TERRORISM ALERT: How Washington will LEAD America into WWIII

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TERRORISM ALERT: How Washington will LEAD America into WWIII
By: Eric Caron

In November of 2021, Blue Magazine published my article entitled: “Are We On The Verge of WWIII? Peace and Global Security is Jeopardized”.

In summary, I outlined the incompetence and failures of the U.S. government in sustaining peace in Afghanistan. Also, how the U.S. believed money alone could purchase it by partnering with an international crime syndicate masquerading as a government. The U.S. was the biggest source fueling this corrupt government via fraudulent U.S. contract activities such as bribes and/or cash payments to corrupt Afghan officials, drug lords, bankers and thousands of others by our CIA.

I concluded the article by asking a question: “Are we on the verge of WWIII? Countries such as Russia, Iran, China, and other nations are aligning with the “new” Afghan/Taliban government. Will we capitulate to the Taliban and other Afghan terror organizations who are now well-equipped with sophisticated U.S. military weapons, free to move with impunity with a global terror reach? Since the Taliban re-takeover, the U.S. government is now seen as inept and timid and our adversaries around the world have taken note. I believe that obtaining global peace and security is now jeopardized for generations to come.”

Sadly, my Nostradamus predictions have come to fruition.

According to the CIA, there are no fewer than fourteen distinct terror groups operating in Afghanistan today, all with international ambitions. In addition, the new Afghan government headed by the Taliban formed a suicide unit called the Badr Martyrs’ Brigade. Human rights and freedom of the press no longer exist. Children have become the victims of starvation, child marriage, organ trafficking and are being sexually exploited. Young boys are often used as child soldiers. The Taliban government will continue to cultivate opium poppies, which will provide endless amounts of cash to purchase weapons, and execute operations inside and outside Afghanistan with impunity and build their regional and global dominance.

The disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was seen by them, Russia, China and Iran as an indication of the decline of American leadership or dominance and as a result, these countries' alliances were deepened.

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Although Washington knew an invasion was imminent, President Biden failed to communicate or meet with the Russian leader. One would think, a half a century of a Cold War and two nuclear powers at odds would motivate President Biden to meet with President Putin to avoid a war on Europe's doorstep. Remarkably to date, no such face-to-face meeting has occurred.

This 9-month war has escalated with shared opposition of the United States by China, Iran and Afghanistan. These countries directly and indirectly are providing Russia with military advisors/personnel and or military armaments. For the first time, Iran is involved in a major war on the European continent.

The White House and Congress have led America, distracted with high inflation, crime and COVID, into World War III from which there is no easy escape.

It has been said, a way to predict the future is by looking at the past. The wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan cost trillions of dollars, over 70,000 U.S. soldiers and contractors killed. Many would say these wars failed to alter strategic reality in America’s favor in any sustaining real way. History has proven the only winners of these past wars are the military industrial companies and their shareholders.

Today, reports from Ukraine have at least 400,000 Ukrainian battlefield casualties including 100,000 killed in action. The Russian casualties continue to climb, with an estimated 100,000

Russian dead.

It appears that the Russian offensive in Ukraine may be stalled. The United States, United Kingdom and European Union and NATO have all committed tens of billions of dollars and sophisticated military equipment to Ukraine. The U.S. State Department noted, “50 Allies and partner countries have provided security assistance to Ukraine”. It has also been reported that the U.S. has advisors/trainers in Ukraine as well, further escalating this war.

Now the Iranians are providing military equipment and personnel to Russia to aid the offensive. It was recently reported that the Russians took Iranian military instructors to Crimea to launch hundreds of Shahed-136 kamikaze drones. It was also reported that 10 Iranians were killed in retaliatory operations by the Ukrainians. Further reporting states that Iran will provide short-range ballistic missiles, another escalation of the Iranian support for Russia’s war.

In addition, Moscow is now recruiting Afghan commandos that were trained by the United States. These abandoned Afghan special forces veterans trained by the U.S. Special Forces are getting job offers to fight in the Russia - Ukraine War. The United States spent almost $90 billion building the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. Now, they are jobless and hopeless and easy pickings for Russian recruiters. Estimates suggested up to 10,000 former commandos could be amenable to the Russian offers, and Afghan television reported that the recruitment offers include Russian citizenship.

China and Russian military cooperation and exercises have occurred for decades. They have ongoing collaborations in aviation, undersea and hypersonic-weapons technology. Furthermore, the U.S. intelligence community’s declassified “Worldwide Threat Assessment” in 2019 was the first such report to label China and Russia jointly as a regional threat. Russian state media has reported that China and Russia were developing a “top-secret submarine”.

President Putin, who rules the world’s biggest nuclear power, has repeatedly cautioned the West that any attack on Russia could provoke a nuclear response. Putin casts the war in Ukraine as an existential battle between Russia and the West, which he says wants to destroy Russia and grab control of its natural resources.

Given the death and destruction created by this war in less than a year, its global economic impact and the military escalation, the United States must lead peace talks now or risk a global nuclear catastrophe.

America must understand its past failures, and recognize there will be no “winner” in WWIII.

Eric Caron is a Special Agent (Ret) with 25 years of service. He is the author of "Switched On - The Heart & Mind of a Special Agent." His website is: Switchedonlife.com

Developing Buy-in: The missing piece to overcoming resistance to change

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Developing Buy-in: The missing piece to overcoming resistance to change.
by Chief Ron Camacho

Headline: Ft Lauderdale (FL) police chief fired over minority-first practices in hiring and promotions, CNN, March 5, 2022

Headline: Aurora (CO) Police Chief Vanessa Wilson officially out: City manager 'seeks new leadership,’ Denver ABCChannel 7, April 7, 2022

Headline: -Richmond (VA) police chief resigns after over 2 years amid scrutiny, NBC Channel 12, October 25, 2022

There is a common theme connecting these local news headlines and others I could have included in this list: all of the chiefs were hired to be "change agents," but they either resigned or were fired because they lost the confidence of the rank and file officers within their departments; the very people who do the real job of policing and upon whom the department and the public depend. I am neither maligning nor diminishing these chiefs. I am confident they are good people with successful careers. Still, there is an issue when the push for reform in policing is enacted with little or no regard for the officers who are expected to implement the changes.

In the original post-Ferguson world of law enforcement, and now the post-Floyd world, the pressure placed on police chiefs to institute reforms is immense. That pressure starts as a steady stream with the public, but by the time it reaches the chiefs, it is a veritable torrent of public, media and city leadership pressure. That pressure is amplified exponentially because the mayors, city managers and politicians need to "do something." These excessive pressures lead to shortcuts in decision-making and planning. Again, the main issue is the inability to actually effectively and efficaciously manage the change that is suddenly being demanded from them.

