcement. They're patrolling the streets protecting the people. You need that. So I'm hoping we do a shift here at some point in the future.”

Helping Out

Eddie tells Blue Magazine about how you can contribute to the Pipe Hitter Foundation and help any LEO’s that are scapegoats of political agendas.

“If you go to www.PipeHitterFoundation.org, we have a portal set up for donations, but we also have portal set up for each of the individuals that we're helping. You can donate to a specific individual, or you can just donate to the organization itself.”

There’s also a portal to apply for assistance if you believe you are caught up in unfounded charges related to an incident.

“I definitely don't think the injustices are going to stop anytime soon. So I know, there's a lot of people that are going to need our help. And for the people out there, the money that's donated is going right to somebody [LEO]that needs it.” Eddie told Blue.

Attend your next union meeting and ask for a donation to the Pipe Hitter Foundation. Anyone sitting in that room, including yourself, could be the next victim of a political agenda.

You can read about his incredible story and even purchase a signed copy of his best-selling book, Man in the Arena by going to www.EddieGallagherbook.com For more information on the Pipe Hitter Foundation, visit www.pipehitterfoundation.org

 About the writer: Eddie Molina writes articles about law enforcement, first responder and military culture. He is also the author of A Beginner’s Guide to Leadership, available on Amazon and his website, www.eddiemolina.com.

For more about the writer, follow his IG account @edbluemagazine

What is Deferred Comp?

What the HELL is deferred comp? You’ve heard about it a thousand times. You might even be putting a few dollars from every paycheck into it. I’m willing to bet, though, that no one has ever actually explained how it works. Perhaps even MORE importantly, why it is so incredibly important to you in the future. This article could easily be 5-6 pages, but I’m gonna cram as much into the next few paragraphs as possible.

Let me preface this by saying very, very clearly that NOTHING in the following article is meant to advise any individual person or group on HOW to invest or WHAT to invest in. PLEASE consult an investment professional before making ANY decisions about how you should invest.

Your Deferred Compensation (457) plan* is a name for the retirement account that is offered to public service employees. It’s similar in function to a 401k that a company might have. The following is a very rough description, but it basically works like this:

What’s a “security”? There are a TON of different securities out there, but we will focus on the 2 most well known.

Stocks- AKA Equities/ more aggressive investing. You own a proportionate piece of whatever company you’ve bought stock in. These are the side of the market that generally makes most of the gains over the life of any retirement plan. The younger you are, generally speaking, the more invested in equities you should be. There is obviously more RISK with investing more aggressively, but also potentially more reward.

Bonds/ fixed income/ less aggressive investing. A company owes you money that was lent to them. Just as the previous paragraph was the MORE risky side, this side is generally LESS risky. Again, less risk often equals less reward. As someone gets older, many retirement funds will automatically reallocate from the more aggressive to the less aggressive. Those are often called “target date funds”. A good rule of thumb- take your age, subtract it from 100. The remainder might be close to the percentage of your retirement that should be in the equity side of the market vs. the fixed income side. Mutual funds- Most retirement accounts are VERY heavily invested in mutual funds. What are they? Let’s say you have a bunch of stocks and bonds of different companies. We can use Walmart, Apple, or whatever company you’d like to add in there. Take one share of each companies stock/ bond and put it into a pile. Let’s say there are 200 companies represented in this fictitious “stack of stocks” (it might sound ridiculous, but lets say each share

is made of glass). Take the entire stack and shatter it on the floor. Pick up one small piece of each share of stock and place it into a bucket... That’s a mutual fund. An undivided interest in a larger portfolio of securities. Not without risk, but diversified risk. Your deferred comp plan offers mutual funds in it of one kind or another, from one company or another. I can’t tell you what the stock market will do tomorrow, but I can tell you what its done in the past. It has a great history of returning more than was originally put in. If you think about it, when you retire, your pension won’t increase very much over the years. Let’s say you receive $4,000 a month when you retire. Well, if you look at the history of money and its value, every 18-20 years, the value of the dollar is almost invariably diminished. This means that you’ve gotta spend more to buy a gallon of milk, a candy bar, a car, whatever. Unless you’re retired from a very kind municipality, your pension will NOT double over that 20 year period. So, the money you’re getting is worth LESS than it once was, so how are you going to afford to LIVE after you’ve stopped working completely? In short, your deferred comp plan is one of the best options to mitigate the damage done to the time value of money as long as you contribute to AND withdraw from it correctly. The most common question I get: “How much is enough to fund the 457”. Every single person is different. Reach out to an investment professional to gauge where you stand now vs. where you want to be in the future. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FUND YOUR DEFERRED COMP AS THOUGH YOUR FINANCIAL LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! It just might. You can reach out to me 24/7 with any further questions. It’s an honor to serve those that serve us.

*You can’t invest in stocks directly in a 457(b)-retirement plan.

You can contact him at (410)-302-2992 and visit at www.tacticalfinancialgroup.net

Brian K. Shea, Principal/ Owner Tactical Financial Group, *Financial Advisor offering Investment Advisory Services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Financial Services Professional offering securities through NYLIFE Securities LLC, Member FINRA/ SIPC, a licensed insurance agency. Tactical Financial Group is not owned/ operated by NYLIFE Securities or its affiliates.

Exclusive Interview: Joaquin “Jack” Garcia

Jack, retired FBI undercover agent, tells the Blue Magazine about his experience infiltrating the New York Mob

What’s your mental image of a typical FBI undercover agent? I’m thinking youthful but experienced, maybe some thinning hair, great physical condition- would you agree?

That’s not the case for one unique and wildly successful retired undercover FBI agent- Joaquin “Jack” Garcia.

Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall and at his most, weighed nearly 400 pounds during his illustrious undercover career! His unique stature is part of what made him so effective. In fact, he was so good, he posed as an Italian gangster with roots in Sicily despite being a Cuban born American!

His most notorious operation involved infiltrating the Gambino crime family- one of New York’s most vicious mob organizations and a pillar in La Cosa Nostra- or this thing of ours. He made it as far as Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco, in half the time and was one step away from becoming a made guy.  

Jack’s incredible undercover operation inside the mafia was brilliantly recaptured in his bestselling book, Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family. Link to the amazon page (https://www.amazon.com/Making-Jack-Falcone-Undercover-Family/dp/1439149917)

In an exclusive interview, Blue Magazine sat down with Jack and talked about his harrowing undercover journey with the mob, what mob life is like, and what sets them apart from average law-abiding citizens.

But the mafia isn’t what you might think it is. It has morphed over the years compared to Hollywood’s previous depiction of it. The 1990s produced multiple mafia related movies; Goodfellas, Casino, Donnie Brasco and others. All were set in 70s and 80s. Because of those movies, I thought the mob life was about gunning down rivals in the street.

But Jack’s operation occurred in the 2000’s- and a lot has changed.

Jack tells Blue, “They know the FBI and law enforcement is after them and they’re trying to avoid getting caught. Leaving bodies on the street is bad for business. They have changed in that they are more discreet and not as brazen as they were.” Jack continued, “They’re still in the same business. As long as there’s sports betting… book making…loan sharking and you have people out there willing to buy things that fall off the back of a truck, you’re going to have the mafia.”

Another common misconception is that they have bounties on law enforcement. And that’s definitely bad for business.

“The mafia knows that taking out a law enforcement guy… that’s like the worst thing you could do. They know that the reign of terror will fall upon them.” Jack continued, “In New York they had the killing of a DEA agent by this [mafia] guy named Faracci, I think the agents name was Hatcher. He’s an undercover hero working with these guys and he was found dead, slumped over in his car. Well, we tore up all of the gambling horns… we brought people in… there was constant heat. Wiretaps indicated that they [mafia] said ‘find this guy Faracci, kill him and throw him outside the DEA’s office.’”

Part of reality for mobsters is they often end up in prison. But unlike some convicts that manage to turn their lives around and live an honest life, mafia members don’t prescribe to that ideology whatsoever.

“This is the only life they know. When you take that oath as a gangster in organized crime in the mafia, it’s for life.” Jack said.

And that’s how Jack found Greg Depalma- a Captain with the Gambino crime family

Jack was able to sink his undercover claws into Depalma shortly after he was released from prison. Using his verbal judo and hypnotic charm, Jack eventually formed a close bond with DePalma. But the secret was more about money- and that’s what fueled DePalma.

“I would say to DePalma ‘look, I’m going down to Miami, I got to take care of some business for us’. So I would go down to Florida, do what I had to do, come back then I give them [mafia] a taste. Maybe an envelope with a couple grand, or watches from the forfeiture unit. He [DePalma] saw me then as an earner.”

I wanted to dig deeper into DePalma’s mentality, persona and general outlook on the lifestyle. Jack had no shortage of stories explaining it.

“When he [DePalma] came out [of prison] he did what he did best and went back to the strip club where I was undercover and he reclaimed that club that was at one time under his umbrella. He hit the ground running and he did it the same day he got picked up from prison… that same day he started the shakedowns.”

