Jim Weston's Honorable Law Enforcement Career

Blue Magazine is honored to place a spotlight on Jim Weston and his honorable law enforcement career.

After graduating high school in 1983, Weston entered the United States Coast Guard and found himself stationed at Fort Pierce in Florida. After serving in the Coast Guard, Jim was hired by the Passaic County New Jersey Prosecutors Office where he was an investigator assigned to the Narcotics Division and worked in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force - Newark Field Office.

Jim was then hired by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) where he was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division, Manhattan South Precinct.  However, Jim once again found himself working in New Jersey; this time in the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) in 2001. During his tenure in the PCSD, Jim served in a uniform capacity within the Courts Security and Patrol Divisions. He was then promoted to the rank of detective and was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division where he served for several years until being elected PBA Union President Local 286, having served for several terms on two separate occasions until his retirement in 2020.

In addition to these assignments, Jim was a member of the Passaic County SWAT Team, a Certified Firearms Range Instructor for the PCSD and Passaic County Police Academy and remains an active member of the New Jersey Policeman’s Benevolent Association, Passaic County Emerald Society and New Jersey Honor Legion.

Blue Magazine salutes Jim Weston and wishes him much success in retirement. We remain most appreciative of your service.

Gotham has Fallen to the Joker: AKA deBozo the destroyer of New York City

Have you ever seen the Oscar-winning performance of Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight?” Brilliant performance. But did you ever think that you’d witness such anarchy in New York City, aka Gotham, as depicted in the movie? Today, criminals and anarchists terrorize America’s greatest city with tacit approval of the feckless Democrats who are charged with protecting us all. If politicians are going to pick a side, shouldn’t they be picking the side of law and order? The Black Lives Matter organization, Antifa (anti-fascists who are actually fascists) and even some leftovers from the Occupy Wall Street crowd appear to have joined forces while capitalizing on a single event that polarized the country. Add to this Trump Derangement Syndrome and a complicit media, and you have a powder-keg explosion that has little to do anymore with the ex-con George Floyd’s death and much to do with President Trump’s re-election and Marxist ideals.

Over the years, politicians and the media have essentially stood up for law and order. Even Joe Biden was for law and order years ago when he supported the crime bill. However over time things have changed drastically. Why? We can trace it back to the anti-government hippies of the ‘60s and ‘70s as they became many of our college professors. These were the college campus protesters who openly burned their draft cards during their anti-government protests in the era of Woodstock. Some fled to Canada to avoid the draft but were later pardoned by Jimmy Carter. The proletariat class returning from Vietnam became, for the most part, our silent majority that broke their ass, paid their taxes, and sent their kids off to school. Little did they realize the danger as universities were slowly eroding our First Amendment. Group-think took hold as conservative speakers were increasingly banned. Over the decades our children were taught our founders, country, military, and capitalism are evil destructive forces in the world — that America in 2020 is the same racist nation it was in 1968.

Unfortunately, young people today aren’t old enough to compare the last 50 years and think it through. The unprecedented success of countless black millionaires, attorneys, judges, doctors, actors, and politicians today, including a black president who was elected twice by a white majority demonstrates this absurdity. They simply disregard the progress that we’ve made through affirmative action, pouring millions into black communities, and other programs in the last 50 years. President Trump has done more for the black community than any president since Republican Abraham Lincoln.

But facts be damned in our “sound bite” society. Hell, do you realize that the “racist” NYPD is comprised of 60% minorities? How many black higher echelons do we see in news reports every day, from every big city in America? So many of our youth over the years have been indoctrinated with socialism, Marxism, principles of communism, and blatant lies in an effort to divide our nation. Many progressive universities pushed the teachings of authors like Saul Alinsky and Margaret Sanger, a known racist who was admired by Hillary Clinton. As a result, some of these brainwashed students became our Democrat-socialist politicians. Every Democratic-controlled city in our nation, has been run into the ground for decades.

And this brings me to Warren Wilhelm Jr. aka Bill de Blasio. Many see him as a closet communist/Marxist as he backed the Sandinista government in his younger years, and even joined the Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York. He traveled to Nicaragua to undermine President Reagan and has aligned himself with George Soros for years. You can bet that he’d be taking part in the lawless demonstrations like his daughter did, if it weren’t for him being the mayor. Today, de Blasio characterizes himself as a democratic socialist, but he’s actually much more extreme than that. He also allegedly lied about taking his Honeymoon in Canada when actually he went to Cuba. Bernie Sanders went to Moscow for his Honeymoon, but at least he owned it.

So why is de Blasio, with the tacit approval of other NY politicians, so hell-bent on destroying America’s once-great city? NYC had become known as the biggest safe city in America before deBlasio’s corrosive reign began on Jan. 1, 2014. Recall he immediately attacked the NYPD as he weakened the force, showed them contempt, destroyed morale and more recently eliminated the 600-officer street crime unit. This unit of the most pro-active, fearless officers were mostly responsible for getting illegal guns off the street. In June of 2019 there were 89 shootings. Juxtapose that with June 2020’s 205 shootings, and you can easily see how detrimental to the community disbanding that unit was. And that’s stats for only one month! If Black Lives really do Matter, why would you take action that results in more black deaths?

How can de Blasio, with all of his machinations, get away with such virulent destruction? To an untrained observer, you may believe de Blasio is terribly incompetent, or perhaps just a buffoon. But let’s be real here; most leaders learn by trial and error, constantly learning from their mistakes. I personally don’t see just a few mistakes, but a pattern. And trust me, I don’t take what I’m saying lightly. What de Blasio is doing is absolutely abhorrent. You would think by now that New York’s billionaires would’ve convinced Gov. Cuomo to straighten this guy out already. So, is Cuomo actually complicit? After all, he did sign the Bail Reform Bill that is catastrophic and contributes to more crime.

De Blasio is killing tourism with everything he does, or neglects to do, as visitors need to feel safe. What tourist today would want to visit NYC? There is more graffiti now than during the Dinkin days. Allowing graffiti is in stark contrast to the “broken windows theory” that was embraced by many areas across the country with great success. NYC is now giving San Francisco a run for its money with the homeless defecating in the street. The quality of life phone number is worthless under de Blasio as he’s now set the tone for gang bangers to rule the streets. Need an example? A woman recently asked a group of youths not to blow off fireworks, so they shot her multiple times, leaving her dead in the street. Their arrogance is off the chart as “Nero Fiddles.” NYPD reported that there have been 503 shooting incidents this year with 605 victims as of July 18. It’s hard to understand how the hospitals keep up, especially with COVID. Because decent inner-city blacks are terrorized by gang bangers and other thugs with their “nosnitchin” policy, many of these shootings will go unsolved. How can de Blasio sleep at night knowing that his feckless policies, and anti-police rhetoric, are getting children killed in drive-bys almost every day? Brooklyn community advocate Tony Herbert recently said what so many cops have been saying for years. “Give them 10 years for illegal possession of a firearm; no conversation, no plea bargain, you go straight to jail.” I agree.

All crime, from jumping turnstiles — to armed robbery — to homicide in NYC, have increased exponentially under de Blasio’s watch. He’s done everything in his power, even before the rioting and looting to weaken the NYPD. BLM protests seem “made to order” to turn a thriving economy into a distressed, third-world city. Additionally, COVID-19 unfortunately devastated the city and put thousands of mom and pop stores out of business throughout the five boroughs. But to release thousands of prisoners back into the streets because, ironically, you couldn’t quarantine them on Rikers Island was inexcusable. How is putting them back in housing projects safer, especially for the residents there? They are now showing off their ankle bracelets like a fashion statement. Could you imagine their poor victim’s faces when they suddenly appeared back on the streets! How is it that progressives show so much empathy for predators, but none for their prey? Do they not understand the plight, or fear of these poor victims, usually black, in New York’s communities? What if that was your mom who was robbed, or your sister who was raped?

De Blasio also thinks it’s a good idea to defund the police by almost one billion dollars. Maybe he can explain it to the victims of the crime surge that he now owns. He also recently canceled the next class of police recruits of 1,163 with no regard for impending retirements.

Police officers are all these victims have against these “domestic terrorists.” Good, hard-working blacks in the inner city disdain the criminal element surrounding them, but don’t have the resources to get out. Black folks don’t fear being shot by the police; they know who the real predators are.

Pat Ciser is a retired lieu- tenant from the Clifton Po- lice Department, and a 7th Degree Black Belt. He was a member of 5 U.S. Karate Teams, winning gold medals in South America and Europe. He is the Author of BUDO and the BADGE; Ex- ploits of a Jersey Cop (BN.com/Amazon), and is a guest writer for Official Karate Magazine.

One Nation Under Anarcho-Tyranny

The America you grew up in is not the America we live in now.

          One nation under God? Ha.

          Land of the free? Ha.

          Domestic tranquility? Ha.

          Equal protection under the law? Ha.

          The right to bear arms? Ha.

          Freedom of speech? Association? Peaceable assembly? Ha. Ha. Ha.

