JUNE 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 6.1

The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 1

FOUNDED IN 1984 

JUNE 2022 

COVER 1 

Honoring fallen HCSO Deputy Robert Adam 

Howard, killed in a tragic traffic accident. 

COVER 2 

Coverage of the 68th Annual 100 Club of 

Houston Awards Banquet. 

FEATURES 

26 We Will Never Forget the 21 Lives Lost in Uvalde 

30 INSERT: Texas School District Chief’s Conference 

46 INSERT: Visit Galveston Island this Summer 

52 COVER STORY Remembering Deputy Adam Howard 

58 COVER STORY - 100 Club of Houston Awards Banquet 

DEPARTMENTS 

6 Publisher’s Thoughts 

8 Editor’s Thoughts 

10 Guest Commentary 

12 Letters 

14 News Around the US 

78 Remembering Our Fallen Heroes 

82 War Stories 

84 Aftermath 

86 Open Road 

90 Healing Our Heroes 

92 Daryl’s Deliberations 

94 HPOU - From the President, Douglas Griffith 

96 Light Bulb Award - May Dora’s Wish Come True 

98 Running 4 Heroes 

100 Blue Mental Health with Dr. Tina Jaeckle 

102 Ads Back in the Day 

106 Parting Shots 

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

142 Back Page 

82 84 

HEALING OUR HEROES 

SAM & JOHN 

90 

2 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 3

FOUNDED IN 1984 

OUR TEAM 

MICHAEL BARRON 

founder & publisher 


editor-n-chief 

REX EVANS 

contributing editor 

JESSICA JONES 

creative editor 

RUSTY BARRON 

outdoor editor 

DR. TINA JAECKLE 


DARYL LOTT 


SAM HORWITZ & JOHN SALERNO 

contributing editors 

DOUGLAS GRIFFITH 

HPOU contributing editor 

BILL KING 


BREANNA BEVIL 

BAILEY BARRON 

sales team 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

T. EDISON 

contributing writer / light bulb 

get your 

FREE SUBSCRIPTION 

to The BLUES, scan the 

QR code or click here. 

OLIVER NORTH 

contributing writer 

DAVID GOETSCH 


SUZIE ZIEGLER 


BROOKE TAYLOR 


PAUL GOLDENBERG 


MICHAEL GIPS 


WILLIAM SKEEN 



FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK 

Two Covers for June 

Honor the Fallen & Celebrate the Heroes. 

This month, we chose to do 

something we rarely do. Have 

two different covers for our 

June 2022 issue. We had already 

elected to feature the 

100 Club of Houston Award Recipients 

on the cover, when our 

brother in Blue, Harris County 

Deputy Howard was tragically 

killed in a traffic accident. 

Please join me in celebrating 

our 100 Club Heroes and our 

fallen brother Deputy Robert 

Adam Howard. 

HARRIS COUNTY SHER- 

IFF’S DEPUTY ROBERT ADAM 

HOWARD 

Our brothers and sisters in 

Blue are still in shock after the 

horrific accident that claimed 

the life of Harris County Deputy 

Robert Adam Howard on 

Wednesday, May 11th. 

Howard, a member of the 

SO’s gang unit, was reportedly 

transporting evidence when 

his marked vehicle slammed 

into the back of a tractor-trailer 

that was parked on the left 

shoulder of the Tomball parkway 

near Spring-Cypress Road. 

Images from the crash 

showed Howard’s patrol vehicle 

split in two, with the 

left half crumpled behind the 

18-wheeler, and the other 

half on the outside lane of the 

freeway. The images were so 

horrific, it made us all stop and 

realize how fragile life really is. 

“We’re devastated that we’re 

losing such a great teammate 

described as a workhorse, 

having a great personality, 

funny, and just outgoing,” said 

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, according 

to local TV station ABC 13. 

“We have a lot of heavy hearts 

here.” 

The 27-year-old was remembered 

by his peers as 

being a determined leader in 

his unit, with one co-worker 

describing his work ethic as 

being: “The first one in the door 

… and the last one to leave at 

the end of the night.” 

Howard’s partner, Deputy 

Raymond Garivey, told reporters 

how fortunate he felt to 

have had him not only as a 

partner, but a best friend. 

“Just a phenomenal person. 

You know when we prayed 

together with the crew, you 

know, we had to thank the Lord 

for allowing us into his life. 