Some of the gangsters are intelligent and ambitious. There’s no doubt they have the capability of living a clean, honest and successful life. However, Jack feels that is sadly unrealistic.

Jack said, “As far as going clean, some of these guys would probably do quite well out there but it’s in their DNA, its inside them.”

Jack recalls a scenario where DePalma and him are walking around a clothing store.

“He’s shoving ties down his jacket, socks… I’m like ‘what’re you doing…I’ll pay for that.’ He says ‘what’re you crazy, this is what we are, this is who we are’. And it’s so true.” Jack said.

In total, Jack spent 3 years undercover with the Gambino crime family. Over that span, he more than earned the trust of DePalma. He was only a few short steps of becoming a made guy- quite an honor in the mafia that involves a heart-felt ceremony.

To become a made guy, you must be Italian and sponsored by a made man. Then in an intimate ritual, often in a basement or somewhere quiet, mafioso heritage is recited, scripted questions are asked and answered and a vow to remain loyal to the family for life is confirmed. This is the oath every made guy takes and one of the most celebrated, life-changing events there is for a mafia member.

And that’s how close Jack was. He had the trust and support of DePalma and his crew. And as far as the mob knew, he was Italian too (that still amazes me that Jack pulled it off).

But he didn’t quite get there.

For reasons unknown, the case was closed just prior to Jack becoming a made guy. Jack disagreed with that decision and believes could have been the start of something enormous.

“I thought that… eventually in time I would get straightened out giving me access to the inner workings of the mob but also be able to introduce other FBI agents into other places in the U.S. like Chicago, New York. But I’m just a soldier, not management. The way it works it’s safe, that’s what they wanted done.” He continued, ““The assistant US attorney working the case, along with other agents working the case wanted it to remain open. There was no reason for this case to be closed because my life was not in danger in any way.”

But Jack is a soldier and did what all true soldiers do, follow orders.

The case ultimately took down 32 dangerous criminals and dismantled the Gambino crime family and their affiliates.

He continued on to lead a brilliant career and accomplished many other feats. After 26 years of service, he retired. He’s now enjoying the fruits of his labor, a goal many law enforcement officers are looking forward to. Jack left a standard that seems impossible to exceed. Only one question remains, can you do better?

You can pick up his book Making Jack Falcone: An Undercover FBI Agent Takes Down a Mafia Family, just don’t forget to leave a review!

 Book link on the amazon page https://www.amazon.com/Making-Jack-Falcone-Undercover-Family/dp/1439149917

About the writer: Eddie Molina writes articles about law enforcement, first responder and military culture. He is also the author of A Beginner’s Guide to Leadership, available on Amazon and his website, www.eddiemolina.com.

Understanding Post Traumatic Stress: A Spouse’s Story

Many of our readers understand there is a possibility of developing PTS or Post Traumatic Stress as a Law Enforcement Officer. The things officers regularly experience or observe- devastating car accident scenes, murders, child abuse- become normalized day to day but the brain processes it differently.

In many cases, PTS settles in and manifests itself in variety of ways, many unhealthy, some even dangerous- excessive drinking, drug abuse, anger issues, depression… the list goes on. All of that can wreak havoc on the officer and his or her family, especially the spouse who must live and deal with it every day.

If you are a LEO and you think the job will not change you, you are wrong. And no one sees that more clearly than the person living side by side with you, observing this gradual change.

Few people in the world knows what it is like to live with someone suffering from PTS better then Jen Satterly, author of Arsenal of Hope. Link to book: https://allsecurefoundation.org/shop/

Jen’s husband, Tom Satterly, is a retired Command Sergeant Major with the U.S Army in one of the world’s most elite fighting units- Delta Force. After being involved in well over a thousand capture or kill missions, it is no surprise he left the battlefield with some internal struggle that led to PTS.

If you are the spouse of an LEO, male or female, there is a particularly good chance you can relate to Jen’s experience. Living with someone who works with the decay of society will certainly have an impact on him or her as a person.

In an exclusive interview, Blue sat down with Jen to fully understand what it was like to live with someone of that caliber who struggled day in and day out for years before finally finding some relief.

Instead of giving up and leaving her husband like many spouses would have, Jen decided to stay by his side and help him overcome his struggle, which included occasionally challenging him.

Jen said, “This is a very dangerous game to play with someone who can kill me in a single move, someone who in a fit of rage is capable of great acts of violence; others in his unit have killed their wives under similar situations.”

Their relationship hit its climax on the night of their wedding. Like many weddings, alcohol was involved. What should have been a memorable occasion turned into an alcohol-fueled dispute towards the end of the night. It was not until the following morning that her husband fully understood the scope of the confrontation.

“When I showed him my bruised arms…his face, I’ll never forget. Shock, disgust, and embarrassment contorted his features. He jumped out of bed and fell to his knees in front of me. ‘Please God, please tell me it wasn’t me that did that to you.’”

As they went about their first day as a married couple, Jen did some soul searching.

Jen tells Blue about a critical moment that afternoon. “In that moment, I had to decide. Would I keep loving this man? Looking at the face of the wounded warrior before me, I knew I could not live without him.”

Many Warriors Suffer

Before they married, Jen had been working alongside Tom and other special operations soldiers for several years. She was responsible for filming military training exercises for leadership review.

While she was deeply embedded with them, she eventually noticed that Tom and other warriors exhibited many of the same attributes- anger, depression, anxiety, loss of empathy and compassion, isolation, and at times violence.

She figured out the common denominator- every one of them spent months, sometimes, years in active combat zones.

Instead of choosing to walk away the morning after their wedding night to seek annulment, which she considered, she decided to stay with him and commit her life to understanding PTS.

Jen left her successful award-winning film production company and zeroed in on the effects of PTS. She tells Blue: “I started to understand why Tom would unconsciously switch lanes under overpasses to avoid snipers or move away from roadkill because one too many times the terrorists had used roadkill to hide bombs. He didn’t think, he reacted.”

It is the same reason why some law enforcement officers are uncomfortable in large crowds where space is limited, or why they must sit with their backs to the wall at restaurants. They are assessing threats- they are constantly in survival mode that cannot be easily turned off once their shift is done.

Jen said, “PTSD affects each person differently, to varying degrees. A biological need for personal safety always, always has to come first, and any sense of safety security can short-circuit the PTSD trip wire.” She continued, “When they are home, often they want to reconnect with their families, but their mind won’t let them switch over from warrior mode to cuddly husband mode, not easily.”

As her journey to understand PTS evolved, she began to focus on how to help Tom control and manage it.

Jen said, “Those with PTSD must come up with a plan for how to handle the anger but do so during a period of calm. Fits of rage don’t usually go hand- in- hand with logic.” Jen added, “Include your spouse or partner: ask them what triggers they’ve noticed and be clear in what you need from them in order for you to avoid them.”

During her transition to understand PTS, Jen began to focus both on the person suffering from it and their loved ones.

But there’s help for everyone.

“Most people aren’t meant to fight this battle alone, and you shouldn’t have to.” Jen tells Blue.

If any of this story sounds familiar to you, whether you are the LEO or the spouse, you are experiencing something that can happen to anyone. There are numerous programs available to help the LEO and his or her family.

Tom and Jen created their own non-profit to help warriors struggling from Post Traumatic Stress, the All Secure Foundation (www.AllSecureFoundation.org). Although their programs are designed to help special operations warriors, they never turn anyone away. In fact, they created a subsection non-profit program for the spouses called Virago- Latin for a woman of strength and spirit; a female warrior.

Jen said, “This is why the All Secure Foundation created Virago, to support women who are in a relationship with either a military serviceman, veteran, or a first responder who is suffering from service-connected PTSD; everyone is welcome.”

Tom and Jen now travel the country bringing awareness to PTS by telling their story of how they overcame it as a married couple.

Their goal is to expand their programs to help everyone suffering from this curable ailment known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Like many ailments, it CAN be cured, it just needs to right treatment. And that’s what people like Tom and Jen Satterly are here for.

About the writer: Eddie Molina writes articles about law enforcement, first responder and military culture. He is also the author of A Beginner’s Guide to Leadership, available on Amazon and his website, www.eddiemolina.com.

Essex County 200 Club Awards Officer Willie Jones’ Valor

By Robert Foreman

On a daily basis, law enforcement officers are required to put their lives on the line to ‘protect and serve’ their communities. Often, their acts of valor go unnoticed. However, this was not the case with Orange police officer Willie Jones. On April 30, 2021, Officer Jones was honored with the Valor Award for his bravery in the line of duty by The Essex County 200 Club. The ceremony was held at the City of Orange Police Department.

On July 13, 2019, Officer Jones, 36, and Officer Josh Anderson were called to 400 Oakwood Ave for a volatile domestic dispute. The initial 911 call indicated that a male suspect, Jamahl Smith, had stabbed his sister, Tanya Smith. After arriving on the scene the officers encountered the suspect in the 3rd floor hallway of the building, brandishing a large kitchen knife. The officers ordered Smith to drop the knife, but he refused. Instead, the suspect began approaching Officer Jones, with the knife in hand, forcing the officer to shoot Smith three times.

