AUGUST 2023. Blues Vol 39 No 8

The BLUES 1

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yrs. 

VOL. 39 NO. 8 AUGUST 2023 

FEATURES 

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NEWS AROUND THE US 

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DR. TINA JAECKLE, SENIOR EDITOR 

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH 

The BLUES 3

4 The BLUES

FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-N-CHIEF 

Michael Barron 

OUR TEAM 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

Rex Evans 

SENIOR EDITOR 

Dr. Tina Jaeckle 

CREATIVE EDITOR 

Jessica Jones 

COPY EDITOR 

Lt. John King (Ret) 

OUTDOOR EDITOR 

Rusty Barron 

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Daryl Lott 

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS 

Sam Horwitz & John Salerno 


Bill King 


Doug Griffith 


Daniel Carr 


Brandon Karr 

WARSTORY 

Stacy Moser 

AFTERMATH 

James Jefferson 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Steve Litz, Brian Hamache - WTVJ-TV 

Emily Shapiro - ABC News 

Lenah Allen, Seth Feiner - Gray News 

Harriet Ramos - Fort-Worth Star Telegram 

Rio Yamat - AP 

David Hammer - Times-Picayune,NOLA 

Tony Marrero, Michael Mulligan - 

Tampa Bay Times 

Juliana Kim - NPR News 

Danial Egitto - Times-Herald 

Patrick Orsagos, Bruce Shipkowski, 

Samatha Hendrickson, Collen Slevin - AP 

The BLUES is published monthly by Kress-Barr, LLC, PO Box 2733, League City Texas 77574. The opinions expressed in some articles, 

op-eds, and editorials are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of The BLUES or its parent company. 

Rebuttals or submission of news articles and editorials may be submitted to: The BLUES @ bluespdmag@gmail.com. 

The entire contents of The BLUES IS copyrighted© and may not be reprinted without the express permission of the publisher. 

The BLUES 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK 

yrs. 

Will the upcoming elections 

mean more turnover among 

police chiefs? 

Troy Finner, a 34-year veteran 

of the Houston Police 

Department, became HPD’s 

newest leader in April of 2021. 

That made Finner the fourth 

new big-city police chief appointed 

in Texas since January 

2021. Finner was preceded by Al 

Jones in Arlington, Eddie Garcia 

in Dallas and Neil Noakes in 

Fort Worth. 

At his swearing-in ceremony, 

Finner told members of 

the press he felt like “the most 

blessed man in this world right 

now.” 

But after spending a couple of 

minutes thanking God, his family, 

the citizens of Houston and 

the city’s leadership for the opportunity, 

Finner cut his speech 

short saying that Mayor Sylvester 

Turner told him before the 

ceremony that he ‘didn’t want a 

long press conference today.’ 

Turner reportedly told Finner, 

‘Troy, you’re on the clock now 

as the chief of police and it’s 

time to go to work.’ 

Finner’s repeating of Turner’s 

comment during the ceremony 

was played as a joke, a way to 

break the ice. But the mayor’s 

comment to Houston’s new 

police chief speaks to a larger 

trend seen in major cities 

across the country. 

“There is a shortening of time 

when you compare the tenure 

of a police chief nowadays to a 

tenure of a police chief back in 

the 80s,” said Alex Del Carmen, 

a police chief trainer and the 

associate dean of the School of 

Criminology at Tarleton State 

University. “Now, in terms of 

what leads to that [shortening 

of time], I would argue that 

like everything else in life it’s 

not just one answer. It’s many 

answers.” 

Criminologists like Del Carmen, 

and many former police 

chiefs, agree that when it 

comes to turnover there are 

several factors that contribute 

to chiefs leaving their organizations. 

However, the most 

common reasons are stress and 

friction between the chief and 

local governing bodies. 

“They’re in an impossible 

position,” said Mary Dodge, a 

professor of criminology at the 

University of Colorado who has 

studied police chief turnover 

and tenure. “Ultimately, your 

police chief is the person who 

is making all of the decisions, is 

taking all of the heat for anything 

that might go wrong in 

that department and it could 

be that they’re working 19 hours 

a day.” 

SGT. MICHAEL BARRON RET 

Dodge’s research has shown 

that the stress of the job tends 

to lead to health concerns like 

high blood pressure and heart 

attacks. But she added that the 

stress isn’t only brought on by 

the tough decisions and long 

hours, it’s also caused by the 

long list of people the chief is 

accountable to. 

“Imagine them in the middle 

of a circle and they’re surrounded 

by politicians that they 

have to please, the rank and 

file that they have to deal with 

[and the] community,” she said. 

“Then added on top of that you 

have police unions, the ACLU, 

and in some cases, you even 

have the Department of Justice 

looking over their shoulder.” 

Gary Peterson, a former 

police chief from California, 

thinks stress is a big reason a 

police chief might leave their 

post, but he also pointed out 

that police executives don’t 

have contracts that guarantee 

terms. 

6 The BLUES

“You’re being appointed by 

other folks whose positions 

are temporary, like the mayor, 

city managers, police commissions,” 

he said. “Their positions 

are tenuous as well.” 

That sentiment was echoed 

by Brian Higgins, a former 

police chief from New Jersey 

and a professor at the John Jay 

College of Criminal Justice. 

Higgins believes policing has 

been politicized and that pushing 

out a police chief is often 

a tactic used by city leaders to 

save face after a controversial 

incident. 

As an example, Higgins pointed 

to Seattle where former police 

chief Carmen Best abruptly 

announced her departure after 

a tumultuous few months when 

intense protests against racial 

injustice and heavy-handed 

police practices drew national 

attention after the killing of 

George Floyd in 2020. 

“As soon as an issue occurs 

the chief is the one who goes 

as if the whole issue goes,” 

Higgins said. “Even though the 

mayor’s the one who brought 

in the chief and the mayor was 

leading the municipality during 

that time.” 

More often than not, when 

elected officials have a critical 

incident, they very quickly 

try to show that they have the 

situation under control and that 

they’re not going to tolerate it. 

So, what do they do? They get 

rid of their chiefs.” 

Mayors and city managers 

who hire and fire police chiefs 

based on politics are doing 

themselves, their community, 

and their police departments 

a disservice. This practice of 

mayors and city managers 

ditching their chiefs “just to say 

they did something” is not only 

a leading cause in police chief 

turnover but also the number 

one reason that tenures are 

shrinking for police executives. 

Time will tell what’s going to 

happen in the upcoming elections. 

Many of the big cities in 

the US will elect new mayors 

and if the current chiefs fail 

to implement changes fast 

enough or struggle to deal 

with controversial incidents 

— history has shown us that 

they’ll be out of a job quickly. 

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The BLUES 7

FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

yrs. 

Times are Changing. 

8 The BLUES 

CHIEF REX EVANS 

Times change. People 

change. The whole world has 

in fact, changed. That means 

our profession has to change 

as well. Some would argue 

the changes in law enforcement 

have not been good. 

Others would say that change 

needed to happen. I say both 

sides have a point. To a point. 

Friends, being a cop has 

never ever been easy. The pay 

has never been that great. Nor 

has the schedule or the demands 

of the job. Not to mention, 

people will literally try 

to kill you for no other reason 

than the fact that you’re wearing 

a badge. This culmination 

of factors tends to make some 

folks pause for a moment or 

two about making such a career 

selection. 

Social evolution is a real 

thing. Entire communities, 

even entire states, have completely 

evolved from one social-economic 

level to another. 

Not to mention, the whole 

shift in political ideologies. 

Stands to reason, police work 

must change too. 

Change isn’t always bad, you 

know. For instance, the old 

“Widow Maker” holsters many 

of us began our careers with. 

Not only was I issued that holster, 

but my dad’s Colt Python 

was the weapon of the day. 

(Still deadly today as it was 

then) Our old flashlights were 

made of solid steel and our 

old Motorola MX 350 handheld 

was ejected from a converta-com. 

(just Google it). 

I am not saying that all the 

changes in this world are 

good. Nor am I saying all 

the changes in law enforcement 

are good. For example, 

our police vehicles look 

more like fighter jets on the 

inside. Stuffed with computers, 

screens, radios, sirens, 

etc. Our uniforms have gone 

from a simple leather belt 

with speed loaders, holster, 

dual nightsticks, flashlight 

rings and a cuff case, to pretty 

much anything you can carry. 

We must be mindful of the 

communities we serve. It is 

incumbent upon us as law 

enforcement officers to remember 

the original motto 

was “Serve and Protect” not 

the other way around. We are 

here to serve our communities 

and those who live and work 

there. Not only are we sworn 

to this solemn duty, its just 

the right thing to do. It’s the 

very core of our profession. 

No matter what your religion, 

race, gender, sexual orientation, 

or social economic 

status might be, every cop out 

there today must treat everyone 

respectfully and with a 

higher level or professional 

standards. Even higher standards 

than our predecessors 

were held to. Why? Because 

society, the people whom we 

work for, expect it. And to a 

very real extent, they deserve 

it. 

Times change my friends. I 

have in fact, honestly enjoyed 

many of the changes our 

profession has seen over the 

years. Like a working A/C in 

my patrol car is quite amazing. 

My radio actually works 

when I key it up. And the list 

goes on. Not every change is 

bad. Just keep a clear head 

and a true heart. You’ll be fine. 

We’ll all be just fine. And I’m 

waiting patiently for the flying-patrol 

cars to arrive in the 

near distant future.

The BLUES 9

10 The BLUES

The BLUES 11

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The BLUES 13

TRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWN 

By Michael Barron 

The CANCEL MOVEMENT has 

once again targeted a patriotic 

member of our society. Yes, I’m 

referring to Jason Aldean and his 

most recent song and video “Try 

that in a small town.” These radical 

left-wing activists, want you 

to believe Jason is white-racist 

singer. The truth is quite the opposite. 

What Jason is, is a proud 

American who is sick and tired of 

all the bullshit that has wrecked 

our country. The video simple 

shows all the violence groups like 

Black Lives Matter have rained 

down on cities across America. 

The clips were taken from actual 

news clips over the past 3 years. 

Yes, the images are heart 

breaking and disturbing. Yes, the 

images show people of color, and 

yes include black people, setting 

buildings on fire and fighting 

the police. He didn’t create these 

images, he just replayed them in 

a video. That does not make him 

raciest. It just highlights the illegal 

activities of a group of people 

hellbent on destroying America. 

And before anyone dare say this 

magazine or anyone affiliated 

with it, supports racism or accuses 

us of being raciest…. you 

can stop that bullshit right now. 

Not a single member of our staff 

including myself, have a single 

ounce of racism in our blood. 

Over the 40-year history of this 

magazine, we have highlighted 

14 The BLUES 

the careers of hundreds 

of police officers 

that are black, 

brown and every 

color in between. 

We are brothers and 

sisters of one color 

and one color only - 

BLUE. 

What we do see 

is groups like Black 

Lives Matters starting 

riots in cities 

across America, 

destroying businesses 

and injuring 

police officers. Many 

of which are black. 

Business owned by 

blacks, burnt to the 

ground. Families 

of young black kids in Chicago 

and major cities across America, 

killed by bullets in drive by’s. 

That’s not raciest, that’s the sad 

reality of the world we live in. 

And Jason Aldean, like most of 

America, is sick and tired of the 

bullshit and wrote a song that 

said, don’t bring that shit to our 

small town. 

In Jason’s words, “In the past 

24 hours I have been accused of 

releasing a pro-lynching song … 

and was subject to the comparison 

that I was not too pleased 

with the nationwide BLM protests. 

These references are not only 

meritless, but dangerous,” he 

wrote. 

“There is not a single lyric in 

the song that references race or 

points to it- and there isn’t a single 

video clip that isn’t real news 

footage — and while I can try and 

respect others to have their own 

interpretation of a song with music 

— this one goes too far.” 

The BLUES Magazine supports 

Jason Alden 100%. Next month, 

we’ll feature him on our cover 

and let him tell his side of the 

story. Until then, we invite you to 

listen to the song here, watch the 

video and buy the hell out of Jason’s 

music. Prove to the radical 

left, we are proud of America and 

we’re proud of people like Jason 

Aldean who aren’t afraid to stand 

up for what they believe in. GOD 

BLESS AMERICA!

COMING IN SEPTEMBER 

The BLUES 15

GUEST COMENTARY 

Doug Griffith 

yrs. 

Professional Standards. 

I still remember my first few 

weeks in the academy. Spit 

shined shoes, crisp uniform, 

and those goofy bus driver 

hats. There was an incredible 

sense of pride when I put that 

white shirt on and went to 

learn whatever useless information 

was on tap for the 

day. Then that day of graduation…. 

the thrill of putting 

on that baby blue uniformed 

shirt that fit perfectly with the 

polished boots and shiny gun 

belt. That time in my career 

I felt proud to be part of this 

noble profession that is Law 

Enforcement. I did my best to 

always look professional even 

if I had just chased someone in 

the 100-degree heat of summer 

and rolled around on the 

ground with the dirty sweaty 

suspect. 

Over the last few years, the 

department has seemed to 

have relaxed the professional 

standards to help accommodate 

those with tattoos, 

beards, and those who like 

to wear hats and shorts. I 

can remember very distinctly 

many of the older officers and 

those from the military upset 

with the new looks and felt it 

“unprofessional”. I can somewhat 

agree, but also know 

that times change and so must 

we. The current grooming and 

standards policy is somewhat 

lax compared to the days of 

old and should be sufficient to 

make ALMOST everyone happy. 

But like most things in life, the 

few screw it up for the rest of 

us. I have done my best to get 

the Chief to continue to allow 

beards, but it is becoming 

harder and harder to convince 

him when we have officers 

walking around with long 

unkept beards. I have tried to 

explain that this is a supervisor 

issue. We need supervisors to 

make sure that their officers 

are in compliance with current 

policy. Now this does not 

mean that we drop paper on 

officers, but we need to have 

those conversations with the 

troops who continue to violate 

the policy. At any minute, 

the Chief can prohibit facial 

hair, hats, shorts, or anything 

else he wants and there is no 

recourse for that. Grooming 

standards are not protected 

except for religious exemptions. 

This leads us into the next 

area, the uniforms. There are 

so many variations of the current 

uniform that it makes my 

head spin. We have a Uniform 

Committee with a union representative 

on it. The entire 

function of this committee is 

to develop a professional and 

DOUG GRIFFITH, HPOU 

workable uniform for officers 

from every division. Let 

me be very clear when I say 

this… we are a para-military 

organization! The department 

can dictate what you wear as 

a uniform. There are a ton of 

“security” companies out there 

who try to look like us. Our 

uniform and patch should not 

be copied, and the citizens 

should be able to take one 

look and know that you are 

a Houston Police Officer. Not 

only because we are a professional 

organization, but for 

the safety of our officers. We 

need to work together to keep 

the perks that so many enjoy. 

Let’s be honest, no one wants 

to see what’s under these 

beards, which is why I have 

one. It is clear if we do not 

stay within policy on grooming 

and uniforms, the few will ruin 

it for the rest of us. 

Doug Griffith is the president 

of the Houston Police Officers 

Union and a 33 year veteran of 

the Houston Police Department. 

16 The BLUES

The BLUES 17

GUEST COMENTARY 

police law news 

yrs. 

Daniel Carr 

A case in LA County that has it all. 

Including the magic catchphrase ‘I can’t breathe.’ 

There is a case in LA County that 

has it all: a misdemeanor offense, 

young white cops, elderly black 

suspects, a questionable use of 

force, and a magic catchphrase 

that cannot be unheard. 

This mess in LA County checks 

all the right boxes necessary to 

trigger a massive protest against 

police and edge an already unsafe 

community into total chaos. 

WHAT HAPPENED 

On June 24, 2023 deputies with 

the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department 

(LASD) were dispatched to a 

WinCo grocery store in Lancaster, 

Ca. The call to police dispatch 

was from store employees who 

reported that two individuals had 

shoplifted and “were assaulting 

loss prevention employees”. It was 

also reported that there was a 

“robbery in progress”. 

The suspects were described by 

the caller and it was reported that 

one of the items that was stolen 

was a cake. 

INITIAL CONTACT 

Deputy # 1 arrived on scene and 

observed a male and a female in 

the parking lot of the WinCo store 

that matched the description of 

the suspects. The male suspect 

was holding a cake. 

Deputy # 1 made initial contact 

with the suspects and stood by his 

driver’s side door. Deputy #1 gave 

multiple commands to “put your 

hands on the hood” and to “sit 

down” prior to making physical 

contact and/or approaching either 

18 The BLUES 

suspect. 

The commands given by Deputy 

#1 were not followed by either 

suspect. The suspects were uncooperative. 

The fact that Deputy # 1 utilized 

time, distance, and verbal commands 

are all evidence of deescalation 

tactics in action. Deputy # 1 

employed these strategies instead 

of immediately going hands on 

and/or utilizing force to gain 

compliance. This is an important 

mitigating factor. 

Also, had the suspects complied 

with the lawful commands - using 

force to detain may have been 

unnecessary. 

DECISION TO DETAIN 

Once Deputy # 2 arrived on 

scene the deputies approached 

the male and informed him that 

he was being “detained”. Each 

deputy held onto an arm and he 

was placed into handcuffs. The 

male suspect verbally objected 

but did not physically resist. At 

one point he threatened to overpower 

the deputies and escape as 

he ended an abrasive soliloquy by 

stating, “I could bust loose!”. 

While the male suspect was being 

placed in handcuffs the female 

suspect approached and began to 

record with her cell phone. 

Deputy # 2 then walked towards 

the female suspect with the intent 

of also placing her into handcuffs. 

Since there was reasonable suspicion 

to detain both individuals - 

there exists no legal issue with the 

detention of the suspects. 

THE USE OF FORCE 

As Deputy # 2 approached the 

female suspect she backed away 

and became physically resistant. 

She stated, “You can’t touch me!” 

and did not allow the deputy to 

place her into handcuffs. 

Deputy # 2 then utilized force in 

an effort to gain her compliance. 

Deputy # 2 performed an empty 

hand take down and tossed the 

female to the ground. Once on the 

ground the female suspect still 

did not cooperate and actively 

resisted. She attempted to stand 

up and refused to place her hands 

behind her back. The deputy did 

touch his knee to her back as she 

tried to roll over. He also gave her 

a warning that force would be utilized 

if she did not cooperate as 

he stated that he would “punch” 

her in the face. Deputy # 2 also 

deployed pepper spray into the 

eyes of the female suspect as she 

continued to resist. 

(Link to body cam footage) 

WHERE WAS THE DEPUTY’S 

KNEE? THE MAGIC PHRASE 

During the use of force the female 

suspect complained that the 

knee of Deputy # 2 was on her 

neck and then stated the magic 

phrase, 

“I CAN’T BREATHE!” 

As she muttered the controversial 

statement the body camera of 

Deputy # 2 clearly showed that his 

hands, feet, knees, and toes were 

nowhere near her neck. So, this

CLICK TO LEARN MORE 

The BLUES 19

appeared to be a disgusting lie. 

It is possible to both: 1) have 

sympathy and demand justice for 

those who are truly the victims of 

excessive force by police officers 

and 2) express disdain towards 

those who exploit tragedies for 

personal gain. 

CHARGES 

Deputies then completed the 

criminal investigation for the malfeasance 

that occurred inside of 

the WinCo store. 

The male was arrested and then 

cited and released for: resisting 

arrest, attempted petty theft, and 

interfering with a business. 

The female was then arrested 

and then cited and released for: 

assaulting an officer and battery 

against loss prevention personnel. 

2020 HINDSIGHT 

It is important to remember that 

even prudent and ethical police 

officers can make mistakes when 

thrown into dynamic, stressful, 

and violent situations - that they 

often did not create but are forced 

to respond to - involving uncooperative 

suspects. 

The absolute easiest thing for 

anyone to do is to harshly criticize 

the actions of police officers, 

especially without the benefit of 

actual experience, from the safety 

of home. If you have that privilege 

- enjoy it. 

However, that sentiment must 

be balanced with honest criticism 

of police actions in an effort to 

improve policing. 

DEPUTIES 

DE-ESCALATION, COMMANDS, 

AND WARNING OF FORCE. 

Deputy # 1 made a good effort 

to give commands and allowed 

both suspects significant time to 

comply. However, after the male 

was in handcuffs and Deputy # 2 

approached the female suspect 

he did not specifically inform her 

that she was being detained and 

20 The BLUES 

did not give a warning that force 

would be utilized prior to the take 

down. 

Since the female suspect was 

elderly, did not appear to be 

armed, and had remained on 

scene - a command to comply 

and a warning of force appeared 

to be feasible. 

LEVEL OF FORCE 

Again, the female was elderly, 

appeared to be unarmed, and was 

backing away from Deputy # 2 

(not actively attacking him). 

It is reasonable to ask whether 

or not it was necessary to conduct 

a take down and deploy pepper 

spray. 

From the available video evidence 

(which does not tell the 

entire story) although the use of 

some force was likely necessary 

to effect the detention - the take 

down and pepper spray did appear 

to be a tad excessive. 

HANDCUFFS 

Police officers can detain suspects 

without placing them in 

handcuffs. Police officers can 

certainly utilize handcuffs if the 

reasonableness of such an act can 

be articulated. 

Since the suspects were elderly, 

did not appear to be armed, and 

had remained on scene (when 

they could have fled) - I would be 

curious to know why the deputies 

felt the need to handcuff while 

they investigated this case. 

To be clear - the use of handcuffs 

was likely not a violation 

of policy or law in this case. And 

perhaps even asking the question 

only exposes my personal style 

when I worked as a patrol officer. 

SUSPECTS 

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE 

The female suspect yelled at 

Deputy # 2, “You can’t touch me!” 

as he approached. 

This is incorrect as the deputies 

had reasonable suspicion that a 

crime had been committed and 

therefore had legal authority to 

use objectively reasonable force 

to effect a lawful detention. 

“I CAN’T BREATHE!” 

I’ll leave this noted as an outright 

and disgusting lie. 

This makes it difficult to believe 

anything that the female suspects 

says. 

CRIME 

Don’t shoplift from a store and 

then assault employees. 

Practice basic human decency. 

If the allegations from store employees 

are true - the suspects are 

far too old to be this awful. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

In this case the male suspect 

was detained and handcuffed 

without incident. The deputies did 

not utilize any force against the 

male. However, a deputy did utilize 

force against the female suspect. 

It is important to understand 

why. What was the difference 

between the male and the female 

suspect? Active resistance. That’s 

it. 

The male suspect cooperated 

and no force was utilized. The 

female suspect did not cooperate 

and force was utilized. Under the 

pesky lens of reality - who was 

really at fault for what happened? 

I think everyone objective knows 

the answer to that question. 

All opinions on this case should 

evolve as more evidence becomes 

available. I would attach some 

weight to the official statements 

from the involved officers. I would 

give nearly zero credibility to any 

statement made by either attorney. 

Also, I am curious as to 

whether the actions of the deputies 

complied with department 

policy and delivered training. 

*As of the writing of this article 

the involved deputies (as well as 

the male and female suspects) 

have not been publicly identified.

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The BLUES 21

AROUND THE COUNTRY 

BREAKING 

yrs. 

MIAMI-DADE, FL. 

Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo “Freddy” 

Ramirez offered his resignation to the mayor 

before shooting himself. 

By Steve Litz and Brian Hamacher, 

WTVJ-TV (Miami, FL) 

Miami-Dade Police Director 

Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez offered 

his resignation to Mayor Daniella 

Levine Cava before he shot himself 

in an apparent attempted 

suicide over the weekend, the 

mayor said. 

Levine Cava held a news conference 

Wednesday where she confirmed 

she spoke with Ramirez 

over the phone before he shot 

himself near Tampa Sunday night. 

“Freddy told me he had made a 

mistake, that he was prepared to 

resign,” Levine Cava said. 

The mayor said Ramirez expressed 

remorse over an incident 

involving his wife at a Tampa 

hotel during their brief conversation, 

telling her he “had made 

mistakes.” 

“He was very remorseful, and I 

reassured him we would talk the 

following morning,” Levine Cava 

said. “He told me he was driving 

back to Miami at that time, and I 

told him we would talk the next 

day.” 

Ramirez had been attending 

the Florida Sheriff’s Association’s 

22 The BLUES 

annual summer conference in 

Tampa on Sunday when he had 

been involved in some sort of 

domestic dispute with his wife at 

a hotel, authorities said. 

Ramirez left the hotel and was 

driving somewhere along I-75 

in the Riverview neighborhood, 

toward the southern end of Hillsborough 

County, when he pulled 

over and shot himself, officials 

said. 

Levine Cava said Ramirez remained 

hospitalized but was 

“alert, awake and responsive” 

Wednesday. She said she’s optimistic 

he’ll continue to recover. 

“I’m glad that we were able 

to be by his side in this time of 

darkness as together we hope to 

see some light,” Levine Cava said. 

“I love Freddy, he is an amazing 

human being. He is the best, the 

best of law enforcement, what 

law enforcement means, I have 

total trust in his leadership,” 

South Florida Police Benevolent 

Association President Steadman 

Stahl told NBC6 Tuesday that 

he met with Ramirez’s family 

and was told the police director 

was speaking. He said the family 

“is very emotional” but doesn’t 

believe Ramirez has severe brain 

damage at this point. 

“It’s a very somber time for the

family, but they’re standing by 

his bedside, and we wish him 

the best,” Stahl said. “From the 

reports I have read, it looks like 

the bullet went through and out 

the eye, but it doesn’t look like it’s 

going to be any brain damage. 

Ramirez, 52, was rushed to a 

Tampa-area hospital and underwent 

surgery Monday. Miami-Dade 

Police said he was in 

stable condition. 

“Director Ramirez continues to 

positively recover post-surgery. 

He continues to receive outstanding 

medical care in Tampa surrounded 

by his family, loved ones, 

and MDPD brothers and sisters,” 

the Miami-Dade Police Department 

said in a statement Tuesday. 

“Thank you to our community 

and law enforcement family for 

all your prayers, support, and 

strength.” 

Sources told NBC6 that 

Ramirez’s wife was with him at 

the time of the shooting. No one 

else was injured in the incident. 

According to Tampa Police, officers 

had responded to a report 

of a man with a gun outside the 

Marriott Waterside, where the 

conference was being held. 

Officers arrived and were given 

third-hand information alleging a 

man had pointed a gun at himself, 

but there were no first-hand 

witnesses or security camera 

footage capturing the alleged 

incident, police said. 

Officers found Ramirez in a 

12th-floor room with a woman 

who Ramirez said he’d been involved 

in an argument with. 

Ramirez said he had not displayed 

a firearm and had no intention 

to harm himself or others, 

police said. The woman corroborated 

that they had an argument 

and that she did not have any 

concerns about her safety being 

in danger, police said. 

Since there was no evidence 

of a crime or immediate danger, 

Ramirez was released at the 

scene, police said. 

The Florida Department of Law 

Enforcement and the Florida 

Highway Patrol have launched a 

joint investigation into the incident. 

Ramirez had announced earlier 

this year he would run for sheriff 

in 2024 to try to keep his position 

as head of the police department. 

He first joined Miami-Dade Police 

in 1995 and worked his way 

up through the ranks. He became 

police director in 2020 and then 

received a further promotion to 

Miami-Dade County chief of public 

safety. 

“Freddy is the type of leader, 

the type of man, who bears the 

burdens of those around him, he 

carries the weight of his department 

and he’s always willing to 

take on more,” Levine Cava said 

Wednesday. “This incident is also 

a tragic reminder of the critical 

role that mental health plays in 

our law enforcement officers’ 

well-being. The reality is that 

these jobs are very demanding, 

they’re stressful and they’re 

emotionally taxing.” Reprinted from 

WTVJ-TV (Miami, FL) 

The BLUES 23


BREAKING 

HOUSTON,TX. 

Detention Officer J. Valdiviez was brutally attacked by an inmate 

as Harris County Jail deals with staffing shortages in its jails. 

HOUSTON, TX. – Detention Officer 

J. Valdiviez was injured during an 

attack at the Harris County Jail on 

July 21, according to court records. 

Christian Miguel Dillard was 

charged with aggravated assault on 

a public servant, which is one of 

many charges on his record. 

Court documents show Dillard 

struck Officer J. Valdiviez multiple 

times with his hand. 

