January 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 1

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FOUNDED IN 1984 

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creative editor 

RUSTY BARRON 

outdoor editor 

DR. TINA JAECKLE 


DARYL LOTT 


SAM HORWITZ & JOHN SALERNO 

contributing editors 

DOUGLAS GRIFFITH 

HPOU contributing editor 

BILL KING 


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4 The BLUES The BLUES 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK 

yrs. 

One is One Too Many 

It is estimated that in 2022, between 

125 and 300 police officers 

will have taken their own lives. In 

Chicago, three officers committed 

suicide in a single week in December. 

While there are no official records on 

officer suicides, we know the numbers 

are staggering and to be honest, 

one is too many. We must find a way 

to reduce these numbers and save 

these officer’s lives. But how? 

There are resources available in 

nearly every city and state in the US at 

no cost. So why don’t they reach out 

and use them? 

I reached out to an officer that 

recently attempted to end his life. 

The who and how isn’t important. 

The WHY is the key to understanding 

what goes on in the mind of someone 

determined to end it all regardless of 

who it hurts after they’re gone. 

His reply: 

Once you reach a point in your life 

that you can no longer process the 

ongoing struggle to survive, and you 

feel that nothing you do will change 

what’s occurred in the past and you 

see nothing but darkness in the road 

ahead, you take the path of least 

resistance and end your pain and 

suffering once and for all. 

Unless you’ve been in the situation, 

you can’t imagine what it’s like to 

have zero options. Oh sure, I could 

have reached out to any one of a 

hundred groups that offer help. I’m 

sure they want to know they can help 

turn our lives around, but they can’t. 

Let me explain a few reasons why. 

When you hear about a first responder, 

mostly cops, that take their 

own life, you assume it’s PTSD that’s 

caused their world to come crashing 

down and they just took the fastest 

way out. Sometimes that’s not it at 

all. I once attended a group session 

SGT. MICHAEL BARRON RET 

of first responders, some of which 

were cops, all seeking help. Here’s 

just some of the reasons they shared 

as to why they wanted to end their 

lives. 

The first to speak admitted he had a 

gambling addiction that had resulted 

in him owing over $75,000 to a local 

bookie that increased the interest 

to almost $1000 a day for every day 

he didn’t pay. If anyone found out he 

would be fired and probably go to 

jail. No one would loan him that kind 

of money. He could try and take out 

the guys he owned money to, but he 

wasn’t one to “kill” anyone, so that 

wasn’t an option. And he knew that 

even if he paid the money he owed, 

he’d just do it all over again and be 

right back where he was. So, for everyone’s 

sake it was best he just not 

be around to hurt anyone else. 

Another admitted he had had sex 

with a minor, although at the time, he 

did not know she was only 17. He ended 

the relationship immediately but 

admitted that he resumed it after she 

turned 19. He feared the thought of 

going to jail, loosing his job, his wife, 

his family and worst of becoming a 

sex offender. All not options for him. 

The only way out was suicide. 

Third person was addicted to drugs 

and was not only using but using his 

job as a way to score more drugs 

and money by ripping off dealers. 

The more he did it, the deeper he got. 

He was an addict and a thief, and he 

knew his career was over. Jail was 

not an option so again, what choice 

did he have. 

Still another female cop said she 

could not sleep at night without having 

horrific nightmares. Despite endless 

sessions of therapy, she turned to 

drugs to help her sleep and became 

addicted. Now she faces termination 

if she fails another random drug 

test at work. If she was honest and 

sought help, her department would 

fire her. She’s lost her family and her 

husband and has no one left to fight 

for. 

I could go on and on, but you get 

the idea. These people, myself included, 

feel they are out of options. No 

support group is going to solve their 

problems. So, if you think you have 

options for these people, I think you 

should share it with your readers. 

Cause I guarantee there are more out 

there just like these folks that truly 

want help. 

So, I reached out to three of our editors 

that do this for a living. Dr. Tina 

Jaeckle, Samantha Horwitz, and John 

Salerno all have addressed possible 

solutions in their columns this month 

on Pages 104 and 112. 

As for the effect a suicide has on a 

family. I invite you to read our Aftermath 

Column on page 102 that 

describes one spouses feelings after 

losing her husband to suicide. “While 

your pain may have ended, mine has 

just begun,” she says. 

The pain is real. The problems are 

unimaginable. The result is unacceptable. 

We must do better and find a 

way to help our brothers and sisters 

in BLUE. The loss of one is one too 

many! 


FROM THE GUEST EDITOR’S DESK 

yrs. 

We Have to do Something 

As we enter the year 2023, I 

cannot help but reflect a moment 

on 2022. What a year that 

was. We could probably all 

have some mighty long talks 

about politics, economy, social 

unrest, war, inflation, and the 

list goes on and on. 

One thing you don’t hear people 

talk openly about is, Law 

Enforcement Officer Suicides. 

In our profession, most don’t 

talk about it because it’s seen 

as weakness or disrespectful to 

speak of our brother and Sisters 

who’ve tragically taken their 

own lives. I’d argue it’s quite the 

opposite. It’s disrespectful that 

we don’t. 

Outside of our profession, 

people, could care less. Quite a 

few people look at an Officer’s 

Suicides as “Good, one less cop 

in the world.” Which is tragic. 

But with good old Mainstream 

Media attacking Law Enforcement 

all day, every day…Well, 

why are surprised? 

Did you know, we lost 228 

Law Enforcement Officers in the 

course of 2022? According to 

records kept of Officer Suicides, 

the number of officers lost by 

their own hand is the average 

of double the number lost in 

the Line of Duty, annually. 

I’m not a mathematical genius 

but that comes to 456 

Officers lost by suicide in 2022. 

An extremely tragic number 

because those aren’t just numbers. 

These are men and women 

who work the same way 

we work. They wear the same 

uniforms and badges. They see 

and struggle to survive everything 

we do. And somehow, we 

lost them along the way. 

I propose let’s take the science 

and college studies out 

of it for a moment and just get 

down to brass tacks. 

How many Law Enforcement 

Officers have you personally 

known who’ve died in the 

Line of Duty? How may have 

you personally seen seriously 

injured and forced to medically 

retire on minimal benefits, 

through no fault of their own. 

And they lose everything. Their 

Wife. Their Husband. Their 

home. Kids. All of it. How many 

officers have you known who 

did everything right. They followed 

policy. They followed all 

applicable Federal, State and 

Local Laws, to the proverbial 

“T” and yet, they had to endure 

the humiliation and grueling 

process of an extensive, public 

Internal Affairs Investigation? 

How many cops have you 

personally known who’ve had 

human waste thrown on them? 

Beaten, run over, spit on and 

anything else you can think of 

and that officer has to just suck 

it up and live with it. Because if 

they had acted in response like 

CHIEF REX EVANS 

ALL other human beings, but 

being law enforcement officers 

they would lose their job. 

How about this? How many 

child death scenes have you 

responded to? Parents fault. 

Not the parents’ fault. Nobody’s 

fault. Maybe it was SIDS. Maybe 

it wasn’t. Maybe it was an 

accidental drowning. Maybe 

not. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. None 

of those “maybe’s” mean shit 

when that child and the memories 

of the tragic scene come 

calling upon you deep in the 

night. I can guarantee you those 

ghosts exist. Believe me, I’ve 

lived with them for years. 

Do you remember every parent 

you’ve had to tell their child 

was deceased? Do you remember 

the screams, the yelling, 

pleading? The tears? Them 

begging you to say its not so? I 

do. I remember every damn one 

of them. There’re some things 

in this profession that unless 

you’ve just been riding a desk 

your entire career, you’re going 

to wonder how am I still even 

alive? 

I point to the Elephant in the 

room because well, there’s 

they an Elephant in the room. 

It doesn’t take million-dollar 

studies or years of research 

from people who have absolutely 

no idea what this job is 

like to know this. We are losing 

thousands of our brother and 

sister officers annually and we 

need to do something about it. 

We also know this crisis crosses 

everything. Ranks. Assignments. 

Race. Gender. Religion. 

Social Status and Financial 

Status. 

Why? Because we all deal on 

a day-to-day basis with everything, 

I mean everything society 

as a whole, doesn’t or cannot 

deal with. We’re expected to do 

it with no emotion, no nothing. 

It’s as if society and the Mainstream 

Media want robots for 

cops. No matter how cool we 

all thought Officer Murphy of 

the Detroit Police Department 

was, in the end it wasn’t the 

best laid out plan. And he too 

struggled with the memories of 

his darkest days. 

In January of 2022, the Law 

Enforcement Suicide Data 

Collection Act was passed. The 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

is the central gathering point 

of this data. Of course, it only 

works if Departments send 

them the information. And yet, 

many department heads don’t 

even know this program exists. 

Because no one wants to talk 

about it. 

Well, with over thirty years’ 

experience in Law Enforcement 

and over half of that as a Supervisor 

and Chief, I am LOUDLY 

saying, WE’VE GOT TO START 

TALKING ABOUT OUR OFFICERS 

KILLING THEMSELVES!!! If we 

don’t, we’re just as complicit as 

whatever and whomever it was 

that drove them to no other alternative 

but to take their own 

life. 

Instead of pouring money 

into studies and such, let’s pour 

monies into programs that 

work. Like the Post Critical Incident 

Stress Program at LEMIT 

through the Sam Houston State 

University. Does this program 

save every Officer? No, it does 

not. But it’s damn sure trying to 

make a difference and that my 

friends is a lot more than most 

are doing. 

How many more will it take? 

Does it have to be triple the 

number of in the Line of Duty 

Deaths? Quadruple? You tell 

me? I know we can do better. 

Because I also happen to know 

we are better than this. It is not 

in our nature to just stand by 

and watch people die. Especially 

those who stand by our 

side. 

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS. 



READERS SPEAK OUT 

yrs. 

Congress Should Investigate 

“Gain of Function” Research 

I fear that the investigations 

Republicans have promised in 

the House next year will be little 

more than another round of toxic 

partisan gamesmanship. But 

there is one investigation Congress 

should undertake, and that 

is into so-called “gain-of-function” 

research. 

Before the pandemic, I suspect 

that most of you, like me, had 

never heard of gain-of-function 

research. What we learned 

during the pandemic is that 

scientists around the world routinely 

tinker with the genome of 

viruses to see how the induced 

changes will affect replication 

of the virus (contagiousness) 

and the effects it has on its host 

(lethality). Such research has 

apparently been going on for decades 

and is routinely funded by 

governments, including ours. 

Within weeks of the COVID-19 

virus emerging in China near 

the Wuhan Institute of Virology 

(WIV), many began to question 

whether the virus had been 

created by gain-of-function 

research and somehow escaped 

from WIV’s labs. Chinese documents 

that surfaced early in 

the pandemic seem to suggest 

the virus might have come from 

WIV. To many, the proposition 

that the novel coronavirus just 

happened to naturally occur a 

few hundred yards from the WIV 

facility seemed too much of a 

coincidence. 

But in February 2020, barely 

three months after the virus’s 

genome had been sequenced, 27 

scientists signed a statement in 

the medical journal The Lancet, 

unequivocally declaring that the 

virus had occurred naturally and 

that any suggestion to the contrary 

was quackery and a conspiracy 

theory. Their statement 

quickly became the accepted orthodoxy 

for much of the world’s 

scientific community and virtually 

all the mainstream media. 

However, as time wore on, 

circumstances regarding the 

origin of that statement came 

under scrutiny. In a 2021 Vanity 

Fair article, investigative journalist 

Katherine Eban revealed that 

the statement was organized by 

a scientist named Peter Daszak. 

That statement concluded with 

a declaration from the scientists 

who signed it that “we have no 

competing interests.” However, 

Eban reported in a follow-up article 

that Daszak was the director 

of EcoHealth Alliance, which 

in 2014 had received a $3.7 

million grant from the NIH for 

gain-of-function research and 

made a sub-grant for $600,000 

– to the WIV. 

I wrote to the email address 

reserved for the statement in the 

Lancet post, posing a number of 

BILL KING 

questions about the circumstances 

around the creation of the letter 

and the “competing interests” 

statement. I also reached out to 

two of the scientists who signed 

the letter asking for an interview 

regarding the statement. I received 

no responses. 

Questions about gain-of-function 

research predate COVID. In 

fact, there has been a robust 

debate over the potential risks 

and benefits that dates to, at 

least, 2011. In 2014, a group of 

300 prominent scientists, led by 

Harvard’s highly regarded epidemiologist 

Peter Lipsitch, signed a 

statement raising alarms about 

risks associated with gain-offunction 

research. 

The academic controversy 

caused the Obama administration 

to issue a moratorium on 

gain-of-function research, but 

it included a general exception 

for studies “urgently necessary 

to protect the public health or 

national security.” According to 

Eban’s reporting, the exception 

quickly became a glaring loophole 

that essentially rendered the 

rule useless and the controversial 

research mostly continued 

unabated. 

The Trump administration 

scrapped the moratorium in favor 

of a complex review process. 

But that process was mostly 

conducted outside of the public’s 

view or even significant peer review, 

leaving many of the critics, 

including Lipsitch, still wary. 

The debate over the origins 

of COVID still rages today and 

unfortunately has become politicized, 

with Democrats and 

Republicans generally lining up 

behind the natural and lab-leak 

theories, respectively. In August 

2021, the National Intelligence 

Council issued an unclassified 

report in response to an order 

from President Biden to review 

the origin of the virus. The report 

stated that the intelligence 

community had not been able 

to reach a conclusion and that 

the origin would likely never be 

known without more cooperation 

from the Chinese government. 

Of course, the more time 

that passes the less likely it is 

that the mystery will ever be 

solved. 

While we would all like to 

know how the pandemic started, 

the mere fact that it might have 

originated from gain-of-function 

research gone awry makes it 

imperative to conduct a detailed 

investigation of the risks and 

potential benefits of this kind of 

research. Of all the things we 

regulate, surely tinkering with viruses 

to make them more contagious 

and more lethal should be 

right at the top of the list. Congress 

needs to pass laws closely 

regulating what Rutgers professor 

Richard Ebright described to 

Katherine Eban as “looking for a 

gas leak with a lighted match” 

and not leave this up to the shifting 

tides of executive orders. 

Congress should also investigate 

what appears to have 

been a coordinated attempt 

to squelch any inquiry into 

the legitimate questions over 

COVID’s origins in the early days 

of the pandemic. For example, 

the signers of the Lancet statement 

should be subpoenaed 

and questioned about what 

was almost certainly a false 

certification of “no competing 

interests” by at least one of the 

signers. (The criticism regarding 

potential conflicts of interest is 

not just coming from the right: 

The uber-progressive Columbia 

professor Jeffery Saks disbanded 

a group he had established 

to study the origins of COVID, 

citing conflicts of interest. Interestingly, 

Daszak was part of the 

group Saks disbanded.) 

I don’t know whether House 

Republicans can conduct such 

hearings without turning them 

into a carnival sideshow. But 

hopefully they will rise above 

partisan instincts and deliver 

much-needed answers for the 

American people. 


AROUND THE COUNTRY 

yrs. 

WARREN COUNTY, N.C. 

Deputy José Angel DeLeon dies in crash while responding 

to a domestic call in North Carolina. 

By Simone Jasper 

The Charlotte Observer 

WARREN COUNTY, N.C. — A 

deputy died in a fiery crash the 

day after his department lost a 

beloved detention officer, North 

Carolina officials said. 

José Angel DeLeon was responding 

to a call when his 

patrol car crashed and went 

up in flames. Deleon, who had 

been a Warren County deputy 

for almost two years, died at the 

scene, according to the sheriff’s 

office. 

His patrol car left the roadway, 

struck a tree, and caught fire. 

Other deputies responding to the 

same call came across the crash 

and attempted to pull him from 

the wreckage. He succumbed to 

his injuries at the scene. 

Deputy DeLeon had served with 

the Warren County Sheriff’s Office 

for two years. He is survived 

by his son. 

Words fall short of expressing 

our grief for your loss, as we 

mourn with family and friends 

for this great loss. 

“Our hearts are with the loved 

ones of Warren County Sheriff’s 

Deputy José DeLeon who was 

killed in a car crash while in the 

line of duty over the weekend,” 

Gov. Roy Cooper wrote on Twitter. 

“We’re grateful for his life 

and for officers who risk their 

lives everyday to keep us safe.” 

Officials were called to the 

crash at about 6 p.m. on Sunday, 

Dec. 4. It happened on U.S. 

Highway 401, near the town of 

Warrenton and roughly 55 miles 

northeast of Raleigh. 

The crash was reported the 

day after the death of another 

Warren County Sheriff’s Office 

employee. 

Roy Carter Jr. had worked as a 

detention officer with the department 

since 2011. On Nov. 28, 

officials said he experienced a 

DEPUTY JOSE ANGEL DELEON 

medical emergency at a Food 

Lion supermarket in Norlina, 

near Warrenton. 

Carter was rushed to a hospital, 

but he was taken off life 

support on Dec. 3. He died just 

after 7 p.m., Warren County deputies 

wrote in a news release. 



yrs. 

MISSION, TX. 

US Border Patrol Agent Raul Humberto Gonzalez was killed in a ATV 

accident while chasing illegal immigrants near the US Border. 

Mission, TX – United States 

Department of Homeland 

Security Customs and Border 

Protection Border Patrol Agent 

Raul Humberto Gonzalez died 

in the line of duty on Dec. 7 

while chasing a group of illegal 

immigrants near the U.S. border 

with Mexico. 

The fatal incident occurred 

at approximately 1 a.m. on 

Wednesday, U.S. Border Patrol 

(USBP) Chief Raul Ortiz said in 

a press release. 

Agent Gonzalez, 38, was traveling 

on an all-terrain vehicle 

at a high rate of speed while 

pursuing a group of suspects 

who illegally crossed into the 

United States from Mexico 

when he slammed into a large 

metal gate on Schuerbach 

Road, KURV reported. 

“He was found unresponsive 

by his fellow agents who immediately 

initiated life-saving 

efforts and requested [emergency 

medical services],” Chief 

Ortiz said. 

Agent Gonzalez was rushed to 

a local hospital by ambulance, 

where he succumbed to his 

injuries. 

No details regarding the individuals 

he was pursuing were 

immediately released, and it 

is unclear if they were apprehended. 

“The death of an agent who 

dies while securing our nation’s 

border is a tremendous loss 

for our organization and our 

nation,” Chief Ortiz said. “Our 

prayers are with his family and 

co-workers during this difficult 

time.” 

Agent Gonzalez was the sixth 

USBP agent to die in the line of 

AGENT RAUL HUMBERTO GONZALEZ 

duty this year, according to the 

New York Post. 

He was assigned to the Rio 

Grande Valley Sector McAllen 

Station at the time of his death. 

“His love of the country made 

him a stellar agent proudly 

serving 10+ years, ultimately resulting 

in his tragic death,” the 

fallen hero’s obituary read. 

Agent Gonzalez leaves behind 

his girlfriend, Yvonne, and his 

children, Sebastian and Camila. 

He is also survived by his 

father, brother, grandmother, 

aunts and uncles. 

Agent Gonzalez was laid to 

rest on Dec. 12. 



yrs. 

MAURY COUNTY,TN. 

Deputy Brad Miller, a 19-year veteran of the Maury County Sheriff’s 

Office, died a hero protecting workers on a construction site. 

By Dave Campbell 

Long-serving reserve deputy 

for Maury County Sheriff’s Department, 

Brad Miller died on 

duty Monday night after his unit 

was struck by another vehicle, 

while he was on duty patrolling 

a work zone near Williamsport 

Pike, Sheriff Bucky Rowland said 

during a press conference on 

Tuesday. 

Rowland said Miller served the 

department for 19 years “with a 

smile and joy in his heart.” 

According to onsite worker 

accounts shared with the department, 

Miller placed himself 

in a position to take the impact, 

saving the nearby workers at the 

site. 

“Hero is a word used loosely,” 

Rowland said at the conference. 

“It was in [Miller’s] DNA to put 

himself in the position to fill that 

gap. By doing so, others went 

home that night. He became 

someone’s hero, and they may 

never know it.” 

Miller, a Michigan native who 

had lived in Tennessee for 33 

years, was near celebration of 

his 50th wedding anniversary, 

Sheriff Rowland said during the 

conference. 

Former Maury County Sheriff 

Enoch George who brought 

Miller onto his staff and Maury 

County Constable Sam Barnes 

both spoke with The Herald on 

Tuesday, sharing fond words of 

tribute to Miller. 

“Brad was a phenomenal deputy, 

and one of the best reserve 

officers I’ve ever had the chance 

to work with,” George said. “He 

was always laughing and smiling, 

and he loved the other guys 

he worked with. 

“This really breaks my heart.” 

Constable Barnes who ran 

for sheriff a couple of election 

cycles ago, also said it was a 

privilege to know “such a fantastic 

man.” 

“His courage was amazing,” 

Barnes said. “The courage it 

takes to lay down one’s life 

during volunteer service, is not 

so easily found.” 

Barnes shared that while it 

was not required of reserve officers, 

Miller paid from his own 

pocket to attend a police academy 

that gave him the equivalent 

training of other sworn officers, 

but without the pay. 

“He was the only person that I 

ever heard of to devote his time 

[as a volunteer] to that training,” 

Barnes said. 

George said that Miller cared 

about people, about life and doing 

the right thing. 

“And he encouraged others to 

do right,” George said. “I want 

DEPUTY BRAD MILLER 

the family to know that my heart 

breaks for them and that we will 

all be praying that the good Lord 

takes care of them during this 

time.” 

According to information released 

at the press conference, 

Tennessee Highway Patrol is 

investigating the accident, and 

while charges are not currently 

forthcoming, they are not yet 

ruled out. 

The driver of the other vehicle 

that struck Miller’s patrol unit 

was injured in the crash, though 

no further details are being released 

at this time. 

“He took pride in how he represented 

himself, his department 

and others, especially his coworkers 

from General Motors,” Rowland 

added at the conference. 



yrs. 

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA. 

Deputy Scott Riner was shot and killed outside the 

Gwinnett Correctional Center as he arrived for work. 

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA. — Police 

in Gwinnett County announced the 

arrest of a man in the killing of a 

59-year-old corrections officer. 

The department said their SWAT 

team arrested Yahya Abdulkadir, 

22, around 1:30 p.m. on Friday in 

Lithonia. He faces felony murder and 

aggravated assault charges concerning 

the officer’s death. 

Abdulkadir was taken back to 

Gwinnett County Police headquarters 

and booked into the detention 

center, according to Gwinnett 

Police. 

In a news conference, Gwinnett 

Police said they worked with ATF, 

U.S. Marshals and the Gwinnett 

County Sheriff’s Office. 

Scott Riner, who had worked with 

the corrections department for 10 

years, was shot and killed outside 

the Gwinnett Correctional Center on 

Dec. 13. 

It happened just before 6:20 a.m. 

as he was on his way to work. The 

suspect, who police say is Abdulkadir, 

ran away. 

Initially, investigators believed 

Riner had been in some sort of 

confrontation with Abdulkadir, but 

in a media update on Friday, investigators 

said a dispute may have 

not happened and they continue to 

look into the circumstances of the 

shooting. 

Police have not since detailed any 

kind of motive. 

“Any time that we lose one of 

our own, it is extremely difficult, 

extremely emotional, but what the 

police department is going to do to 

help him and honor his memory and 

his family is to work this case as 

hard as we can and catch the person 

who did this,” Gwinnett Police Sgt. 

Jennifer Richter said. 

Riner’s family also issued a statement, 

thanking the community for 

its support and prayers. 

“Today, Scott’s alleged killer was 

arrested and we fully believe that 

justice will be rightfully served,” 

the statement reads. “While we are 

all still grappling with the loss of 

someone we loved so dearly, we 

can now begin to properly grieve 

knowing that Scott’s alleged killer is 

behind bars.” 

The family also thanked the police 

department for its efforts. 

The corrections center, located on 

Hi Hope Road near Swanson Drive in 

Lawrenceville, is for people serving 

a sentence as opposed to people at 

a jail who are generally waiting to 

be sentenced. The Gwinnett County 

Department of Corrections is a 

separate agency, not part of either 

the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office 

or the Gwinnett County PD. 

Here is the Riner family’s complete 

statement, from Friday night, 

December 16: 

“On behalf of the entire family 

of Senior Corrections Officer Scott 

Riner, thank you to everyone who 

has sent their love, well wishes, and 

DEPUTY SCOTT RINER 

prayers to our family during this 

horrific time. Today, Scott’s alleged 

killer was arrested and we fully 

believe that justice will be rightfully 

served. While we are all still 

grappling with the lost of someone 

we loved so dearly, we can now begin 

to properly grieve knowing that 

Scott’s alleged killer is behind bars. 

“Also, a very big thank you to the 

Gwinnett County Police Department 

for their tireless efforts in bringing 

this case to a close. We also want 

to thank the media for their diligent 

coverage in getting the message 

out to find his killer along with their 

compassionate stories of his work. 

We were, and still are, so very 

proud of the pride he put into his 

job to make every day a little better 

for everyone.” 



yrs. 

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS 

Bay St. Louis Police Sgt. Steven Robin and Officer Branden Estorffe 

were gunned down by a woman they encountered on a welfare check. 

By Holly Matkin 

Bay St. Louis, MS – Bay St. Louis 

Police Department (BSLPD) Sergeant 

Steven Robin and Officer 

Branden Estorffe were murdered 

in the line of duty while responding 

to welfare check early 

Wednesday morning, according 

to investigators. 

The incident occurred at a 

Motel 6 on Highway 90 at about 

4:30 a.m. on Dec. 14, WLOX reported. 

When they arrived at the 

scene, Sgt. Robin, 34, and Officer 

Estorffe, 23, made contact 

with a woman who was sitting 

in a parked vehicle with a juvenile 

female inside, according to 

WLOX. 

The woman was later identified 

as 43-year-old Amy Anderson, 

police said. 

After speaking with Anderson 

for about a half-hour, Sgt. Robin 

and Officer Estorffe determined 

that Child Protection Services 

(CPS) should be contacted, 

WLOX reported. 

Details regarding what led the 

officers to make that determination 

were not immediately 

released. 

Investigators said Anderson 

was still sitting inside the vehicle 

when she opened fire on the 

SERGEANT STEVEN ROBIN 

officers, mortally wounding them 

both, WLOX reported. 

Sgt. Robin was pronounced 

dead at the scene. 