While EMS was called Smith was later pronounced dead at the hospital. After an official review of the incident, it was determined that Officer Jones’ actions had not only saved the life of Smith’s sister, who had been stabbed several times, but the lives of multiple elderly residents in the building. It was because of his heroic actions that not only saved his life, but the lives of others, that Officer Jones became a natural recipient of the Valor Award.

Officer Jones, who was born in Essex County, New Jersey, admitted that the incident still remains with him nearly two years later.

“It was the first time that I had ever fired my gun in the line of duty,” said Officer Jones. “So, it definitely stays with you.”

While winning the Valor Award was an honor for Officer Jones, he was quick to acknowledge the actions of the other officer who was with him.

“First off, I want to thank Josh Anderson. He was my partner on the scene and he helped to secure the suspect. I don’t know why he didn’t get the award,” said Officer Jones. “But winning the award felt good. It was kind of an ‘ah’ moment. I mean, I don’t do this for the awards. I do it for the public, but it was nice to be acknowledged.”

For more information on the The Essex County 200 Club check here: http://200clubessexcounty.org/

First Responders: Invisible wounds

On any given day, a first responder can go from a simple traffic stop or a small bonfire to performing CPR on someone lying there with stuff coming out of their mouth with family screaming in the background pleading for them to do it faster. They will try doing it more quickly, all while knowing the person is gone. Let's not forget the calls where the first responders respond to a devastating accident scene where they now have to pick up bodies off the ground, some of which have their brain matter spread across the road. Pretty gruesome, I know, but these are just examples of traumatic events that first responders can face on any given day.

Responders are exposed regularly to serious injury, death, and they have to worry about keeping themselves, their colleagues, and civilians safe. They often find themselves in a situation where they have to make stressful split-second decisions. All of which lead to significant trauma symptoms.

There is a big misconception that PTSD can only happen if you were the direct victim of a traumatic event. However, PTSD can also occur to those who witness or hear about it; This is called vicarious trauma. First responders often experience this simply because they have a front-row seat to devastating scenes. In addition to vicarious trauma, the first responder is at risk for cumulative trauma due to the job's nature. On a busy night, a first responder can respond to several devastating calls.

So, with this knowledge, why is it still such a challenge addressing trauma in first responders? There are a few reasons for this; there is still a considerable stigma associated with mental health and the idea that their career will be over, and they will be found unfit for duty if they speak up, which can be a devastating loss. First responders believe they need to be tough; they cannot allow themselves to be affected by the things they see. They need to be in control; seeking help can be seen as a vulnerability and a weakness among peers and superiors.

Here is the reality all humans are vulnerable. We are not built to withstand and absorb such horrific things regularly. At some point or another, the impact will be felt simply because biologically, the human body and brain will react. It is no secret that many first responders suffer from substance abuse, specifically alcoholism; this is not a coincidence. First responders become easily agitated and irritable; they suffer from chronic pain, fatigue, obesity, and heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among active-duty firefighters, and let's not forget the alarming rate at which our first responders are ending their own lives.

The good news is that trauma can be fixed! Various evidence-based therapeutic interventions can help alleviate intense negative emotions connected to traumatic memories. What would it be like to alleviate hypervigilance so you could feel safe going to your kid's ball game or dance recital? What would it be like if you could come home and enjoy your family and be present instead of checking out in front of the TV or drinking yourself into a stupor?

If you are a first responder and you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders or your losing sleep to nightmares, reach out; there is help. Both you and your family deserve to be happy.

Ana Pais, LPC, NCC, CFRC

www.anapaistherapy.com

Hunt still on for suspect who ambushed two deputies in Compton

The hunt continues for an unnamed suspect who ambushed two sheriff’s deputies in a brazen attack at a rail station in Compton, California that was caught on surveillance tape. On the video, a figure dressed in dark clothing approached the vehicle from behind before walking to the passenger side, drawing a handgun and firing multiple shots through the window. After the cowardly attack, the suspect then fled into the night on foot and remains at large. The Sheriff’s Department has described the suspect as a black male between the ages of 28 and 30. The two officers, a male and a female, both survived the attack, but each sustained significant injuries.

The male deputy, 24, was the first to be released from the hospital and is heading to a long-term care facility. The female deputy, 31, has since been released from the hospital and also has a long road ahead in her recovery. The Sheriff’s Department issued the following statement via Twitter: “Great News... both of our Deputies from the #ComptonAmbush have been discharged from the hospital and are resting. They both have a long road to recovery and #LASD appreciates your continued prayers and all the support. #LASDStrong”.  Since news of the attack spread, support and donations for the two deputies have poured in. Over $700,000 has already been raised for the two deputies via a GoFundMe page started by another deputy.

Currently, law enforcement is searching for a witness that was seen on the surveillance camera walking on a nearby sidewalk as the suspect runs off after the shooting. The ambush in Compton resonated not only with other officers, but with many civilians as well. It was a reminder of the dangers that law enforcement officers face on a regular basis as they go about their shifts. In this instance, two officers were just sitting in their vehicle and were shot for no other reason than because they were law enforcement. Those two officers have family and friends that love them and both now face a long road ahead to recovery. Even if the physical wounds heal completely both will likely still suffer some emotional or mental trauma from the ambush.

One can only fathom what those two deputies went through that night. Imagine just sitting in your vehicle and suddenly shots are coming through the window, tearing into your flesh. In that instance, you are helpless to defend yourself and subdue the suspect. Instead, you must have the foresight to keep yourself alive and call for assistance. Just knowing that the suspect is still at large after shooting you multiple times, and potentially altering the course of your life and career, would make anyone’s blood burn. I know it would piss me off if I were the one shot. Regardless of all of the focus on police brutality and reform, there was no justification for the ambush in Compton. None. When the suspect is finally apprehended, he can’t claim he had some legitimate reason for the shooting. He just did it because he hated law enforcement and took a chance to try and end the lives of not one, but 2, deputies. For that, he deserves the maximum punishment that the justice system can hand down. No one gets a free pass for targeting innocent people.

Currently, the reward for information on the suspect has climbed to over $500,000: Reward climbs past $500,000 for tips leading to suspect who shot 2 deputies in Compton

By: Robert Foreman

New York AG & the NRA go to war with dueling lawsuits

A full-blown war has broken out between New York Attorney General Letitia James and the National Rifle Association. The hostilities began after the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against the NRA in an effort to dissolve the organization following a nearly two-year investigation that uncovered alleged ‘fraud and abuse’. The Attorney General noted that she had discovered financial misconduct that had led to more than $64 million in losses over the course of three years. This includes the organization misusing funds for personal gain, as well as awarding contracts to family, friends and former employees. Since the NRA is a non-profit organization that is registered in New York it falls under the domain of the Attorney General for oversight.

While Jones is going after the NRA, as a whole, she singled out four individuals, including Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre, who has become the face of the organization. In a statement, she noted: “The NRA's influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets. The NRA is fraught with fraud and abuse, which is why, today, we seek to dissolve the NRA, because no organization is above the law.” Jones’ lawsuit shows that she is playing hardball with the NRA. Not only is she seeking to dissolve the NRA completely, she is trying to ensure that LaPierre and three others, General Counsel John Frazer, former Chief Financial Officer Woody Phillips and former Chief of Staff Joshua Powell never serve on the board of another New York-based charity. The full story can be found here: https://www.npr.org/2020/08/06/899712823/new-york-attorney-general-moves-to-dissolve-the-nra-after-fraud-investigation

As expected, the NRA denied the allegations and released a statement in which they called the Attorney General’s actions: “baseless premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend... we not only will not shrink from this fight – we will confront it and prevail.” However, the NRA isn’t just fighting back with words. The organization filed a lawsuit against Jones and accused her of defamation and violating the organization’s right to free speech. The NRA’s lawsuit went on to state that Jones “made the political prosecution of the NRA a central campaign theme” in 2018 while she was running for Attorney General. They added that she has subjected the organization to unfair treatment since being elected.

The NRA’s lawsuit also states that: “James boasted that she would strike foul blows against the NRA and pound the NRA into submission. She vowed that she would use the NYAG’s investigative and enforcement powers for the precise purpose of stanching political speech (‘deadly propaganda),” the lawsuit states. “She has begun to deliver on her campaign promises to retaliate against the NRA for constitutionally protected speech on issues that James opposes. As NYAG, James has regrettably succumbed to ‘individual passions, and individual malevolence.’” The full article can be found here: NRA fights back, files its own suit against NY attorney general seeking to disband organization

While the NRA seems to be mounting a free speech defense, Jones is bringing the receipts when it comes to financial misconduct. She noted that the executives “instituted a culture of self-dealing, mismanagement and negligent oversight” that cost the NRA millions of dollars in assets. Jones’ lawsuit accuses LaPierre, Frazer, Phillips and Powell of using the NRA’s charitable funds for their personal benefit. The lawsuit cites examples of private plane trips, vacations, post-employment contracts, using funds to benefit their family members and significant others and falsifying financial disclosure forms. The lawsuit also states that individuals who attempted to expose the financial misconduct were met with retribution by LaPierre.