Valdiviez reportedly sustained 

serious injuries after the attack, the 

county jail stated. He was listed to 

be in fair condition and recovering 

at home with bruised ribs, several 

facial lacerations, and a broken 

nose. 

“Mentally, I’m still recuperating,” 

the detention officer said in a phone 

call to KPRC’s Rilwan Balogun. 

“We’re still trying to figure and process 

it out. Physically, I’m okay. I’m 

doing good. I’m getting better. I’m 

healing day by day. But you know it’s 

kind of hard to talk with the stitches 

in my mouth. The stitches on the 

side of my head.” 

Valdiviez said he was on the 

“double lock down” floor which 

houses serious violent offenders. 

The 28-year-old said he was 

walking downstairs as Dillard was 

walking up. 

“That’s where he snuck me from 

behind and I ended up turning 

around immediately, I guess, trying 

to like swing back or fight back, in 

general, defending myself.” 

“Typically, in this pod, it’s always a 

24 The BLUES 

three-man pod,” Valdiviez said. “To 

be short-staffed in a double door 

lock down pod in general, that’s 

just unacceptable.” 

The Harris County Deputies Organization 

President David Cuevas 

echoed his sentiments. 

“We don’t have enough personnel 

out on the streets to protect the 

citizens or in our detention facilities 

and we’re seeing firsthand,” Cuevas 

said. 

He said Commissioners Court 

needs to increase detention officer 

pay by 23% to 25% to be competitive 

with surrounding areas. 

“We’re going to continue to go to 

work and do our job,” said Cuevas. 

“We are in desperate need of better 

finances so we can hire, retain better 

personnel.” 

Meanwhile, the sheriff commended 

Valdiviez. 

“I want to commend DO Valdiviez, 

yrs. 

his colleagues who intervened 

within seconds to stop the attack, 

and everyone who bravely reports 

for duty each day in Texas’ largest 

county jail,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez 

said on Twitter. 

According to court records, Dillard 

has a long and violent criminal 

history dating back to 2016. Before 

the recent attack, he’s been charged 

with assaulting an officer or peace 

officers three different times since 

2021. 

According to County records, in 

2023 alone, there have been 673 

assaults on staff by inmates, 2153 

assaults on inmates by inmates, 

2419 fights, 425 resisting restraints, 

1678 threats to staff, 927 unauthorized 

contact with staff, 137 simple 

assaults, 4355 threats against staff 

and 328 instances of conduct that 

disrupts. Bottom line, they need 

more officers in every jail.

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The BLUES 25


yrs. 

TELL CITY, IN. 

Tell City Sergeant Heather Glen was shot and killed while responding to a 

disturbance at Perry County Memorial Hospital. 

By Emily Shapiro 

26 The BLUES 

TELL CITY, IN. – Beloved Indiana 

Police Sgt. Heather Glenn was 

shot dead while responding to 

disturbance at a local hospital. 

The incident began on Sunday 

July 2nd, at about 12:50 a.m., 

when Sgt. Glenn and other officers 

responded to a disturbance 

at Perry County Memorial Hospital 

in Tell City, located near the 

Indiana-Kentucky border. 

An altercation unfolded at the 

hospital between the officers 

and 34-year-old Sean Hubert, 

and shots were fired, according 

to State Police Sgt. John Davis at 

a local press conference. 

Glenn and Hubert were shot in 

an exchange of gunfire and both 

died at the scene, Davis said. 

The incident began on Sunday 

when Glenn investigated 

a domestic dispute between a 

woman and Hubert, state police 

said. After the woman went 

to the hospital to be treated for 

injuries, Hubert also headed to 

the hospital, and Glenn tried to 

arrest him at the scene, police 

said. 

Glenn had worked for the Perry 

County Sheriff’s Office and the 

tight-knit Tell City Police Department 

for nearly 20 years, 

Davis said. 

“We’ve lost a dear colleague, 

dear friend,” Tell City Police 

Chief Derrick Lawalin said. “Sgt. 

Glenn, she’s a cornerstone of our 

department. We’re extremely 

heartbroken.” 

Lawalin praised the courage he 

said all officers displayed at the 

scene. He asked for the public’s 

thoughts and prayers not only for 

law enforcement, but also for 

the family of the suspect. 

Secretary of State. Diego Morales 

twitted “It’s been a heartbreaking 

and very tough week 

DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S 

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH, 

WITH DR. TINA JAECKLE 

ON PAGE 140 

SERGEANT HEATHER GLENN 

for our law enforcement and 

communities across Indiana. 

Another officer paid the ultimate 

sacrifice protecting Hoosier lives. 

Sidonia and I are praying for Sgt. 

Heather Glenn’s family, friends, 

colleagues and officers across 

our state.” 

Emily Shapiro. @EmilyShapiroABC, 

Reprinted from ABC News

The BLUES 27


yrs. 

ST. THOMAS, V.I. 

St. Thomas Police Detective Delberth Phipps was shot and killed by 

a heavily armed suspect at a local hospital. 

ST. THOMAS, V.I. – Flags across 

the territory were flying at half 

mast last month in honor of 

42-year-old V.I. Police Detective 

Delberth I. Phipps Jr., who was 

gunned down in the line of duty 

on St. Thomas, Tuesday July4th. 

The suspect in the shooting, 

Richardson Dangleben Jr., 51, was 

already awaiting trial for the Feb. 

24 murder of Keith Jennings, and 

had been released from jail in 

March after a judge reduced his 

bail. 

The latest case began at around 

7:53 a.m. on July 4th, when 911 

dispatchers received a report of 

a man, later identified as Dangleben, 

wearing a bulletproof vest 

and carrying a gun in the “Jah 

Yard” area of Hospital Ground, 

according to police spokesman 

Glen Dratte. 

“Upon officers’ arrival, the 

suspect fired upon them with 

a high-powered assault rifle. 

Responding officers immediately 

engaged the suspect,” according 

to the statement from police. 

Police said Dangleben “was 

wearing a bulletproof vest and 

armed with an assault rifle, 

handgun, and several hundred 

rounds of ammunition.” 

“During the exchange of gunfire, 

Detective Delberth Phipps, Jr., a 

7-year veteran and the suspect 

28 The BLUES 

were injured. Both were transported 

to Roy Lester Schneider 

Regional Medical Center for 

treatment where Detective Phipps 

succumbed to his injuries,” police 

said in the statement. 

Phipps is the first member of 

the V.I. Police Department to die 

in the line of duty since 2012. 

His death marks the 23rd homicide 

in the territory so far this 

year, including 12 on St. Croix and 

11 on St. Thomas. 

“Today is that day no department 

wants to experience. The 

loss of our Detective, Officer, and 

Brother has sent ripples through 

the Department,” Police Commissioner 

Ray Martinez said in 

a statement. “Detective Phipps 

made the ultimate sacrifice to 

Protect and Serve his community, 

our community! Detective Phipps 

a second-generation Police Officer 

was a rising star and will be 

sorely missed. I extend heartfelt 

condolences to his family as well 

as our VIPD family.” 

VIPD Police Chief Steven Phillips 

said Phipps’s death represents 

a “tremendous loss” for the 

agency, I am completely lost for 

words. “We’ve lost a dear colleague” 

Phillips said. “Detective 

Phipps, was truly an outstanding 

Detective and Individual. We are 

truly heartbroken.” 

DETECTIVE DELBERTH PHIPPS 

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said he is 

“incensed and deeply saddened 

by the loss of Detective Delberth 

Phipps Jr, who was killed in the 

line of duty. This tragic incident 

reminds us of the risks our law 

enforcement officers face daily 

in their unwavering commitment 

to keeping our community safe 

and is a devastating blow not only 

to his family, friends, and colleagues 

but to the entire Virgin 

Islands community.” 

According to a written statement, 

“My prayers and heartfelt 

condolences go out to his family 

and loved ones as they try to get 

through what I am sure is an unimaginably 

difficult time,” Bryan 

said.

The BLUES 29


yrs. 

CORDELE, GA. 

Crisp County Deputy Tyee Michael Browne was shot and killed after he stopped a 

stolen vehicle on Highway 280 in Cordee, Georgia. 

By Lenah Allen, Seth Feiner, 

Gray News staff 

CORDELE, GA. - A deputy with 

the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office 

in Georgia has died after being 

shot on Wednesday July 5th. 

The suspect, who was arrested 

after a multi-county chase, is 

facing multiple charges including 

murder. 

The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office 

deputy that died has been 

confirmed to be Tyee Browne, 

according to Sheriff Billy Hancock. 

He was reportedly a deputy 

for Crisp County for less than 

a year. 

Browne was making a traffic 

stop on a suspect who was 

wanted for burglaries on Highway 

280 West in Cordele around 

3:40 a.m. As the deputy was 

approaching the suspect, Croshawn 

Cross, 25, reportedly shot 

Browne and fled the scene, per 

the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. 

The GBI says other deputies 

shot at Cross as he fled the scene 

in Browne’s patrol car. 

The Monroe County Sheriff’s 

Office said they were alerted 

around 4 a.m. that the deputy 

had been shot and a multi-county 

chase involving other deputies 

and the suspect, who was 

reportedly in the stolen deputy’s 

vehicle, had begun. 

The suspect was later arrested 

by the Monroe County Sheriff’s 

Office near the Bibb-Monroe 

County line. 

Cross is charged with malice 

murder, felony murder, two 

counts of aggravated assault, 

theft by receiving stolen property, 

carjacking, three counts 

of possession of a firearm by a 

convicted felon, three counts of 

DEPUTY TYEE MICHAEL BROWNE 

possession of a firearm during 

the commission of a crime and 

two counts of theft by taking. 

The Crisp County Sheriff’s Office 

confirmed Browne died from 

his injuries at Crisp Regional 

Hospital. Reprinted from WALB. 


BADGE OF HONOR ON PAGE 134 

30 The BLUES

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The BLUES 31


yrs. 

RUTLAND, VERMONT 

Rutland Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen, a 19-year old part time 

officer, was killed when her patrol car was struck head-on by a suspect. 

RUTLAND, VT. – Officer Jessica 

Ebbighausen, who was killed in a 

multi-vehicle crash during a pursuit, 

was one of the Rutland City Police 

Department’s newest officers. 

Ebbighausen, 19, had joined the 

department in May and was introduced 

to the Board of Aldermen last 

month alongside fellow new hire 

Arun Dangal. She was a level 2-certified 

officer and was scheduled to 

begin her full-time training at the 

Vermont Police Academy in August. 

“She had a long and bright career 

ahead of her,” Lt. Col. Jim Whitcomb 

of the Vermont State Police 

said during a press briefing at the 

Rutland City Police Department 

Friday night. 

Earlier that day, Whitcomb said, 

Ebbighausen was on duty with 

a supervising officer when they 

responded to support another city 

officer engaged in a pursuit. 

A call had initially come in at 

around 2:30 p.m. that Tate Rheaume, 

20, was trying to break into an 

East Washington Street residence. 

The responding unit encountered 

Rheaume’s vehicle, Whitcomb said, 

and chased him to Stratton Road, 

from which he turned left onto 

Woodstock Avenue. 

Whitcomb said Ebbighausen’s 

cruiser was heading east on 

Woodstock and Rheaume’s vehicle 

32 The BLUES 

crossed the center line and collided 

with Ebbighausen’s cruiser before 

hitting a second eastbound cruiser. 

Whitcomb said the pursuing cruiser 

was not involved in the collision. 

Ebbighausen was pronounced 

dead at the scene, Whitcomb said, 

and her body was taken under escort 

by state and local police to the 

Vermont Medical Examiner’s office 

in Burlington. Her supervising officer, 

Richard Caravaggio, remained 

hospitalized as of Friday night, 

according to Whitcomb. No additional 

information on his condition 

was available Monday. Whitcomb 

said the driver of the second cruiser 

involved in the crash, Officer Kelsey 

Parker, was treated and released. 

Whitcomb said Rheaume was 

taken to the University of Vermont 

Medical Center, where his injuries 

were believed to be non-life-threatening. 

A candlelight vigil had been 

planned for outside the police 

department Sunday night, but was 

rescheduled to Wednesday due 

to the weather, according to city 

officials. A GoFundMe established to 

create a memorial for Ebbighausen 

had raised more than $43,000 on a 

$10,000 goal as of Monday afternoon. 

Rutland City Police Chief Brian 

Kilcullen said he was grateful for 


WAR STORY ON PAGE 126 

OFFICER JESSICA EBBIGHAUSEN 

the degree of support the department 

was receiving from the community. 

“We’re hurting right now,” he 

said Friday. “With the events of this 

week, you can imagine that.” He 

also said Ebbighausen, who was 

the granddaughter of former Police 

Commission Chairman Robert Ebbighausen, 

had wanted to be a police 

officer since the age of 9 and had 

done an internship with the department 

as a high school student. 

“She always had a smile on her 

face,” he said. “We were looking 

forward to having her as part of our 

family.”

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The BLUES 33


yrs. 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. 

Marion County Deputy John Durm was attacked and strangled 

by an inmate trying to escape custody. 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. (AP) — A jail 

inmate accused of killing a sheriff’s 

deputy who was transporting 

him in a van used the chain 

of his handcuffs to choke the officer 

during an escape attempt in 

Indianapolis, according to court 

documents released Tuesday. 

Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy 

John Durm, 61, died Monday at 

a hospital following the attack, 

which Indianapolis police are 

investigating as an “intentional 

act of homicide,” Officer Shane 

Foley said. 

Durm’s cause of death was 

“ligature strangulation” and has 

been ruled a homicide, the county 

coroner’s office announced 

Tuesday. Durm, a 38-year veteran 

of the sheriff’s department, 

was married with four children. 

Police said inmate Orlando 

Mitchell, 34, assaulted Durm 

on Monday while the van was 

inside the sally port, or fortified 

entrance, of the Adult Detention 

Center on the city’s south side. 

Mitchell has not been charged 

in Durm’s death, and the Marion 

County Prosecutor’s Office said 

34 The BLUES 


WAR STORY ON PAGE 134 

OFFICER KIMBERLY SICKAFOOSE 

DEPUTY JOHN DURM 

Tuesday that a charging decision 

was not expected “prior to 

Thursday afternoon at the very 

earliest.” 

But a probable cause affidavit 

released Tuesday states that 

video shows Durm arriving at 

the detention center about 11:30 

a.m. Monday in a Marion County 

Sheriff’s Office van after returning 

from taking Mitchell to a 

hospital visit. 

The video shows Durm exit the 

van and open its rear door, at 

which point Mitchell opened the 

van’s inner door and is seen raising 

his hands above Durm’s head 

and placing them around Durm’s 

neck, according to the affidavit. 

“Mitchell then uses the chain 

linking his handcuffs to choke 

Deputy Durm,” it states, adding 

that while Durm tried to get the 

chain off of his neck, both he and 

Mitchell fell to the ground. 

“Mitchell stays on top of Durm, 

continuing to choke him until 

Durm quits moving,” the affidavit 

states. 

Mitchell then found Durm’s 

handcuff key, unlocked his handcuffs, 

got into the van, backed 

it up and exited the sally port 

of the detention center while 

smashing into a gate, officials 

said. He then drove the van a 

short distance and crashed into 

a wooden pole before other 

deputies re-arrested him. 

Mitchell has been jailed since 

September 2022 awaiting trial 

for the killing of his ex-girlfriend, 

Krystal Walton.

The BLUES 35


yrs. 

FARGO, ND. 

Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin, was shot and killed while 

investigating a traffic accident on Friday, July 14th. 

FARGO, ND. – Jake Wallin was 

once a small boy who sought comfort 

in the arms of family, terrified 

of fireworks that lit up the sky. On 

Saturday, the Fargo police officer 

was remembered for growing up to 

be a military veteran and dedicated 

officer whose “final act of valor” 

was staring down the face of a man 

intent on bloodshed. 

Wallin, 23, was killed July 14 

when a man armed with 1,800 

rounds of ammunition, multiple 

guns and explosives ambushed 

officers responding to a routine 

traffic crash. Two other officers and 

a civilian were wounded before a 

fourth officer returned fire, killing 

gunman Mohamad Barakat. Police 

said the actions of the fourth officer 

likely spared the city a bigger, 

bloodier attack. 

Wallin, who had been sworn in 

as a Fargo police officer in April 

and was still in field training, was 

cremated in his uniform. On Saturday, 

the Fargo Police Department 

escorted his cremains to Pequot 

Lakes, Minnesota, for his funeral 

service, which was attended by 

loved ones, dignitaries and law 

enforcement agencies from across 

the country. 

Wallin previously served in the 

Minnesota Army National Guard and 

was deployed to Afghanistan and 

Iraq from November 2020 to July 

2021, according to a spokesperson 

36 The BLUES 

for the Minnesota National Guard. 

He received final military honors 

at a private interment. 

“He served his country, came back 

here and wanted nothing more but 

to serve in a position with purpose 

and meaning — his exact words 

— and he did that,” Fargo Police 

Chief David Zibolski said at a media 

briefing after the shooting. 

Zibolski on Saturday recounted 

Wallin’s impressive quality as a 

candidate in his officer interview 

last fall, how he excelled in the police 

academy, and strived for a job 

with meaning and purpose. 

The chief shared that body-camera 

footage of the shooting showed 

Wallin “hurried to create distance, 

intuitively” after his fellow officers 

were hit, pulled his gun out 

and was taking aim at the gunman 

when he was fatally struck. 

“His final act of valor was to selflessly 

face the shooter and attempt 

to neutralize him to save others,” 

Zibolski said. “His actions were 

valorous and exemplify the highest 

standards of the profession.” 

Wallin had recently purchased a 

house for himself and his fiancée, 

and “was so proud of becoming a 

new homeowner that he ran right 

out and bought himself a lawnmower 

and mowed his new lawn,” 

his aunt said. 

“I remember him as a small boy 

with his little arms wrapped so 

OFFICER JAKE WALLIN 

tightly around my neck, burying 

his face into me to try to avoid the 

fireworks that he hated so much at 

that age,” she said. “From that timid, 

small boy, he grew to be a driven, 

ambitious, brave young man.” 

Chaplain Jordan Helming, who 

served with Wallin in Iraq, recalled 

his dedication as a soldier and his 

positive personality amid a changing 

mission as well as restrictions 

of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Jake could see the big picture 

in life, and he realized that it took 

long, disciplined, steady efforts to 

get you to the top of the mountain,” 

Helming said. 

Wallin’s parents received two 

Fargo police awards and the Minnesota 

Distinguished Service Medal in 

honor of their son at the service.

The BLUES 37


yrs. 

ALAMOGORDO, NM. 

Alamogordo Police Officer Anthony Ferguson was 

shot and killed by a suspect fleeing from a chase. 

ALAMOGORDO, NM. (KRQE) 

– Services for the Alamogordo 

police officer who was killed 

in the line of duty were held on 

Thursday afternoon, July 20. The 

funeral for 41-year-old Anthony 

Ferguson took place at 2:00 p.m. 

at the Tays Special Events Center 

in Alamogordo. 

The shooting happened around 

2:30 a.m. Saturday, July 15. Officers 

tried to stop a vehicle driven 

by a man identified as Dominic 

De La O, 26, of Alamogordo, 

for driving without headlights or 

taillights. Police say the suspect 

fled from the officers, crashed 

into a light pole near Delaware 

Avenue and First Street, and fled 

the scene foot. 

‘His bravery is unmatched’ said 

Friends who remembered the 

fallen Alamogordo officer. 

Authorities chased the man, 

and he reportedly fired a 

“sawed-off shotgun” at the officers. 

Ferguson was hit by the 

gunfire. A different officer fired 

his weapon toward De La O and 

struck him in the leg and he was 

taken into custody. 

Officer Anthony Ferguson was 

an 11-year veteran of the Alamogordo 

Police Department 

and served in the Patrol Division 

as a Field Training Officer. The 

police department said he is 

survived by his mother, father, 

four brothers, daughter, and son. 

A procession was held for Ferguson 

on Monday, July 17. 

“The unimaginable tragedy 

of losing one our own has happened 

again. The violence directed 

at our men and women 

in uniform all over the country 

must end,” said David Kunihiro, 

Alamogordo Police Chief. 

Friends of Officer Ferguson 

said he was a good policeman 

whose bravery was unmatched. 

“A good example for him is the 

night he was shot. How many 

people do you know are going 

to chase someone down a dark 

alley,” said Adam Prenecio. 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY FERGUSON 

Another friend of Ferguson’s 

said the officer always strived 

to do the right thing and follow 

his training. Ferguson was also 

described by friends as being 

a loyal and courageous person 

who sometimes was a prankster. 

“You are never going to find 

another one like him. His bravery 

is unmatched. You’ll never find a 

brave officer like him.” 

We are ready for 2023! Experience 

the only first responder owned and 

operated THEME studio in the Country! 

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38 The BLUES

The BLUES 39


yrs. 

EASTLAND, TX. 

Eastland County Sheriff’s Deputy David Bosecker was shot and 

killed Friday, July 21 as he responded to a family disturbance. 

By Harriet Ramos 

Fort Worth Star-Telegram 

EASTLAND, TX. — An Eastland 

County Sheriff’s deputy was 

killed in the line of duty Friday 

night when he responded to a 

domestic disturbance, officials 

said. 

Deputies from the Eastland 

County Sheriff’s Office responded 

to a domestic fight in progress 

around 9 p.m. at a home on 

Highway 183, according to the 

news outlet Eastland County Today. 

Deputy David Bosecker was 

the first to arrive at the scene. 

The suspect opened fire immediately, 

killing Bosecker. 

Other deputies took the suspect 

into custody before anyone 

else was injured. The suspect, 

42-year-old Cody Douglas 

Pritchard, is being held in 

the Stephens County Jail and 

charged with capital murder 

of a peace officer, according to 

Stephens County Jail records. 

Bosecker served in law enforcement 

for more than 21 

years. He began his career as a 

deputy in Wise County. He also 

served with the Texas Alcoholic 

Beverage Commission, as a 

game warden for Texas Parks 

and Wildlife and as an officer 

for the Comanche Police Department. 

The Texas Rangers are investigating 

the shooting, according to 

Eastland County Today. 

Eastland County is located in 

central Texas and is about 100 

miles west of Fort Worth. 

DEPUTY DAVID BOSECKER 

Reprinted from the Fort Worth 

Star-Telegram. 




40 The BLUES

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The BLUES 41


yrs. 

HALL COUNTY, GA. 

A Hall County Sheriff’s Deputy lost his wife and two children in a 

wreck involving a corvette traveling at 150mph. 

HALL COUNTY, GA. – The wife and two children 

of a Hall County (GA) Sheriff’s deputy were 

killed Sunday afternoon in a wreck on Highway 

365. 

Deputy Patrick Holtzclaw’s family was T-boned 

by a Corvette traveling more than 150 mph at an 

intersection. Both vehicles burst into flames. 

Deputy Holtzclaw’s wife Avonlea and two 

young children, ages 5 and 6, were killed, as 

were the driver and passenger of the Corvette. 

Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch issued a 

statement on Monday, pledging his support to 

Deputy Holtzclaw in the coming days, weeks, 

and months. 

A fundraiser has been established with the 

approval of the Hall County Sheriff’s Office. Donations 

can be made at https://app.moonclerk. 

com/pay/1uwy4p6xij4n. All funds will go to 

Deputy Holtzclaw. 

42 The BLUES

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The BLUES 43


yrs. 

PHOENIX, AZ. 

Phoenix Police Officer Morgan Bullis, who was shot in the line of duty in an 

“ambush-style” attack in March, has made a full recovery and is back on patrol. 

PHOENIX,AZ. – Phoenix police 

officer Morgan Bullis, who was 

shot in the line of duty in an 

“ambush-style” attack in March, 

has made a full recovery and 

is back on patrol, according to 

12News in Phoenix. 

The department announced 

her recovery on Monday and 

shared a welcome-back video 

on its Facebook page. 

Bullis was shot once in the hip 

by 29-year-old Joseph Lopez 

while responding to reports of a 

car crash. Lopez allegedly fired 

several shots at Bullis in her patrol 

vehicle. She was also struck 

in the face by bullet fragments, 

police said. 

Posted by KEVCOPaz online” 

Great to hear! You Officer Bullis 

have grit and are a shining example 

to others and make you make 

me proud as a 33+ year Phx. PD 

veteran that police like you have 

picked up the mantel behind me 

and are there serving and protecting! 

God be with you in your 

career, as He has been throughout 

your ordeal. 

Remember my brothers and sisters 

the vast majority of citizens 

support you, even if the City and 

the politicians and the WOKE 

left do not. This could happen to 

you as well, so be safe, relay on 

your training and if tragedy does 

strike you can survive that gun 

fight! 




44 The BLUES

The BLUES 45


yrs. 

LAS VEGAS, NV. 

LVMPD officer found guilty in string of brazen casino heists. 

By Rio Yamat, 

Associated Press 

LAS VEGAS, NV. — A federal 

jury convicted a Las Vegas police 

officer Friday on all counts of 

stealing nearly $165,000 during 

a trio of casino heists, including 

one where he was armed with a 

department-issued weapon that 

was loaded. 

Caleb Rogers, 35, faces life 

in prison upon sentencing because 

he brandished a department-issued 

weapon during the 

third casino heist he carried out 

in February 2022. U.S. District 

Judge Andrew Gordon set his 

sentencing for October. 

The jury reached a verdict after 

just over three hours of deliberation. 

Jurors used common sense to 

decide the case, Lloyd Dickerson, 

one of the 12, told The Associated 

Press. 

“Everything kind of added 

up,” Dickerson said outside the 

courthouse. “It took all of the 

evidence and all of the testimony 

from everybody to come to this 

conclusion.” 

Seated next to his attorney, 

Rogers showed no emotion 

as the verdict was read in the 

courtroom. Richard Pocker told 

AP they planned to appeal the 

conviction. 

46 The BLUES 

Rogers, who was employed 

as an active-duty patrol officer 

at the time of the heists, has 

been on unpaid leave without 

police powers since his arrest. A 

spokesperson for the Las Vegas 

Metropolitan Police Department 

said after the verdict that Rogers’ 

future at the department “will 

be determined at the conclusion” 

of an internal investigation. The 

department said it had no comment 

on Rogers’ conviction. 

The case went to the jury 

Thursday shortly after Rogers’ 

younger brother testified against 

him for more than three hours, 

painting a clear picture for the 

jurors of how the two successfully 

pulled off the first heist in 

the series. Josiah Rogers said he 

participated only in that robbery. 

Caleb Rogers carried out the 

other two heists alone, prosecutors 

said. 

Throughout the weeklong trial, 

prosecutors had portrayed Rogers 

as a gambling addict who 

had grown increasingly desperate 

under a crush of debt when 

the robberies targeting casinos 

off the Las Vegas Strip began. 

They said he had a unique set 

of skills and knowledge about 

robberies as a law enforcement 

officer and used that to his advantage. 

Jurors also heard from casino 

employees who said they are 

still haunted by their encounters

with the robber. A security guard 

wrestled with the suspect for his 

loaded weapon during one of the 

heists. He said he couldn’t stop 

thinking about how he might not 

have made it home to his family 

that day. And a 63-year-old cashier 

said she still looks over her 

shoulder when she handles cash 

at work. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney David 

Kiebler said in his closing argument 

Thursday that the evidence 

in all three robberies pointed to 

the same man: Caleb Rogers. 

But Pocker, the officer’s lawyer, 

called the bulk of the government’s 

evidence circumstantial 

and convenient for a police department 

that already had been 

trying for months — to no avail 

— to solve the other robberies 

when Rogers was arrested. 

“They tried too hard here,” 

Pocker said in his closing argument. 

“It’s just too coincidental.” 

Rogers’ trial came to a head 

Thursday when his brother took 

the stand. 

Josiah Rogers was granted 

immunity from prosecution in 

exchange for his testimony. Jurors 

scribbled notes and darted 

glances between the brothers 

as Josiah Rogers recounted the 

details. He said they rehearsed 

for their casino heist in November 

2021. They used code words 

in an encrypted messaging app 

to communicate, he said. They 

returned home to their shared 

apartment after successfully 

robbing the Red Rock Casino’s 

cashier cage and spread the 

money across their dining table, 

counting out $73,810. 

Josiah Rogers said he took his 

$30,000 cut and moved back to 

their hometown of Columbus, 

Ohio, a week after the robbery. 

