SEPT 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 9

The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 1

SEPTEMBER 2021 

FEATURES 

On the Cover: 

WE REMEMBER: The First 

Responders we lost on 

9/11, BLUES Co-Founder Nat 

Gutuerrez, NOLA Officer Everette 

Briscoe, & 13 US Soldiers 

Killed in Kabul. 

FEATURE STORY: Former DPS 

Captain Jaeson Jones takes 

us to the Battle at the Border. 

REMEMBERING THOSE WE’VE LOST 

48 13 BRAVE US SOLDIERS IN KABUL AUGUST 26, 2021 

54 FIRST RESPONDERS LOST ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

66 BLUES CO-FOUNDER NAT GUTIERREZ, AUGUST 17, 2021 

68 OFFICERS LOST TO COVID IN AUGUST 2021 

76 ATTACKS 20 YEARS AGO SHAPED TODAY’S FBI 

84 JAESON JONES: BATTLE AT THE BORDER 

96 WHO WANTS TO BE A COP 

DEPARTMENTS 

8 Publisher’s Thoughts Part I 

10 Publisher’s Thoughts Part II 

12 Editor’s Thoughts 

14 Guest Editorial - Samantha Horwitz 

16 Your Thoughts 

22 News Around the State 

34 News Around the Country 

112 Island Time - Galveston 

122 Healing our Heroes - John Salerno, Sam Horwitz 

124 Daryl’s Deliberations 

128 HPOU-From the President, Douglas Griffith 

130 Light Bulb Award 

132 Running 4 Heroes 

134 Honoring our Fallen Heroes 

140 Outdoors with Rusty Barron/Congrats on Retirement 

142 Marketplace - Discounts for LEOs 

148 Parting Shots 

150 Now Hiring - L.E.O. Positions Open in Texas 

166 Last Page -Take Out the Trash 

OUR TEAM 

MICHAEL BARRON 

founder & publisher 


editor-n-chief 

REX EVANS 

contributing editor 

DIANE TRYKOWSKI 

creative editor 

RUSTY BARRON 

outdoor editor 

TINA JAECKLE 


DARYL LOTT 


SAM HORWITZ & JOHN SALERNO 

contributing editors 

DOUGLAS GRIFFITH 

HPOU contributing editor 

DIANE TRYKOWSKI 

sales manager 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

T. EDISON 

contributing writer / light bulb 

SAM HORWITZ 

guest editorial 

DOMINGO RAMIREZ,JR. 

contributing writer 

MARY HELEN MOORE 


GREGORY PRATT 


DAVE MONTGOMERY 


LANE DEGREGORY 


TINA JAECKLE 

feature story 

DAVID PAN 

aftermath 

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY 


108 

110 

116 

The BLUES Police Magazine is published monthly by Kress-Barr, LLC, P.O. Box 2733, League City Texas 77574. The opinions 

expressed in articles, op-eds and editorials are those of each individual author and do not reflect the opinion of 

The BLUES or its parent company. Rebuttals or submission of news articles and editorials may be su 

2 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 3


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PART I 

What the F*** should America 

do with Joe Biden? 

I would say that as the editor 

of The BLUES we try and stay 

out of politics, but that would 

be a blatant lie. We have always 

positioned ourselves on one side 

of an issue or another and in 

many cases, endorsed one candidate 

over another. 

To be honest, and despite my 

desire to jump on my soap box 

and go to town on the stupid 

shit our leaders in Washington 

are doing, I also know there is 

so much divide among us already, 

I hate to drive that wedge 

even farther. 

But, given the events that have 

rocked our country in the last 

few weeks, I must speak up. Joe 

Biden has got to go. His handling 

of Afghanistan and our 

withdrawal is shocking on a 

global level. Thirteen U.S. brave 

soldiers lost their lives because 

our Commander in Chief is not 

fit to serve. Joe Biden should 

have never been elected in the 

first place. Someone elected to 

the highest office in the land 

because half of America hated 

Trump so much, they would 

elect anyone to replace him. 

Fox News says Biden is facing 

a crisis of confidence in his ability 

to serve as Commander in 

Chief due to the overwhelming 

negative fallout he is receiving 

over the botched Afghanistan 

withdrawal which left thirteen 

U.S. service members dead, and 

thousands of Americans and 

Afghan allies stranded. 

Former defense officials, 

military leaders, and members 

of Congress on both sides of 

the aisle have criticized Biden 

for leaving Americans behind 

as the last U.S. C-17 plane took 

off from Kabul Monday night, 

despite the President’s promise 

weeks ago that “if there are 

American citizens left, we’re 

going to stay until we get them 

all out.” Biden lied. 

During the election, the mainstream 

media (MSM) hated 

Trump so much, they did everything 

they could to make sure 

Sleepy Joe was elected. Now 

here we are with a totally incoherent 

old man standing as a 

puppet for whomever the hell 

is really running our country. 

Now, even the MSM is turning on 

Biden. They realize, “Holy Fuck, 

what have we done.” What 

you’ve done is put everyone on 

this planet in harm’s way. When 

the most powerful man in the 

world is a bumbling idiot, you’ve 

upset the balance of politics and 

world order. Every leader on the 

planet is trying to determine 

what their next move is. Yes, 


what the fuck have you done 

indeed. 

Not only is he incompetent, but 

he is also the most disrespectful 

President ever elected. Thirteen 

brave men and women gave 

their lives for this country and 

Joe Biden acted like he couldn’t 

be bothered. Yes, I’m referring to 

him checking his watch 13, yes 

13 times during the ceremony 

to receive their bodies at Dover. 

What the fuck was so important 

Joe? The disrespect you showed 

towards those Gold Star families 

was unbelievable. President 

Trump was the most loving 

President in modern times and 

would have spent hours if not 

days comforting those families. 

Then again, thirteen soldiers 

wouldn’t have been killed on 

Trumps watch. 

But nevertheless, to these 

Gold Star families, I want you 

to know that America stands by 

you in these horrible times. Each 

American knows the sacrifice 

your son or daughter has made 

for this country, and we honor 

and cherish their memories. 

They will never be forgotten, and 

you will never be forgotten. We 

apologize for the poor excuse 

of a President that we have and 

will do everything possible to 

remove him from office. 

Of course, removing him from 

office (which no doubt will most 

certainly happen before his term 

is up) only means that laughing 

Kamala takes over and God help 

us when that happens. 

So no, I don’t have all the answers. 

But I hope and pray that 

our leaders in Congress will find 

a way to solve the worst crisis in 

our nation’s history – what the 

f*** do we do with Joe Biden. 

“How many more are there? They told me not to say anything!” 

“I shouldn’t have answered questions. Now what do I do?” 


PART II 

Save Yourself from Me, Get the 

Shot...Stop Dying from COVID! 

This past month, I lost five more 

friends to COVID. None had been 

vaccinated. All believed that the 

vaccine was un-necessary. Despite 

pleas from friends and relatives 

to just get vaccinated, they stood 

fast in their beliefs and ultimately 

lost their lives to this dangerous 

disease. 

Now before I go on, let me be 

clear. There is NO ONE that mistrusts 

our government more than 

me. I don’t believe anything that 

comes out of the mouth of our socalled 

President, nor do I believe 

his advisors, World Heath Organizations 

etc. They will say and 

do anything to get you to buy into 

their rhetoric and BS. 

Take for example the whole 

mask-up debate. If EVERY person 

on the planet wore an N95 mask in 

public, would that limit the spread 

of COVID? Yes, it would “limit” the 

spread, not stop it. But wearing a 

‘scarf’ or ‘gaiter face mask’ does 

nothing. Besides looking like a 

train robber from the 1940’s, you’re 

wasting everyone’s time. But you 

are complying with the rules by 

wearing a ‘face mask.’ So, unless 

it’s certified N95, I believe the entire 

mask thing should just go away. 

So, let’s talk about the vaccine. 

I’ve heard it all. It’s dangerous, 

untested, unknown future side effects, 

a government conspiracy, not 

FDA approved, experimental, you’ll 

get chipped, yada, yada, yada. 

And statistically, you have a better 

chance of catching COVID from 

a fully vaccinated person (ME) 

than someone who isn’t vaccinated. 

Why? Because even if we get 

COVID, we are asymptomatic and 

don’t even know we have it. 

But let’s look at some real-world 

statistics. (These were gathered 

and averaged from several sites 

and not provided by the American 

Government. Data as of August 23, 

2021) 

Total Cases of Coronavirus 

around the World – 212,912,833 

Total Cases of Coronavirus in the 

US – 38,548,413 

Total Deaths related to COVID 

worldwide – 4,449,453 

Total Deaths related to COVID in 

the US – 645,068 

Total Recovered – 190,607,775 

Total Doses of vaccine administered 

in the World – 4.97 billion, 

32.5% of World Population one 

dose, 24.5% is fully vaccinated. 

Total Doses in the US – 339 million 

given to 187.2 million people (* 

as of July 23, 2021) 

Total deaths due to blood clots 

after receiving the vaccine – 3 (* as 

of July 23, 2021) 

Total of people who died even 

though they were totally vaccinated 

– 6,207 or .0018% of all doses 

administered in the US 

Total “flu” deaths in 2020 – 646 

Each flu season, the CDC tracks 

a few important metrics that help 

tell the story of how severe the 

current flu season is compared to 


previous seasons. Here are a few 

numbers to sum up the 2020/2021 

flu season, running from October 1, 

2020, to April 1, 2021. 

Mortality - The PIC mortality rate 

is the rate of deaths attributed to 

pneumonia, influenza, or COVID-19. 

This year, most PIC deaths were due 

to COVID-19. 646 deaths were attributed 

to the flu. 

Pediatric Deaths - Pediatric deaths 

are the number of deaths of people 

under the age of 18. In 2019/20, there 

were 195 pediatric deaths. There 

was one pediatric death during the 

2020/21 season. 

Total LEO deaths related to the Flu 

in 2020 – 0 

Total LEO deaths related to the Flu 

in 2021– 0 

Total LEO deaths related to COVID 

in 2020 – 241 

Total LEO deaths related to COVID 

in 2021 – 107 

Total LEO deaths related to receiving 

a COVID vaccine – 0 

Total LEO reporting serious side 

effects related to COVID vaccine – 1 

The chance of you dying from a 

COVID vaccine is 3 in 187 million. 

My brothers and sisters in Blue, 

please stop and consider how much 

your life means to everyone in your 

life. There is no way to describe the 

pain of watching someone standing 

outside the window of a hospital 

watching their loved one slowly die 

on the other side of that glass wall. 

And die alone, because NO ONE is 

allowed to hold your hand while 

you slip away from this earth to 

your final resting place. 

Yes, I know we all could be killed 

tomorrow. That’s the risk every one 

of us takes the moment we step out 

of bed each day. I also know and 

have heard “when it’s your time to 

go, God will take you.” That doesn’t 

mean you can stand on a railroad 

track in front of an oncoming train 

and think God is going to save you 

at the last moment. God gave us the 

sense and knowledge to do what 

we MUST do to survive in this world. 

But it’s 100% up to you to do what’s 

necessary to make it to your “designated 

time of departure.” 

Despite all the reasons why you 

think you shouldn’t get vaccinated; 

I’ll give you at least one reason why 

you should – you have nothing to 

lose. 

Statistically speaking your chance 

of dying from the shot is: ALMOST 

ZERO 

The chance of being allergic to 

the ingredients of the vaccine is: 

LESS THAN .0000018% 

Long term effects of the vaccine – 

UNKOWN 

Yes, I know you can die a million 

other ways. 

Chance of dying in a car wreck – 1 

in 5000 

Chance of dying in a plane crash 

– 1 in 11 million 

Chance of dying in an earthquake 

– 1 in 20,000 

Bottom line, we could all die tomorrow. 

But if there’s even a small 

chance that by getting a stupid 

shot, you won’t die tomorrow, or 

next week or even next month, you 

should roll the dice and give it a 

shot – LOL see how I used that word 

‘shot.’ 

But seriously, I hate seeing all 

my retired and active LEOs dying 

from this horrible pandemic. If I 

convinced even one of you to take 

a leap of faith and get vaccinated, 

then perhaps that’s one life I may 

have saved and I’m happy with that. 

Regardless, just know that everyone 

hear at the BLUES is praying for 

you and your family. 


Dozens of LEOs are Losing 

Their Lives to COVID 

To date, over one dozen Greater 

Houston area Law Enforcement 

Officers have lost their lives as a 

direct result of the COVID-19 Virus. 

These numbers aren’t “made up” or 

“fictional.” They are truthful, accurate 

and confirmed. 

With that being said, a number 

of these officers were not just our 

co-workers. Some were our friends 

and even family. I cannot tell you 

how difficult it has been for so 

many people in our area, specifically 

our Law Enforcement family. The 

losses themselves hurt. The emptiness 

left by their absence, seemingly 

hurts even more. 

For a family, any family, when a 

Grandparent dies, a Parent or Sibling, 

there is forevermore an empty 

space for every meal, family gathering, 

special occasions and holidays. 

Law Enforcement families are 

no different. We feel loss, just like 

everyone else. Sometimes, I think 

people, including ourselves, forget 

just how “human” we really are. 

There’s no immediate end in sight 

to this ordeal. All these new ways 

of living our lives have well, taken 

its toll upon us all. I doubt anyone 

will know the long-term effects on 

our mental and physical health this 

whole pandemic has taken upon us 

but, we’ll surely all find out as time 

goes by. 

No one can make the decision for 

you or make you get ‘the shot.” It 

is YOUR decision to make. I understand 

the various sides or this argument. 

I understand and respect each 

man and woman’s decision to get 

it, or not. It’s something you must 

do because you have finally reached 

that decision for yourself. Or maybe 

you decide to get it because of your 

family. Maybe you too, knew one of 

these fallen officers from COVID-19. 

Maybe their loss got so close to 

you and your heart, you made the 

decision to go get it. Maybe it only 

bolstered your resolve to abstain. I 

don’t know… 

But I do know this, there are a lot 

of officers gone now who were here 

before. There are many more who 

are fighting, struggling and battling 

their way through the fight of their 

lives with this damn virus. Some of 

them will win their fight and tragically, 

some of them will not. We 

know this to be a truth, if for no 

other reason than our profession 

surely has taught us, some people 

make it and some people don’t. 

So, there’s no “sugar coating” this 

subject. It’s a sensitive subject and 

it hurts. No matter what side of the 

argument you’re standing upon. 

Our profession is a very difficult 

one. It is inherently dangerous. It 

has been a proven fact, just wearing 

a uniform, badge, and driving 

around in a marked patrol car, 

can get you killed. And that’s even 

when/if you’re not engaged in any 

action. The hours, rotating shifts, 

extra jobs and not to mention the 

direct frontal assault by National 

Media against our profession takes 

its toll. It’ll hurt your mind and your 

heart. 

I am so sorrowful for the loss 

of our brothers and sisters in law 

enforcement during this seemingly, 

never-ending pandemic. Surely, 

REX EVANS 

there will be more to come. I would 

simply say, brace yourselves for that 

impending fact. For if all the charts, 

graphs, and trends we’re seeing 

area indicative of anything, this is 

going to get worse before it gets 

better. 

Finally, I am not trying to persuade 

or keep anyone from the 

vaccine. Like I said, I respect you 

and your choice, no matter what. 

Especially if you have the intestinal 

fortitude to wear a badge like me. 

All I can say is, please, give it some 

thought. I know! I know! You already 

have and you’re sick of the whole 

damn thing. I can totally get and 

respect that, too!! (Mostly because I 

am, also). 

And yet, it’s not the virus that’s 

making me write this article, it is 

the lives of my friends which it 

has ripped away from me that is 

making me write this article. These 

were men and women whom, we 

all knew and loved. I figure if for no 

other reason on Earth, they deserve 

for us to at least think about this 

virus, its effects upon our families, 

departments, and communities. 

Ultimately, their memory deserves 

the pause for thought and reflection…not 

out of fear, but rather, out 

of love and sincere respect for all 

those whom we’ve lost. 


The nightmares have all 

but disappeared. That darn 

jumper and Mohammad Attah, 

two faces I can recall in a 

split second. I hug my family 

a little tighter. I tell them and 

my friends that I love them 

a bit more and then I fight. I 

fight the demons of anger and 

cynicism the most. Year after 

year they come for me somewhere 

around two weeks 

before the anniversary date. 

Even while using tools like 

Eye Movement Desensitization 

and Reprocessing (EMDR) 

Therapy and stress management 

techniques, they are still 

able to grab hold. They grab 

at my heart and taunt me 

with thoughts of defeat. They 

whisper, “You’ll never really 

be okay.” And “You will never 

win.” I pause. I take a deep 

breath, and say with a smile, “I 

already have.” I remind myself 

of my why. Seventeen years 

ago, in my basement in the 

dark, I did not pull that trigger 

pressed against my head 

when Post-Traumatic Stress 

consumed me. Seventeen 

years ago, I made a choice 

to stay and fight. To bear the 

scars in my brain from September 

11th so that others 

could learn and benefit from 

the pain. It was the most difficult 

decision of my life, and in 

the end, the most rewarding. 

What was born from the 

pain is a passion driven 

purpose to help others 

find a way out of their 

darkness and despair. To 

educate and help smash 

the stigma of Post-Traumatic 

Stress that surrounds 

first responders 

with clear message, “You 

are not alone” was the 

inspiration for my book, 

The Silent Fall: A Secret 

Service Agent’s Story of 

Tragedy and Triumph 

After 9/11. 

I am never alone on 

September 11th. I purposely 

surround myself 

with other 9/11 first responders, 

and others 

who serve, some retired 

and some still on the job. 

Those people who “get it.” 

They get where my head is, 

my short temper, my frustrations. 

No one tries to fix 

anyone. We simply listen 

and offer support. We are 

united in our grief and determined 

to never forget. 

On September 11, 2021, 

twenty years will have 

passed. Although our world 

has changed tremendously, 

my world, for that one day 

is infinitely small. I think 

of the words, “United We 

Stand,” and find comfort 

knowing that at least here, 

in my hometown, we will 

never forget. 

Samantha Horwitz & John 

Salerno are regular contributors 

to The Blues Police Magazine. 

They are the founders of A Badge 

of Honor, a 501(c)(3) post-traumatic 

stress awareness and 

suicide prevention program for 

first responders. Sam’s book is 

available to purchase online from 

every major retailer. John and 

Sam host MAD (Making a Difference) 

Radio each Wednesday 7pm 

cst on FB @Makingadifferencetx. 

For more about Sam and John 

and the wellness and resiliency 

workshops for first responders, 

visit ABadgeofHonor.com. Sam’s 

book is available online from every 

major retailer. 

Ready To Serve You 

For information contact: 

Jim Rodriguez • Law Enforcement Sales Professional • 915-422-6446 

FT. WORTH 

6201 NE Loop 820 

HOUSTON 

10310 Wortham Center Dr. 

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ARLINGTON 

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HOUSTON 

9245 FM 1960 Bypass Rd. 

DALLAS 

1915 S. Stemmons Fwy 

HOUSTON 

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AUSTIN 

1775 Warner Ranch Dr. 

SAN ANTONIO 

722 SW Loop 410 

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HERO DISPATCHER IN CHICAGO 

Family & Friends, I’m good. I’m 

well. Don’t worry about a thing. 

Even though this catastrophe 

took place under my watch, 

and as devastating as it was, I 

wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere 

else. 

I’ve been in this field since 2001. 

I’ve dealt with death, murder, 

and suicide on a constant basis 

amongst things that most people 

would never imagine. 

Sounds bad to say this, but I’m 

used to it, and within much of 

the norm that I’ve taken in over 

three years, well - it’s prepared 

me to know exactly how I must 

take care of myself. 

I do this by doing the things 

that I do on the regular - travel, 

ride my Harley, play with my dog, 

take a car ride, spend quality 

time with my family and friends 

while most importantly, remaining 

ready to get back in the 

game as the show must go on. 

So, I say this with respect: I 

had a bad day the other day. We 

all did, whether one was on the 

scene, on the other side of the 

radio as a dispatcher, a citizen 

just listening, or inside the ER 

working hard to save our heroes. 

But with time, it’ll get better if 

we keep our faith, hope, and 

love. 

I got back up to my police 

officers in a matter of seconds 

during the time that they needed 

it the most. I was fortunate 

enough to have my back up with 

me from the very beginning all 

the way until now - His name is 

God. 

My phone is blowing up, my 

social media is blowing up, it’s a 

lot to process with media reaching 

out, the victims’ family and 

friends reaching out, and executives 

from various departments 

reaching out. It is a lot. 

So please give me some time 

to respond back to you if I do, 

but if I don’t, I sincerely apologize. 

I just want to reassure you 

that I am good though. I am well 

and I truly see that I am loved. 

Thank you from the bottom of 

my heart. 

Let’s keep Police Officer Ella 

French in our prayers and let’s 

continue to pray for our other 

true hero who is at the University 

of Chicago Hospital fighting for 

his healthy life. 

If you want to show me some 

love or give me some kudos, do 

so by stopping an officer today 

and offering them a wave, high 

five, hug or even just a hello. 

Take a picture with them and 

share it below. 

Our culture must change. Our 

society must change. Our mindsets 

must change. We as people 

must change. Do this for me. Do 

this for her. Do this for our police 

officers who are hurting each 

day because many of them feel 

unsupported, unloved, and on 

edge. No one wants to live like 

this, and no one should have to 

work like this. 

Get out of your car, stop midway 

through your jog, or walk, 

and make a purposeful effort to 

show my brothers and sisters in 

Blue YOUR LOVE for them. This 

is what we are to do with our 

positive energies today and every 

day. 

I swear - no matter if you’re 

Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, 

Middle Eastern, Indian, LGBQTA+, 

Straight, Democratic, Republican, 

independent, Green, Pro Police, 

or Not for the Police - whatever 

the hell you are, I love you 

all and we need to start loving 

each other. 

There’s a quote that states, 

“We are, because of each other.” 

Share this, make it trend, and 

let’s put a smile on our officers 

faces throughout this country. 

KEITH A. THORNTON JR. 

ED - Keith Thornton is the Chicago 

dispatcher on duty when 

Ella French & her partner were 

shot in Chicago. 

SOUTH HOUSTON POLICE DEPT 

LOSES SGT. WANG TO COVID. 

It is with a heavy heart that 

we must make this post that 

this morning our police department 

lost one of our own. 

Sergeant Kuo-sheng “Johnny” 

Wang. Johnny unfortunately, 

lost his battle with covid early 

this morning. Sgt. Wang started 

his career with the South Houston 

Police Department in 2001 

and served our community for 

20 years. He was a wonderful 

husband, a loving father, and a 

mentor to many at our police 

department. Please keep his 


family and his blue family in your 

thoughts and prayers during this 

devastating time. 

SOUTH HOUSTON PD 

REMEMBERING FIRE CHIEF 

DALTON GREGORY SR. 

Many a heart, are both broken 

and in a very real, compassionate 

sense, relieved this morning. 

For a great man, a stellar, 

steadfast rock of Tarkington 

Prairie, has passed. A man who, 

for over 50 years answered 

one call for help after another. 

Nights, weekends and holidays, 

this gentleman never faltered or 

failed to get up, leave his own 

family behind to help his neighbors. 

Never did he ask for a dime. 

In fact, truth be told, he spent a 

small fortune of his own money 

over all those years, just to keep 

the lights on in the firehouse 

along with fuel and water in the 

old fire trucks that leaked from 

every place a fire truck could 

leak from. 

This man was from a time 

where firefighters were like, 

“What the hell is an air pack?” 

And “Who’s got time to put on 

all the crap? Grab a 2 1/2 with a 

straight tip and let’s go!” He was 

a true founding member of The 

Old Guard of Firefighting. 

Beyond all this, he was a 

strong family man. Tragically, 

much loss did he endure in his 

personal life. Over the years I 

had the privilege of knowing this 

man, many a cup of coffee and 

biscuits and gravy did we share, 

I learned something about him I 

don’t think many knew. 

You see, all that pain and 

loss had made him tough, for 

sure. But brother, I’ll tell you, 

his heart was a big as Texas 

itself. He cared deeply for his 

family, friends and community. 

He would fret and worry about 

what would happen for his 

beloved Tarkington Prairie and 

greater Cleveland area. 

His sons continued the proud 

tradition of being a Public Servant 

and Firefighter. Both, in Education 

and Education in the Fire 

Service. Both, stellar men who, 

deeply care for others without 

question. 

I watched him grow older and 

I found that, I tried to be like a 

sponge when around the man. 

To listen more than I spoke. To 

watch more than not. He had 

after all, taken me in like I was a 

son of his own. Because this man 

just seemed on the outside to be 

a “grumpy old man.” But, on the 

inside and if you listened to what 

he said and watched what he 

did, he was probably more full 

of love and compassion for his 

fellow man and community than 

most whom I’ve ever met and 

known. 

Fire Chief Dalton Gregory Sr. 

(Ret). One of the truest, honest 

to God, greatest Firefighting 

Heroes to ever walk this Earth. 

You’re hurting no more. For that, 

I am grateful. Though I know 

there’ll never be another fella 

like you, I’m sure grateful for the 

time we had together. 

You’ll always be remembered 

as a true, quiet, and sincere hero. 

Not solely because of all the 

flames you faced and fought. But 

because you showed me a man 

can be as hard as a rock and still 

care more than anyone else in 

the room. 

You were and shall always be, 

a true East Texas Gentleman and 

a Fireman’s, Fireman to me. Yes 

sir. That’s how I’ll always remember 

you and all the while, 

I’ll never have biscuits and gravy 

again without sincerely hearing 

you say “You want some more? 

Get up and get yourself then!!” 

God’s speed, Chief. May you finally, 

rest easy in the arms of the 

Angels in Heaven above. 

REX 

REMEMBERING DARREN GOFORTH 

Good morning, brother. Well, 

today is the anniversary of the 

day we lost you. Doesn’t seem 

like six years has gone by, but I 

guess time escapes us all. 

Honestly, this was very personal 

and surreal for me. Like it was 

for many of us, I’ve no doubt. I 

chose to stop by the place we 

used to laugh, cut up, even cried 

once. Not the place where your 

life was so ruthlessly, violently, 

and needlessly taken. 

I thought of this place and how 

we solved all the problems of 

the Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

and the world. Only no one else 

knew it (grinning here). How you 

used to ask me as I was walking 

in a prisoner, “How many are you 

bringing in here tonight, Rexy?” 

Those times, we had some serious 

conversations. Life. Family. 

Work. You would tell me how 

you were going to get your “blue 

shirt” and get out on the streets 

and be just like me. I never understood 

why. You were such a 

better man, deputy, and friend. 

Brother, with tears in my eyes 

right now, I can still see your 

crazy grin, hear your voice and 

dearly miss your laughter. 

Though time and assignments 

shifted us towards different 

paths, you never were that far 


from me. I often thought and 

still think to myself “How in the 

world did Darren ever want to be 

like me when all I ever wanted 

to be, was like him?” 

The whole world seemingly 

changed the night we lost you. 

Not just individually, for each 

one of us who loved you and 

cared for you. I mean literally, 

the whole world just changed. 

Harris County and the whole 

country in fact, reeled from the 

violent attack upon you. I honestly 

do not believe we ever 

really recovered. Nor am I sure 

we ever will. For such a profound 

loss seems to remain for 

all eternity. 

Much like this morning though, 

I personally choose to think of 

your life, not your death. I choose 

to remember our friendship, 

laughter and time together. Not 

of the short, few moments you 

spent at that Chevron Station six 

years ago today. 

In the end, no matter what, 

I am and shall always be your 

friend, your brother in blue. I 

shall forevermore mourn for and 

miss you. But I’ll never forget nor 

forsake the beautiful, brilliant 

light of a life you lived either. 

Please take care of yourself 

up there in Heaven above. Try 

not to fret or worry too much 

about your family and friends 

down here. You and Sandeep 

and some of the other guys, y’all 

just watch over us and one day, 

I sincerely pray I can see you all 

once again. Who knows, maybe 

we’ll solve some more problems 

for the S.O. (Stupid grin and tears 

here). 

I’ll end with the same way 

we always parted, “Take care, 

brother. See you soon,” because 

“Goodbye” is like forever, and 

that just won’t work for me. 

FOREVER YOUR FRIEND. 