However, the Attorney General has yet to file charges against anyone in relation to her allegations of financial abuse. Whether anyone will eventually be charged remains to be seen. Yet, one thing is clear, this war is far from over.  Neither side appears to want to give an inch, so this is likely to be a long and protracted court room battle. Of course, if anyone is found guilty of diverting charitable funds for their own personal use, whether it is with the NRA or any other non-profit organization, then they should be held accountable. Now, whether Jones will be successful in dissolving the NRA is up in the air. But, if I were a betting man, I’d say the odds were slim on that happening. However, if the NRA were to be dissolved in New York the organization would likely reconstitute itself in another state. Either way, grab the popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show because things are going to get interesting with this showdown.

St. Louis & Missouri still a lightning rod for protests & riots

St. Louis & Missouri still a lightning rod for protests & riots

By Robert Foreman

The aftermath of George Floyd’s death continues to reverberate throughout the nation with both protests and, in some cases, rioting and looting. St. Louis, and the state of Missouri, seems to be a lightning rod for it all. Recently, there was a resurgence of protests in the city after the new prosecutor, Wesley Bell, announced that he would not be filing criminal charges against former officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. Brown was shot and killed by Wilson in Ferguson in 2014. On what was the sixth anniversary of Brown’s death many of the supporters were frustrated with the decision not to charge Wilson after Bell ran on a campaign of criminal justice reform.

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Wilson claimed self-defense in Brown’s death and the prosecutor opted not to file charges after relying on the previous investigations from the police department and the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department during President Obama’s term. The DOJ had opted not to file charges against Wilson based off of their own investigation. The death of Brown in 2014 had led to two weeks of rioting in Ferguson. In the weeks and months following Floyd’s death we have seen largely peaceful protests, yet there have been incidents of rioting and looting. The full article can be found here:  https://www.theroot.com/protests-planned-in-st-louis-mo-after-new-prosecutor-1844582823

Now, to be blunt, I will always support any protests by disenfranchised groups who are fighting for equality against systemic discrimination and racism. While I understand where the anger and frustration comes from, I have never been one to support those who riot or loot. For one, rioting and looting distracts from the very cause that you are protesting against. In fact, that behavior just allows those in power who do not want to discuss the real issues to just focus on the unlawful and destructive behavior of those who are causing the damage. Secondly, rioting and looting creates a loss of jobs, wages and services. Those businesses that have been destroyed will take weeks, or months, to reopen. Or they may opt not to reopen at all and those jobs, wages and services are lost forever in that community. Yet, protests and riots have been a part of the American story for what seems like forever and Missouri, and specifically St. Louis, always seem to be one of the epicenters.

The Civil War
St. Louis saw its first bouts of civil and racial unrest from 1861 through 1865 during the Civil War. The city was already highly polarized and volatile as political and economic interests clashed over slavery and the German immigrants who were fiercely opposed to slavery. Violence erupted after the Union forces, with the help of German volunteers, captured a Confederate-leaning militia at Camp Jackson. Union General Nathaniel Lyon marched his prisoners through the streets while a mob of residents looted a gun shop and gathered to meet the parade of prisoners. The crowd verbally abused the prisoners and soldiers, and some of the people who had looted the gun shop began firing on them. The ensuing violence caused the deaths of dozens of innocent people, including women and children. The full article can be found here: https://www.stlmag.com/history/civil-unrest-st-louis-civil-war/

1917 Riots
In 1917, St. Louis experienced what has become known as the ‘East St. Louis Massacre’ or what survivors called ‘The East St. Louis Race War’. From July 1 through July 3, a festering labor dispute exploded into all-out racial violence where black residents were summarily beaten, lynched, shot and killed. The tensions in the city began to boil in East St. Louis after thousands of African-Americans had moved from the southern states for factory jobs. Once the largely white workers at an aluminum ore company had gone on strike many of the transplanted African-Americans were hired as replacements. Many of the angry white workers were unhappy about this and filed formal complaints. The tensions finally exploded after news spread about the attempted armed robbery of a white man by a black man. When the dust had settled after three days of bloody violence, nine white residents and anywhere from 39 to more than a hundred African-Americans were dead. The full article can be found here: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/east-st-louis-race-riot-left-dozens-dead-devastating-community-on-the-rise-180963885/

The 1960’s
Ironically, St. Louis managed to avoid the major riots that arose in other cities during the turbulent decade of the 1960’s. The only reported major incidents of violence in the city happened in 1968 after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed in Memphis. Inmates inside of a St. Louis jailed rioted, but the uprising was ended by police using tear gas. There were incidents of windows being smashed in some commercial buildings and a grocery story was attacked with an explosive that failed to detonate. However, a mix of non-violent and militant activists joined forces to march on Palm Sunday in honor of Dr. King. What started out as a group of 7,500 people grew to a racially-mixed size of 30,000 people. The full article can be found here: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/st-louis-area-largely-spared-by-civil-rights-era-rioting-that-hit-other-cities/article_b9a25f8d-efbf-5f4d-af88 173f543989fe.html#:~:text=During%20the%20socially%20turbulent%201960s,Dr.

As I mentioned earlier, protests and riots have been a part of the American story for what seems like forever and St. Louis continues to be at the epicenter. Why this one city seems to always be in the mix is a mystery. Yet, one thing that cannot be ignored is that protesting, regardless of the issue, is a freedom of expression that is given to all Americans. But, with that said, rioting and looting are not ‘inalienable rights’ that are given to any citizen, regardless of their race, creed, color or religion. The late civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis called upon people to “Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” Protesting is an example of ‘good trouble’ whereas rioting and looting are not. No matter what justification people give violence never solves any problem, it only creates new ones.

Trump promises to protect ‘Suburban Lifestyle Dream’

Trump promises to protect ‘Suburban Lifestyle Dream’

By Robert Foreman

With his approval ratings slipping, particularly among white voters in the suburbs, President Donald Trump recently rolled back an Obama-era program that was meant to deal with racial segregation in the suburbs. The Obama-era program had expanded on provisions in the Fair Housing Act that were meant to encourage diversification in the suburbs. However, President Trump took to Twitter and proclaimed “I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood... Your housing prices will go up based on the market, and crime will go down. I have rescinded the Obama-Biden AFFH Rule. Enjoy!”

President Trump’s critics immediately took issue with his implication that the suburbs were under siege by low-income minorities and pointed out how both he and his father, Fred Trump, were sued by the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department in the 1970’s for discrimination against prospective African-American and Puerto Rican tenants.  Of course, President Trump denied any wrongdoing and stated in a book in 1987 that his managers tried to weed out ‘certain types of tenants’ and that “What we didn’t do was rent to welfare cases, white or black.” The Trumps counter-sued the government for $100 million claiming defamation. Yet, the case was eventually settled in 1975 after the Trumps and their company entered into a consent decree. While they did not have to admit any wrongdoing in the decree, they were required to ensure that apartments were rented without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The full article on the case can be found here: https://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/02/trump-fbi-files-discrimination-case-235067

Many of President Trump’s most ardent supporters applaud his stance on protecting the ‘Suburban Lifestyle Dream,’ including former New York Lieutenant Governor Betsy McCaughey. She wrote a recent Op-Ed in which she declared that Vice-President Biden’s proposed housing policies would threaten home values, increase property taxes and threaten the overall character of the communities. In her article, McCaughey stated that in 2015 that the Obama administration had floated a cookie-cutter requirement for ‘balanced housing’ that would have required towns to make it possible for low-income minorities to choose suburban living and provide adequate support to make it a reality. McCaughey’s full article can be found here: https://nypost.com/2020/07/21/joe-bidens-disastrous-plans-for-americas-suburbs/

However, the problem that arises when one starts using ‘property taxes’ and ‘declining home values’ when talking about community diversity is that it tends to evoke racism, implied or otherwise. After all, before, during and after the Civil Rights Era those who opposed integration often used those same terms as an excuse for wanting to keep their communities ‘pure’. As America still deals with the ongoing protests regarding racial injustice ‘Protecting the Suburban Lifestyle’ is likely not the best tone to strike. For one, it implies that the suburbs are purely made up of white residents and that any people of color will automatically be a problem and/or just there in low-income housing. Secondly, it ignores the demographic shifts in which educated, successful minorities are moving to the suburbs without federal assistance.