He was just one of those type 

of people,” said Garivey, who 

worked alongside Howard for 

the past three years and had, 

by his own admission, only 

made it out of some tough situations 

because of his partner. 

“My little protector,” Garivey 

said of his 6ft 5in partner. 


“I’ve had some terrible scenes 

where if it wasn’t for Howard, 

I wouldn’t be home with my 

kids.” 

Beginning on Page 52 we 

honor Deputy Howard with 

images from his funeral and 

memorial service. Our hearts 

go out to his wife, his family 

and all his brothers and sisters 

in Blue. 

68TH ANNUAL 100 CLUB 

AWARDS BANQUET – CELE- 

BRATING OUR HEROES 

For 68 years, not counting the 

two missed due to COVID, the 

100 Club of Houston has held 

an annual awards banquet to 

honor heroes from Houston 

area law enforcement and fire 

departments. These fine men 

and women are the best of the 

best. They’ve gone beyond the 

call of duty and showed us all 

of what true heroes are made 

of. 

100 Club Executive Director 

William Skeen has these 

remarks about the upcoming 

awards banquet: 

“As we proudly honor this 

year’s award recipients, I am 

once again humbled. Not only 

by the tremendous selflessness, 

commitment, and bravery 

of all our officers and firefighters, 

but also by the support of 

our exceptionally generous 100 

Club members.” 

“I am humbled by the extraordinary 

responsibility of 

representing an organization 

that boasts almost 30,000 

members. And I am energized 

daily by our mission to make a 

positive impact in the lives of 

dependents who have lost a 

loved one, provider, and family 

member. So let me be the first 

to congratulate our 35 Heroes 

Awards Recipients for 2022. It 

is truly well-earned recognition 

for a job well done.” 

“And since we were not able 

to have our annual in-person 

banquet the last two years because 

of the Covid pandemic, 

we invited the 2020 and 2021 

Heroes Award Recipients from 

those two years, to be in attendance 

at this year’s banquet as 

well. I also wish to sincerely 

thank any and all who helped 

make these awards possible, 

as well as our members for 

your ongoing support. And as 

always, I thank you, our heroes, 

for all that you do every 

day.” 

Congratulations to all the 

Recipients. You can read more 

about their individual stories 

beginning on page 58 

LAST MINUTE ADD: TWO 

LOSERS, ONE PRESIDENT 

As if loosing 19 children and 

2 teachers isn’t bad enough, 

we have two lowlife, scum bag 

politicians that use this horrible 

shooting as a bully pulpit 

to further their anti-gun sentiment. 

One of which I’m sad 

to say is supposed to be our 

commander in chief. 

As President, Biden is supposed 

to lead us in times of 

trouble. When bad things happen 

to good, people he’s the 

guy who extends his arms and 

wraps us around the idea that 

if we stick together, we can 

fight evil and win. 

NOPE, not this piece of crap. 

He addresses the nation and 

for about 90 seconds, he acts 

like the fatherly figure, expressing 

how it feels to lose 

a child. He knows fist hand 

what that’s like. But rather than 

continue to be the loving father 

figure saying it will be OK, he’s 

gets angry and starts blaming, 

you guessed it, guns. And gun 

lobbyist. Trying to use every 

word his poor feeble mind can 

read off the teleprompter to 

blame someone for 21 people 

dying. 

He couldn’t even wait until 

they are buried. He had to 

seize the moment to further 

his party’s agenda to push gun 

control. That’s just disgusting 

even for Biden. 

And speak of disgusting, 

there’s another pig in the 

spotlight and many of you no 

doubt witnessed it live. Lowlife 

shit head Beto O’Rourke 

interrupts a press conference 

where the governor is trying 

his best to hold it together and 

starts yelling “those 19 deaths 

are on you governor.” 

Another left-wing nut job 

that wants to take ALL our 

guns away. The one positive 

thing to come out of that 

presser was Beto pretty much 

torpedoed his chances of getting 

elected in Texas. 


FROM THE GUEST EDITOR’S DESK 

CONGRATULATIONS 

Congratulations Sgt. Frazier 

Over the last week, there’s 

certainly been more than enough 

negative news enveloping us all. I 

decided there’s no reason for me 

to just be another person adding 

fuel to an already excruciatingly, 

destructive fire. 