NOLA SUSPECTS 

BOTH were known criminal 

street gang members, and BOTH 

were out on bond. One for aggravated 

assault with a deadly 

weapon and the other for aggravated 

robbery. 

This vicious cycle of “bond 

reform” is costing the lives of 

good, innocent, and law-abiding 

men, women and children, every 

day in Harris County. 

And now, tragically it has cost 

the life of a dedicated Homicide 

Detective from New Orleans who 

wanted nothing more than to 

come to Houston and dine with 

his good friends at a famous 

Houston landmark restaurant. 

Bond reform has been a complete 

and utter disaster and 

failure. Costing the lives of good 

people while the not so good 

just laugh as they walk out of 

jail, on bond, to commit more 

crimes against the innocent. 

As for me and those who wear 

a badge like me, we’ll keep 

doing what we do to the best of 

our ability. I can assure you, this 

revolving door of bond reform in 

Harris County has nothing to do 

with us. 

I assure you, we’re risking our 

lives daily, doing our part…. 

Heartbroken, frustrated rant 

over. 

TIME FOR CHANGE 

HONORING HUNTER LOPEZ 

Hunter’s father and mother 

serve their community in law 

enforcement (Riverside, California) 

and he was planning on 

joining the sheriff’s department 

like his parents when he returned 

from deployment. 

One of his last acts of service 

was bringing this little boy in 

Afghanistan to safety … carried 

him on his shoulders for five 

miles. 

Rest In Peace, Hunter Lopez. 

May we honor your service and 

bravery. May your memory be a 

light in all of us. 

SHERIFF ED GONZALEZ 

DEPUTY CLINT SEAGLE, CLAY 

COUNTY 

Clay County Sheriff’s Office 

Deputy Clint Seagle passed away 

Sunday after a long battle with 

COVID-19. Deputy Seagle has 

been a devoted member of the 

Clay County Sheriff’s Office since 

2006. He also proudly served his 

country for 21 years in the United 

States Navy. Deputy Seagle 

served the residents of Clay 

County in Patrol, Traffic, and 

most recently, the Civil Unit. Our 

thoughts and prayers are with his 

family, and we will remember 

his service to our county and our 

country always. 

CLAY COUNTY SO 

Got something to say? 

Send your comments to: 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 

Police star worn by fallen CPD Officer Ella French, soared above the Chicago skyline one last time. 

Her star was on-board with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels during their demonstration at Chicago’s air 

and water show. Today fallen Officer French flew with the Angels. #NeverForget #CPDMediaCar 


Congratulations to Alan Helfman 

Alan Helfman Has HCC Criminal Justice/Law 

Enforcement Program Named After Him. 

Congratulations are in order for 

Alan Helfman! The President of 5 

Helfman Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, 

Ram, Fiat, Maserati, and Ford dealerships, 

and HCC Foundation Ambassador. 

Alan’s generous philanthropy, 

which earned him The 

BLUES Lifetime Achievement Award, 

now has the Criminal Justice & Law 

Enforcement Program named after 

him at Houston Community College. 

When it comes to community 

giving, Alan Helfman does it all- he 

donates resources, time, and helps 

raise funds for countless causes. 

A native Houstonian, he supports 

numerous philanthropic efforts 

throughout the city, but one of his 

obvious passions includes supporting 

law enforcement. 

The Board of Trustees of Houston 

Community College unanimously 

approved at the May 19th HCC 

Board meeting the naming of the 

Alan Helfman Criminal Justice / Law 

Enforcement Program. The board is 

extremely grateful for Alan’s many 

contributions to HCC and sincerely 

appreciate all that he does for the 

college and its students. 

On Tuesday, August 24th, HCC 

Board members along with HPD 

Chief Troy Finner, Former HPD Chief 

Clarence Bradford, Harris County 

Constable Jerry Garcia, as well as 

other dignitaries gathered at HCC 

to officially unveil the Alan Helfman 

Criminal Justice Law Enforcement 

Program. 

Alan thanked HCC for the privilege 

of having the program named 

after him and thanked his parents 

for teaching him to share his wealth 

with those less fortunate. Helfman 

also thanked his wife and children 

for allowing him time to attend all 

the functions and fundraisers as 

well as the opportunity to give back 

to the community. 

The Helfman family is focused on 

serving first-responders, particularly 

those who have been injured 

or the families who have lost loved 

ones in the line of duty. They personally 

have conducted more than 

100 fundraising events for several 

law enforcement agencies, particularly 

the Houston Police Officers’ 

Union. 

In a video produced for the 

naming ceremony, (CLICK HERE TO 

WATCH) Alan discusses the importance 

of investing within his own 

community, and HCC often getting 

overlooked in comparison to the big 

Universities around Texas. He believes 

HCC is a cornerstone of building 

a good community and giving 

folks an opportunity for education 

and jobs over crime and drugs. 

Alan also speaks on how important 

benevolence is to him and his family, 

that he is proud to be able to donate 

vehicles every year to various philanthropic 

causes. 

Helfman is a household name 

within Houston law enforcement. 

He has been a constant and powerful 

supporter of HPD Officers and 

other law enforcement causes over 

the years. Always going over and 

above to lend a hand and generously 

donate his time and resources. He’s 

personally given over $1 million of 

his own money to the Houston Police 

Department (HPD). “My passion for 

the HPD is helping the widows pay 

the bills and stay in their homes, 

helping the guys who are hurt or 

sick—it’s really good money.” 

Houston is fortunate to have 

Helfman and we are appreciative 

of his kind philanthropic work! 

The BLUES is thankful to have Alan 

and his five dealerships endorse 

our magazine and we are equally 

thankful that Alan remains a champion 

for law enforcement in Houston. 

Congratulations for another job 

well done. 


Off-Duty New Orleans Detective Shot & Killed at 

Galleria Area Restaurant 

Detective Everette Briscoe had only been in Houston a few hours 

when he and another member of the Zulu Social Club were shot 

while dining on the patio of the Grotto Restaurant. 

HOUSTON, Texas –An off-duty 

New Orleans Detective, Everette 

Briscoe, was killed Saturday August 

21, at a Houston restaurant after 

arriving with friends. 

Briscoe was part of the Zulu 

Social Club, a New Orleans organization 

known for its elaborate Zulu 

parade each year during Mardi Gras. 

He and a group of Zulu members 

had traveled from New Orleans to 

Houston to meet with other Zulu 

members who now live in the area. 

Elroy James, president of the Zulu 

Social Club, told ABC13 the group 

had dropped off their bags at Hotel 

Derek before walking to Grotto 

Ristorante in the 4700 block of 

Westheimer. 

As the group mingled at Grotto, 

James said he walked to CVS at 

about 5 p.m. to pick up some items. 

“While I was looking for the pain 

medicine, my phone rang and it 

said, ‘Elroy, you got to come back. 

They shot DJ,’” James recalled. “I 

was kind of startled and said, ‘What 

do you mean? I just left.’ And they 

said, ‘They shot DJ. You got to come 

back. And they’ve shot [Briscoe] as 

well.’” 

When he got back to the restaurant, 

James said he saw Dyrin Riculfy, 

also known as DJ, in the chair he 

had been sitting in. He added that at 

the time he arrived, he saw a group 

of men comforting Briscoe, who 

was still conscious and alert. 

“He was certainly alert, and they 

were trying to keep him calm while 

I immediately dialed 911, trying to 

get some medical attention and 

police officers on the scene,” James 

said, adding that Briscoe got up at 

one point before his group insisted 

he stay put. 

HFD Paramedics arrived and 

performed lifesaving efforts but 

despite their efforts, Briscoe was 

pronounced dead at the scene. 

While it’s still unclear what led to 

the shooting, James said he heard 

from other members that the suspects 

approached them, demanded 

they put their hands up and started 

shooting, striking Briscoe and Riculfy. 

He adds that the suspects did not 

ask for or take any property from 

the men. 

“We had just been in Houston for 

two hours. So, it’s certainly strange 

to me that we had not even gotten 

out of our travel clothes, most of 

us, and this occurs,” James said. 

In a statement by HPD Chief 

Finner, witnesses stated that the 

suspects attempted to rob the customers 

on the patio when for whatever 

reason, then they just started 

shooting. 

Briscoe, a 13-year veteran, leaves 

behind his wife and their two sons 

who are 10 and 16 years old. 

Surveillance video from nearby 

businesses showed the two men who 

are believed to be the suspects. One 

was seen wearing a black hoodie and 

blue jeans. The other was wearing 

black pants with a white hoodie. They 

left the scene in a gray or silver Nissan 

Altima that had paper tags. 

In a press conference held on 

Sunday, HPD Chief Finner was visibly 

upset by the senseless shooting of 

yet another police officer. Finner and 

Chief Shaun Ferguson of NOLA PD 

are close friends and Finner assured 

Ferguson he wouldn’t rest until these 

thugs were behind bars. 

** UPDATE: Dyrin Riculfy died from 

his injuries on Tuesday, August 31. 

Two Suspects Arrested and Charged 

in the Shooting Death of NOLA Officer. 

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- HPD 

arrested two men suspected of 

shooting and killing an off-duty 

New Orleans Detective, Everette 

Briscoe, in the Galleria area. 

19-year-old Frederick Jackson 

and 21-year-old Anthony Jenkins 

were both charged with capital 

murder. 

Both were arrested in the days 

following Briscoe’s murder at the 

Grotto restaurant in Houston and 

after Houston businessman Tillman 

Fertitta offered a $100,000 

reward for information leading to 

their arrest. Briscoe’s friend, Dyrin 

Riculfy, was also shot during the 

encounter and is still in critical 

condition at a Houston hospital. 

While detectives withheld specific 

details on how they determined 

the two men as suspects, 

they stated research on the motive 

and the vehicle, as well as several 

Crime Stoppers tips, led investigators 

to them. 

Jenkins was arrested at an 

apartment complex in southwest 

Houston, where investigators 

seized a Nissan Altima that 

matched the description of the 

vehicle that had fled the shooting. 

Jackson was arrested on Thursday, 

taken into custody by a SWAT 

team. 

During a news conference on 

Friday, August 27 to announce the 

arrests, Harris County District Attorney 

Kim Ogg hinted at seeking 

the death penalty in the case due 

to the capital murder charge. 

Ogg revealed that both men 

were out on bond for previous 

crimes, also lamenting that fact 

during the event. 

“It should surprise no one, at this 

point in Harris County, Texas, that 

both individuals were already out 

on bond,” Ogg said. 

According to the district attorney, 

Jackson was out for an 

aggravated robbery from 2020 

in which he allegedly followed 

someone home from the Galleria 

area. His bond was forfeited 

earlier this year, and earlier this 

month, Jackson failed to appear 

for a court hearing, which, in its 

wake, led to the discovery that his 

ankle monitor was cut off. 

Detectives further stated the 

two men are also connected 

to other robberies in the area, 

specifically targeting people for 

high-end jewelry. All indications 

from Briscoe’s killing showed the 

shooting stemmed from a robbery 

gone bad, police said. 

Ogg speculated that the pair 

committed the robbery attempt 

in order to raise bail money for a 

friend. 


A Clay County deputy was shot during a traffic stop but was 

saved by his ballistic vest. 

Suspect who shot Texas deputy arrested 

after manhunt. 

By Domingo Ramirez Jr. 

Fort Worth Star-Telegram 

FORT WORTH, Texas — An Arlington 

man accused in the shooting of 

a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s 

Office was arrested Wednesday 

morning after a brief foot chase in 

Arlington, the Clay County sheriff 

said. 

In a Facebook Live video, Clay 

County Sheriff Jeff Lyde identified 

the suspect as Joshua Lee Green. 

At about 10 a.m. Wednesday, 

Green, 31, was located at an Arlington 

hotel in the 4000 block of Scots 

Legacy Drive, where SWAT team 

and local police, who are members 

of the U.S. Marshals North Texas 

Fugitive Task Force, arrived with 

a warrant, according to Arlington 

police. 

Green ran across Interstate 20 before 

he was taken into custody, Lyde 

said in the Facebook post Wednesday 

morning. 

The shooting occurred shortly 

after 7:30 p.m. Monday near Jolly, 

Texas, in Clay County. Jolly is about 

10 miles southeast of Wichita Falls. 

Deputy Breanton Chitwood had 

stopped a Cadillac for speeding, the 

sheriff said, and he approached the 

window. Lyde noted that the license 

plate did not match the car. 

As the deputy approached the 

window, Green shot him, but the 

deputy was saved by his bulletproof 

vest, the sheriff said. 

Chitwood managed to return fire, 

damaging the car, the sheriff said. 

The deputy was treated and released 

from a North Texas hospital. 

A Blue Alert was issued Monday 

night by the Texas Department of 

Public Safety for the then unknown 

gunman and the vehicle, a white 

Cadillac sedan. 

The alert was discontinued after 

the car was found in Wichita Falls 

and investigators didn’t have a detailed 

description or identity of the 

suspect. 

The investigation led to authorities 

identifying Green as the suspect 

Tuesday night. He faces a charge of 

aggravated assault on a peace officer. 

He was in custody Wednesday 

at the Arlington Jail with bond set 

at $750,000 and will be returned to 

Clay County. 

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Galveston County Constables assist Sheriff at the border. 

“Law enforcement down here is over-extended.” 

KINNEY COUNTY – Constables 

Jimmy Fullen and Justin West, 

elected Constables for Precincts 

2 and 4 in Galveston County, are 

in Kinney County, which is a little 

over a two-hour drive west from 

San Antonio, assisting the sheriff’s 

office that is overwhelmed 

by the border crisis. 

“The law enforcement down 

here is over-extended,” said 

West, a Precinct 4 Constable. 

“Where we’re at in Kinney County 

there has been over a 500% 

increase in calls for service since 

the beginning of the year.” 

Kinney County only has six 

deputies and the sheriff asked 

for help in dealing with a large 

influx of migrants crossing the 

border illegally, and then making 

their way through the county. 

Kinney County is in Border Patrol’s 

Del Rio sector, which has 

seen a 532% increase in apprehensions 

from last year, according 

to Customs and Border 

Protection data. 

“The landowners out there, 

the cattle owners, they’re having 

their fences torn down, their 

cattle are getting out. So, it’s a 

major problem,” said Fullen, a 

Precinct 2 Constable. 

In addition to Fullen and West, 

two more deputy constables 

and one Galveston County sheriff’s 

deputy are assisting Kinney 

County. According to Fullen, the 

plan is to work 12-hour shifts on 

two-week rotations. 

State troopers and Texas 

Rangers are also in the area 

as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s 

initiative to arrest migrants who 

cross the border illegally and 

commit state crimes like trespassing. 

DPS officials said only single 

adults are being arrested, family 

units and unaccompanied minors 

are being handed over to 

Border Patrol. 

According to the Texas Department 

of Criminal Justice, 

352 migrants are being held in 

the Briscoe prison unit. This unit 

was cleared out to make room 

for border-related arrests. 

The constables say a rail depot 

in the county is a hotspot 

for migrants traveling north. 

“Any of the northbound trains 

coming from the Eagle Pass 

area, coming up, you’re guaranteed 

you’re going to get them 

each time,” said Fullen. 

When KPRC 2 spoke with the 

Constables they had just assisted 

DPS with an operation that led to 

the arrest of 41 individuals’ onboard 

cargo and lumber cars. 

“We’re seeing people from 

all over, and that includes other 

continents,” said West. 

In July, Galveston County Judge 

Mark Henry issued a disaster 

declaration in response to the 

border. Henry also authorized 

law enforcement to aid other 

counties dealing with border-related 

crimes. Henry said the 

effort is voluntary, reserve peace 

officers temporarily fill the vacancies 

of those who are on the 

border and this effort is being 

paid for with American Rescue 

Plan funds from the federal government. 

CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO 

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The Walker County Sheriff’s Department is now accepting applications for the position of Patrol Deputy. We are a family based department that is dedicated to 

preserving the lives and property of the citizens of Walker County which is currently around 73,000 residents. As a Patrol Deputy within our department, you would 

be patrolling over 800 square miles of small towns, national forest and East Texas countryside. Our county seat is the town of Huntsville, Texas which has many of 

the comforts and amenities of larger city while still providing a small town atmosphere. 

Perks: 

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• Retirement: Vested after 8 years in TCDRS. Every $1 invested in retirement is matched 210%. 

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• Equipment: Uniforms & Patrol Equipment Provided. Currently issuing Glock 22’s and Colt SBR Rifles. 

• Vehicles: Take home Chevy Tahoe • Schedule: 12 hour shifts, every other weekend off. 

• Time Off: Paid Vacation / Holidays on a yearly basis. • Patrol Style: Proactive /Community Based Policing 

Requirements: Must be TCLOE Certified; Must have a valid Texas Drivers License; 

Must pass a written & physical test; Must complete a rigorous Field Training Program in a timely manner. 

APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED ON THE WALKER COUNTY WEBSITE (WWW.CO.WALKER.TX.US) OR BY CONTACTING PATROL LT. JASON SULLIVAN (936) 435-2400. 


La Porte Police Department to upgrade body 

and dash cameras with improved technology 

THE END-TO-END 

DRONE SOLUTION 

FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. 

LA PORTE, TX (August 23, 

2021) – The La Porte City Council 

recently approved a contract for 

the La Porte Police Department 

to partner with law enforcement 

technology provider, Utility, Inc., 

to equip 80 La Porte officers with 

its patented BodyWorn camera 

technology as well as 49 in-car 

video systems. The technology 

provides unique, automated 

capabilities and tools that will 

support an increase in transparency 

and accountability between 

the La Porte Police Department 

and the community. 

“This project is going to improve 

our ability to ensure body 

camera activation and provide a 

better means to keep the camera 

secured to our officers’ uniforms. 

This new tool will also enhance 

the safety of our officers in the 

field while providing transparency 

and accountability.” Assistant 

Chief Ditrich – Patrol Bureau 

The five-year contract with 

Pictured above: Officers Emily Harness and Yesenia Rodriguez 

display the uniform application of the BodyWorn Camera 

Utility, Inc. includes outfitting 

officers with BodyWorn cameras, 

which are embedded in 

the officers’ uniforms to prevent 

them from detaching. The camera 

technology utilizes artificial 

intelligence to create situational 

awareness and offers features 

like a two-minute buffer, 

which allows for capture of 

two minutes of video prior to 

the camera being activated, 

along with automatic, policy-based 

recording functionalities 

designed to remove the 

burden from the officers to turn 

on the cameras. 

Over the last few weeks LPPD 

has worked closely with Body- 

Worn to have uniforms altered, 

equipment installed, and training 

provided to all applicable staff. 

The new system is now fully in 

use by all uniformed LPPD officers. 

For more information regarding 

the BodyWorn technology, 

please contact the LPPD at 281- 

471-2141 and follow them on 

Facebook at @LaPortePoliceDepartment. 

Learn more at axon.com/AIR 


It’s September 1st, Everyone is Packing 

“New Texas law allowing people to carry handguns without permits stirs 

mix of fear and concern among law enforcement,” so says the media. 

As of September 1st, most 

Texans will be able to carry 

handguns in public without 

going through training or having 

to get permits. Several law 

enforcement departments, say 

this could make their jobs more 

dangerous. 

Conservative activists have 

long pushed for permitless carry 

law in Texas, but such measures 

got little traction in the previous 

three legislative sessions. 

In 2019, a permitless carry bill 

didn’t even get a committee 

hearing in the Texas House. 

Gov. Greg Abbott lauded the 

so-called “constitutional carry” 

legislation and other firearms 

bills when he signed them into 

law. 

“You could say that I signed 

into law today some laws that 

protect gun rights,” Abbott said 

at the bill signing in June. “But 

today, I signed documents that 

instilled freedom in the Lone Star 

State.” 

But some Texas law enforcement 

officers have stated that 

removing restrictions to carrying 

handguns could increase crime 

rates while putting officers and 

residents in danger. 

“When it comes down to it, 

it’s just a sense of disappointment 

that the bill ultimately was 

passed,” said Kevin Lawrence, 

executive director of the Texas 

Municipal Police Association. 

When lawmakers gaveled 

in for the 2021 regular legislative 

session in January — the 

first since back-to-back mass 

shootings in El Paso and Midland-Odessa 

— some legislators 

expected to pass substantive 

firearm restrictions. 

After all, Abbott had proposed 

several policies to keep guns 

out of the hands of people who 

should not possess them. Lt. Gov. 

Dan Patrick famously said he 

was “willing to take an arrow” 

from the National Rifle Association 

in order to pursue stronger 

background check laws. 

Instead, the Texas Legislature 

moved in the other direction. 

Advocates of permitless carry 

said a shakeup in House leadership 

and the growing number of 

states with similar laws meant 

this year was their best chance 

to get a bill through. The Senate 

and House passed different 

versions of House Bill 1927, but 

agreed to a negotiated piece of 

legislation in May. The House approved 

the final version 82-62. 

It was part of a slew of progun 

legislation that lawmakers 

passed this year. Other measures 

passed include a bill that would 

bar government contracts with 

those who discriminate against 

the firearm industry as a whole, 

one that would remove firearm 

suppressors from the state’s list 

of prohibited weapons, and a 

House bill that prohibits state 

and local governments from enforcing 

new federal gun regulations. 

“Texas is finally a pro-gun state 

despite years of foot-dragging, 

roadblocks, and excuses from 

the spineless political class,” 

Texas Gun Rights executive 

director Chris McNutt said in a 

statement after Abbott signed 

the bill. “I’m proud of the work 

grassroots gun owners have put 

in to get Texas Constitutional 

Carry finally signed into law.” 

Before September 1st, Texans 

were required to be licensed to 

carry handguns, regardless of 

whether they are open or concealed. 

To obtain a license, applicants 

were required to submit 

fingerprints, complete four to 

six hours of training, and pass a 

written exam and shooting proficiency 

test. This doesn’t apply 

to rifles, which do not require 

licenses to be carried in public. 

The new law allows anyone 21 

years or older to carry a handgun 

in public without need for a 

permit or training as long as they 

aren’t otherwise prohibited from 

owning a firearm by law, such as 

people with felony or domestic 

violence convictions. 

Most Texas voters opposed the 

idea of allowing people to carry 

handguns in public places without 

permits or licenses, according 

to a University of Texas/Texas 

Tribune Poll conducted in April. 

Although 56% of Republicans 

supported unlicensed carry, 59% 

of all voters opposed it. 

Texas law enforcement officers 

voiced staunch opposition to the 

new law as it moved through the 

Legislature. 

“I don’t know what it’s a solution 

to,” said James McLaughlin, 

executive director of the Texas 

Police Chiefs Association. “I don’t 

know what the problem was to 

start with.” 

Lawrence, also the chair of 

trustees for the Texas Fraternal 

Order of Police, said part of 

the reason the bill got support 

was because of some increased 

crime rates last year, leading 

Texans to fear that law enforcement 

might not be able 

to protect them. He also noted 

it could have partially been 

pushback to calls last year to 

“defund the police,” a movement 

that aims to lower law 

enforcement budgets and reallocate 

funds to social service 

programs. 

“The entire process was done 

to appease a certain block of 

voters, to appease a very, very 

vocal, active group that were 

just demanding that they be 

allowed to carry guns,” he said. 

Lawmakers added several 

amendments to the bill to 

assuage law enforcement’s 

concerns, including a requirement 

that the Department of 

Public Safety offer a free online 

firearm safety training course. 

Ray Hunt, executive director 

of the Houston Police Officers’ 

Union, said the bill could 

potentially have grave consequences 

for law enforcement 

officers, noting that it could be 

harder for them to decipher 

whether someone carrying a 

weapon is legally able to do so. 

His opposition toward the 

bill lessened after lawmakers 

changed it to ease law enforcement’s 

worries about certain provisions, 

including one that would 

have banned officers from questioning 

a person based solely on 

their possession of a handgun. 

Hunt and other law enforcement 

officials hope their fears 

over the permitless carry law 

won’t come to pass. 

Law enforcement heavily condemned 

2016’s “open carry” law 

that permits Texans to openly 

carry handguns in public as long 

as they have a permit. Many said 

they didn’t end up seeing noticeable 

effects after it passed. 

“We were completely opposed 

to ‘license to carry’ when it happened, 

and we said all of the 

same arguments that we’re saying 

now,” Hunt said. “And nothing 

happened, so we’re hoping 

that we’re overreacting. We’re 

just concerned because anytime 

there’s more guns, there’s a problem.” 


NASCAR fans pay tribute to slain Daytona 

Beach officer before the Coke Zero race. 

Officer Jason Raynor died on August 17, nearly two months 

after he was shot while on patrol. 

By Mary Helen Moore 

Daytona Beach News-Journal 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Race 

fans paid tribute to fallen Daytona 

Beach Police Officer Jason 

Raynor, his patrol car getting 

covered in messages and tributes 

as it was parked in One Daytona’s 

Victory Circle in the leadup 

to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 race. 

Raynor died in the hospital Aug. 

17, 55 days after he was shot in 

the head while on patrol. The 

26-year-old was laid to rest last 

week. 

Joe Swetz, a former lieutenant 

in the Port Orange Police Department, 

where Raynor began 

his career, stopped by with his 

teenage daughter about 1 p.m. 

“It’s very somber, surreal,” 

Swetz said. “It kind of hits home 

that he’s really gone.” 

Daytona Beach Police officer 

Jason Raynor’s patrol car was 

brought to Victory Circle at One 

Daytona on Friday, August 27, 

2021. 

Before working in Daytona 

Beach, Raynor was a police 

officer in Port Orange, where 

he was honored for his heroism 

after helping talk a suicidal 

woman out of jumping off the 

Dunlawton Avenue bridge. 

“He was very tenacious. He had 

a passion for his job that I hadn’t 

seen in a long time,” Swetz said. 

Swetz said it’s been a difficult 

few weeks, especially for 

his friends who remain in law 

enforcement, but the way people 

came together to show their 

sympathy for the Raynor family 

and Daytona Beach Police Department 

has helped ease the 

pain. 

“Seeing this outpouring support 

from the community in this 

time when it seems like everybody’s 

against law enforcement, 

it’s refreshing,” he said. “It’s a 

testament to the impact Jason 

had.” 

Oliver Dobai, of Oviedo, and 

Jayson Aten, of Davenport, were 

in the same car club as Raynor, 

the Central Florida Mopar Mafia. 

They came to town for the 

Daytona Car Corral and race, but 

stopped by the patrol car to pay 

their respects. 

“It hits home. It’s sad to think 

that our world is the way it is. 

I just wish it was a lot better,” 

Dobai said. 

Both men are Army veterans, 

This photo, from 2019, shows 

Jason Raynor being sworn in as a 

Daytona Beach police officer. 

and feel a kinship with Raynor beyond 

their shared love for cars. 

“We’re all brothers,” Aten said of 

the connection between military and 

law enforcement. “I’m doing everything 

I can not to cry right now.” 

Black permanent markers were 

tucked into the roses and lilies and 

gladioluses wilting in the summer 

heat, and both men left personal 

notes on the patrol car. 

Daytona Beach Police officer Jason Raynor’s patrol car was brought to Victory Circle at One Daytona on Friday, 

Aug. 27, 2021. (Tribune News Service) 

“R.I.P. ‘Til Valhalla,” Dobai 

wrote, referencing the great hall 

in Norse mythology where heroes 

slain in battle are received. 

“Got your six,” wrote Aten, a 

former New York City firefighter. 

The phrase used by military 

and first responders to mean “got 

your back,” referencing the position 

of 6 o’clock on a clock face. 

PATROL CAR TO BE RETIRED 

Raynor’s patrol car, #5502, will 

be retired by the department 

to honor the young man, Police 

Chief Jakari Young said. 

It includes the signatures of his 

mom and sister. 

“I’ll always have your six. Your 

Big Sister,” was written above 

the grille. 

“Love You Always, Mom.” was 

on the driver’s door. 

Raelene Blake and her 8-yearold 

daughter Amelia were at One 

Daytona to shop and paused to 

pay tribute about 2 p.m. They 

circled the vehicle slowly, reading 

the messages. 

“It’s overwhelming,” Blake said. 

“We’ve followed the story since 

it first started, prayed hard he’d 

make it through.” 

They have a “Raynor Strong” 

sign in their yard in Ormond 

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Beach, but Blake said Amelia 

doesn’t yet know what happened 

to the officer. 

“We don’t let her watch news,” 

Blake said. 

She said she planned to talk to 

her on the drive home: “Things 

happen. Unfortunately, there are 

bad people, and they sometimes 

do bad things, but cops are here 

to protect us.” 