Most police chiefs understand that many current aspects of policing have to evolve or change. That is not a new concept. Since its inception, the profession of policing has constantly evolved. However, effective, lasting change must be evaluated, planned and managed. As respected police trainer and author Lou Savelli once told me, "You don't change just to change; you change to get better, to improve." Changing to change, without any forethought, can and will bear unwanted, unintended and, at times, disastrous consequences. As law enforcement leaders, we should know better than to ever implement change without planning. However, many forget the essential aspect of effecting positive change: achieving buy-in. That means achieving buy-in from the rank and file, the very officers upon whom we and the public depend.

Peter Drucker, the father of the science of management, wrote, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." In police organizations, the quote should read, "Cop culture eats change for breakfast. "Law enforcement agencies have notorious reputations for resisting change. In some agencies, resistance transformed into stagnation in response to the defunding the police narrative that spread across the country. The good news is that resistance and stagnation can be overcome; once again, the key is developing buy-in.

"Buy-in" is gaining understanding, commitment and action from your officers to support the organization's goals. Not your goals or the officers’, but the organization's goals. The first step in achieving buy-in is to involve your officers – from the start. Too often, police command staffs make grandiose plans regarding the direction the department should be taking without involving the troops. For example, I worked for a captain who took pleasure in designing the inner configuration of the department's patrol vehicles. The first issue was that he no longer drove a patrol vehicle and had not been in one for many years. Second, he felt it was beneath him to seek input from the "customer," i.e., the officers and sergeants who drove the patrol units daily. The professionals who virtually lived in their vehicles and depended upon them for their very lives. Gaining information from the officers and sergeants regarding the optimal configuration for patrol vehicles makes sense. It is also a small but powerful token demonstrating trust and care for their expertise and concern for their well-being.

Another vital element for gaining buy-in is to explain the problem to the troops. Share what you’ve been charged with doing, and be transparent with them. Too many times, law enforcement leaders implement programs, policies or procedures without explaining the "why." Explaining the reasons why the change is necessary (or is being required by those above you) and inviting questions, comments and suggestions is an excellent method to remove barriers and resistance.  During these sharing sessions, a humble leader will hear their officers' thoughts or ideas that influence or affect the proposed changes. It also might just end up providing you with a superior plan and approach to the one you had come up with by yourself.  If opposition from the troops continues, another technique is to describe the proposed change's positive consequences and what can happen if the changes do not occur. Finally, including your officers in developing the plan to execute the necessary changes is vital. When officers are included, the plan is not yours or theirs but "our" plan.

Inclusion in the planning will lead to ownership of the plan by the officers and command staff. When everyone within the agency owns the plan, any resistance to its implementation will be easily defeated. That is the true power of developing buy-in.  Way back in 1936, American writer and lecturer, and the developer of courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, and public speaking, Dale Carnegie, gave us a masterful book that only in recent years seems to have ceased being an essential resource and required reading for anyone and everyone in leadership positions: How To Win Friends And Influence People. This book brilliantly illustrates the tools I have offered here and many others to develop buy-in with the men and women under your command. The over-arching lesson from that book is that if you give people a chance to express their thoughts and you actually listen to them, you will earn respect and develop buy-in. In implementing unwelcome change as a top law enforcement executive, you may not win them all as “friends,” but you will undoubtedly be able to influence them and earn their respect. One of the essential benefits of buy-in is that, while you may not influence everyone in your department to advocate for your changes, there will only be a negligible amount of detractors. It is a book worth buying and reading.

Leaders cannot forget that we are in the “people business.” Only with our officers’ cooperation can meaningful change occur and take hold. Forcing change down the throats of our officers can result in resistance, low morale and a failed change-mission, just as happened to those chiefs I noted at the outset of this discussion. Instead, we need to engage our officers. Officers are the key to finding how best to implement change. Leaders using humility and inspiration will see positive change come to fruition when using buy-in. It is the most effective and efficient method of producing constructive changes in policing. Give buy-in a chance; transform your organization to the great benefit of your community – and quite possibly your jobs.

Want more detail? Works Cited:

Afshar, P., & Dominguez, C. (2022, March 5). Fort Lauderdale police chief fired over minority-first practices in hiring and promotions, report says. Retrieved from CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/us/fort-lauderdale-police-chief/index.html

Graff, H. (2022, October 25). Richmond police chief resigns after over 2 years amid scrutiny. Retrieved from nbc12: https://www.nbc12.com/2022/10/25/acting-richmond-police-chief-resigns-after-two-half-years-service/

Roznowski, B. (2022, April 7). Aurora police chief Vanessa Wilson officially out. Retrieved from Denver7: https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-chief-vanessa-wilson-officially-out

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. Camachoconsulting.net 

WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, THERE IS HOPE

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WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE, THERE IS HOPE
By: Chris Amos

For the sake of this article, I use the name Tom, not his actual name. Tom was a happy-go-lucky guy. Happily married, loved his job as a police lieutenant, a bit quirky. What else would you call a guy who was known to ride a moped to work… in uniform. Tom was liked by his peers, even more so he was respected, a rare combination in our line of work. I had gotten in to work early that day when my phone rang. A couple of minutes later I hung up, wondering out loud if I had actually heard what I thought I heard. Within about ten minutes the information I had hoped I misunderstood was confirmed. Tom had shot his wife, then himself, killing both.

We would call it a murder-suicide but it was much more than that. Tom, I would later learn, had been having night tremors and was on a toxic mix of prescribed medications in search of a good night’s sleep. I believe, as well as many others, that Tom had a night tremor. He woke up enough to reach for his loaded 9mm pistol, shot his wife, and then having awakened fully and realized what he had done, he shot himself.

As Tom’s co-worker, friend and as an ordained pastor, I was asked to officiate the funeral service for both. As I look back on that tragedy, I am reminded of the act of grace shown by Tom’s mother-in-law. I sat in the funeral home with her as she insisted on giving up her burial plot so that Tom and her daughter, his wife, could be buried side by side. This dear old woman knew what many in law enforcement did not. In a very real sense, Tom did not take his life and that of his wife, this job did. Tom worked Homicide and Forensics, two of the most demanding and demoralizing jobs in law enforcement. They can take away a person’s ability to feel compassion, to empathize, to do something as simple as loving one’s spouse or kids. Back in the day, to be a Homicide detective inevitably led to two places, divorce court and 2:00 a.m. poker games at the FOP.