Before he took the stand, the 

government’s evidence had been 

mostly focused on the third robbery 

in February 2022, when Caleb 

Rogers was arrested outside 

the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. 

Prosecutors said Caleb Rogers 

stormed that casino’s sportsbook, 

shoved a cashier in her 

60s out of his way, and threatened 

to use a gun while he shoveled 

$79,000 into a drawstring 

bag hidden inside his jacket. 

Within minutes, prosecutors 

said, the robber was tackled by a 

group of security guards outside 

the casino, sending a wig he’d 

been wearing flying off his head. 

Police lapel video played 

during the trial showed Caleb 

Rogers identifying himself as a 

police officer as he was folded 

into the back of a patrol car outside 

the casino. 

Casino heists are hard to pull 

off, said Mehmet Erdem, a professor 

at the University of Nevada, 

Las Vegas, whose expertise 

includes hotel and casino operations. 

“The chances you get caught 

and are identified is very high,” 

he said, because of a combination 

of robust casino security 

teams with uniformed guards 

and plainclothes officers and 

advancements in security technology, 

including facial recognition 

software and high-definition 

cameras. 


AFTERMATH ON PAGE 130 

The BLUES 47


yrs. 

WASHINGTON D.C. 

Secret Service did not conduct interviews in the White House 

cocaine investigation which is just another cover-up by the 

White House and the Biden Administration. CASE CLOSED! 

48 The BLUES 

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Secret 

Service announced this week 

that the agency has finished its 

investigation into the mysterious 

baggie of cocaine that was 

found in the White House earlier 

this month but as it turns out, it 

wasn’t much of an investigation. 

The agency said that the case 

was closed due to a lack of 

forensic evidence coupled with 

the fact that the cocaine was 

found an area in which around 

500 people passed through at 

the time it was believed to have 

been discarded. 

Roughly 1 gram of cocaine was 

found in a storage locker inside 

the West Wing executive entrance 

by a Secret Service agent 

on July 2. 

The locker was not within view 

of cameras, members of Congress 

and a source familiar with 

the investigation previously told 

The Post. 

But the Secret Service stated 

that because the cocaine 

amounted to around 0.007 

ounces, meaning it would only 

be a misdemeanor offense in the 

District of Columbia, it would be 

a waste of public resources to 

interview 500 people as reported 

by The Daily Mail. 

Secret Service spokesman 

Anthony Gugliemi told NBC News 

that conducting such a vast 

amount of interviews may also 

infringe on civil rights and that 

without physical evidence, a 

confession would likely be necessary. 

‘Yes, you could have a consensual 

interview. But we have 

no evidence to approach them,’ 

Gugliemi said. 

Former US Attorney and acting 

administrator of the DEA under 

President Barack Obama, Chuck 

Rosenberg, echoed Gugliemi’s 

remarks telling NBC News that 

the agency has to make calls on 

what to investigate and what not 

to investigate. 

‘They could have done the 

interviews, but at the end of the 

day it’s a long walk through dry 

sand. They have finite resources 

and it’s OK for them to decide 

some things are worth their time 

and some things are not worth 

their time,’ Rosenberg said. 

But Presidential Candidate Nikki 

Haley has a different version 

according to recent interview 

with the New York Post. 

Haley disagrees, as the vesti-

ule is located feet from the Situation 

Room and a floor below 

the Oval Office. 

“Everything that they’re saying 

is that hundreds of people went 

through this area. No, I’ve been 

to that area. It is the most secure 

area anywhere because this is 

where I, on the National Security 

Council with other members of 

national security, met with the 

president,” Haley added. 

“The Secret Service is covering 

up the true origin of the cocaine 

found in the White House in an 

effort to protect Hunter Biden,” 

said former South Carolina 

governor and 2024 presidential 

candidate Nikki Haley. 

“For them to say they don’t 

know who this was … don’t tell 

me there’s no cameras in there. 

There are absolutely cameras 

in there,” Haley said during an 

interview with Tucker Carlson at 

the Family Leadership Summit in 

Iowa on Friday. 

“I strongly believe this is a cover-up 

for either Hunter, or someone 

very close to the president, 

and they don’t want to say who 

it is.” 

Hunter Biden, a known former 

drug addict, has been staying at 

the White House in recent weeks. 

EDITOR: According to a confidential 

source, the Secret Service 

are convinced the cocaine was 

a drop for Hunter Biden, who has 

been living at the White House. 

The source went on to say that 

they believe one of the WH Staffers 

close to Hunter, purchased 

the small bag of cocaine and left 

it in the locker for Hunter to pick 

up before he left with POTUS for 

Camp David. Apparently Hunter 

forgot to retrieve the ‘blow’ before 

he left and it was found after 

he left. 

The BLUES 49


yrs. 

NEW ORLEANS, LA. 

Police officers leaving New Orleans PD in droves could cost the 

city millions in fines to cover police pension losses. 

By David Hammer, 

The Times-Picayune | The New 

Orleans Advocate 

NEW ORLEANS, LA. — The city 

of New Orleans has lost so many 

police officers that it now faces a 

major fine to cover police pension 

losses that could top $38 million 

over the next 15 years. 

City Council Vice President Helena 

Moreno said she was shocked to 

learn this week that the Municipal 

Police Employee Retirement System 

considers the NOPD “partially 

dissolved,” for both 2021 and 2022. 

That triggered a state law that 

requires the city to pay back the 

police pension fund for unfunded 

liabilities — in other words, money 

the city would have been paying 

into the system if it hadn’t lost any 

officers. 

MPERS confirmed the city made 

its first monthly payment of 

$50,314.10 earlier this month. The 

only way for the city to escape future 

payments would be to restore 

staffing to the 1,119 employees that 

participated in the pension system 

in June 2021. 

“There’s really no wiggle room 

here, other than to get the numbers 

up,” said Executive Director Ben 

Huxen. “We support New Orleans 

and want them to get more police 

officers and not have to make the 

payments.” 

A letter by the MPERS’ actuary 

in March states that New Orleans 

50 The BLUES 

partially dissolved its police force in 

2021 by losing more than 50 officers 

that fiscal year. Now, because 

it lost more than 50 officers in the 

2022 fiscal year, it will owe another 

$163,798.57 per month starting in 

July 2024, for a total of more than 

$214,000 per month. Moreno said 

that will add up to a total bill of 

$38 million over 15 years. 

Moreno said Mayor LaToya 

Cantrell’s administration gave the 

City Council no warning that it 

would have to budget for the fines. 

She also said the city made no 

effort to change the law governing 

the pension system to see if the city 

could avoid the fines. 

“What I’m very frustrated about is 

that I was not, nor were any council 

members, alerted to this by the 

administration,” Moreno said. “As 

to, like, ‘Wait a second, this major 

thing is coming our way, we need to 

figure out a path here.’” 

Police officers rely on the pension 

system for their retirement. The 

state law was passed to protect 

against a loss of funds if a city or 

town slashed its department or 

farmed out its public safety duties. 

Donovan Livaccari, of the Fraternal 

Order of Police, said he supports 

those protections for the pension 

fund but worries the law didn’t 

envision what has happened at the 

NOPD. 

“They put rules like this in place 

to keep municipalities from purposely 

reducing their contributions,” 

Livaccari said. “But the city of New 

Orleans is not moving employees 

out of MPERS to reduce its contributions. 

This is at least partially the 

fallout from the pandemic.” 

New Orleans has been losing 

officers to retirement and other 

departments for years. It had 1,600 

commissioned officers before Hurricane 

Katrina and dropped to below 

1,200 over the next decade. The 

NOPD never overcame the attrition 

it suffered after a hiring freeze 

imposed by former Mayor Mitch 

Landrieu more than 10 years ago. 

But Huxen said 2021 was the first 

time that a large city in Louisiana 

owed fines for losing more than 50 

participating employees in a single 

year. 

It’s now happened two years in 

a row in New Orleans. An actuarial 

report released in March by the 

New Orleans Employees’ Retirement 

System said the city was one of 

four Louisiana municipalities that 

partially dissolved its police department 

in 2022, when the NOPD lost 

138 employees. 

At the end of the 2021 fiscal year, 

the NOPD had 1,119 officers participating 

in the pension system. By 

the end of June 2022, that number 

had dropped to 981. It continued to 

decrease steadily throughout fiscal 

year 2023 and is expected to fall 

below 900 commissioned officers 

for the first time. 

Reprinted from the Times-Picayune 

| The New Orleans Advocate.

The BLUES 51


yrs. 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM. 

BWC video shows shootout between officers, 

and a suspect inside a supermarket. 

Chief Harold Medina said if he had one word to describe the scene, it would be 

“chaos,” and that you could tell the incident “escalated extremely quickly.” 

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, N.M. 

— Albuquerque Police Department 

officials released lapel video 

and a rundown of a gunfight 

that erupted between a man and 

officers in a crowded supermarket 

last month on West Central. 

On June 24, APD Sgt. Gianfranco 

Di Paolo and officers Anthony 

Trujillo, Brandon Perez and Damian 

Dudnow fatally shot Mark 

Peter, 41 inside an El Mezquite 

market. 

The four officers joined APD at 

different times between 2015 and 

2020 and none had been involved 

in a prior shooting. Officials said 

none of the officers have returned 

to duty. 

The department held a briefing 

Wednesday on two fatal police 

shootings, which happened in 

less than a week of each other. 

“If I could use one word to describe 

both scenes: chaos,” APD 

Chief Harold Medina said during 

the briefing. “I mean, you could 

clearly tell that these incidents 

escalated extremely quickly.” 

Medina said the department 

would be assessing the officers’ 

52 The BLUES 

tactics in the shooting — particularly 

that they appeared to 

fire in the general direction of 

other officers as well as bystanders. 

He said the incident also 

showed “acts of heroism” in the 

fast movements of one officer 

to intentionally fire away from 

bystanders. 

Medina said one of the rules 

police have ingrained when it 

comes to deadly force is “be sure 

of your target and what is beyond 

it.” 

“Those are questions that we’re 

going to have to answer during 

the administrative investigation, 

like what was in line? What was 

the officer’s perceptions? What 

was going through their mind 

at that time? So we do have to 

answer some of those questions,” 

he said. “And when the investigation 

comes out, we should 

have some answers as to what 

the officers are observing, why 

shots were fired, what they saw 

and why it was necessary at the 

moment with these individuals in 

line.” 

Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock, with APD’s 

Investigative Enhancement Division, 

detailed the June 24 police 

shooting and released lapel video 

and photo evidence. 

Hartsock said police responded 

around 3:24 p.m. to a 911 call 

about a man asleep in a running 

SUV outside a tire shop near 

98th and Central NW. Officers 

identified the SUV as belonging 

to Peter, who had a warrant for 

his arrest after Bernalillo County 

deputies found fentanyl and 

methamphetamine in his SUV. 

Hartsock said police laid spike 

strips to deflate Peter’s tires if 

he fled and started making announcements 

for him to surrender. 

He said around 20 minutes 

later Peter woke up and drove 

over the spike strips before going 

into the parking lot across the 

street. 

Hartsock said Peter fled the 

SUV on foot and started walking 

behind a shopping mall toward 

the entrance of the El Mezquite 

market. He said police followed 

Peter, commanding him to stop, 

before he ran into the store with 

officers on his heels.

Security video showed one officer 

used a Taser on Peter’s back 

before he turned around with a 

gun in his hand and fires the gun 

as he begins to fall into a cash 

register. Employees and shoppers 

can be seen fleeing to the back 

of the store or hiding behind registers 

as both officers and Peter 

open fire. 

Hartsock said the first shot fired 

by Peter went right by Officer 

Trujillo’s head. Over the next few 

seconds, officers can be seen 

shooting at Peter — who is laying 

on the ground — from at least 

three separate directions, with 

bystanders and officers apparently 

in the line of fire. 

Hartsock said Peter fired at 

least 12 shots until his gun was 

empty, many of them hitting the 

ceiling and wall. He said police 

fired at least 46 bullets. Hartsock 

said the gun fired by Peter 

had not been reported stolen 

and APD is “still investigating its 

origins at this point.” 

Medina said Peter created the 

scenario that put innocent people 

in the path of officers’ bullets. 

“Both of these individuals, in 

my mind, are individuals that 

should not have been out in the 

community in the first place,” he 

said. “... I’ve said it over and over 

again, substance abusers should 

be getting substance abuse help. 

People with mental health concerns 

should be getting a mental 

health resources. But when an 

individual crosses the line and 

becomes violent, it is of the utmost 

importance, if we’re going 

to make this community safe, 

that they are held accountable, 

and that they’re removed for the 

appropriate amount of time from 

the community.” 

Reprinted from Police1.com and 

Albuquerque Journal, N.M. 




The BLUES 53


yrs. 

TAMPA,FL. 

Florida police pursuit of stabbing suspect ends in intense shootout. 

By Tony Marrero, 

Michaela Mulligan, 

Tampa Bay Times 

TAMPA, FL. — Crystal Bresnahan 

wanted protection from her 

husband. 

Bresnahan had been with 

Michael A. Bresnahan for about 

eight years and married for three 

of them, said Crystal’s mother, 

Amanda Music. But Crystal, 29, 

had decided the marriage was 

over, Music said. 

“She left him and she was 

trying to get away from him.” 

On Monday, Crystal was at 

a domestic violence shelter in 

Tampa when Michael Bresnahan 

attacked her, stabbing her more 

than a dozen times in front of 

their three children, according to 

Music, court documents and information 

released by the Tampa 

Police Department. 

Michael Bresnahan, 33, died 

later that day after a police 

pursuit ended in a hail of gunfire, 

police said. The department 

identified Bresnahan in a news 

release late Tuesday night that 

included aerial and police body 

camera footage of the pursuit 

and shootout. 

Eighteen officers opened fire 

on the SUV Bresnahan crashed 

on North Florida Avenue near 

Gladys Street after the pursuit, 

54 The BLUES 

but investigators suspect he 

might have fatally shot himself, 

the release said. Autopsy results 

were pending Wednesday. 

Police did not release Crystal 

Bresnahan’s name but Music and 

other family members publicly 

identified her in a GoFundMe 

campaign launched to support 

her and her children, who are 2, 

5 and 6. 

According to information previously 

released by police, officers 

responded Monday to a call 

about a woman stabbed in the 

Jackson Heights neighborhood. 

Police said Bresnahan stabbed 

the mother of his three children 

in front of them, then dropped 

off the children with his brother 

and stole the brother’s AK-47 

rifle. 

Police spotted Bresnahan’s 

SUV about 5:40 p.m. near the 

intersection of North Dale Mabry 

Highway and Spruce Street. 

A short time later, Bresnahan 

pointed the rifle at officers 

driving marked patrol vehicles, 

police said. 

Bresnahan crashed into another 

car at the intersection of Florida 

Avenue and Gladys Street, 

then opened fire on officers with 

the rifle, according to police. 

Tampa police returned fire, 

“believing Bresnahan posed 

an ongoing threat of imminent 

danger to additional community 

members and police officers,” 

the Tuesday news release states. 

The aerial and body camera 

footage shows officers pursuing 

Bresnahan through Tampa 

streets for several minutes 

before crashing into the sedan. 

Police fired several gunshots at 

Bresnahan’s crashed car, and 

after the shooting stopped, body 

camera footage shows police 

pulling bystanders from cars at 

the scene. 

The officers who discharged 

their weapons were placed 

on routine paid leave while an 

investigation is underway. The 

department on Wednesday cited 

Marsy’s Law and an active investigation 

for withholding the officers’ 

names but provided a list 

that showed they included two 

sergeants, two corporals and 14 

officers who had between three 

and 24 years with the department. 

On Tuesday, Bresnahan’s brother 

Thomas filed a petition seeking 

temporary custody of his 

brother’s three children while 

Crystal Bresnahan is recovering 

in the hospital. 

According to the petition, 

Crystal Bresnahan was outside 

a domestic violence shelter on 

Monday when Michael Bresnahan 

arrived and tried to get her and

the children into the SUV. (Music 

said the children were already in 

the SUV at that point). 

By then, the petition states, a 

“child protective investigation” 

was already underway. 

“When the mother refused 

to get into the car, the father 

stabbed the mother thirteen (13) 

times,” the petition states. 

Bresnahan called Thomas 

Bresnahan to get the children 

and they met in the parking lot 

of a church, where the brother 

took the kids into his care, 

according to the petition. When 

Thomas Bresnahan returned 

home, law enforcement was 

waiting for him. At that point, 

Michael Bresnahan was on the 

Be sure and check out 

our updated 

BUYERS GUIDE 

on Page 150 

phone “having suicidal discussions.” 

“When the father heard law 

enforcement, he hung up the 

phone,” the petition states. 

The attorney for Thomas 

Bresnahan who is listed on the 

petition, Gary De Pury, declined 

to comment because the case 

involves children. 

In a phone interview from the 

hospital Wednesday, Music said 

her son-in-law had plenty of 

good qualities but also was “an 

angry person” with a short temper 

and a history of outbursts, so 

she worried about her daughter 

when she decided to leave him, 

and she feared she would receive 

a phone call like the one 

Sponsored by 

she got Monday after her daughter’s 

attack. 

The GoFundMe page Music and 

another family member created 

says Bresnahan cannot work and 

will need a new car and a place 

to live. 

Music said Crystal has had surgery 

to repair organs damaged 

in the attack but was doing well 

Wednesday. 

She said her daughter wants to 

be open about her own ordeal to 

help others in similar situations. 

“She wants to do whatever she 

can,” Music said. 

Reprinted from the©2023 Tampa 

Bay Times. 

The BLUES 55


yrs. 

RIO GRANDE,TX. 

Texas builds a floating barrier in the Rio Grande. 

By Juliana Kim, NPR News 

AUSTIN, TX. – Gov. Greg Abbott 

plans to install a stretch of buoys 

on the river that divides his state 

and Mexico in an attempt to hinder 

migrants from crossing into 

Texas. 

The Rio Grande is considered 

one of the deadliest routes for 

migrants. Over the years, hundreds 

of people, including babies 

and children, have died on the 

river, mainly from drowning in its 

turbulent current. 

Steve McCraw, director of the 

Texas Department of Public 

Safety, described the floating 

barrier as a “proactive way” to 

prevent migrants from putting 

themselves at risk of drowning. 

But he also emphasized that the 

buoys will act as another layer 

of border security. 

“What these buoys will allow 

us to do is to prevent people 

from even getting to the border,” 

McCraw said at a border security 

bill signing ceremony on Thursday. 

But immigrant advocates say 

that many people who attempt 

to cross the Rio Grande do so 

because they know of very few 

options to reach the U.S. 

“Abbott’s latest stunt will make 

this situation even more dangerous 

and deadly,” said Mary Miller 

56 The BLUES 

Flowers, director of policy and 

legislative affairs at the Young 

Center for Immigrant Children’s 

Rights. 

Here is what to know about the 

upcoming floating border wall: 

• The floating barrier will be 

placed near Eagle Pass next 

month 

• Abbott’s plan is to place a 

string of 4-foot-high, bright orange 

buoys in the middle of the 

Rio Grande, according to mock 

images shown at Thursday’s 

news conference. 

The floating barrier will span 

1,000 feet — covering a tiny fraction 

of the 1,254 miles the river 

spans along the Texas-Mexico 

border. But the barrier is movable 

and it will be “deployed strategically” 

in migrant crossing hot 

spots, Abbott said. 

The first stretch of the buoys 

will be situated near Eagle Pass, 

which is known for being a busy 

migration point, in July. It is expected 

to cost about $1 million, 

according to McCraw. 

It will still be possible to pass 

through the buoys as the floating 

border wall is not completely 

traversable. McCraw admitted 

that there are ways to overcome 

it with “great effort.” 

When asked if it’s possible to

swim under the buoys, McCraw 

said, “You can and you can’t” 

— adding that there will be 

webbing attached to the barrier 

underwater. Regardless of 

these measures, the Rio Grande 

is notorious for its fast-flowing 

waters. 

Recent Migrant deaths at the 

U.S.-Mexico border have hit a record 

high, in part due to drownings. 

Abbott described the floating 

border as mainly designed to 

deter large groups of migrants 

from reaching Texas lines. He 

warned that it is only one of 

many barriers to entry. 

“When we’re dealing with 100 

or 1,000 people, one of the goals 

is to slow down and deter as 

many of them as possible,” Abbott 

said. “Some may eventually 

get to the border where they are 

going to face that multi-layered 

razor wire and a full force of National 

Guard and DPS officers.” 

McCraw said the 1,000-foot 

barrier is only the first installment 

of the buoys and the measure 

could be expanded in the 

future “based upon the threat,” 

though he did not explain what 

that threat is. 

He added that the floating border 

is not a new idea, rather one 

that has already been reviewed 

by the U.S. Border Patrol. 

“This was something that Border 

Patrol had already looked 

at, designed and even tested,” 

McCraw said. 

Meanwhile, the U.S. International 

Boundary and Water 

Commission, which oversees 

water treaties between U.S. and 

Mexico, said the announcement 

caught them by “surprise.” It’s 

only recently the IBWC has have 

been speaking with Texas officials 

about what is allowed 

under federal law, Frank Fisher, 

a spokesperson for the commission, 

told NPR. 

Fisher said the IBWC is now 

looking into Texas’ proposal and 

how it may impact international 

agreements between the U.S. 

and Mexico. 

UPDATE: The Biden Administration 

ordered the governor to 

immediately remove the barriers 

or face a Federal lawsuit. Abbott 

said he’d “see the President 

in Court.” Well he’s going to get 

his chance as the Fed’s flied a 

lawsuit against Texas saying the 

barriers violate Federal Law. 

Reprinted from NPR News. 

The BLUES 57


yrs. 

ACROSS THE US 

Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE. 

ABDUCTED TX GIRL RESCUED 

AFTER ALERTING CALIFORNIA 

OFFICERS WITH “HELP ME” SIGN 

An allegedly abducted Texas 

girl used a “Help Me” sign to 

alert police to her plight in Long 

Beach, CA, early this month. Long 

Beach police rescued her and 

arrested a suspect. 

Federal authorities say the 

13-year-old was kidnapped at 

gunpoint in San Antonio. She 

was reportedly sexually assaulted 

multiple times by the suspect 

as he drove her to California. 

The suspect Steven Robert 

Sablan, 61, of Cleburne, TX, is 

charged with one count of kidnapping 

and one count of transportation 

of a minor with intent 

to engage in criminal sexual 

activity. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office 

of Central California says in 

a statement that the girl was 

abducted July 6 in San Antonio 

while walking down a street. 

Court documents say, “Sablan, 

driving a gray Nissan Sentra, 

approached the victim. Sablan 

allegedly raised a black handgun 

to his side and told her to get in 

the car, and the victim obeyed 

Sablan.” 

“Sablan allegedly began driving 

with the victim in the car and 

58 The BLUES 

asked her how old she was. The 

victim replied she was 13 years 

old, and – after later mentioning 

she had a friend in Australia – 

Sablan allegedly told the victim 

he could take her to a cruise ship 

to visit this friend, but she had 

to do something for him first. He 

then repeatedly sexually assaulted 

the victim, according to court 

documents,” the statement says. 

Over the next two days, Sablan 

allegedly drove the victim from 

Texas to California and sexually 

assaulted her at least two more 

times, according to authorities. 

The girl used the “Help Me” 

sign in the parking lot of a Long 

Beach laundromat. 

A witness telephoned law 

enforcement, who upon arrival 

saw Sablan standing outside 

the vehicle and saw the victim 

– who mouthed the word “Help” 

– inside the car, court documents 

state. During a search of 

the vehicle, officers retrieved a 

black BB gun, the “Help Me” sign, 

and a pair of handcuffs. Law enforcement 

determined the victim 

was a reported runaway missing 

person from San Antonio.

WATCH: POLICE OFFICER 

WRITES CHIEF DEPUTY A 

SPEEDING TICKET 

An officer on patrol in Georgia 

got a big surprise when he 

pulled over a Dodge Charger 

going 96 mph in a 35 mph zone. 

The Henry County officer 

walked up to the car and immediately 

recognized the Henry 

County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy, 

Michael Yarbrough, who was 

on duty at the time. 

Dash camera footage shows 

the officer making a call to 

another person for guidance. 

“Guess who I just pulled over?” 

the officer is heard saying. 

“Who?” the person replied. 

“Yarbrough.” The officer asked 

if he should write him a ticket. 

“It’s your traffic stop, do what 

you think you should do. I’m not 

telling you one way or another,” 

the person said. “I don’t care for 

him, so I’m going to write his ass 

a ticket.” 

After handing Chief Deputy 

Yarbrough a citation, the officer 

says “Please slow down and 

have a safe day.” The citation 

reportedly instructed Yarbrough 

to appear in court. 

Henry County Sheriff Reginald 

Scandrett told local media that, 

“Chief Deputy (Yarbrough) reported 

to me immediately after 

the traffic stop occurred that he 

was issued a citation for speeding. 

Any questions related to the 

citation itself should be directed 

to the Henry County Police 

Department. After reviewing the 

facts of the incident, I suspended 

the Chief Deputy for 40 hours 

without pay for the severity of 

the traffic citation.” 

CALIF. CITY DECLARES 

STATE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO 

SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFI- 

CERS 

By Daniel Egitto, 

Times-Herald, Vallejo, Calif. 

VALLEJO,CA. — Vallejo has declared 

a state of emergency over 

its lack of police officers. 

A mother grieving her slain 

son and other outraged residents 

filled Vallejo City Council chambers 

Tuesday with cries of alarm 

over the Vallejo Police Department’s 

slow response times and 

evaporating resources. Council 

members heeded these calls 

for action, along with the recommendation 

of Interim Police 

The BLUES 59


yrs. 

Chief Jason Ta, with a unanimous 

vote to give Ta and City 

Manager Mike Malone the power 

to make unilateral decisions regarding 

Vallejo’s public safety. 

This means Ta and Malone will 

not have to confer with either 

the council or the Vallejo Police 

Officers’ Association before making 

decisions about the city’s law 

enforcement. 

“I need help,” Ta told officials. 

“I need you guys to be aware of 

it. I need the public to be aware 

of it.” 

Potential future actions include 

judgment calls on whether to 

extend officers’ shifts, pay retired 

officers to perform certain tasks 

or call in officers from other 

law enforcement agencies. The 

council will receive updates on 

Ta and Malone’s decisions at every 

regularly scheduled meeting. 

Councilmember Diosdado “JR” 

Matulac said his vote was not 

only about current public safety, 

but also about the very nature 

of policing in a city with fewer 

and fewer officers patrolling its 

streets. 

“I think what most people don’t 

understand is, if we keep going 

down the road we’re going in, 

we’re going to get taken over by 

another jurisdiction,” he warned. 

“And when that happens, we 

have no say in this. You will have 

no say in this. So we need to try 

and stop the bleeding now.” 

Staffing shortages have devastated 

police dispatch times 

in Vallejo, with an average of 

almost an hour and a half passing 

between the time emergency 

60 The BLUES 

services receive a call warranting 

police response and the time 

an officer is sent. Nowhere else 

in Solano County faces delays 

anywhere near this severe. 

So few police officers remain 

in Vallejo, Ta said police have 

collapsed their traffic division 

and begun rotating one detective 

per week to work a patrol shift. 

He said they may also entirely 

stop responding to some calls, 

such as alarm calls, in the near 

future. 

OHIO OFFICER FIRED AFTER 

RELEASING K-9 ON A SURREN- 

DERING TRUCK DRIVER 

By Patrick Orsagos, Bruce Shipkowski 

and Samantha Hendrickson. 

Associated Press. 

COLUMBUS, OH. — A police 

officer in rural Ohio was fired 

Wednesday after he released 

his police K-9 on a surrendering 

truck driver despite state troopers 

telling him to hold the K9 

back. 

The Circleville Police Department 

said Ryan Speakman “did 

not meet the standards and 

expectations we hold for our 

police officers” and his termination 

is “effective immediately.” 

His firing comes a day after the 

department said he was on paid 

administrative leave, which is 

standard during use-of-force 

investigations. 

The town’s civilian police review 

board has found Speakman 

didn’t violate department policy 

when he deployed the dog, 

Wednesday’s police statement 

said, adding that the review 

board doesn’t have the authority 

to recommend discipline. 