Mother and daughter wrote 

notes on the right rear wheel 

arch. The child’s message was 

simple, punctuated by a smiley 

face with hearts for eyes. 

“Thank you. Amelia.” 


Chicago announces COVID vaccine 

mandate for city workers 

Chicago Fraternal Order of Police has said it will oppose vaccine mandates. 

By Gregory Pratt 

Chicago Tribune 

CHICAGO — All city of Chicago 

workers must be fully vaccinated 

by October 15th, though employees 

can apply for medical or 

religious exemption, Mayor Lori 

Lightfoot announced Wednesday. 

The move follows numerous 

private businesses and cities 

across the country which are 

implementing similar mandates, 

as has Cook County and Chicago 

Public Schools. 

“As cases of COVID-19 continue 

to rise, we must take every step 

necessary and at our disposal to 

keep everyone in our city safe 

and healthy,” Lightfoot said in a 

statement. “Getting vaccinated 

has been proven to be the best 

way to achieve that and make 

it possible to recover from this 

devastating pandemic. And so, 

we have decided to join other 

municipalities and government 

agencies across the nation, including 

the U.S. military, who are 

making this decision to protect 

the people who are keeping our 

cities and country moving.” 

Workers who wish to be exempt 

for medical or religious 

reasons must get approval from 

the Department of Human Resources 

which will consider 

the requests on a case-by-case 

basis, the city said. 

More than 30,000 people are 

employed by the city. But not all 

are happy about the mandate. 

The Chicago Fraternal Order of 

Police has said it will oppose 

vaccine mandates. 

Chicago Federation of Labor 

head Bob Reiter released a statement 

saying the union believes 

the mandate might be counterproductive 

and “harden opposition 

to the vaccine instead of 

protecting the workers who have 

sacrificed so much over the past 

18 months.” 

“We are still in very preliminary 

discussions with the city 

about a proposed vaccination 

policy and we hope this process 

can be resolved through policymaking, 

not public communications,” 

Reiter said. “However, any 

discussion around a vaccine policy 

should include not only medical 

and religious exemptions, but 

also testing alternatives as we 

continue to build trust around 

the benefits of voluntary vaccination.” 

Earlier this month, Gov. J.B. 

Pritzker required state employees 

who work in congregate settings, 

such as prisons and veterans’ 

homes, to be vaccinated by 

October 4th. The state’s largest 

employee’s union, the American 

Federation of State, County and 

Municipal Employees, has encouraged 

vaccination but opposes 

a vaccine mandate. 

Meanwhile in Texas 

Gov. Greg Abbott bars mandates for 

vaccinations and masks in Texas. 

By Dave Montgomery 

Many states, cities, businesses 

and schools have been scrambling 

to institute new mandates since 

Tuesday, when the federal health 

authorities recommended that even 

fully vaccinated people should 

wear masks again in public indoor 

spaces in Delta-variant hot spots 

and urged universal masking in 

schools. Not Texas. 

In an executive order issued on 

Thursday August 12, 2021, Gov. Greg 

Abbott prohibited local governments 

and state agencies from 

mandating vaccines, saying that 

protection against the virus should 

be a matter of personal responsibility, 

not forced by a government 

edict. 

The order also reinforced his 

prior directive prohibiting local 

officials from requiring face masks, 

despite growing calls from city 

leaders for greater flexibility to reverse 

the renewed spread of Covid. 

The daily average of cases in 

Texas as of 8/13/2021 was 8,820, 

according to a New York Times 

database, a 209 percent increase 

over the past 14 days. Cities across 

the state are facing a surge in 

hospitalizations reminiscent of 

the alarming spikes that occurred 

before Covid cases began nosing 

downward with the arrival of 

vaccines. 

With 56 percent of the state’s 

population unvaccinated — including 

nearly five million children 

under 12 who are not eligible — 

health officials have expressed 

concern about the state’s vulnerability. 

Abbott is hardly the only elected 

official who has responded to the 

CDC’s new guidance with defiance. 

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis, 

Republican of Florida, signed an 

executive order rejecting mask 

mandates in schools. 

But Abbott’s executive order 

reached further. “No governmental 

entity can compel any individual to 

receive a Covid-19 vaccine administered 

under an emergency use 

authorization,” the order said. It 

also prohibits any public agencies or 

private entities receiving public funds, 

including grants and loans, from requiring 

consumers to show documentation 

of vaccinations before entering 

or receiving a service from the entity. 

The order encourages public safety 

measures such as wearing face masks 

and practicing social distancing, particularly 

in areas with high transmission 

rates, but adds: “No person may 

be required by any jurisdiction to wear 

or to mandate the wearing of a face 

covering.” 

Abbott, who is facing re-election 

next year, is not against vaccines. He 

was photographed getting a Covid 

shot at an Austin hospital on December 

22nd, saying he wanted to show 

fellow Texans how “safe and easy” it 

was, according to The Texas Tribune. 

But in a statement elaborating on 

his order, Mr. Abbott said that vaccines 

“are the most effective defense 

against the virus” and “remain in 

abundant supply.” 

But he stressed that vaccinations 

would “always remain voluntary — 

never forced — in the State of Texas.” 

36 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 37

Ella French funeral: Chicago pays respect to officer 

killed in line of duty. 

CHICAGO - As tradition dictates, 

bagpipes were playing as 

a casket containing the body of 

29-year-old Chicago Police Officer 

Ella French was carried by 

her fellow officers Thursday. 

Hundreds of squad cars from 

Chicago, the suburbs, and all 

over the country lined up on 

Western Avenue to take part in 

the procession. 

A sea of officers in their dress 

blue uniforms formed outside St. 

Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel as 

mourners — including Mayor Lori 

Lightfoot, former Mayor Richard 

M. Daley, and top department 

officials and friends and family 

— filed slowly inside to remember 

French. 

Cardinal Blase Cupich led 

the traditional Catholic funeral 

mass, and spoke in his homily 

about the difficulty of policing — 

urging officers not to get discouraged 

by anti-police sentiment 

in the country. 

Officer French’s mother and Officer 

Joshua Blas, French’s third 

partner that night who tried to 

save her life, spoke as well. 

“Ella was so proud to be a 

member of your family,” said 

Elizabeth French. “Every day you 

leave home to serve and protect.” 

Mother of Officer Ella French 

reflects on her daughter in a 

stirring eulogy. 

“She was loud and fun and 

outgoing,” said Blas. “She always 

loved getting 

to know the 

people and talking 

to them. She was 

bubbly and always 

smiling…Ella, 

you’re a great police 

officer, friend 

and partner. Thank 

you for all the great 

memories. I miss 

you.” 

French was 

gunned down 

during an August 

7th traffic stop in 

West Englewood. 

She served for 

three years on the 

police force. 

As tradition dictates, bagpipes 

were playing as a casket containing 

the body of 29-yearold 

Chicago Police Officer Ella 

French was carried by her fellow 

officers Thursday. 

French’s brother, Adam, said 

she “wanted to do good for the 

world.” 

“… My sister is a badass—. She 

always wanted to make a difference 

however it was possible. I 

was never surprised when she 

said she was going to be a sheriff 

and then a cop. It just made 

sense,” Andrew wrote in a message 

to the Sun-Times. 

French’s partner, Carlos Yanez 

Jr., was also shot and critically 

wounded during the traffic stop 

gone wrong. He released a video 

from his hospital room Wednesday. 

The shooting sent shockwaves 

across Chicago. 

Police Superintendent David 

Brown delivered impassioned 

words of support for the police 

force. 

“They go down dark alleys 

none of you would go down, to 

protect you,” Brown said. “They 

run toward bullets.” 

Yanez’s father, a former Chicago 

cop, also spoke during the 

funeral and said his son only 

learned of French’s death two 

days ago. 

“He sank into such sorrow,” 

said Carlos Yanez Sr. “And if you 

know my son, he’s the happiest 

Draped with a city of Chicago flag, the body of Chicago Police Officer Ella French is carried 

into the St Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel for the funeral service on August 19, 2021 

guy in the world all the time. But 

I’ve never seen him so sad and in 

pain.” 

Two brothers have been 

charged in the shooting. A third 

man accused of acting as a 

straw purchaser to buy the gun 

that was used to kill French faces 

federal gun charges. 

Prosecutors say the brothers’ 

car was pulled over for expired 

plates. They say three officers 

approached the car and the situation 

exploded after the younger 

brother — accused shooter Monte 

Morgan — refused to cooperate 

and became unruly. 

“Monte Morgan exited that 

vehicle with a drink in one hand 

and a cell phone in the other. He 

refused repeated instructions to 

set those items down,” said Risa 

Lanier, Interim First Assistant 

State’s Attorney. “He began physically 

jerking his arms away from 

those officers.” 

Moments later, Lanier says 

Morgan pulled a .22 caliber 

handgun from his waistband and 

fired several shots, hitting and 

killing French with a single shot 

to the head, and hitting Yanez in 

the shoulder and the right eye. 

Outside court, prosecutors said 

the initial responding officers 

“had their own guns holstered 

the entire time” of the incident. 

Monte Morgan was later shot and 

wounded by a second group of officers 

who were called for backup. 

French had recently purchased a 

new home in the Parkview neighborhood 

on the Southwest Side in 

June, records show. 

Her neighbor, who identified 

himself only as Johnny R., was 

shocked to learn the fallen officer 

from recent news reports was the 

same “decent person” who lived 

next door to him. 

“That breaks my heart right 

there,” Johnny, 62, told the Chicago 

Sun-Times. “She literally just 

moved in. 


Slain Chicago officer’s partner moves to rehab after being paralyzed, losing an eye. 

Officer Carlos Yanez, who was hurt in the shooting that killed 

Officer Ella French, still has “a long road of recovery ahead.” 

By Associated Press 

CHICAGO — A Chicago police 

officer left partially paralyzed by 

a shooting that killed his partner 

has been moved to a rehabilitation 

center but still faces 

“a long road ahead,” the city’s 

police superintendent says. 

Officer Carlos Yanez, Jr.’s 

move out of a hospital marks 

“a major step in his recovery 

process,” Superintendent David 

Brown said Monday. 

Yanez, 39, lost an eye and was 

partially paralyzed when he 

was shot three times on August 

7th in a shooting during a 

routine traffic stop that killed 

his 29-year-old partner, Officer 

Ella French. They had pulled 

over a vehicle for expired plates 

when a passenger in the vehicle 

opened fire. 

Yanez’s sister and sister-inlaw 

have set up a GoFundMe 

page seeking contributions for 

the extensive therapy he will 

need as he tries to overcome the 

paralysis. 

“He still has a long road ahead, 

but we are grateful for the progress 

he is making,” Brown said. 

The shooting suspect, 21-yearold 

Monty Morgan, was shot in 

the abdomen by a third officer. 

He has been arrested and is 

charged with first-degree murder 

of a peace officer and attempted 

murder. 

His brother, 22-year-old Eric 

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Morgan, who prosecutors say 

was driving the vehicle, was 

also arrested. He faces gun 

charges and an obstruction of 

justice charge. Both were being 

held in Cook County Jail without 

bail. 

A third man accused of acting 

as a straw purchaser to buy the 

gun used in the shooting faces 

federal gun charges. 

Las Vegas Officer Shot in Head During Protest 

Last Summer Attends Charity Hockey Game 

Las Vegas Metro Police Officer 

Shay Mikalonis, who was gravely 

wounded when he was shot in 

the head during anti-police protest 

last summer, made a public 

appearance at a charity hockey 

game Friday night at City National 

Arena. 

The “Play for Shay” game was 

part of the Injured Police Officers 

Fund’s “Pray for Shay” fundraiser. 

Mikalonis, a longtime hockey 

fan, was honored at the game 

by the Las Vegas Metro Honor 

Guard, the Review Journal reports. 

“While the road to recovery 

can be long, we are by your side 

Shay,” the Metropolitan Police 

Department wrote in a Facebook 

post Monday, adding that all 

money raised during the event 

went directly to Mikalonis. “He’s 

making incredible progress since 

he was shot in June 2020.” 

Mikalonis was shot following a 

demonstration in downtown Las 

Vegas on June 1, 2020. He was 

paralyzed from the neck down 

and spent months at a rehabilitation 

center before coming 

home. He has required 24-hour 

care and breathes with the assistance 

of a ventilator. 

A suspect is in custody facing 

an attempted murder charge. 


Detective sues Sig Sauer after she 

says her holstered P320 handgun 

nearly killed her. 

Det. Brittney Hilton had no 

idea she had just been shot. All 

she said she felt at first was an 

incredible amount of pain, and 

a “very sick feeling.” 

“I was cold at some points, 

shaking. The fear kind of takes 

over, the adrenaline takes over,” 

Hilton told ABC News. “I just 

said, ‘Am I going to die?’” 

“I said, ‘Please just tell my 

kids that I love them and don’t 

let them find out on social 

media that I’ve been shot,’” she 

continued. “I didn’t know if I was 

going to make it to the hospital.” 

Hilton, a mom of three who has 

been with the Bridge City, Texas, 

Police Department for 11 years, 

said the bullet came within one 

millimeter -- the edge of a penny 

-- from killing her. 

But what Hilton said she also 

didn’t realize at first was that the 

bullet had come from her own 

service gun, a semi-automatic 

pistol called the P320. It was 

still holstered inside her purse, 

according to the police report. 

Hilton is now suing gunmaker 

Sig Sauer over the December 

2020 incident. 

“Never, in my wildest dreams, 

would I have believed that my 

gun would just have shot me,” 

she said. “Gun owners don’t want 

to think that their gun can just 

go off without the trigger being 

pulled.” 

Sig Sauer’s P320 is widely used 

by police departments across the 

country, and is a big seller in the 

civilian market, with about half 

a million sold nationwide. 

But now, P320 is the subject 

of multiple lawsuits in connection 

with incidents like Hilton’s, 

where owners claim the weapon 

fired without the trigger being 

pulled. 

Hilton said she was inside the 

Bridge City Police station when 

her gun went off. She still has 

the purse with the bullet hole in 

the bottom. 

“I picked up my bag, my keys 

were on top,” she said. “As I 

walked around my desk, my 

purse swings out and it shoots 

out the bottom of my bag.” 

It happened so fast, Hilton said, 

that she didn’t process what was 

going on at first, but she smelled 

the gunpowder. 

“And then I took one step, and I 

felt this pain. It felt like a hot rod 

of metal had just been placed 

not only in my private, but 

through my leg,” she said. “And 

it [the bullet] exits out [of] my 

lower buttocks.” 

Hilton said she still has pain 

from her injury. 

“There’s never a point that I’m 

really not in pain unless I’m laying 

down,” she said. 

Attorney Jeffrey Bagnell represents 

Hilton and several other 

police officers who have filed 

individual lawsuits against Sig 

Sauer over the P320. 

“I think it’s a very, very serious 

safety problem for law enforcement 

and for the public at large,” 

Bagnell said. “I’m not aware of 

any other semi-automatic pistol 

today that has this problem.” 

Hilton’s $15 million lawsuit 

said, “There have been 54 reported 

uncommanded discharges 

of the P320,” meaning the gun 

Det. Brittany Hilton shows the bullet hole in the bottom right corner of 

her purse that she says was caused by her holstered P320 

Det. Brittany Hilton says her P320 handgun was in its holster 

when it went off inside of her purse 

went off by itself, over the last 

five years in 22 states and Washington, 

D.C. 

Sig Sauer did not respond to 

ABC News’ request for comment. 

The gunmaker has previously 

denied liability for these 

incidents and, in some cases, 

blamed the plaintiffs for negligence. 

The gunmaker said in an 

August 2017 press release that 

“the P320 meets and exceeds all 

U.S. standards for safety.” 

After Hilton’s incident, the 

Bridge City Police Department 

had Sig Sauer examine the gun. 

In Sig Sauer’s response to the 

Bridge City Police Department 

after Hilton’s incident, the company 

contends that “a foreign 

object entered the trigger guard 

(causing) the pistol to discharge.” 

Hilton disputes that, saying the 

gun was holstered in her purse 

and that it would be near impossible 

for something to wedge 

inside the holster and be enough 

to pull the trigger. 

“I’m very pro-gun,” Hilton said. 


“But this gun is so dangerous, 

and it just scares me that there 

are so many out there that don’t 

know the potential it has to go 

off.” 

There are currently 10 pending 

lawsuits against Sig Sauer 

for this particular firearm, all 

alleging the gun went off on its 

own. A number of those suing 

the gunmaker said they are in 

law enforcement with extensive 

firearms experience. 

“It’s not credible to claim that 

people with this amount of 

training, this amount of skill are 

all shooting themselves,” Bagnell 

said. “These are experts. It’s happening 

all over the country.... you 

would have to conclude there’s 

a problem with the product, not 

with the people.” 

Virginia Sheriff’s Deputy Marcie 

Vadnais was injured in 2018 

when she said her P320 handgun 

went off on its own as she was 

removing the weapon from her 

belt, still in its holster. She said 

the bullet hit her in the thigh and 

shattered her femur. 

Sig Sauer settled her lawsuit, 

without admitting wrongdoing, 

for an undisclosed amount 

of money the day after the jury 

heard Vadnais testify at the start 

of the trial. 

Vadnais said she wants the gun 

off the market. 

“I saw what it did to me. I saw 

what it did to my family. And 

I don’t want that to happen to 

anybody else,” she said. 

Bagnell said he’s been pressing 

Sig Sauer to recall the P320 for 

years, noting that firearms are 

not subject to any federal safety 

regulations. 

“If this were a car, a phone, 

a refrigerator, it would’ve been 

recalled long, long ago,” Bagnell 

said. “So, I think it is unconscionable, 

given the number of incidents 

of this gun defectively discharging 

without a trigger pull 

would necessitate that someone 

order it to be recalled, and only 

Sig can do that.” 

While Sig Sauer has continued 

to dispute that there is anything 

wrong with the P320, the 

company offered what it called 

a “voluntary upgrade” in 2017, 

saying, “the upgraded P320 has 

lighter internal components, 

including a new thinner-profile 

trigger and a lighter sear and 

striker. These upgrades will enhance 

the protection against unintended 

discharges if the pistol 

is dropped.” 

Then the gunmaker began 

manufacturing all P320s with 

the upgrade. 

Vadnais’ P320 handgun was 

not the upgraded version, however, 

Hilton’s P320 was the upgraded 

version, and her lawyer is 

convinced the modifications have 

not fixed the problem. 

“The defect has not been addressed,” 

said Bagnell. 

Peter Villani is a veteran police 

officer with 35 years of experience, 

including as a firearms 

instructor and a Sig Sauer-certified 

armorer -- someone who is 

certified to repair and inspect a 

firearm -- of the P320. He said he 

believes there are design flaws 

and manufacturing issues with 

the firearm. 

“I carry Sig. I own Sig. I just 

don’t own a [P]320, nor would I 

ever,” he told ABC News, referring 

to all models of the P320 

pistol, including the upgraded 

version. 

Villani, who is an expert witness 

for Hilton in her lawsuit, 

said he began investigating the 

P320 after an officer in his police 

department was injured by an 

upgraded version of the gun. 

He also referred to body camera 

footage captured in 2016 that 

shows an officer’s P320 firing as 

he was getting out of his cruiser 

during a traffic stop. 

“Something hit my leg,” the officer 

can be heard saying on the 

video. “I don’t know if I’m shot 

or what... I just for the life of me 

can’t figure out how that went 

off.” 

A second officer whose body 

camera captured the incident responded: 

“Yeah, because there’s 

no-- your seat belt wouldn’t 

have--” 

“No, the trigger was completely 

covered,” the first officer said. 

“I don’t know. I honestly don’t 

know... I’m glad you’re my witness.” 

“When I see videos of police 

officers getting out of their car 

and their weapon discharges in 

their holsters, there’s a problem 

with the gun,” Villani said. 

Firearms expert and ABC News 

consultant Joshua Harrison 

agrees there was a problem with 

the P320, but he believes it’s 

been fixed. 

“There were a lot of changes. 

It was expensive, and they would 

not have done that for no reason 

at all,” Harrison told ABC News. 

“In my opinion, the only reason 

Sig would have done that is if 

they knew there was a safety 

problem with the original gun, 

otherwise they would not have 

done it.” 

Harrison said if indeed there 

are cases of the upgraded versions 

of the gun firing on their 

own, it is unclear what would be 

causing them to do so. 

“I have not seen enough to 

convince me that the upgraded 

version’s dangerous,” Harrison 

said. “I do not have an explanation 

for why the updated version 

should have these complaints 

from trained individuals. If it’s 

not legal momentum, then it 

would have to be some other 

mechanism of failure.” 

Still, there are at least two police 

departments that had safety 

concerns about the P320 and 

replaced it with a different gun. 

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In Philadelphia, the transit 

police SEPTA swapped out its 

P320s for Glocks after one of its 

officers had a P320 go off unexpectedly 

in 2019. The bullet in 

that case narrowly missed the 

officer and a woman nearby. 

In Stamford, Connecticut, an 

officer sued Sig Sauer after he 

says he dropped his P320 and it 

shot him in the knee. That department 

replaced all P320s in 

2017. 

Hilton said her department in 

Bridge City is ordering new guns, 

but in the meantime, many of its 

officers still carry the modified 

version of the P320 pistol. 

“I have a lot of anxiety every 

day [over this],” Hilton said. “The 

fact that I carried my purse into 

my house every single day and 

my children were at home ... Sig 

put their life at risk. Sig knows 

they put their life at risk.” 

She said she continues to live 

with the physical and emotional 

scars from her incident. 

“I think that this gun needs 

to be removed from the shelf,” 

Hilton said. “I hope it doesn’t 

take something fatal, and I’m 

hoping by bringing awareness to 

the public that maybe it’ll bring 

attention to Sig to say, ‘Hey, this 

gun’s an issue, and before it gets 

someone killed, take it off the 

shelf. Stop manufacturing this 

gun. Find a different solution.’” 

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Law enforcement parents lose 

son to suicide bomber in Kabul 

USMC Corporal Hunter Lopez was the son of Riverside County 

Sheriff’s Department Captain Herman Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez 

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — All 

of America is mourning the loss 

of life in Afghanistan after a suicide 

bomber claimed the lives of 

13 U.S. service members. One of 

those killed in action was USMC 

Corporal Hunter Lopez, 22. He 

was the son of Riverside Sheriff’s 

Department Captain Herman 

Lopez and Deputy Alicia Lopez. 

The Riverside County Sheriff’s 

Department discussed Hunter’s 

involvement with the agency as 

well as his aspirations to join the 

organization upon completion of 

his tour of duty. The department 

issued the following statement 

on Facebook: 

It is with great sadness that 

I announce the death of Hunter 

Lopez, the son of two of our 

department members, Captain 

Herman Lopez, and Deputy Alicia 

Lopez. 

Hunter also served our Department 

as an Explorer from 

September 2014 through August 

2017 at our Palm Desert Station. 

Hunter graduated from La Quinta 

High School in 2017. 

On September 5, 2017, Hunter 

joined the United States Marine 

Corps and was assigned to the 

22nd Battalion, 1st Marines. 

Hunter, who was 22 years old 

at the time of his death, planned 

on following his parent’s footsteps 

and becoming a Riverside 

County Sheriff’s Deputy after 

returning home from his current 

deployment. 

Hunter, thank you for your service 

to our community and our 

country. My thoughts and prayers 

are with your family. 

Sheriff Chad Bianco 

Lopez’ death was also covered 

by CBS Los Angeles. The news 

outlet included details from the 

Riverside Sheriff’s Association. 

With a heavy heart, we announce 

the passing of a beloved 

member of the Riverside Sheriff’s 

family, United States Marine 

Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez, 

one of one 13 United States service 

members killed at the Kabul 

airport during the U.S. led evacuation 

effort. We are heartbroken 

to hear this sad news about 

Hunter, who chose to follow 

a life of service, selflessness, 

courage and sacrifice, like his 

parents. Hunter was a Riverside 

Sheriff’s Explorer Scout with the 

Palm Desert Station from September 

2014 to August 2017. 

Hunter joined the United States 

Marine Corps and was assigned 

to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines. 

Hunter, who was 22 years old 

at the time of his death, planned 

on becoming a Riverside County 

Sheriff’s Deputy after returning 

from his current deployment. 

Today the entire law enforcement 

community stands with 

the Lopez family, friends, fellow 

Marines, and all who loved him, 

praying for comfort, peace.” 

Hunter was the victim of vicious 

evil and was killed because 

he wore a United States 

Marine uniform with love and 

pride. Our entire community 

feels the anguish, and we mourn 

the death of Hunter, who answered 

the call to serve, defend 

and protect our nation. Like his 

parents who serve our community, 

being a Marine to Hunter 

wasn’t a job; it was a calling. 

He loved his family, and as we 

grieve for Hunter and his fellow 

Marines taken from us too soon, 

there are simply no words to 

express how deeply he will be 

missed — Semper Fi. 

The Lopez family requests that 

all donations be made to the 

Riverside County Deputy Sheriff 

Relief Foundation in the name 

of the Lopez Family. The address 

is 21810 Cactus Avenue, Riverside, 

CA 92518. The Lopez family 

respectfully requests privacy 

during this incredibly difficult 

time. The family will share 

details and plans for the celebration 

of Hunter’s life at a later 

date. 



AUGUST 26, 2021 • KUBAL, AFGHANISTAN 

For the 13 brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice 

for our country, we will never forget you, your service, or your 

love for the country. You died serving your country and helping 

those who sought freedom from those who would do them 

harm. One by one, you lifted them to a better life, a free life, a 

life where they could make their own destiny. A life where their 

children could grow up without the sounds of gunfire and explosions 

throughout the night. To live in a land that’s free because 

of the sacrifice you made here today. And to the families of 

these brave men and women, we prayed you would never know 

the life of a Gold Star family. But know that you will forever be 

in our thoughts and prayers each day. Your sons and daughters 

are true heroes, and we will never forget them. For they 

live forever in our hearts. 





U.S. MARINE 

CPL. DAEGAN PAGE 

U.S. MARINE 

CPL. HUNTER LOPEZ 

U.S. MARINE 

LANCE CPL. DAVID LEE ESPINOZA 

U.S. MARINE 

LANCE CPL. KAREEM NIKOUI 

U.S. MARINE 

LANCE CPL. RYLEE MCCOLLUM 

U.S. MARINE 

SGT. JOHANNY ROSARIO 

U.S. MARINE 

SGT. NICOLE GEE 

U.S. MARINE 

LANCE CPL. JARED SCHMITZ 

U.S. NAVY 

CORPSMAN MAX SOVIAK 

U.S. MARINE 

STAFF SGT. TAYLOR HOOVER 





U.S. MARINE 

CPL. HUMBERTO SANCHEZ 

U.S. ARMY 

STAFF SGT. RYAN KNAUSS 

U.S. MARINE 

LANCE CPL. DYLAN MEROLA 




SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 

Oh, Gracious God, Today, we come before you with heavy hearts as we remember 

the events of 9/11. For years, those numbers simply meant a call 

for help. Now they also remind us of September 11th, 2001, the date of 

the worst terrorist attack on the United States of America and one of the 

deadliest days ever on American soil. We are here today to remember the 

attacks and honor those we lost from both our community and our armed 

forces. For some of us, 9/11 is a mixed bag of emotions. We hurt deeply 

for those who lost their lives and those who lost their loved ones. We 

mourn the nearly 3,000 who died that day. We are humbled by the bravery 

of the first responders. We are still saddened by the loss of our brother 

and sister firefighters and police officers. We continue to grieve with our 

neighbors in the loss of our national innocence - our false sense of security. 

We remember when churches, synagogues, and temples opened their doors 

to ALL people. We remember strangers carried strangers out of buildings. 

We remember those we lost and those we saved. We remember the bravery 

of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. Yet, we continue 

to struggle with the immense tragedy of that day, so long ago. Lord, we 

still remember how the world responded, supporting us, and even declaring 

us one people. God of all people, teach us to be patriotic again. Teach us to 

see the frailty, beauty, and value of life in light of this tragedy rather than 

using it to elevate trivial difference to the heights of divisive reasons for 

hatred. Remind us of the way the true heart of our nation’s people was revealed 

in open doors, open arms and open hearts. May we never forget that 

on that day we did not focus on nationality, wealth, race, or education. We 

focused on humanity and love for our fellow AMERICANS. Lord, call us back 

to that place in our hearts. Instill in us the deepest sense to be that people 

once again. We lift up to you all those who, even today, 20 years later, 

continue to suffer from the loss. May we continue to heal and help each 

other just as we did that day. 