It's not "socialism" or "communism" under which we suffer. Our dangerously chaotic, selectively oppressive predicament is more accurately described as "anarcho-tyranny." The late conservative columnist Sam Francis first coined the term in 1992 to diagnose a condition of "both anarchy (the failure of the state to enforce the laws) and, at the same time, tyranny — the enforcement of laws by the state for oppressive purposes."

The "criminalization of the law-abiding and innocent," Francis expounded, is achieved in such a state through: "exorbitant taxation, bureaucratic regulation; the invasion of privacy, and the engineering of social institutions, such as the family and local schools; the imposition of thought control through 'sensitivity training' and multiculturalist curricula; 'hate crime' laws; gun-control laws that punish or disarm otherwise law-abiding citizens but have no impact on violent criminals who get guns illegally; and a vast labyrinth of other measures."

The toxic combination of "pandemic panic" and "George Floyd derangement syndrome" has thoroughly destroyed the home of the brave. It is a paradise for the depraved and dictatorial.

Anarcho-tyranny is how hoodlums can toss statues into rivers with impunity, while citizens disgusted by Black Lives Matter street graffiti are charged with "hate crimes" — as David Nelson and Nicole Anderson in Martinez, California, were by a George Soros-funded district attorney two weeks ago.

Anarcho-tyranny is how rioters can shut down highways and byways on a whim without fear of arrest, while commuters trying to escape the window-smashing barbarians obstructing traffic are charged with "assault" — as poor Jennifer Watson of Denver, Colorado, was this week.

Anarcho-tyranny is how hordes of gay pride activists marching shoulder to shoulder can defy social distancing guidelines with gushing approbation from radical left-wing medical "experts," while anti-lockdown and anti-mask mandate protesters are deemed public health menaces who now face snitch hotlines, fines, house arrest or jail time.

Anarcho-tyranny is how 1,000 black militia members can take over the streets in Georgia and point their guns at motorists as they demand reparations, while white citizen militia members in Idaho, Utah and New Mexico have been smeared publicly as racists and face injunctions for peacefully defending their neighborhoods.

Where do the police stand in this regime? It pains me to say it, but those of us who have backed the blue so loyally and vocally can no longer do so under the assumption that the blue will back us.

It's rank-and-file cops who are issuing citations to citizens who want to breathe freely.

It's rank-and-file cops who are standing by while our monuments and courthouses and landmarks are burned and obliterated.

It was rank-and-file cops in Denver who watched as my patriotic friends and I tried to hold a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and were besieged by Black Lives Matter and antifa thugs who had declared that their sole intent in invading our permitted celebration was to "shut us down." I live-streamed the chaos as pro-police attendees were beaten, including the organizer Ron MacLachlan, who was bloodied in the face and head just a few feet from me by black-masked animals. One antifa actor wielded her collapsible baton just inches from me.

The cop-haters had obstructed traffic on their five-minute march from their unpermitted event at the Colorado State Capitol to our permitted space.

No cops intervened.

Unprovoked, the cop-haters blared airhorns, sprayed our faces (mine included), burned an American flag, punched, shoved and menaced and took over our stage.

No cops intervened.

The Denver police chief, Black Lives Matter champion Paul Pazen, has repeatedly and publicly blamed us — the law-abiding — for not having enough private security in place, even as he admitted that 76 officers have been injured by the "peaceful" agitators who have turned our capitol into a heathen hellhole (and perpetrated more than $1 million in property damage so far).

If we had brandished or used our weapons in self-defense, we'd be facing felony assault charges — as armed citizen Steven Baca is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the hands of another Soros-subsidized district attorney.

If any of our men had tried to peel the female antifa thugs off of MAGA ladies who were assaulted, they'd be charged with battery, too — just like Baca.

On Tuesday morning, a Denver police union official called me to apologize for the department's failure to protect those of us who tried to speak on their behalf. The "backlash" for defending our constitutional rights was too high a price to pay, he told me. Sorry.

So the message is loud and clear. When push comes to bloody shove in end-stage America, under the rule of the anarcho-tyrants, we, the law-abiding, are the enemy. Those in uniform sworn to protect and serve will turn their backs on us because their bosses don't answer to the public. They protect and serve the mob.

Michelle Malkin is an American conservative blog- ger, political commentator, author, and business- woman. Her weekly syndicated column appears in a number of newspapers and websites. She was a Fox News contributor and has been a guest on MSNBC, C-SPAN, and national radio programs. Malkin has written several books. She founded the conservative websites Twitchy and Hot Air. E-mail: Michelle MalkinInvestigates@protonmail.com

Ego Kills Careers: A New Leadership Philosophy and Path For Organizational Success

At one point in my policing career, my ego was out of control. I openly cringe thinking back to those days as a young lieutenant and captain, where my ego overrode good sense when it came to dealing with personnel issues. If an officer under my command disobeyed an order or violated policy, I took it personally; how dare they defy me! Ego was also a roadblock for me developing and growing needed relationships with many law enforcement partners in my county. I did not just burn bridges; I destroyed them, never to be rebuilt.

My ego was not only a problem at work, but it also caused problems at home. During marriage counseling, the counselor tapped into some dormant, malignant memories of my youth. I was as insecure as a 42-year-old captain as I was when I started my career at 25, and I didn’t know any better. The counseling sessions were painful but incredibly cathartic. I began to see where ego was a significant problem in my professional and personal life. The long and constant war with my ego began. Since 2013, I have been fighting those daily battles. I win about 80% of the time, but I learn something new every time I lose one of those battles. Those valuables lessons, along with additional research, led me to develop a philosophy called Ego Kills Careers.

The philosophy uses a multipronged approach: Identification of ego-related problems, training and education and visual reminders to tackle this critical issue. When supervisors are conducting informal or formal counseling sessions, they are instructed to “deep dive” into any problems they encounter. They are to establish if a negative ego is an underlying factor that is hampering an officer’s performance or adherence to the rules. At times, I sent officers, of all ranks, to the department’s psychologist because they needed professional help to overcome their issues with ego. Because of my transparent nature, I freely speak of my positive journey with counseling; I found little to no resistance from those who went to see the psychologist. Better yet, when the officers and supervisors who attended counseling changed their negative behaviors, the rest of the agency took notice. The tangible results of counseling further removed any barriers the officers had to accepting this method of assistance with controlling their egos.

Supervisors are encouraged to ask for feedback from their officers on how they performed during the year. In the beginning, getting evaluated by their troops was a foreign and uncomfortable concept for the supervisors. Now, most are secure that this valuable information, if used, will make them better supervisors. As the chief, I am not above getting evaluated. In 2019, I conducted an employee survey to identify my strengths and weaknesses. While the study was mainly positive, my staff and I worked hard on addressing the weak points in my “modus operandi.” I encourage all my fellow chiefs to conduct an anonymous survey in their departments, as this will test a leader’s commitment to working on their ego.

To formalize the philosophy, I teamed up with a local, licensed professional counselor who helped me develop an 8-hour course entitled Ego Kills Careers. This very interactive course shows students the problems associated with a negative ego, illustrates the gift of humility and demonstrates how the use of introspection and emotional intelligence builds a positive ego. The backbone of the class comes from the works of authors Ryan Holiday, Jocko Willink, Robin Dreeke and several other contemporary leaders on the subjects of trust, humility, leadership, and ego.

I am a great believer in visual aids. Hanging on the walls of my department are historical photos, plaques of past achievements and motivational quotes (The Man in The Arena by Teddy Roosevelt). Above the back door, where all the officers, detectives, staff and administration enter the building, hangs a large sign that reads Ego Kills Careers. The sign is a constant but subtle reminder of the department’s philosophy, one that I reinforce every day.

Data, analytics and technology are currently the buzzwords in policing. I am on a mission to get ego added to that list. What is more important than our people? Nothing! There is a unique and encouraging feeling one gets when they are freed from the confines of ego. Slights no longer sting, patience grows exponentially, anger becomes a forgotten emotion and life, in general, is sweeter. The results I gained battling ego changed the way I interact with people. I hope that by sharing my story, along with the research conducted on the subject, I can enrich the work and personal lives of all officers and supervisors and save some careers in the process.

Chief Ron Camacho is an accomplished law enforcement executive who spent time as an advisor in Afghanistan and Mexico. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, has a master’s in criminal justice from Liberty University, and is the chief of the Chambersburg Pennsylvania Police Department. He is the owner of Camacho Consulting LLC, a leadership and management training company.

Never Give Up: Elected officials can be replaced. The majority of Americans support cops

There’s never been a more perilous time to be a law enforcement officer, and yet across our great nation, the men and women of law enforcement continue to show up, answer calls for assistance and do the right thing. Doing the right thing seems to be, to some extent, a bygone theme for most of society but not for law enforcement. It can’t be! Often called the thin blue line, the men and women of law enforcement are the protectors of those simply attempting to live out their lives in peace. Too many people these days seem to take a poll or check the direction of the wind before making a decision that involves right and wrong, and so many decisions are based on politics, trial by media, mob rule and a quick rush to judgment. How I miss the days when people just did what was right without first pondering what it would cost them.