Officer Estorffe was rushed 

to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, 

where he succumbed to 

his wounds a short while later, 

WLOX reported. 

“Two of our finest officers’ lives 

were taken,” BSLPD Chief Toby 

Schwartz confirmed, calling the 

incident a “tragedy.” 

Police initially said the suspect 

fatally shot herself after shooting 

the officers, WLOX reported. 

She was pronounced dead at 

the scene from a gunshot wound 

to the chest. 

Investigators said it is still 

OFFICER BRANDEN ESTORFFE 

possible Anderson shot herself, 

but that further investigation 

has revealed one of the officers 

was able to return fire during the 

confrontation, WLOX reported. 

It is unclear whether the officer’s 

bullet struck her. 

An autopsy will determine 

her exact cause of death, WLOX 

reported. 

The current whereabouts of 

the juvenile who was inside the 

Anderson’s vehicle when police 

first arrived at the scene has not 

been released. 

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation 

is handling the ongoing 

investigation, WLOX reported. 

“The Bay St. Louis Police Department, 

as an agency in 

mourning, sadly reports the 

death of Sergeant Steven Robin 

and Officer Branden Estorffe, 

both killed in the line of duty 

during the morning of December 

14, 2022,” the BSLPD said in a 

press release on Wednesday afternoon. 

“This tragic loss is a sad 

day for the Bay St. Louis Community 

and law enforcement. We 

would like to thank everyone for 

their patience and understanding 

during this trying time.” 

Mississippi Governor Tate 

Reeves said in a statement that 

he is “heartbroken” over the 

“terrible loss of two brave law 

enforcement officers.” 

“I am praying for their family, 

friends, their fellow officers, and 

the entire Bay St. Louis community,” 

Reeves wrote. 

“Every single day across Mississippi, 

our law enforcement 

members place their lives on the 

line in constant and repeated 

acts of selfless sacrifice for their 

community,” the governor continued. 

“They are a key reason 

that the rest of us are safely and 

freely able to live our lives. They 

ARE the thin blue line.” 

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STUTTGART, ARK. 

Stuttgart Police Sergeant Donald Scoby and a Arkansas State Trooper 

were both shot during a pursuit. Sgt. Scoby succumbed to his wounds. 

STUTTGART, Ark. — Arkansas 

State Police have now confirmed 

that an officer in Stuttgart and 

the suspect have died following a 

fatal overnight shooting that left 

one other law enforcement official 

injured. 

According to reports, the incident 

happened after two Stuttgart 

officers pursued a suspect around 

11 p.m. on Wednesday. 

During the pursuit, 31-year-old 

Jacob Barnes, shot at the two 

responding officers, striking and 

killing one of the two officers. 

After shooting the officer, Barnes 

entered a nearby building and 

took a person hostage. 

Arkansas State Police provided 

backup to Stuttgart police, with 

Barnes firing at officers and injuring 

a trooper from Arkansas State 

Police. 

The woman held hostage was 

rescued around 7:00 a.m. on 

Thursday. Barnes and police then 

shot at each other where Barnes 

was fatally wounded. 

The injured trooper was taken to 

the hospital where he’s described 

as having non-life-threatening 

injuries. 

Following the incident, the Arkansas 

Department of Corrections 

posted their regards to the family 

of Sergeant Donald Scoby, the 

Stuttgart officer that was fatally 

shot during the pursuit. 

He was a four-year veteran of 

the police force. 

Stuttgart Mayor Norma King 

Strabala also put out a statement 

online, praising the officer for his 

dedication to his family, friends, 

community, and fellow officers at 

the department. 

“Donald was a dedicated officer, 

fierce advocate for this community, 

and a dear personal friend. 

His love for Stuttgart, his brothers 

and sisters on the force, and his 

family and friends will endure and 

outlast this grief,” the mayor said 

in the statement. 

Community members in Stuttgart, 

as well as many officials, 

have been reacting as well. 

Bill Jackson, who knew Sergeant 

Scoby personally, says he called 

him “Scooby.” 

“Yeah he’s just a really special 

guy. He’s just funny, he was just 

funny, he had a good way about 

him and he was just personable, 

and I just liked him a lot,” Jackson 

said. “Like I said, it’s just a sad 

situation.” 

In response to the tragic incident, 

Governor Asa Hutchinson 

released a statement which in 

part read, “our hearts and prayers 

go out to his family, the family of 

yrs. 

SERGEANT DONALD SCOBY 

the injured Stuttgart police officer, 

and the Stuttgart Police Department 

during this difficult time.” 

The Little Rock FBI released 

a statement that read, “We are 

shocked and heartbroken by the 

death of Sgt. Donald Scoby. We 

mourn alongside our Stuttgart 

#police partners, and we offer our 

prayers for Sgt. Scoby’s family and 

friends. Rest in peace, Sgt. Scoby. 

Thank you for your brave service 

to our community.” 

Arkansas Attorney General, Leslie 

Rutledge also had a message 

to share about the passing of Sergeant 

Donald Scoby, and added, 

“The death of a law enforcement 

officer is devastating to not only 

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the family and community but the 

entire State of Arkansas. I pray for 

healing and peace for Sergeant 

Scoby’s family, his brothers and 

sisters in blue, as well as the entire 

community as they mourn the 

loss of this public servant,” said 

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. 

“Our first responders are the last 

line of defense, and I could not 

be more grateful for their service 

and protection. Please keep the 

family, the Stuttgart Police Department, 

and the community in 

your prayers during this time.” 

Sheriff Lafayette Woods, Jr. 

with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s 

Office expressed his sentiments 

for the fallen officer and 

stated in part, “As Sheriff of 

Jefferson County, it is with the 

heaviest heart that I extend condolences 

on behalf of the Jefferson 

County Sheriff’s Office to the 

family, friends, and fellow officers 

of Stuttgart Police Department 

Sergeant Donald Scoby.” 

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COLUMBUS, OH. 

Wyandot County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Kin died 

Thursday Dec. 15th after a crash in Pickaway County. 

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COLUMBUS, OH — He was a 

father, a son, a husband and a 

hero. Wyandot County Sheriff 

Deputy Daniel Kin meant so 

much to so many people. 

He started with the department 

last October. In tributes 

shared to social media, many 

people called him a hero. Nathan 

Frasure calls him a friend. 

“I think you run out of words 

to describe somebody that good 

that has moved on at an early 

age in life,” Frasure said. “Very 

fortunate to have somebody to 

cross paths with like that in my 

life.” 

Deputy Kin and Frasure met 

in 2008 at the police academy. 

They’d later go on to work at the 

Seneca County Sheriff’s Department. 

Frasure told 10TV, Kin was 

someone you could count on and 

was always level-headed in any 

situation. 

“Just an easy-going country 

guy. Just an easy personality, 

never overwhelmed by the moment,” 

said Frasure. 

Kin died on Thursday from his 

injuries after a crash in Pickaway 

County. 

The Pickaway County Sheriff’s 

Department said the crash happened 

just after 11 a.m. 

A man driving a 2010 Dodge 

Ram was traveling eastbound 

on Route 56. At the same time, 

Deputy Kin was driving north on 

Route 104 with an inmate in the 

vehicle. 

The two vehicles collided at 

the intersection of Routes 56 and 

104, just west of Circleville. 

Deputy Kin was flown to Grant 

Medical Center in Columbus 

where he died from his injuries. 

The man driving the Dodge 

Ram was also taken to Grant 

Medical Center and he is expected 

to be OK. A 4-year-old girl, 

a passenger in the truck, was 

taken to Nationwide Children’s 

Hospital. The sheriff’s office did 

not say what her condition was. 

The inmate in the deputy’s van 

was taken to OhioHealth Berger 

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Hours later, dozens of police 

officers, deputies, EMS and 

healthcare workers gathered in 

downtown Columbus to escort 

Deputy Kin home. 

“In the darkest moments, you 

have to understand that sometimes 

God needs warriors and 

heroes...God got a good one 

today,” Frasure said. 

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FAYETTEVILLE, NC. 

Cumberland County Deputy Oscar Yovani Bolanos-Anavisca Jr, was 

killed when his vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. 

While friends, family and law 

enforcement officers grieved 

the loss of deputy Oscar Yovani 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. on Friday, 

they also remembered his smile 

as they celebrated his life. 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. was 

killed shortly after 2:45 a.m. Dec. 

16, while investigating a robbery 

at the Circle K at 2990 Gillespie 

St. 

During the investigation, Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr. was “struck by 

a vehicle that was operated by a 

drunk driver that ultimately took 

his life,” said Detective Cindy 

Anavisca-Orrego, who is Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr.’s cousin. 

Flanked by fellow deputies, 

detectives, canine handlers, 

crime scene investigators and 

dispatchers at Friday’s service, 

Anavisca-Orrego asked for 

prayers for the family and the 

men and women “who witnessed 

their brother being taken 

from them.” 

She told the crowd that Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr. was more than 

her cousin. 

“You are my brother — the 

best backup I could ask for at 

any call,” Anavisca-Orrego said 

through tears. “I admire your 

beautiful heart and your smile, 

yrs. 

DEPUTY OSCAR BOLANOS-ANAVISCA 

your passion and your strength. 

Continue to watch over us as we 

continue to push on. Don’t worry, 

brother. We’ve got it from here.” 

Law enforcement officers from 

across the state filled the Rivers 

of Living Water church Friday 

where Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. had 

been a member and his memorial 

service was held, as flags 

remained at half-staff. 

Standing feet away from 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.’s flagdraped 

coffin, his fiancee, Elena 

Schmidt, said she’d rather be 

picking out where she’d eat with 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr. for a date 

night or watching a marathon of 

“The Office” with him. 

Schmidt said she’s been blessed 

to be part of Bolanos-Anavisca’s 

family since 2015. 

“You were more than a deputy 

to me,” Schmidt was as her 

voice quivered. “You were my 

person, my best friend, the love 

of my life and my soulmate. My 

heart is broken knowing that our 

time together has been cut so 

short.” 

Schmidt said she knows that 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.’s memory 

will go on and that he will continue 

to impact lives. 

“Throughout our years together, 

I watched you not only grow 

in age but in wisdom, respect, 

kindness and your faith. I can say 

that I know that you are with the 

Lord now talking to him just like 

you were the best of friends.” 

She said though she knew 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.’s dream 

was to become a law enforcement 

officer, it scared her until 

he started his career with the 

Sheriff’s Office. 

“Dec. 16 might have been your 

end of watch, but it was just 

your beginning of your time 

smiling down on us from heaven 

with Jesus,” Schmidt said. 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr.’s cousin 

Byron Bolanos said Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr. was a role 

model who would brighten 

people’s days with his smile. 

Bolanos said he will miss his 

cousin clearing his schedule for 

three-hour haircuts because the 

pair would spend hours talking. 

“I ask God for strength, because 

the moment you passed, 

you took a piece of me with 

you,” Bolanos said. 

“It honors me to know that he 

was able to serve and to help 

promote peace in the area,” the 

senior Bolanos said. 

Sheriff Ennis Wright said Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr. started his career 

as a school resource officer, 

before wanting to be a patrol 

deputy. 

He began his career in the 

Sheriff’s Office in November 2020 

and transitioned to road patrol 

as a C-12 with “C” platoon. 

Cumberland County Schools 

officials said Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr. also was a volunteer assistant 

football coach at Hope Mills 

Middle School. 

His obituary states he previously 

played soccer and football 

at South View High School. 

Bolanos-Anavisca Jr., Wright 

said, responded to a calling in 

which he ran toward danger. 

“This young man set examples 

for our young people,” Wright 

said Friday. “He set examples 

for a lot of these older deputies 

that’s in that sheriff’s office because 

he kept a positive attitude. 

He’s going to be missed. I miss 

him.” 

Arrests 

Antonio Craig Bradley, 39, of 

Fayetteville, was arrested Sunday 

in the robbery, authorities 

said in a news release Monday. 

Bradley was also charged with 

resisting, delaying and obstructing 

officers for allegedly leading 

deputies in a foot chase Sunday. 

He was charged with breaking 

and entering, larceny after 

breaking and entering and possession 

of stolen goods from a 

Nov. 17 theft at the same Circle K 

on Gillespie Street. 

Nicholas Terlizzi, 24, of Coronation 

Drive in Linden, is charged 

with impaired driving and felony 

death by vehicle in Bolanos-Anavisca 

Jr.’s hit-and-run 

death. 

Terlizzi also faces charges of 

reckless driving to endanger, 

driving on a restricted license, 

driving without insurance and 

driving without registration, 

according to the North Carolina 

State Highway Patrol charging 

document. 

He was also cited with a red 

light infraction. 

The driver left the scene, but 

was located a short distance 

away, officials said. Terlizzi’s 

vehicle, identified as a BMW by 

Wright, was displaying a revoked 

license plate, the charging 

document states. 

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BRODNAX, VA. 

Brodnax Chief of Police Joe Carey, was struck and killed by a vehicle as 

he was attempting to remove the remains of a dog from the roadway. 

In Mecklenburg, Brunswick and 

Charlotte counties and elsewhere, 

countless people are 

mourning the death of Brodnax 

Police Chief Joseph “Joe” 

Edward Carey Sr. after he was 

killed in the line of duty during a 

roadside incident around 7 p.m. 

Friday. 

Virginia State Police are investigating 

the pedestrian fatality, 

which happened as Carey was 

attempting to recover the remains 

of a dog that had been 

struck in the roadway. Carey had 

pulled off to the right side of the 

road in the 200 block of Piney 

Pond Road and U.S. 58; as he was 

returning to the side of the highway, 

an eastbound Ford F-150 

pickup was unable to avoid a 

collision with Carey, according 

to State Police. 

Carey, 66, was transported to 

VCU Health Community Memorial 

Hospital in South Hill where he 

died from his injuries. 

The lights of Carey’s police 

cruiser were activated as the 

vehicle was parked on the side 

of the highway. 

The adult male driver of the 

pickup truck was not injured. 

Alcohol was not a factor in the 

crash, which remains under investigation, 

according to Virginia 

State Police Sgt. Michelle Anaya. 

The incident caused all lanes 

of U.S. 58 to be shut down as 

first responders worked to clear 

the scene. 

Carey’s career in law enforcement 

spanned more than 40 

years. He was with the Brodnax 

Police Department for over 

20 years, serving citizens in 

Mecklenburg and Brunswick as 

police chief for the town straddling 

both counties. A resident 

of Wylliesburg, Carey was also 

an active member of the Charlotte 

County Rescue Squad and 

Bacon District Fire Department. 

He served for eight years on the 

Charlotte County Board of Supervisors 

and ran for sheriff in 

Charlotte County. 

“Beloved in the communities in 

which he worked and lived, Joe 

never met a stranger and quickly 

befriended anyone with whom 

he crossed paths,” reads the 

fallen officer’s obituary. Those 

words have been affirmed by the 

outpouring of support across the 

area since his death. 

Matthew Carey, Joe Carey’s 

son, expressed the family’s 

appreciation for the kindness 

shown to them in the wake of 

the chief’s death. “The family 

would like to thank everyone for 

yrs. 

CHIEF JOE CAREY 

the outpouring of calls, texts, 

visits and other expressions of 

support over the last few days. 

Though we haven’t been able to 

respond to everyone individually, 

know that we greatly appreciate 

all of the love and support 

during this difficult time. 

“Though his absence leaves a 

significant hole in our lives, we 

will forever be grateful for the 

life he lived,” Matthew told The 

Sun. 

Members of the community 

joined emergency responders 

and gathered in areas along the 

route on Monday evening as Carey’s 

casket was transported to 

Wood Funeral Service in Chase 

City. The South Hill Volunteer 

Fire Department suspended a 

large American flag from their 

ladder truck over the roadway as 

the procession that included dozens 

of law enforcement vehicles 

made its way through the town. 

“Our hearts and prayers go out 

to the Carey family and our law 

enforcement family and friends,” 

South Hill Fire Chief Michael 

Vaughan said on behalf of the 

department. “May he shine a 

light for us all to follow.” 

Carey’s police cruiser has sat 

parked for days in Brodnax, becoming 

a memorial to the fallen 

chief — covered with balloons, 

ribbons, flowers and other items 

placed by people in honor and 

remembrance of his life and 

service. 

Visitation services for Carey 

were held at the Wood Funeral 

Service, Chase City, Wednesday, 

December 21 and the funeral 

was held the following day at 

HEROISM AWARD 

TEXAS DPS 

LT. JAMES MORRIS 

the Mecklenburg County High 

School auditorium, in Baskerville. 

Carey resided in the Wylliesburg 

community of Charlotte 

County where he also operated 

a cattle farm. His influence was 

felt far and wide; in neighboring 

Halifax County, law enforcement 

officers expressed grief over 

his death, noting that Carey had 

made his presence felt days before 

his death in South Boston by 

showing up at WalMart to support 

a South Boston Police Department 

kids’ shopping event. 

Carey also visited the Halifax 

County dispatch center to pass 

out cupcakes and treats to the 

staff. “Had never met him before 

but he seemed like a really 

nice guy,” wrote one dispatcher, 

Samantha Lynn Vest, on social 

media. “Carried on a good conversation. 

Praying for his family 

and friends. Rest in Peace Chief 

Carey. 

“My heart is breaking for my 

blue line family,” Vest added. 

Joseph Edward Carey Sr. is 

survived by his wife of 40 years, 

three sons, two grandchildren, a 

brother, other family and many 

friends. 

In the wake of Chief Carey’s 

death, Brodnax Mayor Don Dugger 

made the following statement: 

“This evening the Town of 

Brodnax lost a dedicated member 

of our community. It is with 

a heavy heart that I must announce 

the tragic death of Police 

Chief Joe Carey to a traffic crash 

on Route 58. Highly regarded for 

his public safety professionalism 

and experience, Joe was a 

genuine friend to so many of us. 

He truly loved his job and worked 

hard to make a difference while 

protecting and serving our town 

“I ask that you keep his family 

and colleagues with the Mecklenburg 

County Sheriff’s Office in 

your thoughts and prayers during 

this difficult time.” 



yrs. 

BENTONVILLE,AR. 

Benton County Detective Paul Newell died in a motorcycle 

crash while escorting the Wreaths Across America Procession. 

BENTONVILLE, AR – Benton 

County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) 

Detective Paul Newell died in 

the line of duty on Dec. 17 after 

he lost control of his motorcycle 

while participating in the 

Wreaths Across America event. 

Wreaths Across America is a 

nonprofit organization that distributes 

wreaths to be placed on 

the gravesites of military members. 

The 51-year-old detective was 

escorting the Wreaths Across 

America procession through 

Bentonville when the crash occurred, 

KFSM reported. 

As he was traveling eastbound 

on Highway 71B in the center 

turning lane, Det. Newell hit a 

curb, lost control of his motorcycle, 

and crashed into a semitruck 

that was park of the procession, 

according to the news 

outlet. 

The 24-year law enforcement 

veteran succumbed to his injuries 

at the scene, according to 

the Officer Down Memorial Page. 

In addition to his service as a 

deputy, Det. Newell was also a 

U.S. Army veteran. 

“It is with profound sadness 

that Benton County Sheriff 

Shawn Holloway announces the 

on-duty tragic death of Detective 

Paul Daniel Newell,” the BCSO 

said in a press release later that 

morning. 

Det. Newell started out in the 

BCSO’s Detention Division before 

his graduation from the Arkansas 

Law Enforcement Training Academy. 

In the decades that followed, 

he served as a patrol deputy, 

patrol sergeant, training sergeant, 

and as a lieutenant in the 

administration section, the BCSO 

said. 

He was assigned as a Criminal 

Investigation Division detective at 

the time of his death. 

Det. Newell also helped establish 

the sheriff’s office’s Motor 

Division after he graduated from 

the Police Motorcycle Operator’s 

Course in 2006, according to his 

obituary. 

He graduated from the Motor 

Officer’s Instructor School in 

Daytona, Florida in 2018, and became 

a certified Harley-Davidson 

technician in 2021 after completing 

training at the company’s 

headquarters in Milwaukee, 

DETECTIVE PAUL NEWELL 

Wisconsin. 

“He was instrumental in the 

maintenance and operation of 

the motorcycles and in teaching 

other deputies and officers from 

surrounding agencies,” the tribute 

read. 

Det. Newell leaves behind his 

wife, Charlene, and his daughters, 

Tara and Tonya. 

He is also survived by his parents, 

siblings, three granddaughters, 

nieces, and nephews. 

Det. Newell was laid to rest on 

Dec. 28. 



yrs. 

GARRETT COUNTY, MD. 

Deputy Corey McElroy with the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office was killed 

in a vehicle crash when his SUV struck the back of a tractor-trailer. 

Frostburg, MD – Garrett County 

Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Deputy 

Corey McElroy died in the line of 

duty on Dec. 21 after a three-vehicle 

crash. 

The 31-year-old deputy was 

driving his unmarked patrol SUV 

in the westbound lanes of Interstate 

68 near Maryland Route 36 

shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 

20 when he collided with the 

back of a tractor-trailer, according 

to the Maryland State Police 

(MSP). 

Investigators said the force of 

the impact sent Deputy McElroy’s 

vehicle into another traffic lane, 

where it was hit by a Ford F-350 

pickup truck, WDTV reported. 

Deputy McElroy was airlifted to 

Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, 

West Virginia, where 

he succumbed to his injuries in 

the early-morning hours of Dec. 

21, Garrett County Sheriff Bryson 

Meyers said in a press release. 

The Maryland State Police 

Crash Team is handling the ongoing 

investigation into the fatal 

collision. 

The roadway was shut down 

until shortly before 11 p.m. as 

police investigated the scene, 

WBAL reported. 

Sheriff Meyers said Deputy 

McElroy, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 

was traveling home from 

the police academy to attend 

a family member’s graduation 

ceremony when the fatal crash 

occurred. 

He leaves behind his two young 

children. 

“We ask that you respect the 

DEPUTY COREY McELROY 

privacy of Deputy McElroy’s family 

at this most difficult time,” 

Sheriff Meyers said. 



yrs. 

FORT WALTON BEACH, FL. 

Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Corporal Ray Hamilton was 

killed on Christmas after a suspect opened fire on him. 

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fl. — A 

tragedy took place on Christmas 

Eve after a Florida deputy 

was killed when a man shot him 

from inside his home. 

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s 

Office said Corporal Ray Hamilton 

and other deputies were 

at 710 North Park Boulevard at 

around 9 a.m., preparing to serve 

an arrest warrant for a domestic 

battery charge to 43-year old 

Timothy Price-Williams. 

The victim said on Saturday 

morning, Price-Williams had 

slapped her in the face and 

shoved her during an argument 

the night before, taking away her 

phone so she could not call 911. 

The response team said it surrounded 

the townhouse and tried 

to negotiate with Price-Williams 

to give himself up peacefully. 

Several deputies, including Cpl. 

Hamilton, entered an area behind 

the backyard fence of the 

premises to help establish a safe 

perimeter. 

However, the sheriff’s office 

said once the teams got into 

position, Price-Williams opened 

fire from his window at around 

12:40 p.m., Cpl. Hamilton was 

struck. 

Price-Williams eventually 

stepped out of his home. The 

sheriff’s office said the way 

Price-Williams stepped out of 

his home, caused another deputy 

to fire at him, hitting him in the 

arm. 

The sheriff’s office said 

Price-Williams medical attention 

at the hospital and was 

then transported to the jail. Cpl. 

Hamilton was rushed to HCA Fort 

Walton Beach - Destin Hospital 

where he died from his injury 

shortly after 3 p.m. 

Prince-Williams faces charges 

of first-degree premeditated 

murder. 

Cpl. Hamilton was a five-year 

veteran with the Okaloosa County 

Sheriff’s Office. 

“We are devastated by the 

grief of losing Corporal Hamilton, 

a deputy who was a ray of 

sunshine in the OCSO, dedicated 

to protecting others,” said Sheriff 

Eric Aden. “We appreciate 

CORPORAL RAY HAMILTON 

the endless stream of words of 

support that have come in for his 

family and his co-workers as we 

face this heartbreaking loss of a 

profoundly loved and respected 

friend, public servant, and hero .” 



yrs. 

RIVERSIDE CNTY, CA. 

Riverside County Deputy Isiah Cordero was shot and killed 

while making a traffic stop in the Jurupa Valley Area. 

RIVERSIDE, CA. – At 32, Isaiah 

Cordero had just become a 

motorcycle deputy, a significant 

accomplishment in what was 

already developing into a distinguished 

law enforcement career. 

Cordero joined the Riverside 

County Sheriff’s Department 

in May 2014. He worked in the 

county’s jail system before becoming 

a sworn deputy in 2018. 

He completed motor school to 

become a motorcycle deputy in 

September, achieving one of his 

dreams. 

On Thursday Dec. 29, that 

dream turned into a nightmare 

during a traffic stop. 

Cordero had pulled over a 

pickup just before 2 p.m. in the 

city of Jurupa Valley, east of 

Los Angeles. As he approached 

the pickup, the driver pulled out 

a gun and opened fire, killing 

Cordero, Sheriff Chad Bianco 

said. 

The slaying, which led to a 

deadly two-county manhunt for 

the 44-year-old shooter, left 

colleagues devastated. 

“He was a jokester around the 

station, and all of our deputies 

considered him their little brother,” 

said Sheriff Chad Bianco. 

“Deputy Cordero learned from 

his mother the value of serving 

and helping others. 

“He was naturally drawn to 

law enforcement and certainly 

embodied our motto of service 

above self.” 

Mourners left flowers and other 

items at a memorial as word 

of the deputy’s death spread 

through the community he 

served. Several hours after the 

shooting, dozens of motorcycle 

officers and patrol cars escorted 

a hearse with the deputy’s flagdraped 

casket from the hospital 

to the county coroner’s office. 

Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered 

state flags to be flown at halfstaff 

in Cordero’s honor. 

“Jennifer and I extend our 

deepest sympathies to Deputy 

Isaiah Cordero’s family, friends 

and colleagues during this difficult 

time,” Newsom said. “He 

served his community selflessly, 

and with dedication and courage. 

We owe him our respect, 

gratitude, and will remember his 

sacrifice.” 

The Riverside Sheriff’s Association 

also shared its condolences. 

“We are devastated by the grief 

of losing Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 

a deputy who was a ray of 

sunshine in the Riverside Sheriff’s 

Department, a person who was 

dedicated to protecting others,” 

DEPUTY ISIAH CORDERO 

the statement said. “Once again, 

we face a tragic reminder of 

the selflessness and unwavering 

courage required of peace officers 

and their families.” 