American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 

Humane Law Enforcement, New York 

SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR DIANE DIGIACOMO 

Arlington County Police Department, Virginia 

CORPORAL HARVEY SNOOK, III 

Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, New York 

UNDERSHERIFF STEPHEN B. MCLOUD 

City University of New York Department of Public Safety, 

New York 

DEPUTY CHIEF JOHN P. MCKEE 

Connecticut State Police, Connecticut 

TROOPER FIRST CLASS EUGENE KENNETH BARON, JR. 

TROOPER FIRST CLASS WALTER GREENE, JR. 

Harrison Police Department, New York 

POLICE OFFICER WALTER L. MALLINSON 

Montclair State University Police Department, New Jersey 

SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER A. VIDRO 

Nassau County Police Department, New York 

POLICE OFFICER BRIAN R. ABBONDANDELO 

POLICE OFFICER CHARLES DENNIS COLE, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER PETER FRANCIS CURRAN 

POLICE OFFICER PETER MARTINO 

POLICE OFFICER PAUL J. MCCABE 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES V. QUINN 

LIEUTENANT MICHAEL P. SHEA 

New Jersey State Police, New Jersey 

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM GEORGE FEARON 

STAFF SERGEANT BRYAN U. MCCOY 

TROOPER ROBERT EMMET NAGLE 

New Rochelle Police Department, New York 

DETECTIVE MARK S. GADO 

POLICE OFFICER KATHLEEN O’CONNOR-FUNIGIELLO 

New York City Fire Department - 

Bureau of Fire Investigation, New York 

FIRE MARSHAL RONALD P. BUCCA 

New York City Police Department, New York 

DETECTIVE SANDRA Y. ADRIAN 

DETECTIVE I GERARD A. AHEARN 

DETECTIVE JAMES JOHN ALBANESE 

CHIEF OF DETECTIVES WILLIAM H. ALLEE 

DETECTIVE SIXTO ALMONTE 

DETECTIVE LUIS GUSTAVO ALVAREZ 

SERGEANT ALEX W. BAEZ 

POLICE OFFICER CURTIS JOSEPH BAKO 

POLICE OFFICER KAREN E. BARNES 

DETECTIVE THOMAS J. BARNITT 

POLICE OFFICER RONALD G. BECKER, JR. 

DETECTIVE ASLYN A. BECKLES 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES A. BETSO 

SERGEANT GERARD THOMAS BEYRODT 

POLICE OFFICER DERRICK BISHOP 

POLICE OFFICER SCOTT R. BLACKSHAW 

POLICE OFFICER FRANK M. BOLUSI 

DEPUTY CHIEF STEVEN JOSEPH BONANO 

SERGEANT PATRICK J. BOYLE 

SERGEANT WILLIAM BRAUTIGAM 

POLICE OFFICER THOMAS GERARD BROPHY 

LIEUTENANT REBECCA A. BUCK 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES M. BURKE 

CAPTAIN CARMINE C. CANTALINO 

POLICE OFFICER AUDREY P. CAPRA 

POLICE OFFICER MADELINE CARLO 

DETECTIVE MEGAN K. CARR-WILKS 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH A. CAVITOLO 

POLICE OFFICER YOLANDA CAWLEY 

SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER M. CHRISTODOULOU 

POLICE OFFICER PETER D. CIACCIO 

LIEUTENANT STEVEN L. CIOFFI 

SERGEANT CHARLES J. CLARK 

POLICE OFFICER DANIEL CHARLES CONROY 

SERGEANT JOHN GERARD COUGHLIN 

SERGEANT PATRICK T. COYNE 

DETECTIVE CHRISTOPHER EDWARD CRANSTON 

DETECTIVE ANGEL ANTONIO CREAGH 

SERGEANT MICHAEL SEAN CURTIN 

DETECTIVE KEVIN ANTHONY CZARTORYSKI 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN D’ALLARA 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY D’ERASMO 

DETECTIVE ANNETTA G. DANIELS 

POLICE OFFICER VINCENT G. DANZ 

SERGEANT GARRETT S. DANZA 

DETECTIVE MICHAEL KENNETH DAVIS 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY DEJESUS 





DEPUTY CHIEF VINCENT A. DEMARINO 

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL O. DIAMOND 

DETECTIVE COREY J. DIAZ 

DETECTIVE LEROY DIXON 

POLICE OFFICER KENNETH XAVIER DOMENECH 

POLICE OFFICER JEROME MARK PATRICK DOMINGUEZ 

POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN PATRICK DRISCOLL 

POLICE OFFICER RENEE DUNBAR 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT M. EHMER 

POLICE OFFICER MARK JOSEPH ELLIS 

POLICE OFFICER OTTO R. ESPINOZA 

DETECTIVE PEDRO ESPONDA, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM P. FARLEY 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT FAZIO, JR. 

DETECTIVE LUIS G. FERNANDEZ 

SERGEANT PAUL MICHAEL FERRARA 

POLICE OFFICER KEITH A. FERRARA 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN P. FERRARI 

POLICE OFFICER EDWARD M. FERRARO 

INSPECTOR DONALD G. FESER 

DETECTIVE CARMEN M. FIGUEROA 

POLICE OFFICER ALEXANDER FIGUEROA 

POLICE OFFICER NICHOLAS G. FINELLI 

DETECTIVE STUART F. FISHKIN 

POLICE OFFICER EDWARD J. FITZGERALD 

LIEUTENANT JEFFREY W. FRANCIS 

SERGEANT GARY M. FRANKLIN 

DETECTIVE SEAN PATRICK FRANKLIN 

POLICE OFFICER FRANK L. GAGLIANO 

POLICE OFFICER SCOTT N. GAINES 

CAPTAIN BARRY GALFANO 

POLICE OFFICER THOMAS J. GALLAGHER 

SERGEANT MICHAEL J. GALVIN 

POLICE OFFICER DEBORAH A. GARBUTT-JEFF 

POLICE OFFICER MATTHEW J. GAY 

POLICE OFFICER JUDY ANN GHANY-BAROUNIS 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY C. GIAMBRA, JR. 

DETECTIVE PETER “PIETRO” GIANFRANCESCO 

DETECTIVE JAMES THOMAS GIERY 

SERGEANT RODNEY C. GILLIS 

CAPTAIN EDWARD CHARLES GILPIN 

DETECTIVE CHARLES GILBERT GITTENS, JR. 

DETECTIVE MICHAEL E. GLAZER 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES JUNIOR GODBEE 

DETECTIVE JOHN E. GOGGIN 

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL H. GRANNIS 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT C. GROSSMAN 

POLICE OFFICER DAVE E. GUEVARA 

INSPECTOR JAMES GUIDA 

SERGEANT CHARLES R. GUNZELMAN 

POLICE OFFICER DIANE F. HALBRAN 

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL J. HANCE 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY R. HANLON 

SERGEANT CLAIRE T. HANRAHAN 

POLICE OFFICER RAYMOND HARRIS 

DETECTIVE KEVIN GEORGE HAWKINS 

POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH F. HEID 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT BERNARD HELMKE 

DETECTIVE MICHAEL R. HENRY 

DETECTIVE ALICK W. HERRMANN 

DETECTIVE WILLIAM J. HOLFESTER 

POLICE OFFICER RICHARD G. HOLLAND 

DETECTIVE NATHANIEL HOLLAND, JR. 

DETECTIVE STEVEN HOM 

POLICE OFFICER DEMETRIAS HOPKINS 

DETECTIVE CHARLES JAMES HUMPHRY 

SERGEANT MICHAEL VINCENT INCONTRERA 

SERGEANT WAYNE A. JACKSON 

POLICE OFFICER RICHARD JAKUBOWSKY 

POLICE OFFICER CHERYL D. JOHNSON 

POLICE OFFICER PAUL J. JOHNSON 

POLICE OFFICER LOUISE M. JOHNSTON 

SERGEANT SCOTT JOHNSTON 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT W. KAMINSKI 

POLICE OFFICER CHARLES M. KAREN 

DETECTIVE WILLIAM D. KINANE 

POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM J. KING 

POLICE OFFICER RONALD PHILIP KLOEPFER 

POLICE OFFICER GARY LEE KOCH 

POLICE OFFICER KELLY CHRISTINE KORCHAK 

POLICE OFFICER FRED J. KRINES 

DETECTIVE JOHN F. KRISTOFFERSEN 

DETECTIVE STEPHEN T. KUBINSKI 

POLICE OFFICER THOMAS MICHAEL LANGONE 

DETECTIVE ROBERT F. LARKE 

SERGEANT MARK LAWLER 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES PATRICK LEAHY 

DETECTIVE MICHAEL LAWRENCE LEDEK 

DETECTIVE JEFFREY A. LEE 

INSPECTOR JUSTIN C. LENZ 

POLICE OFFICER ANDREW J. LEWIS 

DETECTIVE CHRISTIAN R. LINDSAY 

LIEUTENANT LUIS A. LOPEZ 

POLICE OFFICER RICHARD LOPEZ 

DETECTIVE THOMAS J. LYONS 

POLICE OFFICER FRANK GERARD MACRI 

POLICE OFFICER DAVID MAHMOUD 

POLICE OFFICER SHAUN M. MAHONEY 





DETECTIVE JOHN J. MARSHALL 

SERGEANT ROBERT P. MASCI 

POLICE OFFICER VITO S. MAURO 

POLICE OFFICER GARY GERALD MAUSBERG 

LIEUTENANT JACQUELINE MCCARTHY 

POLICE OFFICER BRIAN GRADY MCDONNELL 

POLICE OFFICER PATRICK THOMAS MCGOVERN 

SERGEANT COLLEEN A. MCGOWAN 

CAPTAIN EDWARD JOSEPH MCGREAL 

SERGEANT MICHAEL J. MCHUGH 

POLICE OFFICER DENIS REID MCLARNEY 

POLICE OFFICER CHRISTOPHER SHAWN MCMURRY 

LIEUTENANT JENNIFER MEEHAN 

POLICE OFFICER GREGORY V. MELITA 

DETECTIVE TOMMY L. MERRIWEATHER 

DETECTIVE MARK MKWANAZI 

LIEUTENANT BRIAN S. MOHAMED 

DEPUTY CHIEF JAMES GERARD MOLLOY 

DETECTIVE JAMES W. MONAHAN 

DETECTIVE ROBERT A. MONTANEZ 

DETECTIVE MICHAEL P. MORALES 

CAPTAIN DENNIS MORALES 

DETECTIVE JOHN K. MULLER 

SERGEANT PATRICK P. MURPHY 

LIEUTENANT PAUL MURPHY 

SERGEANT EDMUND P. MURRAY 

SERGEANT ANTHONY NAPOLITANO 

POLICE OFFICER MARK J. NATALE 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT J. NICOSIA 

DETECTIVE MAUREEN M. O’FLAHERTY 

SERGEANT TERRENCE SCOTT O’HARA 

SERGEANT DONALD J. O’LEARY, JR. 

LIEUTENANT CARLOS J. OCASIO 

POLICE OFFICER JASON HOWARD OFFNER 

DETECTIVE EDWIN ORTIZ 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT ORTIZ 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT V. OSWAIN, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH CAVANAUGH PAGNANI 

POLICE OFFICER ALLISON MARIE PALMER 

LIEUTENANT PHILLIP E. PANZARELLA 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH PAOLILLO 

POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM G. PARKER 

POLICE OFFICER MARIE ANN PATTERSON-BOHANAN 

CAPTAIN RONALD G. PEIFER, SR. 

POLICE OFFICER ANGELO PELUSO, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN WILLIAM PERRY 

DETECTIVE PHILIP T. PERRY 

POLICE OFFICER GLEN KERRIN PETTIT 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH L. PIDOTO 

SERGEANT LOUIS R. PIOLI 

CAPTAIN PETER L. PISCHERA 

POLICE OFFICER FRANCIS THOMAS PITONE 

POLICE OFFICER FRANK J. PIZZO 

POLICE OFFICER NANCY A. PUCA 

LIEUTENANT CHRISTOPHER M. PUPO 

ASSISTANT CHIEF MICHAEL V. QUINN 

DETECTIVE ANDREA RENEE JACQUELINE RAINER 

POLICE OFFICER MOIRA ANN REDDY-SMITH 

POLICE OFFICER CHRISTINE ANNE REILLY 

DETECTIVE GEORGE CLAY REMOUNS, JR. 

LIEUTENANT GERALD REX 

LIEUTENANT ROBERT DANIEL RICE 

DETECTIVE CLAUDE DANIEL RICHARDS 

DETECTIVE RONALD A. RICHARDS 

DETECTIVE ROBERTO L. RIVERA 

POLICE OFFICER LAWRENCE J. RIVERA 

POLICE OFFICER PETER O. RODRIGUEZ 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH M. ROMAN 

LIEUTENANT KENNETH W. ROSELLO 

LIEUTENANT JOHN CHARLES ROWLAND 

SERGEANT TIMOTHY ALAN ROY, SR. 

LIEUTENANT JAMES D. RUSSELL 

DETECTIVE JOHN A. RUSSO 

SERGEANT MICHAEL W. RYAN 

LIEUTENANT JAMES E. RYAN 

POLICE OFFICER PATRICE MARIE RYAN-OTT 

DETECTIVE THOMAS SANTORO 

SERGEANT STEPHEN P. SCALZA 

SERGEANT JACQUELINE C. SCHAEFER 

DETECTIVE JAMES A. SCHIAVONE, JR. 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH EDWARD SEABROOK 

POLICE OFFICER PETER M. SHERIDAN, JR. 

LIEUTENANT MARCI SIMMS 

DETECTIVE BASILIO A. SIMONS 

DETECTIVE ANDREW L. SIROKA 

SERGEANT HAROLD JOHN SMITH 

CAPTAIN SCOTT V. STELMOK 

DETECTIVE CHRISTOPHER STRUCKER 

POLICE OFFICER RAMON SUAREZ 

SERGEANT BARBARA J. SULLIVAN 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT S. SUMMERS 

DETECTIVE TRACI L. TACK-CZAJKOWSKI 

POLICE OFFICER PAUL TALTY 

POLICE OFFICER RICHARD E. TAYLOR 

SERGEANT EDWARD DOYLE “NED” THOMPSON 

DETECTIVE SALLY A. THOMPSON 





DETECTIVE WILLIAM B. TITUS, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER MARTIN TOM 

POLICE OFFICER REGINALD UMPTHERY, SR. 

POLICE OFFICER SANTOS VALENTIN, JR. 

DETECTIVE HARRY VALENTIN 

POLICE OFFICER MANUEL VARGAS, JR. 

DETECTIVE DENNIS J. VICKERY 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN F. VIERLING, JR. 

DETECTIVE JOSEPH VINCENT VIGIANO 

POLICE OFFICER PERRY T. VILLANI 

POLICE OFFICER MATTHEW S. VON SEYDEWITZ 

SERGEANT MICHAEL B. WAGNER 

POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM T. WALSH 

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM H. WANSER, III 

DETECTIVE THOMAS P. WARD 

POLICE OFFICER WALTER EDWARD WEAVER 

DETECTIVE THOMAS FRANCIS WEINER, JR. 

POLICE OFFICER RONALD EVAN WEINTRAUB 

DETECTIVE RICHARD H. WENTZ 

DETECTIVE JENNIFER A. WILLIAMS 

POLICE OFFICER WADE JASON WILLIAMS 

DETECTIVE ROBERT W. WILLIAMSON 

INSPECTOR RICHARD DANIEL WINTER 

POLICE OFFICER KENNETH W. WOLF 

POLICE OFFICER GEORGE MON CHENG WONG 

DETECTIVE JOHN T. YOUNG 

DETECTIVE JAMES ZADROGA 

POLICE OFFICER ROBERT A. ZANE, JR. 

New York County District Attorney’s Office, 

SENIOR INVESTIGATOR FRED GHUSSIN 

New York State Environmental Conservation Police, 

CONSERVATION OFFICER STEPHEN LAWRENCE RAYMOND 

New York State Office of Court Administration, 

SENIOR COURT OFFICER THOMAS JURGENS 

CAPTAIN WILLIAM THOMPSON 

SENIOR COURT OFFICER MITCHEL SCOTT WALLACE 

New York State Office of Tax Enforcement - 

Petroleum, Alcohol and Tobacco Bureau, New York 

BUREAU CHIEF CHARLES MILLS 

New York State Office of Tax Enforcement - 

Revenue Crimes Bureau, New York 

INVESTIGATOR CLYDE FRAZIER 

INVESTIGATOR RICHARD MOORE 

INVESTIGATOR SALVATORE PAPASSO 

ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER WILLIAM POHL- 

MANN 

New York State Police, New York 

TROOPER MICHAEL J. ANSON 

TROOPER DARRYL J. BURROUGHS, SR. 

SERGEANT JEFFREY M. CICORA 

TROOPER JENNIFER M. CZARNECKI 

TROOPER BRIAN S. FALB 

INVESTIGATOR RYAN D. FORTINI 

SENIOR INVESTIGATOR THOMAS G. MORAN, JR. 

TROOPER COVEL CHASE PIERCE 

SERGEANT CHARLES ROBERT SALAWAY 

INVESTIGATOR PAUL R. STUEWER 

Newtown Police Department, Connecticut 

POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN A. KETCHUM 

Paterson Police Department, New Jersey 

DETECTIVE ANTHONY JOSPEH LUCANTO 

Peekskill Police Department, New York 

DETECTIVE CHARLES JOHN WASSIL, JR. 

Port Authority of New York and 

New Jersey Police Department, New York 

POLICE OFFICER CHRISTOPHER AMOROSO 

POLICE OFFICER MAURICE BARRY 

POLICE OFFICER CHARLES BARZYDLO 

LIEUTENANT JOHN J. BRANT 

POLICE OFFICER LIAM CALLAHAN 

LIEUTENANT ROBERT CIRRI 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN MARK CORTAZZO 

POLICE OFFICER CLINTON DAVIS 

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM E. DOUBRASKI 

POLICE OFFICER DONALD FOREMAN 

POLICE OFFICER GREGG FROEHNER 

POLICE OFFICER THOMAS GORMAN 

SERGEANT LAWRENCE A. GUARNIERI 

POLICE OFFICER UHURU GONJA HOUSTON 

POLICE OFFICER GEORGE HOWARD 

POLICE OFFICER STEPHEN HUCZKO, JR. 

INSPECTOR ANTHONY INFANTE 

DETECTIVE THOMAS M. INMAN 

POLICE OFFICER PAUL JURGENS 

SERGEANT ROBERT KAULFERS 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES W. KENNELLY 




POLICE OFFICER PAUL LASZCZYNSKI 

POLICE OFFICER WILLIAM JAMES LEAHY 

POLICE OFFICER DAVID P. LEMAGNE 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN LENNON 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN LEVI 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES LYNCH 

CAPTAIN KATHY MAZZA 

POLICE OFFICER DONALD MCINTYRE 

POLICE OFFICER WALTER MCNEIL 

POLICE OFFICER MARK J. MEIER 

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY FRED V. MORRONE 

POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH NAVAS 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES NELSON 

POLICE OFFICER ALFONSE NIEDERMEYER 

SERGEANT VINCENT JOSEPH OLIVA 

POLICE OFFICER PAVLOS D. PALLAS 

POLICE OFFICER JAMES PARHAM 

POLICE OFFICER DOMINICK PEZZULO 

POLICE OFFICER BRUCE REYNOLDS 

POLICE OFFICER ANTONIO RODRIGUES 

POLICE OFFICER RICHARD RODRIGUEZ 

CHIEF JAMES ROMITO 

POLICE OFFICER JOHN SKALA 

POLICE OFFICER WALWYN STUART 

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL EDMUND TEEL 

POLICE OFFICER KENNETH TIETJEN 

POLICE OFFICER STEVEN JOHN TURSELLINO 

POLICE OFFICER NATHANIEL WEBB 

POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL WHOLEY 

Suffolk County Police Department, New York 

Police Officer Craig L. Capolino 

SERGEANT JAMES THOMAS FARRELL 

DETECTIVE STEPHEN JOHN MULLEN 

SERGEANT DENNIS WALLACE REICHARDT 

United States Department of Homeland Security - 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland 

Security Investigations, U.S. Government 

SPECIAL AGENT LOUIS HENRY AGUIRRE 

SPECIAL AGENT DENNIS PATRICK MCCARTHY 

SPECIAL AGENT EDWARD JOSEPH SMITH 

SPECIAL AGENT ROBERT T. WILLIAMS 

SPECIAL AGENT THOMAS MICHAEL WISCHERTH 

United States Department of Justice - 

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

Explosives, U.S. Government 

SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM C. SHELDON 

United States Department of Justice - 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government 

SPECIAL AGENT DENNIS BONELLI 

SPECIAL AGENT STEVEN A. CARR 

SPECIAL AGENT WILLIAM ROBERT CRAIG 

SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT BRIAN LAWRENCE 

CREWS 

SPECIAL AGENT LAURIE J. FOURNIER 

SPECIAL AGENT LEONARD HATTON 

SPECIAL AGENT JERRY D. JOBE 

SPECIAL AGENT MARK C. JOHNSTON 

SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE DAVID JAMES LEVALLEY 

SPECIAL AGENT MARK JOSEPH MIKULSKI 

SPECIAL AGENT MELISSA S. MORROW 

SPECIAL AGENT ROBERT MARTIN ROTH 

SPECIAL AGENT GERARD D. SENATORE 

SPECIAL AGENT REX AARON STOCKHAM 

SPECIAL AGENT PAUL H. WILSON 

SPECIAL AGENT WESLEY J. YOO 

United States Department of Justice - United States 

Marshals Service, U.S. Government 

DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL KENNETH J. DOYLE 

DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL BETTY ANN PASCARELLA 

DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL ZACARIAS TORO, JR. 

United States Department of the Interior - Fish and 

Wildlife Service - Division of Refuge Law Enforcement, 

U.S. Government 

REFUGE MANAGER RICHARD JERRY GUADAGNO 

United States Department of the Treasury - 

United States Secret Service Special Services Division, 

U.S. Government 

MASTER SPECIAL OFFICER CRAIG J. MILLER 

Yonkers Police Department, New York 

POLICE OFFICER ANTHONY MAGGIORE 

LIEUTENANT ROY D. MCLAUGHLIN 




Natividad “Nat” Gutierrez 

Co-Founder of the BLUES 

May 18, 1953 - August 17,2021 

It is with great sadness that we said goodbye late last month to one of the co-founders of The BLUES Police Newspaper – Sgt. 

Natividad “Nat” Gutierrez, a 38-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s office. On August 17, 2021, Nat passed away due 

to complications of COVID. 

It was Nat, who in the fall of 1984 after being promoted to Sergeant, suggested we start a newspaper to distribute to members 

of the Sheriff’s Dept. After meeting with then Sheriff Jack Heard and receiving his ‘seal of approval’ we proceeded with 

plans to release the first edition just before Christmas. It was also Nat’s idea to name the newspaper The County Blues, after 

the popular TV show “Hill Street Blues.” Nat remained active in the newspaper for the first months but soon learned that being 

a supervisor for Sheriff Johnny Klevenhagen and being the co-publisher of a controversial newspaper did not make for bright 

future at the department. 

I’ll share a “Nat” story with everyone. I got a call one afternoon to report to the station and see the captain. Once I got there, I 

was ordered to report to the Sheriff’s office forthwith. Oh yeah, you’re supposed to take Nat Gutierrez with you. So, I called the 

dispatcher and advised her to have Nat call me ASAP at District 2. Seconds later Nat is on the phone and freaking out because 

the Sheriff is calling us downtown. We both knew the Sheriff wasn’t happy with some of the articles in the newspaper and wanted 

us to stop publishing it. Nat said, “Listen Mike, I have your back. No matter what he says, I’m 100% behind you.” Well since 

this newspaper was pretty much your idea Nat, that’s really nice of you. We both laughed until we were standing in Klevenhagen’s 

office getting our butts chewed out. Then Klevenhagen says, “Gutierrez, I can’t do much to Barron, he’s just a low life deputy 

(wait did he call me a lowlife?) but you sir, I can bust you back to a deputy and send you back to the jail. And Nat says, “Wait I’m 

just like a consultant or an intern at best, I don’t make the editorial decisions, Barron does.” I immediately started laughing 

and Klevenhagen went off on me. Then he threatened to fire me and ordered me to stop publishing The BLUES. So, I asked to use 

the phone and called my attorney. Klevenhagen dismissed us both and told Nat to go back to work and ordered me to wait in the 

lobby. We both walked outside, and I looked at Nat and said “Consultant….an intern at best…. you sure had my back in there 

huh…?” And Nat is turning all red and I’m like dude, I’m just busting your ass…it’s OK, just go back to work and come pick my 

ass up later. We both started laughing and Nat went back to work. When he finally came back to get me, he couldn’t wait to hear 

what happened. I said, “You’re off the hook, I’m now on nights and oh yeah…. I have Mondays & Wednesdays off.” I guess it wasn’t 

so funny after that, but it was all good. Nat went on to other great things, his idea for a community police newspaper continued 

to grow, year after year and I ended up with better days off after six months or so. 

Fast forward 36 years, and the BLUES was about to be reborn as the BLUES Police Magazine. Nat was one of the first people I 

emailed to share the news. Nat said, “Well at least this time you have better days off…LOL.” So, it’s an honor to feature Nat on 

this month’s cover of The BLUES. We will always be thankful for Nat’s contribution and creative mind that led to the formation 

of The County Blues. 

Finally, it was Nat’s desire to hold a massive reunion for Retired Harris County Employees at his place in Livingston. The BLUES 

will honor Nat’s wishes by immediately planning the greatest retirement party of all time in 2022 for retired law enforcement 

officers in the Greater Houston area. Stay tuned as we plan this monumental event in Nat’s honor. 

“Nat” Gutierrez 



Officers Lost Due to COVID in August 2021 

DEPUTY SHERIFF 

SHAUN WATERS 

CORRECTIONS OFFICER 

MAURICE “REESE” JACKSON 

SHERIFF 

LEE D. VANCE 

DETECTIVE 

DALE SYLVESTER, JR. 

RESERVE SERGEANT 

JOHN RICHARD BULLARD, JR. 

SPECIAL AGENT 

GREGORY CLEVELAND HOLLAND 

POLICE OFFICER 

JUAN MANUAL GOMEZ-LOPEZ 


JENNIFER B. SEPOT 

TROOPER 

LAZARO R. FEBLES 

SERGEANT 

STEVEN MAZZOTTA 




BORDER PATROL AGENT 

RICARDO ZARATE 


EDWARD PEREZ 


ERIC OTIS RITTER 

SERGEANT 

JOHN HARRIS 

SERGEANT 

KUO-SHENG “JOHNNY “WANG 

SERGEANT 

FRANK TOBAR 

CORRECTIONS DEPUTY 

KEVIN KOKINIS 

DETECTIVE 

MANUAL “CHRIS” WIDNER 


CHRISTOPHER BROADHEAD 


ROGER A. MITCHELL 




CHIEF 

KENNETH KIRKLAND 

CORRECTIONS DEPUTY 

LAKIESHA TUCKER 

SENIOR POLICE OFFICER 

RANDOLPH BOYD, JR. 

SENIOR SERGEANT 

STEVE URIAS 

SERGEANT 

CHRISTOPHER RAY WILSON 


JAMES N. HENRY 


BRANDON ARD 


WILLIAM DIAZ 


GARY L. WOODARD 

TROOPER 

SEAN C. HRYC 





JAMES MORGAN 


DENNIS BENNETT 


DENNIS W. DIXON 


DARRYL “SCOUT” GOODRICH, JR. 


HARRY “BUDDY” HUTCHINSON 

CAPTAIN 

JOSEPH MANNING 

SERGEANT 

CLAY GARRISON 

BORDER PATROL AGENT 

CHAD E. MCBROOM 

MARSHALL 

MICHAEL KEATHLEY 


CARLOS ORTIZ 


FBI 

STORIES OF THE 

2001 - 2021 N E V E R F O R G E T 


Remembering 

Attacks 20 Years Ago Shaped Today’s FBI 

9/11 

The morning of September 11, 2001 remains one of the most pivotal points in American history—and 

for the FBI. The ensuing investigation was the largest in the history of the Bureau. The 

attacks led to far-reaching changes in the organization as it elevated terrorism to the gravest 

threat against the U.S. 