Isn’t law and order nothing more than doing the right thing, and requiring bad actors to do the right thing, or suffer the consequences for their unruly actions? As we see some cities making political decisions as to how to deploy law enforcement assets rather than just maintaining law and order, I feel for law enforcement officers but I’m grateful that we live in a country where politicians can be replaced. We know this political grandstanding is taking a toll on the psyche of rank and file law enforcement officers, but what do you do if you are instructed to do something that you know isn’t lawful? You do the right thing knowing that you stand for something bigger than self… bigger than one single situation! You stand by the principles you have decided are worth more than yourself.

I truly believe one thing that sets law enforcement officers aside from the rest of society is their decision that some things cannot be negotiable, and the safety of others is worth putting their life on the line. Officers make this decision every time they put on their ballistic vest, strap on their Sam Brown belt and go to work. It may seem silly, but I believe the majority of today’s society decides what they believe in based on their own individual needs without giving thought to society as a whole. We must each decide ahead of time what our principles are, or someone else will decide for us. When it is time to act, you don’t have time to ponder what’s right and what’s wrong. You fall back on your training, not just as an officer but all the way back to who you are as a person of integrity and what made you want to be an officer.

The rules that govern our society are, at their core, nothing more than doing the right thing, and at times you have to place your trust in the fact that sticking to your principles is worth whatever it costs you. I know a little about this because in 2011 I was carrying a federal badge and working in a high-profile position, but my principles would cost me my career, professional reputation, financial well-being, and make me what I am today, a national security threat whistleblower. I never wanted to be a whistleblower. I just wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to protect my country. I wanted my children to be proud of me, and I wanted to provide for my family. Making the decision that made me a whistleblower was easy and almost instantaneous because I had decided ahead of time what my principles were, but the ramifications were swift and harsh. Had I given up and buckled to the immense pressure, I would have compromised my integrity, and that is the only thing in this life that no one can take from you. You must lay it down, stand on your principles and take the heat and NEVER GIVE UP. I had faith that the laws that our society is based upon would back me up, and they did. Justice is not always swift, but it is sure. If you never give up and stick to your principles, I am a believer that you can’t lose. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you it won’t be painful and there won’t be bad days, but good does win!

So, in this day and age, where doing the right thing doesn’t seem to come naturally for many, be that light on the hill. Be that example that our society desperately needs right now. Do the right thing and know that the laws supported by our society are there to back you up for being that thin blue line. And always remember these things: Elected officials can be replaced, and the loudest voices are not the majority. They are just the loudest! You are supported even when you don’t feel it. Just stay true to who you are and stand strong in your faith and convictions. You are appreciated more than you know! Hold that thin blue line! Our country needs you more now than ever!

Blake Percival worked as a police officer in Alabama and West Virginia before becoming Director of US Investigations Services. Blake became a whistleblower in July 2011 when he exposed that USIS was billing the U.S. Government for roughly around 665,000 background investigations that allegedly had not been properly reviewed. Among those clearances were NSA leaker Edward Snowden and Aaron Alexis, who shot and killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard. He has written a book, “Holding on to Integrity and Paying the Price – A Whistleblower’s Story” and is considered a leading authority on the vetting process and investigations.

Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain: The silent majority must stand up

Here we go again, folks. Another wave and another storm of anti-police hate speech, attacks on police and attacks on the beliefs that make this nation so great. If some of you are like me, you probably wake up every day and ask yourself, "What world am I living in?" These storms come and go and those that are doing the right thing do their best to weather them, hunker down and hold fast. They will pass, but at what cost? While some mainstream media outlets and the pandering spineless radical liberal politicians will have you believe that criminals are the victims, cops are the criminals, and anyone who speaks against the progressive agenda is the enemy: others, the silent majority, still stand with the side of law and order.

Recent terrible and tragic injustices which could have led to an important channel of open dialog between civic leaders, law enforcement, and society instead became a hijacked vessel of hate with a new mission. A mission set on destruction. A man dying in police custody should be followed by the gathering of facts surrounding the incident, holding those responsible accountable, and a period of reflection to determine what went wrong and how it can be prevented in the future. None of that happened. Instead, a runaway train filled with anti-government motives, law-breaking behaviors and intolerance toward those who stand between them, headed hell-bent and full-throttle toward the American way of life with the main goal of destroying it.

Police now more than ever need to remain vigilant. We as police are stuck between doing the job that we chose and watching out for our necks as violence toward police has hit the roof. Police are there to help, that's how simple and basic it is. Some would argue that BLUE is the color of the uniform they wear and that if they don't like how they are treated they can take it off anytime. But what happens when no one is left wearing the uniform? What happens when the gutless politicians rewrite the books, doing away with those in BLUE? I can tell you this what we've seen on the news recently about increasing violence and crime in American cities is a sliver of what's to come. American cities and impoverished communities will feel the full brunt of a lawless society

Defunding or abolishing police, whatever you want to call it, is all the same to me. Who in their right mind would want to limit reduce, or restrain the very group responsible for handling society's problems? Sure, if you're a lawless criminal this sounds great, with more potential victims and less police around. It sounds like open season on the vulnerable to me. That's what defund/abolish police means it means, "I don't care about the vulnerable. Any politician who gets behind this message needs to take a long look in the mirror, ask themselves if what they're doing is what they believe is right? Does it do the most good for the most people? Or are they just pandering to save their own skin come election time?

Fortunately, America still currently operates where citizens can be heard in the voting booths. There is a lot of noise that the attention is focused on right now. Rest assured that productive members of society and the like have had to remain silent for some time. They remained silent out of fear that they would be vehemently labeled something that they are not but actions speak louder than words, and action in the voting booth is more important than words on the streets. When this storm of hate and intolerance passes. I hope all you good people out there pick your heads up, carry on and let your voices be heard.

Chris Scilingo is a police officer in NJ since 2011. He's a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is currently pursuing a master's degree. Chris aspires to teach higher education after transitioning from law enforcement.

Warrior's Heart: Why raising your hand during emotional times is hard

History of Service

21 years ago, in July of 1999, I raised my right hand as I took an oath of allegiance to the US Constitution, the United States of America and the United States Army, as a cadet candidate at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at Ft. Monmouth, NJ. A year later I would enter the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY and raise my hand once again. I have raised my hand numerous times as I was sworn into various ranks, duty assignments and most recently into my current job as a detective in New Jersey. I was a member of a Narcotics Task Force and a breacher on the County Regional SWAT Team. Standing 6’5” and weighing 300 pounds, with a shaved head, a Viking-like beard and tattoos on my arms, one would think by looking at me, nothing could or would hurt me. In reality, I was broken on the inside. I had battled depression, anxiety and alcoholism for years. I felt that I didn’t need help and could do this on my own. I felt that I was strong enough to handle my situation. I was also in fear of my chain-of-command finding out about the “real me” and removing me from the task force and more importantly the team which I loved so much. That exact thinking led to my downfall and eventually my rock bottom.

As warriors, we have raised our right hands and have sworn to protect and serve our country and our communities. We have volunteered for a life of selfless service and would not think twice about giving our own lives to save that of another. Mental health issues are not only real, but are challenges that can be overcome with the right approach, and it all starts with RAISING YOUR HAND.

Journey to Recovery Begins

On Dec. 25, 2018, I had my last alcoholic drink and two days later, my wife called the police after an argument we had and I stormed out of the house emotional and crying. I later wrote her a text saying “I love you, I’m sorry; you’re not going to have to deal with me anymore.”Later that day, I found myself sitting in a hospital awaiting admission into Warrior’s Heart, which is a treatment facility specifically designed to meet the needs of active duty military, veterans and first responders, the only one of its kind in the country. My life had become unmanageable.My first day of recovery was Jan. 1, 2019, the day I entered Warrior’s Heart.

By this time, my chain of command got wind of my situation. I felt like a complete failure. I felt like I let myself down, my department down, my teammates down and more importantly my family down. My depression was at an all-time high. I was stuck in a hospital, which I felt I didn’t belong in and was surrounded by people I never would associate with.How was I feeling in the days and months that led me to being admitted into a hospital? I felt hopeless, a strange feeling that no one would ever want to work with me. I felt that I would never be promoted. I felt that my career was dead in the water.I was in fear of losing my job and my family. My anxiety was at an all-time high. I felt that everyone in my department hated me, including everyone on the team, and even my own partner and my family. I didn’t know where to turn. I was embarrassed and I felt I was weak for being in this situation. I felt ALONE.

Natural Reactions and Impact of Trauma

What I described are all common feelings and emotions that every single service member, veteran and first responder who battles the diseases of addiction, depression, anxiety and PTSD feels on a daily basis. The feeling of worthlessness and self-pity overtake your mind and play games with you. I am here to tell you that these feelings are a natural response to these situations. I am here to tell you that it’s OK to not feel OK. It’s OK to raise your hand.

As warriors, we have to deal with people at the worst times of their lives. We have to deal with the worst that society has to offer. We see the evil in the world on a daily basis. We are victims of either direct trauma or vicarious trauma on a daily basis. Our line of work will affect you both positively and negatively over the course of your career. It is important to take care of your mind just as much as you take care of your body. Our lives also depend on our mental fitness, but for some reason it is not as important to members of the military and first responders as our physical health because we can’t see it. It’s not tangible.