In the hours after the shooting, 

the search for the gunman led to 

a pursuit on freeways in Riverside 

County and neighboring San 

Bernardino County. The tires on 

the gunman’s pickup were damaged 

when it ran over a spike 

strip, but the driver continued 

with rows of law enforcement 

vehicles behind him. 

On the 15 Freeway in Norco, 

about 10 miles southwest of 

A view of the scene after a pursuit and deadly shootout Thursday Dec. 29, 2022. 

Jurupa Valley, the truck finally 

broke down and crashed. 

“At the conclusion of the pursuit, 

the suspect fired rounds at 

deputies,” Bianco said. 

Deputies returned fire, killing 

44-year-old William Shae McKay. 

No deputies were injured in 

the shootout. 

The San Bernardino County 

resident had a long and violent 

criminal history stretching back 

to before 2000 that included 

kidnapping, robbery and multiple 

Be sure and check out 

our new 

BUYERS GUIDE 

on Page 124. 

arrests for assault with a deadly 

weapon, including the stabbing 

of a California Highway Patrol 

dog, the sheriff said. 

Details about what led to 

Thursday’s shooting during the 

traffic stop were not immediately 

available. It was not clear 

why the driver was pulled over, 

but authorities said the traffic 

stop was under investigation and 

possibly related to irregularities 

with the black pickup he was 

driving. 

Sponsored by 

Witnesses called 911 and tried 

to help the deputy until paramedics 

arrived, Bianco said. 

Cordero was taken to Riverside 

Community Hospital, but Bianco 

said the deputy died at the scene 

of the traffic stop. 

Cordero is survived by his 

mother, father and stepbrother. 

The deputy was not married but 

was in a relationship, the sheriff 

said. 

Funeral arrangements for 

Cordero were pending. 

38 The BLUES The BLUES 39


yrs. 

GILBERT, AZ. 

Funeral service held for Sheriff Mark Lamb’s family following 

deadly crash that claimed his son, his son’s fiancée 

and his 1-year old granddaughter. 

EDITOR: As many of you 

know, Sheriff Mark Lamb is a 

good friend of The BLUES and 

was just featured on our cover 

a couple of months ago. 

We reached out to Mark and 

his wife Janel to let them 

know that their family is in 

our prayers and the entire Blue 

nation stands with them during 

this tragic time. Please pray for 

Mark and his family and support 

them if you can, by donating 

to one of the following 

fundraisers setup for the family. 

FundtheFirst and GoFundMe. 

GILBERT, AZ. – A funeral service 

was held two weeks after a 

crash in Arizona that claimed the 

lives of Pinal County Sheriff Mark 

Lamb’s son, his son’s fiancée, and 

granddaughter. 

On Dec. 16, shortly after 3:45 

p.m. first responders were dispatched 

to a two-vehicle collision 

west of Elliot and Recker 

Roads in the city of Gilbert, Law 

Officer reported. 

“A truck was traveling westbound 

when it struck a red passenger 

car traveling eastbound 

as it made a left-hand turn to 

Cooper Lamb with his fiancée Caroline and their daughter. 

go north on Cole,” according to 

police. 

A man and an infant were 

passengers inside the red car, 

according to officials. Both were 

declared dead at the scene. 

“It is with heartfelt sadness 

to report the identity of the 

22-year-old male in yesterday’s 

fatal collision on Elliot and Cole 

to be that of Cooper Lamb, Pinal 

County Sheriff Mark Lamb’s son, 

and his infant grandchild— both 

passengers of the vehicle,” law 

enforcement authorities said at 

the time. 

The female driver of the car – 

Cooper’s fiancée and mother of 

the child, Caroline Patton – was 

hospitalized in critical condition. 

Sadly, she passed away Dec. 24, 

Sheriff Lamb announced, according 

to FOX Los Angeles. 

A funeral service for Cooper, 

Caroline and their child was held 

on Dec. 30 at the LDS Stake Center 

in San Tan Valley. 

“We are just grateful for all 

Sheriff Mark Lamb and his wife Janel have demonstrated courage in the face of darkness. 

the outpouring of love and support,” 

Sheriff Lamb remarked. 

“Obviously this is a tough tragic 

situation … loss of your son, 

grandchild. Caroline was like a 

daughter to us as 

well, so it’s tough.” 

The sheriff said 

they do not harbor 

bitterness in the aftermath 

of the horrific 

tragedy as they 

offered forgiveness 

to the other driver, 

FOX Los Angeles reported. 

“We are not angry. 

This is an accident. 

Our son went 

through something 

similar. We don’t feel any anger 

or resentment. We want to let 

you know we forgive you, and 

we know that our kids are in a 

better place.” 

Naturally, the past few weeks 

have been difficult, but Sheriff 

Lamb and his wife Janel are 

pushing forward for the sake of 

their other four children. 

Janel Lamb also expressed her 

gratitude to the community’s first 

responders. 

“I would also like to send my 

deepest thanks and gratitude to 

the community in Gilbert that 

worked on our kids 

and helped them and 

were there with them 

when they had their 

accident. That means 

more to me as a mom 

to know that you were 

there for them,” Janel 

Lamb said. 

Brian Torres, 21, was 

identified as the driver 

of the truck. He was 

not hurt in the collision 

and was subsequently 

arrested for 

suspicion of DUI. The investigation 

into the triple-fatality remains 

ongoing. 



yrs. 

ACROSS THE US 

Latest law enforcement news from across the country. 

EX-OFFICER SHOT, KILLED 

AFTER PULLING GUN ON TEX- 

AS OFFICERS RESPONDING TO 

DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE CALL 

By Ashley Silver, Police1 

SAN MARCOS, TX — A former 

Texas officer was fatally shot 

on Christmas Day after pulling a 

gun on police at an apartment 

complex. 

According to KXAN News, San 

Marcos police received a call 

regarding an assault at an apartment 

complex. The caller said 

the man allegedly responsible, 

36-year-old Kyle Lobo, was 

drinking and had a gun. 

When police responded, they 

noticed Lobo was holding a child 

in his arms. He handed the child 

to the woman who had called 

the police and then pulled a firearm, 

prompting police to shoot 

the former San Marcos officer. 

He was pronounced dead at a 

local hospital. 

KXAN reported that Lobo resigned 

from the San Marcos Police 

Department earlier this year 

amid family violence charges. 

Lobo’s wife told officers in previous 

police records that he’d assaulted 

her five or six times since 

the start of 2022, including times 

when he allegedly assaulted the 

woman’s 11-year-old son. 

The Texas Rangers are investigating 

the shooting. 

FLORIDA OFFICER FIRED AF- 

TER VIDEO SHOWS HIM DRAG- 

GING WOMAN INTO JAIL 

By Dan Sullivan Tampa Bay 

Times 

TAMPA, FL. — The Tampa Police 

Department fired one of its 

officers Tuesday after he was 

recorded dragging a handcuffed 

woman across the ground toward 

a Hillsborough County jail 

booking room. 

An investigation found that 

Officer Gregory Damon violated 

several department policies 

during the Nov. 17 incident. 

It happened after he and other 

officers were called early that 

morning to the Tampa Family 

Health Centers at 4620 N 22nd 

St. in the Belmont Heights area. 

People at the medical office 

reported that a woman was 

sleeping outside the building and 

refusing their requests to leave 

the property. 

The same woman had previously 

been told to stay away 

from the property, police said. 

She was arrested on a trespassing 

charge. 

When Damon arrived with 

her at the Orient Road Jail, the 

woman refused to step out of 

the back of his patrol SUV, police 

said. 

Body-worn camera video that 

police released Tuesday captured 

his interaction with the 

woman. 

“I’m going to drag you out of 

this car,” he told her. 

“I want you to drag me,” she 

said. 

The video shows the officer 

taking her by the arm, pulling her 

out of the vehicle, then moving 

her across a long concrete floor 

toward a sign reading “search 

your arrestee” over the doorway 

to the central booking room. The 

woman speaks defiantly, berating 

the officer throughout. 

As he drags her, the officer 

stops and tells the woman to 

stand up. She remains on the 

ground. 

Damon continued to drag her 

toward the doorway. He pressed 

a call button, summoning two 

Hillsborough County jail deputies 

to come outside to help 

bring the woman into the room. 

Tampa police did not name the 

woman in a news release about 

the incident. But jail booking 

records indicate that she is 46 

years old. She was booked in jail 

at 10:19 a.m. that day on a trespassing 

charge. Booking notes 

indicate that she was released 

a few days later to a mental 

health facility. The criminal case 

against her continues to be prosecuted. 

Supervisors at the jail, which 



yrs. 

Investigators reviewed the officer’s 

body camera footage and 

surveillance video from the jail 

and interviewed Damon, finding 

no clear justification for the policy 

violations. 

NEW ORLEANS POLICE IN- 

STRUCTOR SHOOTS SELF IN 

LEG AT RANGE 

NEW ORLEANS, LA – A New 

Orleans police officer was 

wounded Wednesday when he 

accidentally shot himself in the 

leg at the department’s training 

academy firing range, the department 

reports. 

“In this incident, a NOPD officer 

sustained a self-inflicted gunshot 

wound to the leg. The injury 

is not believed to be life-threatening. 

The officer was transported 

via EMS to a local hospital. 

No additional information 

is currently available,” a police 

department statement says, according 

to 4WWL. 

A police department spokesman 

tells FOX8 the officer is 

retired with more than 30 years 

of service to the department and 

is a reserve sergeant currently 

assigned to the training academy 

as an instructor. 

BRYAN TEXAS OFFICER 

SHOT, SUSPECT FLED IN THE 

POLICE CAR 

BRYAN, TX – A Bryan Texas police 

officer was shot late Thursday 

night after a traffic stop. 

The officer survived the shooting 

but the suspect has not yet been 

captured, according to KWTZ. 

Bryan police said the driver 

didn’t immediately stop and continued 

to drive for a short time 

before exiting the vehicle and 

running away. The officer began 

chasing the driver on foot when 

the suspect fired multiple shots 

at the officer who was struck 

but did not return fire. 

The officer was rushed to a 

local hospital and condition is 

described as being “stable.” 

The suspect drove away from 

the area after stealing the police 

officer’s patrol car. It was later 

located in the 2000 block of 

Fountain Avenue in Bryan. 

Multiple agencies are attempting 

to locate the suspect. 

A pickup truck that is likely the 

suspect’s vehicle was seen being 

towed away near the area of 

Carter Creek Parkway and Avondale. 

The officer’s name has not 

been released by the police department. 

CHICAGO PD FACES STARK 

NUMBER OF OFFICER DEATHS 

BY SUICIDE 


CHICAGO, IL – Three Chicago 

police officers died by suicide in 

the past week, bringing the total 

number of suicides this year 

within the Chicago Police Department 

to seven, according to 

WTTW News. 

Police union representatives 

believe heavy workloads, canceled 

days off and an anti-police 

climate are contributing factors 

to officers’ mental health concerns. 

Robert Sobo, director of the 

Professional Counseling Division 

and Employee Assistance 

Program for the Chicago Police 

Department, and Alisha Warren, 

assistant commissioner of mental 

health for the Chicago Department 

of Public Health, spoke 

on “Chicago Tonight” to detail 

the challenges police officers are 

facing, which can weigh substantially 

on their mental health 

and available resources to help. 

Suicide is always preventable. 

If you are having thoughts of 

suicide or feeling suicidal, please 

call the National Suicide Prevention 

Hotline immediately at 800- 

273-8255. Counselors are also 

available to chat at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. 

Remember: 

You deserve to be supported, 

and it is never too late to seek 

help. Speak with someone today. 

ILL. PD TO BEGIN 12-HOUR 

SHIFTS TO BOOST OFFICER 

RETENTION, RECRUITMENT 

By Alexandra Kukulka 

The Daily Southtown 

OAK FOREST, Ill. — Oak Forest 

police officers will work 12-hour 

shifts in the new year, allowing 

officers to have a three-day 

weekend every other week, as 

a trial period to determine if 

the schedule change works and 

helps with officer retention and 

recruitment, officials said. 

The Oak Forest patrol division 

will shift from working 8.5- to 

12-hour shifts: from 6 a.m. to 6 

p.m. and 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., said 

union President Sgt. Michael 

Lynch Jr. 

Oak Forest police officers will 



work 12-hour shifts in the new 

year, allowing officers to have a 

three-day weekend every other 

week. (Photo/Facebook via Oak 

Forest PD) 

The shift was agreed to by the 

Oak Forest Police Department 

administration and the union 

after over a year of discussion, 

Lynch said. 

“We brought the schedule 

change up. We wanted to make 

sure it was a mutual thing with 

the administration and the union 

so it benefited everyone,” he 

said. 

When talking with the patrol 

officers, Lynch said a lot of the 

newer police officers stated they 

worked for other departments 

that did 12-hour shifts, which 

gave them more time to spend 

with family. 

“It had a lot to do with recruitment 

and retention,” Lynch said. 

“It seems they want 12 hours and 

family time.” 

Oak Forest police Chief Jason 

Reid said the shift is a big 

change, but after discussion with 

union leaders and patrol officers 

the administration decided to try 

it for a year and make potential 

adjustments if needed. 

Reid said new officers asked 

for 12-hour shifts to maintain the 

schedule they’re used to working 

at other departments. But some 

officers, who have had more experience 

on the force, expressed 

concern about reducing their 

personal time on days they work, 

he said. 

“The majority of the new officers 

wanted it,” Reid said. “We 

will not sacrifice the quality of a 

candidate to bolster numbers.” 

Oak Forest police officers now 

work the 8.5-hour shifts four 

days in a row and then have two 

days off, Reid said. Under the 12- 

hour schedule, officers will have 

rotating three-day weekends. 

Officers now have a full weekend 

off every six weeks, Reid 

said, with the department having 

three shifts with three squads 

per shift, which translates to 

about four to five officers on patrol 

at a time. 

The schedule for 12-hour shifts 

changes to two squads per shift, 

which translates to eight officers 

on patrol during each shift when 

accounting for those who will 

have days off, he said. 

LAPD WARNS OFFICERS TO 

NOT DRINK AND DRIVE AFTER 

7 COPS RECENTLY ARRESTED 

FOR DUI 

LOS ANGELES — After seven 

officers with the Los Angeles 

Police Department were recently 

arrested on suspicion of DUI, the 

agency warned its personnel to 

“celebrate responsibly.” 

LAPD brass wrote a bulletin to 

staff members informing them 

that half of the officers arrested 

had a blood-alcohol content 

level that was more than twice 

the legal limit. Moreover, several 

were involved in injury collisions, 

according to the Los Angeles 

Times. 

The admonition comes amid 

serious concerns regarding 

heavy drinking by employees 

within the department. 

yrs. 

According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, 

LAPD released the following 

statement in response: 

“Over a short period of time 

leading up to the Holidays, the 

Los Angeles Police Department 

has seen an increase in alcohol 

related incidents resulting in 

arrest. The past weekend an all 

hands operation took place to 

craft messaging warning officers 

of the trend of Driving Under the 

Influence arrests and resources 

available to them. Our Behavioral 

Sciences clinicians have created 

additional training and employee 

meetings to prevent future 

incidents. Although alcohol 

resources and training are available 

to LAPD personnel, this does 

not take the place of criminal 

and administrative accountability 

processes that have been initiated 

and will be carried out.” 

31-YEAR POLICE VETERAN 

CHOSEN AS INTERIM CHIEF IN 

NEW ORLEANS 


NEW ORLEANS, LA.— Michelle 

Woodfork is set to take the reins 

of the New Orleans Police Department 

as interim police chief, 

guided by a rich family legacy in 

law enforcement. 

According to NOLA.com, the 

31-year police veteran was promoted 

to captain last year and 

currently serves in the NOPD’s 

Management Services Bureau. 

Woodfork was introduced as 

the new interim police chief 

during a news conference earlier 

this week. Woodfork is the first 

woman to lead the NOPD and 

will be following in the footsteps 

of her father, who served 

in the same department from 

1968 to 1974. Her uncle, Warren 

Woodfork, was the NOPD’s first 

Black superintendent. 

“I am their legacy,” Woodfork 

said at Tuesday’s announcement. 

“As I watched them, the seed to 

serve and protect was planted.” 

Woodfork’s dream of rising in 

the ranks of law enforcement 

was nearly thwarted in 2017 as a 

drunk driver plowed into her and 

dozens of others while she was 

working parade duty. She suffered 

a broken leg from the incident, 

but returned to the force 

after healing from her injuries. 

Woodfork worked in the 

NOPD’s Sex Crimes and Child 

Abuse Unit for a dozen years, 

first as a detective and then a 

sergeant, before being tapped 

in 2012 to head the department’s 

alternative police response unit. 

District D Council member 

Eugene Green told NOLA.com 

that he’d heard positive feedback 

from other officers about Woodfork, 

stating that she had “paid 

her dues”: “They can identify 

with someone who has served at 

different levels. She has served 

across districts, so she is familiar 

with the city. I look forward 

to working with her to address 

the concerns that we have and 

also the opportunities within the 

police department,” Green said. 

MINNESOTA COURT SAYS 

WIDOW WRONGLY DENIED 

BENEFITS AFTER LEO HUS- 

BAND DIED BY SUICIDE 


ST. PAUL, MN. — The Minnesota 

Court of Appeals has ruled on a 

lawsuit stemming from the death 

of Washington County Sheriff’s 

deputy Jerome Lannon in 2018. 

The court found that Lannon’s 

wife was wrongly denied death 

benefits after the he died by suicide 

due to a PTSD diagnosis. 

KARE News reported the initial 

ruling of an administrative 

law judge stated Lannon was 

not killed in the line of duty, so 

his widow, Cynthia, would not 

be awarded his death benefits. 

The Minnesota Court of Appeals 

reversed that ruling this week 

after stating, “The phrase ‘killed 

in the line of duty,’ as interpreted 

by the Supreme Court, is 

broad enough to encompass the 

death of a public safety officer 

who dies by suicide as a result 

of PTSD caused by performing 

duties peculiar to a public safety 

officer.” 

The appeals court also noted 

that throughout Lannon’s 

20+ years in law enforcement, 

the deputy “responded to many 

disturbing incidents, including a 

double murder, multiple suicides, 

a child’s sexual assault and fatal 

vehicle crashes,” causing him to 

seek treatment for anxiety and 

depression that previous therapists 

tied to PTSD. 

The court went on to state: 

“We conclude that ‘killed in the 

line of duty’ ... includes a death 

by suicide resulting from PTSD 

caused by performing duties peculiar 

to a public safety officer. 

Accordingly, survivors of such an 

officer may qualify for the death 

benefit.” 

HOUSTON POLICE HELP OF- 

FICERS MANAGE STRESS 

THROUGH ‘PEACE’ INITIATIVE 

HOUSTON — Police in Houston 

are seeing success from a pilot 

program geared toward helping 

officers effectively mitigate 

stress through mindfulness. 

FOX 26 Houston reported that 

the Houston Police Department 

is considering an expansion of 

its ‘PEACE’ (Police Enlightenment 

and Collective Education) 

program, which focuses on 

providing mental health support 

to officers using yoga and 

mindfulness techniques to put 

them in the best frame of mind 

when protecting and serving 

the community. 

Yoga instructor Jazmin Porter 

leads groups of officers 

who voluntarily take part in the 

program. She believes mindfulness 

techniques can play an 

integral role in how officers 

make decisions in the field and 

how they react when engaging 

with the public. 

“Your mind is directly connected 

to your emotions, and 

the way you feel, creates the 

way you act,” she said according 

to FOX 26. 

Requests to join the program 

were sent out as a simple “invitation,” 

empowering officers 

to take charge of their mental 

health. 

Many were receptive, with 

the ‘PEACE’ program becoming 

such a vital tool in the department 

that further expansion of 

the $50,000 program to additional 

cadet classes is now 

being discussed. 

“It’s amazing, and I think it’s 

a great benefit,” Houston Police 

Chief Troy Finner said. “A 

relaxed officer, and also our 

civilian staff, is a better officer 

and better civilian staff to 

serve our community.” 



yrs. 

MICHIGAN STATE POLICE 

Testing the 2023 Patrol Vehicles 

By David Griffith 

The Michigan State Police held 

its annual Police Vehicle Evaluation 

Sept. 17-19. And there was 

not a lot of excitement. The 2023 

model year is basically more 

of the same from the Big Three 

American automakers that supply 

law enforcement agencies 

with pursuit-rated vehicles. 

Chevrolet brought one of the 

most interesting entries, its new 

patrol pickup, the Silverado PPV 

in two models. 

Dodge brought the last patrol 

sedans on the market, the 5.7-liter 

V8 Charger with the Hemi 

and the 3.6 liter with the Pentastar 

V6. Also tested were the 

Dodge patrol SUVs, the Durango 

5.7-liter V8 and 3.6-liter V6 both 

in AWD. 

Ford once again submitted the 

Mustang Mach-E battery electric 

SUV, which is not officially 

a patrol vehicle. Other submissions 

from Ford’s broad fleet of 

patrol vehicles included three 

gas-powered versions of the 

Ford PoIice Interceptor Utility 

SUV: the 3.0-liter V6 EcoBoost, 

the Hybrid gas-electric, and the 

3.3-liter V6. Ford also brought 

its pursuit-rated pickup—the 

F-150 Police Responder 3.5-liter 

V6 EcoBoost—for its third year of 

testing. The latest version of the 

pickup launched as a 2021 model; 

the first model debuted as a 

2018. 

At press time, the results from 

this year’s testing were preliminary, 

but the results are very 

similar to the 2021 testing of the 

2022 model year vehicles. 

ACCELERATION AND SPEED 

Top speed is the most glamorous 

performance category of 

the MSP vehicle testing but also 

the least reflective of real driving 

during law enforcement duty. 

Acceleration is a much more 

applicable performance characteristic 

for patrol vehicles. 

Ford scored the two top 0 to 60 

mph acceleration specs at 3.93 

seconds for the Mustang Mach-E 

electric SUV and 5.72 seconds for 

the F-150 Police Responder. Both 

are of course special vehicles. 

Top speed for the F-150 Police 

Responder was 120 mph. The 

Electric Mustang hit 122 mph. 

Among more conventional 

patrol vehicles, the Ford PI Utility 

EcoBoost was both the quickest 

and the fastest, with a zero to 

sixty of 5.68 seconds and a top 

speed of 148 mph. This is not 

surprising since the EcoBoost engine 

has twin turbos. The PI Utility 

Hybrid scored a zero to sixty 

of 7.28 seconds and a top speed 

of 136 mph. The normally aspirated 

PI Utility 3.3-liter scored a 

zero to sixty of 7.95 seconds and 

a top speed of 136 mph. 

Dodge of course had some 

of the fastest vehicles with its 

Charger muscle sedans. The 

5.7-liter V8 Hemi Charger Pursuit 

is a beast. Its top speed is 

140 mph—which is slower than 

the civilian model—and it posted 

a zero to sixty of 6.01 second. 

Dodge’s other Charger Pursuit 

patrol vehicle, the 3.6 liter with 

the Pentastar V6, topped out at 

the same 140 MPH as the 5.7-liter 

Hemi and went zero to sixty in 

7.57 seconds. 

Dodge’s Durango patrol SUVs 

have the same two engines as 

the Chargers. The 5.7-liter V8 

Hemi Durango had a top speed 

of 130 mph and a zero to sixty of 

7.27 seconds. The 3.6-liter Pentastar 

V6 had a top speed of 128 

mph and a zero to sixty of 8.65 

seconds. 

Chevy’s patrol vehicles were 

the slowest in the testing but 

not by much. Top speed for the 

Tahoe 5.3-liter RWD was 130 

mph with a zero to sixty of 7.38. 

The 4WD version of the Tahoe 

with the same engine had a top 

speed of 124 mph and a zero 

to sixty of 8.03 seconds. Both 

Silverado PPV pickup models, 

the ZR7 4WD and Z71 4WD, 

reached a top speed of 112 mph. 

Acceleration scores for the Chevy 

patrol trucks showed the power 

of their 5.3-liter V8 engines. The 

ZR7 4WD reached its top speed 

in 24.38 second and recorded 

a zero to sixty of 7.43 seconds. 

The Z71 4WD accelerated to 112 

mph in 23.80 seconds and hit 

sixty from a standing stop in 7.59 

seconds. 


STOPPING POWER 

Acceleration and speed are 

some of the most important 

specs for patrol vehicles, but 

nothing is more important than 

braking. 

Brakes on duty vehicles get 

some serious wear and tear. MSP 

evaluators use a specific protocol 

of driving and stopping to 

warm and cool the brakes before 

putting them to the test. 

It’s no surprise that the winner 

in the brake category was the 

electric Mustang. Electric vehicles 

use different stopping technology 

than conventional automobiles 

and trucks. The Mustang 

Mach-E’s estimated stopping 

distance 60 to 0 mph was 122.80 

feet. 

It’s also no surprise that the 

worst performing vehicle in the 

braking evaluation was the other 

Ford special vehicle, the F-150 

Police Responder. The pursuit 

pickup truck was estimated to 

stop sixty to zero in 162.2 feet. 

Chevy’s new pursuit pickups 

displayed excellent braking, 

thanks to their Brembo brake 

front calipers and 16-inch rotors. 

MSP estimates that the Silverado 

PPV ZX7 4WD stops from sixty 

to zero in 140.2 feet and the 

Z71 4WD pulls to a stop from 

60 mph in 140.4 feet. The Chevy 

Tahoe’s also demonstrated impressive 

stopping power, with 

the RWD model coming down 

from sixty to zero in an estimated 

127.7 feet. The 4WD model 

had an estimated sixty to zero 

stopping distance of 130.1 seconds. 

Dodge’s Charger Pursuit models 

have an advantage over 

heavier SUVs in stopping distance 

and it showed in the MSP 

testing. The MSP evaluators 

estimated the sixty-to-zero of 

the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi Charger 

at 129.6 feet and the 3.6-liter 

V6 Pentastar at 129.7 feet. The 

Dodge Durango SUVs had sixty 

to zero estimates of 137.7 feet for 

the 5.7-liter V8 Hemi and 135.3 

for the 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar. 

Ford’s patrol SUVs also demonstrated 

solid braking capabilities. 

The PI Utility with V6 EcoBoost 

was estimated to stop sixty to 

zero in 131.5 feet, the 3.3 liter 

131.7 feet, and the Hybrid 132.5 

feet. 