The attacks took the lives of nearly 3,000 people, and the crash sites represented the largest 

crime scene in FBI history. At the peak of the case, more than half of all FBI agents were at 

work to identify the hijackers and their sponsors and along with other agencies, to head off any 

possible future attacks. 

Over the last 20 years, the Bureau evolved from an agency focused primarily on criminal offenses 

into an intelligence-based national security and law enforcement organization. Preventing 

terrorism continues to be the FBI’s top priority; the Bureau has established more than 200 

Joint Terrorism Task Forces with partner law enforcement agencies across the country. 

The events of 9/11 are forever etched in the minds of anyone old enough to remember the day. 

Those who were on the East Coast recall that it was a brilliant, clear morning. Then, at 8:46 

a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New 

York City. 

In a meticulously planned attack, terrorists hijacked four airliners. They flew three of the 

planes into buildings: the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon 

in Arlington, Virginia. They crashed the fourth plane in rural Pennsylvania. The attacks killed 

2,976 people and injured thousands more. Today, many first responders are still dealing with 

adverse health effects from working in toxic conditions. 

This is the first in a series of stories about how 9/11 shaped today’s FBI. 

The crash sites in New York, 

Virginia, and Pennsylvania represented 

the largest crime scene 

in FBI history. The ensuing investigation 

was also without precedent; 

at one point, more than 

half of all special agents were 

working on some aspect of the 

case. 

Immediately after the attacks, 

the FBI’s top job was to identify 

the attackers and prevent another 

incident. Experts in terrorism, 

evidence collection, and other 

specialties worked feverishly to 

determine what had happened 

and who was responsible. The 

FBI also coordinated with its 

partners in law enforcement 

and the intelligence community 

domestically and abroad as 

it launched its most ambitious 

investigation ever. 

Within minutes, officials at FBI 

Headquarters in Washington, 

D.C., activated the Strategic Information 

and Operations Center. 

By the end of the day, the FBI had 

established command posts for 

each of the three crash sites. 

Thousands of agents interviewed 

witnesses and sources. 

They tracked down clues and tips 

worldwide to determine what 

had happened, who did it, and 

how future acts could be prevented. 

The FBI started identifying 

the 19 terrorists within hours. 

Then-FBI Director Robert S. 

Mueller, III broke with routine 

and based the massive investigation 

out of FBI Headquarters 

instead of a field office. The 

PENTTBOM Team—short for 

Pennsylvania, Pentagon, and 

Twin Towers Bombing—coordinated 

the investigation out of a 

basement office, where dozens 

of agents would build a case 

against those responsible. 

The case, which remains open, 

revealed extraordinary acts of 

courage and selflessness among 

the spectrum of responders. And 

it forever changed the way the 

FBI works with law enforcement 

and intelligence community 

partners to keep Americans safe 

in the U.S. and abroad. 

“Because of that terrible day, 

starting in 2001 under the leadership 

of Director Mueller, the 

FBI transformed itself in ways 

that have made us stronger and 

better—and our country safer,” 

Director Christopher Wray said 

in 2019 during a visit to the National 

September 11 Memorial & 

Museum in New York City. 


...in their own words. 

Responders to the 9/11 attack 

sites in New York, Virginia, and 

Pennsylvania recalled the early 

hours, days, and weeks that 

followed. 

Washington 

SPECIAL AGENT C.C. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent C.C. was the 

assistant weapons of mass 

destruction coordinator on the 

National Capital Response Squad 

out of the Washington Field 

Office at the time. He set up the 

first FBI command post at the 

Pentagon and was the first onscene 

commander. Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT M.G. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent M.G. led the 

PENTTBOMB team that investigated 

the 9/11 attacks. Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT J.P. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent J.P., assigned 

to the Washington Field Office 

Joint Terrorism Task Force, was 

one of three on-scene commanders 

at the Pentagon. 

Transcript 

New York 

SPECIAL AGENT A.B. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent A.B. worked near 

Ground Zero after the September 

11 attacks on the World Trade 

Center and served as the liaison 

between the FBI and the New 

York City mayor’s office on victims’ 

issues. Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT W.J. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent W.J. was based 

in the Brooklyn-Queens Resident 

Agency but was in the city 

for an interview the morning of 

September 11. He was working 

on an organized crime squad at 

the time. He was nearly killed in 

the collapse of the North Tower. 

Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT J.A. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent J.A. was working 

on a truck hijacking squad 

in Brooklyn-Queens and was 

attending a meeting for hostage 

negotiators in New York City on 

September 11. He led the investigation 

of two suspected co-conspirators 

in the weeks that followed. 

Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT S.S. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent S.S. was a member 

of New York’s Joint Terrorism 

Task Force. She worked briefly 

at the forensic recovery operations 

in Staten Island and near 

the World Trade Center site after 

the attack on New York City on 

September 11. Transcript 

Pennsylvania 

SPECIAL AGENT B.C. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent B.C. was the media 

representative for the Pittsburgh 

Field Office. He was on 

site the day after the event and 

stayed until the FBI turned the 

scene over to the county coroner. 

Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT M.S. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent M.S. was one of 

three supervisory agents from 

the Pittsburgh Field Office on the 

scene after terrorists crashed a 

plane near Shanksville. He oversaw 

site logistics. 

Transcript 

SPECIAL AGENT P.M. RECALLS 9/11 

Special Agent P.M. oversaw site 

security at the crime scene near 

Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after 

terrorists crashed a plane there 

on September 11. script 

After planes crashed in New 

York and Washington, D.C. on 

September 11, 2001, employees 

at the FBI’s Pittsburgh office 

weren’t sure where to respond. 

Then news came of a fourth 

plane—United Flight 93—heading 

their way. 

Transcript / Visit Video Source 

...by the numbers. 

More than 4,000 special agents 

and 3,000 professional employees 

helped in the recovery and 

subsequent investigation of the 

9/11 attacks, which challenged 

the FBI to deploy its assets efficiently 

and in innovative ways. 

All FBI Headquarters divisions, 

field offices, and nearly every 

unit at the FBI Laboratory contributed. 

Among the efforts: 

• In New York, more than 1,000 

FBI employees from 55 of the 56 

field offices worked to recover 

victims, evidence, and personal 

belongings. 

• At the Pentagon, 155 FBI employees 

from eight field offices 

recovered evidence. 

• In Pennsylvania, 152 FBI employees 

from eight field offices 

recovered evidence. 

• Special agents and personnel 

in at least 30 of the FBI’s foreign 

offices tracked down leads and 

worked with international partners. 

• The FBI responded to more 

than 500,000 investigative leads. 

• Special agents conducted 

more than 167,000 interviews. 

• The FBI collected and processed 

more than 150,000 pieces 

of evidence. 

• Photographers took more 

than 170,000 pictures. 

• Computer experts examined 

more than 35 terabytes of data in 

the first 30 days of the investigation 

alone. 

• More than 70 agents and 

professional staff worked on the 

core investigative team. 

• Scores of FBI laboratory personnel 

helped identify victims 

and hijackers through DNA. 

• Dozens of document experts 

reviewed more than 1,600 small 

or damaged pieces of paper. 

• Dozens of fingerprint examiners 

received more than 3,800 

pieces of evidence and conducted 

more than 126,600 comparisons. 

• Five FBI cadaver dogs worked 

at the Pentagon. 

• Highly skilled FBI artists developed 

models of the sites and 



produced dozens of graphics. 

• Hazardous materials specialists 

from numerous field offices 

worked the three sites. 

• Explosives experts examined 

plane wreckage and building debris 

for evidence of bombs. 

• FBI pilots transported teams, 

equipment, and specialists to 

different locations. 

• Technical specialists restored 

the New York Field Office’s computer 

and phone systems and 

provided emergency communication 

systems in Virginia and 

Pennsylvania. 

• FBI SWAT teams provided 

security at all three sites, and 

Hostage Rescue Teams evaluated 

security at several locations. 

• Specialists helped recover audio 

and data from cockpit voice 

and flight data recorders and 

analyzed other audio and video 

recordings. 

• The FBI’s Office for Victim 

Assistance (now the Victim Services 

Division) was created to 

serve thousands of victims and 

their families. 

The Flights: A Timeline. 

The Terrorists. 

The 19 men who hijacked and 

crashed the four planes were 

all trained by al Qaeda. Three of 

the suspected pilots—Mohamed 

Atta, Marwan Al-Shehhi, and 

Ziad Jarrah—were part of an al 

Qaeda cell based in Hamburg, 

Germany. All four pilots took flying 

lessons in the United States. 

Fifteen of the hijackers came 

from Saudi Arabia, two from the 

United Arab Emirates, one from 

Egypt, and one from Lebanon. 

The oldest was 33; the rest were 

between 20 and 29. The group 

also included two sets of brothers: 

Wail and Waleed Al-Shehri 

on American Flight 11, and Nawaf 

and Salem Al-Hazmi on American 

Flight 77. 

The hijackers began entering 

the United States in January 

2000 to advance the plot. All 19 

were in the country by early July 

2001. 

Nearly 3,000 people died on 

9/11. A 2-year-old girl on Flight 

175 died with her parents on 

their way to Disneyland. An 

85-year-old man on Flight 11 

died alongside his wife on their 

way to her son’s wedding. Eight 

children died, including three 

11-year-olds on Flight 77 taking 

a school trip. Three college students 

died on Flight 93. 

The victims lived in New York, 

Washington, D.C., and 27 states. 

One financial services firm lost 

658 employees. The U.S. Army 

lost 75 men and women. More 

than 400 first responders, including 

60 law enforcement officers, 

were killed. Nearly 3,000 children 

lost a parent. The FBI family 

lost two members that day: 

Special Agent Lenny Hatton was 

assisting firefighters was inside 

the World Trade Center when 

the buildings collapsed. Former 

Special Agent John O’Neill was 

also killed in the collapse. 

Today, FBI Director Wray requires 

new special agents and 

intelligence analysts to visit the 

National September 11 Memorial 

& Museum to remind them of 

their role to protect the American 

people and to remember the 

sacrifices of their brothers and 

sisters who rose to the occasion 

The Victims. 

and responded on 9/11. 

“When you have tough days— 

and I guarantee you, you will 

have tough days—remember this 

day and let it bring you back to 

the core of your job,” Wray tells 

new agents and analysts. “The 

stakes of the work we do. The 

people we do the work with. The 

people we do the work for. If you 

always keep those things front 

and center, you’ll have an incredibly 

rewarding career at the 

Bureau and you’ll leave the organization 

even better than when 

you found it. And our country 

will be better for it, too.” 


JAESON JONES 

& THE BATTLE AT THE BORDER 


JAESON JONES 

Mr. Jones was responsible for 

providing timely information and 

analysis necessary to prevent 

and protect against all threats. 

This included providing analysis 

and Intelligence to the Texas 

Rangers, Criminal Investigations 

Division, Texas Highway Patrol, 

Aircraft Section, and State Emergency 

Management Division. 

Given his knowledge of Mexican 

Cartel operations and threats involving 

border security, his focus 

is on best practices for combating 

transnational threats and 

the spread of violent criminal 

networks. Mr. Jones served as 

the Critical Incident Commander 

in the State Intelligence Center 

during both Fort Hood shootings, 

Austin IRS Echelon building 

attack, University of Texas 

active shooter incident, Odessa 

shooting involving four officers 

shot with over 1,200 rounds fired, 

Ranger Recon Mexican Cartel 

shooting, Murder of a Bexar 

County Sergeant, and the Bastrop 

County wildfire disaster. Mr. 

Jones has also led investigations 

targeting Mexican cartel leadership 

and built programs that 

collaborated closely with the U.S. 

intelligence community to help 

save lives in Mexico and throughout 

the United States. 

Mr. Jones is currently the Director/CEO 

of Omni Intelligence, a 

private company that strives to 

make the public and governmental 

agencies aware of the threats 

posed by unsecured borders and 

best practices to combat transnational 

crime. He is a nationally 

recognized authority on the Mexican 

cartels and lectures across 

the US and is a regular guest on 

major local and national media 

and news programs. 

IN HIS OWN WORDS 

JAESON’S INSPIRATION 

He really was and remains a 

source of inspiration, his name 

was Otis Cable, an incredible 

man who loved my mother beyond 

measure. Some of my earliest 

and fondest memories are 

of him walking into the house 

as a Houston Police Detective in 

Burglary and Theft wearing a suit 

and having his 1911, 70 series, 

Colt Commander pistol slid in 

the front of his pants. I used to 

wait for him to get home just to 

ask how many bad guys he had 

September 2021 

San Marcos, Texas 

By Dr. Tina Jaeckle 

“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men 

long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.” -Ernest Hemingway 

I first met Jaeson Jones in San 

Marcos, Texas in July and I was 

immediately captivated by not 

only his passion for his calling 

but also his frustration at the significant 

brokenness of US policies 

on border security. This incredible 

combination has driven Jaeson to 

take calculated risks for several 

years, first as a law enforcement 

officer and now as the director 

of his own intelligence company 

with the focus on illuminating 

threats through the effective 

sharing of information. Jaeson is 

unapologetically critical of the 

lack of intervention and adequate 

policing of the cartels and their 

role in extreme violence, drugs, 

and human trafficking. His courageous 

breaking news stories 

and intelligence on these issues 

is bringing forth a powerful and 

much needed awareness on the 

US failures at the border. Jaeson 

has been clearly impacted by 

what he has witnessed. Today 

he crosses the country speaking 

about what is happening but 

more importantly sharing proven 

solutions to fix these major problems. 

EXTENSIVE SUPERVISORY AND 

FIELD EXPERIENCE 

Jaeson Jones is a retired Captain 

from the Texas Department 

of Public Safety’s Intelligence 

and Counterterrorism Division. 

He managed the daily operations 

for the Texas Rangers, Border Security 

Operations Center (BSOC). 

He supervised Human Intelligence 

(HUMINT) operations in 

several nations and managed Intelligence 

lead operations for the 

longest 24/7 border operation in 

Texas history, Operation Secure 

Texas. He liaised daily with law 

enforcement and members of 

the intelligence community to 

collaborate with all disciplines 

of the homeland security enterprise. 

Jaeson Jones with Texas DPS SWAT Deploying from DPS Aircraft 


Jaeson Jones (top right) Texas DPS SWAT 2003 

arrested that day. He would usually 

say, “Son it was a slow day, 

I only arrested about 30 or so.” I 

would proceed to bother him for 

the next hour or so as he would 

make up these great stories of 

events that never occurred and 

laughing the entire time. They 

are great memories of the past 

but no doubt his inspiration has 

been there since the start. 

I knew from an early age I 

wanted to be in law enforcement. 

I would become a corrections 

officer at the Hays County 

Sheriff’s Office, and a year 

later went through an academy 

becoming a Sheriff’s Deputy at 

twenty-one. As a young law 

enforcement officer learning 

to deal with the carnage 

people can do to one another, 

dad was always there ready to 

provide guidance and leader- 

ship to move through it. Even 

in his later years he would cut 

news clipping from the paper 

and mail them to me to ensure 

I was aware of crimes that had 

occurred. They always had his 

handwritten thoughts but ended 

with reminders to be safe 

out there. He retired from HPD 

in 1978. We lost him in 2010, but 

the inspiration he forged for me 

continues to this day. 

BUILDING TRUST & CONNECTIONS 

I learned a great deal about 

building layers of trust quickly as 

a young narcotics agent. Later, 

when I traveled the country 

trying to collaborate with federal 

agencies and intelligence 

agencies, I failed miserably many 

times before figuring out what 

worked. When I began working 

with the media it started 

by calling blindly trying to give 

away what we knew historically 

and help provide value to them. 

Eventually, we started making 

it into print and then beyond 

where we are today and are now 

working with the best investigative 

reporters in the business (at 

least of the few who are left). 

I believe that you must create 

multi-layers of trust. Trust is at 

the core of building relationships. 

Then you need to give way more 

than you are willing to receive. 

After a while you have proven 

you can be trusted. The best part 

comes when you create real synergy 

between different outlets 

to try and show what’s really 

happening. They know now that 

when I speak about the issues, 

I tell them what I know, what I 

don’t know, and what I believe 

based on the best data and historical 

information we can provide. 

We also break stories using 

a lot of video and photographs 

with a direct focus on transnational 

crime. I am a field guy and 

a collector by trade. I moved nine 

times across Texas during my career 

and still travel to the border 

at least once a month. 

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF 

THE BORDER ISSUES 

Historically, I believe most 

Americans think of their southwest 

border as a single sublayer 


Jaeson Jones with Texas DPS Aircraft on the Hannity show at the Texas border 2021 

component of immigration and 

for good reason. Politically, it 

has become a major dividing line 

for politicians playing to their 

base. To me, it has become one 

of the greatest National Security 

failures in American history. To 

law enforcement, it has become 

THE GRAY ZONE, documented 

daily throughout the Homeland 

Security Enterprise (HSE) intelligence 

and case reporting. Yet, 

policing has been left only to 

law enforcement and their limited 

capabilities. We have utilized 

every single tool available to 

law enforcement in an attempt 

to hold the line at the border; all 

the while executives have been 

KNOWINGLY failing our fellow 

citizens at unprecedented levels 

impacting every community in 

America. 

During all border surges we 

see something different, and this 

year’s surge has taken a dangerous 

turn in three subcomponent 

layers. 

First, people from over 165 

countries have been apprehended 

at the southwest border, 

validating that this is no longer 

simply a U.S., Mexico, Central, 

or South America migration of 

people. The world is coming into 

the U.S. at unprecedented levels. 

In the first ten months of fiscal 

year (fy21) 1.3 million apprehensions 

have occurred and of 

those, 240,379 are from other 

countries, according the CBP 

data. Four known or suspected 

terrorists who were identified 

in the Terrorist Screening Data 

Base (TSDB) have been arrested. 

Those are just the unclassified 

numbers we know about from 

CBP. We still have two months 

left to go in this fiscal year. 

Second, FETNANYL, FENTANYL, 

FENTANYL, this deadly poison 

was first seized at the southwest 

border in 2015 at only 70 lbs. In 

2021, CBP has already seized a 

record setting 9,700 lbs. To date 

it is the deadliest poison killing 

Americans across the U.S. Notice 

that I did not call it a drug. Today, 

this poison, is mostly produced 

by two Mexican Cartels, 

Sinaloa and Cartel Jalisco New 

Generation (CJNG) throughout 

Mexico. They have massive clandestine 

laboratories (pill-mills) 

producing millions of pills daily. 

As a nation we are experiencing 

the largest overdose deaths 

ever recorded in American history. 

According to CDC data in 

2020, Americans lost 93,331 family 

members. Most people link 

this to China, the truth is today 

China sends chemical precursors 

to these two cartels who work 

as proxies of America’s destabilization. 

What is misunderstood 

is that the cartels are the only 

group that possess the tradecraft, 

techniques, procedures 

(TTP’s) and the established relationships 

to the criminal underworld 

throughout our country 

at all levels to be able to move 

massive amounts of poison and 

other commodities in and out of 

the country at will. 

Third, we see a quantum shift 

from the Mexican Cartels smuggling 

of people to trafficking. I 

have never witnessed anything 

like it in all my years stationed 

on the U.S. border in El Paso, 

Brownsville, and Laredo. In 2014, 

the average cost by an alien 

smuggling organization (ASO) 

to cross the Rio Grande River in 

South Texas was approximately 

$100 dollars and they did 

not care where you originated. 

Today, if you are Mexican, it’s 

$2,500, Central or South American 

$3,000, Chinese $5,000, 

and if you are Middle Eastern or 

Russian $9,000 dollars. 

I’ve yet this year to meet one 

migrant who can afford these 

fees. Plus, these fees are just at 

the river never mind the other 

piso (tax) as they call it, that 

other groups charged to reach 

the border. So, these people are 

in debt-bondage, which is recognized 

as a form of trafficking. 

Our nation, acting with compassion, 

is moving people all over 

the U.S. However, the government 

either fails to realize or 

doesn’t care that these people 

are indebted to a criminal organization 

in a foreign country for 

years, if not decades to come. 

The worst part is we are spreading 

this virus of trafficking to every 

part of our country and most 

Americans have no idea. 

IMMEDIATE BORDER CONCERNS 

I should probably say it is the 

National Security implications 

or describe the Mexican Cartels 

military capabilities; like their 

surface to air missiles, armored 

vehicles, light anti-tank weapons, 

car bombs, encrypted 

global communications, or how 

they have become a parallel government 

in Mexico with virtually 

little difference between them 

and the Mexican government. 

Perhaps I should say it is the 

mass murders of 72 migrants in 

San Fernando or the 300 men, 

women, and children of Allende, 

Mx who were killed, and their 

bodies chopped into pieces then 

“guiso” (stew) cooked into nothing 

left but ash by the Los Zetas 

cartel. The truth is for me it’s 

not their actions any longer that 

keeps me up at night. The cartels 

evolution and evil deeds are well 

documented. What concerns 

me most is the rampant INSTI- 

TUTIONALIZED COWARDICE of 

government agency executives to 

protect our citizens. 

THE PASSION THAT DRIVES HIM 

During my career I sat across 

the table and debriefed many 

cartel operatives from ventanas 

(windows/watchers) to halcones 

(hawks/lookouts), sicarios 

(hitmen), plaza bosses, to even 

bosses of the cartels. Recently, 

I debriefed a former Los Zeta 

boss who worked closely with 

Omar and Miguel Trevino who 

now lives in the United States 

like so many others. I asked the 

question, what’s it like killing 

so many people? When I asked, 

the individual first paused for a 

second, looked down then back 

up at me without missing a beat 

and stated, “it’s like squashing a 

bug, after a while you get used 

to it.” 

I’m sharing this as an example 

of the threat that faces us. I 

believe that once again the U.S. 

Intelligence Community, government 

agencies, and leaders have 

again failed to see the Mexican 

Cartels as the emerging threat 

to our citizens and country just 

as they had prior to 9/11. It is our 

mission to stop it. The Mexican 

Cartels pose a clear and present 

danger to the National Security 

of the United States and a reckoning 

is coming for what they 

have done to so many innocent 

men, women, and children from 

countries all around the world. 

GREATEST PERSONAL AND 

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVE- 

MENTS 

In 2012, a small unit within 

the department (that cannot be 


Jaeson Jones on the border with Lara Logan - FOX NATION - Roma, Texas 2019 

mentioned) received information 

from a single human source that 

over forty migrants were being 

held in a stash house by the Los 

Zetas cartel in Piedras Negras, 

Mexico. The source stated that 

these people were to be killed 

in a mass execution as previously 

seen conducted by the cartel 

in a message to rivals. Through 

corroborated intelligence, the 

victims were identified from the 

countries of Honduras, Nicaragua, 

Mexico, and possibly China. 

These people were attempting 

to enter the United States illegally 

for a better life, but unknown 

to them had only hours to 

live. Unfortunately, time would 

run out on the first day and we 

would soon learn that at least 

ten people were removed from 

the residence taken to what 

the Zetas referred to as a kill 

house and executed them. They 

were chopped into pieces and 

their body parts tossed into the 

streets as the source had originally 

stated. 

It was a blow beyond words to 

so many who had worked tirelessly 

to save them. As a leader, 

I remember thinking how in the 

world can I pick these people 

back up from such horrendous 

events, help them to regain their 

confidence and trust to keep going. 

We were all operating at a 

much different level than at any 

other time. Many were just young 

analysts fresh out of college 

who had never dealt with such 

human tragedy. It was a challenging 

time to say the least. 

By the following morning, the 

same source had once again 

called pleading as more were 

to be killed in the same method 

that evening. Once again, these 

incredible people came together 

from the department, U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP), Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI), Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA), United 

States Armed Forces, and members 

of the intelligence community 

to validate the information. 

Throughout the evening hours 

and into the following morning 

Law Enforcement in two (2) 

countries worked together and 

coordinated efforts to save lives. 

During the early morning hours 

Elite Units of (SEMAR) with the 

Mexican Military launched a 

liberation operation at the residence. 

While the details of this 

operation cannot be further 

described, the results can. Fifty-two 

(52) people in total, eight 

(8) woman and forty-four (44) 

men, from three different countries 

were freed during this operation. 

It is just one of the many 

that can be talked about publicly. 

It was not the operation here 

that is the story, the achievement 

was in the people working 

it, the synergy created by all 

and the agencies willing to put 

aside egos, titles, and fears, to 

work together. I was honored 

beyond measure to work with 

them and to help lead a new era 

in a team approach completely 

unique at the time for state law 

enforcement breaching previous 

barriers into a new realm of 

effort beyond borders through 

collaboration. It only occurred 

because we spent years traveling 

the country building trust forged 

at every level of the homeland 

security enterprise. That’s how 

you win operating in the GRAY 

ZONE which today is Mexico and 

our unsecure border. 

APPROACHES TO ADDRESSING 

TRANSNATIONAL CRIME 

Since retiring in 2016, my focus 

has been trying to get the 

Mexican Cartels designated as 

foreign terrorist organizations 

(FTO’s). To win against transnational 

crime and terrorism you 

have to have the capabilities and 

tools of national power. That 

does not mean going to war with 

the cartels. It means being able 

to add speed and additional capabilities 

to the system. 

Let me explain, I believe Americans 

would be surprised that 

most cartels’ operatives in the 

U.S. are here legally. Remember, 

they can afford to get a visa to 

be in the country. If we had the 

FTO designation we don’t need 

to work a two-year investigation 

on an individual. You can quickly 

revoke their visa and remove 

them rapidly from the country. 

It also allows us to put them on 

the terrorism watch lists globally. 

Now we can limit their mobility 

around the world not just 

in our own country. Finally, you 

hear a lot publicly about follow 

the money investigations. Here 

is the truth, we have been doing 

those investigations for well over 

a decade. The FTO designation 

allows us to go after their money 

with new tools and speed 

outside our own country. When 

you think of the Mexican Cartels 

today and the quantum leaps 

they have gone through, try to 

look at them through the lens of 

what they are now and not as we 

remember them as drug cartels. 

Drug sales is something they do; 

it is not what or who they are. 

Today, they operate globally and 

meet every definition of foreign 

terrorist organization because 

that’s what they have become. 

The lack of data collection: The 

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI) since 1934 has utilized a 

system for collection of crimes 

known as the Uniform Crime 

Report (UCR). It captures eight 

index crimes from law enforcement 

agencies across the United 

States. So, all the crimes I talk 

about, drug trafficking, weapons 

trafficking, human trafficking, 

human smuggling, money 

laundering, caltrop deployments 

(spikes used by the cartels in 

pursuits along border), bailouts 

(pursuit with migrants ending 

usually in a crash who then run 

in every direction), public corruption, 

kidnapping, extortions, 

stash houses, virtual kidnapping, 

and the long list of new 21st 

century crimes are not captured. 

This failed system is the single 

biggest point of failure on recognizing 

the effects of transnational 

crime in the United States 

because the data does not show 

the effects of spillover violence 

impacting the American people. 

In 1984, The FBI created what 

they call the new National Incident 

Reporting System (NIBRS), 

which in 2021, was supposed 

to go into effect nationwide. 

It is better in that it collects 

on fifty-two new index crimes. 

However, once again the FBI 

Executives fail to recognize local 

and state law enforcement don’t 

need to know what happened 

with crime trends nationwide 

12 months ago. They need to 

know what happened 12 minutes 

ago and its effects on their 

state, city, and or county. A new 

real time data collection which 

captures all transnational crime 

and emerging trends needs to be 

created. 

Google can tell you words 

that are trending anywhere in 

the world, but the FBI can’t even 

collaborate with local, state, and 

other federal agencies to create 

a reporting system on crimes. 

This is an extremely important 

issue; I use to travel the country 

as a Captain with Texas Department 

of Public Safety and would 

brief leadership trying to get 

them to understand what we 

were seeing in Texas along the 

border with spillover violence. 

They would say Jaeson, “We 

hear you, but we don’t see it in 

the data.” What I would learn is 

that no one was lying, instead 

the system did not have the 

ability to capture transnational 

crimes. What I am trying to say 

is that if we expect to change 

multi-million-dollar programs 

to new initiatives that affect the 

nation we must be able to see it 

in the data. We need to be able 

to clearly articulate to elected 

leaders why we need the money 

in government agencies to focus 

on emerging trends. Therefore, 

our law enforcement is operating 

blindly and out of focus on 

the issues clearly affecting the 

American people. 

