Jan 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 1

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR your thoughts Instead of being in a rush during this time, let’s take a moment to slow down and remember the true meaning and purpose of this particular holiday. Let’s remember to be humble and thankful for the many blessings we have received this year while seeking ways to share those gifts with the precious family members and friends in our lives. With grateful hearts, let’s make this Christmas a time of true joy and celebration with all those we come in contact on a daily basis. Jesus is the Reason for the Season. KAT D GARCIA LAW ENFORCEMENT & RETIREMENT I know that often we set specific goals this time of year concerning weight loss, finances, and much more in our lives we feel will better us and our families. Someone recently asked me what caused me to save for retirement when I was a younger officer. I’m guessing they were looking for some type of advice from a salty veteran that I may have encountered when I entered the career of law enforcement, but that wasn’t the case. I grew up poor and went to over twenty different schools as a youth, and my father switched careers regularly as we switched living arrangements. My father was a great man in many aspects, but finances weren’t his strong point in life, most likely because his father didn’t set the example and guide him in the value of a dollar. I realize this even more now that I’ve grown older and see what money can do for me and my wife. I say this tidbit of information because I’ve seen the veteran officers in our profession hoping to make it to the thirty-year mark where the golden carrot will solve all their problems. Many times this same individual had health issues because of all the stress-related illnesses that come with being in law enforcement for an extended period, not to mention the stress caused on relationships along the way. I would be that officer in the locker room that would do my best to tell the younger officer that starting a supplemental retirement was necessary for them to exit the profession when the time came. I had a few that listened to the advice, but most seemed to have that enthusiastic bright-eyed look where they never saw themselves getting older and leaving. I too was that twenty-two-year-old officer fresh from the police academy that was ready to make my mark on law enforcement, but I also had the previous example mentioned that caused me to think about my future. My father was also older at the time and often spoken to me about lessons he had learned and the value of saving for the future. There will be some of you that may read this article and are about to graduate the police academy and are now making more money than you’ve ever made. You now have the urge to show your accomplishments with buying the newest sixty thousand dollar truck while you and the love of your life search for your forever home, not thinking about the financial stress that will soon be realized. I’m not perfect by any means with finances and have made some of the same mistakes I’m talking about in this article. I want you to consider your decisions now so you’re not one of those veteran officers with only the department pension while thinking about the golden carrot. The solution to the financial issue is most often not solved by how long you work, but how you plan and spend while you’re still young. The decisions and path you follow now will either lead you to be that 30-year guy hoping to make it out with some years still left to enjoy retirement or one that has planned and can now leave at a younger healthier age. I always say never take financial advice from a cop, but I wanted to provide you with some examples when talking about that new shiny truck. The new 60k truck will cost you about 9.00 a month with a ,000 down payment with a good credit score for 72 months. This payment now translates into you paying ,928 big ones to prove to your family and friends that you’re successful in life. You could, however, take that same amount for six years and place it into an investment vehicle at an average of a 7% return, putting approximately ,970.00 in your pocket. I know some of you have already made this leap and are making this payment each month for that new vehicle that has now lost its value and appeal. You can still make a life change by selling that vehicle and buying a vehicle where you can pay cash, which now translates into your money working for you by building a financial future. You can run these same type numbers for purchasing that new home, and you’ll soon realize the importance of the 15-year mortgage Vs. the 30-year mortgage. You could take half the money for that new truck and place it into a retirement account based on a 7% return for twenty years that now becomes 5K. That money could now yield you approximately ,500 a month before taxes for about 40 years, and this doesn’t include your LE AGENCIES PROMOTION ENDS 1/31/22 CALL FOR PRICING Supplying Law Enforcement Equipment for the State of TEXAS! SBR AGENCY ONLY DDM4 V7 S AR15 P-15 CONSTABLE 02-128-07344-047 CALIBER: 5.56 NATO CAPACITY: 30+1 SIGHTS: SOLD SEPARATELY BARREL LENGTH: 11.5” STOCK: ADJUSTABLE SS-3012 OPTIC READY 5.5601301 9MM 5.56 ST916556BM CALIBER: 5.56 NATO CAPACITY: 30+1 SIGHTS: SOLD SEPARATELY BARREL LENGTH: 16” STOCK: ADJUSTABLE pension. The financial decisions you make now as a young officer will lay the path for how long you’ll be in this profession and the quality of life you have. There are so many couples that breakup over stress created from financial decisions they made while they were young. There are plenty of lenders that will give you money and let you buy the size home that leaves you and your spouse house poor, but don’t fall into that trap. I really have great concern for our youth that are now taking on huge financial debt to pay for a degree in a field of study that won’t lead them to a better future. The student loan debt at the end of 2019 was approximately 1.41 trillion dollars, and that will affect future generations. I’ll end this article by saying life is not about what you’re able to gain but the family and friends you SBR AGENCY ONLY LE M4 COMMANDO XR920 ELITE CALIBER: 9MM CAPACITY: 17+1 SIGHTS: NIGHT SIGHTS BARREL LENGTH: 4” CR6933 CALIBER: 5.56 NATO CAPACITY: 30+1 SIGHTS: REAR FLIP UP BARREL LENGTH: 11.5” STOCK: ADJUSTABLE CALL OR EMAIL US FOR PRICING OR ASK US ABOUT DEMOS OR TRADE-INS Tel: 800-367-5855 www.proforceonline.com 91540 9MM P-10 F OPTIC READY SAINT AR15 make along the way because I’ve never seen a U-Haul at a funeral. I promise you’ll be much happier in life if you reduce the amount of debt you have now and focus on what is important for you and your family. I wish each of you the best in 2022 and look forward to seeing what we can all accomplish by working together as a country. RAY BESHIRS BLUE SHIELD TACTICAL SYSTEMS CALIBER: .9MM CAPACITY: 19+1 SIGHTS: FIXED BARREL LENGTH: 4.5” CALIBER: 5.56 NATO CAPACITY: 30+1 SIGHTS: FLIP UP BARREL LENGTH: 16” STOCK: ADJUSTABLE SEND YOUR LETTERS & COMMENTS TO: bluespdmag@gmail.com Gear & accessories for law enforcement AGENCIES CHECK OUT THESE GREAT MANUFACTURERS AIMPOINT • BERETTA • COLT H&K • BIANCHI • TASER SMITH & WESSON • CZ USA DANIEL DEFENSE • EOTECH SIG SAUER • SHADOW SYSTEMS DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY • AGUILA SPETZ GEAR • BURRIS • UTM MOSSBERG • PROTECH • RUGER STREAMLIGHT • MAGPUL SAFARILAND • SPRINGFIELD BLACKHAWK • OSS • HOLOSUN TRIJICON • SUREFIRE US PEACEKEEPER • OTIS NIGHTSTICK • FNH USA NOTE: TERRITORY RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY Visit our website today for up to date information, pricing and products! Support Center: 2625 Stearman Road, Prescott AZ, 86301 Tel: (800) 367-5855 Fax: (928) 445-3468 e-mail: sales@proforceonline.com | www.proforceonline.com 10 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 11