Our minds are what drive us. It is our central processing unit. We are tasked with making split-second decisions, which can ultimately lead to life or death on a daily basis. In order to make those sound split-second decisions, our minds must be operating at the highest level and must be clear. If we are carrying around all those repressed traumatic events, they will eventually lead to our minds and our bodies breaking down. It is the “mind-body” connection. We become short-tempered, angry, overly aggressive, act out in ways that are uncharacteristic of ourselves, engage in dangerous behavior and take unnecessary risks.In other words, we develop maladaptive coping skills.It is estimated that 85% of first responders have experienced symptoms related to mental health issues and 84% of first responders say that they have experienced a traumatic event in the course of their duties. But only 34% of those first responders have received a formal diagnosis with a mental health disorder.It is important as warriors that we process this trauma so we can be better at our jobs and more importantly better for our families.

Smash the Stigma

How can we process this trauma, you ask? By breaking the stigma, raising our hands and asking for help. But why is it so hard for us to raise our hands. According to a Harris Poll which was conducted in February 2017, 39% of first responders say that there are negative repercussions for individuals who seek mental health treatment at work. Of that 39%, 55% say that their supervisor will treat them differently if they bring up their mental health at work, 45% say that their co-workers will perceive them as being weak and 34% say that they will be passed up for promotion if they bring up these concerns.

We need to overcome and smash these stigmas. In my case I had these same fears and anxiety. But I was blessed to have a chain-of-command and a chief who understood—who got it. My chief ensured me that after my treatment I would still have a job. He further went on to say that no one would hold my personal issues against me. This is exactly what I needed to hear. I finally was at ease. I was able to concentrate on rebuilding myself. I was able to concentrate on making myself a better person for myself, so I can be of maximum service to my department and more importantly my family.

Putting in the Work

The next step is putting in the work. We as warriors love to work. While in our jobs we are always looking to do work. I often would use work as a way to escape my reality and keep my mind focused on other things rather than on the things that were bothering me. So why don’t we put in the work into bettering ourselves?

At first, I was reluctant to put that work in. I only wanted to pick and choose what I wanted to work on in my life. First was the alcoholism. I was able to put down the drink, but I never addressed the underlying issues that caused the alcoholism. I was afraid to become vulnerable. I was afraid to feel uncomfortable. Once I was able to get comfortable feeling uncomfortable was when the real work began. With the help of therapists and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapy I was able to “Touch the Dragon” and get to the root causes of my problems and process them.

Upon my return to work, I was a little nervous and hesitant as to how I would be received. I quickly remembered the Serenity Prayer. “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” With this in mind, I knew that I didn’t have control over my chain of command and my colleagues’ view of me. So I didn’t let it bother me. What I do have control over are my own actions. In work as in my personal life I would keep doing the next right thing, no matter what it was. Through my positive actions over time, I was able to change the way my co-workers viewed me and I was able to regain their trust.

As you can see, this journey for me has been a battle but it is not an impossible battle. It can be won with the combination of the right therapy, the right work ethic and the right mindset. I challenge you now to be selfish in your recovery. Put yourself ahead of everything else and take that step to raise your hand. You owe it to your organization, department, co-workers, friends and family to be a better person, be a better soldier, and to be a better officer. But most importantly, you owe it to YOURSELF!

By Bradford Waudby

Lollipop cop to the rescue: Make community policing out #1 priority

For the last few years, law enforcement in this country has seen some major changes with policies and procedures. Some of these changes were long overdue, and police officers have made major strides to build a stronger bond within the community. We all know that some bad police officers will get through the background investigation and be hired by an agency. Unfortunately, one bad police officer can ruin the reputation of a department and sometimes the entire nation. We can no longer allow “bad apples” in our profession and need to aggressively run them out. The news and media outlets can’t wait for something negative to happen to law enforcement. Sometimes they don’t wait and make up a story that will never be disproved.

Today, our brothers and sisters in Blue have a lot to deal with. Some are retiring early and others are just going through the motions. It’s sad the silent majority doesn’t seem to care about what happens to police officers. However, we need to stand together and do whatever possible to keep our profession strong and build on regaining the trust of the people who rely on us every day.

Before retiring, my department spearheaded a community policing initiative that was designed to provide for local youth in town. Here are some pictures of Lollipop doing the great things they do. We hosted a meeting and got all the leaders from the police, fire, schools and various other community groups together. After the meeting we formed a coalition and agreed to have free quarterly community events. This coalition’s goal was to work together on all community projects and help each other throughout the year. This group did some great things together and built a strong bond within the police and the community.

Personally, I feel community policing needs to become a priority in modern-day policing. Police officers desperately need to be able to work with community leaders and have the full support of the public again. Obviously, this isn’t an easy task and some police officers will probably resist this. Our brothers and sisters in Blue need to understand that if we don’t make changes within the community then our profession will go through some harder times. Current training is boring, and most officers just can’t wait to sign off on it so they can go back to duty. We need more realistic hands-on training that involves real-life situations and relevant speakers that can make a positive difference in officer’s lives.

If we don’t attempt to bridge the gap between the police and community, things will only deteriorate more and the police will no longer be the respected profession it once was as in the past. I really wish things were different and people saw us as the “sheepdog” who is the first to put our life on the line; but they are not any longer and we need to continue to do whatever it takes to protect our communities moving forward.

Michael D. Boll is a retired police sergeant in NJ. He previously served as a United States Marine and is a Gulf War veteran. He is the founder of Operation Rebound Racing Team, a nonprofit organization that helps wounded veterans and first responders enjoy a better quality of life.

A Cultural War: Giving an Inch on Campus- Political Correctness is destroying Academia

The phrase give an inch and they will take a mile means making small concessions to someone will allow that person to take advantage of you in a much larger way.

Wouldn’t you know it? When the West Virginia University Chief of Police W.P. Chedester had a Thin Blue Line flag displayed on a wall in the background during a recent hour-long video conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion on campus, many students and professors alike organized a protest and took a position that this “clearly communicates especially to our Black students, Indigenous students and other students of color that their lives do not matter and they are not welcome here.” Media reports referred to the flag as a “Blue Lives Matter flag.”

Captain William P. “W.P.” Chedester II (photo credit: WVU Photo)

In a statement released by Chedester, he said the flag was given to him as a gift. “For me personally, it has always represented a way to honor the commitment I made as a first responder to protect our community. I understand now that it represents something else to many others; something that I now know was traumatic to some of our community tuning in for our conversation. I sincerely did not have any intent to suggest that police lives matter more than black lives, nor was I intentionally trying to cause any harm or offense. Sometimes, there are events that occur that open our eyes to things we have not seen before. The horrible killing of George Floyd has made it clear that we have much work to do in our country and in our own communities. Today I saw a symbol through others’ eyes. As a leader on our campus, I will be more conscientious, intentional and thoughtful. As a community, we also need to lead in that direction” the statement said.

So instead of standing up for the diversity, equity and inclusion of his officers and agency, by instead relenting and removing this flag, open debate and dialogue on different points of view have been stymied and replaced by even more demands.

(Photo Credit: Shutterstock)

The Solidarity for Equality and Compassion (SEC) of West Virginia University has now called for the campus police department to be defunded and effectively disbanded, sending a petition to West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee, stating those demands, and saying those funds should be reallocated to fund black university initiatives.

The petition lays out a five-step plan that is “needed to provide a safe and open university for students to attend from West Virginia, the U.S. and all over the world.”

1. Prohibit Confederate flags and symbols on all public spaces of the University.

2. Disarm University Police. Having officers work under the campus name who carry firearms does not create a welcoming and inclusive space, especially for black, Indigenous, and people of color students and visitors.

3. Require yearly bias and sensitivity training, as well as bi-annual town halls with the campus police so students and faculty can voice any issues, complaints and queries.

4. Re-route a portion of the policing budget to aid in the mental and social welfare of students, particularly to the Carruth Center and the WVU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

5 .Foster a working relationship with the Morgantown Police Department for any calls needing armed backup, as well as sporting and entertainment event backup.

An official statement by the university reads in part: “Black Lives Matter at West Virginia University, and we are committed to ensuring that all are respected and welcome on our campus. We are strongest together, and together we can stand against intolerance.”

So where is all of this heading? Silencing competing views is not the answer. I say that, in fact, Black lives matter, blue lives matter, history matters and freedom to express our views and discuss our similarities and differences in a civil and decent way matters, too. We must be able to engage in what some will find to be difficult but possibly enlightening conversations. Isn’t that what freedom of speech and education is supposed to be all about?

Officers at West Virginia University or elsewhere must not be sacrificial lambs on the altar of “political correctness” as police chiefs fail to defend lawful enforcement operations and stand their ground on freedom of expression, thought and debate. Lack of leadership and failure to speak truth must not be deciding factors in the future of our profession, university and college campuses or our nation which has been built on our Constitution, freedoms and the rule of law.

Joel E. Gordon is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com

Law enforcement - The can’t-miss profession

Law enforcement is the only profession where you have to be right from the minute you take the oath of office until you sign your name to receive your pension. It is an unattainable expectation that is not found in some of the most scholarly professions known to man.