NEXT YEAR 

Law enforcement vehicles are 

clearly in transition, and the 2023 

models may be some of the last 

of their kind. There will likely be 

fewer conventional gas-powered 

patrol vehicles on the track 

when the 2024 pursuit-rated 

models are tested by the MSP 

next year. 

Chevrolet has announced an 

all-electric Blazer PPV police 

vehicle for 2024, Dodge is planning 

to retire the gas-powered 

Charger at the end of 2023 and is 

showing an electric concept vehicle 

that could be modified for 

the next police sedan, and Ford 

is expected to develop an electric 

PI Utility in the near future. 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE REPORT 



TECH TOOLS 

yrs. 

Using Tech to Keep Communities 

Safe During New Year’s Eve and 

Other Mass Gatherings 

By Wayne Parham 

Senior Editor, POLICE Magazine 

Technology used wisely can 

help police better ensure safety 

during New Year’s Eve celebrations 

and other mass gatherings, 

both in large cities and smaller 

towns. Kevin Taylor, development 

manager for the cities vertical 

segment at Axis Communications, 

shares how tech can help 

manage such large events. 

Axis Communications’ portfolio 

is heavily video centric, says 

Taylor, and the company offers 

a lot of different IoT (Internet of 

Things) endpoint solutions. He 

explains agencies are looking for 

ways they can use technology as 

a force multiplier to keep communities 

safe. 

Taylor says in recent years 

police have faced the challenge 

of losing a lot of officers 

through attrition, such as early 

retirements, and it has become 

increasingly more difficult to 

recruit new talent into law enforcement. 

“So, they’re looking for ways 

they can leverage technology to 

make every officer more efficient 

and more productive, and keep 

communities safer,” says Taylor. 

“For us, that is a lot of video in 

the public right of way, which is 

often used to drive efficiencies in 

the emergency response workflow. 

You also have some leading 

technologies like automatic 

license plate recognition (ALPR) 

and wearable cameras that 

can both help law enforcement 

agencies be more proactive and 

also drive more transparency 

and trust within the community.” 

SCALABLE TO ANY CITY 

He points out there are about 

19,400 or so towns and cities 

across the country and the vast 

number of those are not large 

metro cities. Many are much 

smaller communities. Taylor 

adds that it is important for 

those cities to be offered solutions 

that can scale down to a 

level, not necessarily from a features 

and capability standpoint, 

that more modest sized communities 

can afford to onboard as 

a solution and have a beginning 

point. 

“I think that scalability term is 

really important here, especial- 

ly when we look at the smaller 

communities. A lot of crime right 

now is transient; we’re seeing 

criminals that move across jurisdictions,” 

Taylor says. “So, things 

like ALPR are able to identify 

when a vehicle that’s already associated 

to another Part I crime 

or a vehicle that’s already registered 

as a stolen vehicle enters 

your community.” 

Then police agencies know 

that vehicle is there and can 

intercept it in a safe way before 

the vehicle’s occupants are involved 

in another potentially violent 

crime or Part I crime. That 

use of ALPRs relates to small 

communities, large communities, 

and any size city in between. 

PARTNER WITH TRANSPORTATION 

“One thing that is very common 

in a lot of communities, whether 

you’re talking about small communities 

or big communities, is 

another department within most 

local governments that tends to 

consume a lot of video and have 

a lot of video resources is the 

transportation agency,” explains 

Taylor. 

He says if you’re looking to 

increase your visibility during 

large events, partnering with 

your transportation agency, 

whether that’s a department of 

transportation or a department 

of public works, or whoever’s 

managing your roadways and 

your signal-controlled intersections 

and the flow of traffic, is a 

really important internal collaboration 

opportunity for a law 

enforcement agency. 

EFFICIENT EGRESS 

Taylor says the ability to move 

people quickly, both into and out 

of these large gatherings, can 

help reduce stress in the environment. 

Get them out quickly 

and headed home safely and 

there is less chance tempers can 

flare and confrontations arise. 

“And if that’s efficient, and if 

it’s logical, then chances are 

you’ll have fewer traffic accidents, 

and you don’t have to 

tie up your responders going 


to traffic accidents instead of 

dealing with other safety issues 

of a potential criminal nature. 

So, partnering with your transportation 

agency and looking at 

the flow of people into and out 

of the event is really important,” 

he adds. 

Also, efficient egress can thin 

traffic sooner and clear the way 

for an easier and quicker response 

for emergency vehicles 

when needed. 

Taylor points out that this process 

is not just reserved for big 

cities, nor is it just for New Year’s 

Eve celebrations. Every small 

town can implement the same 

tactics for Fourth of July celebrations, 

parades, or any other 

event that draws a large gathering 

during the year. 

EVENT HEADCOUNT 

Event organizers and police 

providing security have always 

faced the challenge of anticipating 

crowd size. Now technology 

can help with those estimates 

and allow leaders to build data 

models to help more accurately 

plan resources. 

“I think that one of the challenges 

with large gatherings 

is the estimation of how large 

these gatherings are isn’t always 

real accurate. So, this is something 

that technology can help 

with now is that the technologies 

out there are a lot better at 

doing people counting,” explains 

Taylor. “This is not identification 

or recognition; it’s just counting 

the number of people in an 

area.” 

INVESTIGATIONS 

When there is a criminal incident 

and police have a person 

of interest, technology can help 

provide relevant information. But 

how do you find the most relevant 

information? Let’s say you 

are a large city that has potentially 

thousands of cameras. 

“It can become very time 

consuming to go through a lot 

of camera feeds to look for 

new details that are very important 

from an investigative 

standpoint. There are analytics 

that help with that, and more 

advanced video technologies 

create more metadata within the 

video stream,” says Taylor. “So 

that structured data about data 

that helps you identify different 

classifications, from the color of 

a shirt to someone’s hair color, 

or just classifying objects or 

groupings of people, groupings 

of pixels as people or vehicles, 

you can do these things, and you 

can dramatically improve the 

efficiency of search within the 

data, the data pool.” 

BIG BROTHER IS NOT WATCHING 

“We’ve heard agencies refer to 

it as video in the public domain 

or in the public right of way. And 

really what most of these agencies 

are trying to accomplish is 

to drive efficiencies in the emergency 

response workflow. I think 

there’s a misconception that 

when there’s a camera, there’s 

someone at the other end of a 

video feed looking at a monitor 

and monitoring things real time. 

And most people are not comfortable 

with the idea of living in 

a surveillance state,” says Taylor. 

He says that is a logical and 

reasonable skepticism but has 

suggestions on how departments 

can deal with that perception. 

“The best way that I recommend 

for any agency to deal 

with this is on the front end 

through a policy standpoint, 

have open communications 

within your community with 

multiple stakeholders about 

what type of technologies are 

you considering investing in, 

what are the primary uses of 

that technology, what are allowable, 

secondary, and tertiary 

uses of that technology, and 

what are non-allowable parallel 

uses of that technology.” he 

adds. 

He says departments should 

plan these things out in a policy 

format, determine who has access 

to the video, how long video 

is stored, and how you’re deciding 

where devices are placed. 

“If you put it in one area of 

the community, then you might 

hear people say, ‘well, that’s only 

going in the fluent area of the 

community,’ and therefore it’s 

only benefiting the people who 

are already the haves of society. 

If you put it in another area of 

that community, then it can be 

accusatory that you’re using it to 

over police or to surveil certain 

portions of a community,” Taylor 

explains. 

Having a written policy helps 

clarify why and where cameras 

are located when any public 

concerns arise later. 

TAKEAWAYS 

“I think the biggest takeaways 

that I would stress are collaborate 

with your other agencies, 

namely your transportation 

agency, look at efficient event 

management to get people in 

and out of areas as quickly and 

safely as possible so that you 

don’t create congestion, and 

don’t tie up your resources,” Taylor 

says. 

He also reminds that departments 

can use the technology 

in two regards. First is the real 

time response and driving efficiency 

in the emergency re- 

sponse workflow. Second, video 

technology can assist in investigations 

when police are trying 

to locate a suspect or collect 

evidence. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Wayne Parham is Senior Editor 

at POLICE Magazine and 

PoliceMag.com and has more 

than three decades of experience 

covering public safety and government. 

Article reprinted from POLICE 

Magazine, policemag.com. 


New Year Resolutions for 2023 

Now that 2023 is here, many 

people are unsurprisingly talking 

about their New Years’ resolutions. 

Some choose to focus on 

personal goals, some choose to 

focus on professional, and others 

choose to focus on a mixture 

of both. Having resolutions to 

go into the new year with are 

always a great idea as they can 

have lasting positive effects on 

many aspects of your life. If 

you’re a police officer, there are 

plenty of great resolutions to 

make that can do wonders for 

your professional development. 

Here are a few great New Year’s 

resolutions for you to consider. 

1. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR 

COMMUNITY 

Few academics or law enforcement 

executives agree on 

what community policing is or 

looks like, or how it should be 

managed. 

I’ve heard it said (sometimes 

out of my own mouth), that before 

the 1990s when federal dollars 

followed anything labeled 

“community-oriented policing 

and problem solving,” we just 

called it “police work.” 

However, it is articulated or put 

into practice, it means connecting 

with the people you serve 

in a way that builds trust and 

solves problems. Take a look at 

the dozens of articles online that 

feature community policing and 

social media tips to see if you 

find a new way you can connect. 

I cannot say enough about 

the importance of volunteering 

in the community you police. 

People who volunteer are active 

in their communities and are the 

type of people we need spreading 

the truth about our profession. 

Being a public servant 

should not stop when you take 

the uniform off – volunteering 

keeps you connected to the community 

you are policing. 

2. GO TO A TRADE SHOW 

Trade shows are another great 

new year resolution police officers 

can easily take advantage 

of. The law enforcement field 

constantly has new tech and 

products emerging that can improve 

your performance on the 

job. Attending the various trade 

shows is a great way of getting 

to see all of the new developments 

and many times, getting 

to test them as well. 

THE BIG THREE SHOWS ARE: 

THE SHOT SHOW, ILEETA AND 

IACP. 

SHOT - The Shooting, Hunting, 

and Outdoor Trade show (from 

whence the SHOT acronym is 

derived) is purely a trade show 

and restricted to users and purchasers 

for law enforcement, 

military and outdoor products. 

It is the only show I haven’t been 

to, although I’m hoping to rectify 

that this coming January in Las 

Vegas. The dates of this year’s 

show are January 17-20 in Vegas. 

ILEETA (International Law Enforcement 

Educators and Trainers 

Association) - hosts an annual 

training conference for its 

members. The 2023 conference 

is in St. Louis, March 20-25 and 

features a product and equipment 

show from major makers 

and suppliers of law enforcement 

equipment and technology. 

If you want to hear the leading 

police trainers on relevant topics 

and see the latest in cop stuff, 

ILEETA should be worked into 

your personal or department 

budget and calendar. Several 

episodes of the Policing Matters 

on Police1.com’s podcasts are 

featured interviews with ILEETA 

instructors. 

One of the leading police training 

classes at ILEETA teaches the 

Importance of being a ‘predator’ 

in a deadly confrontation. A 

lot of different scenarios police 

officers learn in response to aggression 

used to be and still is, 

unfortunately, to step back and 

to create distance or reactionary 

gaps. Although there may be a 

time when this is appropriate, 

normally we operate in very 

close proximity to the subject. 

And oftentimes it’s too late to go 

backward. When you start going 

backward, you begin to act like 

prey. Unfortunately, when you 

begin to act like prey, things go 

in one direction: from bad to 

worse. 

IACP - The IACP (International 

Association of Chiefs of Police) 

2023 conference is in San Diego, 

Ca, October 14-17 and while 

the conference is for members 

only, the trade show is open 

to law enforcement with credentials 

after registration for a 

pass, regardless of whether you 

are an IACP member or attend 

the conference sessions. You’ll 

see everything from holsters to 

helicopters, as well as informational 

exhibits on services and 

agencies you can network with 

for your agency’s success. If you 

are a trainer or have purchasing 

authority, you don’t want to miss 

this expansive trade show if you 

have the opportunity. 

2. BOOST MY CAREER 

Check out the website Police1. 

They offer hundreds of articles 

on leadership and career success 

as well as content from writers 

who know the keys to getting 

hired and promoted. These 

seasoned officer’s aka writers, 

provide valuable nuggets worth 

their weight in gold for getting 

you where you want to be. You’ll 

find good counsel for solid, ethical 

service that will give a boost 

to anyone’s career and provide 

guidance for your police retirement. 

If you’re already in leadership, 

you’ll find the voice of experience 

of police leaders who have 

been at the boss’ desk or in a supervisor’s 

patrol car. With every 

decision being scrutinized by a 

reporter’s explosive headline or 

a malcontent’s viral video, you’ll 

want to hear from Police1’s writers 

on topics in the news. 

Top police training tip on” How 

to improve your odds for promotion 

in 2023”: 

If I were a chief executive today, 

I would evaluate promotional 

candidates on their knowledge 

and understanding of the issues 

that create the greatest challenges 

within the geopolitical 

arena. For example, a clear understanding 

of de-escalation and 

less-lethal force options would 

be critical to a police leadership 

role in the year 2023 and beyond. 

3. GET MORE FIT AND RESILIENT 

The BLUES is proud to have 

three well known professionals 

on its roster of columnists. Dr. 


Officer suicide, police fatigue, 

stress-related maladies, healthy 

relationships and care for injured 

officers are all topics we need 

to be familiar with. As a police 

veteran, I can testify that open 

discussions of these issues are 

relatively new to the police profession. 

Staying current on best 

practices to keep yourself and 

your brother and sister officers 

healthy and serving well is a 

survival skill, not just a warm 

feeling. 

Top police training tip on “How 

to enjoy your life while avoiding 

death by a thousand cuts”: 

Some officers never learn to 

accept positive critique. Instead, 

they become defensive and internalize 

anger toward anyone 

who has the nerve to try to make 

them better cops. If you can learn 

to appreciate constructive criticism 

from FTOs, assistant district 

attorneys and supervisors 

instead of letting it anger you, it 

will eliminate a major irritant in 

your life. It may also make you a 

better cop. 

4. BE A BETTER CRIME FIGHTER 

One of my observations over 

the years is that no knowledge 

is lost in police work. I remember 

a former meat cutter turned 

deputy sheriff who was able to 

solve a poaching case due to his 

knowledge of how the game had 

been field dressed, a cop who 

was a coin collecting hobbyist 

whose knowledge was key in 

solving a burglary, and a farm 

boy who spotted a stolen farm 

implement that an urban officer 

might never have recognized. 

Top police training tip on” Writing 

effective case summaries”: 

One of the best ways to introduce 

an investigation is by writing 

an effective case summary, 

which lays out your investigation 

and findings succinctly and in an 

orderly, logical and easy to read 

format. This allows the prosecutor 

to quickly gain a solid understanding 

of the facts of the case, 

as well as any potential defenses. 

5. BE EVEN SAFER & KEEP 

READING IN 2023 

There are literally thousands of 

online resources available to law 

enforcement today. Of course, 

we want you to continue reading 

The BLUES each month, but online 

police sites like Police1.com 

and Policemagazine.com keep 

you informed on a daily basis of 

what’s happening in the world 

of law enforcement. Also spend 

time reading and studying Police 

Survival techniques. 

Many of PoliceOne’s digital 

pages are devoted to issues 

related to tactics, training and 

legal updates around the use of 

force and officer safety. Their 

writers give significant attention 

to active shooter, ambush and 

major incident response. Because 

these events are statistically rare 

but could happen to any agency 

or even a single officer, a review 

of this knowledge base is time 

well spent. 

Top police training tip for “Preventing 

active shooter drills from 

going sideways”: 

It’s not uncommon for a drill to 

be executed then simply ended 

without a plan for a thorough, 

all-encompassing debrief. Make 

sure you have a debriefing plan 

in place so you can identify what 

went right, spotlight what can be 

refined and learn from what may 

have gone wrong. 

7. GO HOME TO YOU FAMILY 

SAFE & SOUND AFTER SHIFT 

Your number one goal should 

always be “do your job to the 

best of your ability and always, 

always go home safe and sound 

at the end of your shift.” 

You may work in a safe, quiet 

town where not much happens 

or just the opposite where 

a shooting or SWAT call is an 

hourly occurrence. You are not 

Superman, and you are not bullet 

proof. On average, there are 

at least one or two officers shot 

in the line of duty every day in 

America. One of those will not 

make it. As a collective group, 

we need to reduce the number 

of officers that don’t make it 

home to their families. EVERY- 

ONE needs to make it home. Be 

safe, be consistent, be vigilant, 

and use your training. Your family 

needs you and we need you. 

NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN 2023 

MAKE IT HOME SAFE ! 


USMS 

UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE 

The U.S. Marshals Service was created by the first Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789, the 

same legislation that established the federal judicial system. When President George Washington 

set up his first administration and the first Congress began passing laws, both quickly 

discovered an inconvenient gap. No agency was established to represent the federal government’s 

interests at the local level. Part of the problem was solved by creating specialized 

agencies, such as customs and revenue collectors, to levy the tariffs and taxes, but numerous 

other jobs needed to be done. Many of these tasks fell to the U.S. Marshals Service. Given 

extensive authority to support federal courts, Congress, or the president, these marshals and 

their deputies have served subpoenas, warrants, made arrests, and handled prisoners for 

more than two centuries. Although these are the most well-known of their tasks, they also 

had numerous others, including the disbursement of money. The Marshals paid the fees and 

expenses of the court clerks, U.S. Attorneys, jurors, and witnesses. They rented the courtrooms 

and jail space and hired the bailiffs, criers, and janitors. They ensured the prisoners 

were present, the jurors were available, and the witnesses were on time. 

The motto of the USMS is “Justice, Integrity, and Service.” Through the years, their heroics 

in the face of lawlessness have often become famous, especially in the days of the Old West, 

which has so often been portrayed in popular films and invoking the many images we have of 

these courageous men today. In the second half of the 19th century, the U.S. Marshals became 

synonymous with the “Wild West” as they made their mark on history in the many lawless 

frontier towns. In many of these places, the marshals were the only kind of law available. 

By the 1950s marshals found themselves acting as bailiffs for the federal courts and requesting 

background checks. In the 1960s, their importance rose as they enforced court-ordered 

racial desegregation and the Federal Witness Security Program established in the 

1970s. Today, the Marshals Service still has the responsibility to enforce federal laws and 

orders issued by the court, as well as prevention of civil disturbances, continued protection 

of federal witnesses, terrorist events, hostage situations, and numerous other duties directed 

by the Department of Justice. Their work continues to hold the constant threat of violence 

involving personal risk to the many men and women who pledge to protect the justice system. 

Over the years, some 400 marshals have been killed in the line of duty. Their famous 

five-sided star is our country’s oldest emblem of federal law enforcement. 

The Nation’s Oldest Law Enforcement Agency 



USMS 


A Tribute to a Few Who 

Served with Distinction 

By Dr. Tina Jaeckle 

There are countless dedicated men and women who have 

served and are continuing to serve with the United States 

Marshals Service since its inception. While all deserve our 

recognition and gratitude, I had the blessing recently to highlight 

the lives and careers of three of the very best. In this 

article, retired Deputy U.S. Marshals Lenny DePaul, John 

“Buck” Smith, and Paul Duffy, Jr. share insight (in their own 

words) into their personal and professional journeys, lessons 

learned, and their current goals. 



USMS 


LENNY DePAUL 

I grew up in a small town in 

upstate New York and I was 

living with my grandmother, 

and we were rather poor. I had 

no direction on where or what 

I wanted to do so I decided to 

enlist into the U. S. Navy. Sadly, 

my Grandmother died in 

my arms, so my choices were 

limited considering our income 

and living arrangements. I 

spent the next 5 years of my 

life on active duty working in 

an amphibious assault group 

(Gator Navy). I was honorably 

discharged and once again had 

no direction on what I wanted 

to do. I was working construction 

in the State of Maryland 

and met an instructor at the 

Secret Service Academy (Danny 

Cecere) who convinced me to 

apply for the Uniform Division 

where a 4 year college degree 

was not needed. I spent the 

next 5 1/2 years in Washington 

DC, 3 years at the White House 

with President Reagan and then 

2 1/2 years at Foreign Mission 

protecting foreign diplomats 

in the Washington DC area. In 

October of 1989 I decided to 

switch agencies and was accepted 

as a candidate with the 

U.S. Marshals Service. I spent 

the next three decades tracking 

down violent felony fugitives 

across the globe. Terrorist, 

murderers, rapist, arsonists, 

gun runners and drug runners 

to name a few. I rose through 

the ranks to Chief Inspector/ 

Commander and was in charge 

of the largest fugitive task 

force of its kind in the world 

post 9/11. 

In my professional career I 

have been exposed to a variety 

of changes not only in the law 

enforcement community but 

also in the world of technology, 

weapons, and the criminal 

mindset. Our specific mandate/ 

language from Congress post 

9/11 was to target the most 

dangerous violent felony fugitives 

across the globe. The 

fugitives we were capturing 

were all averaging between 

5-10 prior arrests making them 

a danger to any community. In 

my region alone (New York / 

New Jersey) we were averaging 

between 100-120 arrests a 

week of these violent predators. 

It has been a very difficult 

time and climate for any area of 

law enforcement to try and accomplish 

why they have taken 

their sworn oath to serve and 

protect the communities across 

this great country. The difficulties 

with the lack of hierarchy 

support and literally trying to 

do God’s work with their hands 

tied has become a very difficult 

profession and is very discouraging 

to our younger inspiring 

prospects that want to pursue 

this career. 

Our “leaders” have sadly put a 

bullseye on the backs of these 

dedicated men and women 

warriors. “Defund the Police” is 

the most ludicrous thing I have 

ever heard, especially coming 

from high ranking congressional 

folks as well as community 

leaders. It has proven to be 

a very sad and in someplace 

deadly thing throughout our nation. 

One of my former bosses 

in Brooklyn, NY used to say “the 

Lenny DePaul 

Chief Inspector/Commander, 

U.S. Marshals Service (Ret.) 


USMS 


fish stinks from the head” so I 

firmly believe that is where we 

need to start. Truth, logic, and 

common sense does not exist 

anymore and the horrendous 

agenda that some of the politicians 

are conveying to their 

constituents is outrageous. 

I am a huge proponent of 

training. I believe that you 

cannot get enough of it, especially 

in the world that I lived 

in when life-threatening decisions 

were made in a New York 

second. However, the old adage 

“he who hesitates is lost” 

certainly comes into play when 

these dedicated warriors are 

being questioned about every 

move they’re making and some 

of them are under a microscope 

making it very difficult 

to do their jobs soundly and 

effectively. When you hesitate 

and think about whether you’re 

going to get in some sort of 

trouble for doing what you are 

trained to do, that could result 

in a very fatal outcome. Community 

relations are very important 

and the relationships 

between law enforcement and 

community leaders is needed 

so the confidence can come 

back so that the men and women 

in uniform can continue to 

serve. 

I would convey to candidates 

that want to become law enforcement 

officers to have 

confidence and to believe in 

themselves, to trust their actions, 

and to train hard to be 

dedicated warriors. It is also 

important to know when to 

recognize when a colleague is 

not doing the right thing and 

advise that person that it’s the 

wrong approach and to also 

know that once you’re labeled 

it’s very difficult to get anyone’s 

confidence back. Positive press 

is extremely important! When 

law enforcement is called 

to any scene, you don’t get a 

second chance at a first impression.. 

act professional display 

your confidence and your 

willingness to listen and react 

appropriately. 

I’ve been involved in highlighted 

media cases from the 

DC snipers to the Boston bombers. 

The US Marshals Service 

gets utilized for a variety of 

different things. I was deployed 

to the Rodney King riots in Los 

Angeles for three weeks as 

well as Hurricane Katrina on a 

search and rescue mission for 

three weeks, which was devastating. 

I’ve chased terrorists, 

murderers, rapists, and arsonists 

across the globe resulting 

in numerous life-threatening 

situations. My approach was always 

de-escalation before using 

deadly force as a last resort. 

I instilled that into my subordinates 

even when I became 

the Commander of the largest 

fugitive task force of its kind in 

the world in New York and New 

Jersey, post 9/11. George Orwell 

once wrote “people sleep 

peaceably in their beds at night 

because rough men stand ready 

to do violence on their behalf”. 

I had the honor and privilege 

of working with these men and 

women for three decades, making 

a difference throughout our 

country and within the communities 

we serve. 

My television career started 

in 2008 when I was approached 

by two television producers in 

New York City. My first response 

was thank you so much but I do 


USMS 


not have time to do a TV show 

and to run the largest fugitive 

task force of its kind in the 

world at the same time. After 

several attempts to contact me, 

I put up in touch with our Public 

Affairs folks in Washington 

DC. I received a phone call 

from the deputy chief of Public 

Affairs who said to me “hey 

this is not a bad idea, we’re a 

congressionally funded fugitive 

task force, what a great way to 

show the American people on 

how some of their tax dollars 

are being spent.” My response 

was simple, sir I do not have 

time and I hung up the phone. 

Fast forward, I lost that battle 

and 62 episodes later “Manhunter’s 

Fugitive Task Force“ 

was one of A&E’s top show for 

three seasons. The US Marshals 

Service agency heads were extremely 

happy with the success 

and the positive press created 

a flood of interest in recruiting. 

I was a human punching bag 

for three years, but at the end 

of the day it was worth every 

minute as it was a great way 

to introduce the US Marshals 

Service to the entire world. I 

have now done several television 

shows and I consistently 

get phone calls to consult with 

news networks on fugitives on 

the run. The best part of all 

this is that I can now yell “cut” 

in the middle of a shoot out! 

The US Marshals Service had 

a positive impact on me personally 

and professionally, 

having dealt with a variety of 

different types of people and 

the challenges that I was confronted 

with on a daily basis. 

My daughter was born September 

7, 2001, four days later I 

kissed her on her forehead and 

apologized for bringing her 

into this crazy world and I was 

gone. I joined a military intelligence 

team and was assisting 

our men and women in uniform 

who were now in the manhunting 

business, and this took me 

away from my personal life 

and family for many months. I 

deployed to Afghanistan and 

worked at Fort Belvoir Virginia 

on numerous occasions. There 

is nothing I would do differently, 

and I am completely honored and 

blessed to have had the career 

that I did. 