Thus, here’s something positive 

for a change. Being back 

to “Chief Life” has given me the 

opportunity to once again, recognize 

people for outstanding 

job they do. Probably one of the 

more favorite things as a Chief, I 

get to do. 

On June 8th, 2020 one of 

the Officers for this agency 

responded to a Mental 

Health Crisis Call. Upon 

arrival this Officer found 

a male had climbed a tall 

radio tower and was in an 

obvious mental health crisis. 

Wasting no time, the Officer 

took off his bulky gear and 

weapons, climbing to where 

the male was, on the tower. 

(Now, right about here 

would be difficult for any of 

us) This Officer positioned 

himself just below the male 

and then, placed himself 

between the male and the 

open, interior area of this 

tower. 

He (the Officer) listened to 

the male explain his crisis 

and underlying circumstances. 

The Officer offered the male a 

bottle of water and the conversation 

continued. After some time, 

the male agreed to come down 

from the tower. However, he was 

incapacitated and unable to do 

this on his own. 

Once again, without thinking 

of his own safety, this Officer 

demonstrated extreme compassion 

and bravery. He climbed 

further up the tower and then, 

assisted the male down to the 

ground level where the male was 

transported to an area facility for 

assistance. 

To be clear, I am no advocate of 

just climbing up a 100-foot tower 

for any reason. However, this is 

no way diminishes what this Officer 

accomplished, under some 

of the most trying and desperate 

of circumstances. 

Also, keep in mind our area 

of operation is very rural, miles 

REX EVANS 

from any municipality with a Ladder 

Truck or Tower Truck which 

could’ve assisted in this rescue. 

So, it was my privilege today 

to, issued this agency’s 

first ever, Lifesaving Award 

for an Officer. And with that, 

I’ll just say, “Thank you, 

Sergeant Brandon Frazier. 

Thank you for your courage, 

commitment, and compassion 

for others and, for your 

Duty to serve and protect 

others.” 

I’ll wrap it up with this 

note, with all the terrible 

tragedies and disheartening 

news as of late, it is easy to 

become lost. And not remember, 

good people, still 

do good things. It is now 

perhaps, more important 

than ever, we do not forget 

or simply dismiss our Law 

Enforcement Officers when 

they excel. Especially when, 

not only have they done what 

we’ve asked of them to do, they 

have risen far above what anyone 

could’ve ever hoped they could 

do. 


READERS SPEAK OUT 

guest commentary 

The Biden Regime is 

Wrecking America 

BY OLIVER NORTH AND 

DAVID GOETSCH 

Recently, we charged 

President Joe Biden’s leftist 

energy policies and pathetically 

weak leadership 

with undermining America’s 

economy and financing Russia’s 

genocide in Ukraine. But 

the damage wrought by this 

president is not limited to 

Ukraine, pain at the pump or 

flaccid foreign affairs. All the 

policies of this hapless tool 

of the left are destroying the 

America we love and serve. 

Since day one of his presidency, 

Biden and his socialist 

puppet masters have tried 

to deflect blame from themselves 

to others for major 

problems they created for the 

American people. Their latest 

scapegoat is Vladimir Putin. 

The Russian war criminal 

can be blamed for much, but 

not the domestic crises afflicting 

We the People of the 

United States. Biden’s weasel-worded 

attempts to hide 

his ineptitude deceive no one. 

Americans paying historically 

high prices for food, fuel and 

other essentials while enduring 

empty retail store shelves 

aren’t fooled by political spin 

in Biden’s teleprompter. 

To demonstrate how bad 

things have become under 

this career politician masquerading 

as president, we 

offer factual comparisons in 

two key areas: national sovereignty 

and our economy. 

These comparisons show 

where things stood when 

Biden became president and 

where they stand now. 

By definition, a sovereign 

nation has authority over its 

territory and borders. Biden 

surrendered America’s national 

sovereignty on his first 

day in office when he dismantled 

policies and programs 

his predecessor put 

in place to regain control 

of our southern border lost 

during the Obama-Biden administration. 

Biden shut down constructing 

a border barrier, stopped 

U.S. Immigration & Customs 

Enforcement professionals 

from doing their duty and 

eliminated an agreement 

with Mexico’s president to 

keep cross-border immigrants 

in Mexico until they 

completed U.S. asylum applications. 

Now, Biden wants 

Title 42, a law protecting 

Americans from COVID-19 

infection from immigrants, 

to lapse. 