Tom was the exception to that rule, as somehow, he managed to not just stay married, but his marriage flourished in ways that few do within the LEO family. He loved his wife dearly, as did she him with no underlying affairs, abuse, financial concerns or medical issues other than the night tremors Tom could not shake. Remember, as a murder-suicide this incident was investigated thoroughly in hopes of trying to find answers to this inexplicable tragedy.

As a department we were left dumbfounded by this incident. As a pastor I understood all too well the price demanded of one’s soul by a job that provided front-row seats to the demonic carnage unleashed on society by a very real devil. Satan hates every person ever born, because we have all been born in the image of God. Satan hates cops even more. Why? Because these men and women have raised their hands to answer God’s call to serve as agents of His vengeance against lawlessness and those who prey on the weak, the disadvantaged, the helpless. Satan despises cops.

Friends, I do not have the words to adequately express the hatred Satan has for you. He hates you and as a law enforcement officer, he hates everything you stand for. He would love to entice you down the road of compromise, corruption and abuse. If that doesn’t work, he has the patience and resources to give you the vices necessary to lead to your own self-destruction. And if by doing so he can end your marriage and inflict unseen damage and injury on your children, all the better. And ultimately, if he can overwhelm you with so much anger, bitterness, hatred, hopelessness and despair that you hold a gun to the side of your head and pull the trigger, he in a very warped, perverted and sadistic way celebrates. He wants nothing more than to add you to his masterpiece of death and destruction he has been creating since time began.

Friends, I speak as one who, having fallen into a pit of despair and self-hatred, decided to take my life. My wife of two years and infant son deserved better, much better I reasoned as I held my .38 revolver to the side of my head. I watched my reflection intently in a mirror as the hammer moved slightly. Within less than an inch from death, I suddenly heard three words that saved my life, “There is hope.”

There IS hope my friends, my Brothers and Sisters in Blue. Sure, Satan has made, and continues to make, the lives of many cops a living hell, but I have news for you … and him. Satan is a defeated foe. He has not the power, strength or legal authority to rob you of your own life. He can be overcome, and through Jesus Christ we can become overcomers. Overcomers of Satan and the many influences and allies he employs to bring us down. From the anti-cop, demonize and defund air bags, to the criminal-embracing district and commonwealth’s attorneys around the country. These people can make an impossible job that much more difficult, but they do not have the power or authority to defeat us.

In Jesus Christ we are more than conquerors. We might lose a battle or two, but the outcome of the war was decided 2,000 years ago with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ! He conquered sin, death, the grave and any need or desire, great or small, for you or me to take our own lives. The truth is, there is still good in this world, causes worth fighting for. And you play a central role in this battle between good and evil, light and darkness, life and death; and for that reason you are feared by the enemy far more than you will ever know.

Friends, there is hope, peace, joy and life in Jesus Christ. He and He alone can evict those small voices of condemnation, shame, guilt and despair that seek to take up residence in our minds. Jesus is the light that pierces the darkness of the soul. If you have entertained the thought of suicide please, please, please reach out for help. Every department has an EAP. These are much needed to provide the temporary bandaid that can get you through the night. Jesus Christ has the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual healing that will lead you through the valley of the shadow of suicide and back to the sunlight of life, peace, hope and joy for all eternity.Give Him a chance, “THERE IS HOPE!”

See you at that finish line my friend.

Chris Amos is a retired officer and former spokesperson for the Norfolk Virginia Police Department. He is currently the pastor at Chr1st Fellowship Church in Norfolk. He is married for over 30 years and is the proud father of three children, two of whom are police officers. He serves as the volunteer Chaplain for Norfolk Police Dept. and Norfolk Sheriff’s Office.

BLUE Unity Night - A Rousing Success!

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BLUE Unity Night - A Rousing Success!
By Joel E. Gordon

The BLUE Magazine and Moment of Silence once again provided for an incredible night in strong recognition of national law enforcement unity just as BLUE Magazine publisher and Moment of Silence Founder and Vice President Daniel Del Valle intended.

Despite Hurricane Ian, the “Sunshine State” didn't disappoint. On the heels of a nearly cloudless day, followed by a clear night, nearly 400 Blue Unity Night attendees converged upon the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida, on Sept. 30, 2022, to assemble en masse for an hour of mingling with new and old friends.

For starters, the Police Pipe and Drum of Florida along with the Davie Florida Police Department Honor Guard officially kicked off the night of recognition and festivities. And 15-year-old Alyssa Del Valle beautifully sang our national anthem.

Master of Ceremonies and BLUE Magazine mentor former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik commanded the microphone to introduce our multiple worthy Valor Award recipients who received their honors to much-deserved resounding applause and ovations.

• Claudia Apolinar - Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

• Emmanuel Perez-Perez - Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

• Jacob Albarado - Border Patrol Agent, Texas

• Raffaello Cervera - Doral Florida Police Department

• Johnny Beautelus - Doral Florida Police Department

• Daniel Vilarchao - Doral Florida Police Department

Multiple presenters, including BLUE Magazine Editor-In-Chief George Beck, then went on to present the magazine's prestigious Senior Journalist Award earned by BLUE Magazine columnist Kirk Lawless. Law enforcement Leadership and Advocacy recognition awards were also presented:

• Chief Gustavo Medina -Tequesta Florida Police Department

• Pastor Paul Beresford - Tequesta Florida Police Department

• Joseph Occhipinti – National Police Defense Foundation

• Officer Frank Voce – New York City Police Department

• Chief Joel Gordon – BLUE Magazine Managing Editor

Although unable to attend while directing emergency operations throughout Florida due to Hurricane Ian, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated support of law enforcement.

A fantastic meal was served followed by words of wisdom and encouragement that were given by special guests former ICE Director Tom Homan, etired Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke and former Maricopa County, Arizona, Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Musical entertainment then commenced with a lively dance floor and much enjoyment. It was an event for the ages!

Thank you to all of our colleagues, writers, editors, officials and law enforcement advocates for which our efforts would not be possible. Thank you too for the incredible work done by all on staff who were also recognized for working tirelessly to make this event a true success.

As the wristbands given to event attendees said #blueunitynight… STAY IN THE FIGHT!

Joel E. Gordon, BLUE Magazine Managing Editor, 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

A SPECIAL THANK YOU…

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A SPECIAL THANK YOU…

On behalf of Moment of Silence and the Blue Magazine, thank you to everyone who was part of making Blue Unity Night possible and a complete success. This event was to honor the great men and women in blue who have risked their lives in the line of duty and have shown courage with valor.  Also, to the men and women in blue who have overcome battles with their mental health and to those who fight daily to live another day and are thriving.  