The world has changed since suburban voters helped carry President Trump to victory in 2016. Not only did suburban voters help the Democrats win back control of the House of Representatives in 2018, but many Republicans in Congress are finding that they are struggling in the suburbs as well. A large number of the affluent and educated white suburban voters have been turned off by what many view as the President’s attempts to sow racial division, particularly when he referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as a ‘symbol of hate’ and his continued defense of Confederate flags and monuments. A recent article found that both President Trump and the Congressional Republicans may have a tougher path to shoring up support in the suburbs than they previously believed. The article, which detailed interviews with voters, party officials and strategists, can be found here: https://news.yahoo.com/suburban-voters-sour-republicans-battle-153443704.html?.tsrc=daily_mail&uh_test=2_15

Yet, with the election less than a 100 days away much can change. So, regardless of what the polls, media pundits, political strategists or even voters are saying now it is still imperative that everyone exercise their right to vote. Regardless of whether you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat or Independent it is important that people make their voices heard at the ballot box. To be blunt, both political parties have their issues and are too tied in with lobbyists and special interests groups. Both parties want to label people as either ‘far left liberal’ or ‘far-right conservative’. The truth of the matter is more people probably fall somewhere in the middle. This insistence of labeling people politically may be the reason that more people are choosing to call themselves ‘Independents’ instead of ‘Republican’ or ‘Democrat’.  However, whatever label you choose to call yourself the most important label should be ‘registered voter.’ So, this November get out and vote both your conscience and your interests.

Google not backing Biden or Trump in 2020 Election

Google not backing Biden or Trump in 2020 Election
By Robert Foreman

GOOGLE CEO SUNDAR PICHAI (CNBC.COM)

As the 2020 Presidential election campaign heats up many people have already made their choice between President Donald Trump and his challenger Former Vice-President Joe Biden. However, Google has opted not to back either Trump or Biden during this election cycle. At least that is what Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated when he and the CEOs of Facebook, Amazon, and Apple were recently called before Congress for anti-trust hearings. The topic of the 2020 Presidential election arose when Congressman Jim Jordan inexplicably began seeking assurances from Pichai that Google would not attempt to side with Biden. Following is part of the exchange between Jordan and Pichai:

JORDAN: So here's the question I think is on so many Americans’ minds. They saw the list we read here earlier. All the things Google has done. Google is siding with the World Health Organization over anyone who disagrees with them, even though the World Health Organization obviously lied to America and shills for China. YouTube and Google is siding with them. We have the history of what Google has done and the history of 2016, where they obviously, according to one of your marketing executives, tried to help Clinton. And here we are 97 days before the election and we want to make sure it's not going to happen again. Can you assure us you're not going to tailor or configure your platform to help Joe Biden? And second, that you're not going to use your search engine to silence conservatives? Can you give us those two assurances today?

PICHAI: Congressman, on our search engine, conservatives have more access to information than ever before—

JORDAN: We appreciate that, that wasn't the question. Can you assure us you're not going to silence conservatives and assure us that you're not going to configure your features as you did for Clinton in '16, can you assure us you're not going to do the same thing for Joe Biden in 2020?

PICHAI: We won’t do any work to politically tilt anything one way or the other. It is against our core values.

Jordan would continue to accuse Google of attempting to tilt the election in favor of Hillary Clinton in 2016 based off of an email that had been circulated through the company. The email detailed a donation that Google had made to the Clinton campaign. Pichai stated that Google found no evidence of such activity and that he stressed to his employees that any personal political activity should take place on their own time. The full video of the exchange between Jordan and Pichai begins at 11:15 (https://youtu.be/Iq_hw3eSIT0)

Ironically, after grilling Google about its own political leanings, Jordan found himself being grilled by Fox News’ Tucker Carlson regarding campaign contributions he has received from the tech giant. Carlson took Jordan to task for accepting campaign contributions from Google while he sits on the committee that is designed to regulate them. While Carlson agreed with Jordan about the Big Tech companies having a bias against conservatives, he pointed out that Google was the second-largest campaign contributor to the congressman in the last election cycle.

When pressed by Carlson about why Google would contribute money to his campaign, Jordan responded, “Look, if they want to exercise their First Amendment liberty to give me money, I raised $3 million last quarter. If Google gives me a few thousand dollar check, God bless them. That doesn’t change who I am. You saw that today in the committee. I went after Google. I went after them for the very issue you just raised, Tucker. In 2016, Google tried to tailor their features to help Clinton in key states. That’s directly from the e-mail, the head of their multicultural marketing sector.” The full article regarding Carlson’s interview with Jordan can be found here: Tucker Carlson Grills Jim Jordan After Tech Hearing: Why Would Google Give You Money And Why Would You Take It?

Jordan’s defense of Google’s campaign contributions to him should raise two questions. One, how can he rail against Google potentially taking sides in a Presidential election while pocketing campaign cash from them? Secondly, were the campaign contributions from Google personal contributions from employees or were they corporate contributions from Google? If they were corporate contributions from Google then it calls into question Pichai’s claim that the company doesn’t work to politically tilt things one way or the other. Then again, Google, and/or its employees, likely contribute to candidates of both parties to hedge their bets when it comes to regulations. Corporations have been doing that for decades. Just as politicians, like Jordan, publicly rail against certain companies, while taking campaign contributions on the side from those same companies, has been going on for decades with people of both political parties.

However, whether Google, or any other Big Tech company, chooses to take sides in the upcoming election does not change the fact that this will be a Presidential election for the history books. After all, it is the first Presidential election that will take place during a pandemic that has already claimed 150,000 American lives, a recession and protests against racial injustice. Not to mention the potential hurdles of in-person voting during a pandemic and the unfounded conspiracy theories regarding voting by mail. With less than a 100 days until the election, some people are firmly in the Trump camp while others are firmly in the Biden camp. Yet, regardless of who you vote for the important thing is that you vote. Because people who choose not to exercise their right to vote lose the right to complain about the outcome of an election that they refused to participate in. Every vote counts, so make sure that you make your vote count this November.

Blue Magazine Stands with Michelle Malkin

Blue Magazine Stands with Michelle Malkin

MICHELLE MALKIN BOOK SIGNING AT NIGHT TO UNITE

We are stunned that we even have to defend Michelle Malkin, whose steadfast support of law enforcement for decades is impeccable. Malkin has had our backs when many sellouts abandoned us, and yet we turn our backs on her?

Therefore we must ask cops everywhere: Have you had enough yet?

Are you tired of seeing all the violence—the nonstop assaults, the crazed people beating the hell of each other while the person filming stands idle and ironically calls you (the police) for help?  Yeah, you who they want defunded and off the streets. You, whose blood is spilling on the pavement and you whose bones are being broken from the many bludgeoning attacks simply for the uniform you wear. Are you tired of being scapegoated for political objectives?

This year, 140 of your fellow officers have already died in the line of duty, 29 from being shot by violent criminals. Does it sicken you that these heroes have parents, spouses, and children who are devastated and struggling to pick up the pieces, and many people don't care? Think of the pain of a child looking at a photo of their dead parent in uniform, tears streaming down their cheeks as they envision how their parent’s frantic last moments of life were consumed with pain and suffering. Recall the last words of Toledo Police Officer Anthony Dia, who managed to radio his dispatch, “One-eighteen … Tell my family I love them,” before ultimately succumbing to a gunshot wound to the chest on July 4th.  We are being beaten and slaughtered to a point it's apparently become part of the job—what we signed up for.  Do you find this nauseating?  If this doesn't concern you, what will?

Are you tired of witnessing anarchy and lawlessness?  Are you tired of seeing businesses broken into and set on fire by criminals who believe they are rightfully owed the proprietor’s property and that burning the company to the ground is the right thing to do? Are you tired of seeing elderly grandmothers and grandfathers being punched out, knocked to the ground and beaten by savages who were raised to justify hurting someone who cannot defend themself is acceptable? Are you tired of hearing your loved ones tell you they are scared to go into the cities because they may be beaten to death, and nobody will care? Are you sickened by seeing miscreants burning our flag, hating our country and urinating on venerated objects like the face of Jesus Christ?

Are you tired of witnessing failed political leaders like major city mayors who stand by while providing cover for the criminals, claiming they are good-hearted people protesting? Are you angered watching your fellow brothers and sisters in Blue kiss the asses of these politicians who hate us? 

Are you sick of watching your coward police leaders kneel and pander to the politicians who could care less if one us choked on our own blood on the same streets they supposedly lead? Are you exhausted from watching your police leaders' utter fear to stand up for their men and women? Are you disgusted by your police precincts being overrun by criminals while your bosses order you to retreat and don’t have the courage to stand up to the political leaders? Are you sick of police leaders abandoning the rule of law and justice to placate the abhorrent desires of the same politicians who smile when cops die?

MICHELLE MALKIN RECEIVING WOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD AT NIGHT TO UNITE EVENT

Are you concerned that crime is skyrocketing, and victims are piling up while the criminals are treated as victims themselves? Are you worried that your freedoms are being stolen from you right in front of your face?

Well, guess what? There are people out there like Michelle Malkin, who feel the same way you do. Malkin and her friends defended us at a recent Law Enforcement Appreciation Day in Denver, taking a chance with their lives. And for what? Only to be sold out and abandoned by cops who stood by while cop-haters attacked them.

“So the message is loud and clear,” Malkin wrote. “When push comes to bloody shove in end-stage America, under the rule of the anarcho-tyrants, we, the law-abiding, are the enemy. Those in uniform sworn to protect and serve will turn their backs on us because their bosses don't answer to the public. They protect and serve the mob.”