In December 2020, Donald 

Trump’s last month in office, 

there were 62,041 illegal 

immigrant encounters 

on our southern border. In 

Biden’s first month in office, 

this arose to 75,316. In his 

first full year in office, illegal 

immigrant encounters at our 

southern border exceeded 2 

million. The numbers continue 

to rise. Thanks to Biden’s 

open border policies, our 

once sovereign nation is now 

overrun by drug cartels, sex 

traffickers, violent criminals 

and illegal immigrants from 

almost every country on 

earth. 

Despite COVID-19, Biden 

inherited American economic 

growth and employment 

unprecedented in our lifetimes. 

He could have left well 

enough alone and allowed 

our economy to continue 

growing, but his socialist 

handlers had other plots and 

plans. These included eliminating 

fossil fuels, canceling 

student loan debt, funding 

his enormously expensive 

infrastructure program with 

nothing to do with infrastructure, 

paying citizens to 

refuse the dignity of work 

through his deceptive American 

Rescue Plan and “Build 

Back Better” program promising 

to rebuild what didn’t 

need to be rebuilt. 

Biden’s socialist economic 

policies are crushing hardworking, 

middle-income 

Americans, our nation’s majority 

demographic. In 2020, 

the last year of the previous 

administration, inflation was 

just 1.23% and falling. Since 

Biden took office, inflation 

has risen to over 8% and 

climbing, the worst inflation 

rate since 1982. Americans 

paid $2.37 per gallon for 

gasoline on Biden’s first day 

in office. We now pay more 

than $4.00 per gallon in most 

states and as much as $7.00 

in some places. 

Biden’s socialist policies 

are making home ownership 

impossible for millions of 

Americans. In 2020, before 

Biden took office, the average 

price of a home in the U.S. 

was $391,900. Now, the same 

house costs $453,700. Prices 

continue to rise. 

Worse still, the explosion 

in violent crime means we 

are all less safe here at home 

than at any point in our lifetimes. 

© 2022, Creators.com 


READERS SPEAK OUT 

your views 

ONE DAY, IT COULD BE YOU 

If you haven’t already heard 

it, by the end of today you will 

hear that the first three officers in 

Uvalde are cowards for not going 

in the school even though they 

were being shot at. I’m going to 

tell you a story that no one has 

ever heard in its entirety. I don’t 

know what you will think of me 

afterwards, and I don’t care. 

I just got back from testifying 

in federal court in Ft Worth. You 

can’t carry a weapon in federal 

court so I had my Browning 

Hi Power stuck in the back of 

my belt. No holster. I was going 

home to change out of my suit 

and didn’t need a holster just 

then. 

I heard on my radio that there 

was a hostage situation at 

MHMR. I didn’t work Patrol, I 

didn’t work Day Shift, it wasn’t 

my business. I went anyway. 

When I got there I saw the Day 

Shift Lieutenant, several patrol 

officers, two detectives, the 

Chief of Police, what was the 

assistant chief at the time and 

others I don’t remember. I looked 

for someplace to go and saw 

that no one was in the room beside 

the office where the hostage 

situation was. I don’t remember 

if anyone told me anything about 

who was inside the office with 

the closed door. I pulled my gun 

out and I’ll let you figure out who 

told me to put it up. I didn’t like it 

but I did it. 

I thought about getting on a 

chair and removing a ceiling 

panel so I could peek under a 

ceiling panel in the closed office. 

I looked up the hall where a big 

meeting with the rank was going 

on. They had to be making a 

plan. That’s what rank does. 

I looked back at the closed 

door. I saw the handle start to 

turn. I was ninety degrees to the 

door and couldn’t see inside the 

office. I waved my hands wildly 

and pointed at the door. The rank 

scattered and the Chief of Police 

dived over the reception area 

counter. 

I watched the door come open 

and a psychiatrist that I knew 

slowly came into my view. His 

neck tie was standing out horizontally 

behind him. I saw a 

hand, then a gun to the back of 

the psychiatrist’s head, then the 

face of the guy holding the gun. 

The gunman looked around. He 

looked at me. We were six feet 

apart. He had a gun and I didn’t. 

The hostage taker started 

to pull the psychiatrist back 

into the office. The psychiatrist 

turned pretty quickly and 

grabbed for the gun. The psychiatrist 

was middle aged, short 

and fat. The hostage taker was at 

least 6’ 2” and fit. The psychiatrist 

was going to lose, but it is safe 

to assume he thought someone 

would come to help him. 