It was very important to us to bring this message to the nation in the State of Florida, which is led by Gov. Ron DeSantis who we recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedicated support of law enforcement. We are fully committed to continuing the fight to stop law enforcement suicide and to acknowledge the great men and women who serve and protect.  

Thank you to all our sponsors, honorees, guests and everyone behind the scenes who contributed to making Blue Unity Night possible.  Never forget, never lose hope and always stay in the fight. 


Moment of Silence & The Blue Magazine

Courage Under Fire - Officer Johnny Beautelus, Officer Daniel Vilarchao & Officer Raffaello Cervera

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Courage Under Fire - Officer Johnny Beautelus, Officer Daniel Vilarchao & Officer Raffaello Cervera

Extraordinary Act of Heroism - Jacob Albarado

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Extraordinary Act of Heroism - Jacob Albarado

Courage Under Fire - Sheriff Deputy Claudia Apolinar & Sheriff Deputy Emmanuel Perez-Perez

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Courage Under Fire - Sheriff Deputy Claudia Apolinar & Sheriff Deputy Emmanuel Perez-Perez

National Police Defense Foundation Excellence in Law Enforcement Advocacy - Joseph Occhipinti

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National Police Defense Foundation Excellence in Law Enforcement Advocacy - Joseph Occhipinti

New York City Police Department Reps for Responders Law Enforcement's Health, Wellness and Advocacy Officer Frank Voce

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New York City Police Department Reps for Responders Law Enforcement's Health, Wellness and Advocacy Officer Frank Voce

Special Guests Ret Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Ret. Sheriff David Clarke, Former Director of ICE Tom Homan

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Special Guests

Ret Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Ret. Sheriff David Clarke, Former Director of ICE Tom Homan

Bravery is always on Duty - Jacob Albarado, Uvalde School Shooting

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Bravery is always on Duty
Jacob Albarado
Uvalde School Shooting
By Marco Catania & Daniel Del Valle for Blue Magazine and Moment of Silence

What would you do?

Jacob Albarado, a Uvalde Texas resident, Federal Border Patrol agent and a dedicated husband and father to his children ages 19, 13 and 8, could have never anticipated what was about to happen in the early afternoon hours on May 24, 2022.

Jacob Albarado was in his barber’s chair when both men got text messages about the shooting unfolding at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. “There’s an active shooter. Help. Love you,” Albarado’s wife Trisha said in three messages at 11:41 a.m. She’s a fourth-grade teacher at the school where their daughter is a student.

Here is his story…

The BLUE Magazine: What was it like growing up in Uvalde?

Jacob Albarado: It’s a small town. Everyone knows everyone. If you don’t know who they are, you’ll find out within minutes. So, I like being in the small town where I know everyone.

What motivated you to get involved in law enforcement?

Well, I’ll tell you the truth. I didn’t want to at one point in time, because I didn’t want to stop people from coming over here trying to make a living for themselves. But then one of my buddies was an agent, and he told me that I could be one of the guys making sure that they’re getting treated right in the process. So that’s kind of what pushed me to be that guy, helping them, helping them out as they were coming through, making sure they were treated right.

So tell me about May 24th. There was an active shooter incident at the Robb Elementary School. Let’s go to that day. Tell me what happened that morning. You woke up and what happened?

There was an award ceremony for my daughter. So, I woke up and got the kids ready for school, got myself ready because I knew that I had to go to the award ceremony. I was there by 8:30, I believe. I was there from 8:30 to 9:00 for the award ceremony. My daughter got all A’s for the year and then I was off in town running errands, washing my car and taking my mom for breakfast. And then I was on my way to get a haircut.

OK. So you went to get a haircut, right. And, you know, according to some of the timelines that are available, it was approximately 11:28 when the shooter arrived at Robb Elementary School and apparently, shot at three witnesses who were at the funeral home across the street from Robb Elementary School. You mentioned that you and the barber heard gunshots. These may have been the gunshots that you may have heard.

As I was arriving at the barbershop, my barber was walking across the parking lot. He was com-ing from getting lunch. And we entered the barber shop and he said, did you hear that? And I said, I think I heard some shots. And then we just carried on. I sat down in the barber seat and then I got a text and then he got a text. And then my wife was texting me that there was an ac-tive shooter. “Help me. I love you,” she said.

You heard the gunshots and now you get a text to validate it and are you thinking?

Oh, I didn’t think it would ever happen. I felt naked because I didn’t have my pistol on me. I nor-mally had a pistol on me. So I knew my barber had a history of being armed. So, I asked him if he had a gun on him. He said yes. So, we took off as fast as we could and got to the school.

When you decided to run to the school with your friend, the barber, what was it like at that scene? What did you see? What did you hear? Was law enforcement already there?

There was some law enforcement there. The scene wasn’t kicked off yet. There was, I guess, the locals that live in the area and they were coming to the school trying to see what was going on. They’re filming; everyone’s a part of the media now with their phones. They were trying to record the incident as well. And I was just trying to get in there as fast as I could, trying to find out where my wife was at, trying to find out where my daughter was and trying to help whoever I could at the time.

What happened when you arrived at the door? Did you immediately go in or did you assess the situation?

I assessed the situation. I was off duty. I didn’t have my ballistics. I didn’t have a long arm. I knew he had a high-powered rifle. He had fired multiple shots. There were officers there with their vests.

And were you communicating with your wife or anybody?

I was trying to communicate with her. When stuff is chaotic like this, all the phone lines were tied up. I can’t remember if she texted me or called me that she was already across the street at the funeral home. So I felt some relief at that point in time. Now, I’m looking for my daughter.

You’re making this decision to put yourself in real peril, obviously, to save your daughter and anyone else that you could. What went through your mind when you entered the school? Did you feel that you were going to die?

I didn’t know if I was going to. I was willing to get shot. I was willing to do what I had to do to help my daughter get out of there alive. I wasn’t going to go home without her and my wife.

So, when you entered the school…

Well, just to clarify that I didn’t immediately enter the school. I was fixing to go into the school. The school is kind of situated where you got one new building. When you go into the school in the classes you enter into like a little hallway. And that’s where the shooter was at. After I did go in there, I went across and ran into the other wing where my daughter was at, and then I started clearing out the classrooms over there.

Did you know where the shooter was?