In addition to doing TV shows 

etc. my wife Ellie and I have 

launched a new tactical clothing 

line. My wife has been in 

the fashion business for over 30 

years and my 30+ year career in 

law enforcement/military was a 

perfect combination and made 

a lot of sense to me. When Ellie 

said to me during isolation at 

home “hey why don’t we work 

on the Tactical clothing line?”, 

my response was, “honey I am 

retired but thank you anyway”. 

I also lost that battle and here 

we are two years later. Please 

check out our website as we 

have a full line of tactical gear 

from boots to pants to jackets 

shirts hats belts etc. etc. www. 

ODark30.com 


USMS 


JOHN “BUCK” SMITH 

I began my U. S. Marshals 

Service career in 1983 as a 

Deputy U. S. Marshal assigned 

to the Northern District of 

Georgia (Atlanta). From 1987 

to 1994 I was a member of the 

USMS Special Operations Group 

(SOG). From 1991 until 1993, I 

was detailed to the Atlanta 

area Metro Fugitive Squad as 

a team leader with the drug 

fugitive section. In 1993 I was 

promoted to Senior Inspector 

with the USMS headquarters 

enforcement section and assigned 

as the USMS coordinator 

for the Organized Crime Drug 

Enforcement Task Force (OC- 

DETF) Southeast Region. I held 

that position for a period of ten 

years. During my tenure with 

the USMS Investigative Operations, 

I participated in and 

managed many USMS fugitive 

programs and initiatives and 

coordinated the investigations 

and arrests of a number of 

USMS Fifteen Most Wanted and 

major case fugitives. In 2003, I 

was promoted to Chief Inspector/Task 

Force Commander of 

the newly formed Southeast 

Regional Fugitive Task Force 

(SERFTF). In 2006, I was again 

promoted to Regional Field 

Chief overseeing all USMS Investigative 

Operations Division 

operations within the Southeast 

and Florida and later overseeing 

all Regional Fugitive Task 

Forces. From January 2009 

through June 2009, I served 

as acting Chief Deputy in the 

Northern District of Georgia. In 

2014 and 2015 I was, for a number 

of months, the Acting Deputy 

Assistant Director of Investigations, 

at USMS Headquarters. 

I retired in 2015 after 32 years of 

service as Chief of all Regional 

Task Forces. 

After retirement in 2016, I 

became a cast member with 

CBS’s “HUNTED” serving on 

Team “Alpha” as fugitive hunter, 

consultant, and subject 

matter expert in the areas of 

fugitive investigations, surveillance, 

tactics, and equipment. 

In 2017, I was a member of the 

DOJ’s Law Enforcement Development 

Program, International 

Criminal Investigations Training 

Assistance Program(ICITAP), 

Senior Tactical Advisor, completing 

an assignment as a law 

enforcement instructor in Kiev, 

Ukraine. I now currently serve 

as Training Coordinator with 

the Atlanta-Carolinas High 

Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 

(HIDTA ) Drug Task Force and 

conduct, facilitate, and manage 

law enforcement training. 

I continue to support law enforcement 

in all areas by developing 

and maintaining law 

enforcement relationships and 

providing quality training to 

law enforcement, first responders 

and military. 

The TV show “HUNTED” was a 

great opportunity and a lot of 

fun. Once I realized (after about 

a week) it wasn’t a “real” fugitive 

hunt, I was able to roll with 

it and accept the unreal aspects 

of “reality” TV. My partner 

and our team really worked 

well together and had a lot of 

fun and laughs. I still stay in 

touch with my partner Griff as 

well as many of the other cast 

John “Buck” Smith 

Chief Inspector, 




USMS 


members, some who have gone 

on to bigger and better things. 

I learned that TV is not necessarily 

my thing. So many of the 

cast thought we were going 

to be “stars”, but that dream 

ended quickly for a lot of us. 

I’m now content with working 

in the real world, consulting 

behind the scenes and training 

law enforcement and first responders. 

My greatest personal 

achievement is raising two 

outstanding sons who are men 

of faith and who proudly serve 

(law enforcement and military). 

My greatest professional 

achievement was as a leader 

in the U.S. Marshals Service. 

When I retired, I was known as 

someone who always took care 

of his troops. 

Much has changed in the field 

of policing, and I asked Buck to 

offer his thoughts. Technology 

improvements have had a huge 

impact on law enforcement. 

This is a plus. But the negative 

are the unwarranted attacks 

on police and law enforcement 

as well as the negative political 

influences. The defund the 

police movement, leading to 

decreased police moral and departments 

retaining quality officers. 

There is a need for more 

peer support programs and 

training for officers. Also, the 

increase of deadly drugs such 

as fentanyl flowing into and 

through the country is an increasing 

threat to law enforcement 

and public safety. This life 

is a calling. It’s not for everyone. 

If you can’t give it 110%, 

get out. Use every opportunity 

to train and learn. Document all 

you do and never waste a day. 

My biggest challenge, after 

being promoted into management, 

was leading, and accomplishing 

the program goals 

while trying to take care of 

my men and women. The constant 

roadblocks and hurdles 

that the agency headquarters 

place on the personnel can be 

daunting. Also, with administration 

changes, there are 

always learning curve issues 

and agendas with newly political 

appointed directors and 

marshals. My USMS career was 

very rewarding. I was privileged 

to work with some true 

heroes and outstanding investigators 

and leaders. I learned 

a lot through trial and error 

(mistakes) and grew as a leader 

over the years. I was able 

to strike that delicate balance 

between job and family as best 

as I could. There were sacrifices 

to both, but overall, it worked. 

I’m proud of my agency and the 

men and women who served. I 

miss being a part of it. I would 

not change a thing other than 

making more of an effort to 

document my journey. There 

are so many stories and experiences, 

good and bad that I 

would like to share one day. 

As long as I am blessed with 

good health, I would love to 

continue my HIDTA Training 

Coordinator job. It is very rewarding 

bringing much needed 

training to officers and departments 

who otherwise would 

not have to funding or resources 

on their own. In 2021 we 

trained almost 4,000 officers 


USMS 


for a total of 66,973 training 

hours and for 2022 we are on 

track to surpass those numbers. 

We provide leadership, 

enforcement, and analytical 

training. If one life is saved 

due to something learned 

from our training program, I 

would consider the effort a 

success. I would also like to 

do more consulting. I’ve acquired 

a ton of knowledge and 

experience over the years I 

would like to share. Eventually 

I would like to write a book on 

my journey. A dear friend, one 

of my contract instructors, 

once said that while people 

who serve in law enforcement 

may not ever get rich, the one 

thing they do have over other 

professionals are stories. I 

thought this was a profound 

statement. 


USMS 


PAUL DUFFY, JR. 

I retired as a Senior Inspector 

for the United States Marshals 

Service (USMS) after 27 

years of federal service. My 

law enforcement career began 

in Uijongbu, Korea as an Army 

Military Police Officer and desk 

sergeant then transferring to 

the Military District of Washington 

where I served as a 

Military Police Investigator and 

member of a full time Special 

Reaction Team responsible for 

dignitary protection at Arlington 

Cemetery and other venues. 

While working on his undergraduate 

degree I completed an 

internship with the Florida Department 

of Law Enforcement. 

I then continued my federal 

career with the United States 

Marshals Service (USMS) in the 

Middle District of Georgia as 

a Deputy US Marshal (DUSM). 

As a DUSM, I provided security 

to numerous high threat 

trials to include US v. Timothy 

McVeigh and the World Trade 

Center Bombing Trial. I participated 

in personal security and 

dignitary protection details to 

include the Iranian Delegation 

to the United Nations and various 

federal judges. My investigative 

experience with the 

USMS included complex fugitive 

cases to include a USMS Fifteen 

Most Wanted Fugitive and 

Major Case. Additionally, I was 

assigned to the USMS Office of 

Professional Responsibility and 

was responsible for complex 

administrative and criminal 

investigations regarding USMS 

personnel, the review of all use 

of force reports for the USMS 

/ Task Force Officers, and the 

investigation of multiple USMS / 

Task Force involved shootings. 

My investigative experience 

also includes an assignment 

as a USMS Sex Offender Investigative 

Coordinator, and have 

successfully prosecuted multiple 

offenders for violation of 

the Sex Offender Registration 

and Notification Act. 

I also served as an instructor 

at the USMS Training Division 

located at the Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Center 

and was an Instructor / Advisor 

for 70 USMS Basic Classes. 

I was the program lead for the 

enforcement section and the 

Adjunct Instructor Training Program 

(AITP) (train the trainer). 

I was selected as the Chief for 

the Basic Training Program, the 

Chief of the Professional Development 

Branch, and the Chief 

for the Training Management 

Branch. In those capacities, I 

was instrumental in multiple 

USMS training programs obtaining 

accreditation through 

Federal Law Enforcement 

Training Accreditation (FLETA) 

and was trained as a FLETA 

Accreditation Evaluator. One 

such program was the Court 

Security Officer Phase 2 Training 

Program (CSO) specifically 

designed to train the USMS 

contract guards stationed at 

all federal courthouses. I also 

instructed all CSO classes in 

Use of Force and Legal Updates. 

While assigned to the USMS 

Training Division, I developed 

an in-depth knowledge regarding 

law enforcement use of 

force and traveled the country 

Paul Duffy, Jr. 

Senior Inspector, 



USMS 


presenting classes regarding 

use of force. My proudest moments 

were at graduation, seeing 

the way the candidates had 

grown and applied the training 

and tools we, as instructors, 

provided. 

I have testified as an expert in 

USMS involved shootings in Los 

Angeles, CA., Medford, OR., Louisville, 

KY., Oklahoma City, OK., 

and Salt Lake City, UT. While 

with the USMS, I have earned 

two post graduate degrees: a 

master’s degree in Criminal 

Justice and a master’s degree 

in public administration. Upon 

retirement, I have continued to 

provide law enforcement instruction 

in use of force to the 

Walton County Sheriff’s Office 

(Florida), Air Force Office of 

Special Investigations, Escambia 

County Sheriff’s Office 

(Florida), Cherokee Nation 

Marshals Office (multiple occasions), 

Fulton County Sheriff’s 

Office (Georgia), USMS Special 

Operations Group, and the 

Florida Regional Fugitive Task 

Force. I am under contract to 

provide an expert opinion and 

testimony regarding officer 

involved use of force for the US 

Attorney’s Office in Oklahoma 

City (multiple occasions) and 

most recently provided a legal 

opinion and consultation for the 

successful defense of a law enforcement 

officer in Shreveport, 

Louisiana. I continue to serve as 

a consultant with Group Nine 

Security Consultants and am 

contracted with the USMS as a 

District Security Officer mirroring 

the duties and responsibilities 

of a DUSM absent the 

enforcement functions. 

The false narrative regarding 

the role and actions of law enforcement, 

created and perpetuated 

by the media and others, 

which has allowed for the vilification 

of law enforcement and 

lionization of the criminal element. 

The increase in ambushes 

of law enforcement, injury, and 

death which can be attributed 

to, in part, with the comment 

above. The recent spikes in 

crime in various jurisdictions 

which, in part, is associated 

with this false narrative. Certain 

law enforcement managers 

willingness to adopt policies 

more restrictive than the law, 

bowing to pressure from groups 

like the PERF. Policies should 

be judged not by their intent 

but by their results. Holding an 

officer to the law, determining 

their actions were legally 

reasonable, but then holding 

them administratively responsible 

to a more restrictive policy 

creates confusion and leads, 

in part, to the mass exodus of 

seasoned, knowledgeable, and 

experienced officers. It also 

created hesitation on the part 

of law enforcement as exhibited 

in Uvalde, Tx. Prosecutorial 

misconduct and judicial activism 

are also an issue. Examples 

of prosecutorial misconduct are 

present in Atlanta, San Francisco, 

Philadelphia, and Baltimore. 

Education is the key. Efforts 

must be made to educate / 

inform the media and, when 

the media inevitably continues 

exacerbating the societal rift 

they have helped create, offer 

an experienced voice / face 

as a counter point. Elect and/ 

or appoint experienced law 

enforcement managers that 

can balance the needs of law 

enforcement with the expectations 

of society and avoid policies 

that hinder their officers. 

You can love the agency but 


USMS 


realize it is a bureaucracy, 

the nature of a bureaucracy 

is to look after itself, so 

it is YOUR responsibility to 

know policy and the law to 

protect yourself. With the 

US Marshals in particular, 

the agency has expanded 

current responsibilities 

and adopted new roles 

allowing for varying career 

paths for Deputies. When 

I entered the agency, there 

were very limited career 

paths (District management 

or Headquarters 

assignment), now Deputies 

can plan a path allowing 

for more career development. 

Enjoy the chase, 

enjoy the hunt, enjoy the 

capture…and then quit 

caring. Some court and/or 

judge is going to release 

them into society, and you 

will chase them again. 

I consider my most 

challenging role as the 

Sex Offender Investigative 

Coordinator in the Southern 

District of Georgia, I 

conducted an endangered child 

recovery in cooperation with 

deputies in Florida. Recovering 

the child was rewarding, however, 

the emotional impact on 

the non-custodial parents (they 

took the child), the efforts to 

coordinate with Georgia Child 

Protective Services, the limited 

contributions I could make 

(laws surrounding parental 

rights, etc.) took its toll on me 

as did the successful prosecutions 

I conducted against child 

sexual predators. My career 

with the USMS has prepared 

me to continually contribute 

to the safety of my fellow law 

enforcement officers, either 

through instruction or testimony. 

There is nothing I would 

change about this career. 

80 80 The The BLUES BLUES The The BLUES BLUES 81 81

yrs. 

JANUARY 

9-10 Courtroom Security and Threat Assessment *BY PATC West Monroe, LA 

9-13 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Hayden, ID 

9-13 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Rock Hill , SC 

9-13 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Hoover, AL 

10-11 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Austell, GA 

10-12 Fire/Arson Investigation and Arson Case Management By LLRMI Upper Darby, PA 

10-12 Responding to Veterans and Police Officers in Crisis *BY PATC Royal Oak, MI 

11-12 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Abington, PA 

16-20 New Fire and Arson Investigator Academy *BY PATC Wayne, NJ 

16-20 Train the Trainer Instructor Academy Scott, LA 

23-24 Search Warrant Major Case Investigation *BY PATC Hoover, AL 

23-27 Fit-to-Enforce Fitness Instructor Course Huntsville, AL 

23-27 Special Operations Supervisors Training Nashville, TN 

26-27 Responding to Veterans and Police Officers in Crisis *BY PATC Jonesboro, GA 

30-3 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Belfast , ME 

31-1 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Beaumont, TX 

FEBRUARY 

1-2 3-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Pearl River, LA 

1-2 Officer Involved Shooting By LLRMI Pearl River, LA 

6-8 The Essential Field Training Officer By LLRMI Abington, PA 

6-10 Advanced Vice and Narcotics Investigations Nashville, TN 

6-10 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Pearland, TX 

8-9 Investigating Cases of Child Homicide By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX 

9-10 Crisis Communications for Dispatchers *BY PATC Greeley, CO 

13-14 Courtroom Security and Threat Assessment *BY PATC Greeley, CO 

13-17 5 Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Abington, PA 

14-15 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Easley, SC 

14-16 Interview & Interrogation for New Detectives BY LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX 

15-17 Ambush and Lethal Environment Recognition Training *BY PATC Greeley, CO 

16-17 PREA Investigator Training By LLRMI Lexington, KY 

21-22 Arrest, Search and Seizure - Best Practices *BY PATC Hoover, AL 

21-23 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Colton, CA 

27-28 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Myrtle Beach, SC 

27-1 Principles for De-escalation and Understanding People *BY PATC Greeley, CO 

27-1 Responding to Veterans and Police Officers in Crisis *BY PATC Scotch Plains, NJ 

27-3 5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation By LLRMI Georgetown, TX 

27-3 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Myrtle Beach, SC 

27-3 Hands-On Hostage Negotiator Certification By LLRMI Urbana, IL 

27-3 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Myrtle Beach, SC 

27-3 Smartphone Technology and Forensics Certification LLRMI Shelby Twp., MI 

28-2 Interview & Interrogation for New Detectives BY LLRMI Rio Rancho, NM 

MARCH 

2-3 Stress Management in Law Enforcement *BY PATC Myrtle Beach, SC 

6-7 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Nampa, ID 

6-10 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Noblesville, IN 

7-8 Basic Drug Investigation By LLRMI Stapleton, AL 

13-17 Hostage Negotiations Phase 1 By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX 

14-16 3-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Franklin, IN 

14-16 Sexual Deviant Offenders *BY PATC League City, TX 

20-23 Bravo-3 Law Enforcement Training Conf. Daytona Beach, FL 

21-22 Investigating Cases of Child Homicide By LLRMI Stapleton, AL 

21-23 Hands-On Vehicle Fire/Arson Investigation By LLRMI Longview, TX 

27-31 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Charlotte, NC 

APRIL 

4-6 3-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX 

11-12 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Hoover, AL 

17-21 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Texas City, TX 

18-19 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Texas City, TX 

24-25 Advanced Internal Investigations: Legal & Practical Issues *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV 

24-25 Arrest, Search and Seizure - Best Practices *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV 

24-28 5 Day Cellular Technology and Forensics (CTF) Certification-LLRMI Urbana, IL 

24-28 5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation By LLRMI Franklin, IN 

24-28 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Texas City, TX 

24-28 Use of Force Conference and Certification By LLRMI Clermont, FL 

25-27 Hands-On Vehicle Fire/Arson Investigation By LLRMI Upper Darby, PA 

25-27 Violent Crime Symposium 2023 Wilmington, DE 

26-28 Human Trafficking *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV 

MAY 

1-5 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Rio Rancho, NM 

2-3 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Salina, KS 

2-4 Sexual Deviant Offenders *BY PATC Desloge, MO 

9-11 2023 North American Use of Force Symposium: Lessons Learned Scottsdale, AZ 

10-11 Basic Drug Investigation By LLRMI Geo, TX 

16 Advanced Search & Seizure by Blue to Gold (Live Stream Available) Lufkin, TX 

17 Duty to Intervene by Blue to Gold (Live Stream Available) Lufkin, TX 

17 Real World De-Escalation by Blue to Gold (Live Stream Available) Lufkin, TX 

22-24 Cellular Technology, Records, and Analysis Southlake, TX 

22-24 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training Arlington, TX 

JUNE 

5-7 Leadership 101 - Professionalism Defined (TX New Supervisor) 

McKinney, TX 

6-8 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation 

Denton, TX 

13-16 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation 

Austin, TX 

19-23 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Denton, TX 

Send your calendar listings to: 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 


HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF JOSÉ ANGEL DELEON 

BORDER PATROL AGENT RAUL HUMBERTO GONZALEZ, JR. 

WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, NC 

END OF WATCH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2022 

AGE: N/A TOUR: 2 YEARS BADGE: 24 

Deputy Sheriff José DeLeon was killed in a vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 401, approximately one mile south 

of Warrenton, while responding to a domestic violence call involving a firearm at about 6:00 pm. His patrol car 

left the roadway, struck a tree, and caught fire. Other deputies responding to the same call came across the 

crash and attempted to pull him from the wreckage. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene. 

Deputy DeLeon had served with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for two years. He is survived by his son, 

parents, sister, two brothers, niece, grandmother, and girlfriend. 

UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL 

END OF WATCH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2022 

AGE: 38 TOUR: 10 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez passed away from injuries sustained in an ATV accident while pursuing subjects 

illegally crossing the border near Mission at 1:00 am. Agent Gonzalez was traveling at high speed when he 

crashed. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Agent Gonzalez had served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection 

- United States Border Patrol for over ten years and was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Sector McAllen 

Station. He is survived by his son, daughter, father, brother, grandmother, girlfriend, aunts, and uncles. 

84 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES 85


RESERVE DEPUTY BRAD MILLER 

SENIOR CORRECTIONS OFFICER SCOTT OZBURN RINER 

MAURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TENNESSEE 

END OF WATCH MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2022 

AGE: 68 TOUR: 19 YEARS BADGE: 173 

Reserve Deputy Brad Miller was killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 43 near Williamsport Pike while working 

a traffic detail at a construction zone. 

Another vehicle struck Deputy Miller’s patrol car from behind, pushing it from the roadway. 

Deputy Miller had served with the Maury County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He is survived by his wife, two 

children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. 

GWINNETT COUNTY DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS, GEORGIA 

END OF WATCH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2022 

AGE: 59 TOUR: 12 YEARS BADGE: NA 

Senior Corrections Officer Scott Riner was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Gwinnett County Correctional 

Center as he arrived to work at 6:30 am. He encountered a subject in the facility’s parking lot who attacked him. 

During the ensuing struggle, Officer Riner was fatally shot. He was located by other officers at the facility. The subject 

fled the scene but was arrested three days later and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. The 

investigation revealed that the subject had been in the area for an extended period of time before attacking Officer 

Riner. 

Officer Riner had served with the Gwinnett County Department of Corrections for 12 years. He is survived by his 

wife, son, daughter, grandchildren, and two siblings. 

86 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES 87


POLICE OFFICER BRANDEN PAUL ESTORFFE 

SERGEANT STEVEN ROBIN 

BAY ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, MISSISSIPPI 



Police Officer Branden Estorffe and Sergeant Steven Robin were shot and killed at about 4:30 am while conducting 

a welfare check on a woman and child sitting in a vehicle parked at the Motel 6 at 1003 U.S. 90. 

They had been speaking to the woman for approximately 30 minutes before making a request for child protective 

services. Moments later, the woman opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Estorffe and Sergeant Robin. 

Despite being wounded, Officer Estorffe was able to return fire and killed the subject. 

Officer Estorffe had served with the Bay St. Louis Police Department for two years. He is survived by his mother, 

father, four sisters, brother, and grandparents. His father is also a law enforcement officer. 

BAY ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT, MISSISSIPPI 



Sergeant Steven Robin and Police Officer Branden Estorffe were shot and killed at about 4:30 am while conducting 

a welfare check on a woman and child sitting in a vehicle parked at the Motel 6 at 1003 U.S. 90.They had 

been speaking to the woman for approximately 30 minutes before making a request for child protective services. 

Moments later, the woman opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Estorffe and Sergeant Robin. Despite being 

wounded, Officer Estorffe was able to return fire and killed the subject. 

Sergeant Robin had served with the Bay St. Louis Police Department for three years and previously served with 

the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. 

88 

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MAGAZINE BLUES 89 

89


SERGEANT DONALD SCOBY 

DEPUTY SHERIFF DANIEL J. KIN 

STUTTGART POLICE DEPARTMENT, ARKANSAS 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022 

AGE: 45 TOUR: 4 YEARS BADGE: 208 

Sergeant Donald Scoby was shot and killed while pursuing a subject who fled from a traffic stop. Sergeant 

Scoby attempted to stop the subject’s vehicle at about 11:00 pm, but the man fled, and a vehicle pursuit 

ensued. The man abandoned his vehicle in the area of Reiger Road and S Yoder Road and fled on foot, with 

Sergeant Scoby chasing him. He shot Sergeant Scoby during the foot pursuit.The subject barricaded himself 

in a home. He was killed during an exchange of gunfire with responding SWAT officers. Another officer was 

wounded during the shootout. 

Sergeant Scoby had served with the Stuttgart Police Department for four years. 

WYANDOT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, OHIO 



Deputy Sheriff Daniel Kin was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of State Route 56 and State Route 104 

in Pickaway County at about 11:00 am. He was transporting a prisoner when a pickup truck struck the transport 

van on the driver’s door. Deputy Kin was flown to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, where he succumbed to his 

injuries. The prisoner suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

Deputy Kin had served with the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office for one year and had previously served with the 

Seneca County Sheriff’s Office for three years. He is survived by his wife, two young children, his father, and six 

sisters. 

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DEPUTY SHERIFF OSCAR YOVANI BOLANOS-ANAVISCA, JR. 

CHIEF OF POLICE JOE CAREY 

CUMBERLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, NC 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022 


Deputy Sheriff Oscar Bolanos-Anavisca was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating a robbery at 

2:45 am at 2990 Gillespie Street in Fayetteville. Deputies had completed a canine track, and Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca 

was walking along the roadway when a passing vehicle struck him. The driver fled the scene 

and was located a mile and a half from the scene. The subject was found to be intoxicated and taken into 

custody. Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca was transported by ambulance to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where 

he succumbed to his injuries. 

Deputy Bolanos-Anavisca had served with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for two years. He is survived 

by his mother, father, siblings, and fiancé. 

BRODNAX POLICE DEPARTMENT, VIRGINIA 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2022 


Chief of Police Joe Carey was struck and killed by a vehicle in the 200 block of Route 58 in Brodnax. He had 

activated his emergency lights and was removing a dead dog from the roadway when he was struck by an oncoming 

pickup truck. He was transported to Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill where he succumbed to 

his injuries. 

Chief Carey had served in law enforcement for over 40 years and had previously retired from the Charlotte County 

Sheriff’s Office after serving there for 26 years. He is survived by his wife, four sons, daughter, and grandchildren. 

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DETECTIVE PAUL DANIEL NEWELL 

DEPUTY SHERIFF COREY D. MCELROY 

BENTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, ARKANSAS 

END OF WATCH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022 

Detective Paul Newell was killed in a motorcycle crash at 6:30 am at the intersection of Southeast Walton 

Boulevard and Southeast Metro Parkway while escorting vehicles delivering wreaths to veteran gravesites as 

part of Wreaths Across America. His police motorcycle struck a curb, lost control, and then collided with a 

tractor trailer that was being escorted. He succumbed to his injuries at the scene. 

GARRETT COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, MARYLAND 


AGE: 51 TOUR: 24 YEARS BADGE: BC218 AGE: 31 TOUR: N/A BADGE: 230 

Deputy Sheriff Corey McElroy was killed in a vehicle crash at the interchange of I-68 and Route 36 in Frostburg, 

Maryland, at about 7:25 pm on December 20th, 2022. His department SUV struck the back of a tractor-trailer 

before being struck by another vehicle. He was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, 

where he succumbed to his injuries early the following morning. 

Detective Newell was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for 

24 years. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, father, two brothers, and a sister. 

Deputy McElroy was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He is survived by two young children. 