Let’s look into what makes our profession a dying breed and something not desired by the current working class. With only six months of training, the cop is a professional driver, lawyer, firearm expert, psychologist, judge, social worker, mental health expert and all while balancing the ultimate responsibility of possibly having to take a life in a split second.

Each of those titles requires many years of schooling and mentoring in addition to practical experience where the one undertaking them is afforded the time and luxury of mistakes. The lawyer can lose the case and keep his license, the doctor can lose a patient on an operating table with no critiques, and the person who has been driving for years can crash and chalk it up to an unfortunate accident. The psychologist can provide advice based on trained methods but bears no real responsibility for the patient’s final demise.

The police officer, on the other hand, has to be right 100 percent of the time on every decision or face immediate drastic consequences and endure an “after the fact” perspective by a group that has no concept of the immense pressure a police officer faces to be right 100 percent of the time.

History has taught us that this is an unachievable expectation dating back to biblical times. How can we expect our police officers to be right all the time? Then society turns its back on them when they don’t meet expectations.

We need to start recognizing the signs of dismay and the stigma that is associated with the despair in policing of modern society. We are treating our cops with a growing negative discourse that is largely unfair. We are ignoring all the signs of self-destruction and asking them despite this to do more with less - Less pay, less appreciation, less self-motivators, less respect and less personal growth. We talk down to them, we disrespect their oath to protect and serve all while still calling them to help us in a time of need. There are two parallel paths that cannot and will not be sustained.

What is society going to do when we call 911 and the phone continues to ring and ring with the silence of the past? What is society prepared to do when the weak can no longer be protected and the predators feast on the same society that condemns our heroes? Finally, what is society going to do when the once-heralded police officer no longer answers to the inherent call for good to protect against evil because society has blurred the line between the two?

Let’s stop stigmatizing our police officers with unrealistic expectations and come to the realization that we answered a higher calling for the sanctity of life. In the end we are the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who make up the same community you live in. We worship the same God, we value the same morals and beliefs, we get dressed the same way, and we laugh and cry at the same trials and tribulations as you. Give us what we need, the support of humanity.

Christopher Gialanella is a 23-year police veteran currently holding the rank of police captain in the Special Operations Division. He holds degrees in criminal justice and Homeland Security. Chris is the owner of Wide Eye Security Systems—a private security consulting company focusing on the need for innovative solutions pertaining to real-time security issues. Chris is son of a cop who grew up in the industry and has dedicated his life to protecting those who can’t protect themselves. Follow him on Twitter @GGialanella

Remembrance of Office Anthony Dia: "Tell my family I love them."

Toledo Police Officer Anthony Dia was looking forward to finishing his shift and spending the afternoon with his family at a July 4th cookout. Shortly after midnight, Officer Dia responded to a call to check on the well-being of an individual causing a disturbance in a parking lot where a local car show had been held. Just as he arrived on scene and located the suspect, the man pulled a gun and fired a single shot that struck the officer in the chest just outside his body armor. Though mortally wounded, Officer Dia was able to draw his service weapon and return fire. The gunman fled the scene and later took his own life. Anthony Dia keyed his radio which captured his final heartbreaking transmission: “Tell my family I love them”. Not long after... he was gone.

Two hours before he was killed, Officer Dia was asked to pose for a photo with two young boys who were excited to meet a real-life police officer. They were able to see the inside of his patrol car, and he even let them hit the lights and sirens. Officer Anthony Dia was a two-year veteran of the Toledo Police Department and leaves behind a wife and two children. He was 26 years old.

Jonny Castro was a police officer, forensic composite artist, U.S Army Combat Veteran for OIF 2/3 and a portrait of heroes that were killed in the line of duty.

The Oklahoma City Bombing Hits 25 Year Anniversary

The Oklahoma City Bombing Hits 25 Year Anniversary: Exclusive Interview- Retired Oklahoma City Firefighter Chris Fields, featured in the iconic image of the rescue effort, talks to Blue Magazine about his struggle with PTSD

By: Eddie Molina

As the Covid-19 headlines news coverage everywhere, it’s easy to forget other important events. April 19th marked the 25- year anniversary of the worst domestic act of terrorism America has ever seen- the Oklahoma City Bombing.

The iconic image of Chris Fields, pictured above, holds a one year old during rescue operations. Charles Porter IV/ ZUMA Press

On April 19th, 1995, domestic terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols- motivated by anti-government sentiment- conspired, coordinated and executed a truck bombing attack of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. 168 people were killed, hundreds more injured and countless emotional scars were permanently pressed upon the American people.

In the minutes and hours following the devastating attack, dozens of search and rescue teams scoured the debris in hopes of finding survivors to get them desperately needed medical care. One of the first responders, Chris Fields, a now retired Oklahoma City firefighter, was captured in an iconic image carrying an infant- who unfortunately did not survive.

The Blue Magazine reached out to Chris to find out how that fateful, historic event impacted him and how it changed his life forever.

Blue: What was your role in the Oklahoma City bombing rescue effort?

Chris: I was a firefighter and among the first responders on scene searching for survivors.

How has that experience changed you as a person?

Chris: You think about it a hundred different ways and it all comes down to old cliché, you don’t take anything for granted. Every day I wake up and put my feet on the floor is another blessing. But I went through a lot of mental anguish afterwards. The photo was a catalyst for me to seek help for some unprocessed trauma I experienced. Back in those days, (1990’s) you just didn’t talk about it (stress) like you would now.

Were you diagnosed with PTSD?

Chris: Yes, I was. I was one of the ones who thought I was ‘too tough’ to get help. It wasn’t until I hit rock bottom that I sought help. I went to a treatment facility with other first responders and that was a huge help. It taught us you’re no different than anybody else. Once I started dealing with the unprocessed trauma, I realized things became routine with our line of work, like seeing things that other people, like regular civilians, just don’t see and shouldn’t see, that we deal with on a routine basis.

What do you want to tell new Law Enforcement officers and first responders about the stress of the job?

Chris: Well, I can’t tell them, ‘you’re going to experience this, and you’re going to feel that’. Sometimes it can be an accumulation of events or just one single event that can lead a person to experience PTSD.  But in our line of work, you’re going to experience something traumatic. Just know that you are not alone- PTSD is a normal reaction. How you deal with it is up to you- some talk to a buddy, others need to seek professional help. Just don’t wait. There’s no reason trauma should cost you your career, your family, even your life.

Agreed. PTSD shouldn’t be ignored.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. David Longstreath/ AP, File

Chris: Yeah, I got to the point where I hit rock bottom, where I didn’t care if I woke up the next day. I came close to where I just wanted to end it. But there are so many avenues out there for people who experienced trauma and it’s different for everybody, as well as different for how you deal with it.

What activities were you doing to cope with PTSD?

Chris: I really love golf and I enjoy being around people. I’m a social person and I found relief in being around others close to me.

What are some signs that someone might have a problem?

Chris: If there are activities or things that you enjoyed doing, and you no longer find joy in doing them, you might have a problem. And if you know that’s the case, and you’re not doing anything about it, believe me, other people will see it. Just go get the help you need. These are different times and it’s ok not to be ok.

Would you say that you’re fully cured of PTSD?

Chris: I would say yes, I am. I have my bad days but I go to the activities I enjoy doing. However, this year was the 25th anniversary of the bombing. I realized that Baylee, the baby I was holding in the photo, would have been 26 years old this year- for some reason that hit me hard.

Do you remember what emotions you were feeling when you found Baylee?

Chris: I do. A police officer handed me Baylee and I remember looking for a blanket to lay her on. At the time I had a two year- old son myself, and I remember thinking ‘wow, someone’s world is going to turn upside down’ and I was overcome with emotion since I had a son around Baylee’s age.

What advice do you want to give First Responders as they are responding to a scene where human casualties are expected?

Chris: First off, I’d say just let your training and adrenalin take over. But more important is what comes afterward. And to that I say, don’t punish yourself- don’t beat yourself up for the feelings and emotions you experience from it. Early on in my career, I chose pride and ego over getting help. I was more concerned with my reputation with my department over my own well-being and that of my family. If you need help, get help, there’s nothing wrong with that.

End of interview.

PTSD is a very serious First Responder issue that can have devastating effects if ignored. If any or all of Chris’ answers strike a chord with you, take that as a potential sign of PTSD.

Chris closed the interview by offering to help anyone struggling with PTSD. If that is the case, please send me an email, eddiemolina78@gmail.com, with your contact information and I can put you in touch with Chris. Remember, if you need help, get help.
For immediate assistance, contact:
CopLine: 1-800-267-5463, available for the United States and Canada.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Fire/EMS Helpline: 1-888-731-FIRE (3473).

Uncertainty The Road Ahead

Uncertainty The Road Ahead

By Daniel Del Valle, George Beck Ph.D., and Joel E. Gordon

We will overcome the coronavirus pandemic. That’s a fact. You can take that check to the bank. It will end and humanity will survive just like every other pandemic and plague that's affected mankind; we will continue forward. But what will the road ahead look like for law enforcement? How long will the current goodwill toward policing last before we are once again the enemy? 