I didn’t know exactly where he was at. He was in that hallway. He was in the class. But this is all stuff that we learned. And I know I didn’t know exactly where he was at at the time. I was in my dress clothes with the shotgun. It’s not very, very accurate. I had a vest on. A guy came in, he said, hey, that’s my vest. I said, OK, here’s your vest, here’s your vest. And that was it. And then from there, I ran behind the vehicle. I talked to Reuben Reece, his wife was shot and bleeding inside, talked to him. He was losing it. I went to school with him, played baseball with him.

At that point, were you panicking knowing that your daughter was in the school by herself?

She was at school by herself. It’s right around lunchtime. So that’s when they start moving all around. So, I didn’t know exactly. She could have been at lunch. She could have been at PE. She could have been in a classroom. I didn’t know where she was at the time.

At some point, you made your way to a different part of the school because you realized that perhaps your daughter may have been on that side of the school?

My wife finally texted me back saying that my daughter was in the restroom. I didn’t know what restroom she was in, so I was still trying to find out where she was. And I didn’t know that there were restrooms inside the classrooms. So she was inside the restroom, inside her classroom.

As a father, your mind must be going 100 miles an hour. I can’t imagine what that felt like. So, as you’re going to the other part of the school, who was Reuben Reece?

He’s a school police officer there in town. I went to school with him, played baseball with him. And as I was leaving that part of the building, he was there by one of the police vehicles. I spoke with him to see how he's doing or see what he knew because I had no communication with any other law enforcement just to see where the shooter was at.

You went to the different part of the school. Is that where you entered the school?

Well, on that part of the school, the doors exit to the outside, to the older part of the school. There was two officers there and I was asking them where the kids were in the school. And he said they were all in the classroom. And at that point, I told them that we needed to get the kids out of the classroom to get them to safety.

So at that point, your law enforcement training, your instincts, just to help and save people kicked in, would you say that?

Yes. I like taking charge of the situation. I wanted to make sure my daughter was safe out of any harm's way. So, I started clearing out all the classes.

When you entered the school and you saw two other officers there, what went through your mind?

I didn't know where the shooter was. I didn't know if he was stationed there. I didn't know if he was going to be moving around shooting, so I just tried to get all the kids to safety.

So you actually asked the officers to cover you basically or cover the hallway?

I made a little makeshift team. I got two officers, with me downrange to where they thought the shooter was at. I had another two officers opening the doors and sending the kids my way. And then I had another officer on the sidewalk toward the parking lot.

So, as you're clearing naturally one of your primary motivations is to find your daughter in addi-tion to saving all these other children as well. How did you find your daughter?

I cleared out the wing where she goes to school. Her classroom started off with the first room, cleared them out. Second classroom. Got all the kids out. Third classroom, my daughter's classroom. I cleared that room out. I see her come out happy as can be. She knows I'm there for her.

Wow. So… when she saw you….

I gave her a hug. I told her to be brave and to keep on moving. Go to safety and that I’ll take care of this.

You let her run out with the rest of the children and you continued.

Yes. I continued to get the next two classrooms out. Then I went to the next wing, started doing the same thing.

Now, you also mentioned that some kids went out the windows as well. Were you just like using any means necessary to get the kids out?

Well, other officers were there. They were breaking the windows and having the kids come out. And I was just guiding the kids.

How many kids do you think that you managed to evacuate from the school, you and the other officers on the team that you assembled?

It's hard to say. I would have to guess there are normally about 20 kids per classroom. That day was award ceremony, so I'd say about half the kids had left. So, if you do the math on that, it's about 10 classrooms at about 10 to 15 kids per classroom. So, 100, 150 kids, maybe more.

How long would you say that you stayed on the scene?

Really until they took out the shooter and I found out that he was no longer a threat.

There's been a lot a lot of things said, especially on the national spotlight in terms of the police response and how they handled it. You were on the scene. You're a law enforcement officer. Many have said that there was a systematic failure. How do you feel about this?

I can't speak on what they were thinking. I just know that I was there trying to do the best that I could. And it's hard when shots are being fired. Shots are being fired at you. Your life is at stake. Everyone talks about training. But when you're training, people are not trying to kill you, so it kind of changes when you're actually in a scenario like that.

We train, right, repetition and practice. And, we hope that that repetition of practice when adrenaline kicks in, in an active shooter situation, that we resort back to that.

How much of your training do you think helped you?

I think it helped. But it's either in you or it's not. I like to believe whether I was law enforcement or not, I still would have done the same thing regardless. And I believe I probably would have, and people that really know me, they know my family knows I would have done the same thing regardless.

How do you feel this has impacted you?

It's like I told my told my wife and my kids, they're not going back to school until there's changes and ‘til I know that they're safe.

So you have safety concerns?

Oh yes, I know this happened and a lot of changes are going to be made. But it sucks that this had to happen for changes to be made.

What about for yourself in terms of changes? You weren't carrying your weapon that day. Did that change your perception and now carry all the time?

Yes, yes, yes.

You have to deal with a lot of the grief and the trauma. How are you handling that with your daughter and your wife? And I'm sure they both have losses.

Yes. My wife is having the hardest time. She lost two of her best friends, so she's having a real tough time.

And your daughter as well?

She's eight years old. I don't know if she understands everything that happened. She's actually doing well.

What do you feel when you hear the name of the active shooter of the incident?

Oh, why lie and say I don't feel any anger because I do. I wish he was just taking his own life or I wish he would gotten help somewhere along the line. Something in his life happened to make him do this. What it is, I have no idea. Why take all these innocent lives?

So being that Uvalde is a small community and people know each other, did you know of him or his parents or his family?

Well, just from what I found out, I don't know if it's true. I found out that he was, that his mother was on drugs and his grandma he was living with. He shot her in the face or had shot her right before all this happened. And my mom knew his grandmother. So, I mean, just within minutes of finding out who he was I found out a little more about him.

After you found out who he was and the dynamics of his family, you know? Did you think like that he was, like, emotionally disturbed or he fit the profile of someone that could do something like this?

Yes.

Did he have that kind of a background?

On social media, there should have been some red flags. There were some red flags there.

So between May 16th and May 18th, less than a week before this incident, this kid is 18 years old. And he went out and purchased a Daniel Defense AR-15 rifle. The next day he goes and buys a Smith and Wesson style AR-15 rifle. He bought over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. I mean, this kid spent $4,896 on two guns and ammo. How does that make you feel?

I don't believe it's a gun. I believe it's his intent. He could have done this with anything. He could have stolen the rifle from his neighbor, so I don't actually believe it's the AR-15. I don't believe its ammunition. I believe it's his intent. He wanted to go out and hurt people. So he could have done that any way that he wanted to.