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CORPORAL RAY HAMILTON 

DEPUTY SHERIFF ISAIAH CORDERO 

OKALOOSA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, FLORIDA 

END OF WATCH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2022 

AGE: N/A TOUR: 5 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Corporal Ray Hamilton was shot and killed during a barricade at the 710 block of North Park Boulevard in 

Wright. Deputies had responded to the apartment at about 9:00 am to investigate a domestic assault that had 

occurred the previous night. The suspect refused to exit the home and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, 

Special Response Team, responded to the scene. The man fired out of a window at about 12:40 pm, striking 

Corporal Hamilton. Corporal Hamilton was transported to Fort Walton Beach - Destin Hospital where he 

succumbed to his wounds several hours later. 

Corporal Hamilton had served with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for five years. 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, CA. 



Deputy Sheriff Isaiah Cordero was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in the 3900 block of Golden 

West Avenue in the Jurupa Valley area. Deputy Cordero was approaching the vehicle he had stopped when 

the driver pulled out a gun and opened fire on him, fatally wounding him. A citizen who witnessed the shooting 

called 911 and rendered aide until other deputies arrived. The subject fled the scene and then led officers on 

a vehicle pursuit that spanned multiple counties. The subject’s vehicle became disabled, and he was then shot 

and killed after he opened fire on officers. 

Deputy Cordero had served with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for 8-1/2 years and was assigned 

to the Motor Unit. He is survived by his parents and stepbrother. 

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SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE 

VIA THE 2022 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN 

HOW TO PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE: 

1 

2 

3 

Go to the CFC website 

(scan this QR code for quick access) 

Search for the Officer Down 

Memorial Page / CFC # 62937 

Add us to your pledge basket – make sure to 

make your commitment before January 2023! 

The Officer Down Memorial Page is proud to announce our participation 

in OPM’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) program. If you are an 

employee of the Federal Government (including postal, military, and federal/ 

military retirees), your pledge though the CFC supports our mission to: 

• Honor and remember the nearly 26,000 law enforcement officers 

who have been killed in the line of duty since our nation’s founding 

• Generate over 200,000 letters to parole boards across the country 

to help deny parole to hundreds of convicted cop killers 

• Provide funding for the creation, restoration, or repair of memorials and 

grave markers honoring officers who have died in the line of duty 

• Recognize the contributions and sacrifices of our loyal K9 companions 

that serve on the front lines of our law enforcement efforts 

• And so much more... 

Learn more at ODMP.org/cfc 


Officers Aren’t Immune to 

Domestic Disturbances 

If you been in Law Enforcement 

for any length of time, you know 

cops can be involved in family 

disturbances just like anyone 

else. But the moral to the story 

I’m about tell is get the hell out 

before you get hurt, shot or even 

killed by the other party. At the 

very least you’ll save your job. 

My story begins with my partner 

and his bat shot crazy finance. 

And when I say crazy, she 

was certifiably nuts. Beautiful but 

still crazy. The minute he started 

dating her, we all told him “Dude 

you need to find another woman 

cause this girl is trouble.” 

But you all know, once they 

fall, it’s useless trying to talk 

some sense into them. So, in 

a nutshell this women wasn’t 

drinking or drugs, she was just 

so insecure and jealous she 

thought my partner was hooking 

up non-stop on the job. 

Now if this crazy bitch had 

every done a ride-along with us 

on just one shift, she would have 

seen we are so fricking busy, 

who the hell is having sex ON 

DUTY? I mean WTF. 

But nevertheless, she was 

convinced the two of us were 

up finding girls left and right, so 

what does she do? She goes to 

Radio Shack, when there was 

such a thing as Radio Shack, and 

buys herself a handheld scanner 

and shadow’s us for an entire 

night shift. 

Now if you ever worked a busy 

night shift in any city, running for 

one call to the next, you probably 

aren’t going to pay attention 

to a vehicle following you. But 

this crazy bitch, didn’t follow us 

in her car, she actually followed 

us INTO a disturbance call at a 

bar. Now this is how dumb she 

was. She had a scanner. She 

knew it was a disturbance call. 

How in the hell you gonna meet 

another woman in the midst of 

breaking up a fight. 

“Ma’am when you realize this 

scumbag is not worth fighting 

with, here’s my card, maybe we 

can meet for drinks once you 

dump him!” 

I mean come on. So, in the 

middle of the call, in the bar, 

we turn around and there she 

is sitting at the bar. I look at my 

partner and say, “dude is that 

your woman at the bar?” 

“WTF is that bitch doing here. 

Was she there when we walked 

in? 

Uh NOPE. But I got this, you 

just handle these scumbags and 

I handle her. So, I walk over and 

say “Uh, Sheila, what are you 

doing here?” 

“Oh, hi Chuck, I’m just getting 

a drink, are you guys here on a 

call? Where’s Jack?” 

Yes, we are…are you following 

us…. I said jokingly. 

“Why would you ever think 

that? 

Well for one, this a gay bar and 

unless you’re hiding something 

from your man, it’s kinda of an 

off choice to stop in and have a 

DRINK, don’t you think. 

She immediately turns red 

about the time the bartender 

walks up to take her drink order. 

“Uhhh, well I…. just wanted…a…” 

Have a nice night, Shelia. I 

walked back to my partner who 

finished advising the two drunks 

involved in the disturbance that 

if we had to come back, they 

were both taking a ride. 

“So, what the fuck is Sheila 

doing here?” 

Well, either she is now BI, or I’d 

say she is staking us…. or rather 

you. She had no idea this was a 

Gay bar. As we made our way to 

the door, Sheila was long gone. 

When Jack got home and 

confronted her, she said she was 

there to meet a friend. At 1am at 

a gay bar? Uh huh. 

As this tumultuous relationship 

rent on, she continued to stalk 

us to the point I had no choice to 

go our sergeant and report the 

crazy bitch. Jack wasn’t happy 

but he knew it was the right 

thing to do. So, the Sgt calls 

him in and says you gotta make 

a choice…. cut this girl loose 

and get her the hell out of your 

house and out of your life or 

resign. 

Jack was pissed at me for 

throwing him under the bus, but 

in his heart, he knew it was the 

right thing to do. So went home 

and broke the news to crazy 

bitch…and needless to say, it 

didn’t go well. 

I got a call at 3pm from our 

sergeant saying a neighbor of 

Jacks called in a family disturbance 

with shots fired at Jacks 

address. Sarge said units were 

enroute and to get my ass there 

ASAP. Since I lived less than two 

minutes away, I literally arrived 

at the same time as two patrol 

units. As we all approached the 

front door, Jack comes running 

out the door, saying Shelia has 

his off-duty gun and fired two 

shots at him in their living room. 

Needless to say, we called a 

supervisor, he tried to reason 

with crazy bitch on the phone 

but got nowhere. Now our sergeant 

shows up, with our Lieutenant 

AND Captain in tow and 

they are all talking to her, to 

just put the gun down and come 

outside with her hands up. NOPE, 

she wasn’t havening it. So, who 

you gonna call? SWAT. 

By this time, I was fricking fed 

up with this bitch and despite orders 

from all three of my supervisors 

to stand down, I walked 

straight up to the front door, 

kicked the fucker in and walked 

right up the bitch and threw her 

ass on the couch and handcuffed 

her. Now was this a smart thing 

to do. NO! But I knew she had no 

bullets left in the 5-shot Colt 

revolver that Jack said she fired 

at him. It’s an old backup gun he 

kept in their nightstand. And he 

said he was pretty sure she fired 

three shots into the celling in the 

bedroom and then chased him 

into the living room and fired 

two more. So, if he was right, the 

bitch was holding an empty gun. 

At least I was hoping Jack could 

count. 

But as suspected the gun was 

empty and bitch was in cuffs 

headed to jail. Me? I got three 

days off for disobeying a direct 

order. Jack also got three days 

off for dating said crazy bitch in 

the first place. 

As for the ending. Jack and I 

both made detective a few years 

later and assigned to the same 

burglary task force. Working 

nights of course. One night, Jack 

gets a call from a neighboring 

small department and asking 

us to check by with their SWAT 

team outside an apartment 

complex. So, we drive over and 

the SWAT commander meets 

us at the entrance at their command 

post and shows Jack a 

photo and says, “do you know 

this crazy bitch?” 

Uh huh. It was Shelia. The 

minute ‘crazy bitch’ came out 

of his mouth, I knew it was her. 

Long story short is, Jack talked 

to her and got her to surrender. 

Another boyfriend and another 

shot fired disturbance. Only 

this time, I stayed in the car. No 

more days off for me. Truth is, I 

had hoped SWAT would take the 

crazy bitch out with a sniper and 

rid the world of one less crazy. 

But nope. Sheila lived to literally 

“fight another day with another 

dude.” 

The lesson here is this. If you’re 

in a violent relationship, get out 

before someone gets hurt or 

even killed. Nothing good will 

come of it trust me. 

Got a Warstory 

you’d like to share 

with our readers? 

Email your story to 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 

We’ll send you a free 

koozie. 


WORDS BY a SURVIVING WIDOW 

You’re gone! Now What? 

The pain for you is finally over. 

No more depression. No more 

night terrors. No more roll calls. 

No more blood on the sidewalks. 

No more innocent children dying 

in your arms. No more reports. 

No more “stupid” supervisors 

looking over your shoulder. No 

more fireworks twice a year 

taking you back to Iraq. No more 

family reunions you hate. No 

more family anything. No lawns 

to cut. No more kids’ baseball 

games to interrupt your never-ending 

naps. No more runs to 

the grocery store. No more shopping 

for furniture you say we 

don’t need. No need to ever cut 

the grass again or do any lawn 

work. No more clothes to wash 

or put away. You never have to 

wash my car or change the oil or 

take it to the shop when it’s broken. 

You won’t have to take time 

to teach our son how to drive, or 

hunt or anything. No more daddy-daughter 

dances you have to 

make excuses not to go to. And 

you’ll never have to worry about 

walking her down the aisle. 

NOPE. You’re all good now. 

But what about us. All of those 

things are still happening. Just 

without you. I know you were 

in pain, but did you or the thousands 

before you, ever stop and 

think about the pain you left 

behind. When your partner was 

shot and killed, Mary Beth was 

surrounded by her blue family. 

They never left her side not even 

10 years later. They stood by her 

from the minute they woke her 

up at 2am to say her husband 

was a hero and wasn’t coming 

home, until this very day when a 

dozen officers from your squad 

showed up to take her two boys 

to school. They do that every 

year. 

They didn’t have to tell me 

you were gone. Because I found 

you. Yeah, they came over when 

I made the call. To take a report 

and search our house. And yes, 

there was a military funeral, but 

I felt everyone staring at me, 

thinking OMG what’s she going 

to do now. There is a difference 

in dying in the line of duty and 

taking your own life. If you’re 

LOD you had no choice, you 

died a hero. Take your own life 

and you bear a stigma no one 

wants to share. Of course, they 

feel sorry for us and always say 

“anything we need.” But it’s not 

the same. 

Your brothers and sisters in 

Blue don’t understand. You never 

told them you were hurting. You 

refused to share with them your 

pain and suffering. You thought 

they wouldn’t understand. You 

didn’t trust them. But that’s what 

police work is all about. TRUST. 

You have to know your partner 

and your team has your back 

and you have theirs. But you hid 

it all from everyone. Everyone 

outside of our home anyway. 

One day you’re having a backyard 

cookout, being all buddy 

buddy and talking shop and the 

next day, they are gathered in 

our front yard waiting for the ME 

to come take your lifeless body 

away. Now what? 

What are they supposed to do 

with that? How are they supposed 

to process that? Live with 

that? The brother they trusted 

was suddenly gone and they had 

no idea why. But I guess that’s 

not your problem anymore. 

But I suppose it’s as much my 

fault as it is yours. I could have 

gotten you help. I could have 

gone to your supervisors and 

told them how bad it was. I 

could have forced you to get 

help. It would have destroyed 

your career, but maybe, just 

maybe you’d still be here for 

me and the kids. Who cares if 

you’re still a cop.? You’d still be 

an incredible dad and a wonderful 

husband. 

But I didn’t do that because 

you begged me not to. Said you 

would get help and get better. 

That it would be OK. Well, 

you lied. It didn’t get better for 

anyone but you. All of us are in 

more pain that you ever were. 

You can’t imagine what’s it 

been like for me and the kids. 

Your family. Your mom and 

dad. Your brothers and sisters. 

Your brothers and sisters in 

Blue. The whole damn city is 

suffering. You have NO idea 

how fucked up this is. 

But I know life must go on. 

My life must go on. Our kid’s 

life must go on. Your partner 

has to keep on saving lives and 

sometimes people will die in his 

arms and sometimes they are 

just kids. But GOD put us here 

to do our jobs and live our lives. 

You have to believe in his plan. 

You can’t change it. The minute 

you think you can, you start 

down a path that ends with you 

taking your own life and leaving 

the rest of us here to pick up the 

pieces. 

To everyone reading this, I 

want to speak to you now. No 

matter how bad things may 

seem, there is a better life for 

you and your family. You just 

have to ask for help. You have 

to believe in GOD and his plan 

for you and your life. Don’t for a 

minute think you can deal with 

this on your own. You can’t! If 

you’re the spouse, get your wife 

or husband help. Screw the job. 

This is your life. His life. His kid’s 

life that is hanging in the balance. 

There are people out there 

that truly care about you and 

your situation. You just have to 

ask for help. Confide in them. 

Trust them. Go to them. Do it 

NOW. 

It’s too late for me and my 

family, but it’s never too late 

for yours. Please call one of the 

numbers below and let me help 

you save your family. 

May God Bless You and Your 

Family. 


A BADGE OF HONOR 

healing our heroes 

DOPAMINE, DEPRESSION & DEATH 

Not every police officer who 

considers or completes suicide has 

post-traumatic stress. 

Adverse Childhood events, addictions, 

and compromised coping 

mechanisms can set a tidal wave in 

motion that some consider unrecoverable. 

Their solution, suicide. 

The officer who becomes addicted 

to pain pills or alcohol or 

gambling is not new in police work. 

Nor is the decision to or contemplation 

of suicide because of these 

addictions novel. Take John Salerno’s 

partner. Deep in debt from a 

gambling addiction, and seeing no 

way out, addicted to the thrill of the 

win, guilt and shame over the loss 

and inability to stop, he completed 

suicide. 

There are consequences to actions. 

Police officers know this best. 

Police officers are also human. They 

are held to a higher standard however 

because of the oath they take. 

The humanness take some down a 

dark path. Some fall into drug use 

and other illicit behavior. But that 

does not mean they are beyond 

help. 

With addiction one must examine 

dopamine. Dopamine is a chemical 

released in the brain that makes 

you feel good. How do we feel 

good? There are many ways. Having 

a great workout. A hug from your 

kids. A kiss from your significant 

other. Petting your dog. Winning at 

the slot machines, snorting cocaine, 

having an extra-marital affair. Getting 

that dopamine hit is what we 

are after and for some, even though 

they know the way they are getting 

their “hit” is wrong, they cannot 

stop. Enter addiction and depression. 

The cycle of addiction can be 

deadly. Getting our dopamine “hit” 

and then suffering the letdown and 

the feeling off loss, despair, guilt, 

and shame can lead to suicide. 

Breaking the cycle requires medical 

intervention. For an officer, he 

or she must be willing to ask for 

that help and then obtain a leave 

of absence to get well. The treatment 

program must work with law 

enforcement and first responders. 

Those that do, can help the officer 

navigate the “ask” to their chief 

most commonly through their human 

resources departments. We 

have heard of 30 – 90 day leave 

periods where the first responder 

returns to their jobs successfully. 

According to John Edmonson, 

who is part of the team at A Badge 

of Honor, Director of Wellness at 

Healing Springs Ranch, CEO of Life 

Works Foundation, and an expert in 

treating addiction, “When working 

with clients in residential treatment 

they will report that they “had a 

normal childhood.” Or that they 

were not affected by the traumatic 

events in their life. But we are always 

cautious to rule that out until 

the client has had time to regain 

their senses and take a deeper look 

at their life.” 

The reason is that with time, once 

we detox from alcohol, drugs, or 

process addictions, we begin to see 

our life experiences more clearly. 

Client’s report beginning to see the 

trauma, stress, and anxiety, that 

they have been avoiding. 

This is why Melissa Caldwell Engle 

MS, LPC, ATR and Co-founder, of 

Springs Ranch, refers to addiction 

as a “pervasive pattern of avoiding 

emotions.” 

yrs. 

SAMANTHA HORWITZ & 

JOHN SALERNO 

Factors that Go Unnoticed 

It is tempting to say, “the past is 

the past,” or “I let all that go.” And 

that can all be true. Many people 

have. But at the same time the actual 

effects from those experiences 

on our brain and nervous system, 

can create tendencies towards addiction. 

ACEs or Adverse Childhood Experiences 

was a study done that 

demonstrated that even though it 

has been decades since an early 

childhood trauma happened, it may 

still be affecting us today. 

Or it could be that we have fallen 

into addiction which has changed 

the structure of our brain. We start 

to think and act differently. “I don’t 

know you anymore.” or “I don’t 

know myself anymore.” has been 

said many times by people or their 

friends and family who suffer from 

addiction. Most do not realize that 

one day at a time they were becoming 

someone they did not recognize 

or know. 

You can feel so miserable that 

even opening your eyes in the 

morning creates a feeling of defeat, 

panic, and anxiety, because their 

experience is telling them that this 

is just going to be another day of 

pain. 

But what most of us do not know 

is that the brain can literally restructure 

itself back to a normal 

and healthy state of mind. The 

nervous system can rebalance itself, 

and even through therapy, medication, 

and/or healthy lifestyle can 

improve our neurochemistry. 

I’ve tried everything! 

I’ve tried “everything.” But have 

you? 

What I mean is that, just because 

you have tried everything you know, 

does not necessarily mean that 

you’ve tried everything that’s out 

there. 

For example, many have said 

they tried support groups, but 

only attended a few meetings. We 

recommend reading the literature, 

attending several meetings before 

making a true decision whether a 

support group or any other option is 

helpful. The reason is that many of 

us have the tendency to show up to 

a meeting or two and if we do not 

like the speaker or how the meeting 

was run, we leave and never come 

back. 

The same is true for therapy. Unfortunately, 

there are therapists in 

the field -who only do “talk therapy,” 

or don’t know how to relate or 

connect to first responders. 

But there are those that do. And 

there are many forms of therapy 

such as EMDR Eye Movement Desensitization 

Reprocessing, or EFT 

(Emotional Freedom Technique) 

that have proven to be effective 

in reducing stress, increasing the 

sense of hope and well-being, and 

working through addiction. 

So, there is hope. The process and 

journey will be difficult. An officer 

must first decide to ask for help and 

be prepared to accept the consequences 

of his or her actions which 

may mean losing their job or possibly 

facing jail time. But you will 

have your life! There is help. 

Samantha Horwitz & John Salerno are 

regular contributors to The Blues Police 

Magazine. They are the founders of A 

Badge of Honor, a 501(c)(3) post-traumatic 

stress awareness and suicide 

prevention program for first responders. 

John and Sam host A Badge of 

Honor Podcast Mondays 5pm CST. You 

can also listen anytime on your favorite 

podcast app. John Edmonson, MS, LPC-S, 

Healing Spring Ranch, Entrepreneur 

in Tactical Wellness, CEO, Life Works 

Foundation. 


DARYL LOTT 

daryl’s deliberations 

yrs. 

Reports..Who Reads ‘em? 

There’s been a lot of talk lately 

about the Constitution. That’s a 

good thing. It is the document that 

governs us for good or for ill. Some 

say it’s a living document. I suppose 

that’s true seeing that there is 

a process we can follow to change 

it in some way, but it’s not a living 

document as it sits. It says what it 

says. If you don’t like what it says - 

change it. 

Sometimes when I research 

things, I run across sentences 

in reports written years or even 

centuries ago. Such sentences give 

me pause as I consider them. All 

reports have biases in them, so I try 

to account for that (knowing I have 

my own biases and filters). Since 

governments came on the scene 

in world history, leaders have sent 

agents to places with instructions 

to report back on their findings. 

An early example in world history 

might be when the Israelites sent 

people to the Promised Land with 

orders to report back what they 

saw. One such mission in American 

history occurred when President 

Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark out 

to report back on a real estate deal 

Jefferson completed with Napoleon. 

Pretty standard stuff. 

In Texas history there was a 

report that actually revealed a lot 

about the reportee and the subjects 

of the report. In 1827, the Mexican 

government sent one of its generals 

to Tejas to observe Texians and 

make a report of his observations. 

The government was concerned 

that the new immigrants weren’t 

assimilating. General Manuel Meir 

y Teran dutifully complied with his 

orders. He confirmed that the newcomers 

were not fitting in as they 

should. The newcomers expected 

too much service from the government 

in the way of courts and justice. 

The newcomers thought it was 

beneath them to pay a little extra 

for the alcaldes to hear a case. A little 

bribe here and there was a good 

thing. All of that was spot on in the 

description of the Mexican administration 

and the Texians who Teran 

thought were entitled. The Tejanos 

complained to Teran because of the 

Texians’ “superior education.” Illiterate 

people could be left behind. The 

implied answer, of course, would 

be only to allow illiterate people to 

immigrate. 

General Meir y Teran said that the 

Texians “travel with their political 

constitution in their pockets demanding 

the privileges, authority 

and officers which such a constitution 

guarantees.” Let that sink in 

for a moment. The Mexican Constitution 

(doesn’t matter which one 

they were using at the time) did not 

recognize individual rights. No free 

speech, no freedom of worship, 

no freedom of assembly, etc. The 

DARYL LOTT 

Mexican people as a whole were illiterate 

at that time and by definition 

not capable of self government. 

The Texians knew the U.S. Constitution 

of 1787 did not apply to them, 

but they also knew what freedom 

looked like when they read it and 

this wasn’t it! The general hit the 

nail on the head. The Texians could 

read and write. Literacy is freedom 

in its purest form. 

Are you one of those pesky Americans 

that carry your constitution in 

your pocket? A written law code is 

something we take for granted now, 

but it has not always been so. The 

law was formerly what some capricious 

king said it was. To have the 

Law written down was a huge step 

for civilization. When I looked at the 

United States Constitution (1787) in 

the National Archives in Washington 

DC, my eyes welled up. As I read 

“We the People…” self governance 

of a literate people hit me full on in 

the face. Yes, General Meir y Teran, 

I carry the Constitution in my pocket, 

but that is not the only place the 

living document resides - it is in my 

heart! 


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD 

lig ht bul b award 

ONE WORTHLESS JUDGE 

Judge Cara D. Hutson, Deputy Cordero’s blood is on your hands! 

A 32-year-old California 

Sheriff’s Deputy would be alive 

today and celebrating the New 

Year with his family had it not 

been for the actions of a low-life 

judge in California. 

This month’s LB Award Winner 

is Judge Cara D. Hutson a 

California Superior Court Judge 

who worked out of the Rancho 

Cucamonga branch and was 

re-elected to the bench in June 

and has been a judicial officer 

since 2007. 

Riverside Deputy Isaiah Cordero, 

32, had pulled over a pickup 

truck just before 2pm on Thursday 

December 29 in Jurupa Valley 

in Riverside County when the 

driver of the vehicle, later identified 

as William Shae McKay, 44, 

pulled out a gun and shot him. 

Cordero’s department has 

blamed the judge who released 

McKay after his third strike for 

the tragedy, saying she 

had ‘not done her job’ 

to keep him behind 

bars. 

Riverside County 

Sheriff Chad Bianco 

said that the ‘terrible 

tragedy’ could 

have been avoided 

had McKay been kept 

behind bars and not 

released on bail. 

“This terrible tragedy 

should have been 

prevented by the legal 

system, McKay has an 

extensive and violent 

past, and was convicted 

of his third strike in 

Nov 2021,” said Bianco. 

“That case involved 

kidnapping and assault with a 

deadly weapon. Instead of sentencing 

him to 25 years to life 

which should have happened, 

they left him out.” 

Bianco explained that the judge 

had lowered McKay’s bail allowing 

him to be released. 

“He was again arrested for failing 

to appear at his sentencing 

and additional criminal charges. 

That same judge released him 

again. We would not be here 

today if the judge had done her 

job.” 

People shocked by the death 

of Deputy Cordero’s, have lashed 

out at the Judge saying that the 

yrs. 

A HERO 

region ‘needs better representation.’ 

One Facebook user wrote: 

“Dishonorable they must have 

meant because there is nothing 

honorable about an overpaid, 

useless judge. Drag her off the 

bench and let her clean the court 

toilets.” 

Another, posting a picture of 

Hutson, wrote: “This evil Judge, 

Cara Hutson let the killer of 

Deputy Cordero bail out on a 3 

strikes case, not once, but twice! 

His death lies solely on this 

bitches’ hands!” 

Many mourning the 32-yearold 

officer, posted their condolences 

on the police Facebook 

post saying that he ‘didn’t deserve 

to die’ calling for the Huston’s 

resignation. 

One user wrote: ‘The judge 

should be put behind bars. There 

is blood on her hands! My condolences 

to deputy’s family and 

may he rest in peace!’ 

Another wrote: ‘Absolutely 

heartbreaking. Shame on the 

judge. If she’s elected, get her 

out. If she’s appointed, fire her!’ 

William Shae McKay of San 

Bernardino County, had a long 

and violent criminal history 

stretching back to before 2000 

that included kidnapping, robbery, 

and multiple arrests for 

assault with a deadly weapon, 

including a 2021 police chase in 

which a California Highway Patrol 

dog was stabbed, allegedly 

by an accomplice of McKay, the 

sheriff said. 

According to Bianco, McKay had 

been convicted of a ‘third strike’ 

offense last year that should 

have put him in state prison for 

25 years to life, but a San Bernardino 

County judge lowered 

his bail. 

Cordero was a motorcycle 

officer assigned to Jurupa Valley, 

a city that contracts with the 

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department 

for policing services. 

The 32-year-old officer joined 

the 4,000-member strong department 

as a corrections deputy, 

worked in local jails, became 

a sworn deputy in 2018 and completed 

motor school to become a 

motorcycle deputy in September, 

Bianco said. 

Cordero ‘learned from his 

mother the value of serving and 

helping others’ and his goal at 

the department was always to 

become a motor deputy, Bianco 

said. 

“He was naturally drawn to 

law enforcement and certainly 

embodied our motto of service 

above self,” Bianco said. 

“He was a jokester around the 

station and all of our deputies 

considered him their little brother.” 

Several hours after the shooting, 

dozens of motorcycle officers 

and patrol cars escorted a 

hearse transporting the deputy’s 

flag-draped casket from the 

hospital to the county coroner’s 

office. 