Lastly, transnational crime 

operating in the GRAY ZONE is 


igger in scope and capability 

than any single law enforcing 

agency in the country. This is why 

the whole of government approach 

is the requirement not the 

exception. The chaos unfolding 

at our border is the example. CBP 

should have had thousands of 

federal law enforcement agents 

and assets like aircraft sent from 

around the country. Here we find 

ourselves in the worst border 

crisis in American history. We 

are told how everyone is working 

together with our partners. Yet, 

the truth is that not near enough 

assets are being utilized at the 

border. The executive leadership 

of federal agencies have failed the 

men and women of CBP, state, and 

local law enforcement along the 

border by leaving them to handle 

this crisis alone. 

I will say it again, without hesitation. 

The institutionalized cowardice 

of the Director of the FBI, 

Administrator of the DEA, the Department 

of Justice, and many other 

leaders within the Department 

of Homeland Security (DHS) should 

be fired immediately for their lack 

of action on this crisis that has left 

our citizens and communities to be 

overrun with transnational crime. 

FUTURE DIRECTIONS 

I would like to have a show 

on some outlet traveling to the 

world’s borders to show how 

transnational organizations are 

wreaking havoc on citizens globally. 

Human Trafficking must be 

the focus. The world’s borders are 

crumbling and bad actors, either 

terrorist or criminal, are operating 

in the GRAY ZONE. I would like to 

illuminate it so we can eliminate 

it. I believe if we cast light on to 

what is occurring that is how we 

win against it. 

A FEW FINAL WORDS 

For our nation, we are at a solemn 

moment in history. I want all 

Americans to know that what is 

happening at our border and in our 

communities is fixable. I want them 

to know that there are those who 

have worked these issues for many 

decades and know exactly what 

needs to be done. For the Mexican 

cartels their end is already written. 

What should never be forgotten is 

the silence and inaction by leaderless 

agencies that have allowed 

this evil to triumph. 

94 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 


WHO WANTS TO BE A COP? 

New series takes deep dive into St. Petersburg Police Academy 


PART 41 

The Shoot House 

“Just like that: Bang. You’re Dead.” 

By LANE DeGREGORY 

Times Staff Writer 

Photographs by 

JOHN PENDYGRAFT 

Some guy is blaring music in 

his apartment, so a neighbor 

calls the cops. “You got to go out 

there, assess the situation, think 

fast!” a coach tells the cadets. 

“Action beats reaction every 

time.” 

It’s a chilly Tuesday in December, 

and the recruits are carrying 

radios, wearing gun belts. They 

are lined up across from the St. 

Petersburg police academy, outside 

the shoot house. 

Anything can happen. 

The upstairs of this two-story 

building is set up like a shabby 

apartment: old couch, bookshelf, 

fake flowers. 

Seen through the open door 

and a window, recruits in caps 

stand listening to their instructor. 

Cadets wait to be called into 

the shoot house to see what 

scenes their instructors will 

role-play with them. 

Downstairs is an abandoned 

office complex, or warehouse, or 

whatever the coaches want it to 

be. 

Today, for the first time, the 

cadets will pretend they are officers 

sent to a scene. It’s called 

“role-based training.” 

The scenarios are from actual 

calls, acted out by coaches and 

classmates. 

You don’t have to arrest someone, 

the coach says. And remember 

to keep your guard up. 

“Warn the person to turn down 

their music. If you have to come 

back, write a ticket. Check halls 

and bedrooms. Don’t do your 

business in the kitchen. There are 

bad weapons there. Find your exit 

points. Know how to get out of 

the house if something happens.” 

There’s no way to prepare rookie 

cops for every situation they 

will face. So, instructors throw all 

sorts of possibilities at the recruits. 

Some scenarios they might 

not confront for years, or ever. 

The goal is to help them think 

through ways to react, consider 

what-ifs, develop physical memories. 

Learn to be decisive, act 

quickly. 

They teach them that 911 calls 

aren’t always what they seem. A 

disorderly complaint can lead to 

an abused child. Someone loitering 

can turn into a K-9 chase. 

Suicides become homicides. 

Sometimes, it’s shoot or get 

shot. 

“Try to disarm them,” the coach 

says. “But if they threaten you, 

shoot for center mass. We don’t 

train to wound. 

“Keep shooting until the threat 

stops. That’s why you see suspects 

shot seven times, if they’re 

still coming at you.” 

Metal music is throbbing inside 

“the apartment,” so Hannah 

Anhalt knocks loudly. “Police!” 

she says. “We want to talk to you 

really quickly.” 

The music gets softer. From inside, 

someone calls, “Come on in!” 

Anhalt and her partner have silver 

handcuffs and orange plastic 

weapons. They look at each other, 

unsure what to do. “We’d rather 

you come out here in the hall and 

talk to us,” says her partner. “Step 

outside, sir.” 

He won’t. From across the hall, 

a neighbor confronts the cadets. 

“What’s going on?” 

The door opens slightly. “I don’t 

really want to go outside,” the 

man says. He must be hiding 

something, Anhalt’s partner decides. 

So, she shoulders the door 

open and shoves the man back. 

While her partner is making 

“contact,” Anhalt should be 

“covering,” watching the hall. 

Instead, she follows her partner 

inside, leaving the door open. As 

her partner tries to wrestle the 

man into handcuffs, the neighbor 

strides into the room and grabs 

Anhalt’s gun. 

He wraps his left arm around 

her neck, presses the barrel to 

her temple. Says, “You’re my 

hostage now.” 

Anhalt’s partner freezes. “I 

don’t know what to do.” 

The instructor, his back to the 

camera, holds an orange training 

pistol to his head while a recruit, 

her back to the wall, points a 

blue training pistol at him. 

Hannah Anhalt wonders how to 

react to a suicidal man. 

“That went horribly,” Anhalt 

says. But she realizes her mistake. 

“I should’ve grabbed you 

and stopped you from coming 

into the apartment,” she tells the 

coach. “I got distracted and had 

tunnel vision.” 

“One hundred percent,” says 

the coach, letting her go. “You 

should have made the suspect 

talk to you in his apartment, 

instead of in the hall, where 

neighbors can get involved. You 

should’ve warned me that if I 

came into that apartment, you 

would arrest me for obstruction. 

You should’ve been more assertive. 

Tell me, ‘Sit your ass down 

now!’” 

Have a plan with your partner, 


the coach says. “If you say her 

first name, she’ll take a shot. She 

might hit you in the shoulder, but 

at least you’ll be alive.” 

Anhalt nods. “Did you feel me 

pull your gun?” asks the coach. 

Anhalt shakes her head. “Not at 

all.” 

“Yeah, just like that,” the coach 

says. “Bang! You’re dead.” 

Halfway through the academy, 

the recruits have learned to collect 

evidence, photograph injuries, 

check suspects’ waistbands 

for weapons. They figured out 

how to load a gun in six seconds, 

then do it with their eyes 

closed. They saw how blood 

pools and settles in a body. 

Battery, they now know, is any 

form of striking. If someone loses 

a tooth, that’s a felony battery. 

If the suspect has a weapon — or 

the victim is pregnant — it’s an 

aggravated battery, which means 

more time in jail. 

In a darkened classroom, a 

recruit intently studies her textbook. 

Brittany Moody always has her 

textbook and highlighters so she 

can get in extra study time while 

waiting to be called into the next 

scenario. By LANE DeGREGORY, 

Times The 24 Staff cadets Writer have spent days 

at the rifle range shooting with 

both They hands, can’t get learning over the how wall. to hit 

a It’s moving 6-feet target tall, made and of fire smooth while 

they’re wood. Nothing running. to They’re hold or judged stand 

on 

on. 

the speed of their reactions, 

Even the tallest men are struggling. 

how well they use cover, the 

accuracy of their shots. They’re 

“Run at it. Get a grip. Haul yourself 

expected up,” shouts to a become coach in marks- 

a red 

not 

men shirt. during “Don’t give the academy, them a huge and are 

encouraged target.” to keep practicing 

and You get never more know training. when you’re 

going They’ve to have been to taught chase a how suspect to 

counsel over a wall. someone contemplating 

suicide, It’s a drizzly how to day subdue in late subjects September. 

The police recruits are lined 

on their stomachs. “Put your 

knee on their back,” a coach 

said. “Not on the neck. Never on 

the neck. With George Floyd, that 

was never a tactic. That guy just 

screwed up.” 

They rehearsed knocking hard 

and announcing, “Police!” — so 

whoever is inside will know. 

“In the Breonna Taylor case, 

that was the whole problem,” 

a coach said. “They didn’t announce.” 

After three months, they’ve 

learned about each other. 

Anhalt is a great shot, especially 

at moving targets. KeVonn 

Mabon started calling her, “Jane 

Wick,” after the movie action 

hero. She loves that, and can’t 

wait to take her fiancé shooting 

to show off her skills. 

Mabon is “the rabbit,” Anhalt 

said. “He keeps us all chasing 

him, but no one can keep up.” In 

drills, would-be suspects can 

never run fast enough to escape 

his tackles. 

Brittany “Mama” Moody is 

fierce in the mat room, especially 

good at “gift-wrapping” 

— taking suspects to the floor. 

She’s become more suspicious of 

strangers. up behind St. Petersburg College’s 

Allstate A coach Center, is on between the couch the in rifle the 

next range scenario, and shoot leafing house. through 

magazines Three weeks on into an old training, coffee 

table. they’ve He learned told cadets to keep he their called eyes 

911, on the then door, hung do up. push-ups So, they on had ca-tdence, 

check on 

tell 

him. 

reasonable suspicion 

from probable cause, frisk someone, 

search a car and carry coffee 

When Mabon knocks loudly, the 

coach calls, “Come in!” 

in their left hand so they can grab 

their Mabon gun scans with their the room, right. keeping 

Brittany his right Moody hand is on the his first holster. woman 

in partner her class checks to conquer the hall, the then 

His 

follows, obstacle closing course. She the apartment played five 

door. sports growing up and works out 

every Before morning. either recruit says a 

word, This morning, the coach they’re yells: starting “What the 

obstacle course that’s designed to 

took you so long? I lost my job. 

My wife left me. And now I can’t 

find my dog.” 

“Can you stand up for me?” 

asks Mabon’s partner. He’s not 

sure why. 

“No! I don’t want to do that!” 

screams the coach. “This is my 

f---ing house! And I can’t find my 

dog.” 

“What kind of dog?” asks 

Mabon’s partner, watching the 

coach’s face. Mabon is fixed on 

his hands. When he sees him 

slowly reach for the magazines, 

Mabon whips out his gun, points 

it at the coach’s chest, and says, 

“Bam!” 

His partner, stunned, stares. He 

never saw the gun beneath the 

Elle Decor. 

“I didn’t want to tell you he had 

a gun, or let him know I knew,” 

Mabon says. “We could have a 

code word for that, I guess?” 

“Code words are good,” says 

the coach. “We used red for 

weapons. ‘I pulled you over at 

the red light …” 

“You were going to shoot me, 

weren’t you?” Mabon asks the 

coach. “I broke leather as soon 

as I saw you move for your gun.” 

predict “Okay, their yes. perils: Even if crawl a gun under is on a 

the fence, table, slither it’s through a threat.” a tube, hoist 

yourself State curriculum into a make-shift calls for attic. 56 

hours They’re of training slick with on sweat, interviewing 

dirt, and cheering report writing, each other 35 hours on. 

covered 

on “You “fundamentals got it! Come of on! patrol,” Keep going!” 

If 

80 

hours of 

you 

defensive 

fall, you 

tactics. 

have to 

Individual 

academies can’t deviate 

start 

over. 

“You have three chances,” the 

from those mandates, but Coach 

coach says. 

Joe In the Saponare real world, added you “role-based might only 

training” get one. in every block. 

After Class the 219 is first mostly one, white the cadets and 

know male, but they’ll it is never the most get enough. diverse 

yet, Being said in Joe the Saponare, room with who a oversees 

recruit suspect, training figuring at St. Peters- 

out 

would-be 

what burg College’s to do and Law when, Enforcement trying to 

Academy: seven women, five Black 

talk to someone who’s screaming 

at you, worrying that he has 

a gun — or might grab yours… 

“It’s not like just reading it in 

the book,” Anhalt said. 

The coaches agree. Six months 

isn’t nearly long enough to get 

someone ready to be a police 

officer. Becoming a lawyer takes 

people, a college two degree Latinos. plus Half three went to 

college. years; a Six doctor were needs in the military. at least 

The four youngest, more. And age those 19, lives jobs with aren’t 

his nearly parents. as dangerous. One of the oldest is 

raising “The a more son. She’s you train, already the earned better 

a off nickname, you’ll be,” Mama the Moody. coach tells the 

cadets. 

Some registered 

“You have 

for 

to 

the 

keep 

academy 

working, 

stay sharp.” 

last spring, before George Floyd 

was killed, before people took to 

Don’t get lazy, the coach says. 

the streets demanding that governments 

“Lazy breeds defund complacency, the police. They and 

decided complacency to attend breeds anyway. death.” 

Others Work applied on your because communication of those 

outcries. skills, he tells them. Practice 

having They know conversations, they will be even insulted, 

just targeted, talking hated to yourself. — some You’ll critics be 

if it’s 

are surprised openly hostile. how much But 30 you young can do 

people signed up for the first class 

with words. 

Be kind but cautious, the coach 

says. 

Hold true to your ethics. Do 

what you know is right, he says, 

no matter what others are doing 

around you. “Your destiny rests 

with you.” 

Illuminated only by a flashlight 

the beam pandemic shining closed on the the floor, 

since 

academy. a recruit squats near a corner of 

Saponare, a darkened who room, cadets holding call a blue 

Coach training Sap, pistol. expected applications 

to plummet Moody watches after the her protests teammates’ 

Instead, backs he as said, they more clear people a dark 

last 

year. 

than building. ever applied. 

No 

At 

agency 

a warehouse, 

tracks how 

an 

many 

alarm goes 

people apply to U.S. police academies, 

according to the National 

off. You get there and see the 

Police 

side 

Foundation. 

door is open, 

Anecdotal 

Coach Sap 

evidence 

explains. from You the country’s must figure 18,000 out 

law what’s enforcement happened, agencies see if is anyone’s 

contradictory. inside, clear Some the building. departments 

are struggling Form groups to fill of vacancies. three, he tells 

And the officers cadets. are Pick quitting a leader. at record Knock 

rates, and many announce. after only When a few you years. have 

In September 2019, even before 

a suspect in custody, cuff them. 

Communicate with the subject 

and each other. 

On this second day of scenarios, 

the recruits are carrying blue 

guns that shoot pink paintballs. 

“Has anyone here been hit by 

simulated bullets?” asks a coach. 

“They hurt, so try not to get shot. 

the Identify protests, your the target. Police Executive Know where 

Research the threat Forum is coming released from. a report I’ve 

about seen the partners “workforce shoot crisis.” partners.” It 

said No the matter job of policing what, he has says, be-don’come 

give more up. “Your challenging, scenario as isn’t offi-ovecers 

just grapple because with you social got shot.” issues 

like mental Moody illness, leads the and first new group. types 

of She criminals, stops at like the those doorway who deal and 

in cyberspace. 

steps to the side, using the wall 

St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony 

Holloway, an officer for 35 

as a barrier. She doesn’t knock 

years, 

or announce. 

said last summer 

When she 

was 

leans 

the 

first out time to look he questioned down the whether hall, she 

he points still wanted her gun to serve. to the “It ground. felt 

like everybody Two recruits, was wearing against goggles, us,” he 

said. advance “I’d like carefully to see the through naysayers an 

see opened what our doorway, officers the have only to deal illumiwith 

every day.” 


nation a flashlight beam. 

Anhalt peeks around a corner. 

When cadets make a wrong 

move, a coach shoots them with 

paint pellets. 

“Never hold your gun down!” 

calls a coach. “Never peek out 

the door without pointing your 

gun there.” 

She nods, and proceeds down 

the dark hall, two recruits following. 

“Not close enough!” calls 

the coach. “Butt to gut!” 

With a flashlight in her left 

hand, the gun in her right, she 

searches a storeroom. “Clear!” 

A bathroom. “Clear!” A cluttered 

classroom. “Pinellas County 

sheriff!” she shouts. “If you’re in 

here, come out with your hands 

up!” 

No one does. She shines a 

flashlight around the walls, then 

moves onto another bathroom, 

which one of her partners is 

checking. “I got your back! I got 

your back!” Moody calls, watching 

the hall. 

Coach Sap had been hiding behind 

the door in that classroom. 

He jumps out and points his gun 

at Moody, shoots her six times. 

Pink splats stain her shirt. 

Her partners stand beside her, 

mouths open. 

“What are you going to do? 

What do you do now?” asks 

Two of you kept your backs to 

the door, Coach Sap says. No one 

called, “Shots fired!” 

“You guys have to communicate 

better. You can’t be afraid,” 

he tells them. “I was ready to 

light you up some more.” 

In the next scenario, Coach Sap 

holds a gun to his head, cries 

that his wife is cheating on him, 

again. 

“Sir, we can help you. Put the 

gun down,” Moody says calmly, 

falls face down. 

In a darkened hallway, the 

trainer holds a blue training 

pistol to his head as a recruit in 

the foreground points a training 

pistol towards him. 

Coach Joe Saponare challenges 

cadets’ decision-making skills 

in a dark hallway. 

“Somebody else needs to know 

what to do,” Coach Sap says 

from the floor. “It can’t always be 

Moody.” 

Coach Sap. 

shining a flashlight on Coach 

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“Okay,” says Coach Sap, smiling. 

toward her. 

she thought she would be. She 

“Show me how you’re going “Stop walking, Sir,” says gained confidence and solidified 

THE KEYWATCHER TOUCH SYSTEM is deployed in the law enforcement environment to: 

to leave.” 

Moody. “Put the gun down.” her spot as a leader. Now, all her • Securely dispense track and audit the use of keys to: vehicles, facilities, lockers and 

other high-value assets. 

“We’re not going to leave,” says The other recruits stay frozen classmates want to be on her 

• Prevent unauthorized staff from driving specialist vehicles, or racking up miles on the 

Moody. “We can call for backup. 

But we’re not going to leave.” Coach Sap tip his gun toward Next up though, practicing car 

• Allow management to compel the use of vehicle pools rather than staff controlling the 

and silent. When Moody sees team. 

newer fleet while older units sit idle. 

“I’d watch my back and call the her, she fires. But he keeps coming. 

chases on the driving range, ev- 

keys to particular units. 

The next time she shoots, he eryone will be on their own. 

• Quicker and more efficient shift changes. 

SWAT team,” a coach agrees. 

• Control the keys to facilities and mandate accountability. 

• Managing and controlling access to assets stored in lockers. 

19015 Gentle Knoll 

San Antonio, Texas 78258 

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The Office: BLUES 830-214-0867 POLICE MAGAZINE Fax: 775-898-1807 103 

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PART 5 

COP CARS 

“Live the Aggression.” 

By LANE DeGREGORY, Times 

Staff Writer 

Photographs by JOHN PENDY- 

GRAFT 

This is supposed to be the fun 

part: screaming sirens, strobing 

lights, steering cars through 

quick turns, but orange cones 

are everywhere. “Bad guys” are 

getting away. Coaches are yelling, 

stressing out the recruits. 

The cadets are beside the vast 

driving range at the St. Petersburg 

police academy, alternating 

through the “pursuit” course: 

Four-point turns in tight intersections, 

racing through gravel, 

then along wet pavement, backing 

up through cones at 35 mph, 

screeching to sudden stops. 

A coach rides with each recruit, 

watching their maneuvers, offering 

advice — and angry criticism. 

“What are you thinking? If you 

do that out there, you’ll die!” 

It’s a crisp December morning. 

A second recruit had to drop out 

after catching COVID-19 during 

Thanksgiving break, so now 

there are 23. Everyone is tired, 

distracted, anxious. 

“Take a deep breath,” says a 

coach. “Talk to yourself. Remind 

yourself what you’ve learned. 

Tap your brakes going into those 

turns.” 

If you hit a cone — or start 

crying — you’re done. 

A blurred photograph taken 

through the windshield of a 

moving car, the only sharp point 

being the rear-view mirror with 

the recruit’s face reflected in it. 

Instructors keep the pace fast 

and the pressure high on the 

driving range. 

They only have one week to 

practice in the white, unmarked 

cars. They’ve been getting used 

to the powerful engines that 

leap off the line, the loud motors, 

tight steering, quick brakes. 

Most of them have been driving 

Taurus’s. A few were assigned 

classic Crown Vics. 

This afternoon, they’re competing 

to be the “Top Driver,” an 

honor given to whoever finishes 

the course fastest. 

You get an award at graduation. 

You get to sign the orange 

cone that gets handed down 

from class to class. 

“Okay, you’re going to go 

straight into the intersection, 

we’ll shout at you where to stop. 

Make sure you stop correctly, no 

skids,” cautions a coach, pointing 

out corners of the course. “Make 

the 90-degree turn. Serpentine 

through the six-pack. Don’t run 

over the pole.” 

“This is a timed event. Line up 

in alphabetical order. Oh, and 

today, everybody’s driving the 

Crown Vics.” 

The cadets start complaining. 

Why those old cars? That’s not 

fair. Why teach us on Taurus’s, 

then switch now? 

In a police car, the instructor in 

the driver’s seat points his finger 

in the air while the recruit pays 

attention. 

Coach Rick Tapia lectures 

Anhalt before her final driving 

examination. 

First up, Hannah Anhalt, one of 

the smallest recruits. She climbs 

behind the wheel. The seat is so 

much lower than in the Taurus, 

the dashboard so much higher. 

When she stretches to see 

through the windshield, her feet 

barely brush the pedals. 

No time to adjust the seat. Or 

mirrors. 

As soon as she straps on her 

seatbelt, the coach beside her 

barks, “Go!” and starts his stopwatch. 

“You got this!” classmates yell. 

She knows she doesn’t. When 

she presses the gas, the Crown 

Vic lurches forward, and she 

brakes. “Go!” yells the coach. “Go! 

You’re being timed!” 

On the rifle range, she learned 

to tune everything out, keep her 

cool, focus. She scored 47 out of 

48 on the exam. “More Jane Wick 

stuff,” KeVonn Mabon teased her. 

That’s been her favorite part 

of the academy so far. For Hanukkah, 

she asked her fiancé 

for a gun, so she wouldn’t have 

to keep borrowing his. She’d 

wanted to take him shooting 

over the break, but she has to do 

ride-alongs with the Clearwater 

police. 

US News and World Report 

headline “Second Black Man Shot 

Dead by Police in Ohio City, Officer 

Relieved of Duty.” 

Over Thanksgiving, she had 

helped arrest an elderly homeless 

man defecating on a loading 

dock, responded to a domestic 

violence call where a man had 

a concealed weapon license, 

and gone to a park to settle a 

dispute between two women 

arguing over a dog collar. Every 

night, her brother texts her, “Did 

you die today?” 

A cadet had asked her classmates 

if they have ever felt like 

they were going to die? One 

woman had panicked while 

rock climbing. Anhalt had talked 

about waking up in her fiancé’s 

car, while it was spinning, just 

before they crashed. 

Here on the driving range, she 

tries to block that out. But she 

can’t concentrate with all the 

obstacles she has to skirt, with 

coaches screaming and everyone 


watching. “C’mon Anhalt!” someone 

shouts. “Hurry!” 

Gripping the wheel, 

white-knuckled, she steers into 

the first turn. Beside her, the 

coach clicks on the stereo. Deck 

the Halls blasts across the driving 

range. 

Anhalt, grimacing, plows over 

the first cone. “Out!” 

During the first couple of years 

on the force, cops spend most of 

their time in their cars, on patrol 

or answering calls. 

You have to get used to sitting 

there for 10, 12, 15 hours, a coach 

told them. Practice paying attention. 

You can’t doze off. 

Make yourself get up and move. 

And just because you’re ensconced 

in a cop car doesn’t 

mean you’re safe. Chases can be 

as dangerous as responding to 

shots fired. 

One coach echoed a persistent 

message: Treat everyone as if 

they want to kill you. 

The cadets who are former 

military have mastered that 

mindset. But it’s a shift for those 

who are used to trusting strangers. 

“That guy you pull over for 

rolling through a stop sign might 

have a gun — and use it.” 

The next two cadets bowl over 

cones and get disqualified. Then 

a beefy guy speeds to the finish 

line and makes a clean stop. 

“That’s how it’s done!” shouts 

a coach. “1:07. That’s the time to 

beat.” 

The recruit beams and fistbumps 

the air. Most of his classmates 

cheer. 

The youngest cadet crosses his 

arms and says: “That’s not fair. 

He’s been driving the Crown Vic 

all week.” 

In the police car, the instructor 

in the passenger seat, the recruit 

turned around in the driver’s 

seat, looking out the back window 

as he backs the car up. 

KeVonn Mabon loves steering 

through quick turns and speeding 

in cop cars. 

When it’s Mabon’s turn, he’s 

grinning. He loves being in a cop 

car, speeding through the obstacles. 

He tears into the straightaway, 

Jingle Bells blasting through the 

open windows. He stops without 

skidding, races into the turn, 

pumps his brakes. He slaloms 

through the six-pack, avoids the 

pole, tears into the final stretch. 

“Coming in hot! I like that!” 

calls a coach. “Love the aggression.” 

Mabon already broke the academy 

record for the 300-meter 

dash and got to write his name 

on the mat room wall. He wants 

to buy himself $220 Air Jordans 

for Christmas but worries about 

spending that much. On the NFL 

practice squad, he made $18,000 

a month. As a cop in training, he 

makes $3,000. 

“Go! Go! You got it!” calls a 

coach, as Mabon’s classmates 

cluster at the edge of the asphalt, 

watching. 

Mabon takes the last turn too 

quickly — and knocks over a 

cone. 

Everyone groans, even the 

coaches. Mabon climbs out of 

the car, smiling, and shrugs. 

Seen through the windshield, a 

recruit outside the car replaces a 

traffic cone. 

Mabon hustles after the cone 

that he hit, which ended his final 

run on the driving range. 

When it’s Brittany “Mama” 

Moody’s turn, she walks across 

the asphalt confidently. She’s 

5-foot-9, drives a Tacoma pickup. 

Fast. She’s ready. 

“Get in there, Moody!” a classmate 

calls. “You go!” shouts 

another. 

She nods at them, then folds 

into the driver’s seat. Before 

she even straps on her belt, the 

coach beside her turns up the 

radio, roaring Sleigh Ride. 

She’s dreading the holidays. Her 

son Bryan keeps asking for Nerf 

guns, but she won’t buy them. 

She doesn’t want him to think 

guns are toys. And what does 

she want? Ammo. It’s getting so 

expensive and hard to find. 

On the driving range, Moody 

takes off quickly, stops, then races 

into the turn. Too fast. Her left 

front tire topples a cone. 

She slams on the brakes, 

throws open the door and 

stomps out, scowling. 

During the long walk across the 

pavement, she balls her hands 

into fists, keeps her head down. 

Seen from inside the car, a 

recruit walks from the driver’s-side 

door with a glaring 

look. 

Moody slams the door after her 

final drive came up short. 

After a dark-haired recruit 

wins Top Driver and signs the 

cone with a Sharpie, the cadets 

start moving toward the academy. 

But a coach calls them back. 

“When you get distracted, look 

at all the mistakes you make. 

Just do it as the coaches told 

you to do it,” he says. 

“And quit complaining.” He 

switches to a whiny voice, “This 

car sucks. This gas pedal is too 

close to the brakes.” 

“Be a chameleon,” he shouts. 

“Just do your job. Don’t make 

excuses. When you screw up, 

own it.” 

Back in the classroom, they 

have to take a written driving 

test: 50 questions in an hour. Mabon 

finishes first, in 10 minutes, 

scores 96. 

When Anhalt gets a perfect 

score, a coach tells her, “Well, 

you’re doing better than most. 

Most women don’t know which 

way to turn the wheel.” 

She tells this to a female recruit, 

who says: “Yeah. He told 

me I was going to be a sucky 

deputy.” 