I did. 

Right here is the part of the 

story that matters. If one person 

makes a move, others will follow. 

If no one moves first, no one 

moves at all. It’s easy to say you 

would move since you don’t have 

to. That’s all I have to say about 

that. 

I grabbed the gun as I went 

in. In a split second I saw it was 

a small caliber semi-automatic. 

It wasn’t the first time I had 

thought about something similar 

happening. I knew if one round 

was fired with me holding the 

slide the gun wouldn’t cycle and 

wouldn’t fire another round. I 

moved one hand to the slide and 

squeezed the gunman’s other 

hand that was on the trigger. I 

had the gun pointed up as far 

as I could, but he was taller and 

stronger than me so the gun 

wasn’t pointed straight up. I took 

the chance and made the gun 

fire. I was hoping for a click that 

meant the gun wasn’t loaded, 

or nothing happened at all that 

meant the safety was on or the 

gun wasn’t even cocked. My plan 

was to pull my gun once his gun 

was disabled and shoot him in 

the head, but that didn’t happen. 

A detective got there and 

added his hands to mine just as 

I made the gun go off. Luckily 

his hand wasn’t in front of the 

barrel, because the gun went off 

and fired a round into the ceiling. 

One more detective came in 

the door and all four of us went 

down against the wall of the 

office before I could get my gun 

out. By then we were in a pile on 

the floor and it was too dangerous 

to shoot. 

A few seconds later the gunman 

was on the bottom, I was 

on top of him trying to choke 

him to death with my forearm, 

five or six people were on top of 

me and the Chief of Police was 

trying to twist my right leg off at 

the knee because my leg was the 

first leg he saw. 

No one has ever heard the full 

story because I never told the 

full story. Now I’m old, lots of 

the others involved are dead and 

I don’t really give a shit who 

knows at this late date. 

The point of the story is you 

don’t have time to think about it 

because that takes too long and 

there won’t be a second chance 

if you miss the first one. That 

psychiatrist thought someone 

would save his life and that was 

my job. It was everyone else’s 

job, too, but they didn’t go. It was 

two or three seconds before anyone 

else showed up and in two 

or three seconds the door would 

be closed again and maybe the 

psychiatrist would die. Maybe 

everyone else thought they 

would save him, but they didn’t. 

If you weren’t there, you don’t 

know what you would do. 

If you were there, you still 

don’t know what you would do. 

Don’t judge other people from 

behind a keyboard. 

Ben Brown 

THOUGHTS TO ALL BROTHERS 

IN BLUE 

As the nation mourns the tragedy 

in Uvalde, Texas at Robb Elementary 

School, the tragedy also 

effected members of the law 

enforcement family. Uvalde Consolidated 

Independent School 

District Police Officer Ruben 

Ruiz tragically lost his wife Eva, 

who was killed protecting her 

students. Uvalde County Sheriff’s 

Office Deputy Felix Rubio’s 

10 year old daughter Alexandria 

“Lexi” Rubio, was also one of the 

victims. our thoughts and prayers 

are with our brothers in blue 

and their families during this 

gut-wrenching time. Please keep 

them and all the families effected 

by this unspeakable tragedy 

in your thoughts and prayers and 

give them strength as they try to 

get through each day. They say 

it takes a village to raise a child, 

but it’ll take the nation to help 

these families move forward. 

WRONG MOVE CHIEF 

There is a big issue with the 

school police chief down grading 

the call to barricade suspect. 

Anyway you look at it kids would 

be bleeding out in there. Live 

kids were killed n there calling 

for help while the shooting was 

going on I think there is a big 

issue there. 

Tobe Whitley 

SERIOUSLY? MENTAL ILL- 

NESS? 