If it doesn’t bother you that we are losing the faith of the people who support us, it’s clear where we as a profession are headed, and the only people we can blame are ourselves.

It’s time to take back our profession. It's time to stop being cowards pandering to people who’d rather see us dead. It’s time we demand our police leaders defend us. And if they continue to abandon us, we must unite against them. And it’s time we stand united with the people who support us.

Don't lose faith, Michelle. There are tons of us out here who thank and appreciate everything you do to support us. We are proud with our partners Brothers Before Others and Moment of Silence to have awarded you our 2019 Woman of the Year!  We stand with Michelle Malkin.

‘Anti-Feminist’ lawyer behind shooting at judge’s home

‘Anti-Feminist’ lawyer behind shooting at judge’s home

 By Robert Foreman

One of the worst fears that anyone can have is that they, and their families, will become the victims of an unprovoked home invasion. After all, your home is your private sanctuary away from the troubles of the outside world where you can feel completely safe. Unfortunately, for Judge Esther Salas, and her family, the peace of their New Jersey home was forever shattered when attorney Roy Den Hollander came knocking at the door. Hollander, dressed as a FedEx delivery man, arrived at the family’s home and fatally shot Judge Salas’ 20-year-old son, Daniel, when he answered the door. Judge Salas’ husband, attorney Mark A. Anderl, was also shot multiple times by Hollander, but he survived. Judge Salas was in the basement at the time of the attack and was not injured. The following day, Hollander was found dead from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The FBI, US Marshals and local law enforcement have been working together on the case since it involves a U.S. District Judge. During the course of the investigation, the FBI has also linked Hollander to the murder of California attorney Marc Angelucci eight days earlier. Just as in the attack on Judge Salas’ home, he reportedly arrived at Angelucci’s home dressed as a FedEx delivery man and shot the victim when he came to the door. Authorities have noted that Hollander used the same gun in both attacks. Hollander was a self-proclaimed ‘anti-feminist’ lawyer and viewed Angelucci as a rival.

Judge Salas, who is the first Hispanic woman to serve as both a United States Magistrate Judge and as a US District Judge in New Jersey, has been involved in a few high-profile cases. She presided over the bank fraud trial of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice and her husband, Joe, in 2014. She issued an order in 2018 that temporarily blocked ICE from deporting some Indonesian Christians in New Jersey who were in the country illegally, but were seeking legal status. Yet, the most high-profile case for Judge Salas is the class-action lawsuit against Deutsche Bank that she is currently presiding over that involves the late, and disgraced, financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Ironically, Judge Salas and Hollander had previously crossed paths when he argued a case before her in which he represented a woman and her daughter who had filed a lawsuit against the military’s selective service. Hollander attempted to make the case that the draft was unconstitutional because women were not able to register. While Salas disagreed with part of Hollander’s argument in 2019, she also agreed with other parts of his claims and the lawsuit was allowed to move forward. However, Hollander removed himself from the case in 2019 and turned the lawsuit over to another law firm citing that he was terminally ill.

The motive behind Hollander’s attack on Judge Salas still remains unknown. Yet, it is reported that he claimed that he always had issues with female Hispanic judges because they were “driven by an inferiority complex.” He also pushed racist beliefs that organizations were trying to paint whites as barbarians and minorities as victims. However, his venom seemed primarily directed at women. He had built his reputation as the ‘anti-feminist’ lawyer by filing numerous lawsuits against bars and restaurants for hosting ‘Ladies Night’. He also filed lawsuits against the federal government over the ‘Violence Against Women Act,’ which he called the ‘Female Fraud Act’. All of his lawsuits were based on what he viewed as violations against the Constitution.

No one could have predicted how far Hollander would take his beliefs. Yet, in hindsight, there were signs. He told Stephen Colbert during an interview on The Colbert Report that “I’m going to fight the feminists until my last dollar, my last breath. And if there’s anything left after death, I will fight them for eternity. One has to wonder how anyone, especially a lawyer, could allow themselves to become so twisted by hate that they dedicate their entire life to it. Hating people who don’t look like you has never ended well for anybody, yet too many people continue to do it. In the case of Hollander, his twisted mentality has shattered two families and left a trail of blood, death and tears in his wake. To make matters worse, he chose to kill himself instead of dealing with the consequences of his murderous rampage which only goes to show that he was not only a sexist and a racist, but a coward. He won’t be missed and the world is better off without him in it.

Officer Anthony Dia remembered as a hero & family man

Officer Anthony Dia remembered as a hero & family man

By Robert Foreman

After being shot in the parking lot of Home Depot on July 4th, Officer Anthony Dia’s final words over the radio were, “Tell my family that I love them.”  The tragic events unfolded when Officer Dia, 26, responded to a call about an intoxicated man in the store’s parking lot asking for jumper cables. As Officer Dia approached the man, who was later identified as 57-year-old Edward Henry, he was shot once near the armpit. Henry fled into a wooded area and would later be found dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. Responding officers did everything they could to save Officer Dia while rushing him to the hospital, but there was nothing that could be done. Officer Dia’s widow, Jayme, told a local newspaper that her husband, “Lived for his family, and he loved, just loved, being a police officer.”

Officer Dia, a devout Muslim, had written a letter to his family during the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan in which he stated “I also hope if I was shot, I was able to take the shooter with me. I hope I died with bravery.” Almost two months later, his letter seems almost prophetic. During his funeral, which was held in the packed John F Savage Arena, his cousin read the contents of Officer’s Dia’s letter and brought many of the people to tears. Officers from both Ohio and Michigan attended the funeral to show their support for Officer Dia, who had joined the police department in 2018.

Officer Dia’s final words, “118, tell my family that I love them” were played at the funeral. The postmortem call announcing his death was also played which stated, “Attention all units: Officer Anthony Dia, ID 2755, has answered his last call. From the entire family at the Toledo Police Department, Officer Anthony Dia, you and your family will remain in our hearts, thoughts and prayers.”

Officer Dia’s family remembers him as someone who was a great father, husband and friend. His shift commander remembered his work ethic and professionalism while noting that he always took time to speak to people in the community, particularly children. It was noted that Officer Dia would often let children sit in his squad car and play with the siren, and he would take pictures with anyone who asked. That is perhaps what makes his death even more tragic and senseless. He had a reputation for doing the right thing and lost his life while trying to assist someone in the community he served.

Obviously, no one has felt Officer Dia’s death more profoundly than his family. Yet, in their grief, his family remembers him as a hero. “My son died a hero, and if he was ever given a choice, 'Hey, do you want to die in bed sick, do you want to die in a car accident or do you want to die like this, a martyr,' Anthony would choose this box 100%. He wouldn’t want to go out any other way,” said Officer Dia’s father, Tony, at a recent press conference.

However, Officer Dia’s family, and others, are pushing for ‘Anthony’s Rule’, which would require that officers ride in pairs when responding to calls. This is due to the fact that Officer Dia was alone when he was shot. The Toledo Police Chief George Kral noted that there are, “Several areas in the city that are one-man car areas.” Chief Kral added that, “We have a policy that when we send a one-man crew, especially like that, we send two.” However, Chief Kral has temporarily suspended one-man crews while the department determines the best way to keep the officer’s safe.

The circumstances surrounding Officer Dia’s death, and his final words to his family, have resonated with not only officers, but civilians alike. His death is not only a reminder of the daily risks that officers take when responding to incidents, but it is also a reminder of how short life can be. In his letter to his family, Officer Dia knew that there was a chance that he could die and he made certain that the people he loved knew how he felt. While his life and career were cut short, Officer Dia’s death should remind us all that we never have as much time as we think that we do. It should also remind us that our true legacy is not the jobs we held, or the money that we made, but the mark that we left on people’s lives. Officer Dia leaves behind a wife, two sons and a legacy of love and bravery with everyone he knew. In the end, that is the legacy we should all aspire to leave behind.

Stress & Heart Disease: The silent enemy for officers

Stress & Heart Disease: The silent enemy for officers

By Robert Foreman

During the current pandemic and social unrest stress levels for many are higher than normal. For law enforcement officers, it is undoubtedly a stressful period on top of an already stress-filled job. However, what many do not realize is that high levels of unchecked stress can have a negative impact on your physical health. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, our bodies release the hormone cortisol to help us respond to stress.

However, studies have shown that high levels of cortisol produced from long-term stress can increase our blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure. All of these are well-known risk factors that can lead to heart attacks. Additionally, stress can create changes in our bodies that can cause the buildup of plaque deposits in our arteries. Long-term stress can also impact how our blood clots, which can make the blood stickier and increase the risk of stroke. In short, high levels of stress can be a ticking time bomb waiting to go off inside our bodies.