The cadets end the day listening 

to two young cops tell war 

stories: Trying to calm a schizophrenic 

woman robbing a bank 

with a bomb — that turned out 

to be a sandwich; tending to 

someone stabbed at a church; 

smelling a body that had been 

decomposing for days. 

The hardest call, one tells the 

class, was for a 28-year-old veteran 

who killed himself. “I had 

to tell his mother, “The cop says. 

He closes his eyes. “That night, 

when I went home, I shed a few 

tears.” He pauses. “I’m a vet, too.” 

Silence swallows the room. 

These recruits are about to face 

so many tragedies. They look at 

each other, then at their laps. 

“But don’t get me wrong,” the 

officer tells them, “this really is 

the best job in the world.” 

In the back of the room, Coach 

Joe Saponare laughs and says, 

“Like getting a ticket to the 

greatest show on earth!” 

He tells them to have a good 

break. “Enjoy yourselves, but stay 

focused.” 

When they come back in 

January, they all have to take 

the Cooper Test, an assessment 

of physical fitness. If they don’t 

pass, they’ll get kicked out. 

Most of them are confident. Everyone 

is excited to see if Mabon 

will beat his own record for the 

run. 



Survivor Recalls Collapse of the Towers 

It’s been two decades since 

former Port Authority Police Officer 

Will Jimeno was miraculously 

pulled to safety from the twisted 

wreckage of the World Trade Center 

that entombed him in a narrow 

void for 13 hellish hours. 

At various points, fireballs of 

burning jet fuel began falling atop 

of him and exploding bullets from 

a slain fellow cop’s gun whizzed 

by as he lay lonely and helpless in 

the darkness, alongside PAPD Sgt. 

John McLoughlin, who was similarly 

trapped. 

The dramatic saga he endured 

led to a Hollywood movie, “World 

Trade Center,” directed by Oliver 

Stone and featuring the actors Michael 

Pena playing him and Nicholas 

Cage playing the sergeant. 

Jimeno, then a rookie, was forced 

to retire from PAPD due to the injuries 

he suffered, which led at least 

11 separate surgeries. In January 

2008, he appeared on the television 

show, “Deal or No Deal,” where he 

won $271,000. 

Nowadays, he opts to play down 

his personal heroics when recounting 

what he went through, focusing 

instead upon the many selfless 

sacrifices that were made by others 

that terrible day. 

His deepest appreciation is reserved 

for McLoughlin, who was 

stuck for more than 

20 hours before 

he, too was pulled 

to safety, and for 

Dominick Pezzulo, 

a fellow PAPD cop, 

who laid down his 

own life to save 

Jimeno and the 

sergeant. 

“Dominick was 

a schoolteacher in 

The Bronx before 

becoming a cop,” 

Jimeno said, referring 

to Pezzulo. 

“He volunteered 

trying to do the 

right thing and 

gave his life trying 

to bring people home. In his last 

moments he was thinking about the 

team,” he said. 

Jimeno came to the United States 

as a child from Colombia with his 

family and served in the U.S. Navy 

before becoming an American citizen 

and joining the PAPD. 

Six weeks before 9-11, he had purchased 

a new home in Clifton, N.J., 

with his pregnant wife, Allison, and 

their daughter, Bianca, then 4. 

Assigned to the Port Authority 

bus terminal, Jimeno remembers 

seeing an ominous shadow passing 

overhead in Midtown before being 

summoned aboard a city bus, along 

with Sgt. McLoughlin and about 20 

other cops for a ride to the WTC. 

At the scene of the disaster, he 

encountered a veteran PAPD cop 

with tears in his eyes who told 

him people were jumping from the 

North Tower — and Jimeno remembers 

looking upward to see that the 

outlandish claim was indeed true. 

“As I turned, I saw people jumping. 

I felt helpless. There was nothing 

I could do,” Jimeno recalled. 

His spirits were bolstered momentarily 

when he saw ordinary 

office workers performing feats of 

amazing bravery. 

“I remember that in all the chaos 

and all the mayhem, people were 

helping each other. I saw a black 

gentleman and a white gentleman 

were carrying a blond woman who 

was injured.” 

I remember thinking, if these people 

are so brave, we have to be that 

much braver — we must be two or 

three steps better than them. 

McLoughlin, who had led rescue 

efforts during the first WTC terrorist 

attack in 1993, began requesting 

volunteers — and Jimeno, along 

with Pezzulo and two other PAPD 

cops, Officers Christopher Amoroso 

and Antonio Rodrigues, followed 

the sergeant’s lead. 

When the South Tower tumbled 

down with a deafening roar, Amoroso 

and Rodrigues were caught 

beneath the avalanche of cascading 

debris and perished in an instant. 

McLoughlin, Pezzulo and Jimeno 

barely made it to an elevator shaft, 

where they remained entombed in 

a tight void, amid tons of twisted 

metal, smoldering ashes, and crumbling 

concrete. 

Pezzulo was close enough to 

the surface to climb to safety, but 

he refused to leave Jimeno or the 

sergeant. 

The North Tower collapsed soon 

afterwards — and Pezzulo’s injuries 

proved fatal. 

Before he died, Pezzulo mustered 

up enough strength to fire a single 

gunshot to the skies above, hoping 

someone would somehow hear the 

noise and rescue them. 

Before Pezzulo died, Jimeno recalled, 

he made modest request — 

that he be remembered. 

He told me, “I love you! Just remember 

I died trying to help you 

guys, the team,” he added. 

I said, “Dominick, I will never let 

anyone forget that.” 

In his last moments, he fired his 

weapon, a last-ditch effort to let 

someone know we were down 

there, Jimeno noted. 

“He fired his weapon and he 

passed,” he said. 

Jimeno spent about 12 more 

hours entombed in the wreckage, in 

pain and parched, fighting the urge 

to simply give up. 

He became so thirsty at one point, 

he recalled, that he saw a vision of 

Jesus holding what he thought was 

a water bottle for him. 

Two passing Marines, Jason 

Thomas and Dave Karnes, finally 

heard his cries for help and Jimeno 

was pulled to safety, narrowly 

averting having to have his leg amputated 

so he could be freed. 

McLoughlin, who was more 

deeply buried, remained trapped for 

about 20 hours before he, too, was 

freed early the next morning. 

Six weeks later, on Jimeno’s birthday, 

his second daughter, Olivia, 

was born. 


WORDS BY DAVID PAN 

David Pan is currently assigned means. 

to the National Counterterrorism “I felt a very strong sense of 

Center at the ODNI. Pan has over national cohesion in the aftermath 

37 years of federal service. 

of 9/11. We rallied behind 

“I remember that day as clearly our president and were determined 

as yesterday.” 

to find and punish those 

It has been 19 years since the who perpetrated the attack on 

tragic attacks in New York, NY, all of us,” said Pan. “Nineteen 

Arlington, VA, and Shanksville, years have passed, but I think 

PA. Nearly 3,000 of our friends, we are still united in preventing 

family members, neighbors and another 9/11 on our soil.” 

colleagues never made it home The hijackers of the plane that 

that night. 

hit the Pentagon flew the aircraft 

For David Pan, a career intelligence 

into the western façade of the 

officer who was inside the Pentagon, the exact location of 

Pentagon on the fateful morning 

where Pan’s office used to be. they would witness the largest 

of September 11, 2001, these On the day of the attacks, Pan terrorist attack on American soil ercise with us ran into our space “I looked up and saw smoke cell phones lines were jammed 

events changed his life forever. and his colleagues were working since the attack on Pearl Harbor and told us that a plane had hit coming over the building from and I couldn’t get through.” 

Pan was fortunate to make it out on a global nuclear command in 1941. 

the building and we needed to the other side of the Pentagon Pan ultimately made it home 

of the Pentagon alive; however, and control exercise in the basement 

of the Pentagon. 

ing in New York City, with the 

But many did not feel the 

went to my car and turned on reflect on his morning. Each year, 

“I watched the events unfold- 

evacuate.” 

where the plane had struck. I safely to his wife and began to 

the emotional impact the day 

made on him is everlasting. To Pan, and many others, the report of the first plane crashing urgency and seriousness of the the radio. I could see the smoke he remembers the events, the 

“To me, 9/11 was a life defining day appeared no different than into the North Tower, and then attack right away. 

from the other side by Route smells, and the chaos that ensued 

the Pentagon that morning. 

moment. The world will never other late summer days in the the second going into the South “It was surreal, walking up the 27. After a while, I decided that 

be the same as the day before,” D.C. area. 

Tower. It was then I knew that it stairs with others with no sense it wasn’t wise to stay there, as On September 11, 2001, the 

said Pan, currently a contractor “September 11, 2001, started as was a terrorist attack.” 

of urgency that felt like a fire things were very confusing. I got United States suffered a loss that 

at the Office of the Director of a beautifully clear morning when With these attacks occurring drill. It was only when we arrived 

at the exit, we knew it was As thousands of Americans as a normal day turned into an 

on the road.” 

no one expected. What started 

National Intelligence (ODNI). “Our I arrived at the Pentagon parking just four hours north of the Pentagon, 

the question arose as to not normal. The security guards learned about the Pentagon at- 

ongoing 19-year Global War on 

innocence at our home front was lot at 7:00 that morning. I remember 

watching a plane take where the next attack or target told us to keep moving, not to tack on TV, they began to worry Terrorism. On behalf of the ODNI 

forever shattered. We look at the 

world and ourselves differently.” off from the National Airport would be. 

swipe our badges and exit the about their loved ones who were and the entire Intelligence Community, 

we mourn the lives lost 

Pan has committed over 37 while walking inside. We had “We kept working on our 

building to the parking lot.” 

in the building that day. All they 

years of his life to protecting the TVs in the room in the basement exercise after that, but I made a As the masses made it outside, wanted to do was call and see on that day and salute the brave 

national security of the United of the building, near corridor 8.” remark that the Pentagon police 

better tighten up security as Even from the other side of the that was not an option. 

nation to ensure another 9/11 

the attack became very real. 

if they were alive. Unfortunately, men and women who serve our 

States of America, but the emotions 

that he felt on 9/11 created on that morning, nobody in the we’re probably next. A short time world’s largest office building, 

“My wife didn’t know what does not happen on American 

When they turned the TVs 

a new sense of what service Pentagon basement thought later, the officer working the ex- 

smoke and flames could be seen. happened to me since all the soil. 


What to Do? 

Making the Most 

of Island Time 

Attractions 

Galveston Island is home to some of the 

best attractions Texas has to offer, including 

Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Waterpark, 

the Historic Pleasure Pier, unique 

museums, dazzling Victorian architecture, 

and 32 miles of sun-kissed beaches. 

Galveston Beaches 

With 32 miles of shoreline and a variety of 

parks, Galveston Island offers something for 

every kind of beachgoer. 

Sandcastle Building Lessons 

My name is Emerson and I’ve been a professional 

sandcastle builder for over 10 years. Join me every 

Saturday this summer at Stewart Beach and learn 

the fundamentals of sand sculpture (Yes, it’s sculpture!) 

We’ll cover the basics of making strong structures 

and how to carve them. 

Free sandcastle lessons are available at Stewart 

Beach on Saturdays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. 

No reservation necessary. You can find me by the 

water’s edge, straight down from the pavilion. Private 

lessons are also available by appointment 

throughout the week at the beach of your choice. 

For more information, click here. Join me and learn 

how to have more fun at the beach forever! 


GAIDO’S SEAFOOD 

RESTAURANT 

3828 Seawall Blvd 

Galveston, Texas 77550 

Tours & Sightseeing 

Whether you prefer to stroll down quaint 

alleyways by foot or trot through the streets 

in a carriage, all paths can lead you on an 

unforgettable journey back in time. You’ll 

be entertained and enlightened by knowledgeable 

guides giving tours on foot, 

carriage, shuttle or even boat. If you prefer 

to do you own thing, we’ve assemble 

self-guided tours of popular sights with 

maps designed for mobile devices. 

Where to Stay? 

Casa Del Mar Beachfront Suites 

Be the hero of your family vacation! With 

a relaxed vibe, beautiful views of the Gulf 

of Mexico and steps from the beach, 

Casa del Mar is ideal for a family vacation 

or weekend getaway. Each suite offers a 

private balcony, a small living room with a 

queen sleeper sofa, a studio kitchen, private 

bedroom, and junior bunks for small 

kids. 

From the moment you walk through the 

door, you will feel a sense of history and 

family tradition at Gaido’s. Founded in 

1911, Gaido’s Restaurant has established 

itself as a landmark for fresh and deliciously 

prepared seafood in Galveston. 

Located right along the Seawall, diners will 

enjoy an unforgettable meal and panoramic 

views of the Gulf of Mexico. Don’t leave 

without trying the world-famous pecan 

pie, the official state pie of Texas.restaurant 

scene. 

THE SPOT 



Island Famous: Five Venues, One Spot: The 

Spot, Tiki Bar, SideYard, Rum Shack and 

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

Island’s premier beachfront dining and 

entertainment destination. Dive into a mouthwatering 

burger or fresh seafood, grab a beer 

and find a sweet spot to relax inside or out 

on our multi-level beachfront patios. Whether 

you want to catch the game on one of our 

many HDTVs or enjoy the sparkling views of 

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

in the house. 

FISH TALES 



Explore the Ocean’s Depths 

MOODY GARDENS 

Dive into the oceans of the world in 

a 1.5-million-gallon aquarium teeming 

with creatures from tuxedo-clad 

penguins to seals, stingrays, sharks 

and more! 

Enjoy wholesome fare on Fish Tales beachfront balcony 

right by the Seawall in Galveston. Fish Tales specializes 

in fresh Gulf of Mexico fare along with pasta, steaks, 

salads, and more. Don’t miss out on their popular 

Shrimp Kisses, bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with jalapeno 

cheese or other signature dishes including Redfish, 

Fried Shrimp, Blackened Stuffed Catfish Étouffée, 

Snow Crab Legs, or Baby Back Ribs. Fish Tales is open 

daily for lunch and dinner. 


THE OPEN ROAD 

by Michael Barron 

PROS & CONS of Installing PPF on New Cars 

PPF or Clear Bras have been around for years, but the new films are light years ahead 

of the previous products. But is a Clear Bar or PPF right for your new car?? 

A paint protection film is the 

best example of an aftermarket 

product that truly works as 

advertised. Its primary task is 

indeed – to protect the paint 

surface and other materials 

where it’s applied. PPF (which 

is an abbreviation for this super 

paint protection film) is a 

polyurethane-based substance. 

It’s transparent, and with some 

elevated brands, it can instantly 

heal if the top layer is scratched. 

So, is it a good idea to install 

PPF on new cars? 

In short – absolutely. In fact, 

this is the best time to apply PPF 

– or elastomeric polymer film as 

the primary objective of protective 

paint films is to maintain the 

condition of what’s underneath 

from UV exposure, chemicals, 

light scratches, toxins, and road 

grime. 

However, PPF is not for everyone. 

It is a premium product that 

is typically installed by certified 

and highly trained professionals. 

And there are times when 

protection film installation is not 

recommended. So, let’s explore 

some of the pros and cons of 

having a clear bra or paint protection 

film bonded to your new 

car’s paint surface. 

This type of material is completely 

safe to apply to your new 

car. In fact, most paint protection 

film customers opt to use this 

type of protective coating on the 

clear coat of vehicle’s paint vs 

a ceramic coating, traditional 

carnauba wax, or paint sealants 

due to its safe application. For 

those who are not aware, PPF is 

a thin, and uses a unique adhesive 

substance that bonds solidly 

to the substrate. 

During the installation process, 

the clear paint protection film 

undergoes a multiple-stage installation, 

where it is fitted, cut, 

placed, and then activated by a 

liquid spray. The installer will 

use a squeegee to help apply the 

film to the painted surface. This 

is when the adhesive goes to 

work to attach to the substrate. 

There are some vinyl materials 

or inferior quality protective 

films with cheap adhesives that 

will become quite sticky if water 

penetrates the topcoat. In fact, 

this is more common than you’d 

think with vinyl wraps. But when 

it comes to a quality PPF like 

the Reaction Series PPF by Sun 

Tek, it’s a completely reinvented 

product that merges the super 

hydrophobicity of ceramic coating 

with premium, self-healing 

paint protection film. This advanced 

two-in-one construction 

keeps your finish looking like it 

rarely sees the road, thanks to 

impressive protective benefits. 

Reaction stands up head-on to 

flying gravel, salt, grit and more. 

It also has self-healing properties 

plus a noticeably clear finish 

with intense gloss and no orange 

peel appearance. This trailblazing 

PPF utilizes Eastman Tetrashield 

protective resin system 

technology, trusted by OEMs for 

their own finishes. 

Reaction is formidable defense 

against nature’s harshest elements 

too, with 25% more stain 

resistance than top brands. Acid 

rain, bird droppings, tree sap, 

insects and dirt all wash effortlessly 

away from Reaction’s slick 

surface, leaving only envy-inducing 

shine behind. 

Can You Remove Protective 

Paint Film? 

Yes – a protective film for cars 

can be easily removed. However, 

once it is removed, the same film 

can’t be reinstalled on another 

vehicle or the same. This is a 

great example why PPF is best 

suited for people who are either 

leasing a vehicle (that are going 

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John & Sam: Remembering 9/11 

John Salerno 

Mad Radio, Badge of Honor 

September 11th, 2001 

On 9/11/21 I had already retired 

from the NYPD 10 months 

earlier. I was the current 

Chief of the Local Fire Department 

in Farmingdale Long 

Island. 

I remember watching the 

first plane hit the towers and 

headed to the Firehouse. I 

began putting together a response 

plan with other Chiefs. 

When the 2nd Plane hit, 

we immediately knew it was 

no accident and we updated 

our response plan and an 

emergency call out was dispatched. 

Our department also had 

many FDNY members around 

the city that were responding 

which weighed heavy on everyone’s 

mind. 

Our team consisted of 13 

men and women. We arrived 

at approximately 1700 hrs. and 

staged at the corner of Vesy 

and Broadway. We made our 

way to the temporary command 

post to get our assignments. 

We broke up into teams 

and began sifting through 

the rubble, some ascending 

into voids, others working the 

bucket line. 

The most vivid memory of 

that day was when you heard 

someone yell “Got One” the 

entire pile went silent. Your 

stomach ached waiting to 

hear they are alive. Sadly, 

those words were not heard. 

Everyone was in hypervigilant 

mode. The race to rescue. 

The area was organized chaos 

as first responders relied on 

their own training, opposed 

to the operational orders of a 

central command. 

The thick dust and smoke 

lingered over the entire area 

making it impossible to see 

the blue sky above. 

As we all knew this was a 

terrorist attack, what we did 

not know however, was when 

it would be over! Many reports 

were flooding the pile as we 

heard about the Pentagon and 

Shanksville. Planes could be 

heard flying over overhead. 

Was it another attack or was 

it our own Military protecting 

the skies? 

It did not really matter at 

that point everyone was focused 

on one thing and one 

thing only: finding survivors. 

The days of 9/11 will be a 

part of everyone’s life forever, 

just like the memories for 

those who have fought the 

past Wars. 

What we need to remember 

as a Nation, is we must never 

forget the brave men and 

women we lost, the injuries 

that were sustained, and the 

emotional battles many still 

have. 

Samantha Horwitz 

Mad Radio, Badge of Honor 

September 11th, 2001 

The nightmares have all 

but disappeared. That darn 

jumper and Mohammad Attah, 

however. Two faces I can 

recall in a split second. I hug 

my family a little tighter. I tell 

them and my friends that I 

love them a bit more and then 

I fight. I fight the demons of 

anger and cynicism the most. 

Year after year they come for 

me somewhere around two 

weeks before the anniversary 

date. Even while using tools 

like Eye Movement Desensitization 

and Reprocessing 

(EMDR) Therapy and stress 

management techniques, they 

are still able to grab ahold. 

They grab at my heart and 

taunt me with thoughts of 

defeat. They whisper, “You’ll 

never really be okay.” And 

“You will never win.” I pause. 

I take a deep breath, and say 

with a smile, “I already have.” 

I remind myself of my why. 

Seventeen years ago, in my 

basement in the dark, I did 

not pull that trigger pressed 

against my head when 

Post-Traumatic Stress consumed 

me. Seventeen years 

ago, I made a choice to stay 

and fight. To bear the scars in 

my brain from September 11th 

so that others could learn and 

benefit from the pain. It was 

the most difficult decision of 

my life, and in the end, the 

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most rewarding. 

What was born from the 

pain is a passion driven purpose 

to help others find a 

way out of their darkness 

and despair. To educate and 

help smash the stigma of 

Post-Traumatic Stress that 

surrounds first responders 

with clear message, “You are 

not alone.” My book The Silent 

Fall: A Secret Service Agent’s 

Story of Tragedy and Triumph 

After 9/11 the catalyst. 

I am never alone on September 

11th. I purposely surround 

myself with other 9/11 first 

responders, and others who 

serve, some retired and some 

still on the job. Those people 

who “get it.” They get where 

my head is, my short temper, 

my frustrations. No one tries 

to fix anyone. We simply listen 

and offer support. We are 

united in our grief and determined 

to never forget. 

On September 11, 2021, 

twenty years will have 

passed. Although our world 

has changed tremendously, 

my world, for that one day is 

infinitely small. I think of the 

words, “United We Stand,” and 

find comfort knowing that at 

least here, in my hometown 

we will never forget. 

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September 11, 2001 

September 11, 2001, it is a date, 

like very few others, that will 

live in infamy. I wasn’t alive on 

December 7, 1941, but I think I 

know what Americans felt like in 

those days. The day after Pearl 

Harbor, President Roosevelt said, 

“The people of the United States 

have already formed their opinions 

and well understand the 

implications to the very life and 

safety of our nation.” Americans 

were united. Aside from the obvious 

tragic circumstances many 

of our fellow citizens personally 

experienced on September 11th, 

the warmth of unity and kinship 

felt as though it came from 

some far distant star and not our 

own sun. So different was this 

nearly other worldly feeling from 

anything else I experienced that I 

remember it still. 

At the moment that the first 

plane hit the north tower, I was 

teaching AP English at Pasadena 

High School. I had worked the 

night before, as usual, as the 

night shift commander at the 

Clear Lake Patrol Division of the 

Houston Police Department. 

I had recently viewed, per 

chance, a History Channel documentary 

that was about aviation 

accidents in New York City. 

Specifically, there was one about 

a B-25 crashing into the Empire 

State Building on a foggy night 

in 1945. When a fellow teacher 

knocked on my classroom door 

and told me about a plane crash 

in New York, my first thought 

was of the ill-fated B-25. 

Classes at the high school 

changed at the bell and the 

televisions were all turned on 

throughout the campus. It became 

obvious that it was a day 

like no other. Parents were lined 

up to take their teenagers home, 

but most students stayed and 

watched the news in the comfort 

of their peers’ presence. Then, of 

course, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania 

crashes happened in 

real time. 

After the crashes and their 

immediate aftermath were seen, 

there were new images. They 

were from Afghanistan. There 

was definite fighting going on in 

Afghanistan. Most viewers like 

myself didn’t know exactly how 

they were connected to what 

was happening in New York, but 

there was a connection in the 

caves of the Hindu Kush. The live 

unfiltered images from Afghanistan 

showed caves being blown 

up. 

After the final school bell rang, 

I went home. Normally, I would 

go to bed and sleep prior to going 

to work at 9:30 PM, but this 

day I stayed awake. We had just 

remodeled our home and the 

remodeling included a new HD 

television. This tragic catastrophe 

was the first thing I watched 

on the new HD television. It was 

so new that the HD version of 

network TV didn’t have sponsors 

yet. 

Our city, as well as many others, 

was still in recovery mode 

from Tropical Storm Allison 

that unleashed high flood waters 

across the area the previous 

summer and killed people as far 

away as Boston. The news concerning 

Houston’s recovery efforts 

was pushed aside to broadcast 

news of the terror attack all 

day, every day. 

Besides the students at school, 

we had our own kids at home 

who were concerned about the 

day’s events. We encouraged 

them to be brave and follow 

their teachers’ instructions at 

school. Then the phone rang, and 

we were advised that our congregation 

would meet at church 

that very evening. 

When we arrived at University 

Baptist Church, we were met by 

a large, but subdued crowd. The 

images of our brother and sister 

Americans jumping to their 

deaths from the Towers were 

freshly, but indelibly, etched 

into our minds. Our pastor, Dr. 

Robert Creech, led us in prayer 

and worship noting that while 

this moment was unique to us 

personally, Christians and Jews 

had a long history of turning 

to the Lord in troubling times. 

After our worship was over, the 

large screen television played 

President Bush’s address to the 

nation. We all felt a little better 

knowing that the Lord was still 

in control of the world and that 

our leaders were addressing the 

situation. 

After the worship service, I 

went to work at the Clear Lake 

Station. What a difference a day 

makes! Clear Lake was a small 

division then with fewer officers 

and resources when compared 

to other patrol divisions in which 

I served. We found out just how 

many potential targets we had 

in our district. We had to guard 

the water treatment plant on 

Allen-Genoa. The water wasn’t 

really the issue, but the associated 

chlorine tanks would blow 

the whole area sky high if they 

were detonated somehow. We 

also guarded the masjid locations 

against those idiots who 

would think revenge on our Muslim 

neighbors was in order. The 

countless chemical and other 

installations required security. 

Our routine at the Houston Police 

Department was forever 

changed that day. 

Ten years later, I was on a tour 

of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was 

going along smoothly when the 

Navy stopped our tour shuttle. 

Armed sailors came aboard 

the vehicle and checked our 

ID’s and looked at images from 

our cameras. When they were 

satisfied, we were allowed to 

continue, but we were escorted 

from that point forward. The 

tour guide (he was one of the 

very few approved guides at that 

time) said that he had never seen 

anything like that before. He said 

something must have happened. 

I returned to our Royal Caribbean 

cruise ship in Honolulu and 

was reunited with Becky. I told 

her what happened on my tour 

of Pearl Harbor and that the 

tour guide said that something 

big must have happened. We 

got dressed and went to dinner 

and there the captain informed 

everyone that our mortal enemy 

Osama bin Laden had been killed 

by Navy Seals. Pandemonium 

broke out on the ship. 

In a “Post 9-11” world, the day 

that the Navy Seals killed the 

terrorist mastermind stands as 

the high point. The joy that we 

all experienced that day was the 

matching bookend to the horror 

we felt on September 11th. I 

traveled to New York when that 

city’s businesses asked their fel- 


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I saw the sacred place marking 

the Towers and the venerable 

relics of the NYPD and FDNY that 

provided mute testimony of the 

incredible mettle their users exhibited 

that day. 

I wish I could say that the evil 

forces of radical fundamentalist 

Islam were defeated after 

twenty years of conflict with it, 

but that would not be true. The 

images of desperate Afghans 

falling off aircraft last week 

are eerily like those 9-11 victims 

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who leapt to their deaths twenty 

years ago. That really illustrates 

the world’s schism and strife 

when it comes to civilized societies 

who are opposed to a 

barbaric and savage enemy. Savages 

don’t mind living in caves 

with no creature comforts such 

as running water and sanitation. 

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to systematically take over the 

world. Radical Islam is a cancer 

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the medieval values it espouses 

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and those of civilized societies 

are mutually exclusive. 

Recalling my time at Pearl 

Harbor on the day Osama bin 

Laden was killed, I remembered 

my visit to the USS Arizona. I 

saw her oil bunkers still leaking 

the once precious life blood of 

the pride of the Pacific Fleet. I 

read the names of her crew who 

fought gallantly, but perished in 

a massive explosion of fire and 

steel. Our nation has a wonderful 

heritage of heroes who 

seem to step up when they are 

most needed. Men and women 

whose blood runs through our 

veins sacrificed all so that others 

could live free. Visiting sacred 

locations like the 9-11 Memorial 

and Pearl Harbor accentuates the 

connections we share with each 

other. These connections present 

themselves as an almost other 

worldly harmony when we are 

attacked by enemies who underestimate 

our determination and 

our love of liberty. Pilgrimages 

to places where patriots shed 

their blood heighten my sense of 

history which teaches that truth 

and justice cannot be stopped as 

they march hand in hand inexorably 

toward the eternal Light of 

God. 

God Bless the United States of 

America! 

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Interested in Being a Leader? 

To 

Leadership is a word tossed 

around by many to label the 

head of an organization. But 

what is a real leader? Is it a 

chief of police, is it the commander 

at the station, or is it 

the hard worker on your shift? 

