UNITED STATES – SEPTEMBER 11: Police officer Mike Brennan helps a distraught woman known only as Beverly, as ash and debris cover the area following the collapse of 1 World Trade Center (north tower) – the aftermath of a terrorist attack. 2 World Trade Center came came crashing down 39 minutes later. A hijacked American…… Continue reading It’s Still a Lie
“By and large, people are just no damn good.” It might just be my favorite quote by…well, by no one you know, unless you know my father-in-law, Bud. The first time I heard him say it, I was about 21 years old. We were eating dinner at my kitchen table talking about whatever was…… Continue reading And I saw…
Today is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. All day long I’ve pondered what to write and one thing kept popping into my mind. For many years, my guy was the president of the local POA. He worked tirelessly during those years to convince the city manager to raise patrol officer pay. After a lengthy battle,…… Continue reading Innocence Lost
HR 5698 passed the House of Representatives yesterday by a not-even-close vote of 382-35. This “Protect and Serve Act” provides Federal penalties for people who deliberately target local, state, and Federal law enforcement officers with violence.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Zackari. When I sat with his wife and held her hand I could see in her eyes that her life was over.” – Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock Sheriff Spurlock was speaking about Gracie Parrish, the wife of Deputy Zackari Parrish who was killed on duty in…… Continue reading Without him…
That one blue ribbon. I saw it as soon as I topped the hill. There were no other mementos. No other ribbons. Just one thin, blue ribbon tied at the end of the monument. And I wondered. I wondered who tied on that ribbon. I honestly don’t know why I wondered who it was, because…… Continue reading Someone
“No one asked these selfless men and women to enlist in this righteous cause, or to enroll as foot soldiers in the eternal struggle against crime and violence. They joined the cause because their hearts were big and full of amazing courage. They joined because they cared so deeply for the innocent and helpless and…… Continue reading Their Mission
This week has been set aside for memorializing police officers who have died in the line of duty. I have thought a lot about these officers. I have thought about the three I personally knew. I thought about how every single day officers put their lives on the line. I thought about what they could…… Continue reading Practice
I took the picture. I didn’t see it in the moment. But, there it is casting its image in the shadow. The shadow on a tombstone of one who made the ultimate sacrifice. There in the shadow, the vaguely visible red stripes symbolize the valor of this officer who upheld it and what it stood…… Continue reading Reflections
21,183 who answered the call to protect and serve. 21,183 who put the safety of others above their own safety. 21,183 who didn’t live long enough. 21,183 families who will never be the same. 21,283 who served selflessly. 21,183 who paid the ultimate price. 21,183 names engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.…… Continue reading 21,183
All Manner of Things Blue 