MAY 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 5

HAPPY ENDING Exactly

HAPPY ENDING Exactly thirty days after burying my dad I graduated high school. My aunt and uncle were there to see me walk so was Mary Beth. She was had come home from college a week early to see me walk. I told her that I had applied to the department, was accepted and starting in the next academy class in three weeks. Just like my dad, Mary Beth’s dad and my uncle I would soon be following in all their footsteps. That night we all went out and celebrated. The academy wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Hell, I wasn’t even 21 and Uncle Jack had to buy my gun and ammo for me. But everyone in the academy knew who I was and why I was there. They pushed me to be the best and I finished top of the class. It was the end of October when we graduated. My Uncle Jack proudly pinned on my dad’s badge and said “son your mom and dad are watching from heaven and are so proud of you right now.” I was assigned to the night shift and had a great FTO. He was an older guy and had asked the captain to assign me to him. He and my dad had ridden together when they were rookies and he felt it was his duty to train me. He taught me a lot and I felt like it was my dad showing me the ropes. Those five months flew by and I was finally cut loose and riding by myself. One night, I heard the chief on the radio, and he asked me to meet him at the station. I must admit, I was a little freaked out having the chief call me out on the radio. I walked in the station and there was my uncle and the chief telling war stories to a bunch of new recruits. They escorted me into the captain’s office and before I could say a word, the chief begins to tell me how proud he is of the officer I’ve become. Chief, I’m sure you didn’t pull me off patrol to tell me what a great guy I am, so what’s up. And Uncle Jack, how is it an old man like you is still awake at 1am? He laughed and said “be careful how you address a senior officer young man.” Yeah, senior was right. The chief interrupted our banter to remind me that Police Week was coming up and my dad’s name would be added to the wall in Washington DC. “I want you and your uncle to escort the fallen officer’s family members and myself to D.C. for the week. Are you up for that?” Yes sir. It will be an honor. “No son, it’s me who will be honored to be with you while they honor your dad” I had never been to DC and had no idea what to expect when we got there. But the minute we got off the plane, hundreds of officers were waiting in the airport to escort all the families to their hotels. It gave me chills to know so many officers had died the same year as my dad. As we greeted one officer after another, I heard a familiar voice calling my name. I turned around there was Mary Beth running towards me. I gave her a big hug and said how’s college? Ironically, we were all staying at the same hotel and we spent the next few hours catching up. The following day, we met with the folks from C.O.P.S., that stands for Concerns of Police Survivors. The group was stated in 1984 to assist the families and survivors of officers killed in the line of duty. This group was just amazing. They had reached out to both our families not long after our dads were killed and offered to help with anything we needed. Each year, C.O.P.S. organizes the trip to DC for families that lost an officer the year before. I just can’t say enough good things about the wonderful people that make up this unbelievable organization. For the next few days, Mary Beth and I attended the Candlelight Vigil, heard our dads names read aloud and saw their names engraved on the Memorial Wall. It was an emotional journey of highs and lows that brought us together in ways neither of us saw coming. Mary Beth and I fell in love that week and from that point on, we were inseparable. After she graduated college and moved back home, we got engaged and married within weeks. Everyone from the PD was there. My uncle walked Mary Beth down the aisle and the Chief was my best man. It was as magical as it could be and the happiest day of our lives. But it was also the saddest day for both of us because neither of us had our dads there to celebrate with us. But we knew they were there in spirit, and we were ok with that. Mary Beth and I have been married for 20 years now. We have three kids, a cat, and a dog. I recently promoted to Captain and work the day shift which made Mary Beth very happy. Whenever I go downtown, I walk past the wall with our dad’s pictures among the fallen officers from our department. Every time, I stop and salute them both. I hope they are both proud of Mary Beth and me, and the life we have built together. I only wish they could have met their grandkids and been here to enjoy life a little longer. But we carry on because that’s what cops do. As we celebrate police week this month, say a prayer for those families who have lost so much. God Bless the Peacemakers, for they truly are the Children of God. 88 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 89