Department officials said they 

would have no further comment 

on the matter “at this time” since 

it’s a personnel matter. Messages 

seeking comment from 

Speakman were not immediately 

returned. 

The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent 

Association, a police union 

Speakman belongs to, said 

Wednesday it had filed a grievance 

on his behalf and that he

was fired without just cause. 

Speakman, who joined the 

Circleville department in February 

2020, deployed his police 

dog following a lengthy pursuit 

on July 4 involving the Ohio State 

Highway Patrol. The episode 

was captured on a police body 

camera. 

Troopers tried to stop a commercial 

semi-truck that was 

missing a mudflap and failed to 

halt for an inspection, according 

to a highway patrol incident 

report. The nearby Circleville 

Police Department was called in 

to assist. 

The 23-year-old truck driver, 

Jadarrius Rose of Memphis, Tennessee, 

initially refused to get 

out of the truck and later defied 

instructions to get on the ground, 

according to the incident report 

and the body cam video. Rose 

eventually got on his knees and 

raised his hands in the air. 

The body camera video shows 

Speakman holding back the 

K9, and a trooper can be heard 

off-camera repeatedly yelling, 

“Do not release the dog with his 

hands up!” However, Speakman 

deploys the dog and it can be 

seen in the video attacking Rose, 

who yells “Get it off! Please! 

Please!” 

Rose was treated at a hospital 

for dog bites. 

He was charged with failure to 

comply, and hasn’t responded to 

an email sent Monday seeking 

comment. Attorney Benjamin 

Partee, who is representing Rose, 

did not immediately respond to a 

request for comment. 

It’s not clear why he refused 

to stop for police. Rose told 

The Columbus Dispatch that he 

couldn’t talk about why he didn’t 

stop. But when asked about the 

video, told the newspaper: “I’m 

just glad that it was recorded. 

What you saw is what, pretty 

much, happened.” 

LT WOUNDED IN RAMPAGE 

THAT KILLED PA TROOPER RE- 

LEASED FROM HOSPITAL 

A Pennsylvania State Police 

lieutenant who was critically 

wounded in a multi-location 

attack against state troopers on 

June 17 in Juniata County was 

released from the hospital Monday. 

Police say the suspect who 

shot Lt. James A. Wagner also 

ambushed and killed Trooper 

Jacques Rougeau Jr. on the same 

afternoon. The suspect was 

killed in a fierce gun battle with 

police. 

Following the shooting, Wagner 

was taken to Lewistown Hospital 

and then life-flighted to the 

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. 

The hospital made the announcement 

that Wagner was 

being discharged after a long 

stay, and his next steps in recovery 

will be at a rehabilitation 

facility. 

The BLUES 61


yrs. 

CANADIAN K-9 SHOT AND 

KILLED DURING ARREST 

A Toronto Police K-9 was 

killed and an armed man was 

shot and injured Tuesday as 

officers attempted to arrest him 

in connection with a homicide, 

Ontario’s Special investigations 

Unit (SIU) says. 

Police went to an apartment 

building around 8 p.m. in order 

to apprehend a 44-year-old man 

wanted for second-degree murder, 

according to SIU spokesperson 

Kristy Denette, who spoke to 

reporters Wednesday morning, 

the CBC reports. 

The man fired at police and 

then fled through a residential 

neighborhood before ending up 

in a backyard, Denette said. 

K-9 Bingo was part of the 

search. The man shot and killed 

Bingo, Denette said. That is when 

a police officer shot and injured 

the man, she added. The man 

was taken to hospital for treatment, 

where he remains. 

Bingo, a two-year-old German 

Shepherd, joined the force in July 

2022. 

TRIAL BEGINS FOR COLORADO 

OFFICER WHO PUT WOMAN IN 

CRUISER HIT BY TRAIN 

By Colleen Slevin, 

Associated Press 

DENVER — A Colorado police 

officer accused of putting a 

handcuffed woman in a parked 

police car that was hit by a 

freight train did not know the 

car was parked on the tracks, 

the officer’s lawyer said in court 

Monday. 

62 The BLUES 

While evidence will show 

Officer Jordan Steinke stood on 

the railroad tracks during a night 

traffic stop on Sept. 16, 2022, 

she did not know that an officer 

she was assisting had parked his 

patrol car on the tracks, defense 

lawyer Mallory Revel said 

in opening statements in state 

court in Greeley. The woman 

inside, Yareni Rios-Gonzalez, 

suffered extensive injuries, including 

a traumatic brain injury. 

The tracks were completely 

flush with the road, with nothing 

to trip over, and there were 

no illuminated crossing signs or 

gates at the railroad crossing in 

the rural area, just two reflective 

signs on either side of the tracks, 

Revel said. 

Prosecutors will not be able to 

prove that she acted recklessly 

by leaving the woman in the patrol 

car, Revel said. 

“You cannot disregard a risk 

of which you are unaware, no 

matter how obvious that risk 

may later seem,” said Revel, 

who stressed the case hinged on 

what Steinke knew in the moment. 

In her opening statement, Deputy 

District Attorney Lacy Wells 

noted Steinke had walked across 

the train tracks several times 

during the incident, including 

when she escorted Rios-Gonzalez 

to the patrol car after 

arresting her. She did not lay 

out exactly what Steinke knew, 

but she said prosecutors would 

present evidence about her state 

of mind. 

“The court will see and hear 

evidence from which the court 

can infer the defendant’s mental 

state at the time she elected to

place Yareni Rios-Gonzalez in 

the Platteville patrol car parked 

on the railroad tracks, instead 

of her own patrol unit that was 

safely parked to the west of the 

railroad tracks,” Wells said. 

Previously released police 

video shows officers searching 

Rios-Gonzalez’s truck as the 

train approaches with its horn 

is blaring. Other footage shows 

officers scrambling as the train 

approaches and slams into the 

vehicle. 

Steinke, who was working for 

the Fort Lupton Police Department, 

was following her training, 

which taught her to focus on 

patting down the suspect, getting 

her in the nearest patrol car 

and then making sure there was 

no one else in Rios-Gonzalez’s 

vehicle who could be waiting to 

ambush police, Revel said. 

The officer from the nearby 

Platteville Police Department 

who parked the patrol car on the 

tracks is also being prosecuted 

for misdemeanor counts of 

reckless endangerment. Steinke 

is being prosecuted for criminal 

attempt to commit manslaughter, 

a felony; reckless endangerment; 

and third-degree assault, 

both misdemeanors. 

There is no jury for the trial, 

which is scheduled to end Friday. 

Testimony is being heard by 

Judge Timothy Kerns, who will 

issue a verdict. 

Rios-Gonzalez is suing over her 

treatment, after being arrested 

when a driver reported she had 

pointed a gun at him during a 

road rage incident. The lawsuit 

accused three officers of acting 

recklessly and failing in their 

duty to take care of her while 

she was in their custody. 

HUNTER BIDEN’S LAWYER 

PICTURED SMOKING BONG 

DURING CLIENT’S VISIT 

Kevin Morris, who represents 

Hunter Biden, was photographed 

by the UK Daily Mail apparently 

smoking a substance from a water 

“bong” from the balcony of 

his Los Angeles, California, home 

during his client’s visit. 

Hunter Biden visited his ‘sugar 

brother’ Hollywood lawyer Kevin 

Morris – who was photographed 

appearing to smoke from a bong. 

The First Son took a trip from 

his Malibu pad to the Pacific 

Palisades on Thursday to visit his 

attorney, after agreeing to plead 

guilty to federal tax crimes last 

month. 

While Hunter was at the house, 

Morris was snapped on a balcony 

in plain view of the public 

street appearing to huff from a 

white bong, in photos exclusively 

obtained by DailyMail.com. 

The photos suggest that the 

home is in the seaside neighborhood 

of Castellamare. 

The alleged “bong” event took 

place the same day that Sen. 

Chuck Grassley (R-IA) revealed 

an FBI FD-1023 form in which 

a source alleged that Hunter 

and Joe Biden took money from 

Burisma, an allegedly corrupt 

Ukrainian energy firm. 

The funds were allegedly 

transferred through a series of 

shell companies. The allegations 

in the form have not been verified. 

Recreational marijuana is legal 

in California, though the Daily 

Mail did not confirm the substance 

smoked was marijuana. 

The BLUES 63


yrs. 

64 The BLUES 

LOUISVILLE OFFICER SHOT IN 

HEAD DURING BANK MASSA- 

CRE EARLIER THIS YEAR GET- 

TING RELEASED FROM HOSPI- 

TAL 

LOUISVILLE, KY. – A Louisville 

police officer who suffered a 

gunshot wound to the head 

while responding to a deadly 

April shooting at a bank is set 

to be released from the hospital 

where he was treated for his injuries, 

according to the Louisville 

Metro Police Department. 

Nickolas Wilt, 26, suffered a 

critical gunshot wound to the 

head while responding to a mass 

shooting at the Old National 

Bank in downtown Louisville 

April 10, 2023. During the murderous 

attack, five victims were 

killed and another eight were 

wounded. The gunman also died 

during the bloodbath, Law Officer 

previously reported. 

Wilt was working only his 

fourth shift as a police officer 

after graduating from the academy 

just 11 days before the bank 

massacre. The courageous firstyear 

officer was one of the first 

responders at the scene and ran 

toward gunfire without hesitation, 

authorities said. Other officers 

eventually shot and killed 

the gunman. 

The critically wounded officer 

had brain surgery following the 

shooting. He spent roughly a 

month on a ventilator, authorities 

said. 

Now, following three months of 

both medical and rehab treatment, 

Wilt is being discharged 

from the Frazier Rehabilitation 

institute in Louisville, law 

enforcement authorities said 

Thursday, Yahoo News reported. 

“This is the day we have all 

been praying for,” a statement 

from Louisville Police said. “The 

Wilt family has felt so much 

love and support from so many 

people and would like to extend 

an invite to all LMPD, all first 

responders, as well as the entire 

community to attend a celebration 

of Officer Wilt returning 

home!” 

TEXAS GOVERNOR SIGNS 

PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS INTO 

LAW, SPARKING CONTROVERSY 

APB Team 

In a move aimed at enhancing 

public safety, Texas Governor 

Greg Abbott recently signed a 

series of bills into law, stirring 

both support and controversy. 

Among the legislation signed 

was House Bill 17, which seeks 

to crack down on “rogue district 

attorneys” by holding them 

accountable for not prosecuting 

certain crimes. 

One such instance involves Travis 

County DA Jose Garza, whose 

office pledged to not prosecute 

minor drug offenses or cases related 

to the state’s abortion ban. 

HB 17 considers a district attorney’s 

refusal to prosecute certain 

crimes as “official misconduct,” 

potentially leading to their removal 

from office by an external 

judge. 

Proponents argue that this 

measure ensures justice for victims, 

while critics express concerns 

about potential repercussions 

on criminal justice reform 

efforts. 

While some district attorneys 

have declined to comment on 

HB 17, opponents worry that 

this legislation may discourage

eform-minded DAs from assuming 

office and contribute to 

increased incarcerations. 

Austin Justice Coalition Policy 

Director Chris Harris expressed 

concern over the potential consequences 

of the bill. 

“This is a step toward catching 

our governor up with the governor 

of Florida,” Harris said. “Ensuring 

that the people that they 

go after, the people that they try 

to marginalize, whether it’s trans 

folks, people seeking abortion, 

undocumented folks or Black 

people in our community, that 

all the elected officials within 

their state have to do the same 

thing.” 

In addition to HB 17, Abbott 

signed two laws targeting “street 

takeovers” like those witnessed 

in Austin earlier this year. These 

laws empower law enforcement 

to seize vehicles involved in racing 

and classify street racing as 

a form of organized crime. 

Furthermore, Abbott endorsed 

stricter penalties for theft or illegal 

possession of catalytic converters, 

longer prison sentences 

for violent criminals causing 

paralysis to victims and the classification 

of parolees cutting off 

their ankle monitors as a felony. 

To further support law enforcement, 

Abbott also approved 

$330 million in funding for 

sheriff’s offices in rural counties 

such as Llano, Hays, Bastrop and 

Burnet. The funds will facilitate 

salary increases for sheriffs and 

their staff, as well as the recruitment 

of additional personnel. 

The recent bill signings also 

addressed other contentious 

issues. 

Senate Bill 17 restricts diversity, 

equity and inclusion (DEI) programs 

on campuses, prohibiting 

the establishment of DEI offices 

and barring universities from 

making hiring decisions based 

on race, sex, color or ethnicity. 

Additionally, Senate Bill 18, initially 

aimed at banning tenure at 

universities, underwent revisions 

and now requires institutions to 

outline specific procedures for 

granting tenure and the evaluation 

process for tenured faculty. 

Notably, SB 17 faced opposition 

from students who rallied 

against the legislation, advocating 

for the protection of DEI 

initiatives on campuses. Despite 

concerns, university leadership 

has committed to reviewing 

existing practices and complying 

with new laws. 

Reacting to the bills in a press 

release, the office of Senator 

Brandon Creighton called SB 

17 the “most significant ban on 

diversity, equity and inclusion in 

higher education in the nation.” 

Creighton emphasized the positive 

impact of these laws. “Now 

that these bills are law, institutes 

of higher education are better 

equipped to prepare the next 

generation of leaders, and keep 

Texas the economic engine of 

the nation,” he said. 

The BLUES 65

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IS YOUR ISD PD 

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66 The BLUES

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POLICE DEPARTMENT 

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The BLUES 67

NOW HIRING 

PRIORITY BOLO 

yrs. 

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS 

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68 The BLUES

Forney ISD 


NOW 

HIRING 

Police Officers 

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School-based police officers work 

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The BLUES 69

the abc’s of 

UAS 

Brandon Karr 

Crash Reconstruction with Drones: The Gateway Drug 

to a UAS Program at Your Law Enforcement Agency. 

If you were a child of the ‘80s 

and grew up during the “War on 

Drugs” era of Nancy Reagan’s 

“Just say no” slogans and Drug 

Abuse Resistance Education 

(D.A.R.E.) programs spreading 

through schools in the US, then 

you are no stranger to what a 

gateway drug is. If you are unfamiliar 

with the definition of a 

gateway drug, I will save you the 

Google search. A gateway drug is 

a habit-forming drug that, while 

not itself addictive, may lead to 

the use of other addictive drugs. 

So, if you think that by comparing 

drones to drugs, I might 

be using a gateway drug, you are 

right. About the comparison, that 

is, there is no drug use going on 

here. But now I have your attention, 

so hear me out. 

When anyone considers starting 

a UAS program, many factors 

must be evaluated. When a Law 

Enforcement Agency wants to do 

this, I would argue there is one 

more factor that, while it applies 

to UAS programs in general, is 

even more of a consideration 

for Law Enforcement, and that is 

public trust. 

Quite often, when you mention 

Law Enforcement and drones, 

you can get a raised eyebrow or 

a sideways look from someone. I 

understand the concern that the 

public has and could probably 

70 The BLUES 

dedicate an entire article to why 

you should be more concerned 

about someone with a cellphone 

camera or Google Maps than a 

camera on a drone at 200’. The 

fact remains that we, as Law 

Enforcement Officers have to 

develop responsible UAS programs 

and educate those that we 

protect and serve about this new 

technology. 

Over the past few years, I have 

had multiple opportunities to 

discuss the UAS program my 

agency has created. The audience 

has varied and included 

other public safety professionals, 

drone industry executives, 

enthusiasts, hobbyists, and even 

members of the public that have 

never seen a drone flying before. 

When people in the UAS community 

ask what my agency is 

doing with drones, my response 

typically leads to a great back 

and forth conversation about the 

technology. 

Often when the public asks, 

“what are you using drones for?” 

They will follow up with another 

question before I can tell them. 

Questions like, “Is that thing 

going to give me a ticket? Can it 

read my license plate? Are you 

going to follow people in their 

cars with that?” I always give the 

same response, “We are using 

drones to map crash scenes. We 

can get the road opened much 

faster using the drone, so it is 

safer for us working the crash, 

and you do not have to sit in a 

traffic jam.” The response typically 

goes something like, “Oh, I

The BLUES 71

the abc’s of 

UAS 

Brandon Karr 

like the sound of that!” 

In a Washington Post article, 

Look what’s new on the accident 

investigation team: Drones by 

Jenni Bergal, even the American 

Civil Liberties Union was 

supportive of drones being used 

in crash investigations. Chad 

Marlow, a senior counsel at the 

American Civil Liberties Union in 

New York, said, “Filming a traffic 

accident overhead to get a 

better view, if it’s strictly limited 

to that purpose, is not the sort 

of thing we would necessarily 

object to.” 

In May of 2017, the North Carolina 

State Highway Patrol - Collision 

Reconstruction Unit and the 

North Carolina Department of 

Transportation Aviation Division 

- UAS Program Office conducted 

a test crash. The crash was a 

demonstration for the Governor’s 

Highway Safety Program annual 

“Click it or Ticket” media event. 

72 The BLUES 

The crash was also the perfect 

opportunity for the Collision 

Reconstruction Unit to map the 

scene using their 3D laser scanner 

while the UAS Program Office 

mapped the scene with their 

drone. 

It was no surprise that the 

drone was faster, almost three 

and a half times faster. This 

means the time that first responders 

are in the road and 

exposed to danger is less, traffic 

backups are shortened, resulting 

in fewer secondary collisions, 

and the roadway can be restored 

to the normal flow of traffic, 

which is of particular interest to 

the motoring public! 

The data collected by the drone 

was processed by a photogrammetrist 

with the North Carolina 

Department of Transportation, 

and the accuracy was evaluated 

and found to be very reliable. If 

you are interested in reading the 

study and learning more about 

its details, you can click the link 

to read the NC Crash Scene Mapping 

with Drones study. 

So, if you are still asking, what 

does all of this have to do with 

gateway drugs? Crash reconstruction 

with drones is the 

program that will help you build 

a responsible, public trust-building 

UAS program at your Law 

Enforcement Agency. Once the 

public sees this incredibly beneficial 

piece of technology being 

used to help protect and serve, 

you will have their trust, leading 

to other uses and expanding the 

program in your department. 

The North Carolina State Highway 

Patrol has seen the public 

embrace the use of drones to 

map crash scenes in their State. 

Creating a similar program at 

your agency may give you the 

push needed to get your program 

off the ground!

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The BLUES 73

getting to know 

BY SENIOR EDITOR, DR. TINA JAECKLE 

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat recently with Sean “Sticks” 

Larkin to discuss his journey in the policing and media fields and his 

current project with FOX Nation’s Crime Cam 24/7. When asked how he 

was doing, he summed his current status up with, “Life is good!”. 

EARLY BEGINNINGS 

Larkin grew up the son of active-duty military parents and attributes 

his interest in law enforcement to his structured home life in the Bay 

Area during the late ’80s and early ’90s. “That’s when criminal street 

gangs manifested into what they turned into,” he said. He then moved 

to Oklahoma for college, where he spent two years at Rogers State 

University and then transferred to Langston University for night classes 

while working full-time during the day. Larkin had planned on just 

gaining his degree and then returning to the West Coast to become a 

cop, but after he did an internship with the Tulsa Police Department in 

1997, he got hired immediately. He spent a total of 25 years in the policing 

field. 

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EMBRACING THE OPPORTUNITY 

Larkin, a now-retired lieutenant with the 

Tulsa (Oklahoma) police department, has 

started a new chapter in his life, and we at 

the BLUES Police Magazine are excited to 

share his next step in the media field. Larkin, 

49, has admittedly been a bit surprised 

at his career trajectory as he is a self-proclaimed 

simple man who enjoys cross fit, 

mountain-climbing, and being a father and 

husband. He added, “I say it to everybody. 

I’m a regular dude. I don’t have any artistic 

talents. I can’t play an instrument. I can’t 

sing. It was literally just a fluke deal, right 

place, right time. There was an opportunity, 

and I capitalized on it, of course. But I 

think what has helped with the success is 

anytime, whether it was before the television 

stuff happened, I supervised our gang 

unit here in Tulsa, and Tulsa has a pretty 

large police department. I had to do a lot of 

media interviews and from day one, when 

I spoke with the media or even continued 

on to doing the television stuff, I would try 

to talk like I was talking to somebody in an 

informal setting. I think it helped for people 

watching at home”. 

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THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY 

At the heart of Larkin’s media platform is 

a focus on the reality of policing and crime 

through the lens of a camera. According to a 

New York Times article (Underwood, 2020), 

Larkin began to highlight the police role on 

“Live PD” which premiered on A&E in 2016, 

and the Tulsa Police Department was one 

of six that initially signed on. Larkin was 

one of the officers the cameras followed on 

rounds and in the field. Until recently, Larkin 

was in the studio, helping to host the show 

with Dan Abrams, analyzing the footage on 

“Live PD” much like a sportscaster. “Live PD” 

would cut between footage of police officers 

around the country as they make traffic 

stops, respond to calls, and go on highspeed 

chases. Larkin viewed “Live PD” as a 

tool to let the public see what policing is 

like beyond cellphone footage. He further 

explained, “I think that if we get the whole 

story and the officer was in the wrong, hey, 

he was in the wrong,” he said. “Because it’s 

live, the public gets to see what happened 

in an encounter with police from start to 

finish, a chance for the audience to better 

understand what the officer had to do.” In 

2020, “Live PD” was canceled following nationwide 

calls for police reform and was 

later revamped as “On Patrol: Live” in July 

2022 and is currently broadcasted by Reelz. 

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BREAKING BLUE: REAL LIFE STORIES 

OF COPS FALSELY ACCUSED 

Larkin has also been passionate for years about 

highlighting the reality of false allegations that 

can occur against police officers, as he also experienced 

this firsthand. “In 2010, here in Tulsa, 

there was a well-documented police corruption 

investigation that went on, and my name and the 

names of some other officers were thrown into 

it, and we hadn’t done anything wrong. Here we 

are 11 years later, I was in a trial that became 

one of the focal points during the trial: I was accused 

of doing something wrong, but I was never 

charged with anything. But the accusations 

still get thrown out there, so I sympathize with 

anybody in any walk of life that has been falsely 

accused of something or falsely convicted of 

something.” Larkin gathered a series of vignettes 

to allow officers to share their stories with the 

public. With what’s going on in this country right 

now, it is something important to say”. Larkin 

released a book in 2021 on this topic titled 

“Breaking Blue: Real Life Stories of Cops Falsely 

Accused,” and it is available on Amazon. 

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FAME AND NOTORIETY 

There is no question Larkin has gained fame and notoriety 

since he began in the media field. “The show was, you 

know, the number one cable television show with about 

2.1 million viewers every episode,” Larkin said. “So, when 

somebody sees me. Yes, they recognized me from the show, 

but they also knew I was a police officer and came up and 

talked to me. And the way I’ve always looked at it, it’s like, 

man, that’s a positive contact that person is having with a 

police officer. Because the fact is, most of the time, somebody 

is talking to the police, that’s when something bad 

happened, whether they’re being pulled over for a driving 

violation or involved in a traffic accident. they came 

home from work, and their house was burglarized. It’s always 

something bad that people call the police out for. So, 

whether I was out having dinner, with my guys at lunch, 

on a call, and citizens came up and talked to us, they still 

knew I was a cop, and it’s always a positive interaction.” 

More than 233,000 people follow Larkin on social media 

such as Twitter. At the height of the Live PD show’s popularity, 

his fans created Facebook pages dedicated to him. 

“Some of the names have been pretty funny,” Larkin smiled. 

“I think there was one called the Sticky Chicks because you 

know my nickname, “Sticks.” I think there were Larkin’s ladies. 

So, there are some pretty funny ones out there. I, to 

this day, have never been on Facebook in my entire life. My 

mom is in part of these groups. She’s usually the one that 

updates me about things going on.” 

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GIVING BACK 

Since retirement, Larkin has focused on 

his charitable work for years in the Tulsa 

community. He is working with such 

groups as Best Buddies, which provides 

mentorship to special needs children, 

and launched his own nonprofit last fall 

called STICKS Cares. The acronym plays 

on Larkin’s famous nickname, Support 

The Inner City Kids. 

ADVICE FOR NEW OFFICERS 

I asked Larkin what kind of advice or 

insight he could offer to a new officer 

starting in the field. He explained, “Because 

of my unique position of being a 

recognizable face in law enforcement 

due to my TV work, I get contacted by 

many younger people, typically college 

students or somebody looking to make a 

career change and choose to become an 

officer. I say it to everybody: I loved this 

profession, and despite everything that’s 

going on right now, I would still do it 

again, without a doubt. I try to tell people 

that from my own experience, I think 

people should try to work for a larger 

agency. It is not right for everybody; 

however, for an officer who goes in and 

works for a larger agency, you obviously 

have more opportunities to do different 

things because you get burned out. You 

get burned out, whether you’re in patrol, 

you get burned out, whether you’re a 

detective, I was on SWAT for seven years, 

I got burned out on SWAT. I was ready for 

something different. Working for a larger 

agency gives you many opportunities to 

do things. You also have more opportunities 

for advancement and promotion. 

Before I was promoted to supervisor, 

84 The BLUES 

there were supervisors I worked for that I 

thought were fantastic leaders. I was like, 

I want to be like this guy”. Larkin also emphasized 

the importance of spending time 

with others outside of law enforcement. “In 

going to a CrossFit gym. I was around or 

still am around people who are in the medical 

field, people who are attorneys, and 

people who are in oil and gas here in Oklahoma. 

I got to meet all these other people 

away from the job. Those are the majority 

of the people that throughout my life I have 

spent time outside of work with. It was a 

way for me to detach and be away from the 

job and not constantly talk about the same 

stories that happened over and over again.” 

FINDING BALANCE 

Larkin is clearly embracing more balance 

in his life now. He offered, “With me turning 

50 this year and my father having had 

a major heart attack out of nowhere last 

year and surviving it, I realized there’s only 

so much time in life and your profession. 

We know that there’s a reason why many 

police pension systems are the best in the 

state, like they are here in Oklahoma. They 

stay fully funded because we have guys 

that put in money for 20, 25, and 35 years, 

and then they live only four years after retirement. 

I want to try to enjoy this portion 

of life, so I’m cutting back from On Patrol 

Live. I will still be on there, but that show 

runs 48 weekends a year live. I’ve worked 

weekends my whole career. I live in Oklahoma, 

and I travel there. I enjoy the show 

and love everybody I work with. But this is 

the time for me to enjoy life more. I’ve got 

adult children now, am newly married, and 

this will allow me to spend some time on 

other projects”.

Police engage in a deadly shootout when 

a gunman takes over a city bus. A convenience 

store owner fights fire with fire. 

Three dumpster divers make a shocking 

discovery. 

Episode 102: Dine & Crash: 

A shocking hit and run at a fast-food 

restaurant. A local teen steps in to save a 

young mother and her children from a violent 

attacker. The U.S. Coast Guard stops at 

nothing to keep millions of dollars’ worth 

of cocaine from entering the country. 

Episode 103: Fighting Back: 

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Larkin has started a new chapter as host for a show titled “CrimeCam 

24/7,” which tells the story of true crime events captured on surveillance 

cameras, with video from those events factoring heavily in the show’s coverage. 

The series builds on Fox Nation’s library of true crime content, including 

the reboot of the iconic Fox show “Cops.” “After green-lighting the 

iconic series Cops back in 2021, we saw how engaged our subscribers are 

in the realm of true crime, and we are thrilled to offer new content from 

this genre to meet the strong demand,” Jason Klarman, the president of 

Fox Nation, said in a statement. “As a former member of law enforcement, 

Sticks is the perfect voice to bring this show to life.” 

CrimeCam 24/7 won’t be the same as Live PD: Instead of relying on real-time 

video feeds from law enforcement encounters, the series will see 

Larkin guide viewers through various video clips from surveillance cameras 

that capture actual crimes in progress and the aftermath of those 

crimes. The series began streaming on Friday, July 7, with Fox Nation serving 

as the exclusive distributor of the program. New episodes of the show 

will stream every Friday at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. An episodic breakdown is 

as follows: 

Episode 101: Shootout: 

A mother and daughter protect their 

business, and each other, from a gun 

wielding assailant. Sin City police bring 

an out-of-control carjacker to justice. 

Security cameras, police officers and 

handcuffs can’t keep a suspect from escaping. 