So many times in law enforcement, we have the tendency to put the job before family. What would you tell an officer having gone through what you went through?

Give 100% at work, but your family comes first. It took me a while to find that switch. I used to put my work before my family. And then I found that I realized that my family comes first. I'm not going to get those memories back.

Here at The Blue Magazine, and Moment of Silence we have a law enforcement following. If there happens to be, let's just say, a law enforcement officer out there that's thinking about suicide. What would you say to that person?

Find a purpose in life. Find a purpose. Find a reason to be here. Reach out to someone. Speak to someone. Speak to a friend or family member.

Leadership Doesn’t Require a Certain Rank: It Requires Moral Courage

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Leadership Doesn’t Require a Certain Rank: It Requires Moral Courage
By: Sgt. William Woods

Early in my law enforcement career, I’m not even sure I acknowledged what being a leader was, is, or was meant to be. It wasn’t until years into my career as a police officer, when I was thrust into a supervisory role with leadership responsibilities. I was promoted to the rank of sergeant and almost right away was assigned temporarily to the position of patrol commander which is normally held for the rank of captain. I had to learn very quickly how to become a leader to a large number of officers including supervisors with a higher rank than myself. I must admit, it was not the easiest position to be in. However, I took on the challenge with the right mindset and took that step forward.

I recently attended a command-level leadership training and one topic of discussion really stood out to me. The attendees were asked to describe the qualities of a good leader, and the one trait that struck me was courage. The courage to accept a role or position and having a fearless mindset, in my opinion, is one of the most important aspects of leadership. The courage to lead can be both physical and moral. Almost all officers have the ability to exhibit physical courage and that will to act when danger is present, but what is more arduous is having the moral courage to make the right decision whether or not your subordinates or supervisors feel the same way.

As a patrolman and detective, there were numerous occasions where I displayed physical courage and approached danger without hesitation. As a supervisor, I found it more difficult and strenuous to use my moral courage and make a decision that I knew was right but not popular to my subordinates than displaying actual physical courage. Decision making is a huge component of leadership and having that courage or resolution to make a decision will help you grow as a future leader of your agency and establish credibility. I cannot express how important courage is to leadership and how it has helped me institute myself as a leader.

As I continue my leadership role, I’m required to be the expert, lead by example and develop that working trust that is so coveted with your subordinates and supervisors. Without the trust, there can be no loyalty, and without loyalty there can be no growth. A primary role or goal of a leader is to develop and mentor the future leaders of your agency. You are responsible for leaving your agency with high-quality, knowledgeable and loyal officers. To accomplish this, you need to develop that trust between yourself and your subordinates and other members of the staff. It is extremely important and wise to have a mentor in this profession. A mentor provides guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modeling. Early in my career, I always looked to those proactive officers and supervisors as my mentors who helped me excel at my niches, which included mainly narcotics work. I also have had the luxury of working under many exceptional supervisors over the years and have acquired small pieces of insight which I have carried with me through the years. To this day, I have mentors who guide me and are helping me grow as a person and a future leader of my agency. I cannot stress the importance of having a mentor.

Leadership requires a great deal of self-reflection and honesty about yourself. A great leader knows his own personality, values, habits, needs, emotions and how they affect the actions of others and their own actions. Having that self-awareness will assist you in making better decisions and inevitably leading others to do the same. The most successful leaders know where their inclinations are and use that knowledge to either increase them or compensate for them. Being open to criticism is a key component to leadership. The feedback, whether good or bad, leads to having empathy and helps you understand the impact of your actions on others.

As I move forward in my career, I can stand here today and state without a doubt, leadership does not require any certain rank. In our hallway in police headquarters, we have a sign which hangs outside the door which reads “Being a leader doesn’t require a title. Having a title doesn’t make you a leader.” This cannot be truer, as I have personally learned. This message should ring true to the ears of the young officers who do not have that rank but can still provide their leadership skills which will ultimately guide them through their careers and influence other young officers and even veterans. As British-American author and inspirational speaker Simon Sinek says “Leadership is not a rank or a position to be attained. Leadership is a service to be given.”

William Woods has been in the law enforcement profession for 15 years currently with the rank of sergeant assigned as the patrol commander of the Elmwood Park, New Jersey, Police Department and a part of their Office of Professional Standards.

Lawlessness Abounds in California: Angry and Scared

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Lawlessness Abounds in California: Angry and Scared
By Major Wesley R. Wise (Ret.)

I've watched in horror as the social compact crumbled in the Golden State and beyond. Califor-nia retailers are under siege as smash-and-grab gangs raid stores with impunity. Rachel Michel-in, president of the California Retailers Association, has likened the flash robberies to “domestic terrorism.” And it is exactly that.

In Oakland during Thanksgiving week 2021, two men died fighting what progressives have styled as petty crimes. Petty crime my ass. Kevin Nishita, a former cop who was working as a security guard for a news crew covering a gang robbery, was shot and killed. Within days, a man who confronted someone trying to steal his car died in the same manner.

Californians are angry and scared. Gov. Gavin Newsom pretended to relate to them when he revealed his own business had been broken into three times in the last year. “I have no empathy, no sympathy for these folks who do these things, and they must be held to account,” Newsom said.

You’d never guess Newsom had endorsed Proposition 47, the 2014 ballot measure that softened sentences for shoplifting and other crimes and that largely led to this epidemic. Or that he op-posed a 2020 initiative to enhance the sentences for organized retail crime and firearm thefts.

Blue cities and many states are experiencing similar lawlessness as, in the name of reform, pro-gressives reduced penalties for repeat offenders.

How to turn it around?

Spurn dangerous laws like Proposition 47, the “Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,” which passed by nearly 60% of voters in 2014. It was the sort of deceptive reform that opened the door to this rash of smash and grabs. The Los Angeles Times endorsed the measure because it would “reduce sentences for a handful of petty crimes.” And it did - to our everlasting horror.

What it did was raise the threshold for felony convictions of theft to hauls of more than $950 — giving a green light to repeat gang grabs under $1,000 apiece.

Hedge fund billionaire George Soros helped bankroll the measure, as well as the candidacies of soft-on-crime district attorneys like LA’s George Gascon and San Francisco’s Chesa Boudin. There also are similar Soros DAs in Chicago, Milwaukee, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Northern Virginia.

So I ask, after gangs engaged in raids on high-end stores in San Francisco's Union Square, who’s going to go shopping in San Francisco?