In the aftermath of 9/11, recall the American flag waving at nearly every home and the constant admiration of officers who were placed in harm’s way—the endless thank yous for doing the job few wanted to do—the smiles and handshakes and appreciation were at all-time highs. Yet, it didn’t take long before we were the target of politicians and opportunists, boiling to the point of anti-police riots and assassinations of officers simply for the uniform they wore. In the days of the Ferguson riots, American flags were burned, and crowds shouted how they wanted dead cops now! Clearly, any sign of appreciation toward law enforcement had long evaporated. So why would anything be different this time? Will the aftermath of the coronavirus be an anomaly and the goodwill we are experiencing now last forever? That’s not only naïve to believe; it’s an irresponsible thought. 

It’s one thing to argue that people appreciate you when they need you. In other words, now, while everyone is quarantined and out of danger, the police are out there risking their lives for the safety of everyone, so they are not surprisingly appreciated and praised. But when this pandemic passes, and officers are no longer needed to take the risks others won't take, many of those same people who praised law enforcement have short memories. Then what happens? History shows us the goodwill toward officers dries up quickly and those old feelings of negative law enforcement sentiments are back on the opportunists' lips. 

But the aftermath of the COVID-19 will be more complicated. The truth is state and federal governments are spending and borrowing at record amounts never before seen. The cost of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented,  and the impending doom from a collapsed economy offers a grim future where all the doomsday folks stocking up on toilet paper and ammo may be correct. It’s the collateral damage that will be far higher than the destruction caused by the virus. The countless suicides and broken families and the loss of wealth and exploitation will be similar to the experiences felt during the Great Depression. Will we, as a society, get to a point where some cities start to look like post-apocalyptic wastelands? 

Inevitably law enforcement will be impacted on the road ahead. On what scale is yet to be determined, but plausibly hardships are on the horizon. In Baltimore, for example, the third most dangerous American city according to CBS News, the city recently offered its officers hazard pay, recognizing that they are putting themselves in extra unique danger. Now faced with a projected loss of $103 million for the fiscal year 2021, the city is attempting to recover “$11 million in savings from personnel spending.” Not only did the city decide to take that hazard pay back, but it’s also now asking for even more from its officers and has offered three options for Baltimore Police to consider accepting: 

Option 1 - Freeze all salaries at the FY20 amount and forgo collectively bargained raises. This option would eliminate the 3% salary increase due to officers on July 1, 2020, that was bargained for in good faith by the FOP and the City in 2018.

Option 2 - Unit members would receive either 4, 5 or 6 furlough days, depending on salary. Because officers are “essential employees,” they would be required to work and suffer a salary reduction for the total amount of furlough days.

Option 3 - This option would eliminate pay freezes and furlough days; however, it would include 173 layoffs of full-time employees. Layoffs would include non-essential employees currently on permission leave along with specialized public safety functions such as BPD’s Mounted Unit, Marine Unit and Traffic Units.

Notice some striking keywords in the options above? Salary freezes, no raises, furlough days, salary reductions and layoffs. It didn’t take long for an apparent “appreciative” city to go from paying hazard pay to kicking those same officers to the curb. Meanwhile, those same officers are still on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, risking their health and lives to serve and protect, yet if they were to get sick, the promise of a possible layoff and no health insurance is potentially in the near future. 

“I am furious and disgusted with the mayor and his administration for asking our members to shoulder the burden of this crisis both physically and now financially,” said Sgt. Mike Mancuso, president of the Baltimore City Police FOP Lodge. “We have had 350 members who have been quarantined, 63 who are awaiting test results, and 19 who have tested positive for COVID-19. According to all projections, this is just the beginning of what could be a devastating couple of weeks for our area.”

Imagine what safety and security will look like for Baltimore soon. It's already a dangerous place because some estimates show the police department is already 500 officers short. However, including layoffs and furloughs will make Baltimore a city no one will want to live in, work in or visit, hence additional financial hardships and unprecedented spikes in crime. The officers remaining on the crippled agency will risk their lives tenfold for a city that is outright telling them they do not matter. The question many officers must consider is whether it is worth the risk. 

In addition to severe projected budget shortfalls as a result of an ailing economy and reduced tax revenue base due to the COVID-19 response, some see the COVID-19 pandemic as a unique opportunity for police reform. Recently, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw instructed her officers to delay arrests for low-level criminal offenses, such as narcotics activity. Meanwhile, in Chicago, and elsewhere police have been advised to reduce the number of stops and arrests for low-level crimes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The pandemic has altered policing across the nation; it’s not surprising the calls for police reform are growing louder. Opportunists are using the pandemic to push further police reform, citing that departments can reflect and analyze how adjustments may be working to change the perception and efficiency of law enforcement.

Take James Nolan, professor of sociology at West Virginia University and a former police officer words for example. “The current logic of traditional policing requires aggressive force. The image of the good officer is often one who makes a lot of arrests and is always prepared to use force rather than back down when challenged. Likewise, in neighborhoods where residents have lost faith in the police and civil authorities, gun violence is required for self-protection and for settling disputes. As horrific as the COVID-19 pandemic has been for the police and local communities, its sudden appearance has changed police behavior in noticeable ways. Reforms have come quickly as the new conditions have suddenly made the practical logic of policing impractical.”

Looking forward, if the new normal becomes less active enforcement along with diminished citizen engagement, that could easily result in nationwide furloughs and police staffing reductions as government bureaucrats nationwide justify such decisions by calling them reforms while looking to cut costs. Remember many of these folks are the ones who took the locks off the jails and let the inmates out.

Yes, we will overcome the coronavirus pandemic. But our profession will have challenges ahead. Let us stand up against reductions in law enforcement staffing to prevent “the thin blue line” from becoming even thinner. Officer safety and the common good for our communities require it. When we are needed, we are praised and appreciated, yet, the road ahead is likely filled with layoffs, salary freezes and reductions, and, well, if our profession is not prepared, we will be blindsided by the same charlatans who smilingly shakes our hands one day, and kick us in the ass the next.

Editor's Point of View : George Beck, Ph.D.

Welcome to another excellent issue of Blue Magazine. We have a lot of information to share with you.

So far, 2020 has been challenging. The coronavirus is a significant health issue that has taken the lives of many people, and we at Blue Magazine mourn the loss of all those who died from COVID-19 related illnesses. We also extend our support to those continuing to battle the virus. 

We must also acknowledge the truth that the coronavirus has sadly morphed into a major political issue, and the collateral damages are devastating. Yet, it seems nobody wants to have this conversation. Why? Why can’t we discuss the starvation — the suicides and the utter destruction caused by the shutdown? Does anyone care that many people are down to their last few packages of ramen noodles? Why can’t we hear the perspective of the families struggling with hunger from loss of employment, and how sad it is they put their children in bed at night knowing they are hungry? Why is this not part of the discussion? As I said, yes, the coronavirus is serious, and so are starvation, depression, unemployment and suicide. 

Is it any wonder why protests to end the shutdown are assembling en masse? Many people are asking why these protesters are not listening. Some claim it’s a lack of education or a misinformed rebellious spirit that drives these folks. I see this differently. The rebellion against the shutdown is the direct result of taking a one-sided approach. People have legitimate grievances that are being ignored. At the same time, they are told to shut up — that science is the answer, and their struggles don’t matter. We must make certain the cure is not worse than the disease.

The road ahead for our profession is full of uncertainty. We are taking the brunt of the effects of the coronavirus and the shutdown, and in the near future could realistically see unemployment, increases in officers getting hurt or killed and wrongful prosecutions as the scapegoats of the shutdown. Be sure to check out the cover story where much of this is addressed.

As we move forward in 2020, it pains me to write about the loss of our Blue Magazine writer, Dr. Joseph Devine.

Dr. Devine was not only a coworker and mentor, but he was also my friend. No matter what time I called, he answered. We co-authored articles together. Leadership was his passion. He was a leader who built other leaders. He wasn’t afraid to lift others up.  Dr. Devine was a great man who genuinely cared for his family and friends. We’ll miss him greatly.  Dr. Devine’s sudden passing reminds us to slow things down and to cherish the good people in our lives and spend as much time as we can with those who really care about us. Rest In Peace, Dr. Devine. Your impact on the lives of many is everlasting.

Five Life Lessons COVID19 has Taught Me

Five Life Lessons COVID19 has Taught Me
By Ted Tank

These past few months have been the most unusual, sometimes depressing times I have been through. As someone in his upper 40’s, that says a lot.

As this pandemic started to unfold back in February, I was a naysayer. I was in denial before I finally said to myself, this virus shit is real. That’s when I started paying closer attention and I started noticing things going on in and around me.

In mid-March I started to develop cold like symptoms; headache, cough, sluggishness. None of the symptoms associated to COVID19 so I couldn’t get tested. I was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, also known as a common cold. I stayed home a few days and was subsequently cleared by my department to return to work.