Episode 104: Ride Scare: 

An enraged Uber passenger sinks her 

teeth into her driver. Air traffic control 

is shocked when an unauthorized commercial 

passenger plane takes to the sky, 

with a baggage handler at the helm. Bullets 

fly when a car thief gets desperate. 

Episode 105: Spring Broken: 

A group of spring breakers turn the tables 

on two gunmen at a gas station. An 

all-out manhunt ensues when a crazed 

assailant attacks officers in a California 

police station. One thief’s plan goes up in 

smoke at a fireworks shop. 

Episode 106: Seattle Standoff: 

Police are forced to make a life-ordeath 

decision when a rogue gunman in 

Seattle drives his car through a building’s 

garage door. Multiple police units are 

required to stop an out-of-control driver 

on the warpath. A porch pirate gets a 

severe dose of instant karma. 

86 The BLUES

Episode 107: Triggered: 

Dozens of officers engage in cross city 

pursuit of an armed and dangerous, 

wanted fugitive. A close-range gas station 

shootout puts suspects and innocent 

bystanders in the crossfire. A vicious 

brawl breaks out between the Parkland 

School shooter and a prison guard. 

Episode 108: Desperate Measures: 

A father uses his infant baby as a shield 

in a standoff against police. A brazen 

thief attempts to steal a pizza delivery 

truck. A massive, organized robbery of a 

Houston gun shop puts dozens of weapons 

in the hands of criminals. 

Episode 109: Line of Duty: 

An unarmed security guard goes toe to 

toe with an AR-15 wielding gunman. Police 

pull out all the stops as a speeding, 

five-ton RV rampages through a suburban 

neighborhood. Security cameras capture 

the moment a prescription pill thief gets 

a double dose of punches to the face from 

the boyfriend of a pharmacist. 

Episode 110: Taxi Cab Transgressions: 

A cabbie with a gun to his head sees an 

unlikely ray of hope in his rearview mirror. 

Police bring a car chase to an end with a 

little-known secret weapon. A safe stealing 

thief is in for a big surprise. 

The BLUES 87

Episode 111: Home Security: 

An unsuspecting man defends his home 

and his family against armed home invaders. 

An angry girlfriend turns her minivan 

into a weapon with deadly consequences. 

An arsonist plays with fire and gets burned. 

Episode 112: Road Rage: 

The morning commute in Miami turns violent 

when a furious driver opens fire. Police 

chase an unstoppable vehicle wreaking 

havoc on downtown Los Angeles. A wanted 

suspect on the run finds out the hard way 

that a K9 unit has a bite even worse than its 

bark. 

FOX Nation is a direct-to-consumer 

on-demand streaming service designed to 

complement the FOX News Channel experience 

with a members-only destination for 

its most passionate and loyal super fans. 

Featuring more than 5,000 hours of content, 

the subscription service includes conservative 

opinion programming, lifestyle, 

and entertainment content, as well as 

historical documentaries and investigative 

series from a multitude of FOX News personalities 

at a cost of $5.99 a month/$64.99 

a year. Launched in 2018, FOX Nation is 

available at foxnation.com and via app for 

iOS devices, Android devices, Fire TV, Apple 

TV, Google TV, Android TV, Roku, Xbox One, 

FuboTV, Vizio TVs, and Samsung TVs, as 

well as DIRECTV, DIRECTV STREAM, You- 

Tube TV, Comcast Xfinity, Cox Contour and 

The Roku Channel. 

Some of this story was included in previous 

articles on Sean Larkin and information 

provided by FOX News Nation. 

88 The BLUES

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What to Do This Summer? 

Head Down to 

Galveston Island 

Welcome to Galveston Island – the Playground of the South! 

If you’re looking for the perfect spot for your next vacation, you’ve come to the right 

place! Being less than an hour south of downtown Houston, Galveston Island is Texas’ 

friendliest and most accessible portal to the Gulf. 

There are 32 miles of beaches in Galveston, whether you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon 

soaking up the sun or an adventure through the waters as you swim, fish or sail. 

Galveston Island may be small, but offers a wide variety of things to do, no matter the 

season or interests; adventure, amusement parks, water parks and other water activities, 

sports, thrift and boutique shopping, a vast array of restaurants, biking, sports, history, 

and more tours than most can imagine. The possibilities are truly endless on your Texas 

coastal vacation! 

With Galveston Island’s friendly community of locals and its sub-tropical weather, the 

island has become a favored home-away-from-home for tourists from around the world. 

90 Go The to BLUES visitgalveston.com to plan your trip today.

The BLUES 91

Head Down to 


Plan Your Stay! 

Galveston Island boasts a tremendous variety of accommodations for every budget 

and preference. From luxury hotels and resorts to elegant bed & breakfasts, and from 

vacation rentals and condos to RV parks, you will find just the place to suit your needs. 

And if you’re cruising from the Island? A number of hotels on the Island offer parking 

and transfer packages with an overnight stay, so guests can leave their car at the hotel 

and catch a ride to the cruise ship terminal. Spend a night or two in one of the Island’s 

beautiful resorts or bed and breakfasts, or find a condominium on the beach for a relaxing 

view. Bon voyage! 

Casa del Mar Beachfront Suites 

Seawall & 61st, Galveston • 409-572-0371 

The BLUES recommends: 

Casa del Mar offers 2 pools, a 

BBQ area and several meeting 

rooms ideal for small groups 

and family reunions. Centrally 

located to all of the Island attractions, 

each suite has a small 

private bedroom, a living area 

with fully stocked kitchen amenities, 

a sofa sleeper, and bunks 

ideal for small children. Casa 

del Mar is perfect for a family 

vacation or weekend getaway, 

so let their friendly staff help 

you plan a vacation that’s relaxing 

and fun! 

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Head Down to 


Beach Time Vacation Rentals 

Book Online at: beachtimevacationrentals.com 

Attention all Heroes!! Are you looking for a well-deserved break? Beach Time Vacation Rentals in Galveston 

has the perfect getaway for you and your family. 

Our vacation homes and condos are located on beautiful Galveston Island, close to all the local attractions 

and activities that make Galveston a popular vacation destination. Whether you’re looking for a 

quiet, secluded retreat or a fun-filled family adventure, we have something for everyone. 

Our properties offer a comfortable “home-away-from-home,” providing all the amenities you need to 

relax and recharge. From fully equipped kitchens to comfortable sleeping arrangements, we have everything 

you need to make your vacation as stress-free as possible. 

At Beach Time Vacation Rentals, we understand the importance of taking time off to rejuvenate your 

mind, body, and spirit. That’s why we offer special discounts to all law enforcement personnel and their 

families. 

Whether you want to spend your days soaking up the sun on the beach or taking a stroll in the Historic 

Strand District, Galveston is the perfect vacation spot. And, we have everything you need to make 

your stay unforgettable. 

Book your stay with us today and experience all that Galveston has to offer. Contact us directly to 

learn more about our vacation rental properties and special discounts for law enforcement officers… 

OUR HEROES 

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Call and mention your law enforcement affiliation for our 

Hatmaker’s Heroes Discount! 

(409)9744598 

1021 61st St., Galveston, TX 77551 

The BLUES 95

Head Down to 


What to See & Do. 

Making the Most of Island Time. 

Galveston Island is home to some of the best attractions Texas has to offer, including Moody Gardens 

as well as Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark and the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier 

amusement park. Galveston also offers a plethora of unique museums, including The Bryan Museum, 

Texas Seaport Museum, Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum and Galveston Railroad Museum. 

Having one of the largest and well-preserved concentrations of Victorian architecture in the country, 

Galveston allows visitors to explore the island’s interesting history by touring one of its popular historic 

mansions. 

Cruise Ships 

The Port of Galveston is the fourth busiest 

home port in the United States with 

departures from Carnival, Royal Caribbean 

and Disney Cruise Lines. Need an itinerary? 

We’ve got suggestions no matter 

how much time you have before that ship 

sails. 

Historic Homes 

Although most of the original structures are long 

gone, the stories of early islanders live on in renovated 

structures and new establishments created in 

memory of the past. Visit the Homes Tour during the 

month of May. 

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Head Down to 


What to See & Do. 

Making the Most of Island Time. 

Galveston Beaches 

With 32 miles of shoreline and a variety of 

parks, Galveston Island offers something for 

every kind of beach goer. And with warm Gulf 

waves from spring through October, there’s 

plenty of time to explore each beach’s unique 

personality. Whatever your sun seeking fancy, 

Galveston has a beach for you. 

Tours & Sightseeing 

Whether you prefer to stroll down quaint 

alleyways by foot or trot through the 

streets in a carriage, all paths can lead 

you on an unforgettable journey back in 

time. You’ll be entertained and enlightened 

by knowledgeable guides giving tours on 

foot, carriage, shuttle or even boat. If you 

prefer to do you own thing, we’ve assemble 

self-guided tours of popular sights 

with maps designed for mobile devices. 

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Galveston Railroad Museum 

2602 Santa Fe Place, Galveston • 409-765-5700 

The Galveston Railroad Museum, 

2602 Santa Fe Place, a living 

history museum, allows visitors to 

step into exhibits and participate 

in interactive displays. Located 

the restored 1932 train depot, the 

museum sits on 5 acres of railyard 

in the heart of the Strand Historic 

District. 

The centerpiece of the museum’s 

exhibits are restored railcars 

that include dining and baggage 

cars, post office, military transport, 

and more. The museum is also 

home to a unique RailHotel that 

hosts guests overnight accommodations 

on restored luxury railcars. 

For a virtual tour or to make a 

reservation go to www.galvestonrrmuseum.org. 

“Ghosts of Travelers Past” in 

the Train Depot give a face to rail 

travelers from the past. Lift the 

handset in a phone booth to overhear 

their conversations. Adjacent, 

visit the Map Room to view a new 

exhibit. The Orphan Train, a quiet 

part of American history that some 

looked upon as a tragedy, and others 

as a godsend. America’s first 

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supervised welfare program, the 

trains operated from 1854 – 1929, 

transporting more than 200,000 

children from the East Coast to the 

West Coast in search of adoptive 

families. Galveston was one of 

the last stops on the Orphan Train 

journey. The exhibit tells the story 

through photographs, and testimonials. 

Continue your tour through the 

Exhibit Hall adjacent to the depot 

to visit Dining in Style - the largest 

collection of 20th Century Railroad 

Porcelain China and Silver serving 

pieces. America’s romance with 

rail travel spanned a century and a 

half, during which time enjoying a 

meal in the dining car as the scenery 

rushed by was the epitome 

of luxury travel. The fundamental 

characteristics of quality manufacture 

and design endured until the 

end of privately owned rail passenger 

service. 

Coming soon: “Traveling the 

World on a City at Sea: The Story 

of the Battleship Texas”. A collaboration 

of Texas Parks and Wildlife, 

Battleship Texas, and the Center 

for Transportation and Commerce, 

this is the story of the last dreadnought 

battleship that fought I 

both World War I & II, the Atlantic 

and Pacific theater, D-Day, Okinawa, 

Iwo-Jima, Operations Torch, 

Overlord-Neptune, Detachment, 

Iceberg and Magic Carpet Ride. 

Learn of Her illustrious career as 

seen in graphics and artifacts. 

Groups welcome. July 1 – January 

31, 2024. 

Never travel by rail? Experience 

the thrill of rail travel by hopping 

aboard the Harborside Express for 

a train ride. Available on weekends 

weather permitting, or by group 

reservation during the week. Tickets 

required to board. 

A family friendly attraction, 

there’s lots to do for all and kids 

enjoy free Blue Bell Ice Cream 

all summer. Military veterans and 

first responders receive admission 

discounts year ‘round. 

For information, membership, 

student field trips, group tours, 

and admission go to www.GalvestonRRMuseum.org. 

(409) 765- 

5700. All Aboard!

The Orphan Train: Now thru November 15 

The BLUES 101

Head Down to 


When You’re Hungry. 

Best Places to Eat. 

Shrimp ‘N Stuff Downtown 

2506 Ball Street, Galveston • 409-974-4609 

Since 1976, Shrimp ‘n Stuff’s 

39th Street location has been 

“the place where the locals 

love to eat.” This downtown 

location features many of 

the same delicious po-boys, 

gumbo, and salads but they’ve 

also added broiled versions of 

Snapper, Flounder, Salmon, 

and several other fish. The 

downtown spot also ups the 

ante with full, tableside service, 

and custom table ware 

made in Mexico. 

List Your Restaurant Here 

email us: bluespdmag@gmail.com 

102 The BLUES

Katie’s Seafood House 

2000 Wharf Rd., Galveston • 409-765-5688 

For more than 20 years, Katie’s Seafood 

Market has provided the highest quality 

seafood to Galveston locals and visitors. 

In September of 2019, Katie’s husband, 

Buddy, opened Katie’s Seafood House right 

next to the store. The market supplies the 

restaurant with its fresh seafood, which is 

a unique attribute among restaurants and 

takes each dish to the next level. Stop in 

for a delicious shrimp platter and enjoy a 

house cocktail next time you in Galveston! 

The Spot 

3204 Seawall Blvd., Galveston • 409-621-5237 

Rudy & Paco 

2028 Post Office Street, Galveston • 409-762-3696 

When visiting Galveston Island, you simply 

can’t miss the Island’s most unique 

dining experience, Rudy & Paco. Awarded 

Top 100 Restaurants of 2017 and Top 100 

Romantic Restaurants of 2018, Rudy & 

Paco features grilled seafood and steak 

with a South and Central American sabor. 

Relax and unwind with your favorite 

cocktail while enjoying delicious Antojitos. 

Whether you’re dining for a special 

occasion or just grabbing a drink at the 

bar, coming to Rudy & Paco will surely 

be an experience like no other. 

Island Famous: Five Venues, One Spot: The 

Spot, Tiki Bar, SideYard, Rum Shack and 

Squeeze! You can’t go wrong at The Spot, Galveston 

Island’s premier beachfront dining and 

entertainment destination. Dive into a mouthwatering 

burger or fresh seafood, grab a beer 

and find a sweet spot to relax inside or out on 

our multi-level beachfront patios. Whether you 

want to catch the game on one of our many 

HDTVs or enjoy the sparkling views of the Gulf 

of Mexico, every seat’s the best seat in the 

house. It’s the perfect setting to hang out with 

your friends and meet new ones. 

The BLUES 103


new products 

Top Contamination Issues Facing Law 

Enforcement in 2023 

yrs. 

By Dr. Ron Brown 

No public servants are faced 

with more unpredictable 

pathogenetic exposures than 

those working in law enforcement 

and corrections. Constant 

invisible hazards threaten the 

health and wellness of personnel, 

including biological hazards 

sent by mail, casual exposure 

to common illnesses like 

the influenza virus, and mass 

transmission of pandemic-level 

diseases. 

Over the past several years, 

these dangers have never been 

more clearly emphasized as a 

real threat within the workplace. 

The COVID-19 pandemic 

exposed key obstacles for law 

enforcement in communication, 

resource management, 

and changes to crime and service 

patterns. Airborne threats 

spread rapidly through direct 

contact and can contaminate 

patrol cars, fitness and locker 

rooms, K-9 kennels, booking 

areas, correctional lodgings, 

locker rooms, and evidence 

labs. If a threat isn’t immediately 

isolated, a single individual 

could infect and cause the 

death of thousands. 

HIGH-RISK SCENARIOS 

Law enforcement officials 

104 The BLUES 

deal with a variety of highrisk 

areas and physical contact 

that dramatically increase 

the risk of infection. 

Officers face numerous risks 

with higher potential for 

transmission, including crowd 

management at large events, 

transporting prisoners to jails, 

interviewing people within 

their community, or monitoring 

thousands within a correctional 

facility. It’s impossible 

to determine if a prisoner 

sitting in the back of a patrol 

car or holding cell has an 

infectious disease, and crime 

scenes can be filled with 

potentially dangerous biohazardous 

fluid. Communal 

spaces like locker rooms and 

gyms can also be high-risk 

areas for contagions like MRSA, 

staph, ringworm, and more. 

Any contact with an unknown 

civilian can become a potentially 

life-threatening scenario 

for a police department. 

Paid sick leave is limited, 

and many departments cannot 

afford a staffing shortage 

that can add a severe burden 

on those still working. According 

to a 2022 study published 

by the International Journal 

of Environmental Research 

& Public Health, more than 

nine respondents out of ten 

(92%) prison officers reported 

working while unwell at least 

sometimes, with 43% reporting 

that they always did so, potentially 

endangering the rest of 

their department.

A National Academy of 

Sciences case study details a 

2003 SARS outbreak in Toronto, 

CA, wherein an infected 

employee came to work sick 

and exposed 49 people within 

a single day. Their colleagues 

were quarantined and thus 

rendered unable to perform 

their duties for 10 days to 

limit infection with family 

members and close contacts. 

While many within the profession 

strive for a level of 

perfection and feel a moral 

duty to continue working 

through an illness, this can 

cause an immediate threat 

to those they work with and 

serve. 

RISK EDUCATION & MITI- 

GATION 

Recent circumstances have 

created a higher demand for 

an effective all-hazards disease 

control plan for any type 

of epidemic or bioterrorist 

attack. Departments across 

the country are expected to 

uphold new standards for 

routine education and institute 

detailed plans for the 

inevitable next public health 

threat. Correctional facilities 

and agencies alike need to 

better address regular cleaning 

practices and create a 

robust training regimen for 

on-the-job exposure, use of 

personal protective equipment 

(PPE), and guidelines 

for identifying, containing and 

treating infected individuals 

within their care. 

Regardless of rank, officers 

need basic education about 

infectious disease biology, 

modes of transmission, and 

points of entry for diseases (including 

the eyes, nose, mouth, 

etc.). Hand sanitizing (including 

hand washing, using antibacterial 

gels and antimicrobial 

wipes) is the simplest, easiest 

and most effective form of personal 

protection. Even in an epidemic, 

constant hand washing 

can slow the spread of disease. 

PPE 

Providing the proper PPE 

(including but not limited to 

gloves, gowns and masks) 

is one of the most necessary 

components of minimizing 

high-risk events. Anyone who 

might come in contact with 

another person’s body fluids 

should be wearing latex or vinyl 

antimicrobial gloves. Many 

departments prohibit officers 

from responding to a potentially 

contaminated scene unless they 

wear department-issued PPE. 

DECONTAMINATION 

No-touch decontamination 

(NTD) processes are integral 

to any monthly maintenance 

program, as well as its ability 

to neutralize immediate threats 

from a biological contaminant, 

or other carriers exhibiting 

signs of illness or even a cold. 

NTD systems that utilize aerosolized 

disinfectant or ultraviolet 

radiation remove or reduce 

reliance on physical operators 

to improve the efficacy of disinfection 

with a hands-off approach. 

Many law enforcement clients 

proactively use no-touch decontamination 

(NTC) systems 

to clean vehicles in minutes 

between patrols and transports. 

Safe around firearms, radios, 

computers, and tactical gear, 

law enforcement employees 

can rest assured that their 

work environment and critical 

gear are decontaminated and 

ready to go. Correctional facilities 

leverage area fogging 

decontamination machines 

to clean multiple prison cells, 

common areas, and offices 

during a single cycle. 

BALANCING SAFETY & 

PROTECTION 

Balancing the safety and 

protection of staff, while 

maintaining safe management 

of a facility is an incredibly 

challenging task. Many correctional 

facilities lack telework 

capabilities, face preexisting 

staff shortages that are compounded 

by pandemic absenteeism, 

and have limited 

employer-provided resources 

to cover new or existing staff 

without available paid leave. 

However, the officers feel 

better protected against all the 

unseen biological threats they 

face each day, knowing that 

they are less likely to contaminate 

their friends and family 

at the end of their duty shift. 

New advancements and better 

institutional practices can positively 

contribute to the health 

and morale of our police force, 

in turn providing better protection 

for the communities they 

serve. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. 

Ron Brown, is the CEO of 

AeroClave and former EMS 

Medical Director of Seminole 

Co., FL 

The BLUES 105


new products 

yrs. 

MobileCite: Revolutionizing E-Citation Solutions 

to Address the Challenges for Law Enforcement 

In law enforcement, efficiency, 

accuracy, and officer safety 

are paramount. The process of 

issuing citations, from traffic, 

stops to courtroom proceedings, 

can be plagued with challenges 

that hinder the seamless flow of 

justice. 

Cardinal Tracking, a leading 

provider of innovative law 

enforcement solutions, has 

responded by introducing MobileCite, 

a cutting-edge e-citation 

solution. 

Designed through meticulous 

research and understanding of 

the needs, priorities, and emotions 

experienced by key stakeholders, 

MobileCite revolutionizes 

the citation process for police 

chiefs, court clerks, judges, and 

enforcement officers. By addressing 

these hurdles head-on, 

MobileCite strives to streamline 

operations, enhance officer 

safety, and improve the overall 

efficacy of the justice system. 

UNDERSTANDING THE 

CHALLENGES 

To develop a solution that truly 

meets the requirements of the 

diverse user groups, Cardinal 

Tracking conducted extensive 

research through interviews and 

focus groups with existing citation 

issuers, processors, and administrative 

staff. This research 

106 The BLUES 

identified three key customer 

groups: police chiefs, court 

clerks and judges, and enforcement 

officers. Each group has 

unique pain points and priorities 

to address to make the process 

successful. 

POLICE CHIEFS 

• Worry of injury or death of 

officers during traffic stops from 

passing cars or angry drivers 

• The need to establish credibility 

with officers and city 

leaders and be perceived as a 

responsible steward of the city’s 

resources 

• A desire to secure citizen 

safety by reducing traffic accidents 

• A determination to prevent 

tickets from being dismissed in 

court due to avoidable mistakes 

COURTS 

• The accurate and timely processing 

of tickets requires legible 

and accurate data 

• Streamlining operations to 

handle ticket processing quickly 

and effectively 

ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS 

• Safety concerns when making 

traffic stops. 

• A dedication to performing 

the job well and accurately 

• Efficiency to minimize the 

time of a traffic stop

Still Handwriting Tickets? 

Everything you want in a citation 

minus the pen. 

(There is a better way!) 

TM 

A Flexible, Comprehensive System 

Cross Platform - Apple, Android, or Windows devices 


Seamless Integration with Your Court and RMS 


It’s easy to get started...let’s talk. 

TM 

by 

Over 35 years of experience in Parking and Public Safety 


ultimatecitation.com 

The BLUES 107

ADDRESSING THE NEEDS 

OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

Cardinal Tracking has implemented 

several key strategies 

within the MobileCite solution 

to address these challenges and 

effectively address the identified 

challenges. 

ENHANCED USER INTER- 

FACE AND USER EXPERIENCE 

Cardinal Tracking recognized 

that the usability of the e-citation 

solution is pivotal for law 

enforcement professionals in 

the field. By prioritizing an intuitive 

and user-friendly interface, 

MobileCite ensures officers can 

efficiently complete the citation 

process, minimizing the time 

spent on each traffic stop. By 

reducing the duration of interactions 

with motorists, officers are 

less exposed to potential dangers 

from passing cars or agitated 

individuals. 

The ability to quickly scan a 

driver’s license bar code or a vehicle 

registration sticker reduces 

data entry error and time - getting 

the violator on their way 

faster. 

STREAMLINED CITATION 

PROCESS 

MobileCite’s design centers 

around maximum ease of use, 

providing law enforcement 

professionals with a seamless 

experience during the citation 

process. The solution streamlines 

data entry, automates calculations, 

and minimizes the risk 

of errors. By offering real-time 

validation of required fields, MobileCite 

significantly reduces the 

likelihood of tickets being dismissed 

in court due to avoidable 

mistakes. This validation feature 

not only saves time for police 

108 The BLUES 

chiefs and enforcement officers 

but also enhances the overall 

credibility of the law enforcement 

agency. The user interface 

is designed for instant familiarity 

and intuitive flow for a mobile 

application. 

ENHANCING OFFICER 

SAFETY 

MobileCite focuses on speed 

and efficiency during traffic 

stops and minimizing the duration 

of interactions with motorists. 

Officers are exposed to 

fewer potential dangers from 

passing cars or agitated individuals. 

The user-friendly interface 

enables officers to complete 

citations swiftly, reducing their 

exposure to potentially hazardous 

situations. By empowering 

officers to efficiently and accurately 

issue citations, MobileCite 

promotes their safety and 

well-being, fostering a safer 

working environment for law 

enforcement personnel. 

FEATURES 

Mobilecite was designed from 

the ground up to provide the feature 

set needed by both officers 

and administrators. 

DATA ACCURACY 

For court clerks, judges, and 

police administration, the accuracy 

and legibility of citations is 

crucial. It’s not just about being 

able to read the data; it’s making 

sure the data is correct and complete. 

MobileCite’s streamlined design 

ensures that data is entered 

accurately, calculations are automated, 

and required fields are 

validated in real time. Officers 

are prompted before completing 

the citation if mandatory data 

is missing or general or violation-specific 

rules still need to 

be met. With the distractions of 

a stop, the officer must focus on 

the vehicle occupants and not 

on the rules and regulations for 

every violation. 

MULTIPLE HARDWARE 

CHOICES 

MobileCite works with the 

hardware platform you choose 

- or the one you already own. 

With support for Windows, Apple, 

and Android - all with the 

same user interface design- an 

officer can move from one vehicle 

or device to another and use 

the software without additional 

training. 

TIMELY ACCESS TO DATA 

Real-time data transfer is a 

game-changer for court clerks 

and judges who need access 

to citation data promptly. MobileCite’s 

ability to transmit 

data in real-time enables court 

personnel to review and process 

citations without delay. By 

eliminating the need for manual 

paperwork transfer, MobileCite 

expedites the adjudication process, 

resulting in faster resolution 

of cases, enhancing customer 

satisfaction by reducing 

waiting times, and ensuring that 

the justice system operates efficiently. 

Furthermore, MobileCite’s 

real-time data transfer empowers 

court clerks and judges to 

handle a higher volume of cases 

accurately, improving overall 

courtroom productivity. 

OFFLINE FUNCTIONALITY 

Unlike other mobile applications, 

MobileCite performs in offline 

conditions as well. If you’re 

out of wireless communications 

range, MobileCite will store the 

data on the device and allow 

the citation issuance process to

continue. As soon as connectivity 

is restored, all citations are 

automatically transferred to the 

court. 

THE DATA GOES WHERE YOU 

NEED IT 

With MobileCite back office, 

citation data is imported directly 

into Cardinal’s Badge RMS 

and Court systems. If you’re not 

using Cardinal’s RMS or Court 

solutions (we think you should 

take a look!), you can easily 

export citation data into various 

formats supported by other RMS 

and Court vendors. 

Citations can also require 

supervisor review and approval 

before entering the system or 

being exported. 

RACIAL PROFILING DATA COL- 

LECTION 

When appropriate, Mobilecite 

guides the officer through the 

data collection of required racial 

profiling data and information on 

searches and consent with each 

stop. 

FAST MULTI-TICKET SUPPORT 

Need to issue multiple citations 

to the same vehicle/violator? 

Issuing citations to multiple 

violators in the same location? 

MobileCite makes it simple to 

issue new citations requiring the 

officer to only enter information 

that changes. 

LETS INTEGRATIONS 

Wired directly into MobileCite, 

person and vehicle searches are 

automatically processed when 

entering a plate, VIN, or driver’s 

license. The data is returned 

directly to the device providing 

details on any active alerts or 

warrants. 

USEFUL TOOLS AND THE 

PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT 

THEM 

Cardinal’s top-ranked customer 

service is the team that 

provides fast solutions when you 

need them. When you call, you 

speak to a live operator who 

directs you to a technician who 

knows you on a first-name basis 

and your system. 

No one likes to call a technical 

help desk; we understand 

you have more important things 

to do. We strive to solve your 

problem quickly and efficiently 

and get you back on track to 

serving the community. 

To learn more about MobileCite 

and Cardinal Tracking, Please 

visit our website at Ultimatecitation.com 

or call to speak to 

someone (yes, really speak to 

someone) at (800)285-3833. 

It’s Never Been Easier To Get From 

Here . . . to . . . Here. 

Cross platform - Apple, Android, or Windows devices 


Seamless integration with your court and RMS 


A Flexible, Comprehensive System. 

TM 

by 


www.ultimatecitation.com 

Highlight your company’s products here. 

just click here...we’ll be in touch. 

The BLUES 109

yrs. 