Yet, even minor stress can impact the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart. So, it is important for people, especially those in high-stress jobs such as law enforcement, to closely monitor their stress levels. In fact, statistics have shown that sudden cardiac death from heart attacks accounts for 10% of the law enforcement deaths in the United States. The International Association of Chiefs of Police previously published data on the correlation between law enforcement and heart attacks and the figures are astounding. Some of their findings concluded that officers are 25 times more likely to die, or be disabled, by a heart attack than from confronting a violent suspect. Additionally, they noted that the average age for an officer to suffer a heart attack is 49 while the average age for civilians to suffer a heart attack is 67.

Most people assume that the only signs that they are experiencing a heart attack are a combination of intense pain in the chest, shortness of breath and sweating. However, the early warnings signs of cardiac arrest can be far more subtle and can surface days, even weeks, before the actual heart attack. This can include, mild discomfort in the chest, abdomen, back and arms/shoulders, unexplained heavy sweating, a sudden and unexplained shortness of breath, constant feelings of indigestion/heartburn and nausea/vomiting, to name a few.

Those symptoms can seem scary when one thinks about how people rush around in their daily lives and just brush things off as ‘normal aches and pains’ or ‘maybe I’m coming down with something’. Everyone can find ways of doing a better job of taking care of their health yet we all tend to fall short. This can include managing stress better, monitoring cholesterol levels, eating healthier, exercising regularly, not smoking (I should quit, but I haven’t yet), drinking in moderation and watching your weight. We all tend to think that we’re indestructible until we realize that we’re not.

For those in law enforcement, it becomes even more imperative to maintain their health. The job of a police officer requires that they often confront dangerous situations, which can increase stress levels that can impact the body and heart. When faced with a life and death situation it is understandable that maintaining a healthy stress level ranks at the bottom of the priority list. Yet, taking the steps to maintain your health can lead to not only a longer career, but a longer life. Every officer wants to ensure that they come home to his or her family at the end of each shift, regardless of the dangers they face in the streets. Don’t let your health be the reason that your family has to lay you to rest. Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!

NYPD launches a new 30-day body cam release policy

NYPD launches new 30-day body cam release policy

By: Robert Foreman

With nationwide calls for police reform, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has enacted a new 30-day release policy for body-worn cameras. The new policy dictates that when an NYPD officer is involved in a shooting that leads to the injury, or death, of a civilian that the body cam footage must be made public within a month. Originally, the NYPD’s policy gave the police commissioner 30 days to determine whether the body cam footage involving an officer’s use of a taser, or firearm, should be made public. Under the new policy, the body cam footage will be shown to the family of the person who was either injured, or killed, before being released to the public.

The new policy comes on the heels of the city’s plainclothes anti-crime units being disbanded and the nearly 600 officers being reassigned to other departments. While some have praised Mayor de Blasio’s move as a step toward a new level of transparency between the NYPD and the public, the policy shifts received immediate pushback from some in law enforcement. One of the most vocal critics was Pat Lynch, President of the Police Benevolent Association union. Lynch believes that disbanding the plainclothes unit will come back to haunt the city and that city leaders are not making proactive policing a priority anymore. Whether Lynch’s prediction will ultimately become a reality remains to be seen.

However, having a set timetable to release body cam footage to the public, especially when it involves a shooting, seems to be the right move. Now, some may believe that automatically making the footage public is a bad idea. Yet, to be blunt, with the proliferation of cellphones it would be reckless not to release the footage especially if the shooting was considered controversial. Let the footage speak for itself, good or bad. Officers face life and death situations on a regular basis, so if a shooting was justified then the footage will prove that, regardless of public opinion. However, if a shooting is seen as not being justified, and likely avoidable, then the footage will reveal that as well and the proper steps for accountability can be taken.

Some may view ‘accountability’ as a dirty word, but it is something that we need more of in our society and no one should be immune to it. Be it civilians, first responders, political leaders and so forth. Without accountability things become stagnant and mistrust grows. Change is always necessary, but it has to be balanced and fair. One cannot always assume that an officer-involved shooting was unjust. Law enforcement is a dangerous profession and if an officer’s life, or the life of a civilian is in imminent danger, then the officer must use deadly force. However, one cannot always assume that deadly force is called for in every situation. In both instances, having body cam footage becomes a valuable tool. The body cam footage has no reason to embellish the truth the way human beings often do.

While constantly wearing body cams can be an inconvenience, it can also protect both officers and civilians. If a civilian falsely accuses an officer of misconduct, the footage will ultimately exonerate the officer. Yet, if an officer does act in a way that goes against his, or her, oath to ‘protect and serve’ then the footage acts to exonerate the civilian. Releasing body camera footage is not a perfect solution to police accountability nor does it lessen the daily risks that officers take whenever they encounter a potentially violent suspect. Simply put, real change and accountability will come from rebuilding mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and the communities where they serve. In the end, neither officers, or civilians, are perfect. As humans being we are all flawed. Starting from that realization is a first step toward embracing true change that will benefit everyone involved.

California ambushes are a nightmare scenario for officers

California ambushes are a nightmare scenario for officers

By: Robert Foreman

With the world’s attention focused on police conduct, one growing fear has emerged among many in law enforcement. What if an irate individual chooses to take matters into their own hands and target law enforcement officers during this turbulent time? Unfortunately, that fear became a tragic reality in California in which officers were either injured, or killed, during separate incidents in which they were ambushed by suspects. The first incident took place in Santa Cruz, California when Steven Carrillo ambushed and murdered Deputy Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller and wounded two other officers. Carrillo was ultimately shot during his arrest and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The nightmare ordeal in Santa Cruz began when deputies responded to a 911 call from someone who had spotted guns and bomb-making materials in Carrillo’s van. Deputies pursued the van to Carrillo’s driveway and they were ambushed with gunfire and explosives as they exited their vehicles. Deputy Sgt. Gutzwiller was wounded in the attack and died at the hospital. Another deputy was shot in the hand while a third deputy was injured by shrapnel or gunfire. Carrillo was ultimately shot and apprehended when he attempted to carjack a civilian.

The second ambush incident took place in Paso Robles, California when Mason James Lira shot three officers, and a civilian, in a 2-day period. Lira’s reign of terror began when he opened fire outside of a police station in Paso Robles. He shot one of the responding deputies in the face, which started a two-day manhunt. Lira is believed to have shot and killed a civilian near an Amtrak station the same day. The following day, Lira shot two other law enforcement officers, and was shot by officers as he tried to escape apprehension. All of the officers that were shot by Lira are alive and recovering from their injuries. Lira was previously arrested in May for making terrorist threats.

However, what makes the ambush scenario in Santa Cruz even more disturbing than Pablo Robles is that the assailant, Carrillo, was an active duty sergeant who was stationed at Travis Air Force Base. Additionally, Carrillo is believed to be the suspect who shot a federal officer in Oakland. The thought of an active duty soldier acting as a domestic terrorist on American soil against law enforcement officers seems like the plot of a bad Hollywood movie. Yet, as more information is revealed about Carrillo’s mindset the picture becomes even more chilling.

Prior to being arrested, Carrillo used blood to scrawl the phrases “I became unreasonable”, “boog” and “stop the duopoly” on the hood of a car. The word “Boog” is connected to an anti-government, libertarian movement that is looking to provoke a second Civil War in America. In fact, there have been instances of Boogaloo movement members attending Black Lives Matter protests in hopes of inciting violence. The FBI arrested three Boogaloo members in Nevada and charged them with inciting violence for using explosives, including Molotov cocktails, during the protests.

In addition to being charged with the murder of Deputy Sgt. Gutzwiller, Carrillo has also been charged with the attempted murder of the other officers, as well as the attempted murder of his intended carjacking victim. He has also been charged with assaulting a firefighter. The fact that Carrillo was ‘lying in wait’ to commit his crimes means he could potentially face the death penalty. Perhaps, that is why his defense attorney is already laying the groundwork for an insanity defense by claiming that Carrillo suffered a traumatic brain injury and was under emotional distress.

Lira’s father also pointed to his late son’s emotional and mental stability following his son’s death after the Pablo Robles’ ambush. The elder Lira has stated that his son suffered from Aspergers syndrome, Schizophrenia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD. He also believed that his late son’s attack on the police station was a suicide attempt after a history of not taking his medication and being in and out of jail and treatment centers.

However, regardless of what emotional or mental illnesses that either Carrillo or Lira may, or may not, have been suffering from it does not excuse their actions. Both men plotted out a reign of terror and specifically targeted members of law enforcement. So, there is no excuse for their actions. In the case of Carrillo, he betrayed his oath to his country by both targeting members of law enforcement and by aligning himself with the Boogaloo movement.  So, regardless of what defense his attorney tries to come up with to lessen his client’s prison time, or spare him from the death penalty, it should fall on deaf ears. Once you carefully plan out an attack in advance, and target a specific group of people, you were in your right mind and knew right from wrong. So, hopefully, Carrillo will get the punishment he deserves; either life in prison or the death penalty.