Walgreens is closing five more SF pharmacies because of “organized retail crime.” Who suf-fers? Consumers in neighborhoods. I've heard erstwhile complaints from the left that low-income neighborhoods in the East Bay city were a “food desert” ignored by grocery giants. Well, no wonder.

Meanwhile, progressives’ attacks on police have demoralized the rank and file, prompted early retirements and convinced some that if they stick out their necks, little good will come of it.

So who among you is surprised by this?

A thirty-six-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, Wes retired in 2006 as the Com-mander of the city’s 911 System. While recovering from a stroke in 2014, he wrote two books about his experiences as a Baltimore cop. Wes has also self-published fourteen books for other writers. Need publishing help? Contact Wes at weswise78@gmail.com. A father of two and grandfather of ten, he and his wife of 49 years live near Baltimore, Maryland.

Gender Dysphoria: Assisting the Predator?

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Gender Dysphoria: Assistingthe Predator?
By: Dave Willoughby

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who put darkness for light and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
Isaiah 5:20

It’s happening all over the U.S. and it’s becoming more and more common. Unsuspecting women and little girls are walking into traps which have been set by corporate bigwigs, gutless politicians, and citizens who choose to say nothing. The areas once considered sanctuaries for women and girls are now being infiltrated by XY chromosome predators, with demented XX envy. Biological men have been given a free pass to enter women’s locker rooms, changing areas and rest rooms. The so-called welcoming environment of “inclusivity” and “tolerance” will inevitably lead to tragic endings for some. Women and little girls will be hurt… badly. For law enforcement officers, the blurry shades of gray regarding this issue may lead to claims of discrimination, which will inevitably lead to lawsuits. Law enforcement …get ready. This craziness is coming to your municipality soon!

So, is your department ready? Are your policies and procedures crystal clear? Let’s see how you would respond to this scenario:

Officers get dispatched to a public swimming pool, located within their municipality, for a complaint of “A man inside the women’s locker room.”

Upon arrival, a woman approaches the officers and says, “My 8-year-old daughter was changing for swim practice in the women’s locker room. As she was walking through the showers, to get to the pool, she saw a naked man showering, who said “hi” to her. This scared her, so she quickly ran out and told me. That’s when I called 911. He’s still in there”.

As the officers approach the door to the women’s locker room, the door opens, and out walks a man. The officers ask what he is doing in the women’s locker room. The man looks at them and says, “What? I have every right to be in there… I identify as a woman.”

Questions to ask:

• What are the policies and procedures of the department regarding gender dysphoria?

• Are there current privacy laws regarding men’s and women’s facilities in your municipality?

• How will officers know with certainty that this male is gender confused and not exploiting this insanity in order to gain access to women’s facilities and peep/abuse with impunity?

• What if he’s a pedophile?

• What if he’s a sexual predator?

• Will he be arrested? If so, for what?

• Will the officers issue citations? If so, for what?

• What do the officers tell the concerned mom and scared little girl?

We are living in clown world. This shouldn’t be an issue at all. Anyone with XY chromosomes should not be in women’s/girl’s locker rooms… period. We have created areas for predators to thrive and to feed on innocent women and children. It’s demented, sick and pure evil.

The scenario described should be sent out to every chief and sheriff. Actually, all people sitting in leadership positions should be put on record, especially legislators. Will they protect the innocent, or will they side with the sick and perverted?

As a deputy, I for one, will side with the concerned parent and scared 8-year-old, regardless of department policies, or local laws. He will be arrested and cited for lewd and lascivious behavior, public nudity, sexual harassment and indecent exposure involving a child. I’ll take him to jail and let the courts decide what to do.

Do I risk suspension and possibly termination? Maybe, but it’s the right thing to do. I refuse to side with those who call evil good and good evil.

What will you do?

Dave Willoughby is a Marine Veteran, former Firefighter/EMT and is currently a Milwaukee County Deputy after serving as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. He has earned degrees in Developmental Coaching and Communications as well as Fire Science and Emergency Medicine. He is married and is the proud dad to five daughters, six sponsor children, and two dogs.

Many Police Shootings Involve People in Mental Health Distress

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Many Police Shootings Involve People in Mental Health Distress
By: Leonard Adam Sipes, Jr.

While this article indicates that 42 percent of police shootings involve people in mental health crises, I believe this is an undercount. If one looks at the data, most offenders have mental health issues, and most are under the influence of drugs or alcohol during arrests.

It’s all in the definition of mental health. There are a ton of people not formally diagnosed who cannot handle confrontations without verbal or physical aggression, especially if coupled with substance abuse.

This becomes the heart and soul of interactions with law enforcement that go bad. As a cop, I was amazed that the simplest of interactions had a way of getting complicated very quickly. From family disputes to traffic stops to investigating crimes, many people became instantly combative regardless of my demeanor.

I often had to suggest that their vocal abuse was a sign that they could be guilty of a crime and their actions might lead to their arrest just to get them to reassess how they were interacting with me. It worked in the majority of cases.

We blame cops for shootings or use of force when it’s the offenders in the vast majority of cases who are acting irrationally and, in many cases, dangerously. Anyone interacting with an obviously distressed person would be on high alert as to defensive actions.

I had a person blocking a small public dirt road from their neighbor because of a dispute. The person doing the blocking acted emotionally; he wasn’t moving his vehicle. It was obvious that he was under the influence. It was obvious that he wasn’t rationally assessing the situation. Calls were backing up and the aggrieved party wanted him arrested.

So I went to his nearby house and got his wife, who talked her husband out of the situation. She said that he drinks too much and that he “could” be abusive to others. When pressed further, she stated that he had emotional problems. He kept a baseball bat in his car. In the presence of his wife, he promised not to block his neighbor again.

Thus I avoided a difficult arrest that could (probably would) had led to some form of physical interaction with a drunk, emotionally disturbed man. I suggested to his wife that he needed counseling before he got into real trouble. Yes, I asked her if she was being abused.

I came from that situation understanding that the event and many other interactions could easily get out of hand and might eventually lead to violence or, God forbid, a shooting.

But Use of Force Is Rare-Two to Three Percent Involve Force “Or” Threat of Force

An estimated 40 million U.S. residents age 16 or older, or about 17 percent of the population, had a face-to-face contact with a police officer in one year. Among people who had face-to-face contacts, about nine out of 10 residents felt the police were respectful or acted properly - Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Having said this, it’s inevitable that out of 40-60 million yearly encounters, some will go bad. It’s a statistical reality. Per the Bureau of Justice Statistics study, police used or threatened to use force in less than two percent of contacts.

Police-Citizen Contacts

Some media commentators suggest that police use of force is growing/common/frequent during stops. Less than 3% of U.S. residents experienced a threat “or” use of force during their most recent police-initiated contact.