AUGUST 

1-4 Reid Technique of Inv. & Advanced Interrogation Kileen, TX 

2 De-Escalation #1849 Texas City, TX 

7-11 Interview & Interrogation for New Detectives BY LLRMI Georgetown, TX 

7-11 Rolling Surveillance presented by LCI Services Texas City, TX 

8-11 Reid Technique of Inv. & Advanced Interrogation Dallas, TX 

14-16 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Galveston, TX 

14-18 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC League City, TX 

15-18 Chop Shop Investigations presented by LCI Services Texas City, TX 

16-17 Leadership for Front-Line Supervisors Denton, TX 

18 Statement Analysis® Interviewing Techniques Dallas, TX 

22-23 Overdose Investigations Course Georgetown, TX 

28-31 National Internal Affairs Investigators Assoc (NIAIA) 

Annual Training Conference 

Fort Worth, TX 

SEPTEMBER 

10-13 VA Chiefs Conference Norfolk, VA 

12-14 AACOP Annual Training and Vendor Expo Laughlin, NV 

11-15 Force Science Certification Course Houston, TX 

18-22 40 Hr Court Security Specialist - By Court Security Concepts Tahlequah, OK 

19-21 WZ Criminal Level I Investigative Interviewing Techniques McKinney, TX 

19-22 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing Denton, TX 

21-22 Homicide Investigations Seminar Denton, TX 

22 WZ Criminal Investigative Interviewing Techniques McKinney, TX 

22 WZ Criminal Level II - Advanced Interviewing Techniques McKinney, TX 

25 Bulletproof Courtroom Testimony by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX 

25-27 Proactive Leadership Waxahachie, TX 

25-29 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Crowley, TX 

26 Advanced Search & Seizure by Blue to Gold Denton, TX 

27 Advanced Traffic Stops by Blue to Gold Denton, TX 

28 Advanced Criminal Investigations by Blue to Gold Denton, TX 

OCTOBER 

2-3 SLR15 AR15 / M16 / M4 / AR308 Armorer Course Waxahachie , TX 

2-4 FTO for today’s recruits and Pgm. Mgr. McKinney, TX 

3-6 Reid Technique of Inv. Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation Ft Worth, TX 

4-5 Extracting the Truth-Advanced Interview and Interrogation Denton, TX 

4-5 SLR15 Law Enforcement Shotgun Armorer Course Waxahachie , TX 

5 Forensic Statement Analysis - Deception Detection McKinney, TX 

6 SLR15 1911 Pistol Armorer Course Waxahachie , TX 

9-11 LPVO Operator Course Dallas, TX 

10-12 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the Real Police Lufkin, TX 

14-17 IACP Conference & Expo San Diego, CA 

16 TrapMate* Hidden Compartment Training (Dynamic Interdiction) Burleson , TX 

16-18 Interview & Interrogation for New Detectives BY LLRMI Beaumont, TX 

16-18 Leadership 101 - Professionalism Defined (TX New Supervisor) McKinney, TX 

16-20 5 Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Pharr, TX 

16-20 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Rockport, TX 

19-20 Advanced Forensic Statement Analysis - Deception Detection McKinney, TX 

22-26 TCOLE TRAINING CONFERENCE CORPUS,TX 

23-24 Advanced Field Training Officer Course Pharr, TX 

23-24 Covert Surveillance *BY PATC Texas City, TX 

24-26 Inside the Tape Homicide Investigation & Crime Scene MGT Training Rio Grande , TX 

31-1 Death Investigation: Cause, Manner and Mechanism By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX 

31-3 Reid Investigative Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation Rockport, TX 

NOVEMBER 

1-3 Sexual Deviant Offenders *BY PATC Texas City, TX 

5-10 National Honor Guard Academy Texas City, TX 

6 High Risk/Profile Trial Operations 7 Planning By Court Security Concepts Denton, TX 

6 Bulletproof Report Writing by Blue to Gold Denton, TX 

6-8 Background Investigator Training by ProFirst Training Pharr, TX 

6-9 Tactical Training for Narcotics & Vice Units Cedar Park , TX 

6-10 Hostage Negotiations Phase 1 By LLRMI Pharr, TX 

7 Bulletproof Courtroom Testimony by Blue to Gold Denton, TX 

7-9 Reid PEACE Method of Investigative Interviewing Dyess , TX 

13-17 GST Defensive Tactics Instructor Course Seguin, TX 

13-17 Methods of Instruction - Training Practical Professional Policing Skills McKinney, TX 

14 Mastering Search & Seizure (In-Person & Live-Online) by Blue to Gold San Antonio, TX 

14-15 Protests, Demonstrations and Civil Unrest Operations By LLRMI Georgetown, TX 

15-16 Bulletproof Report Writing Blue to Gold (In-person & Live Stream) San Antonio, TX 

16 Duty to Intervenes (In-Person & Live-Online) by Blue to Gold San Antonio, TX 

16 Real World De-Escalation (In-Person & Live-Online) by Blue to Gold San Antonio, TX 

28-30 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the Real Police Jourdanton, TX 

DECEMBER 

1 High Performance Leadership - By Leading Blue Cincinnati, OH 

4-6 Advanced Homicide Investigation by IPTM Jacksonville, FL 

4-6 Effective Strategies for Staff Inspections by IPTM Altamonte Sp., FL 

4-6 Officer Involved Shooting-3 Day *BY PATC Columbus, OH 

4-6 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the Real Police Billings, MT 

4-6 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the Real Police Lafayette, LA 

4-6 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the Real Police Marysville, WA 

4-6 Penn State - Grant Writing - Virtual University Park, PA 

4-6 Recovery of Human Remains by Suncoast Forensics St. Cloud, FL 

4-6 Tactical Breaching Instructor Course Warrensburg, MO 

4-7 PRW Police Sniper BASIC Nunn, CO 

4-8 Advanced Undercover Techniques and Survival Westminster, CO 

4-8 Covert Entry Specialist I & II Course (5-Days) San Marcos, TX 

4-8 Criminal Investigations Using Cellular Technologies SME 40 hour Palm Beach, FL 

4-8 Death and Homicide Investigation *BY PATC Corpus Christi, TX 

4-8 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Baytown, TX 

4-8 Force Science Certification Course Sacramento, CA 

4-8 Hostage Negotiations, Phase III *BY PATC Pearland, TX 

4-8 Methods of Instruction - Training Practical Professional Policing Skills Sanford, FL 

Send your calendar listings to: 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 

28-1 Reid Investigative Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation San Antonio, TX 

110 The BLUES

The BLUES 111

112 The BLUES

The BLUES 113

114 The BLUES

The BLUES 115

HONORING OUR 

POLICE OFFICER CARLOS TAYLOR 

116 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE 

MONTGOMERY POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALABAMA 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023 

AGE: 29 TOUR: 2 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Police Officer Carlos Taylor succumbed to complications of injuries sustained in a vehicle crash on February 

17th, 2017, at the intersection of Spring Valley Road and Woodley Road. He was responding to a needs 

assistance call of officers pursuing two men with a gun. He was traveling south on Woodley Road in an unmarked 

patrol car when he attempted to avoid hitting another vehicle. His patrol car crossed into another lane 

and collided with another vehicle. He suffered a traumatic injury to his brain stem that resulted in him being a 

quadriplegic and unable to verbally communicate. He remained under constant care until succumbing to his 

injuries on June 30th, 2023. 

Officer Taylor had served with the Montgomery Police Department for two years.

FALLEN HEROES 

SERGEANT HEATHER GLENN 

TELL CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, INDIANA 

END OF WATCH MONDAY, JULY 3, 2023 

AGE: 47 TOUR: 20 YEARS BADGE: 338 

Sergeant Heather Glenn was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject at Perry County Memorial Hospital 

at 8885 IN-237 in Tell City at 12:50 am. Sergeant Glenn was investigating a domestic violence incident involving 

an injured woman who was being treated at the hospital. When the woman notified authorities that the subject was 

arriving at the hospital, Sergeant Glenn and officers from Tell City Police Department, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, 

and Cannelton Police Department responded. The subject resisted arrest, and despite using an electronic control 

weapon, Sergeant Glenn could not subdue the man. The subject pulled out a gun and fatally shot Sergeant Glenn. 

Other officers returned fire and killed the subject. 

Sergeant Glenn had served with the Tell City Police Department for 20 years. 

The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES 117

HONORING OUR 

DETECTIVE DELBERTH PHIPPS, JR. 

VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPT., VIRGIN ISLANDS 

END OF WATCH TUESDAY, JULY 4, 2023 


Detective Delberth Phipps was shot and killed when he and several other officers responded to reports of an 

armed subject in the Jah Yard area of Hospital Ground shortly before 8:00 am. As the officers arrived they 

encountered a subject wearing a ballistic vest and armed with a semi-automatic rifle. The man opened fire on 

officers and shot Detective Phipps during the ensuing shootout. The subject was also wounded and taken into 

custody. Detective Phipps was transported to Schneider Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his 

wounds. 

Detective Phipps had served with the Virgin Islands Police Department for seven years. 

118 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF TYEE MICHAEL BROWNE 

CRISP COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, GEORGIA 

END OF WATCH WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2023 

AGE: 26 TOUR: 1 YEAR 5 MONTHS BADGE: 17 

Deputy Sheriff Tyee Browne was shot and killed at about 3:40 am after stopping a stolen vehicle in the 1300 

block of Highway 280 in Cordele. The subject shot Deputy Browne during the traffic stop and then stole his 

patrol car. Other deputies pursued the vehicle through multiple counties before the man was taken into custody. 

Deputy Browne was transported to Crisp Regional Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. 

Deputy Browne was an Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office for 

over one year. He was a Detention Officer before moving to the Uniform Patrol Division ten months earlier. He 

is survived by his mother, stepfather, two brothers, stepbrothers, and grandparents. 


HONORING OUR 

POLICE OFFICER JESSICA EBBIGHAUSEN 

Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen was killed when her patrol car was struck head-on by a suspect vehicle 

being pursued by other officers at about 3:00 pm. Officers responding to a burglary in progress on East 

Washington Street began pursuing the suspect who was driving a pickup truck. Officer Ebbighausen, along 

with her training officer, was responding from the opposite direction. As the pursuit entered the intersection of 

Stratton Road and Woodstock Avenue, the suspect vehicle crossed the center line and collided with Officer 

Ebbighausen’s patrol car head-on. The truck then collided with a second patrol car. Officer Ebbighausen succumbed 

to her injuries at the scene. Two other officers and the suspect were injured in the collision. The man 

was taken into custody. Officer Ebbighausen was a part-time officer in field training in preparation for attending 

the Vermont Police Academy to become a full-time officer the following month. 

120 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE 

RUTLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT, VERMONT 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2023 

AGE: 19 TOUR: N/A YEARS BADGE: N/A

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF JOHN DURM 

MARION COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, INDIANA 

END OF WATCH MONDAY, JULY 10, 2023 


Deputy Sheriff John Durm succumbed to injuries he sustained at about 11:30 am when he was attacked by 

a prisoner attempting to escape from the Community Justice Campus at 675 Justice Way in Indianapolis. He 

was returning the murder suspect from the hospital when the man violently assaulted him in the detention 

center’s sallyport. The prisoner wrapped the handcuff chain linking around Deputy Sheriff’s neck, with both of 

them falling to the ground during the struggle. As soon as Deputy Durm stopped moving, the prisoner unlocked 

his handcuffs, then stole one of the sheriff’s vans but crashed outside the complex during his escape 

attempt. Deputy Durm was transported to Eskenazi Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Deputy Durm 

had served with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for 38 years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and 

parents. His wife and son also serve with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. 


HONORING OUR 

POLICE OFFICER JAKE WALLIN 

FARGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, NORTH DAKOTA 


AGE: 23 TOUR: 3 MONTHS BADGE: N/A 

Police Officer Jake Wallin was shot and killed while he and other officers investigated a traffic crash at the 

intersection of 25th Street South and 9th Avenue South at about 2:45 pm. While officers were on scene a 

male subject opened fire on officers, firefighters, and bystanders without warning. Officer Wallin was killed, two 

other officers were critically wounded, and a bystander was wounded. Officer Wallin’s field training officer was 

able to return fire and killed the subject. 

Officer Wallin was a Minnesota Army National Guard veteran. He had served with the Fargo Police 

Department for only three months and was completing field training at the time of the shooting. 

122 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE

FALLEN HEROES 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY FERGUSON 

ALAMOGORDO POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEW MEXICO 

END OF WATCH SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023 


Police Officer Anthony Ferguson succumbed to a gunshot wound he received during a foot pursuit of a 

subject who had fled the scene of a vehicle accident at 2:18 am. Officers attempted a traffic stop when they 

noticed a subject driving a vehicle without headlights or taillights. When the vehicle sped away, officers did not 

initiate a pursuit. About a mile away, the vehicle crashed into a pole at First Street and Delaware Avenue. After 

the subject fled on foot, Officer Ferguson pursued the man. The subject pulled out a shotgun and fired, hitting 

Officer Ferguson in the face. Another officer returned fire and struck the subject in the leg. Officer Ferguson 

was flown to UMC-El Paso where he succumbed to his wounds the next day. Officer Ferguson had served 

with the Alamogordo Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his daughter, son, mother, father, and 

four brothers. 


HONORING OUR 

SERGEANT EDWIN MALDONADO-GARCÍA 

PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUERTO RICO 



Sergeant Edwin Maldonado-García was struck and killed by a vehicle on the Baldorioty de Castro Expressway 

near Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, at about 8:15 pm. He was in uniform and diving to work when he observed 

several citizens attempting to rescue a kitten from the middle of the highway. He stopped his vehicle to assist 

but was struck by an oncoming car as he tried to grab the kitten. 

Sergeant Maldonado-García had served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 37 years and was 

assigned to the Internal Security Division at police headquarters. He is survived by his wife and child. 

124 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF DAVID BOSECKER 

EASTLAND COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TEXAS 


AGE: N/A TOUR: 21 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Deputy Sheriff David Bosecker was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call along Highway 

183 between Cisco and Rising Star. As he arrived on the scene a male subject opened fire on him, fatally 

wounding him. Other responding officers took the subject into custody. The man was charged with capital 

murder. 

Deputy Bosecker had served with the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office for two years and had served in law 

enforcement for 21 years. He had previously served with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Alcoholic 

Beverage Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Comanche Police Department. He also 

worked as a part-time marine enforcement officer for the Cisco Police Department. 


HONORING OUR 

LIEUTENANT MICHAEL WOOD 

NEWBERRY POLICE DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA 



Lieutenant Mike Wood was killed in a vehicle crash at the intersection of Nance Street and 

Dixie Drive while responding to a call. 

His patrol car collided with a tractor-trailer in the intersection. 

Lieutenant Wood had served with the Newberry Police Department for 20 years. 

He is survived by his wife and two children. 

126 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE

FALLEN HEROES 

SERGEANT WILLIAM CHERRY 

MACON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TENNESSEE 

END OF WATCH SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023 


Sergeant William Cherry was killed in a vehicle crash on Highway 10, near Long Creek Road, at about 12:30 

am. He was traveling southbound when an oncoming vehicle crossed the center line and struck his patrol car 

head-on, causing him to suffer fatal injuries. The other driver suffered severe injuries. Neither Sergeant Cherry 

nor the other driver were wearing their seatbelts. 

Sergeant Cherry had served with the Macon County Sheriff’s Office for five years and had served in law enforcement 

for more than 10 years. He had previously served with the Red Boiling Springs Police Department, 

Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Celina County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, 

and parents. 


WORDS BY STACY MOSER 

WU IS NEW: So Everyone 

Keeps Telling Him. 

This satirical story has proliferated 

on Chinese Web sites in various 

versions and degrees of scurrility 

over the past year or more. 

The story’s content and apparent 

popularity reflect a deep cynicism 

in China toward the guardians of 

justice and public order. 

Officer Wu, in uniform for just 

one week, decided to reward 

himself with a movie. Seeing a 

long line at the ticket booth, Wu 

gave a sigh and took his place at 

the end of the line. 

“You must be new on the job,” 

remarked a man standing nearby. 

“How do you know?” asked 

Officer Wu. 

“Huh! When do you ever see 

a cop standing in line!” said the 

man. 

“Oh!” said Wu, as he finally 

understood. He strode up to the 

ticket counter, put his money 

down and said, “I’d like a ticket.” 

“You must be new on the job,” 

said the woman behind the 

128 The BLUES 

128 The BLUES 

counter with a smile.” 

“How did you know?” 

“A cop never takes his wallet 

out of his pocket. If you want 

something, you just say so, and 

no one dares to refuse.” 

“OH. “This was another new insight 

for Wu. He gave it a try, and 

sure enough, he wasn’t refused. 

Once inside the theater, Wu casually 

located a seat in the lower 

auditorium and sat down. His 

bottom had barely come to rest 

when someone beside him commented, 

“New on the job?” 

Wu was really astonished and 

more than a little suspicious. 

“Who says so?” he demanded. 

“The old cops all know they can 

go upstairs to watch the movie. 

Only you knew guys come down 

here.” 

Wu went upstairs to the balcony 

and saw that indeed, quite a 

few policemen were sitting there. 

He took a seat, and soon afterward 

the movie began. A police 

officer nearby turned and looked 

at him, then coolly commented, 

“You must be new on the job.” 

“How can you tell I’m new?” 

“How many old cops sit there 

like a little tin soldier? Most of 

them are like me.” 

Wu looked at the veteran, who 

had propped his legs up against 

the neck of the person seated in 

front of him. It looked a lot more 

comfortable and seemed much 

more police-like. 

The movie was about half-way 

through when Wu felt the need 

to relieve himself. At the entrance 

to the restroom, the attendant 

blocked his way and said, “You 

must be new on the job.” 

Wu still couldn’t figure it out. 

“Do I have it written on my forehead? 

How did you know?” 

“We never have cops coming in 

here. They just pee over the railing. 

It’s obvious you’re new.” 

Wu felt very embarrassed that 

he’d come so close to letting the 

side down. He walked over to 

the balcony railing and let fly a

stream. “Hey!” Someone yelled 

from below! “There’s a new cop 

upstairs peeing on me!” 

“. . .” Wu looked over the railing. 

“See? When the old cops pee 

they splatter a whole row – only 

a rookie would drop it all on just 

one head!” 

Red in the face, Wu quickly 

zipped up and turned to sit back 

down. “You must be new,” said a 

fellow cop nearby. 

“An old cop would never zip up 

that fast. Why not let the little 

guy stay out for some air and 

maybe shock a girl or two?” 

Officer Wu was starting to feel 

depressed. Back out on the street 

he decided to console himself 

with a call girl. After a little 

groping, the girl asked, “New on 

the job, eh?” 

“How did you know?” asked 

Wu, feeling rather light-headed. 

“Experienced cops are never so 

polite, they just barge in and get 

it over with.” 

Finishing the job with no further 

ado, Wu decided that in order not 

to disgrace the uniform any further, 

he should go without paying 

the girl or her establishment. As 

he swaggered out the door of the 

dance hall, the proprietor gave 

him a glance and said, “You must 

be new on the job.” 

Wu felt he was reaching the 

end of his rope. Grabbing the proprietor 

by the neck, he demanded, 

“How is it that even you can tell?” 

“The old cops don’t just go 

without paying, they demand a 

protection fee as well!” 

A new cop is still a cop. Wu 

said, “Give me the protection fee!” 

The proprietor said, “You’re still 

acting new. The old cops always 

have us deliver the money to 

them—they wouldn’t be caught 

taking it themselves.” 

After suffering humiliation at 

the hands of the dancehall proprietor, 

Officer Wu decided to exercise 

his prerogative as a police 

officer and teach the proprietor a 

lesson. Hearing noises from the 

next room, Wu kicked down the 

door, and finding a naked man 

and woman inside, he yelled, 

“Don’t move! I’m a police officer!” 

The woman sat up drowsily, and 

with a sideways glance at her 

companion said, “You must be 

new on the job.” 

The man agreed, “He’s a rookie 

for sure.” 

Wu barked at the pair, “How do 

you know I’m new?” 

The woman smirked at the 

man next to her. “What old cop 

doesn’t recognize his own station 

commander?” 

The BLUES 129 

The BLUES 129

As soon as he heard that the 

man was his boss, Wu spun 

around and fled. In the doorway 

he barreled into a well- dressed 

man and stopped to apologize 

profusely. 

The man laughed, “You must 

be new on the job.” “You can tell 

too?” snapped Wu. 

“I’m the manager here. All the 

cops know me.” 

Wu fled from the dance hall, 

but just outside, under a lamp, he 

saw someone stripping a motorcycle. 

He ran over and grabbed 

the man, intending to take him 

into the dispatch station. The man 

said, “You must be new.” 

“No, I’m not! Come with me!” 

“Of course, you are! What experienced 

cop would bother with 

this kind of thing?” 

“So, what if I’m new! New cop, 

new ways!” 

“Oh, I remember hearing your 

station commander saying that 

back when he was a new cop.” 

Officer Wu climbed into his 

police vehicle and sped off in a 

snit. As he turned a corner, a motorcyclist 

suddenly emerged from 

the darkness, and despite his 

best efforts to stop, Wu crashed 

into him. The motorcycle and 

its driver both flew into the air. 

Wu scrambled out of his car and 

hurried over to look. He found the 

motorcyclist on the ground in a 

pool of blood, his leg bleeding 

profusely. Without saying a word, 

Wu lifted the man and began 

carrying him to his car. 

The man moaned, “Comrade, 

you must be a rookie.” 

Wu sighed, “All day today people 

have been telling me I must 

be new on the job. It’s like I’m 

under a curse.” 

The motorcyclist mumbled, “A 

130 The BLUES 

seasoned cop would have finished 

me off. Now I’m dying of pain . . .” 

And with that, the man breathed 

his last. 

Officer Wu returned home feeling 

very flustered. He logged onto 

the “Youth Topics” chatroom and 

registered under the ID “He Bian” 

[riverbank] Almost immediately, 

someone with the ID “007” messaged 

him, “You must be a new 

cop.” 

Wu was flabbergasted. On the 

Internet, no one knew you from 

a dog. How could this 007 know 

that he was a new cop or an old 

one for that matter? He quickly 

messaged back, “How did you 

know?” 

007 replied. “The experienced 

cops who log on here are all under-cover, 

and they use an ID like 

‘He Di’ [river bottom].” 

Officer Wu resolved that from 

now on he would reform himself 

thoroughly and start acting 

like a seasoned police officer. 

One day, as he was passing a 

cigarette stand, he walked over 

and picked up two cartons, saying 

to the peddler, “I’m taking these 

two cartons of Zhonghua.” 

The peddler looked at him and 

laughed. “You must be new on 

the job.” 

“Damn it! How did you know? 

“Wu demanded. 

The peddler said, “Old cops 

never take the cartons on the 

stand—they know they’re fake. 

An experience cop will tell me, 

‘Give me two of those Zhonghua 

behind you.’” 

Walking away with the cigarettes, 

Wu felt that smoking them 

himself would be a waste, so he 

decided to get some money for 

them. He went to a tobacco and 

liquor store and said to the proprietor, 

“Boss, I’m returning these 

two cartons of cigarettes.” 

“How much do you want for 

them?” 

Wu thought about it and decided 

to make sure that he didn’t 

look like a new cop again. “A 

thousand each.” 

He put down the cigarettes, 

took the money and turned to go. 

The proprietor said, “I can tell 

you’re a rookie. An old cop would 

take the money and the cigarettes, 

too!” 

Officer Wu went to get his hair 

cut. Noticing the comeliness of 

the girl washing his hair, he wondered 

if she provided any “extra 

services.” But having learned his 

lesson from before, he simply ordered 

her into the back room. As 

he was preparing to leave afterwards, 

the girl said, “You must be 

new on the job.” 

“You too?” groaned Wu. 

“Old cops always ask me to pay 

for the honor,” said the girl. 

Soon Wu found himself afflicted 

with the AIDS, and he went to 

the hospital for treatment. The 

doctor took one look at him and 

said, “You must be a new cop.” 

Wu was flummoxed, but the 

doctor replied, “Old cops get 

themselves fixed up at a private 

clinic—they wouldn’t dare to 

come to a hospital.” 

Eventually Wu’s sexual activities 

led to his demise. As he arrived 

at the Pearly Gates, an angel 

remarked, “You must have been a 

new cop.” 

“And how would you know? 

“Wu asked. “The old cops all go 

to Hell.” 

Translated by Stacy Mosher

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BLUES 131

WORDS BY JAMES JEFFERSON 

A POLICE OFFICER’S STORY OF 

PTSD, SUICIDE AND HOPE. 

“After years of simply surviving, I was finally honest with 

myself and said the words we fear the most: I need help!” 

My trauma journey began in 2008 

when I set off on this path of being 

a police officer. I spent three years 

in uniform patrol and four years in 

our Narcotics Unit. Following that 

I spent three-and-a-half years off 

work as a result of post-traumatic 

stress disorder. After years of simply 

surviving I was forced to finally 

look inward and be honest with 

myself and say those words we fear 

to utter in this heroic profession: “I 

need help.” By uttering these three 

powerful words, I was eventually 

brought to a crossroads where I had 

to make a decision: be defined by 

the diagnosis or defy the diagnosis. 

In the beginning I was flourishing. 

Every aspect of this profession 

identified with who I was. I had a 

steady partner and I believed there 

was nothing I could see, hear, or 

experience in this profession that 

could affect me. Little did I know 

that just after two years on the job I 

would face a call that would forever 

alter the course of my life. 

It was in the early morning hours 

on a cold, winter night. My partner 

132 The BLUES 

132 The BLUES 

and I responded to a homicide in 

progress. A man called the police 

saying that he just killed his roommate. 

We broke down multiple 

doors to get into the unit. Once 

inside, we found that the homicide 

was valid and that a murder had 

just occurred. The person responsible 

for this vile act made the decision 

to attack my partner and me 

with a knife in hand. He ignored our 

instructions and continued towards 

us. We were faced with a decision: 

use lethal force or gamble with 

our lives. As a last resort, we were 

forced to open fire. 

The smell of gunpowder filled the 

air as spent shell casings bounced 

on the floor. I could hear the 

screams of agony as the bullet rang 

through his body. It all seemed to 

be happening in slow motion. Our 

back up arrived moments after and 

we were escorted outside. I do not 

remember the walk but the moment 

the fresh night air hit my face, 

I smiled. I am not really sure why. 

I had not yet comprehended what 

just happened. I suppose in that 

moment, I was just grateful to be 

alive and to feel the air on my face. 

voices of individuals living with 

mental illness. Busting stigma one 

essay and ort film at a time. Join the 

movement. 

We both were separated and 

brought to the hospital with the instruction 

to not talk to one another. 

My partner was brought to a back 

room away from prying eyes while 

I was brought to a sitting area 

directly across from the operating 

room and instructed by a superior 

to sit and not move. As I sat there 

still in denial of what just occurred, 

I could hear a commotion to my 

right. I looked over to see the man 

that I had just shot being wheeled 

in by a stretcher and placed in the 

operating room right in front of me. 

I sat there in dismay as the curtains 

were drawn and the medical staff 

began the process of trying to save 

this man’s life. Minutes later, I heard 

the doctor utter the words: time of 

death. The ballistic report would 

later show my partner fired four 

rounds while I fired two, and that

my two shots were deemed to be 

the fatal ones. 

We had taken a life in the line 

of duty in order to save our own. 

After the dust settled, I began to 

tell myself, “I did as I was trained 

to do”; “this is all part of the job”; “I 

signed up for this”; “I AM FINE.” But 

I wasn’t fine. However, being young, 

prideful and ambitious, I refused to 

be transparent and show the real 

human underneath having an emotional 

reaction to a real life human 

tragedy. I felt like if I allowed myself 

to be human, I would be perceived 

as weak or broken by my fellow 

officers. I believed emotion and 

vulnerability was a sign of weakness. 

This attitude was never directly 

stated, but you could feel the 

stigma in light of this renaissance 

mentality of suck it up and do your 

job. This is what you signed up for. 

So I traded my emotional turmoil 

for a smile, a dark sense of humour, 

and a competent work ethic. 