Yet, no punishment for Carrillo will bring Deputy Sgt. Gutzwiller back to life, or ease the pain that his family and fellow officers are feeling, after his senseless death. Just as Lira’s death will not bring back the civilian he killed near the Amtrak station. However, these incidents should serve as a warning to all law enforcement officers to take extra safety precautions during these turbulent times. One cannot be sure if the call you are dealing with is an actual crime in progress or someone 'lying in wait' to take your life because of the uniform that you are wearing, as was the case with Deputy Sgt. Gutzwiller. So, officers must continue to balance out the need to protect civilians while also taking extra precautions to ensure that they are able to return home to their families at the end of their shift. The days, weeks and months ahead will be fraught with turmoil, but staying safe is always the top priority.

NYC Police Chief Takes Knee in Washington Square Park During Protest: Hero or Political Puppet?

NYC Police Chief Takes Knee in Washington Square Park During Protest: Hero or Political Puppet?

By Eddie Molina

Photo by: Craig Ruttle/AP

As the nation continues to spiral out of control, movements and statements are being made everywhere. On June 1st, NYC Police Chief of Department Terrance Monahan approached a tense crowd in Washington Square Park and joined the protesters by taking a knee.

Although items were thrown by some protesters towards the police officers staged in the area, the situation seemed to diffuse after Chief Monahan chose to kneel and hug several protesters. The video captured the verbal interaction between the Chief and the protesters that remained mutually peaceful and supportive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWnzUTjGCoQ

However, many people- law enforcement officers among them- still stand divided on the issue of taking a knee. More images and videos of law enforcement officers refusing to take a knee are emerging on social media and news outlets everywhere.

The exact reasons why some officers refuse to take a knee are unknown but a common thread can be inferred.

Some officers view kneeling as admitting defeat and may symbolize police are the problem. These same officers likely believe that the police are not the problem and the real problem is political in nature. Politics play an ugly role in society and sometimes the police are caught in the middle.

Image taken from Mayor de Blasio’s Twitter page

Last week, New York Governor Cuomo heavily criticized the NYPD for not doing enough to stop the rioting and looting.  On the other hand, New York City Mayor de Blasio, who has been known for not showing police any support, publicly stated concerns about police abusing their powers. Between those two opposing beliefs lie the frontline officer who only wants to help the public and maintain law and order.

The other end of the frontline officer rank in any department is the upper echelon- high ranking individuals known as chiefs, captains, etc.  The frontline Officer’s role in law enforcement is enforcing day to day laws. Once an individual becomes the chief his role evolves into drafting policy and communicating between the ranks and the government. Their role is often clouded between fighting crime and appeasing politicians- in this case, the mayor.

Chief Monahan’s motivation for his actions in taking a knee with the protesters are unknown. One cannot deny that his decision could easily have prevented the protest from becoming violent. Or perhaps, he wanted to publicly align his beliefs with that of the New York City mayor to curry favor and put himself in a favorable position among the political landscape- a common, and albeit distasteful, tactic.

I for one believe that far too many politicians will do anything for a vote- to include modifying their own beliefs to go with the flow of public opinion. And right now public opinion is heavily anti-police. In my heart I don’t believe Chief Monahan is anti-police, but the question remains unanswered- what was his true motivation for taking a knee?

George Floyd’s death puts focus on ‘black lives’ and ‘blue lives’

George Floyd’s death puts focus on ‘Black Lives’ and ‘Blue Lives’

By Robert Foreman

By now, most people have viewed the video of George Floyd face down on the pavement, in broad daylight, with Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee pressed on his neck for nearly nine minutes. During the now infamous video, Floyd can be heard repeatedly stating that he can’t breathe and calling for his late mother. Floyd’s subsequent death led to Chauvin, and the other three officers on the scene, being fired and has sparked protests, riots and debates in Minneapolis, the nation and around the world. Four days after Floyd’s death, former officer Chauvin was arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The charges against Chauvin have since been upgraded to second-degree murder and states that he killed Floyd ‘without intent’. The other three former officers on the scene, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Keung and Tou Thao, were all subsequently arrested and charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

As a black male, and more importantly a human being, watching the video made me sick to my stomach, especially after watching the Ahmaud Arbery video in which he was murdered, in broad daylight, while jogging. In both cases, it was a death that did not need to happen. Floyd was clearly subdued so there was no reason for Chauvin’s knee to be pressed on his neck for as long as it was. In fact, Floyd’s pleas about not being able to breathe should have prompted Chauvin to remove his knee or for one of the other three officers to intervene. Yet, neither of those things happened, which is what has brought us to where we are presently.

Now, I’ll be the first to say that I have never understood rioting or looting as part of a protest because it only harms the people in that community with lost jobs and businesses. Additionally, it allows the media, and others, to take the focus away from the issues that are being protested. But, with that said, I understand the frustration and anger that fuels those riots. If you are part of a community that has faced countless injustices, and you feel that your concerns are being diminished, or worse yet ignored, then you get angry. Although I find it ironic that the same individuals who are now saying that people should be protesting peacefully were the same ones that ridiculed the peaceful protests that NFL players were making by taking a knee during the national anthem. People have to make up their minds about what type of protests they consider acceptable. Although I suspect that some would prefer that poor and marginalized people not protest at all and just remain quiet.

In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, the spotlight has again been focused on the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. I’ve lost count of how many times I have had to debate with people regarding ‘Black Lives Matter.’ What I try to explain to them is that if one black person kills another black person, under circumstances that aren’t self-defense, then the black person who did the killing is likely going to be convicted for murder or manslaughter. On the other hand, if a rogue officer or non-black civilian, such as the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, kills a black person, under circumstances that aren’t self-defense, then history has shown, multiple times, that they likely aren’t going to be convicted for murder or manslaughter. So, when people say ‘All Lives Matter’ in response to ‘Black Lives Matter’ they are missing the point. ‘Black Lives Matter’ isn’t claiming that black lives matter more than anybody else’s life. It’s stating that black lives should matter just as much as everyone else’s life in the eyes of society and the justice system.

In the midst of the current unrest, there are those in law enforcement who understandably fear that they may now become targets for retaliation by protestors who are angry over Floyd’s death. Law enforcement already comes with its own daily dangers and officers don’t want to have to worry that they will be potentially maimed, or killed, over an incident that they had nothing to do with. That fear is very real when one remembers the 2014 deaths of Officer Rafael Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu. Both men were NYPD officers who were shot and killed by Ismaaiyl Abdullah Brinsley. The shootings were Brinsley’s revenge for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown who were both killed during encounters with the police. The ‘Blue Lives Matter’ movement grew out of the frustration that some in law enforcement saw as a bias toward law enforcement and was a response to ‘Black Lives Matter’. However, since Floyd’s death we have seen multiple incidents of officers either posting videos to social media to express outrage over Floyd’s murder or, in some cases, choosing to engage and stand with the peaceful protestors.  

Yet, despite all of the protests and debates, at the end of the day, murder is murder, regardless of the color of the victim or the perpetrator. On a personal note, my friend, Luke, who was a black male in his 20’s, was murdered by young black men last month. He was sitting in his car, in front of his house, after getting off of work when the young men begin shooting into his car and hitting him with multiple bullets. It ultimately turned out that they killed Luke because they thought that he was someone else, so it was a case of mistaken identity. The same anger that I feel toward those men that killed Luke is the same anger that I feel toward Chauvin. Once again, murder is murder, regardless of skin color.

Yet, what frustrates a lot of black people is that when a black person is killed by a rogue officer, or a non-black civilian, under circumstances that are deemed controversial some people tend to blame the victim…even if there is video evidence to support the crime. It is either ‘let’s not rush to judgement’ or ‘we need to see more video’ or the focus shifts to black-on-black crime statistics. Yet, if a black person kills an officer, or non-black civilian, and there is video evidence to support the crime there is no question of the black person’s guilt. And there is usually no mention of professional or racial death statistics regarding the person that the black person murdered in an effort to change the conversation or blame the victim. The focus remains on the crime. So, for many black people, that is the essence of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement; don’t view us as the victim of a crime ONLY when the perpetrator is another black person.

The future remains uncertain regarding whether Chauvin, or the other three former officers, will be convicted, found not guilty or the charges dropped completely. However, the protests, riots and debates have, once again, brought both the ugly racism, and our shared humanity, to the forefront. For me, I will NEVER expect my white friends to feel guilty, or apologize, for the racist/criminal actions of some white people because it is not their fault. I will NEVER expect my friends who are cops and corrections officers to feel guilty, or apologize, for the racist/criminal acts of some in their profession because it is not their fault. Just as I will NEVER feel guilty, or apologize, for the racist/criminal acts of some black people because it is not my fault.

As a people, and as a society, we have to get away from painting entire groups, or professions, with a broad brush based solely on stereotypes and media perceptions.  Because once we start trying to decide which life has more value based off of race, or profession, then we begin to lose sight of our common humanity. Bottom line, we have to be ‘ride or die’ as a society and as a nation. The only way to correct our ‘imperfect union’ is to work together to fix it. If not, we will all watch it fall apart separately and there are no winners in that scenario. George Floyd’s six-year-old daughter stated that ‘Daddy changed the world!’ For all of our sakes, let’s hope that she was right.