How about mental illness, 

easy access to weapons and 

the over saturated weapons on 

the streets! Not just one thing 

.. all three .. the NRA creates 

the problem by saturating our 

streets with weapons then come 

up with the solution of arming 

more people so more weapons 

… haha!!! Genius!! Not every mass 

murder has had mental issues 

… just like not every gun owner 

will become a mass murderer 

… it only takes one live changing 

dramatic event in a persons 

lives and BOOM!!!! They become a 

mass murder .. never had a mental 

issue or diagnosed with mental 

illness and all of a sudden… 

he was because the person became 

a mass murder first!! Take 

the dude who lost his life savings 

in Vegas .. or the dude that 

lost his job at the post office .. 

or what about the dude that lost 

his mind over road rage .. or the 

murderers that went to El Paso, 

the church and grocery store to 

murder out of hate! ….. naw .. it’s 

not only mental illness… it’s all 

the above … but hey … let the 

NRA tell us that what are country 

needs is more weapons on 

the streets.. let them continue to 

saturate our streets with more 

weapons .. let’s make it safer lol

AROUND THE COUNTRY 

TRAGIC ACCIDENT 

Harris County Deputy Slams into Rear of a Parked18-Wheeler 

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - A 

Harris County sheriff’s deputy 

has died after a crash with an 

18-wheeler on State Highway 249 

near Spring Cypress on Wednesday 

May 11. 

Deputy Robert Adam Howard, 

was taken to the hospital in 

critical condition, where he later 

passed away from his injuries, 

said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. 

“Our hearts are broken as we 

announce the passing of our Deputy 

Robert Adam Howard, who 

succumbed to his injuries after 

a crash that occurred this afternoon,” 

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in 

a news conference. “Our hearts 

are very heavy at this moment. 

We’re devastated that we’re losing 

such a great teammate, described 

as a workhorse described 

as having a great personality, 

funny, and just outgoing, a wonderful 

friend.” 

According to the sheriff, Dep. 

Howard was traveling northbound 

on 249 near Spring Cypress in 

his HCSO Chevrolet Tahoe SUV 

to drop off some evidence at a 

station. 

There was an 18-wheeler, with 

around a 40,000-pound load, that 

was parked on the shoulder of 

the roadway but was not blocking 

a moving lane of traffic. 

Investigators believe the deputy 

clipped the rear of the 

18-wheeler. 

“For unknown reasons, our 

deputy operating the vehicle 

veered slightly into the inside 

shoulder of 249, and unfortunately 

the front driver’s side 

of our police Tahoe impacted 

the rear passenger side of the 

parked semi-trailer,” said Lt. 

Simon Cheng with the Harris 

County Sheriff’s Office Vehicular 

Crimes Division. “The deputy 

sustained serious injuries on 

scene. Unfortunately, his vehicle 

after hitting the semi-trailer 

also bounced into the second-from-inside 

lane and struck 

a Chevrolet Silverado.” 

There were reportedly four 

total vehicles involved in the 

crash. 

“It was a pretty horrific impact,” 

Sheriff Gonzalez said. “He eventually 

succumbed to his injuries.” 

27-year-old Deputy Howard 

was assigned to the HCSO Gang 

Unit. He had been part of the 

agency since August 2019. 

Deputy Howard, who grew up 

in Jersey Village, is survived by a 

wife and two young children, a 

2-year-old girl and a 5-year-old 

boy. 

“He leaves behind a wife, he 

leaves behind a mother and father, 

a sister, cousins, extended 

family and of course, his family 

in blue as well,” the sheriff said. 

“I’m told that as he left his home 

earlier today to get to work, 

his last act was to play with his 

2-year-old daughter, just carrying 

her and embracing her.” 



GCSO SGT. HIT BY 

CAR ON BOLIVAR 

Sergeant John Hamm was among those injured 

during 2022 Go Topless Jeep Weekend event. 

By Brooke Taylor 

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas - It 

was a insane weekend in Galveston 

County as thousands convened 

on Bolivar Peninsula for 

the “Go Topless” Jeep weekend. 

“It was chaos, it strained us, 

we had our hands full,” said 

Chief Deputy Dennis Macik with 

the Galveston County Sheriff’s 

Office. 

A sergeant with Galveston 

County was seriously injured 

during the event and had to be 

Life Flighted to UTMB in Galveston. 

According to the sheriff’s office, 

Sgt, John Hamm suffered two 

broken legs, an injured arm, 

and lacerations after investigators 

say he was hit by a car and 

thrown into the windshield. The 

56-year-old underwent surgery 

for his right leg and must have 

another surgery on his left leg. 

His recovery is expected to be 

long. 

The driver of that vehicle has 

been identified as 22-year-old 

Darius Gilbert, who is facing an 

aggravated assault charge with 

a deadly weapon. His bond has 

been set at $100,000. 

Sergeant Hamm was directing 

traffic out of the road when the 

crash happened, according to 

the sheriff’s office. 