In the first year following the 

event, two monumental things 

happened in my life. I became a 

first-time parent and I was promoted 

into our Narcotics Unit. Although 

I was achieving both my family and 

career aspirations, I slowly began 

to unravel at the seams. I experienced 

powerful emotions and 

symptoms with complexities very 

foreign to me. Within me lived an 

incomprehensible level of sadness, 

fear, anger, and guilt. Symptoms like 

hypervigilance, flashbacks, recurring 

nightmares, and even suicidal 

ideations. If I was not fueled by the 

negative symptomology of PTSD, I 

was numb to all things I was experiencing 

courtesy of self-medicating 

with drugs and alcohol. 

My marriage was beginning to 

feel the repercussions of my inherent 

denial. I was present in body, 

but I was absent in mind and heart. 

I was unable to enjoy the beautiful 

experience of being a parent due 

to the fact that my mind was stuck 

in a single event and I was unable 

to find the present moment. My 

demeanour became self-centered 

and explosive with a rage that I 

have never experienced. I victimized 

myself and I allowed self-pity 

to become a daily identity. I refused 

to let my wife in and I began to put 

up walls to keep her out because I 

didn’t want her to know how badly 

I was hurting out of ego and pride. 

I believed I was protecting her by 

shielding her from my true self and 

my experiences. But I later came to 

the realization I was only protecting 

myself out of cowardice and 

by doing so, I was making her life 

unbearable causing new trauma to 

form. 

Being a part of the Narcotics 

Unit created a constant feeling 

of hypocrisy with me. I was using 

cannabis and alcohol daily to 

numb my pain and I was taking 

away peoples freedoms who were 

simply trying to do the same. As 

my trauma grew, it allowed me to 

experience and put in motion two 

core needs that were developing 

within me. The first was the need 

for adrenaline. I thrust myself in 

any dangerous situation I could find 

because the adrenaline was one of 

the only things that could offset this 

numbness and depression that I was 

experiencing. I took unnecessary 

risks and pursued undercover work. 

I searched for anything that gave me 

that emotional high and allowed 

me to forget, even for just a moment 

what I was going through. The 

second was a death wish. I longed 

to die in the line of duty because I 

was at a point of accepting that this 

disorder was the be-all and end-all 

of who I was and I felt powerless to 

stop its progression. I felt weak and 

to die in the line of duty, I would be 

perceived as strong. I would be immortalized 

as a hero. So I risked my 

life time and time again. I was never 

willing to risk another officer’s 

life, but I carelessly played Russian 

roulette with my own. I was always 

first in the door or first on the scene. 

Making arrests on my own or going 

into drug buys blind with minimal 

preparation or cover. I was leaving it 

up to fate. But as time passed, death 

never came. My sheer competence 

won out. 

As the years went by, I continued 

to fool the world. I embodied a 

family man and a cop who had his 

shit together; all the while, suicide 

was on my mind. Daily I thought 

about how I would do it, where I 

would do it, who would find me? 

This all brought me to one fateful 

The BLUES 133 

The BLUES 133

night. The pain from trauma had 

won. I felt like I had lost the battle 

and had nothing left to give. The 

weight of PTSD was crushing and I 

had no more fight within me. I was 

on surveillance detail when I made 

the decision to end my life. I can 

still feel the cold muzzle pressed 

against my temple as I unloaded my 

gun put it to my head and squeezed 

the trigger. I then loaded the gun 

and slowly held it to the side of 

my head. I had tears rolling down 

my face, praying to God for the 

strength to pull it. In that moment, 

my prayer was answered. But it was 

not the prayer I asked for, the prayer 

I needed. In that very moment I saw 

my daughter. I saw my purpose. 

Something I saw as being larger 

than myself and this disorder. I 

began to think about her life. What 

effect this act would have on her. 

By taking my life, my trauma would 

inevitably trickle into her life and 

suicide would be forever a prevalent 

and painful part of her story. 

She would be forced to always refer 

to her father in the past tense by 

clinging to childhood memories 

and never being able to escape the 

question of why? I wouldn’t wish 

this affliction on my worst enemy 

let alone my child. In that moment, 

I holstered my firearm and made 

a vow to endure this pain, so she 

didn’t have to. 

I continued to live with the crippling 

symptomology of post-traumatic 

stress. I clung to my vices, 

and was angry and resentful towards 

life. But somehow this jaded 

behaviour seemed normalized. I 

fit in. I knew how to work and live 

this police lifestyle far better than 

I knew how to ask for help. I would 

have continued on this path and I 

truly don’t think there would have 

been a happy ending. Fortunately 

for me, life had other plans. In 

the midst of the chaos, I suffered 

a physical injury by rupturing my 

Achilles tendon. 

This was the first time I was off 

134 The BLUES 

work and life as I knew it stopped. 

I found all that was left was silence 

and stillness. For someone with 

unresolved trauma, that silence 

can be deafening and that stillness 

can create mania in your mind. I no 

longer had the distraction of police 

work to keep my mind occupied. 

With no distraction, I was forced to 

deal with my subconscious. Everything 

I had tried to suppress was 

now at the forefront of my conscious 

mind like a flood. I learnt the 

mind is like water; it can flow or it 

can crash, and mine crashed. 

I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t 

leave my home. I alienated myself 

and lost touch with everyone 

close to me because I felt guilt 

and self-pity. I felt guilt for taking 

a life, guilt for not being at work 

while my brothers and sisters were 

putting their lives on the line, and I 

felt powerless to help, and guilt for 

putting my wife and family through 

such chaos. I eventually hit rock 

bottom. I had been off work for 

years with an endless cycle of drugs 

and alcohol. I was losing my marriage 

and divorce was a constant 

topic during our heated exchanges. I 

had lost my friendships, my career, 

and myself. But on that rock bottom 

floor, I had an awakening. I saw that 

there is collateral beauty on that 

floor because it is transformative. 

It forces you to self-reflect and 

decide. It forces you to look deep 

inside yourself and find who you 

truly are meant to be. It allowed me 

to understand that someone with 

outward courage dares to die, but 

someone with inner courage dares 

to live. 

On that floor, I made a definitive 

decision that I was going to live and 

heal. I was willing to lose everything 

to endure the pain of growth 

in order to save myself. And when 

you make a definitive decision in 

life that nothing will stop you, it 

truly has a redemptive quality that 

can carry you through life’s darkest 

moments back into the light. 

I began in search for the right 

mental health treatment. It took 

me a handful of doctors until I was 

blessed to find the one that had the 

skill set to challenge me. I completed 

over a year of immersion therapy 

completely submersing myself in my 

trauma. That was the key. The only 

way out is in. It was a painstaking 

process that tested my resolve and 

my sanity. But the more I invested, 

the more honest I became with not 

only my doctor but myself. I began 

to feel the weight lift and I laid my 

first puzzle piece of healing. 

Long reads. Short films. Showing 

the word what is possible with 

mental health challenges. Bust stigma 

with us. 

I met with a police chaplain. I 

have never been a religious person 

or affiliated to a particular religion, 

but I have always had an unwavering 

belief in God. We talked, we 

cried, and we prayed. We prayed for 

my strength and for my forgiveness, 

but not my forgiveness from God, 

but for my ability to forgive myself. 

I embraced the beauty of the moment 

and I was able to feel the love 

in the spirituality that was being 

bestowed upon me. I let someone 

in, and that pure human connection 

lifted me and I felt the weight 

continue to lift and puzzle pieces 

of my healing were beginning to fit 

together. 

I made a conscious choice to take 

massive daily action, to commit to 

mastery of my own mind. I fully 

embraced fitness and nutrition. I 

knew the mind is hard but the body 

was easy. I didn’t have to re-invent 

the wheel. I could not control my 

mind but I could control my body 

and what I put in my body. I began 

to understand that the body is an 

extension of the subconscious mind 

and if my body felt good, my mind 

would follow suit. Daily, I would 

inflict the most possible amount of 

physical pain on myself that made 

the emotional pain bearable and by 

doing so, I began to build a resilient

mindset. 

I made it a point to listen to as 

much positive content as I could 

find. I knew my mind was working 

against me so I needed new language 

to overthrow my negative 

mindset. So I listened to inspirational 

and motivational speakers 

every single day. Their mindset had 

to become my mindset. Their words 

had to become my words. 

I made a conscious choice to 

distance myself from people who I 

perceived to be negative. My focus 

had to be inward. I was on an uphill 

climb and I couldn’t have people 

bringing me down. I understood 

who you surround yourself with you 

reflect. I had to reflect positivity and 

growth. I began to seek out people 

who I believed embodied these 

characteristics. 

I learned in this process that selftalk 

is the most powerful form of 

communication in life because it either 

empowers you or defeats you. 

I found by embracing positivity 

in my life daily, I forced a mental 

shift and I began to speak to 

myself with compassion, forgiveness, 

empathy, and strength. 

In completing my puzzle of 

healing, I believe I became mindful. 

I learned that anxiety is the 

future, depression is the past, 

and we can’t control either one. 

All we have is now and there is 

nothing more important than 

what you are doing this very moment. 

I began to simplify and just 

win the moment. I embraced the 

momentum of healing and fully 

encompass the magnitude and 

limitless beauty of post-traumatic 

growth. 

Today, I am no longer in therapy. 

I no longer take any medication. 

I made it a point that where 

I was going, self-medicating 

could not be a part of the equation 

and I decided to stop immediately. 

I let go of my vices and 

my trauma is merely a chapter from 

the book of my life and no longer 

my prelude. In my healing, all things 

around me healed and flourished 

once again. 

I was able to take my trauma 

and use it to transform myself into 

someone who is in the position to 

educate others. I developed a position 

as a wellness coordinator 

within my service that has allowed 

me to have a voice, to provide peerto-peer 

support for those suffering. 

It has given me the chance to reach 

out and connect in order to give 

officers a perspective and a truth 

of the hardships of mental health in 

policing. I have been able to promote 

a message of strength and self-reliance 

in vulnerability. A message 

that says I have failed time and time 

again and that is why I succeeded, 

because I never stopped trying to try 

and I never stopped hoping for hope. 

When nothing is certain, anything is 

possible. 

The BLUES 135 

The BLUES 135

A BADGE OF HONOR 

healing our heroes 

yrs. 

LEADERSHIP 

Starts With You 

“We have the lowest morale ever,” 

said a commander from a police 

department in a large city. 

“There’s no accountability. Officers 

are afraid to act because they are 

now the target of our city’s politicians,” 

he continued. 

What do we do when it all seems 

to be falling apart? The once coveted 

job as a police officer is taking 

more from us than ever before. With 

our police chiefs caught up doing 

battle with local officials, and training 

budgets slashed, we are left to 

fend for ourselves, relying on supportive 

police associations, and the 

public to champion our cause. 

When it seems that there is no 

place to turn, how can we help 

ourselves? First, make the choice to 

lead. By our nature, we operate with 

excellence at our core. Our training 

helps build it. Once trained in our 

police duties, we sometimes only 

rely on that training to solve everything. 

There is a famous quote that 

says, “You will always fall to the 

level of your training.” By making 

the choice to lead, you choose to do 

more, to be more than what your 

training has provided to you. 

Next, create a plan to lead yourself. 

After all, if we simply try to 

be an excellent mom/dad, partner, 

spouse, supervisor, wearing lots of 

hats every day all the time, overwhelm 

and stress are typically the 

result because leaders want to be 

the best. When we try to wear a lot 

of hats all the time, typically we are 

not “engaged” or “present” in it. It 

136 The BLUES 

becomes rote and robotic. So, what 

can you do to build a leadership 

plan for yourself so you can serve in 

all your roles effectively while also 

being “present?” 

First, go back to the beginning and 

define your why. Specifically, why 

did you decide to be a police officer? 

Author Simon Sinek says it best, 

“Your why is the one constant that 

will guide you toward fulfillment in 

your work and life.” Once you define 

it, write it down and put it in all the 

places you find yourself each day. 

Your office, your patrol car, your 

locker, your personal vehicle, and 

in a pocket in your uniform. When 

times get tough, and they will, you 

have your why as reminder of your 

excellence and why you chose to 

become an officer. 

Second, write out what is important 

to you right now, in the place 

you find yourself. Perhaps you are a 

new shift supervisor, and the most 

important thing right now is to be 

a good listener. Or maybe you are 

a veteran officer who has sought 

out some help because you cannot 

seem to separate job life from home 

life. For you, the most important 

thing may be to learn how to be dad 

or mom again when you walk in the 

door from work. 

Third, learn a strategy to delegate. 

We use control or the feeling of it to 

alleviate stress. Control can sometimes 

backfire however, often causing 

more stress in the end. While 

“in the moment” control makes us 

feel good, when things get quiet 

SAMANTHA HORWITZ & 

JOHN SALERNO 

and we cannot turn off the control, 

however, we often find ourselves 

wound tighter than a rubber band, 

ready to “snap” at the next person 

who asks for something, or worse 

at our own family. Ask others to do 

certain things at work and at home 

which can help alleviate the feeling 

that you need to do everything and 

be everything to everyone. 

Another strategy is, take time for 

yourself. Make YOU a priority. This 

is one of the most self-LESS and 

important things you can do. Whether 

it is setting a specific gym time 

each day or making time for your 

favorite hobby. The more purposeful 

you are with things away from your 

job the better your brain’s function. 

You can “turn off” and be in moment. 

A note of caution here. Should you 

find yourself unable to “turn off” it 

may be a sign of hypervigilance and 

uncontrolled “fight or flight.” Please 

reach out for help. 

Make the choice to lead yourself 

first, so you can lead others more 

effectively. When things go sideways, 

or you get stressed remember 

your why. Be more effective at work 

and at home by putting yourself first, 

and delegate. By implementing these 

strategies, you will be able to be 

engaged with everything.

The BLUES 137

DARYL LOTT 

daryl’s deliberations 

yrs. 

TWO STAR FLAG 

I love our flag of red, white, 

and blue. The flag guarantees 

freedom and liberty to 

all who live under its majesty. 

Flags tell the history of 

the country. “Old Glory” is the 

superior flag that is above all 

others as her pennant waves 

and snaps in the wind. Each 

star represents other flags 

that fly beside her. The flag 

of Texas and its famous star 

tells a story of another flag 

that once flew over the broad 

expanse of Texas. 

When Mexico received independence 

from Spain 

in 1821, Tejas 

was a vast 

wilderness. 

We all know 

the story of 

Stephen F. 

Austin and 

his dealings 

with 

the Mexican 

government. 

Although 

Tejas was a 

state in Mexico, 

it lacked the population 

to govern itself as any other 

independent state in Mexico. 

Mexico City linked Tejas to 

another state named Coahuila. 

The Governor of Coahuila 

138 The BLUES 

governed Tejas as well as his 

own state. The joint statehood 

was named “Coahuila y Tejas.” 

The Texians as they were 

called wanted their state to be 

self-governing under the Mexican 

national flag. This notion 

of a self-governing state under 

Mexico’s rule was the Texians’ 

guiding desire as they did 

not want to break away from 

Mexico. If one looks at the flag 

displayed here, one can see 

the problem immediately. 

The pictured flag is the state 

flag of Coahuila y Tejas. Many 

scholars believe this was the 

flag that flew over the Alamo 

during the battle. Travis 

mentioned a flag, but gave no 

description of it in his famous 

letter. The official painting of 

DARYL LOTT 

the Battle of the Alamo in the 

Capitol shows an “1824” flag. 

Regardless, the flag did not 

work 

for 

Texians. 

They repeatedly 

told the 

Mexican 

government 

they 

did not 

want to 

be under 

the 

authority 

of 

the Governor of Coahuila. They 

said the two-star flag detailed 

their issue-they wanted their 

own star. Only a one-star flag 

would do! They wanted their 

own Lone Star above all else!

After San Jacinto, the people 

of Texas voted Sam Houston 

into office, but a secondary 

straw vote was taken on the 

same ballot. Nearly 100% of 

the voters wanted to enter 

the USA immediately as did 

Sam Houston. That desire 

took nearly ten years to fulfill. 

When that fateful day finally 

arrived, Dr. Anson Jones, the 

last President of the Republic 

of Texas gently lowered the 

national flag of Texas amid 

flowing tears and thoughts of 

those heroes lost in freedom’s 

fight. Jones respectfully lowered 

the national flag and announced 

that the “Republic of 

Texas is no more.” He folded 

the republic’s venerated flag 

and handed it to a man who 

stood near the flagpole holding 

the new national flag. 

The man with the new flag 

unfurled the banner and the 

assembled crowd counted 

the stars - 28. The newest star 

was in the lower left corner 

of the blue field. The greatest 

hero in the pantheon of Texas 

heroes, Sam Houston, the first 

United States Senator from 

Texas attached the new banner 

to the halyard and raised 

it for the first time on Texas 

soil. The crowd’s tears turned 

to unmitigated joy as they saw 

the new flag rising. 

Many of the onlookers and 

Houston himself recalled the 

old two-star flag that ultimately 

initiated the long walk 

to American citizenship. Flags 

mean something. After the 

national colors assumed their 

rightful place, the state flag 

of Texas, identical to the republic’s 

lone star, was raised 

at even elevation - but never 

higher. No governor of another 

state would ever give orders 

or rule over Texas; the twostar 

flag taught everyone that 

lesson. Flags have the ability 

to convey stories and evoke 

emotions that connect people 

to their shared heritage and 

values. Flags mean everything. 

I will never bend a knee or 

show any other sign of disrespect 

to my flag - ever. God 

Bless the Lone Star State and 

the United States of America! 

Comments? Email: DarylLott. 

Texas@gmail.com 

The BLUES 139

HONORING FA 

“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.” 

Zechariah 

Cartledge: 

a True American Hero 

140 The BLUES 

POLICE MAGAZINE

LEN HEREOS 

yrs. 

AS OF 6/16/23 

Total Grants Awarded to Injured First Responders: 48 

Total Amount Awarded: $437,500 

Total Funds Awarded to Families of Fallen Heroes: 47 

Total Amount Awarded: $317,951 

Funds/Equipment Awarded to K9 Officers: $40,150.10 

Total Amount of Grants Given: $795,601.10 

- - - - 

2023 Run Tracker: 

Total Miles Run in 2023: (as of 7/22/23): 131 

- Zechariah - 56 

- Jayden - 11 

- Andrew - 16 

- Giuliana - 5 

- Anthony - 12 

- Morgan - 29 

- Theresa - 2 

Total Miles Run in 2022: 325 




Overall Miles Run: 1,557 

Overall Miles Run (K9’s): 73 

- - - - - - - - - 

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 

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 

The BLUES 141

DR. TINA JAECKLE 

blue mental health 

yrs. 

Toxic Public Safety Leadership 

and Employee Mental Health 

142 The BLUES 

DR. TINA JAECKLE 

According to numerous 

research studies, toxic public 

safety leadership is one of 

the potential antecedents of 

increased turnover intention, 

employee dissatisfaction, lack 

of commitment, and psychological 

stresses such as 

anxiety, burnout, depression, 

disengagement, low self-esteem, 

emotional exhaustion, 

and employee silence. 

There is no question that 

the law enforcement field 

is encountering devastating 

conditions exacerbated by 

recruitment, retention, and 

employee mental health challenges. 

Although now dealing 

with increasingly difficult 

community interactions, many 

police officers do not actually 

cite this as the primary reason 

for leaving an agency. Often, 

the stressors encountered at 

an organizational and leadership 

level leave officers feeling 

unsupported, ostracized, 

and, at times, the focus of 

retaliation. I have met countless 

officers less impacted by 

the lack of adequate pay and 

working conditions as long as 

they feel a solid and positive 

connection to their agency 

and are provided opportunities 

for growth and advancement. 

Sadly, toxic leaders can 

impact this in every realm. 

Political scientist Marcia 

Lynn Whicker coined the term 

“toxic leader” in her 1996 

book, Toxic Leaders: When 

Organizations Go Bad. Toxic 

leadership describes an abusive 

supervision style that 

adversely affects an agency 

and its employees. According 

to Derrick Jacobus (JEMS, 

2020), toxic leaders typically 

have perfectionist behaviors, 

which causes them to fear 

failure and, therefore, not take 

any risks. This behavior leads 

to a focus on productivity instead 

of creativity or initiative. 

When you have a productivity-driven 

toxic leader continually 

pushing for more, it will 

eventually lead to provider 

stress and burnout. 

It is no secret that job satisfaction 

is a significant factor 

in not being appreciated and 

employee turnover. A toxic 

leader’s behaviors contradict 

the common theoretical traits 

of the younger Millennial 

(Generation Y) and Generation 

Z workforce. For these 

generations, the ideal job will 

appeal to their core characteristics. 

These characteristics 

have been defined as multitasking, 

engagement, homework-life 

balance, individualized 

attention, instant reward, 

and fostering a team environment. 

For them to enjoy a 

given job, they must find the 

experience exciting and feel 

engaged (Brown, 2019). 

Toxic leaders participate in 

these behaviors in a variety 

of ways. When a toxic leader 

withholds information from 

an employee relevant to a 

task or provides regular criticism 

and lack of praise, this 

is coined “task-related” bullying. 

This leader may withhold 

information from one employee 

and provide it to another, 

a sense of favoritism. “Person-related” 

bullying is when 

a toxic leader spreads rumors 

or makes insulting remarks 

about a person. This could be

to the person directly or to a 

separate group of employees. 

“Social exclusion” is the behavior 

that excludes an employee. 

Despite having a toxic leader 

in place, most employees will 

stick to an organization’s mission 

and values to commit to 

the work that they do. Having 

a toxic leader at the top negatively 

affects the view of the 

organization, from the inside 

and out, and the leadership 

team as a whole. Trust plays 

a vital role in constructing the 

foundation for cooperation 

between the leadership team 

and the employees. Employees 

who directly report to 

a toxic leader typically have 

trust issues in the workplace. 

Employee trust is a significant 

concern for most organizations 

seeking a competitive 

advantage. When this is lost, 

employee satisfaction is lost 

as well (Brown, 2019). 

Choosing a career as a law 

enforcement officer is an 

important one and those in 

leadership roles must examine 

and address those toxic approaches 

that are contradictory 

to the mental health needs 

of their employees. There 

are many examples in which 

leaders are agents of positive 

change within workplace 

mental health. Similarly, there 

are plenty of cases where 

leaders are the cause of mental 

health problems. The way 

people are led in the workplace 

matters – toxic leadership 

is likely to be a driver of 

mental illness, which is why it 

should be changed. In future 

columns, I will further address 

these issues and offer effective 

approaches for improvement. 

Brown C. The Employee Perspective: 

A Phenomenological 

Approach to the After Effects 

of Toxic Leadership [dissertation]. 

[Louisville, KY]: Sullivan 

University; 2019. p. 163–80. 

The BLUES 143

NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD 

Light Bulb Award 

Suspended Mo. Officer charged with assault 

arrested after applying to N.C. PD 

The suspended officer was arrested after he showed up for training with 

the Fayetteville Police Department as part of the application process. 

NORTHWOODS, MO. — On the 

Fourth of July, a woman noticed 

a Northwoods police car parked 

in a field in neighboring Kinloch 

– now, the gruesome discovery 

she made after getting a closer 

look has led to multiple charges 

against a police officer accused 

of brutality. 

Samuel Davis, 26, was arrested 

in North Carolina Monday and 

charged with first-degree assault, 

armed criminal action and 

kidnapping after police say he 

beat a man he arrested at Walgreens 

in Northwoods, breaking 

his jaw and leaving him bloodied 

in that field, according to court 

documents. 

Before joining Northwoods, Davis 

worked for the North County 

Police Cooperative from February 

2021 through May 2022. 

Northwoods Chief Dennis 

Shireff issued a statement late 

Monday confirming Davis no 

longer works for the department. 

He had been placed on administrative 

leave during the investigation. 

The chief wrote, in part: 

“Words can barely begin to 

express the disappointment and 

the failure of what appears to 

be a reckless disregard for the 

humane treatment of others 

144 The BLUES 

and the solemn duties 

of a law enforcement 

officer...This incident is 

directly contrary to the 

core values, goals, and 

policies of our police 

department and of the 

City of Northwoods.” 

The woman who 

spotted Davis’s Northwoods 

patrol car July 

4 posted a photo of 

the victim on Facebook 

along with a description 

of what she saw. 

The photo shows a 

young man lying on the 

ground with a bruised, 

battered and bloodied 

face. 

The witness wrote 

that she saw an officer standing 

over the man in the picture. She 

said that she walked up to the 

victim and he told her the police 

beat him in the head. 

Michelle Smith is an anti-police 

brutality activist, and commends 

the woman for coming forward. 

“She’s the hero,” Smith said. 

“She obviously had the foresight 

to understand that something 

was amiss and to stop and get 

this person help. 

“So her social media post kind 

of pushed everything forward 

yrs. 

and people started asking what 

was going on?” 

Davis handcuffed the man and 

put him in the back of the squad 

car, and then turned off his 

bodycam. Davis then drove to a 

remote area of Kinloch without 

telling dispatchers, according to 

the court documents. 

When they arrived in Kinloch, 

Davis pepper-sprayed the man, 

repeatedly struck him with a baton 

and told him to never come 

back to Northwoods, according 

to charging documents.

CHICAGO The witness found MAYOR, 

the victim, 

STILL A MORON 

called 911 and posted the photo 

online. That witness also told 

police what she saw, and that 

lined up with what the victim 

told police, according to court 

documents. 

Davis did not write a police 

report for the incident at Walgreens 

that led to the arrest or 

the incident in Kinloch, according 

to court documents. 

St. Louis County Prosecuting 

Attorney Wesley Bell released 

the following statement: 

“What is alleged in this incident 

will not be tolerated under 

my watch. These actions put a 

black eye on all law enforcement 

officers who are doing 

their jobs the right way and 

who are tired of their profession 

being dragged through the mud 

because of the bad actions of a 

few. We intend to hold anyone 

who engages in such terrible 

and reckless behavior accountable 

for their actions, regardless 

of their position or title.” 

Smith said she’s happy Davis 

is charged, but said she’s still 

unsure if he will actually be 

held accountable. She said she 

disagreed with Bell’s office allowing 

a former officer to participate 

in a diversion program 

after the officer shot a woman 

with her gun instead of her Taser 

following a shoplifting incident a 

few years ago. 

“Accountability will come at 

the end once we know what actually 

happens with this officer,” 

Smith said. “And that will tell us 

if he is actually held accountable 

for his actions.” 

Northwoods is a town of about 

3,600 people. With Davis’s suspension, 

the department now 

has 13 officers, according to the 

chief. 

Davis was being held in Fayetteville, 

North Carolina. Once he 

is extradited to St. Louis County, 

prosecutors have asked that he 

be held on a $750,000 cash-only 

bond. 

Here is Shireff’s full statement: 

“The St. Louis County Prosecuting 

Attorney’s Office has formally 

charged a former Northwoods 

Police Department Officer with 

1st Degree Assault, Armed Criminal 

Action, and Kidnapping. We 

appreciate the diligent work of 

law enforcement as they have 

conducted the independent investigation 

as I have requested to 

ensure that justice be served. As 

reported by various media outlets, 

this person was taken into 

custody in North Carolina. These 

types of allegations and charges 

do not represent acceptable conduct 

of law enforcement professionals 

who serve appropriately 

and honorably. 

“The Northwoods Police Department 

continues to safeguard 

against bias, perceived 

bias, or any appearance of bias 

that could impact justice being 

served. As police officers, we 

uphold the ideals of serving and 

protecting in our thoughts as 

well as in our actions. Words 

can barely begin to express the 

disappointment and the failure 

of what appears to be a reckless 

disregard for the humane treatment 

of others and the solemn 

duties of a law enforcement 

officer. 

“With ongoing community 

support and meaningful partnerships, 

our accredited department 

continues to work towards 

being better every day. Our goal 

remains to serve and sustain the 

trust of our community. This incident 

is directly contrary to the 

core values, goals, and policies 

of our police department and of 

the City of Northwoods. 

“The City of Northwoods Police 

Department remains committed 

to identifying areas of improvement 

in the hiring, appointing, 

training, and appointing competent, 

capable, and compassionate 

staff who dedicate 

themselves to diligently serving 

the community. I appreciate the 

community’s trust in the Northwoods 

Police Department in 

upholding the law, the principles 

of due process, and the idea of 

fairness for all on behalf of the 

citizens we serve.” 

The BLUES 145


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THERE ARE 

parting shots... 