Between the moment I felt those symptoms and the weeks that followed, I learned some very important lessons that I feel will be relevant to me forever:

1)     I have a renewed appreciation for God. The first day of my symptoms worried me so I immediately quarantined myself to the basement to help protect my family. I assumed the symptoms were COVID related. Working in a prison, I figured there was no way I was going to avoid contracting the virus, regardless of how many times I practically boiled my hands clean. I then let the fear the media instills in people consume me. Am I going to die? Am I going to end up in the hospital on a respirator sleeping towards death? Did I hug my wife and children for the last time already? I then turned to God and prayed I would get through it. I promised I would be a better Catholic if He spared me. I plan on keeping that promise.

2)     I learned who I’d go to war with and who I wouldn’t. Once I was cleared to return to work, the virus was just starting to take its toll on us. Nearly half of every shift was forced into quarantine. The other half had to work 16- hour shifts, some for 10 straight days. Fatigue, stress and anxiety started to set in and morale was at- by far- the lowest I have seen in my 20-years with the department. During the peak of the struggle I noticed that two types of officers and supervisors emerged. The first type stepped up everywhere they went because they wanted to help their blue family get through this. They volunteered for difficult assignments, offered help everywhere they went, and kept everyone’s spirits up and they earned my ultimate respect. The other type exposed was questionable at best. They stayed home often, abused the generous leave policy in effect and let everyone down. I’m sure it won’t be soon forgotten by their peers.

3)     People are much more resilient than we realize. As the long days and stressful times progressed, officer’s limits were challenged greater than ever before. The human body is far more capable of tolerating stress than I realized. For well over a week, I was averaging 3 to 4 hours of poor-quality sleep per night. But each day I got up and did it again. I felt tired but my body forced me to stay focused. I’ve never been tested like that and I’m still surprised I got through it - I guess I had no other option. I wasn’t alone, many of my co-workers struggled similarly, but we all got through it because we are very resilient.

4)     Creativity rules a new battlefield. During the ‘thick of things’, memos, directives and policies were changing hourly. It was tough to keep up. One thing I learned was to adapt and shift my priorities to what’s important - enforcing the law and not getting sick. When you’re on the battlefield and everything is changing around you constantly, you must get creative. As a law enforcement supervisor, I had to get creative everywhere I went. Each day turned into let’s just get through today. Once it was all said and done and things began to ease up a little, I realized that creativity is the key to managing an ever-changing battlefield. For all intents and purposes, dealing with COVID19 was a battle and we were all at war.

5)      I never thought I would enjoy cleaning. I now look at doorknobs, handles, phones, anything frequently touched with greater suspicion. I squint my eyes, turn my head as ask myself what diabolical germs and viruses are you hoarding right now you bastard? I find added joy in taking precious disinfectant wipes and cleaning all those surfaces.

I never thought battling the invisible would bring any joy, but now it does.

PRAY FOR OUR BLACK YOUTH

PRAY FOR OUR BLACK YOUTH

By: Deon Joseph

I had to take a moment to calm down before I wrote this. I know for those who have bought into the narrative that law enforcement is the biggest threat to young black boys, this may be upsetting.

Statistically, that is the farthest thing from the truth. So, for those of you who have a cult-like belief in that, you may not want to read this.

Today, I went riding my bike with my three sons in the community I grew up in. I got ahead of them a bit on the way home. Two gang members pulled up on my son. One asked him if he was from a particular gang. My son told him he was no gang member. The gangsters told him where he was from as a warning to him and then drove off.

That could have easily turned ugly. When these individuals have the urge to kill, there are usually no right answers. When my sons caught up to me they told me what happened.

I cringed on the inside. As a father, there was this urge to kill.  As a black man, I was overcome with sadness at how a black is simply not allowed to just be. 

I thought back to when I was almost killed a block behind my house at 14 years old by three gang members asking where I was from because of the jacket I wore. If it wasn’t for the gang member in the back seat, who I could not see, who recognized me from church, I wouldn’t be here.

I remember them driving off. I remember how helpless I felt. I remember there was no cover to protect me. At 14 years old, I had never gang banged. I never hurt anyone, but my life was about to be taken by three self-hating men who saw me as worthless as they saw themselves. I was an expendable black life who didn’t matter.

Now three decades later, I’m sitting on my couch with that same feeling after what happened to my son.

My son never gang banged. Never hurt anyone in his life. Has talent. He’s helpful and thoughtful, and today, because of the color of his skin, someone did not see his value. That he was loved.

Across this country every year, not a few dozen, not a couple of hundred, but thousands of young black youth lose their lives this way. Not in the heat of a tense moment. Not because they struggled with a cop, or were running from one, or in the commission of a crime.

But simply being in the skin they are in and wearing a certain colored shirt, or a hoodie while exercising, or on a date, or an initiation, or an order from a prison.

I always prayed my sons would grow up in a safer world. I thank God for his protection over me decades ago, and today my son.

But when are we as a people going to face this issue? When are we going focus on trying to stop the tens of thousands we lose as fervently as we focus on the couple of hundred the media and activists only want to focus on for ratings or to push an issue.

Do you know how many lives we could save if we did that?

I’m done. I’m going to go pray now to find it in my heart to forgive. But I won’t forget. Too many of us are dying for me to forget.

I’m not up for any debates on this.  So, you can save your “yeah buts.” 

Please pray for our black youth tonight.

NOTES ON THE COMING MEAT SHORTAGE

Notes on the Coming Meat Shortage
By Michelle Malkin

The Great Toilet Paper Scare of 2020 has come to end, but don't breathe a sigh of relief just yet. The Spring Meat Stampede is here.

At my local Costco in Colorado Springs on Monday, fresh chicken breast was nowhere to be found. Nationwide, bacon prices doubled. Wholesale pork prices for ham, ribs and loins rose between 12% and 32% over the last seven days. COVID-19 outbreaks among the nation's major meat processing plants have shut down nearly 20% of the country's fresh pork production. Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods has shuttered five facilities so far because of sick and no-show workers; Tyson Foods warns "the food supply is breaking" and "millions of pounds of meat will disappear" by May 1 after the mega-corporation idled its largest pork plant in Iowa, a beef plant in Washington state and another meatpacking facility in Indiana.

Recently, President Donald Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to compel the nation's biggest meat processors to stay open and stave off shortages. How exactly the feds will "address liability issues" (which Tyson Foods execs complained about to Trump) and force union leaders to comply remains unclear. Whether the order actually heads off mass hysteria is also iffy. As we saw with the toilet paper rush, Chicken Little-ism is contagious. Warnings about shortages induce shortages. Admonitions of "Don't hoard the Charmin" failed in the face of mob behavior. Same with "Don't hoard the hocks."

With meat prices rising, the economic landscape looks bleak. While gas is less than $2 a gallon, much of the nation is still locked down and off the streets, out of the cars and in no hurry to get on planes or trains. The latest Consumer Price Index summary reveals rising rent prices and costs of medical care services on top of spiking meat prices. With nearly 26 million Americans now out of work, signs of impending stagflation loom. That "V-shaped recovery" is more like a "P.D." recovery: Pipe Dream.

More candor from all the Beltway "experts" about what we face would be helpful to our suffering citizenry. While we're at it, this nation must confront the dangers of dependency on the globalized, homogenized methods of producing meat and other key products in our food supply, which is concentrated in the hands of a quarter of giant multinational corporations who press for unlimited alien workers in exchange for low food prices. An estimated 30% of America's meat production employees are foreign-born. As usual, "Open Borders Inc." reaps all the benefits while we're left holding an empty grocery bag.

Let's remember: Tyson Foods was embroiled in an illegal immigrant smuggling racket two decades ago. The company has paid Swamp lobbyists like Republican Ed Gillespie millions of dollars to push for illegal immigrant amnesty. And Big Meat coordinates with refugee resettlement racketeers to import tens of thousands of cheap laborers from Asia, Africa and Latin America into the heartland.

Just one example: Tyson fundamentally transformed Waterloo, Iowa, by working with faith-based government contractors to ship in thousands of low-wage Burmese refugees to fill jobs at the meat plant now at the center of a coronavirus outbreak. Since 2002, 9,143 refugees from 37 countries have resettled in Iowa (which doesn't include so-called secondary migration, or friends and relatives moving to Iowa from their primary settlement location). Taxpayer-subsidized Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants have reaped millions dumping them across Central Iowa — and abandoning them in cultural, linguistic and economic ghettos at the mercy of exploitative employers.

As Refugee Resettlement Watch founder and investigator Ann Corcoran reports, "The dark underbelly of the giant globalist meatpacking industry in the US is being exposed as large numbers of slaughterhouse workers are creating US hotspots for the spread of the Chinese virus."

A decentralized system of meat and poultry production would enhance food security, national security and public health. Demographic conquest fueled by big business' insatiable appetite for cheap labor, by contrast, is making us sick to our stomachs in more ways than one.

Law enforcement - The can’t-miss profession

Law enforcement - The can’t-miss profession
By: Chris Gialanella

Law enforcement is the only profession where you have to be right from the minute you take the oath of office until you sign your name to receive your pension. It is an unattainable expectation that is not found in some of the most scholarly professions known to man.

Let’s look into what makes our profession a dying breed and something not desired by the current working class. With only six months of training, the cop is a professional driver, lawyer, firearm expert, psychologist, judge, social worker, mental health expert and all while balancing the ultimate responsibility of possibly having to take a life in a split second.