The BLUES offers its sincerest 

condolences to the family of 

Deputy Cordero and the entire 

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. 

We’re so sorry for the 

loss of your brother in Blue and 

we will never forget his dedication 

to a job he loved so much. 

As for the POS Judge Cara D. 

Hutson, the public will never forget 

or forgive you for the actions 

that led up to the loss of our 

brother in Blue. Please resign and 

do the world a favor and never, 

ever stand before a courtroom 

again and pretend you represent 

honor and justice. 

YOU DO NOT! 

The Leader In Law Enforcement Recruitment 

Delivering ZERO COST solutions to 

Texas Public Safety Agencies. 


HONORING FALLEN HEREOS 

yrs. 

“Honoring our fallen heroes 

through running while providing 

financial support to the families 

of our fallen Heroes, 

First Responders injured in the 

Line of Duty and Safety 

Equipment to K9s in need.” 

AS OF 12/31/22 

Total Grants Awarded to Injured First Responders: 41 

Total Amount Awarded: $367,500 

Total Funds Awarded to Families of Fallen Heroes: 34 

Total Amount Awarded: $272,301 

Funds/Equipment Awarded to K9 Officers: $26,686.21 

Total Amount of Grants Given: $666,487.32 

- - - - 

2022 Run Tracker: 

Total Miles Run in 2022: (as of 12/29/22): 322 

- Zechariah - 274 

- Jayden - 10 

- Andrew - 8 

- Giuliana - 9 

- Anthony - 8 

- Morgan - 12 

- Theresa - 1 (59 for K9s) 

Total Miles Run in 2021: 325 



Overall Miles Run: 1,424 

Over Miles Run (K9’s): 59 

- - - - - - - - - - 

2022 Run Stats: 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen LEO’s (Non COVID-19): 135 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Firefighters (Non COVID-19): 80 

Total Miles Run for Non-LODD/Suicide: 13 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Canada LEO’s: 3 

Total Miles Run in 2022 for Fallen COVID-19 Heroes: 18 

Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen LEO’s: 21 

Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen Firefighters: 2 

Total Tribute Runs by State/Country: 17 

Zechariah 

Cartledge: 

a True American Hero 

States/Cities Zechariah has run in: 

Florida - Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Clearwater, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Orlando, Temple Terrace, Blountstown, 

Cocoa, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Starke, Melbourne 

New York - New York City, Weedsport • Georgia - Cumming, Augusta, Savannah 

South Carolina - North Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Sumter • Pennsylvania - Monaca 

Illinois - Springfield, Naperville, Glen Ellyn • Texas - Houston (2), Fort Worth, Midland, New Braunfels, Freeport, Madisonville, 

Irving, Sadler, San Antonio • Kentucky - Nicholasville • Arkansas - Bryant, Hot Springs, Springdale, Prairie Grove 

Nevada - Henderson • Kansas - Overland Park • California - Mt. Vernon, La Jolla • Arizona - Mesa 

North Carolina - Concord, Raleigh • Virginia - Norton, Richmond • Tennessee - Bristol, Bartlett 

Oklahoma - Stilwell (2) • Delaware - Milford • Maryland - Towson • Minnesota - Arden Hills • Indiana - Sullivan, Spencer 

Mississippi - Grenada, Olive Branch • Missouri - Springfield, Rolla, Joplin • Iowa - Independence, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids 

District/Countries/Territories: 

Washington D.C. • Puerto Rico - San Juan 

110 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 

The BLUES 111


blue mental health 

POLICE SUICIDE: Tips & Resources 

The editor and publisher of the 

BLUES, Michael Barron, addressed 

the tragedy of law enforcement suicide 

in this month’s editorial. Much 

has been written on the topic and 

how to assist but it is imperative 

that we keep the discussion in the 

forefront as the numbers continue 

to tragically rise. This has been 

particularly punctuated by the three 

recent suicides within the Chicago 

Police Department. This month’s 

article will provide several tips and 

resources to help officers in times 

of darkness and struggle. According 

to renowned police psychologist, Dr. 

Ellen Kirschman, in an article published 

Psychology Today on September 

9 2022, here are seventeen 

tips on how to effectively approach 

an officer who may be suicidal. 

17 Tips to Help Prevent Police Suicide 

(Kirschman, 2022): 

Know a cop who may be suicidal? 

Here’s what you should know to 

help them. 

• Police officers are twice as likely 

to kill themselves as to be killed in 

the line of duty. 

• To prevent someone from killing 

themselves, don’t mince words. 

• Two crucial ways to intervene 

with a suicidal officer are to separate 

them from their weapons and 

to buy time. 

• If you are dealing with a suicidal 

officer, take steps to protect yourself 

physically and emotionally. 

Do you know someone you believe 

is suicidal? I offer the following tips 

in the hopes of preventing one more 

tragic police suicide: 

1. Speak up. Don’t hesitate to talk 

openly about suicide. You can’t put 

the idea in anyone’s head if it isn’t 

already there. It can clear the air to 

raise the issue and call it for what 

it is without using euphemisms. Ask 

directly, “Are you thinking of killing 

yourself?” 

2. Be assertive about your concerns. 

Find out what is causing so 

much pain that the suicidal person 

wants to stop living. Communicate 

your understanding that they are in 

great emotional pain, but clearly 

say that pain can be managed and 

that there are other ways to solve 

these problems besides suicide. Let 

your law enforcement officer (LEO) 

know that getting help is a sign of 

strength, not weakness, and that it 

takes guts to face your problems 

and yourself. 

3. If you’ve struggled with depression 

or hopelessness or had suicidal 

thoughts, be honest in describing 

your own experience. Talk about 

what specifically helped you get 

through troubled times. 

4. Assess the level of danger—the 

more specific the plan, the more 

imminent and potentially fatal. For 

example, John (not his real name) 

told his partner he had picked out a 

motel, written a note warning the 

motel staff to call the police before 

entering his room, written to his 

family, bought a tarp to keep his 

brains from splattering and bought 

a rifle because he didn’t want to use 

his duty gun. This was a dire emergency, 

requiring immediate intervention 

and hospitalization. 

Sandy (not her real name) who 

was on disability leave, confessed 

to her wife that she was thinking 

about suicide but didn’t want to kill 

herself impulsively. She had locked 

her weapons in a friend’s gun locker 

and put the key in a safe deposit 

box at a bank. Her wife was able to 

yrs. 


verify this. She alerted Sandy’s therapist 

immediately, and the therapist 

arranged to see Sandy the next 

day, increased their sessions, and 

arranged for a medication appointment. 

5. Separate the officer from his 

or her weapons. Remember, many 

officers have several weapons in 

addition to their duty gun. 

6. Do what you can to delay. Many 

suicidal individuals who recover 

from a suicide attempt or were 

stopped before completing it do not 

make another attempt. Rather, they 

are grateful for a second chance at 

life. 

7. Be prepared. If you are going 

to confront a troubled cop, plan 

in advance—have phone numbers 

available, take another friend along, 

or have someone standing by a 

telephone. Pick an appropriate time 

and place to raise your concerns— 

one that is private, comfortable, 

and unhurried. Unless the situation 

is urgent, it’s better not to talk to 

someone who has been drinking. 

Don’t leave them alone. Wait until 

they sober up. 

8. Prepare yourself for angry denial. 

In their muddled thinking, your 

LEO may believe it’s better to be 

dead than to have people think they 

were weak. 

9. Be direct, yet tactful. Avoid 

backing people into a corner by 

threatening them or delivering 

ultimatums. Suicidal people already 

feel as if their lives are out of 

control, and are not thinking clearly. 

In their despair, they may mistakenly 

believe suicide is the only way to 

get back into control. 

10. Give hope. Find out if this person 

has survived some past crisis. 

Sometimes, remembering they have 

been through tough times before 

helps people regain confidence 

and hope for the future. People are 

generally suicidal only for a limited 

time. If they can avoid self-destruction, 

they can go on to lead productive 

lives. Hope is the awareness 

that one has options. 

11. Create ambivalence. Bust 

the bubble that killing yourself is 

an okay thing to do. Make it hard 

to see suicide as a “victimless 

crime.” Name the people who will 

be affected by this person’s suicide. 

Children especially may be deeply 

damaged by losing a parent to suicide. 

12. Don’t try to cheer them up. 

Have you ever seen the bumper 

sticker that says, “Cheer up, things 

could be worse. So I cheered up, 

and sure enough things got worse?” 

Cheering up is different from giving 

hope. Attempting to cheer someone 

up may be well-intentioned, but it 

is almost guaranteed to backfire. 

The listener may feel that you simply 

don’t understand the depth of 

his or her despair. 

13. Intervention is the key to preventing 

suicide. The consequences 

of getting help to someone are 

never as permanent as the consequences 

of suicide. Having meaningful, 

supportive relationships and 

a therapeutic alliance with a mental 

health professional greatly reduces 

a person’s risk for suicide. 

14. Don’t argue, sermonize, or 

lecture a suicidal person. Try to see, 

in concrete terms, how and why 

this person has come to see things 

as they do—remember, rarely has 

a suicidal individual arrived at this 

point overnight. 

15. Respect your limitations. 

Sometimes there is no way to stop 

people from killing themselves. You 

cannot read another person’s mind. 

Cops are especially good at masking 

their feelings and intentions. It’s 

a professional tool. 

16. Do not make offers of help you 

cannot reasonably support. If you 

are troubled, overburdened with 

your own problems, or simply don’t 

care enough about this person, 

find someone who does. Refer this 

person to a police chaplain, a peer 

supporter, and/or a culturally competent 

mental health professional. 

17. People who kill themselves are 

responsible for their choices. One 

person cannot drive another to suicide 

except under the most extreme 

circumstances. 

ADDITIONAL POLICE SUICIDE RESOURCES 

NATIONAL SUICIDE AND 

CRISIS HOT LINE 

Call 9-8-8 

SAFE CALL NOW 

Safe Call Now is a 24-hour crisis 

referral service for those in public 

safety and their family members. 

CONTACT: https://www.safecallnow.org/ 

or call 206-459-3020 

A BADGE OF HONOR 

Helping First Responders build 

their wellness & resiliency toolbox, 

learning tactical strategies to combat 

stress. 

www,ABadgeofHonor.com 

SERVE & PROTECT 

Serve & Protect helps connect 

public safety professionals with 

trauma services. 

CONTACT: https://serveprotect. 

org/ or call 615-373-8000 for the 

crisis line. 

COPS ALIVE 

Cops Alive provides resources and 

strategies to help cops live happy 

and successful lives. 

CONTACT: http://www.copsalive. 

com/ 

COPLINE 

CopLine is a 24/7 service that 

will connect you to a peer support 

counselor. CONTACT: http://www. 

copline.org/ or call 800-267-5463 

REFERENCES 

Kirschman, E. (2018) I Love a Cop: 

What Police Families Need to Know. 

New York. Guilford Press. 

Kirschman, E. (2022, August 23) 

Is New Federal Legislation Encouraging 

Cops to Commit Suicide? 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ 

us/node/1179167/preview. 


RUSTY BARRON 

off duty & outdoors 

yrs. 

Winter Trolling for Tuna 

In Florida we still get many 

nice boating days in December. 

May and October are the 

best fishing months, but that 

was not going to stop me from 

trying to find fish any day that I 

can get out on the water. It was 

mid-December and my wife, and 

I were out with her friend taking 

a leisurely cruise in the Gulf out 

of Destin inlet and heading down 

the beachfront. The water was 

fairly calm, clear, and I had heard 

it was getting close to when the 

Blackfin Tuna would be cruising 

the beachfront. Since we were 

just cruising anyway, I threw out 

a couple of lines and starting 

trolling. However, I could tell the 

girls were not excited about my 

impromptu decision to turn their 

boating day into a slow troll 

fishing day. So, after 20 minutes, 

I pulled in the lines, moved my 

fishing to plan B, and we continued 

our cruising day on the 

water. 

Plan B went into high gear at 

5:00 a.m. the next morning. With 

only a few months with my new 

boat, I have already learned that 

I will always have my rods on 

the boat ready with lures because 

you never can know when 

you will run upon birds diving 

or fish fishing exploding bait on 

the water. I have also learned 

that it is best to plan out a day 

dedicated to fishing rather than 

turn a family boating day into a 

fishing day. Thus, the next morning 

before dawn, I grabbed a 

coffee and headed to the marina 

to try to find some Blackfin tuna 

running along the beachfront. 

Leaving the dock before sunrise 

was very satisfying even though 

on this particular day, I was 

solo because my fishing buddies 

were all busy getting ready for 

family Christmas events. Since I 

am relatively new to fishing out 

of Destin, I was quite excited to 

have a day to try some things 

without any expectations except 

to have fun on the water. 

First efforts to catch some 

live bait at the usual places with 

Sabiki rigs failed to produce 

so I was committed to trolling 

lures, which quite honestly, I was 

fine with. I knew that my best 

chances for tuna were going to 

be in the early morning hours 

since they like to feed during 

low light conditions. So, with a 

slightly foggy morning ahead of 

me, I decided to head out to a 

shallow wreck just offshore and 

start trolling. At first, I thought it 

was better to have as many lines 

in the water as possible that I 

could handle so I started with 

3 baits out. One Nomad design 

sinking high speed lure to mimic 

mackerel and two lines with jet 

lures to mimic squid. With lines 

out, I started thinking through 

Not the Blackfin Tuna I was looking for, but Bonito are great fighting fish 


Squid from the first Bonito 

caught told me what bait I 

should mimic with lures. 

what my plan would be once I 

have a fish on…. Slow the boat, 

engage auto pilot, go to neutral, 

Ok ready. My mind also quickly 

went to safety and while it 

wasn’t exceptionally rough that 

morning, I decided since I was on 

the boat by myself, I would throw 

on my lightweight inflatable 

PFD. Well, it only took about 

20 minutes, and I heard one of 

the reels start to scream. With 

the boat slowed down, I thought, 

I should reel in the other two 

lines first so not to get tangled 

while fighting the fish. Mistake. 

The time it took for me to get the 

other two lines in, gave the fish 

enough time to find its way out 

of the hook. OK, learn, adapt, 

retry. This time I decided to only 

have two lines out. Another 10 

minutes and now I hear one reel 

giving line to another hooked 

fish. This time, I reeled it in with 

the other line out. Success but 

not a Blackfin Tuna, just a Bonito. 

Bonito are tuna like schooling 

fish of the tuna and mackerel 

family. Personally, I don’t find 

them table worthy as they have 

dark, oily meat that is more fishy 

tasting than other species, but 

they are great fighters and fun 

to catch. They also make great 

cut bait for reef fishing, so this 

one makes the ice box. I also 

noticed that when this Bonito 

came on board, he throws up 

a stomach full of squid onto 

the deck, which confirmed why 

they love these trolling jet lures. 

Lines back out and set a course 

to troll across some structure 

in about 50-60 feet of water. 

Boom, this time both lines are 

running. I watch the rods bending 

and reels stripping out line 

and pick the rod with what I 

think is the better fish. Again, 

great fighter, but another Bonito. 

The other line, same. Lines back 

out and repeat another double 

hook up, but Bonito again. This 

continues until I boated about a 

dozen fish, releasing all but two 

I kept for a future reef fishing 

trip. While I didn’t catch the 

Blackfin Tuna I was after, a day 

on the water catching fish and 

getting a little more experience 

and knowledge about trolling, 

made for a perfect day! 


ADS BACK IN THE DAY 



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126 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 127

yrs. 

CAP Fleet is an emergency 

vehicle upfitter and 

authorized Chevrolet SVM 

Bailment Pool provider 

for Law Enforcement 

Vehicles. We have a pool 

of vehicles available to be 

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We also offer law enforcement 

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Since 2011, we have 

combined the highest 

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customer service and installations 

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Our sales staff brings 

over 100+ years of law enforcement 

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our installation team has 

an equal number of years 

in the emergency vehicle 

upfitting industry. We 

understand your needs 

and strive to make your 

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simple. All installations 

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technicians. Every 

vehicle goes through an 

extensive quality control 

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technicians are constantly 

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With locations in 

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yrs. 

Starting in 2003, Cop Stop Inc. Opened with a vision and goal to service first responders; “Our everyday 

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offers a variety of products, gear and apparel. Open and operated by Rick Fernandez, a former officer 

of 10 years, he prides himself on maintaining the highest standards of customer service. Cop Stop understands 

its our customers who drive our success, and we strive to offer the best service to everyone 

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“If you provide good service and a fair price, customers will talk about you and come back. 

It’s that simple!” Rick Fernandez 


130 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 131

yrs. 

DANA SAFETY SUPPLY 

Dana Safety Supply (DSS) is a major warehousing distributor, 

seller, service provider, and installer of law enforcement 

and public safety fleet vehicle equipment including emergency 

lighting, and related law enforcement products that are typically 

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major distributor of law enforcement, tactical supplies, duty 

gear, firearms, ammunition, uniforms, and other public safety 

products. DSS operates 30 locations located in Greensboro, NC 

(2), Clinton, NC, Columbia, SC (2), Atlanta, GA, Marietta, GA, 

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DSS was founded in 2005 by a group of law enforcement and 

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companies of its type in the United States. DSS is a subsidiary 

of Duval Motor Company and the Scott McRae Group, (SMAG), a 

106 year old family company that has been in continuous operation, 

and under the same ownership since 1916. SMAG employs 

more than 700 people across multiple companies in the automotive, 

finance, and service industries. Each company operates 

independently, is its own legal entity, and is headed by its own 

President and management team, but has the financial resources 

and backing of SMAG at its disposal. DSS acquired Fleet 

Safety Equipment in 2018. Fleet Safety Equipment was founded 

in Memphis, TN in 1980 and is a wholly owned division of Dana 

Safety Supply. 

DSS regularly provides emergency vehicle equipment, installation 

services, and public safety products to numerous state, 

federal, and local public safety agencies, as well as to automotive 

dealers who utilize our up-fitting services and products. 

DSS holds and has successfully completed hundreds of large 

volume contracts with major public safety agencies throughout 

its territory to include Federal & State Agencies in CA, NC, SC, 

GA, FL, AL, TN, AR, OK, MS, LA, AR, TX, VA, and MT. DSS is also 

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Keep your Officers safe! 

Armored glass options available! 

132 The The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES 133

yrs. 

People are Your 

Purpose, and Ours 

In 2008, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office 

was informed by the federal government that it 

was violating inmates’ civil rights because of its 

indirect supervision policy. Part of the requirement 

to remedy the violation was to hire 200 detention 

officers in addition to the 450 they already 

had. 

Instead, Captain David Baisden turned to Digi 

Security Systems for a technological solution. Together, 

we designed a system that would provide 

100 percent visibility in each of the 30 pods in the 

jail. Digi installed the system, and the impact was 

definitive. 

“All of a sudden, we noticed an immediate drop 

in altercations from 300 to 30,” said Captain Baisden. 

“Ninety percent of the violence was gone.” 

We have a saying around here that People Are 

Our Purpose. As a security systems integrator, 

the work we do is important: we design, install, 

and service commercial security systems for all 

kinds of organizations. Those very security systems 

are the technology that keeps our children 

safe in their classrooms, our police officers protected 

from wrongdoers, our business’ assets 

secure, and our communities free from the worry 

of violent threats. We design systems that maximize 

safety and limit the number of personnel 

and hours spent trying to identify and respond to 

incidents. 

It’s important work. It’s work that makes a real 

difference. And that work is just part of the Digi 

Difference that defines us. When an organization 

decides to partner with us, we become an 

extension of their team. Because we care deeply 

about the safety and security of the very people 

you care deeply about, we do whatever it takes to 

help you meet your goals while providing you the 

most exceptional experience possible. 

We serve and support law enforcement agencies 

across the region, including jails and city and 

county governments. We understand the unique 

needs you have in protecting your staff and the 

public. Learn more at digiss.com/government. 

Customized Security Solutions 

Government 

& Law Enforcement 

Keeping the peace and serving the public is a vital job for the health of a community. 

As your partner, we make technology your ally by providing you security solutions 

that are completely customized for your unique needs and budget. 

All-in-one solutions 

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE 

ACCESS CONTROL 

BODY-WORN CAMERAS 

COVID-19 RESPONSE 

INTRUSION ALARM & MONITORING 

CLOUD-BASED SECURITY SYSTEMS 

JAIL CONTROL SYSTEMS 

LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION 

ANALYTICS & AI 

MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS 

CONSULTING & DESIGN 

LOCKSMITH & KEYS 

SYSTEM INTEGRATION 

AND MORE 

SECURITY SYSTEMS 

Call today! 1-888-970-3830 

email contact@digiss.com 

We offer TIPS State Contract and HGAC! 

Digi knows law 

enforcement 

Reduce city crime & enhance public safety 

Search hours of footage in seconds 

Resolve incidents more quickly 

Monitor large crowds with analytics 

Gather real data for informed decisions 

Integrate systems to better communicate 

Limit the number of hostile environments 

digiss.com 

“Digi knows what 

they are doing. 

... All of a sudden 

we noticed an 

immediate drop in 

altercations from 

300 to 30. 

90% 

of the violence 

was gone.” 

Captain David Baisden 

Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office 

Experience the Digi Difference2 

Schedule your 

FREE Assessment, 

Demo & Quote 

digiss.com 


yrs. 

Key Management & 

Key Control Products 

All of our KeyWarden Security 

products are reliable, easy to use 

and expandable to meet your 

growing needs. 

Through seamless design, 

manufacturing and support, we 

have earned the reputation as 

the world leaders in security 

management products. We also 

write our own software to ensure 

system compatibility and performance. 

Every Morse Watchman’s 

product and system is meticulously 

designed and inspected to 

offer the latest in security technology 

and reliability. 

KEYWATCHER TOUCH 

KeyWatcher Touch brings one touch key 

control to the KeyWatcher, one of our industry-leading 

electronic key cabinets. Our 

new big, bright 7″ touch screen key register 

systems give you an easier-to-use interface. 

KEYWATCHER FLEET 

The industry’s only key control system for 

fleet management applications, KeyWatcher 

Fleet puts you in command of vehicle 

distribution, comprehensive utilization, 

right-sizing of your fleet and much more. 

THE KEYBANK 

The KeyBank® key control system eliminates 

outdated key boxes and the paper 

chase created by outdated manual logs and 

provides extensive protection from liability 

issues. 

KeyWatcher Illuminated 

KeyWatcher Illuminated is a modular, scalable 

integrated key control and management 

solution that’s designed for interoperability 

with access control and other 

systems. 

KEYBANK TOUCH 

Now get touchscreen convenience with 

KeyBank key access control system, the 

safer, more secure way to manage keys. The 

bright 7 touchscreen key organizer system 

gives you an easier-to-use interface. 

KeyWarden is the Texas distributor of Morse Watchmans industry-leading key and asset management systems. We are actively involved 

in the Texas Law Enforcement community as a founding member of the East Texas 100 club, and corporate members of the North Texas 

Police Chiefs Association, the East Texas Police Chiefs Association, the High Plains Police Chiefs Association, and the Central Texas Police 

Chiefs Association. We are proud to participate in the TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE. 

THE KEYWATCHER TOUCH SYSTEM is deployed in the law enforcement environment to: 

• Securely dispense track and audit the use of keys to: vehicles, facilities, lockers and 

other high-value assets. 

• Prevent unauthorized staff from driving specialist vehicles, or racking up miles on the 

newer fleet while older units sit idle. 

• Allow management to compel the use of vehicle pools rather than staff controlling the 

keys to particular units. 

• Quicker and more efficient shift changes. 

• Control the keys to facilities and mandate accountability. 

• Managing and controlling access to assets stored in lockers. 

As a Texas-based company, we provide on site evaluation, implementation, training and support of the 

KeyWatcher System. We are also a member of BuyBoard and offer discounted pricing and ease of purchase. 

19015 Gentle Knoll 

San Antonio, Texas 78258 

Office: 830-214-0867 Fax: 775-898-1807 

www.keywarden.com - click here to email us 


yrs. 

PLANET FORD IN SPRING, 20403 I45 NORTH, 

SPRING TEXAS 

Planet Ford on I-45 in Spring, Texas has been 

the No. 1 Ford Dealer in the greater-Houston area 

for over 20 years.* Our Ford dealership earns 

this distinction year after year because our team 

makes our clients and their vehicle needs our top 

priority. Planet Ford is part of the award-winning 

World Class Automotive Group. The dealership 

has earned many top honors, including multiple 

Triple Crowns, which is bestowed upon only 

the best. In order to be recognized, a dealership 

must receive all of Ford’s top awards, including 

The President’s Award for customer service. Planet 

Ford has been redesigned from the ground up 

to provide a superior customer experience. Planet 

offers over 30 acres of new Ford inventory, Certified 

Pre-Owned Fords, pre-owned vehicles of all 

makes and models, as well as aftermarket and 

performance parts, service, commercial truck 

services, and collision repair. Beyond automotive 

services, the Randall Reed family and Planet team 

support and gives back to the community, from 

local charity events to sponsoring schools and 

veteran programs. Learn more at PlanetFord.com. 

138 The BLUES The BLUES 139 

138 The BLUES The BLUES 139

yrs. 

Supporting Law 

Enforcement in 

TEXAS 

Inset: Dan Rooney ProForce President 

Firearms and Tactical Equipment for Law Enforcement Professionals 

800-367-5855 



SPOTLIGHT ON 

ProForce’s commitment to providing excellent customer 

service is a key element in the company’s success 

throughout the western United States. As a relative newcomer 

in the state of TEXAS ProForce has been welcomed with open 

arms by the law enforcement community. 

ProForce’s relationships with top industry manufacturers 

and vendors, as well as their sales volume, allows them 

to negotiate better pricing to meet the budgetary needs 

of law enforcement agencies. While some vendors may 

not always have product availability in a timely manner. 

ProForce’s industry relationships and direct contact through 

vendor representatives, the sales team is able to suggest 

and provide alternatives to meet specific requirements of 

agencies, ensuring that the agency’s needs are always met. 

“ 

Working with PROFORCE through the 

bidding and purchasing of the M&P 2.0’s was 

very easy and simple. We added the ACRO red 

dot along with the holster and the light. This 

purchase was simple and easy. 

The troops love the improvement to the 2.0 

and the red dot. 

Lt. Socha. Austin PD. 