There are plenty of supervisors 

out there who think they 

are “leaders.” But let’s be honest, 

not every supervisor is a 

leader. You can teach anyone 

to be a supervisor, but you cannot 

teach leadership. 

Can you teach aspects of 

leadership? Certainly. But we 

must also understand that there 

are certain aspects of leadership 

that cannot be taught or 

learned from a book. Leadership 

is a calling, a feeling, a 

burning from inside that makes 

you want to do what you do. 

True leaders will find a way to 

make things work in the worst 

of situations and a way that 

makes everyone feel valued 

and appreciated. I have been 

blessed over my 30 years here 

at HPD to have had some very 

good supervisors and some 

very good leaders. You need 

both to have a real and workable 

paramilitary organization 

like a police department. 

We all know a supervisor 

that we look at and go: How 

did they pass that test? I am 

not bashing supervisors, but 

we have all had one at some 

point in our career that we 

just shake our heads and move 

on. Our department needs to 

start developing our leaders 

for supervisory rolls within the 

department. 

In the same manner, we are 

going to have to work here at 

the HPOU to develop our future 

leaders. I like to think of myself 

as a leader and have always 

tried to be within the units that 

I worked. We all have known 

those guys who are control 

freaks who like to take over and 

handle any situation. 

That was me at Southeast. I 

loved being in the middle of 

any call and had no problem 

handling all the paperwork that 

went along with it. The more 

in-depth the incident, the more 

I liked it. Sadly, my sergeants 

had to do the paperwork associated 

with working officers, 

along with a lot of yellow 

paper that started with “Dear 

Chief.” 

I have repeatedly had to 

apologize to my supervisors for 

that, but they always seemed 

to understand. I was blessed to 

have worked for true leaders 

like Mark Bailey, Bobby Roberts 

and John Yencha, who helped 

me develop the leadership 

skills I have today. 

Now, here I am in a leadership 

DOUGLAS GRIFFITH 

role at the largest police union 

in Texas. As most know, I never 

expected to be in the position 

of president of the HPOU, but 

I am proud of the work we do 

here. Once again, I have been 

blessed to work with Ray, Joe 

and Tom – who have been incredible 

to work with and have 

helped me transition into the 

position. 

I now look forward to helping 

our future leaders in this same 

manner. For anyone wanting 

to help lead the Houston Police 

Officers Union into the future, 

please consider running for our 

board of directors. Sign-ups 

have begun and elections will 

take place in just a few weeks. 

So, if you consider yourself a 

leader and care about this future 

of the department and our 

officers, get involved! 


Judge Abigail Anastasio- 

Blood is on her hands for death of NOLA 

Detective Everette Briscoe 

We hate to paint with a wide 

brush here at the BLUES, but 

every single liberal Democrat 

judge that has released charged 

felons with PR Bounds, $100, 

$200, $1000, $2000 or any other 

ridiculous bond amount, are 

candidates for our Light Bulb 

Award. 

But rather than give them Light 

Bulb awards, how about we pass 

a law that says, “Any judge that 

releases a previously charged or 

convicted felon on bond and said 

individual commits a capital 

offense, said Judge shall be held 

liable and charged along with 

the suspect.” Countless crimes 

have been committed in Harris 

County by individuals out on 

bond, all released by said Liberal 

Judges that should have never 

been elected in the first place. 

But this month, lets focus on 

one worthless Judge in particular 

- the Honorable Abigail Anastasio, 

judge of the 184th District 

Court in Harris County. First off, 

there is NOTHING ‘honorable’ 

about Abigail Anastasio. Time 

and time again, Anastasio lets 

convicted felons out on bond, 

only to commit more felonies. 

Which obviously doesn’t bother 

her in the least. 

Last month NOLA Detective 

Everette Briscoe was shot and 

killed at 5pm at a busy restaurant 

in the Galleria by a criminal 

out on a felony bond. And guess 

who let him out to commit this 

heinous crime – that’s right 

Judge Anastasio. And why wasn’t 

Frederick Jackson in jail prior to 

the double shooting and murder 

of Detective Briscoe? He violated 

his bond conditions, for separate 

aggravated robbery and burglary 

charges, numerous times. And 

the court was notified. Yet Anastasio 

took no action. So, Judge 

Anastasio, Detective Everette 

Briscoe’s death is 100% on you. 

His blood is on your hands and 

your hands alone. But she doesn’t 

care. Scores of other convicted 

and charged felons are out on 

bond from her court. Most have 

already missed court dates or 

had bonds revoked but when 

they appear in her court, she just 

lets them out AGAIN. And again, 

and again and again. 

While a LB Award is great and 

all, you know what’s better? A 

one-way ticket out of the Harris 

County Court system. Abigail 

Anastasio (Democratic Party) is 

a judge of the Texas 184th District 

Court who assumed office 

on January 1, 2019. Her current 

term ends on December 31, 2022. 

We need to start work now on a 

massive campaign to run Anastasio 

and every other Democratic 

Judge that supports this low/no 

bond system out of office. 

The citizens of Harris County deserve 

better than this. They deserve 

to feel safe in their homes, 

on the streets of Harris County 

and Houston and especially while 

spending their hard-earned money 

in restaurants all over the city. 

Hell, most don’t even feel safe 

driving anywhere, for fear that 

that they will be struck and killed 

by stray bullets in our freeways. 

Come on people, this isn’t Chicago 

and as Houstonians we are better 

than this. 

The one thing that Houstonians 

can count on, is their Police Chief 

and the thousands of officers at 

HPD. Chief Troy Finner has the 

backs of his men and women and 

truly wants to build a better and 

safer Houston. I applaud Chief 

Finner for the leadership he brings 

to the department and his compassion 

and kindness to everyone 

in this city, especially those who 

have become victims of these 

senseless crimes. 

So, let’s not waste another day. 

Let’s find some REAL candidates 

to replace these sorry excuses of 

judges and support them with 

whatever it takes. If you’re one of 

those judges, we’re coming after 

you. 


unning 4 heroes 

Total Miles Run in 2021: (as of 8/31/21): 221 

Total Miles Run in 2020: 401 

Total Miles Run in 2019: 376 

Overall Miles Run: 998 

2021 Run Stats: 

Total Miles Run for 2021 fallen LEO’s (Non COVID-19): 107 

Total Miles Run for 2021 fallen Firefighters (Non COVID-19): 49 

Total Miles Run for 2021 fallen COVID-19 Heroes: 21 

Total Miles Run for 2021 fallen Canada LEO’s: 2 

Total Miles Run for 2021 Non Line of Duty Deaths: 0 

Total Miles Run for 2020 Fallen LEO’s: 24 

Total Miles Run for 2020 Fallen Firefighters: 6 

Total Miles Run for 2020/2021 Fallen K9’s: 0 

Total Tribute Runs by State for 2021: 12 

States/Cities Zechariah has run in: 

Zechariah 

Cartledge: 

a True American Hero 

Florida - Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Clearwater, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Orlando, Temple Terrace, Blountstown, Cocoa, Lakeland, 

Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach 

New York - New York City, Weedsport 

Georgia - Cumming, Augusta, Savannah 

South Carolina - North Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Sumter 

Pennsylvania - Monaca 

Illinois - Springfield, Naperville, Glen Ellyn 

Texas - Houston (2), Fort Worth, Midland, New Braunfels, Freeport, Madisonville, Irving 

Kentucky - Nicholasville 

Arkansas - Bryant, Hot Springs 

Nevada - Henderson 

California - Mt. Vernon 

Arizona - Mesa 

North Carolina - Concord, Raleigh 

Tennessee - Bristol 

Delaware - Milford 

Minnesota - Arden Hills 

Indiana - Sullivan, Spencer 

Missouri - Springfield 

Iowa - Independence, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids 


Police Officer 

Scott Russell Dawley 

Nelsonville Police Department, Ohio 

End of Watch Tuesday, August 3, 2021 

Age 43 Tour 7 Years Badge # N/A 

Police Officer Scott Dawley was killed in a vehicle crash while responding 

to a shooting call at about 2:30 pm. 

His patrol car collided with two other vehicles at the intersection of East 

Canal Street and Hocking Street. Officer Dawley was flown to O’Bleness 

Hospital in Athens where he succumbed to his injuries. The occupants of 

the other two cars were injured in the collision. 

Officer Dawley had served with the Nelsonville Police Department for seven 

years. He is survived by his wife and four children. 


George Gonzalez 

United States Department of Defense - U.S. Gov. 


Age 37 Tour 5 Years Badge # 1101 

Police Officer George Gonzalez was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack at 

the Pentagon’s Transit Center in Arlington, Virginia. He was conducting a foot 

patrol of the Transit Center when a subject exited a Metro bus, approached 

him, and stabbed him in the neck. Other officers on the scene fatally shot the 

subject. Officer Gonzalez was flown to The George Washington University Hospital 

where he was pronounced dead. 

Officer Gonzalez was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Pentagon 

Force Protection Agency for three years. He had previously served with the 

Federal Bureau of Prisons for two years. He is survived by his mother and 

brother, who is also a Police Officer. 


Brian Russell Pierce, Jr. 

Brooklyn Police Department, Illinois 

End of Watch Wednesday, August 4, 2021 

Age 24 Tour 2 Years 9 Months Badge # N/A 

Police Officer Brian Pierce was struck and killed by a fleeing vehicle while 

attempting to deploy spike strips on the McKinley Bridge during a vehicle 

pursuit at about 3:00 am. Other officers from Brooklyn had started 

pursuing the vehicle following an incident at a local nightclub. Officer Pierce 

was attempting to deploy the spike strips on the bridge just prior to the 

state line when he was struck. Officers and one of the occupants exchanged 

gunfire. The driver was wounded, and all four occupants were taken 

into custody. 

Deputy Sheriff 

Brandon A. Shirley 

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky 

End of Watch Thursday, August 5, 2021 

Age 26 Tour 2 Years Badge # 4093/266 

Deputy Sheriff Brandon Shirley was shot and killed when he was ambushed 

while working a secondary employment assignment at 2618 

Rockford Lane in Shively, Kentucky. 

He was in uniform and sitting in a vehicle at about 2:30 am when a subject 

approached him and opened fire. Deputy Shirley was transported to 

University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

The subject who shot him fled the scene and remains at large. 

Officer Pierce had served with the Brooklyn Police Department for nine 

months and had previously served with the Spillertown Police Department 

for two years. He also served with the Makanda Fire Department. He is 

survived by his parents. 

Deputy Shirley had served with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for 

two years. 




Ella Grace French 

Chicago Police Department, Illinois 

End of Watch Saturday, August 7, 2021 

Age 29 Tour 3 Years 3 Months Badge 15013 


Ryan J. Proxmire 

Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan 

End of Watch Sunday, August 15, 2021 

Age 40 Tour 9 Years Badge # 4607 

Police Officer Ella French was shot and killed while she and her partner 

conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle containing three subjects near the 

intersection of West 63rd Street and South Bell Avenue. During the 

traffic stop, one of the subjects opened fire, striking Officer French and 

her partner. Despite their wounds, the officers were able to return fire 

and wounded one of the subjects. Both officers were taken to the University 

of Chicago Medical Center where Officer French was pronounced 

dead. Her partner was admitted in critical condition. 

Officer French had served with the Chicago Police Department for almost 

3-1/2 years and was assigned to the Community Safety Team. She is 

survived by her mother and brother. 

Officer Robert 

Craig Cloninger 

Mount Gilead Police Department, North Carolina 


Age 38 Tour 19 Years Badge #723 

Deputy Sheriff Ryan Proxmire succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained 

the previous night while involved in a vehicle pursuit. A subject who had 

evaded officers in an earlier vehicle pursuit was spotted at a gas station 

on 35th Street near Galesburg. As deputies approached him, the man 

produced a gun and fled in his vehicle, prompting a second pursuit. During 

the second pursuit, the subject started shooting at the pursuing deputies. 

One of the rounds struck Deputy Proxmire, causing his vehicle to 

leave the roadway near the intersection of MN Avenue and 38th Street 

in Charleston Township .A passing motorist encountered Deputy Proxmire’s 

vehicle and called 911. He was transported to a local hospital 

where he succumbed to his wound the following day. 

Deputy Proxmire had served with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office 

for nine years. He is survived by his wife, four children, and parents. 

Police Officer Jason Raynor 

Daytona Beach Police Department, Florida 


Age 26 Tour 5 Years 

Badge 3C77 

Officer Craig Cloninger died after suffering a medical emergency after 

responding to a structure fire involving a trapped occupant at 295 

Police Officer Jason Raynor succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained 

Northview Road shortly before midnight. Officer Cloninger collapsed while 

on June 23rd, 2021, while he was investigating a suspicious vehicle. He 

at the scene of the fire and rescue personnel immediately began life-saving 

efforts. He was transported to FirstHealth Montgomery Memorial 

noticed the vehicle parked near an apartment building in the 100 block of 

Kingston Avenue at about 8:50 pm. One of the occupants exited the vehicle 

and then suddenly pushed Officer Raynor. During the ensuing strug- 

Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight. 

Officer Cloninger served as a reserve officer with the Mount Gilead Police 

gle, the subject shot Officer Raynor in the head. 

Department and as a full-time officer with the Biscoe Police Department. 

He had 19 years of law enforcement service and had previously served 

Officer Raynor had served with the Daytona Beach Police Department for 

with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Sheriff’s 

Office. He also served with the Ellerbe Rescue Squad. He is survived 

two years and had previously served with the Port Orange Police Department 

for three years. He is survived by his mother, father, and sister. 

136 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE by his wife and two daughters. 

The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 137

Trooper 

James J. Monda 

New York State Police, New York 


Age 45 Tour 18 Years Badge # N/A 

Trooper James Monda drowned while conducting a training dive in the 

Great Sacandaga Lake in Northampton, New York, at approximately 4:00 

pm. 

He failed to resurface after going into the water at a boat launch on Bunker 

Hill Road. He was working a marine patrol detail on the lake when the 

incident occurred. 

Trooper Monda had served with the New York State Police for 18 years 

and was assigned to SP Princetown. He is survived by his fiancée and 

parents. 


Harminder Grewal 

Galt Police Department, California 


Age N/A Tour 9 Years Badge # 7258 

Police Officer Harminder Grewal succumbed to injuries sustained four 

days earlier when his patrol car was struck head-on by a pickup truck on 

Highway 99, near Dillard Road, at about 4:30 am. The oncoming vehicle 

crashed through a barrier on the divided highway and collided with the patrol 

car. The driver of the vehicle was killed in the crash. Officer Grewal and 

his partner, who were en route to assist with evacuation efforts ordered 

in response to the Caldor Fire, were both critically injured in the crash. 

Officer Grewal was transported to Kaiser South Sacramento where he 

remained until succumbing to his injuries. 

Officer Grewal had served with the Galt Police Department for 2-1/2 

years. He is survived by his parents and brother. 

Correctional Officer Trainee 

Whitney Cloud 

Florida Department of Corrections, Florida 


Age N/A Tour 3 Months Badge #142240 

Sergeant 

Brian Mohl 

Connecticut State Police, Connecticut 

End of Watch Thursday, September 2, 2021 

Age 50 Tour 27 Months Badge #283 

Correctional Officer Trainee Whitney Cloud was killed as the result of an 

accidental discharge while conducting firearms training at the Harry 

K. Singletary Training Academy in the Wakulla Correctional Institute in 

Crawdfordville. 

Officer Cloud was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to 

the wound. 

Officer Cloud had served with the Florida Department of Corrections for 

three months and was assigned to the Jefferson Correctional Institution. 

Sergeant Brian Mohl drowned after his patrol car was swept off Jacks 

Bridge Road into the Weekeepeemee River, in Woodbury, at about 3:30 

am. He was checking water levels in the area during a period of severe 

rain in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida when his patrol was carried off the 

roadway. He was able to radio a distress call to dispatchers and a massive 

search was immediately undertaken. Sergeant Mohl was recovered 

from the river several hours later and was pronounced dead at Yale New 

Haven Hospital. 

Sergeant Mohl had served with the Connecticut State Police for 26 

years. He is survived by his wife, three children, parents, and five siblings. 



By Michael Barron 

A year after I started The 

BLUES, in 1986, my brother 

Rusty graduated from Stephen 

F. Austin and began writing a 

column in The BLUES called 

“off-duty.” The following year, 

he started his own newspaper 

“Barron’s Outdoor Update” and 

moved into our offices in Humble. 

For about six months or 

so, I enjoyed working side by 

side with my youngest brother. 

Later that year, Rusty signed 

on with Shell Oil as a rookie 

salesperson and for the next 

35 years he blazed a trail and 

set records at Shell that will 

be hard for anyone to top. On 

August 1, 2021, he officially 

retired from Shell as a senior 

Vice-President of the largest 

oil and natural gas producing 

company in the world. And I 

have to say, all his family has 

been along for the journey of a 

lifetime – myself included. 

Rusty was the youngest in a 

family of four 

boys, and I was 

the oldest. After 

graduating 

high school, 

he worked for 

my dad selling 

specialized 

parts for 

Southwestern 

Bell. Apparently, 

he was 

damn good at 

it, because he 

earned enough 

money to pay 

his way through 

college. Even 

on summer 

breaks, he returned 

to Houston 

and worked 

with my dad. 

But on most 

any day that he 

wasn’t working, 

you’d find him 

outdoors. From 

an early age, 

Rusty was an 

avid hunter and 

fisherman (I 

always thought 

he’d become a 

Game Warden.) 

So, when he 

decided to start 

his own outdoor 

magazine, 

it was a perfect 

way to blend 

work and play 

into a paycheck. 

And that my 

friends, describes 

my 

brother’s 35 

years with Shell. 

Rusty has always 

managed to find 

a way to add 

hunting or fishing 

trip or both, 

onto a business 

trip. From fishing 

with Jimmy 

Houston and 

doing deals with 

Johnny Morris of 

Bass Pro Shops, 

to hanging out 

with Roger 

Penske, Helio 

Castroneves, and 

Joey Logano at 

various racetracks, 

Rusty has 

had his share of 

excitement all 

in the name of 

WORK. 

To say I’m 

proud of my 

little brother is 

an understatement. 

Rusty has 

always excelled 

at virtually 

anything he’s 

under-taken, 

and his knowledge 

of marketing 

and business is what has 

driven his success at Shell. 

And no matter what business 

venture I’ve taken on, (some 

successful and some not so 

much) Rusty has always stood 

by me with moral support and 

guidance. To have him writing 

once again for The BLUES, 

well let’s just say, we’ve come 

full circle. 

So now that’s he retired, 

what’s next for this world 

traveler? He, and my beautiful 

sister-in-law Kristi, will be 

spending time between Colorado, 

Florida and Texas. I’m 

sure the adventures will continue 

and hopefully Rusty will 

take our readers along for the 

ride. Can’t wait to see where 

we go next. 

Congrats little brother. 


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Bryan, Texas 

The Bryan Police Department, a Civil Service Department, is currently accepting applications for Police Officer (Non- 

Certified or Certified). We are seeking individuals with integrity who are committed to public service, dedicated and 

professional, with a willingness and compassion to work together with the citizens of Bryan to maintain a healthy 

and safe community. 

Starting Salary: 

$57,000 (as non-certified Cadet) up to $82,762 (depending on certification) 

*Range pending approval 10/4/21 

Application Deadline: 

Friday, October 8, 2021 

Written Exam Date: 

Friday, October 15, 2021 

(For those who successfully pass the written exam, the physical fitness assessment will be immediately following.) 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• U.S. Citizen; 

• High School Diploma or have a high school equivalency certificate/GED; 

• At least 21 years of age and not more than 44 years of age at the time of hire; 

• Valid Texas driver’s license with good driving record at the time of hire; 

• Good moral character, stable employment record and no history of any conduct which may affect suitability for 

law enforcement work; 

• If applicable, military service discharge must be under honorable conditions as stipulated on DD-214 form; 

• No felony or Class A misdemeanor convictions; no Class B misdemeanor convictions within the past (10) years. 

Application Instructions: 

To apply and/or to view more information regarding the application and testing process click here and follow the 

instructions provided. You will receive an online confirmation number upon successfully submitting your application. 

You will also receive a confirmation email from Human Resources within a week of submitting your application. 

The City of Bryan is an Equal Opportunity Employer 


JOIN OUR TEAM 

WALKER COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S DEPT. 

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 

• Paid Vacation 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Compensatory Days 

• Certification Pay 

The Walker County Sheriff’s Department is now accepting applications for the position of Patrol Deputy. We are a family based department that is dedicated to 

preserving the lives and property of the citizens of Walker County which is currently around 73,000 residents. As a Patrol Deputy within our department, you would 

be patrolling over 800 square miles of small towns, national forest and East Texas countryside. Our county seat is the town of Huntsville, Texas which has many of 

the comforts and amenities of larger city while still providing a small town atmosphere. 

ALDINE ISD POLICE DEPT. 

now accepting applications for 

Full-Time Police Officers 

MUST HOLD A CURRENT TCOLE 

PEACE OFFICE CERTIFICATE 

Salary starting at $47,211 

with no experience 

TO APPLY VISIT 

WWW.ALDINEISD.ORG 

OR 

Contact the Personnel 

Department at 

281-985-7571 

OR 

Contact Sergeant R. Hall at 

281-442-4923 

HIRING PROCESS 

• Physical Agility Test 

• Written Exam 

• Oral Board Panel Interview 

• Complete Personal History Statement 

• Psychological Evaluation 

• Medical Examination 

• Interview with the Chief of Police 

Perks: 

• Starting Salary: $55,160.00 

• Retirement: Vested after 8 years in TCDRS. Every $1 invested in retirement is matched 210%. 

• Insurance provider: Blue Cross Blue Shield 

• Equipment: Uniforms & Patrol Equipment Provided. Currently issuing Glock 22’s and Colt SBR Rifles. 

• Vehicles: Take home Chevy Tahoe • Schedule: 12 hour shifts, every other weekend off. 

• Time Off: Paid Vacation / Holidays on a yearly basis. • Patrol Style: Proactive /Community Based Policing 

Requirements: Must be TCLOE Certified; Must have a valid Texas Drivers License; 

Must pass a written & physical test; Must complete a rigorous Field Training Program in a timely manner. 


APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED ON THE WALKER COUNTY WEBSITE (WWW.CO.WALKER.TX.US) OR BY CONTACTING PATROL LT. JASON SULLIVAN (936) 435-2400.

Memorial Villages Police Department 

Bunker Hill • Piney Point• Hunters Creek 


EOE/M/F/D 

5+ Years Patrol Experience Required 

The Memorial Villages Police Department (Located on the West Side of Houston) currently has 

openings for experienced officers who are self- motivated and enthusiastic about community 

policing. We have overwhelming support of our communities and encourage our officers to be 

proactive and innovative. 

$1500 Sign on Bonus 

Starting Salary Range 

$71,179 – $82,808 (DOQ) 

• Healthcare Insurance, DHMO Dental, Vision – 100% paid for employee, 50% for 

spouse/dependents. 

• Paid long-term disability and life insurance for employee, with additional life insurance 

available for spouse/dependents. 

• Health Savings Account with departmental contributions up to $4200 annually 

• TMRS Retirement 2 to 1 match, 7% Employee ,14% Employer Contribution. 

• 457 Plan with employer contribution of 2% of annual salary 

• Bi-Lingual Pay (2.5% of Base salary) 

• Shift Differential Pay $3600 annually 

• Tuition reimbursement 

• Longevity Pay up to a max of $2400 annually at 10 years of service. 

• College Education incentive up to $3000 for a master’s degree 

• LEMIT or FBI NA pay $1200 annually. 

• ECA (Emergency Care Assistant) $1300 Annually, training provided to each employee. 

• 12 hour shifts with every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. 

• Officer certification pay, Intermediate, Advanced, and Master up to 7.5% of Salary. 

To learn more or apply, visit our website at www.mvpdtx.org 

Or contact Sgt. Owens 713-365-3711 or lowens@mvpdtx.org 

Or Commander E. Jones 713-365-3706 ejones@mvpdtx.org 

11981 Memorial Dr. Houston, Texas 77024 


MAKE A 

DIFFERENCE 

IN YOUR 

COMMUNITY 

We are looking for outstanding individuals to 

join our team! As a Pearland Police Officer your 

mission will be to prevent crime and disorder, build 

partnerships within the community, and positively 

impact the quality of life for all our residents. 

CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS 

• Competitive Salary • Outstanding Training 

• Career Advancement • Exceptional Benefits 

The City of Pearland is one of the fastest growing 

communities within the region. Pearland is located 

approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Houston 

and the current population is approximately 130,000 

residents. 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

HIRING POLICE OFFICERS AND CADETS 

$5,000 Hiring Incentive for T.C.O.L.E Certified Police 

Officers who qualify with at least 2 years of experience. 

TEST DATE: 

SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 8:30 A.M. 

Register by: April 12. 

Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium 

4141 Bailey Road, Pearland, TX 77584. 

Doors Open: 7:15 a.m. No admittance after 7:45 a.m. 

Candidates must park in the north parking lot. 

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY 

• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals 

• Mandatory temperature checks 

• Masks required, hand sanitizer available 

• Candidates seated 6 feet apart 

 

 

•Be a citizen of the nited tates able to read, 

write, and speak the English language 

• Have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate .E.. certified by 

the issuing agency with: 

0 credit hours with a cumulative PA of 2.0 or higher on a .0 scale from an accredited 

institute of higher learning or 

- Minimum 24 months of active duty service with an honorable discharge authenticated by 

a Member 2 or Member orm 21 or 

15 credit hours with a cumulative PA of 2.0 or higher on a .0 scale in addition to Basic 

Peace Officer Certification from TCOLE or 

An Intermediate Peace Officer Certification from TCOLE 

• Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record 

• Must meet all legal requirements necessary to become a licensed Peace Officer by the Texas 

Commission on Law Enforcement TCOLE. 

• Be between 21 and 5 years of age at the time of the examination or 

• Be between 18 and 21 years of age if the applicant has received an associate’s degree or 60 

semester hours of credit from an accredited college or university or has received an honorable 

discharge from the armed forces of the nited tates after at least two years of active service. 

: Cadet $1. hourly Police Officer $2. hourly. 

 

 

 

 

 

April 12, 2021. Applications will not be accepted after this date. 

Submit applications online by visiting pearlandtx.gov/careers. 

THE CITY OF PEARLAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

pecial accommodations are available when necessary to aord equal opportunity to participate 

in testing. Please make request in writing, five business days prior to the test date to City of 

Pearland, HR Department, 3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland, TX 77581. 

or questions regarding the application process please contact Terene uddsohnson at 

281.652.1617 or hr@pearlandtx.gov. 

List will remain in eect for one 1 year or until exhausted, whichever is sooner. 

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

The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 159 

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers

LATERAL DEPUTY 


Come join the Plano Police Department 

Plano Police Department currently employs over 414 peace officers, who are dedicated individuals that 

work with the community to create and maintain a safe, secure environment for our residents and visitors. 

We are a diverse department, which is a reflection of the various cultures within the community, and offering 

many different opportunities to promote the safety of the citizens which we serve. 

Registration Deadline: 

Friday, July 30, 2021 

Register at: 

https://www.plano.gov/1183/Employment 

The Plano Police Department will conduct 

a Civil Service Examination in order to 

establish an eligibility list for the position 

of Entry-level Police Officer. The eligibility 

list is created as a result of this examination 

and application process will remain in effect 

for a period of (6) months (beginning 

on date of test) or until the list has been 

exhausted, whichever occurs first. 

For more information: 

Contact the Plano Police recruiter 

Officer Andrae Smith at: 

andraes@plano.gov 

or go to our website at: 

ppdrecruiting@plano.gov 


MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 


OPEN POSITIONS 

Sign up at 

mctxsheriff.org 

Go to 

Apply Here 

Select 


Click Apply 

Set up your 

account & begin! 

MCSO Recruiting 

(936) 538-7733 

mcsocareers@mctx.org 

1 Criminal Justice Dr. 

Conroe, TX 77301 

$48,755 - $68,536 

ANNUAL SALARY 

$48,755 - $68,536 

SALARY COMMENSURATE WITH PEACE OFFICER EXPERIENCE 

ENJOY BENEFITS PACKAGE, GREAT TRAINING, & ROOM FOR GROWTH 


166 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE

SEPT 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 9

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