Each of those titles requires many years of schooling and mentoring in addition to practical experience where the one undertaking them is afforded the time and luxury of mistakes. The lawyer can lose the case and keep his license, the doctor can lose a patient on an operating table with no critiques, and the person who has been driving for years can crash and chalk it up to an unfortunate accident. The psychologist can provide advice based on trained methods but bears no real responsibility for the patient’s final demise.

The police officer, on the other hand, has to be right 100 percent of the time on every decision or face immediate drastic consequences and endure an “after the fact” perspective by a group that has no concept of the immense pressure a police officer faces to be right 100 percent of the time.

History has taught us that this is an unachievable expectation dating back to biblical times. How can we expect our police officers to be right all the time? Then society turns its back on them when they don’t meet expectations.

We need to start recognizing the signs of dismay and the stigma that is associated with the despair in policing of modern society. We are treating our cops with a growing negative discourse that is largely unfair. We are ignoring all the signs of self-destruction and asking them despite this to do more with less - Less pay, less appreciation, less self-motivators, less respect and less personal growth. We talk down to them, we disrespect their oath to protect and serve all while still calling them to help us in a time of need. There are two parallel paths that cannot and will not be sustained.

What is society going to do when we call 911 and the phone continues to ring and ring with the silence of the past? What is society prepared to do when the weak can no longer be protected and the predators feast on the same society that condemns our heroes? Finally, what is society going to do when the once-heralded police officer no longer answers to the inherent call for good to protect against evil because society has blurred the line between the two?

Let’s stop stigmatizing our police officers with unrealistic expectations and come to the realization that we answered a higher calling for the sanctity of life. In the end we are the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who make up the same community you live in. We worship the same God, we value the same morals and beliefs, we get dressed the same way, and we laugh and cry at the same trials and tribulations as you. Give us what we need, the support of humanity.

Exercise is more important now than ever before

Exercise is more important now than ever before
By: Lt. Patrick J. Ciser (ret.)

Exercise; we’ve always been told to get more of it. If you ignored doctors and exercise experts in the past, you might now want to reevaluate your position. Fighting off obesity, diabetes and hypertension has always prolonged our lives, generally speaking. But today, with the emergence of COVID-19 striking people down with these ailments the most, the real battle begins. Research has shown that after advanced age, which is out of our control, obesity is the next highest risk factor when it comes to mortality rates. Smokers are also at great risk, and should absolutely cease and desist NOW!

How many hours do you sit at work, sit in a police car or sit stationed in a cell block watching prisoners all day? Doesn’t really give you that athletic and toned body you’d like, does it? Poor diets exacerbate the problem, and so does “happy hour” at the local pub. Many of us have excuses, but I did pretty well for 28 years on the job in the eating department. I very rarely ate junk food or used shift-work as an excuse, and I also believe in the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Healthy choices at diners rather than unhealthy fast-food places are usually your best choice. If not, I suggest that you simply “brown bag” it. It also wasn’t uncommon for me to bring a protein shake to work. It’s said that athletic bodies are made in the kitchen, and I believe that that’s 80% true. All the exercise in the world won’t counterbalance donuts, fast food and soda.

So, you are stuck home when you’re not working and the gyms are still closed down because of the pandemic. But there’s some good news! You really don’t need a lot of room or equipment to get your required daily exercise. You can start with jumping jacks, burpees, mountain climbers, sit-ups, leg lifts, planks and sets of close hand position “stair” push-ups. I really like this type of push-up, as it gives you a better pump than regular push-ups in your pectorals and triceps. Stand facing a staircase, and place your hands on the fourth stair up, to do a warm-up set. After about a minute-long rest, do another set, now utilizing the third step. You can stay there for a few sets, or drop even lower to the second step. Functionally, this allows you to better push someone away from you with speed and power and also gives you a more powerful punch. This exercise mimics a decline close grip bench press. If you now turn with your back to the stairs, you can put your feet on the second or even third stair to mimic the incline bench press. Keep a log of your progress, and write down exercises, reps and sets. Try to increase your repetitions and number of sets performed as the weeks pass by. You can do this exercise two to three times per week.

Have you ever tried lunges for your quads? You can probably check them out on YouTube. In the karate dojo (school), in order to strengthen our legs, we get into a squat position called “shiko dashi”and hold it for a period of time. You go into a squat position, keeping your thighs parallel to the floor. Keep your feet pointing outward at about 45 degrees and hold that position for 7-10 seconds. Now takea wide step without straightening your legs, and hold it again. Each time you step, count 7-10 seconds before your next step and see how many you can do. Trust me; it buuurns! Increase the number of steps you take each time you do it, and perform this exercise twice a week for improvement. You can also consider doing squats with your wife or kid on your shoulders. I also encourage people to skip rope if the weather isn’t good enough to run. If you want to run to develop your quadriceps, make sure you’re doing wind sprints. Sprinting up bleachers by the local high school football field works well. Additionally, don’t forget to work on your balance, as the average person can only stand on one leg for about 34 seconds without tipping over. If you’re trying to lose weight, and you haven’t read some of my articles on dieting, go to YouTube. Intermittent fasting and keto dieting work well. Thomas DeLauer is one of my favorite dieting experts.

New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt -America’s First Progressive Police Leader

New York City Police Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt
America’s First Progressive Police Leader

By Chief Rich Rosell

“No man is above the law, no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it.  Obedience of the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favor”.

Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt

“No man is above the law, no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it. Obedience of the law is demanded as a right, not asked as a favor”. ~ Commissioner Teddy Roosevelt

For those of us fortunate enough to have worked closely with the New York City Police Department, we are aware of the proud lineage of the organization. Strong and effective transformational leaders; dynamic and selfless operational and tactical officers. We are also acutely aware of the losses they have suffered through their tireless and brave pursuit of justice. But many in law enforcement are unaware that the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, served as a commissioner of the New York City Police Department.

During the Roosevelt era, NYPD was governed by a board of six commissioners. Teddy Roosevelt was the president of the New York City Board of Commissioners from 1895-1897. His leadership principles from the late 1800s are still studied by police leaders today.

Roosevelt was appointed to the Board of Commissioners by the reform-minded Mayor William Strong. Strong found himself overseeing hearings related to graft and misconduct running rampant in the NYPD. Knowing the strong moral and ethical fiber of Teddy Roosevelt, he offered him the position as president of the board. From the onset, Roosevelt set to work on two primary goals, 1) ethically reform the agency and 2) improve the quality of life for the citizens.

Roosevelt became involved in the Progressive Movement prior to his appointment as commissioner, continuing his advocacy with great zeal. A man of heart and conscience, Roosevelt was moved and disturbed at the plight of poor people in New York City. Jacob Riis, famed journalist of his time, said of Roosevelt’s tenure as police commissioner and his dedication to the less fortunate, “for the first time a moral purpose came into the street.” “In the light of it everything was transformed,” often referring to the period as “the Golden Age.” Some criminologists consider Roosevelt to be the godfather of American Community Policing.

A popular story written about Roosevelt chronicles his response to the outcry from the Jewish community over the fact that a well-known German anti-Semitic fanatic named Ahlwardt was permitted to present a hate speech. Roosevelt was disgusted by anti-Semitism, but his hands were tied. Roosevelt, a staunch constitutionalist, explained that he could not legally keep the man from speaking. However, he could not let Ahlwardt completely get his way. He assigned Jewish police officers as his bodyguards, because, as he put it, “Ahlwardt would owe his safety to the fact that he was scrupulously protected by men of the very race he denounced” (Wagenknecht 2009).

During his two-year tenure, Commissioner Roosevelt made his mark on the NYPD, quickly, decisively, and radically reforming the agency. Known for his discipline, Roosevelt implemented policies requiring more detailed personnel and weapon inspections, demanded professionalism and ethical accountability, and dramatically changed the employment requirements which, up until his tenure, had been based on political or personal affiliation rather the physical or character-based qualifications. He often walked beats at irregular times, making certain that his officers were on duty when and where they were expected to be. He had no problem calling the officers and their supervisors on the carpet for violating the agency’s code of conduct. Concurrent with his ethical and operational reformation of the NYPD, he continued as an advocate for the poor, often patrolling in high-crime areas, speaking with the residents in order to get a sense of what they needed from the police. He could often be seen patrolling then crime-ridden Mulberry Street, identifying those responsible for victimizing the residents of that area, offering hope to those who were dependent upon the police for their safety. In keeping with his lifetime of public service, Roosevelt led from the front.

Many of Roosevelt’s philosophies on police ethics and accountability are still valid today; do what is right, never shirk your duties and responsibilities, never sell your badge, treat all people equally, and the law applies to us all, just to name a few. Good leaders have studied his theories for over 100 years and created their own leadership principles that delineate their officer’s daily ethical actions. He left his mark on one of the finest police agencies in the world, and arguably on us all.

Chief Rosell is currently the Police Chief and Public Safety Director for the Town of Indian River Shores, Florida, the former Director of Public Safety for the Town of Dover, NJ and Township of Springfield, NJ, and a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, retiring at the rank of Captain. He has a very diverse skill set with vast operational, training, policymaking, homeland security, leadership, management and administrative experience.