150 The BLUES

NO WORDS 

yrs. 

... pardon our humor 

The BLUES 151

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152 The BLUES

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The BLUES 153 

The BLUES 153

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the ATR 528 Law Enforcement eBike, by 

American Bike Patrol Services—a remarkable 

two-wheeled marvel meticulously 

crafted over 18 months with an 

unwavering focus on delivering unrivaled 

performance, tactical attributes, 

and reliability. With its groundbreaking 

features and cutting-edge design, the 

ATR 528 sets a new standard for police 

eBikes worldwide. 

Public Safety Software 

“Protection... Revolutionized” Law 

enforcement agencies need ballistically 

capable products that offer mobility and 

maneuverability. In tactical situations, 

your agency likely utilizes an armored 

vehicle. Do you consider it to be ‘fast’ 

and ‘maneuverable’? TC Burton offers 

the LD-1, which will change the face of 

law enforcement and security forever. 

The LD-1 is a patented, lightweight, 

ballistic armor kit for a single-rider ATV 

that utilizes a laser cut steel exoskeleton 

integrated with NIJ III capable ballistic 

panels that can stop up to a 7.62x51mm 

round, which includes AR-15 and AK-47. 

It is the next generation of ballistically 

capable kits for vehicle protection; 

offering law enforcement protected maneuverability 

and speed in all outdoor 

terrain, but also including tight indoor 

spaces such as school corridors, malls, 

freight elevators and warehouses. 

To learn more, visit us at www.tcburton.com

yrs. 

POLICE SUPPLIES 

GUNS/AMMO 

Starting in 2003, Cop Stop Inc. 

Opened with a vision and goal to 

service first responders; “Our everyday 

heroes.” Catering mainly to Police, 

Fire, Military and EMS, but also open to 

the public, Cop Stop 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 who walks 

through our doors. At Cop Stop we 

offer quality products at great low 

prices. With access to over hundreds 

of brands and products, and constantly 

adding more, we are confident we can 

fulfill your needs. 

“If you provide good service and 

a fair price, customers will talk 

about you and come back. It’s that 

simple!” Rick Fernandez 

Supporting Law 

Enforcement in 

TEXAS 

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 

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/ 

Inset: Dan Rooney ProForce President 

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 

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 

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LEARN MORE 

ATR 

528 

1000W MOTOR 

DUAL BATTERY 

REINFORCED 

FRAME 

UPGRADED 

COMPONENTS 

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yrs. 

ALL FIRST RESPONDERS & VETERANS 

10% OFF A NEW INTERIOR 

FOR YOUR CAR,TRUCK OR SUV 

12722 Hwy. 3 Webster, Texas • 281-486-9739 

CLICK HERE FOR WEBSITE 

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NOW HIRING 

LE job positions 

yrs. 

City of San Elizario Get Info Deputy Marshal 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

North Richland Hills Police Dept. Get Info Lateral Police Officer 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Lago Vista Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 08/20/2023 - 5pm 

Alief ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/18/2023 - 5pm 

City of University Park Get Info Police Officer 08/21/2023 - 5pm 

City of Baytown Get Info Patrol Officers 08/21/2023 - 5pm 

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Get Info Telecommunicator 08/22/2023 - 5pm 

City of Wylie Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/21/2023 - 5pm 

Ector County ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Hutto Police Department Get Info Lateral Officer 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Whitewright ISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 08/21/2023 - 5pm 

Ingram Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/27/2023 - 5pm 

Ingram Police Department Get Info Police Chief 08/27/2023 - 5pm 

West Lake Hills Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/28/2023 - 5pm 

Manvel Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/28/2023 - 5pm 

Eastland Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/29/2023 - 5pm 

Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

Mt. Pleasant ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputies 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

Breckenridge Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

Victoria County Sheriff's Office Get Info School Resource Officer 09/03/2023 - 5pm 

Rusk Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Saginaw Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/23/2023 - 5pm 

Bulverde Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Sterling Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 08/31/2023 - 5pm 

Blanco Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Harris County Sheriffs Office Get Info LATERAL DEPUTY 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Mesquite Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/09/2023 - 5pm 

Freestone County Attorney's Office Get Info Investigator 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

West Texas A&M University Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/31/2023 - 5pm 

City of Leonard Get Info Police Officer 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Beaumont Police Dept. Get Info Police Cadet 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Beaumont Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Northside ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Port Aransas Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 09/30/2023 - 5pm 

Trinity University Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Corpus Christi ISD PD Get Info Police Officer 09/01/2023 - 5pm 

Highland Park DPS Get Info Police Officer/Firefighter 09/09/2023 - 5pm 

Texas A&M University Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/09/2023 - 5pm 

Travis Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff - Facilities 09/08/2023 - 5pm 

LCRA Public Safety Department Get Info Ranger II 09/09/2023 - 5pm 

Colorado City Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 09/01/2023 - 5pm 

Colorado City Police Dept. Get Info School Resource Officer 09/01/2023 - 5pm 

Ennis ISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Officers 09/10/2023 - 5pm 

Clute Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/10/2023 - 5pm 

Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/11/2023 - 5pm 

Andrews County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy 09/14/2023 - 5pm 

Gruver ISD Get Info School Resource Officer 09/12/2023 - 5pm 

Brown County Water Improvement District Get Info Lake Patrol Officer 09/08/2023 - 5pm 

Hemphill County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

Seguin Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 09/20/2023 - 5pm 

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Flower Mound Police Dept. Get Info Certified Police Officer 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

Groveton Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 09/08/2023 - 5pm 

Westover Hills Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 09/19/2023 - 5pm 

Seadrift Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/01/2023 - 5pm 

Edwards County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 09/18/2023 - 5pm 

Bryan Police Department Get Info Police Officer 08/30/2023 - 5pm 

Belton PD Get Info Police Officer 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

City of Kingsville Police Department Get Info Alternate Hire Police Officer 08/21/2023 - 5pm 

Richland Hills Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/25/2023 - 5pm 

City of Sachse Police Department Get Info Police Recruit 08/26/2023 - 5pm 

Clifton Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/26/2023 - 5pm 

Tarleton State University Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/25/2023 - 5pm 

Grand Prairie Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/16/2023 - 5pm 

Downtown Courthouse Complex Get Info Canine (K9) Deputy 08/11/2023 - 5pm 

Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 09/25/2023 - 5pm 

Real County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 09/29/2023 - 5pm 

Victoria Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/29/2023 - 5pm 

Hutto Police Department Get Info Police Cadet 09/29/2023 - 5pm 

Brookshire Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/29/2023 - 5pm 

Farmers Branch Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer - entry 09/30/2023 - 5pm 

Farmers Branch Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer - lateral 09/30/2023 - 5pm 

Lindale Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 09/25/2023 - 5pm 

Killeen Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

Nassau Bay Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Bastrop Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/01/2023 - 4pm 

Liberty Police Department Get Info Detective 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Liberty Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Burnet Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/02/2023 - 5pm 

Burnet Police Department Get Info School Resource Officer 10/02/2023 - 5pm 

Polk Co. Fire Marshal's Office Get Info Environmental Enforcement Officer 10/04/2023 - 5pm 

Anderson County Criminal District Attorney Get Info Investigator 10/06/2023 - 5pm 

Chapel Hill ISD Get Info Police Officer 10/06/2023 - 5pm 

Lancaster ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/07/2023 - 5pm 

Georgetown Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer - Lateral 10/09/2023 - 5pm 

Katy Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

Corsicana Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/30/2023 - 8am 

Pflugerville ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Ellis County Sheriff's Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 09/30/2023 - 5pm 

Oak Ridge North Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/10/2023 - 5pm 

Denison Police Department Get Info Police Officer 09/22/2023 - 5pm 

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Get Info Chief of Enforcement 08/28/2023 - 5pm 

Addison Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/15/2023 - 5pm 

Erath County Attorney's Office 

Get Info Police OfficerPre-trial Investigator/Officer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Pflugerville Police Department Get Info Officer 10/15/2023 - 5pm 

City of Bulverde Police Get Info Police Officer 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

Schleicher County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

Crowley Police Department Get Info Police Officer 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

STATEWIDE VACANCIES FOR JAILERS 

City of Wylie Get Info Detention Officer 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Victoria County Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 09/03/2023 - 5pm 

Rusk Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Harris County Sheriffs Office Get Info Detention Officer 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

Travis County Sheriff's Office Get Info Corrections Officer 09/09/2023 - 5pm 

Flower Mound Police Dept. Get Info Detention Services Officer 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

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Real County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Dispatcher/Jailer 09/29/2023 - 5pm 

Tarrant County Sheriffs Office Get Info Detention Officer 10/06/2023 - 5pm 

Ellis County Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Hood County Sheriff Office Get Info Jailer 10/01/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Department Get Info Detention Officer 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

STATEWIDE VACANCIES TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATOR 

University Park Police Dept. Get Info Communications Specialist 08/31/2023 - 5am 

City of Wylie Get Info Dispatcher 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Dallas Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 08/25/2023 - 5pm 

Rusk Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Telecommunicator 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

Harris County Sheriffs Office Get Info Communications Officer 09/04/2023 - 5pm 

City of Austin Get Info Emergency Communications Manager 09/05/2023 - 5pm 

City of Katy Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 09/09/2023 - 5pm 

Colorado City Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator 09/01/2023 - 5pm 

Clute Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator 08/12/2023 - 5pm 

Manvel Police Department Get Info Telecommunications Operator 09/10/2023 - 5pm 

North Richland Hills Police Department Get Info Public Safety Communications Manager 08/18/2023 - 5pm 

Flower Mound Police Dept. Get Info Communications Officer 09/15/2023 - 5pm 

North Richland Hills Police Department Get Info Dispatcher Manager / Supervisor 09/19/2023 - 5pm 

Corsicana Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 09/18/2023 - 4pm 

City of Lakeway Get Info Telecommunications Supervisor 08/14/2023 - 5pm 

Tarrant County Sheriffs Office Get Info Dispatch 09/30/2023 - 5pm 

Fort Worth Police Communications Get Info 911 Call Taker 08/11/2023 - 5pm 

Richardson Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 10/08/2023 - 5pm 

Crowley Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 10/16/2023 - 5pm 

Alabama-Coushatta Tribe Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator 11/30/2023 - 5pm 

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JOIN OUR TEAM! 

ARANSAS PASS POLICE DEPARTMENT 

IS HIRING FOR 

TCOLE CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS 

The Aransas Pass Police Department is a progressive agency, employing some of the sharpest 

minds and equipping them with some of the best technology available. We continue to seek 

applications from those desiring to become part of our law enforcement family. 

Making a positive dierence in our community is what APPD is all about! Are you in? 

Opportunities 

Bike Patrol 

Crisis Intervention Team 

DEA Task Force 


Gang/Narcotics Investigations 

Criminal Investigations Div. 

Marine Patrol & Dive Team 


School Resource Officer 

TCOLE Training Instructor 

Salary 

Annual Salary: 

$44,200.00 Base 

$6,600 Retention Stipend 

Hourly Incentives: 

$1.50 Max for College Degree 

$0.50 Per TCOLE License Step 

$0.50 Bi-Lingual 

$0.50 Special Assignment 

Benefits 

Paid Bereavement Leave 

Cell Phone 

Holiday Pay/Leave 

Longevity Pay 

Paid Personal Leave 

Sick Leave 

TMRS Retirement (2:1 at 6%) 

Tuition Reimbursement 

Vacation Leave 

Weapon Purchase Program 

Point of contact: Administrative Captain Troy Poe (361) 758-5224 ext. 2421 or tpoe@aptx.gov 

For an application or more information visit: police.aptx.gov/jobs 

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The City of Aransas Pass is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.

ALDINE ISD 


JOIN OUR TEAMAPPLY AT 

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 


• Paid Vacation 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Teacher Retirement System 

TCOLE CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE 

• Intermediate PO: $2,400 

• Advanced PO: $4,800 

• Master PO: $7,200 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be 21 Years Of Age 

• Must Hold an Active Tcole Peace Officer License 

• Must Complete the Following: 

• Pass Physical Agility Test 

• Background Investigation 

• 166 Psychological The BLUES Evaluation 

• Drug Screening 

ALDINEISD.ORG 

STARTING SALARY $55,000 WITH NO EXPERIENCE 

UP TO $85,000 DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE 

ALDINE ISD PD OFFERS 

DEPARTMENT BENEFITS 

• Uniforms Provided, Including Duty Weapon 

• Department Provided Training 

• Starting Pay Depends on 

Qualifications / Experience 

• TCOLE Certification / Education Pay 

• Most Officers work Day Shift with Weekends Off 

(INCENTIVE PAY FOR DETECTIVES, K-9 HANDLERS, AND 

FIREARM INSTRUCTORS.) 

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT 

SGT. HALL AT 281.442.4923 

OR VISIT ALDINEISD.ORG 

SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS 

• Criminal Investigations 

• Emergency Response Team 

• Honor Guard 

• Gang Task Force 

• Community Outreach Division 

• K-9 Division 

• Firearm Instructor 

$1,000 SIGNING BONUS

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Welcome Aboard 

Alvin ISD Police Department 

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austin officers

austin dispatch 

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NOW 

HIRING 

BIG SPRING PD IS NOW HIRING POLICE OFFICERS 

• 100% PAID ACADEMY TRAINING FOR 

NON-CERTIFIED CADETS 

• EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ARE PROVIDED 

INCLUDING TAKE HOME VEHICLES 

• TMRS RETIREMENT (2:1 CITY MATCH) 

• 100% EMPLOYEE MEDICAL AND LIFE 

INSURANCE PREMIUM PAID BY THE CITY 

• PAID VACATION AND HOLIDAYS 

• PAID SICK LEAVE 

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• LONGEVITY PAY FOR YEARS OF SERVICE 

• EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM 

• PROGRESSIVE ANNUAL IN-SERVICE 

TRAINING AND EXTERNAL TRAINING 

OPPORTUNITIES. 

• OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE 

EXPERIENCE IN ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS 

SWAT, NARCOTICS, TRAFFIC, AND CRIMINAL 

INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION 

• $1500 ACADEMY REIMBURSEMENT AND 

$2400 RELOCATION PAY FOR CERTIFIED 

OFFICERS 

$55,900 STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS. 

ENTRY LEVEL TESTING ON AUGUST 1, 2023 

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JULY 26, 2023 

APPLY NOW AT WWW.MYBIGSPRING.COM 

THE CITY OF BIG SPRING IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

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Montgomery County’s 3 rd Largest Law Enforcement Agency 

FULL-TIME POLICE OFFICER 

• $50,363 minimum starting salary 

• Certification pay: 

Int - $1,600, Adv - $2,400, Mstr - $3,700 

• Competitive insurance & benefits 

• Teacher Retirement System (TRS) 

• 20 paid leave days & 12 paid holidays 

Opportunity 

multiple divisions including 

Investigations, Patrol, and 

K-9 services 

Growth 

100+ annual training hours, 

promotion opportunities, 


Balance 

overtime pay, comp time, 

most weekends off, prior LE 

experience pay 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT 

HTTPS://POLICE.CONROEISD.NET/DEPARTMENT/ADMINISTRATION/EMPLOYMENT/ 

180 The BLUESpolice.conroeisd.net 

CISDPolice 

@CISDPolice

October 15 

WATCH FOR NEW TEST DATES 

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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. 

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Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com

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Paid academy up to 

$70,560 

Lateral pay up to 

$81,321.70 

Additional Pay 

Education Pay 

Bachelor's 

Intermediate Cert. 

Advanced Cert. 


Shift Differential 

FTO Pay 

Language Pay 

WE'RE 

HIRING 

300+ NEW OFFICERS 

$2,880/yr 

$3,600/yr 

$600/yr 

$4,800/yr 

$7,200/yr 

3.5%-6.5% 

$1,200/yr 

$1,800/yr 

Benefits 


Pension plan 

Compensation plan 

15 paid vacation days 

12 paid holidays 

15 days military leave 

Additional 6 weeks paid 

parental leave 

Health/ Vision/Dental/ Life 

Insurance 

21-44 YEARS OLD 

45 COLLEGE 

CREDIT HOURS 

MUST MEET ONE REQUIREMENT 

19.5-21 YEARS 

OLD 

60 COLLEGE 

CREDIT HOURS 

ACTIVE TCOLE 

LICENSE 

MUST HAVE VALID 

TEXAS PEACE 

OFFICER LICENSE 

3 YEARS 

ACTIVE MILITARY 

HONORABLE 

DISCHARGE 

dallaspolice.net/join-dpd 214-671-4409 

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Civilian positions available: (Apply at www.Dallascityhall.com)

Forney ISD 


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 

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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 

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 

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409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV

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Place your department’s recruiting ad 

in The BLUES for only $250 for an 

entire year, only $20 a month. 

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FOR A LIMITED 

TIME. 

The Harris County 

Precinct 4 

Constable’s Office is 

accepng 

LATERAL DEPUTIES 

The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office is searching for lateral 

transfer depues to be sworn in on September 14, 2023. 

Whether you have recently rered, looking for an opportunity to 

expand your current skill set or relocang to the Houston, Texas area, 

Constable Mark Herman would like to welcome you to our family. 

The physical and wrien test will be waived and up to 14 years of 

service will be credited for Lateral Transfer Depues. 

To Apply Contact 

Recruing at 

832-927-6229 or visit 

www.constablepct4.com 

STARTING SALARY up to $68,184.00 

Plus Thousands In Incenves Per Year 

Master Peace Officer $6,000.00 

Drug Recognion Expert $2,700.00 

Bachelor’s Degree $3,180.00 

Accident Reconstrucon $2,700.00 

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And many more

LATERAL DEPUTY 

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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 

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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 

Bilingual Pay $1,800 

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

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 

SCAN THIS CODE 

For additional information contact 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Unit 

(713) 877-5250 

@HCSOTexas 

Harris County 

Sheriff’s Office 

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas

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 

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 

To learn more or apply, visit or scan 

https: //linktr. ee/huttopd 

Questions? Email: PDrecruiting@huttotx.gov 

Tenure agreement required. 

Sign On Bonus! 

$5,000* 

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THE KILLEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT 

IS NOW 

Hiring 

FOR THE POSITION OF 

Police Officer 

Online Applications 

will open: 

July 31, 2023 

Application Deadline: 

September 15, 2023 

Civil Service Exam will 

be: 

September 24, 2023 

To apply, go to: 

www.killeentexas.gov/16 

8/Job-Opportunities 

Wear The Badge, 

Make a Difference 

D 

b 

th 

a 

Officer De'Vonte Johnson 

Recruiter 

254-200-7987 

DJohnson@killeentexas.gov 

The Killeen Police Department is an 

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Equal Opportunity Employer

Starting pay - $57,889 

Paid: Vacation, Holiday & Sick Leave 

$15K Sign-on incentive for TCOLE 

certified Peace Officers 

College Degree pay incentive 

7% retirement plan through TMRS 

with a 2:1 match ratio 

Comprehensive Benefits Package 

Opportunity to work in various 

specialized units 

The Killeen Police 

epartment is dedicated to 

uilding a partnership with 

e community to fight crime 

nd improve every citizen's 

quality of life. 

Follow us at: 

KilleenPD 

KilleenPolice 

JoinKilleenPD 

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Visit www.KilleenPD.com for further details

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 


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 

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LEWISVILL 

E 

Benefits and Additional Pay: 

• $2500 Sign - On Bonus 

• Lateral Entry Program 

• Take - Home Vehicle 

$77,314 - $97,679 

• Cross Fit G ym 

• 24 /7 Private Indoor/Outdoor Range 

• Load Bearing Vests 

• Tattoos and Beards 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

• 20 Year TMRS Retirement 7% , 2:1 match 

• 457 Deferred Compensation p lan with 3.76% city match 

• 3 Weeks Paid Vacation 

• 15 Days Paid Sick Leave 

• 9 Paid Holidays 

• Field Training Officer 

• Bilingual 

• Longevity 

• Education /Certification 

GET PAID FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A CERTIFIED OFFICER 

• 1 YEAR $83,566 

• 2 YEARS $86,877 

• 3 YEARS $90,373 

• 4 YEARS $93,677 

• 5 YEARS $97,679 

Specialized Units : 

• SWAT 

• Street Crimes 

• K - 9 

• Narcotics 

• UAS Drone 

• Bicycle Patrol 

• Criminal In vestigations 

• Traffic 

• DWI 

• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 

• Training 

• School Resource Officer 

• Neighborhood Resource Officer 

• Co - Care Crisis Team 

www .PROTECTLEWISVILLE. com 

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---

WE’RE HIRING 

Join our team and receive: 

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance 

• Paid vacation, employee days, well days, 

sick days and holidays 

• Competitive pay (including bilingual pay incentive) 

AND MUCH MORE! 

APPLY NOW 

Scan here or visit 

RideMETRO.org/Careers 

Call 713-739-4953 or email JoinMPD@RideMETRO.org 

for additional information. 

METRO I S AN EQU A L O PPOR TUNIT Y E M P L O YER. 

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LONGVIEW POLICE DEPARTMENT 

JOIN OUR 

TEAM 

2-TIER HIRING 

INCENTIVE 

STARTING SALARY 

$60,085 

$3,000 

Insurance 

120 Hours Vacation 

11 Paid Holidays 

80 Hours Sick Leave 

20-Year Retirement Plan 

2/1 City Match TMRS 

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Beards & Tattoos Allowed 

Academy Pay 

Equipment Provided 

Excellent Training Provided 

Speciality/Cerification Pay 

Community Support 

Plentiful Outdoor Activities

$65,709-$67,685 

Based on Population and Experience 

25 YEAR STEP PLAN 

$60,085 - $84,308 

STEP INTO YOUR FUTURE 

NEW POLICE STATION 

COMING 2023 

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MEMORIAL VILLAGES POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Serving the Villages of Bunker Hill, Piney Point and Hunters Creek 

POLICE OFFICER 

The Memorial Villages Police Department is currently looking for experienced officers who are 

self-motivated, innovative, enthusiastic and love working for a community that supports them. 

5+ Years Patrol Experience Required 

Hiring Bonus $1,500 

Night Shift Differential $3,600 

E.C.A $1300 

Bi-lingual Pay 

Education Pay 

Intermediate, Advanced, Master 

Peace Officer Certification Pay 

Healthcare, Dental and Vision Insurance 

100% paid for employee, 75% for 

spouse/dependents. 

Paid long-term disability and Life Insurance 

for employee, additional life insurance 

available for spouse/dependents. 

Health Savings Account with Department 

contributions up to $4,200 annually. 

TMRS Retirement 7% w/ 2:1 match (20 yr). 

457 Deferred Compensation Plan with 

employer contribution of 2.5% of annual 

salary. 


Longevity Pay up to a max of $2,400 

annually at 10 years of service. 

12 Hour shifts with every other Friday, 

Starting at $83,459 up to $94,164 

Scan for more 

information 

W W W . M V P D T X . O R G 

11981 Memorial Drive – Houston, Tx 77024 

713.365.3700 

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____________________________________________________________________________

NOW HIRING 

Community Supported Law Enforcement 

Advancement Opportunities: 

Criminal Investigations - Special Response Team - 

Honor Guard - Special Response Group - Swift Water 

Rescue Team - K9 - Mounted Patrol - Drone Team 

Overtime Opportunities: 

STEP - OT Initiatives - Special Teams - DWI 

Stipend Pay: 

K9 - Specialist - FTO Deputy 

Paid Time Off: 

Holiday - Vacation - Comp Time - Personal - 

Paid Training 

Qualifications: 

Current TCOLE License - No Convictions (including 

deferred) Class A or Above - No DWI Convictions - 

No Family Violence Convictions 

Salary - Step Pay Slotted Based on TCOLE Full-Time 

Years of Service: 

Under 2 YRS - $53,788.80 9 YRS - $65,644.80 

2 YRS - $56,472.00 12 YRS - $68,536.00 

4 YRS - $59,259.20 15 YRS - $71,968.00 

6 YRS - $62,171.20 16+ YRS - $75,566.40 

License Certification (up to $6,600) and Longevity Pay 

Civil Service Protected 

Application Process: 

1. Pickup and complete applicant questionnaire in 

person or apply online. 

2. Firearms qualification, fitness assessment and, 

written exam. 

3. Successfully passing candidates will receive 

personal history book. 

4. Oral board 

APPLY ONLINE: WWW.MOCOPCT4.ORG/APPLY 

Constable Kenneth "Rowdy" Hayden - Pct. 4 Constable, Montgomery County, TX 

21130 Hwy 59 Ste. C New Caney, TX 77357 

www.mocopct4.org - 281.577.8985 - @mocopct4 

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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 

For additional information and to register for an upcoming Civil Service Exam, The BLUES visit 217 

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers

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Pflugerville ISD Police Department 

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PORT HOUSTON 


WE ARE 

HIRING 

SIGN UP TODAY! www.porthouston.com/career 

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 

* Salary depends on experience 

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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 

• Not been convicted of a Class B 

misdemeanor within the last 10 years 

• Must have a GED or high school diploma

s-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 


• 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 

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 

• Additional as required 

SCAN 

QR CODE 

TO APPLY 

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Provide Exceptional 

Service to All! 

CONTACT 

US NOW 

972-412-6240 


Rowlett Police Department 

NOW HIRING 

kharrelson@rowlett.com 

4401 Rowlett Rd., 

Rowlett, TX 75088 

Accepting Lateral 

Police Officers. 

Get paid for your 

experience! 

CURRENT SALARY 

Starting salary is $65,554 

Top Out Police Officer salary is $90,861 

Lateral Transfer - May be eligible for a starting 

salary of up to $75,221 

UNITS/ DIVISIONS 

Containment Team 

SWAT 

Bike Unit 

Community Services 

School Resource Officer 


Criminal Investigations Division 

Traffic 

Crisis Assistance Team 

Crisis Negotiation Team 

BENEFITS 

TMRS Pension 7/14 

Medical Insurance 

Dental Insurance 

Vision Insurance 

10 paid vacation days during 

first year & 10 Paid Holidays 

Paid Sick 

Beards and tattoos are 

authorized 

Longevity Pay 

Long Term Disability 

Life Insurance 

Dry cleaning 

Three department issued 

firearms 

GROW WITH The US! BLUES 223

SEGUIN PD IS 

NOW 

ORDER - UNDERSTANDING - RESPECT 

HIRING 

POLICE OFFICERS 

UP TO $3,000 SIGN ON BONUS 

INCENTIVE PAY FOR TCOLE 

CERTIFICATION, BILINGUAL SPEAKERS, & 

EDUCATIONAL PAY 

WELLNESS PROGRAM PROVIDING ON-DUTY 

TIME FOR FITNESS AND FITNESS REWARD 

LEAVE 

POLICE CADETS CAN APPLY AFTER START 

OF ACADEMY, AND BEGIN RECEIVING 

CADET PAY OF $52,350 

EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ARE PROVIDED 

INCLUDING TAKE HOME VEHICLES, HANDGUN 

WITH RED DOT SIGHT & SUPPRESSED PATROL 

RIFLE 

TMRS RETIREMENT (2:1 CITY MATCH) 

100% EMPLOYEE MEDICAL/DENTAL PREMIUM 

COVERED BY CITY 

PROGRESSIVE IN-SERVICE AND EXTERNAL 

TRAINING EXCEEDING NATIONAL TRAINING 

AVERAGES 

STARTING PAY AT $63,784 

ELIGIBLE FOR ANNUAL STEP RAISES 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN 

SPECIALIZED UNITS AND ASSIGNMENTS SUCH 

AS SWAT, K9, NARCOTICS, SPECIAL CRIMES, 

MENTAL HEALTH, TRAFFIC, AND CRIMINAL 

INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION 

$ 6 7 , 0 1 3 L A T E R A L S A L A R Y 

224 The BLUES 

APPLY NOW AT: WWW.APPLITRACK.COM/SEGUINTEXAS/ONLINEAPP 

T H E C I T Y O F S E G U I N I S A N E Q U A L O P P O R T U N I T Y E M P L O Y E R

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 


Community Relations Officer 

Emergency Management 

Criminal Investigations 

K-9 programs 

Language pay 

Shift differential pay 

Intermediate, Advanced and 


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 

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Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office 

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NASSAU BAY Police Department

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“You can’t make this shit up. 

It’s like Nixon & Clinton are 

back in the White House!” 

234 The BLUES 

HUNTER BIDEN

AUGUST 2023. Blues Vol 39 No 8

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