Law Enforcement-One of the Most Respected Institutions

Study after study, poll after poll state that the vast majority of Americans give police very high marks. While there are differences based on race or income or age or political affiliation, the vast majority of Americans, regardless of demographics, rate cops highly and want law enforcement in their communities.

42 Percent of Utah Police Shootings Involve People in Mental Health Crisis

A first-of-its-kind data analysis of Utah law enforcement records, news reports and family interviews surrounding 226 police shootings that occurred between 2010 and 2020 has found that at least 95 people (42 percent) were suffering a mental health crisis, had a mental disability or expressed a desire to end their own lives - PBS.

More than half of the 95 encounters ended with the subject dying, most often by police gunfire. Of the 95 people in crisis, 79 percent of them were suicidal.

While the number of shootings during the period examined fluctuated from year to year, going as low as 16 percent some years and as high as 60 percent others, there wasn’t a year when police didn’t shoot at someone in crisis.

Additional Data On Mental Health And Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse: States routinely provide an estimate that 80 percent of their prisoners have either substance abuse problems or major addictions.

Under The Influence At Arrest: Anywhere from 56 percent (Charlotte) to 82 percent (Chicago) of arrestees tested positive for the presence of some substance at the time of an arrest. In 9 out of the 10 sites, 60 percent or more of arrestees tested positive per the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM II-since discontinued) - National Institute Of Justice.

Mental Health Histories: Per Bureau of Justice Statistics research, more than half of all prison and jail inmates had mental health problems. These estimates represented 56% of state prisoners, 45% of federal prisoners, and 64% of jail inmates - Mental Health and Crime.

Add substance abuse and histories of violence (most state inmates are violent per the Bureau of Justice Statistics) and data stating that most offenders come from very troubled backgrounds and we begin to understand the dangers and difficulties of making stops and arrests.

“I know there’s a saying that ‘Hurt people, hurt people,’” Winfield said. “But where I come from, hurt people kill people - CBS News Covering Baltimore. Cops deal with a lot of “hurt people” daily.

Per the Bureau of Justice Statistics, many prisoners have severe medical issues which complicate interactions after release.

It’s also common for weapons and firearms to be present during police interactions.

After tens of millions of police interactions, the vast majority of the public rate officers highly, stating that they acted appropriately. Use “or” the threat of violence occurs in less than three percent of police interactions.

Considering the data, this seems almost impossible and indicates that the vast majority of cops go above and beyond to do the right thing.

Yes, I understand that data on inmates and mental health don’t represent all police contacts, but it does account for many and it may involve most for serious interactions (i.e., warrants, crimes in progress, and calls from citizens).

But however you slice and dice the data; it’s possible that most police shootings and use of force incidents involve people with mental health or emotional issues coupled with being under the influence at the time of arrests.

The collective data indicate that the vast majority of police officers are using enormous restraint.

Crime fighters don’t need training wheels

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Crime fighters don’t need training wheels
By: Darci Werner

From the moment we bring our children home, they are a ball of movement focused on exploring life and making every moment their own. Some start out with the walkers that help build their legs to get ready to run then a scooter-style toy that relies on pure leg power for its operation. Once the shoes are scraped and torn from dragging behind the scooter, it is time for an upgrade to a small bike or Big Wheel. Nothing spells freedom to the young mind more than a three-wheeled movable machine.

Our son was no different. We enjoyed watching him through those first years as he developed with each outdoor item that lifted his level of independence and creativity. Each day was an adventure as the local crime fighter. The Cop on patrol, the New Sheriff in town, the one that bad guys fear!

Big wheels are great for fighting crime. You can pedal fast down the sidewalk and then lock up the pedals, do a quick spin and apprehend the enemy trying to get away. When your knees start hitting the handlebars and skidding to a stop tips over the patrol car, it is time for an upgrade to a faster vehicle of apprehension.

Then came the “Big Boy Bike.” This can be a scary transition going from three wheels down to two! It’s a proud moment for everyone involved and just as daunting for Mom and Dad. As parents, we opted for training wheels to reduce the anxiety. It creates a level of trust in two small wheels that perform a big job of protecting your child.

Once outfitted with the new dual equipment options, our crime fighter was back in business. His confidence grew daily with his new partners. He was assured that the two small wheels contained magic keeping him from tipping over. His patrol gear would be strapped on with homemade belts and holsters, a hat and some days even a mask. Not just any mask, but a Lone Ranger mask.

As true civil servants, days can be filled with varieties of adventures. Not every call is to chase down a bad guy. He informed us that our streets tend to be home to wandering cows. One day would catch him lassoing imaginary cattle that got away and riding them over to the nearby tree. These were special cows that climbed trees. So once back to the barn-tree, the cows would climb up for safety and off he would ride (like the wind) to rustle up more cows that got away. That day, he stopped long enough to ask for a snack. Rescuing cows is hard work. Every crime fighter needs a break to regain strength with a peanut butter sandwich, which he gladly shared up in the tree with the imaginary cows.

Many miles were put on those poor little wheels. They were his patrol partners, used for guiding his mobile security unit in pursuit of bad guys. It didn’t take long before this first pair of training wheels were soon worn thin and bent beyond repair. One would be higher than the other, allowing the bike to teeter back and forth on the single back wheel. We tried to remove the wheels for good and retire their service. But he would have nothing of the sort so another pair of trainers was hired as new patrol partners. There was no convincing this crime fighter that he no longer needed them as back up and could do law enforcement without them. Each time he would refuse to acknowledge his patrol unit any other way.

As suspected, the second set of trainers showed their state of abuse. We would continually ask him if he was ready to take them off. But he always said “no, I need them.” It became a daily ritual of tightening the nuts and bolts to keep them functioning to the best of their ability.

One afternoon as he was on duty, hat on, hero mask adorning his face. He was racing up and down the sidewalk across from the house as fast as his legs could pedal. There was no stopping him as he sped down the sidewalk to do a quick jump off the bike, turn around and patrol back in the opposite direction. There was no super hero cape flapping in the wind, just the set of training wheels. The pair of backup supporters was sticking straight out into the air as if standing at attention. He had ridden all afternoon that way with these crime fighting partners just waiting for a moment to be relieved of duty and retire.

The time had come and there was no going back. Our son realized something very important that day. Crime fighters don’t need training wheels.

Darci Werner is a police wife residing in Province, Iowa. She thanks Blue Magazine for providing alternative topics for all who support law enforcement and is honored to share police family life stories.