“ 

#X300U-A #13353 #200691 

The company features an excellent selection of high demand 

law enforcement firearms, equipment and accessories from 

great manufacturers such as: 

Axon/Taser, Aimpoint, Beretta, Colt, H&K, Bola Wrap, 

Bianchi, Smith & Wesson, Eotech, Daniel Defense, 

NightStick, Sig Sauer, Kimber, Otis, Defense Technology, 

Shadow Systems, Magpul, L3 Harris, Burris, Mossberg, 

Ruger, Streamlight, Safariland, Springfield, Blackhawk, 

Holosun, Trijicon, Vortex, Surefire, Us Peacekeeper ,OSS, 

Nightstick, FNH USA and UTM. 

Proforce takes great pride in distributing high quality public 

safety products from top tier manufacturers and this 

transaction has set a trend for many other law enforcement 

agencies in the State of Texas. 

Agency demonstrations, test and evaluation 

of products is available upon request. Ask us 

about trade-ins! We will buy your agency duty or 

confiscated firearms, any model and condition! 

First class customer support and quality service 

makes PROFORCE the number one choice for first 

responder equipment and accessories! 

Call (800) 367-5855 

Email: sales@proforceonline.com or 

visit our website 

www.proforceonline.com 

SEND US AN EMAIL 

SCAN THE QR CODE 

The BolaWrap ® 150 remote restraint 

device is a patented, hand-held tool that 

deploys an eight-foot Kevlar ® tether 

to temporarily restrain subjects from a 

distance of 10-25 feet. 

Because the BolaWrap isn’t designed 

to cause pain, it may be used during 

the first stages of an encounter before 

escalation takes place. 

CALL US TODAY FOR PRICING! 

800-367-5855 

>> PRODUCTS & SERVICES

yrs. 

12722 HWY. 3 • WEBSTER, TEXAS • 281-488-5934 

AUTO FACELIFTS is located on the South Side of 

Houston across from Ellington Airport. Auto Facelifts 

is an industry leader in auto upholstery in the Houston, 

TX area. We work on cars, trucks, and even boats, 

so no matter what you’re riding in, we can give it a 

facelift! Whether you’re looking for a new leather interior, 

carpet replacement, or auto detailing, we’ve got 

a package that will fit your needs. But we don’t stop 

there! We’ve also got an incredible selection of car and 

truck accessories to really take your vehicle to the next 

level. And, if that’s not enough, we can also provide 

you with premium car audio and car stereo equipment 

that will make your vehicle the talk of the town. Stop 

into Auto Facelifts and upgrade your ride today! 

4807 KIRBY DRIVE • HOUSTON, TEXAS • 713-524-3801 

RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP & RAM 

Alan & Blake Helfman are the named and primary 

sponsor of The BLUES. For over 65 years the 

Helfman’s have supported local area law enforcement 

and supported The BLUES since our first issue. 

There is simply no better dealership in Houston 

to purchase your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, 

Ram or Ford product. The sales team provide 

honest, no BS pricing and their service department 

ranks among the top in the nation. 

Call Alan or Blake Helfman at 713-524-3801 when 

you are ready to purchase your next vehicle. It will 

be the best car buying experience you’ve ever had. 

IMOD2 

Carson's versatile MLH6 dual color led light has arrived! 

It features 12 high intensity LEDs packed into a super thin 

housing. With 12 different flash patterns, steady burn, and cruise 

mode (programmable for each color), this light is up for 

anything! 

CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY is your source 

for the best in police equipment. Based 

in Houston, we supply law enforcement 

with the equipment they need.” 

CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY has been 

serving Houston law enforcement for 

nearly 50 years with the absolute best 

customer service and quality products. 

CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY is 

located at 1410 Washington Ave, near 

downtown Houston, but you can 

purchase everything you need online 

at:https://www.centralpolice.com/ 


Scan for website: 

The MLH6 is designed to surface mount with the BM6 

bezel, or can snap in to the IMOD2 housing for an outstanding 

dual head option. Stay tuned for more modular mounting options 

coming soon from Carson! 

Check out our website for more information on our MLH6 as well 

as to check all of our other products. 



NOW HIRING 

LE job positions 

Oak Ridge North Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officers 01/19/2023 - 5pm 

Granite Shoals Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/30/2023 - 5pm 

Sachse Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer (certified) 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Sachse Police Dept. Get Info Police Recruit 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Palo Pinto Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Transport Deputy 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Palo Pinto Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Field/ Patrol Deputy 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Dept. 

Get Info Police Officer (Recruit & Lateral) 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Blanco County Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy 01/13/2023 - 5pm 

Normangee Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/01/2023 - 5pm 

Natalia Police Department 

Get Info Reserve School Resource Officer 01/14/2023 - 5pm 

Corpus Christi ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 01/14/2023 - 5pm 

Leon Valley Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 01/13/2023 - 5pm 

Bandera County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 01/12/2023 - 5pm 

Brady Police Dept. Get Info School Resource Officer 01/14/2023 - 5pm 

Tarrant Co. College District Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 03/31/2023 - 5pm 

Lakeway Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Floyd Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff (2) 01/16/2023 - 5pm 

Uvalde CISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/17/2023 - 5pm 

Wilmer Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Hood Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Peace Officer 01/22/2023 - 5pm 

Copperas Cove Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Hays Co. Const. Pct. 5 Get Info Deputy Constable 02/01/2023 - 5pm 

El Paso Comm. College Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer 01/28/2023 - 5pm 

Stanton Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Division 01/27/2023 - 5pm 

Haskell Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 01/28/2023 - 5pm 

Leonard Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/28/2023 - 5pm 

Kleburg Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 01/29/2023 - 5pm 

Nolan Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Criminal Investigator 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Nolan Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Southwestern Baptist Police Dept. Get Info P/T Police Officer 01/31/2023 - 5pm 

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Irving Fire Dept. Get Info Fire Prevention Specialist 01/31/2023 - 5pm 

Carrollton Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer Recruit 02/05/2023 - 5pm 

Van Zandt Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy 02/05/2023 - 5pm 

Mesquite Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/18/2023 - 5pm 

Texas A&M Univ. Police Dept. Get Info Police Cadet 01/04/2023 - 5pm 

Duncanville Police Dept. Get Info Police Recruit 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Hurst Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer Entrance Exam 01/12/2023 - 5pm 

Bruceville-Eddy Police Dept. Get Info F/T Patrol Officer 02/05/2023 - 5pm 

Colleyville Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/04/2023 - 5pm 

Harris Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy 02/06/2023 - 5pm 

Seguin Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 01/07/2023 - 5pm 

Garland Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer Recruit 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Sinton Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer 02/07/2023 - 5pm 

Lubbock Co. W.C.I.D. #1 Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer (F/T) 01/12/2023 - 5pm 

New Braunfels Police Dept. Get Info Certified Officers & Cadets 01/06/2023 - 5pm 

yrs. 

Manvel Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 02/12/2023 - 5pm 

Gillespie Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 02/10/2023 - 5pm 

Grand Prairie Police Dept. Get Info Police Civil Service Test 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Lago Vista Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/16/2023 - 5pm 

Alamo Colleges Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/16/2023 - 5pm 

Abilene Christian Univ. Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/13/2023 - 5pm 

Tarrant Co. College District Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 03/31/2023 - 5pm 

Kaufman Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy 02/15/2023 - 5pm 

Weimar Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 02/21/2023 - 5pm 

League City Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/04/2023 - 5pm 

TWU Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Harrison County Get Info Court Bailiff 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Lavaca Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 02/21/2023 - 5pm 

Bailey Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info F/T Patrol Deputy 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Hughes Springs Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/24/2023 - 5pm 

Brady Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 03/31/2023 - 5pm 

Crockett Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/27/2023 - 5pm 

Levelland Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/28/2023 - 5pm 

Castle Hills Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 03/01/2023 - 5pm 

Pflugerville Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 02/28/2023 - 5pm 

Katy Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 03/02/2023 - 5pm 

Van Zandt Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Transport Deputy 03/02/2023 - 5pm 

Fate Dept. of Public Safety Get Info Public Safety Officer 02/03/2023 - 5pm 

Schleicher Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 02/02/2023 - 5pm 





STATEWIDE VACANCIES FOR JAILERS 

Jones Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Jailer 02/01/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Dept. Get Info Detention Officer 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Ellis County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Detention Officer 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff Detention Cadet 01/13/2023 - 5pm 

Nolan Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Jailer (3 openings) 01/20/2023 - 5pm 

Van Zandt Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 02/05/2023 - 5pm 

Gonzales Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Corrections Officer 01/25/2023 - 5pm 

Gillespie Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 02/10/2023 - 5pm 

Rockwall Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officers 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Kaufman Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 02/15/2023 - 5pm 

STATEWIDE VACANCIES TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATOR 

Collin Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Dispatcher 04/11/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Dept. Get Info 911 Dispatcher 01/08/2023 - 5pm 

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Get Info Dispatcher 01/13/2023 - 5pm 

Upton Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Dispatcher/ Telecommunicator 01/07/2023 - 5pm 

Erath Co. Sheriff's Office 

Get Info Public Safety Telecommunicator 01/15/2022 - 5pm 

North Texas Emergency Communications Center Get Info Director of Communications 02/05/2023 - 5pm 

Austin Community College Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher 01/30/2023 - 5pm 

Lago Vista Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator 01/16/2023 - 5pm 

TWU Police Dept. Get Info Dispatchers 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Belton Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher 01/21/2023 - 5pm 

Katy Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher 03/02/2023 - 5pm 

SPRING BRANCH ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT 

WE’RE 

HIRING 

DEPARTMENT 

HIGHLIGHTS 

55 officer department 

44 square mile district 

47 schools 

35,000 population 

24/7 Patrol 

We want you to preserve, protect, and defend our future. 

Starting Pay $63,000 (TCOLE Basic Peace Officer certification with no experience) 




Patrol & Onsite Officers (HS/MS) 

Gang Officer 

Mental Health Officers 

Community Relations Officer 

Emergency Management 

Criminal Investigations 

K-9 programs 

Language pay 

Shift differential pay 

Intermediate, Advanced and 

Master Peace Officer 

certificate pay 

Paid time off 

Ample overtime opportunities 

*All equipment provided including duty weapon 

**Training opportunities available 

Apply online today. springbranchisd.com/join-our-team 




austin officers 

austin dispatch 


EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 

• Paid Vacation 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Compensatory Days 

• Certification Pay 

ALDINE ISD POLICE DEPT. 

now accepting applications for: 

Dispatcher 

Salary starting at $40,000, 

no experience required. 

TO APPLY VISIT 

WWW.ALDINEISD.ORG 

OR 

Contact the Personnel 

Department at 

281-985-7571 

OR 

Contact Sergeant R. Hall at 

281-442-4923 

HIRING PROCESS 

• Oral Board Panel Interview 

• Complete Personal History Statement 

• Psychological Evaluation 

• Medical Examination 

• Interview with the Chief of Police 


BECOME A BAYTOWN 

PATROL OFFICER! 

STARTING PAY: 

$67,320/YEAR 

$1,500 SIGNING 

INCENTIVE! 

SALARY 

(YEARLY) 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

PAID LEAVE 

Probationary Patrol Officer $67,320 

5 Year Patrol Officer $81,073 

9 Year Patrol Officer $93,694 

Annual salary increases up to a max of 

$93,694 with longevity pay 

Modified Lateral Pay Scale for Peace 

Officers from time at immediately 

preceding Law Enforcement Agency 

CERTIFICATION PAY 

Intermediate PO Certification $92.08 

Advanced PO Certification $157.08 

Master's PO Certification $212.33 

RELOCATION 

(MONTHLY) 

Health Insurance 

Dental Insurance 

Vision Insurance 

Life Insurance 

Employee Wellness Center 

Training and Fitness Facility 

Retirement Plan (7% Mandatory with a 

2:1 match; 20 year retirement) 

457 Deferred Compensation Plan 

Tuition Assistance and Academy Tuition 

Reimbursement 

City Vehicle Program 

Uniforms/Equipment Provided with 

Annual Allowances 

15 Vacation days accrued per year 

(civil Service Status) 

10 City Holidays per year 

1 Personal day per year 

15 Sick days accrued per year 

15 days of Military Leave per year 

EDUCATION PAY 

Associates $50 

Bachelors $100 

Master $125 

SPECIALTY/ SKILL PAY 

(MONTHLY) 

(MONTHLY) 

Relocation Expenses Reimbursed 

Bilingual in Spanish $50 

WWW.BPDCAREERS.ORG 281-420-5354 281-420-6660 


For additional information please scan the QR code to go to our recruiting website!

October 15 

October 15 


Cuero Police Department 

Now Hiring for Patrol Officer Position 

Department Benefits 

13 Paid Holidays 

2 Weeks Paid Vacation 

Certification Pay 

100% Insurance Paid for Employees 

Retirement 2 to 1 match (20yr Retirement) 

FSA for Employees 

Longevity Pay 

Equipment & Uniforms Provided Including Duty Weapon w/ Red Dot Sight 

Take Home Vehicle Within City Limits 

10 Hour Work Shifts 

Membership Paid to Local Gym 

Department Provided Training 

Off-duty Security Opportunities 

Cell Phone Stipend 

Starting Pay Depends on Qualifications 

Requirements: Must be TCOLE Certified or currently enrolled in an accredited Police 

Academy and pass a background investigation. 


Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com

DEER PARK POLICE 

DEPARTMENT 

Deer Park, Texas 

WE ARE HIRING 

www.deerparktx.gov 

Police Officer 

Dispatcher 

Public Safety Attendant - Jailer 

Animal Control Officer 

Part time Crossing Guard 

Officer Sam Jammas 281-930-2121 or sjammas@deerparktx.org 


Forney ISD 

Police Department 

NOW 

HIRING 

Police Officers 

Description 

School-based police officers work 

with school administrators, security 

staff, and faculty to ensure the safety 

and well-being of students at various 

campuses. This officer works as the 

main security arm of a school. 

Experience 

SBLE Experience preferred 

Demonstrate the ability to 

teach & engage with youth 

Requirements 

U.S. Citizen 

Accredited High School Diploma 

or equivalent 

Valid Texas Peace Officer License 

Valid Texas Driver's License 

Two or more years of college or 

advanced training preferred 

Positions starting 

at $29.89/hr 

Retention Stipends 

Clothing Allowance 

Health/Childcare Incentive 

Paid Training 

Lateral Entry 

APPLY ONLINE TODAY! 

www.forneyisd.net 


GALVESTON 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

Seeking Individuals Who Are Interested in a Rewarding Career in Corrections 

Begin Your Career Today! 

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY 

APPLY TODAY AND BECOME A GALVESTON POLICE OFFICER 

Position: Corrections Deputy I 

Bureau/Division: Corrections/Jail 

Title/Rank: Corrections Deputy/Deputy I 

Reports to: Sergeant - Corrections 

Starting Salary: $51,250.00 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Maintains the security of the facility by conducting security checks, settling disputes, and performing cell searches and 

inspections; conducts outside perimeter checks. 

Preparation and proper completion in the documentation of inmate records. 

Issues inmate meals, clothing, linens, and personal items. 

Supervise inmate programs (recreational, legal, health care, visitation and religious services) 

Prepares reports on jail and inmate activities, enforce inmate handbook rules. 

Supervises inmates performing such assignments as cleaning and maintaining the jail facility and continuously observe 

locations and activities of inmates. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• High School / GED Certificate and must be at least 18 years of age. 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of the contiguous United States for a period of time sufficient to conduct a 

background investigation. 

• Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays and mandatory shifts when needed. 

• Must be able to work during natural disasters and or under declarations. 

• Must possess a valid Texas driver's license and an acceptable driving record as determined by the Galveston County 

Sheriff's Office in effect at the time of application. 

• Must have favorable employment history. All information given regarding past employment will be thoroughly checked. 

• Must have a stable credit history. 

• Must possess good computer skills and demonstrate comprehensive reading and comprehension skills. 

• No conviction above a Class B Misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years nor have been on or 

currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense and no Family Violence 

convictions of any level. 

• Applicant must pass all phases of the required testing. 

• Must be eligible for licensing by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for the position applied for, if not 

presently licensed. 

TO APPLY 

An applicant interested in any of GCSO position shall first download, complete and return 

the Application Packet, per the instructions on the downloadable form. 

The Application Packet can be found at SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV 


JOIN US 

VISIT SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV TO APPLY! 

The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

CONTACT US 

409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV



LATERAL DEPUTY 


WE ARE 

HIRING! 

BENEFITS 

•Free basic Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for 

employee 

•Free basic Life insurance 

•Long Term Disability (LTD) 

•Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision benefits for 

eligible family members 

•Flexible Spending Accounts 

•10 paid holidays per year 

•Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) including 10 vacation 

days and 13 sick days per year accrued biweekly 

•Paid Parental Leave 

RETIREMENT 

•Harris County matches your investment at 225% 

•7% of your salary is invested pre-tax in your 

retirement account 

•Retirement Vesting after 8 years 

•Eligible upon earning 75 points (age+years of service) 

SALARY SCALE 

INCENTIVE PAY 

CLASSIFICATION SERVICE HOURLY ANNUAL 

DEPUTY I 0-47 $26.23 $54,558 

DEPUTY II 48-83 $28.07 $58,386 

DEPUTY III 84-119 $29.73 $61,838 

DEPUTY IV 120-155 $31.23 $64,958 

DEPUTY V 156+ $32.78 $68,182 

TCOLE CERTIFICATION 

ANNUAL 

Intermediate $1,560 

Advanced $3,420 

Master $6,000 

EDUCATION 

ANNUAL 

Associate Degree $1,320 

Bachelor Degree $3,180 

Master/Doctorate $4,500 

LATERAL DEPUTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

•Must be a licensed Peace Officer by the Texas Commission on Law 

Enforcement (TCOLE) in good standing 

•Must be currently employed as a Peace Officer (any break in service 

will be considered on a case-by-case basis) 

•Must have a minimum of 12 consecutive months experience as a 

Peace Office at any one agency 

•Must successfully pass the HCSO Physical Abilities Test (PAT) 

•Meet HCSO firearms qualification standard 

•Must pass a thorough background investigation (criminal 

background check, fingerprinting, personal interview, etc.) as 

required by TCOLE 

•Must pass a physical and psychological evaluation as required by 

TCOLE 

•Valid driver’s license and liability insurance (Texas by start date) 

•Eyesight must be correctable to 20/20, normal color, and peripheral 

vision 

•Correctable normal audible range in both ears 

•A two (2) year minimum commitment to Patrol before being eligible 

to transfer to other Bureaus 

TO APPLY 

Now Hiring 

OFFICERS 

TCOLE Certified Peace Officers 

Hutto ranked one of the 

safest cities in Texas. 

Our fast-growing City shows a trending decrease in crimes based 

on four offenses from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. 

Additional Pay 

+ Education Pay up to $175/month 

+ Specialty/Certication up to $260/month 

Highlights 

Top-of-the-line Equipment 

and Technology 

Beards and Tattoos Allowed 

No Written Test for Most Lateral Officers 

To learn more or apply, visit or scan 

https: //linktr. ee/huttopd 

Benets 

Retirement 

2-to-1 City match with TMRS 

Take-home Patrol Car 

For officers living within 25 miles 

Starting Salary 

$62K to $81K 

Annual Leave Accruals 

12 paid holidays, 80 hrs vacation, 96 hrs sick leave 

Multiple Positions Available 

A wide variety of units and assignments available 

Sign On Bonus! 

$5,000* 

Harris County 

Questions? Email: PDrecruiting@huttotx.gov 

174 The BLUES @HCSOTexas 

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas 

SCAN THIS CODE 

Sheriff’s Office 

The BLUES 175 

Tenure agreement required. 

Bilingual Pay $1,800 

Receive up to fourteen (14) years of credit for time served! (Restrictions apply) 

NEXT CLASS STARTS 

FEBRUARY 2023 

For additional information contact 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Unit 

(713) 877-5250

L A P O R T E 

P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T 

Lateral Police Officer 

Starting Pay $ 62,416. to $73,775. 

Effective October 1, 2022 

No prior experience required. High School diploma or GED required. 

Possession of Class C Texas Driver License. 

Must possess a TCOLE License or be enrolled in accredited Basic Peace Officer Academy. 

Certification Pay (bi-weekly): 

$46.15 - Intermediate Peace Officer 

$69.23 - Advanced Peace Officer 

$92.31 - Master Peace Officer 

Education Pay (bi-weekly): 

$46.15 - Associates Degree 

$69.23 - Bachelors Degree 

$92.31 - Masters Degree 

Employee Benefits: 

Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance 

Longevity Pay 

Tuition Reimbursement 

TMRS Retirement (2 to 1 match) 

ICMA Deferred Compensation/Roth IRA 

$1,000 Physical Fitness Program 

Weapon Purchase Program 

Take-home Vehicles 

Specialized Divisions: 

SWAT / Bomb Squad 

Bike Patrol 

Criminal Investigative Division 

Crime Scene Unit 

Drone Pilots 

School Resource Officers 

Traffic/DOT Officers 

Police Area Representatives 

Apply online at 

www.laportetx.gov/jobs 

Paid Leave Benefits 

15 days vacation (Civil Service) 

15 days sick leave 

Military Leave 

9 observed holidays per year 

2 employee holidays per year 

Bereavement Leave 

Comp Time 



Memorial Villages Police Department 

Bunker Hill • Piney Point• Hunters Creek 

Police Officer 

EOE/M/F/D 

5+ Years Patrol Experience Required 

The Memorial Villages Police Department (Located on the West Side of Houston) currently 

looking for experienced officers who are self- motivated, innovative, and enthusiastic about 

community policing. 

Starting Salary Range 

Effective Jan 2023 

Hiring Bonus $1500 

Night Shift Differential $3600 

ECA $1300 

Basic Peace Officer 

Starting $83,459 

Hiring Bonus $1500 

Night Shift Differential $3600 

Master Peace Officer 

ECA $1300 

Bi-Lingual 2.5% of base pay 

College up to $3000 (Masters) 

Up to $94,164 

Healthcare Insurance, DHMO Dental, Vision – 100% paid for employee, 75% Paid for 

spouse/dependents. 

Paid long-term disability and life insurance for employee, with additional life insurance 

available for spouse/dependents. 

Health Savings Account with departmental contributions up to $4200 annually 

TMRS Retirement 2 to 1 match, 7% Employee ,14% Employer Contribution, 20 Year Retirement 

457 Plan with employer contribution of 2.5% of annual salary 

Tuition reimbursement 

Longevity Pay up to a max of $2400 annually at 10 years of service. 

ECA (Emergency Care Assistant) $1300 Annually, training provided to each employee. 

12 hour shifts with every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. 

To learn more or apply, visit our website at www.mvpdtx.org 

Or contact Sgt. Owens 713-365-3711 or lowens@mvpdtx.org 

Or Commander E. Jones 713-365-3706 ejones@mvpdtx.org 

11981 Memorial Dr. Houston, Texas 77024 



MAKE A 

DIFFERENCE 

IN YOUR 

COMMUNITY 

We are looking for outstanding individuals to 

join our team! As a Pearland Police Officer your 

mission will be to prevent crime and disorder, build 

partnerships within the community, and positively 

impact the quality of life for all our residents. 

CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS 

• Competitive Salary • Outstanding Training 

• Career Advancement • Exceptional Benefits 

The City of Pearland is one of the fastest growing 

communities within the region. Pearland is located 

approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Houston 

and the current population is approximately 130,000 

residents. 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

HIRING POLICE OFFICERS AND CADETS 

$5,000 Hiring Incentive for T.C.O.L.E Certified Police 

Officers who qualify with at least 2 years of experience. 

TEST DATE: 

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 8:30 A.M. 

Register by: April 12. 

WATCH FOR UPCOMING 

Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium 

4141 Bailey TEST Road, DATES Pearland, TX IN 77584. 2022 

Doors Open: 7:15 a.m. No admittance after 7:45 a.m. 

Candidates must park in the north parking lot. 

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY 

• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals 

• Mandatory temperature checks 

• Masks required, hand sanitizer available 

• Candidates seated 6 feet apart 

184 The BLUES For additional information and to register for an upcoming Civil Service Exam, The BLUES visit 185 

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers


PORT HOUSTON 

POLICE DEPARTMENT 

WE ARE 

HIRING 

SIGN UP TODAY! www.porthouston.com/careers-2 

BENEFITS: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 

eligible first day of employment 

• Wellness Program 

(can earn up to $600 credit per year if requirements met) 

• Enrollment with Calm App for Wellbeing 

• Defined contribution plan (401a) 

– Employer Sponsored 

• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan) 

– Employee Contributions 

• Vacation 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Holiday 12 days/year 

• Life and Accidental Death and 

Dismemberment Insurance 

• Short Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits 

• Flexible spending account (FSA) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Pet Insurance 

• Legal and Identity Theft Protection 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

Up to the IRS annual limit and a maximum lifetime 

reimbursement of $25,000 

• Onsite Credit Union – Port of Houston Credit Union 

Are you looking for a career with meaning? 

Do you want to make a difference in a highly 

supportive community? 

Join our team at Port Houston! 

STARTING PAY* 

$60,000 up to $71,000 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be 21 years old 

• Must have 2+ years of police officer 

experience 

• Must have valid Texas Driver’s License 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen 

• Must have an honorable discharge 

from the military (if applicable) 

• Must never have been convicted of a 

Class A Misdemeanor or above 

EMPLOYMENT 

TESTING 

Employment is contingent on passing 

any post-offer pre-employment 

screening as listed below: 

• Criminal background check 

• Motor Vehicle Record check 

• Drug screening 

• Physical exam 

• Psychological exam 

SCAN 

QR CODE 

TO APPLY 

• Not been convicted of a Class B 

• Additional as required 

* Salary depends on experience 

misdemeanor within the last 10 years 

• Must have a GED or high school diploma 



STARTING SALARY 

$56,160 $57,824 $60,008 $62,400 $64,792 $67,184 $69,680 $72,384 $74,880 $77,480 $80,080 

High School Diploma 

or G.E.D. 

Minimum age of 21 

Must hold a valid 

Texas Driver’s License 

Current valid TCOLE 

certification 

At Hire 

At 

6 mos. 

end 

year 1 

end 

year 2 

end 

year 3 

end 

year 4 

end 

year 5 

end 

year 6 

end 

year 7 

end 

year 8 

end 

year 9 

GET STARTED 

LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF 

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN 

$3,000 


What do you think is the REAL 

Monday Night Horror? 

A critically injured football 

player, or a Dead Police Chief? 

194 The BLUES

January 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 1

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