Hamm also broke his arm and 

had some injuries to his head, 

which hit the windshield. As for 

other incidents over the weekend, 

there were plenty. 

An estimated 40,000 people 

showed up to Crystal Beach on 

Saturday May 21 for the unsponsored 

Jeep event. 

Galveston County Sheriff Henry 

Trochesset said as of Sunday 

afternoon, the total arrests for 

the weekend were at 175 during 

the four-day event, 17 of which 

were felonies. Most of the people 

were charged with driving while 

intoxicated and public intoxication. 

SGT. JOHN HAMM 

The huge crowd also stretched 

emergency services. Eight people 

had to be flown out of the 

area for injuries and roughly 30 

people had to be taken to the 

hospital by ground. 

Most of the incidents were 

considered minor injuries, but 

two were considered to be major 

traumas. 

“It was anything from someone 

passing out, intoxicated, to being 

punched by someone else, fall- 

ing of ATVs, golf carts,” Chief 

Deputy Macik said. 

The sheriff says DPS and the 

constable’s office did send 

over additional help, but the 

crowd was still pretty massive. 

Roughly 100 deputies with 

the Galveston County Sheriff’s 

Office worked the event, and 

double the number of deputies 

responded to patrol calls. 

Deputies worked 16- to 18-hour 

shifts, according to Macik. 

“We worked a lot of people 

a lot of hours this weekend,” 

Macik said. 

Macik added despite the injuries, 

he believed their response 

went well and it was nothing 

they haven’t dealt with previously. 

In 2021, more than 200 

people were arrested during the 

event. 

“We had the resources there,” 

Macik said. “There was EMS services, 

ambulances, additional 

ambulances to transport people, 

the helicopter.” 

Regardless of how many resources 

are in place, Macik said 

it’s ultimately up to the people 

who attend. 

“That’s their behavior if they 

want to come and behave like 

they did this weekend,” Macik 

said. “As you can see, we enforce 

the law and do it the best 

way we can, but it’s up to the 

person and act responsibly 

and not stand on the hood of a 

vehicle and fall off after they’ve 

been drinking all day.” 

The Galveston County Sheriff’s 

Office is also asking anyone 

who would like to donate 

to the sergeant to send to: 

50 Club of Galveston County, 

Attn: Sgt. John Hamm, P.O. 

Box 56, Galveston, Texas 77553. 

FUNDRAISER FOR 

SGT. JOHN HAMM 

Galveston County Sheriff’s Sgt. John Hamm was severely 

injured while working a special event on Bolivar Peninsula. 

He has a long road to recovery and if you would like to make 

a donation to assist his family with medical needs, please 

click on the link below and in the blank labeled BUSINESS 

NAME, write SGT. JOHN HAMM. 

DONATE 



BUY HOMES FOR $0 DOWN. 

Bill in Congress would let First Responders 

buy a home for $0 down. 

By Suzie Ziegler 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A 

bipartisan bill sponsored 

by Senators Marco Rubio 

(R-Florida) and Jon Ossoff 

(D-Georgia) aims to make 

homeownership more attainable 

for first responders 

and teachers. Rubio held a 

press conference during National 

Police Week to highlight 

the bill he first introduced 

in October 2021. 

“It’s a law designed to help 

the people who help us,” Rubio 

told Fox News on Sunday. 

“They’re struggling in many 

parts of this country to be 

able to afford to live in the 

cities that they’re serving.” 

The HELPER Act (Homes for 

Every Local Protector, Educator 

and Responder) would 

provide a one-time, $0 down 

home loan option for civil 

servants, ABC 10 reported. 

First responders must have 

served at least four years to 

qualify for the program, according 

to Fox News. 

Police leaders celebrated 

the bill, saying it could attract 

more officers to expensive 

housing markets. 

Gus Papathanasiou, the 

chairman of the U.S. Capitol 

Police labor committee, said 

the bill could help alleviate 

the police recruiting crisis. 

“These are incredibly difficult 

times to recruit young 

men and women to law enforcement,” 

Papathanasiou 

told Fox News. “The HELPER 

Act gives us an important 

tool to help officers access 

the housing market and have 

their slice of the American 

dream, which is homeownership.” 

The tragedy in Uvalde has touched us all. The loss of these young children and 

teachers is heartbreaking. Our hearts bleed for the parents who have to lay 

For 38 years, The BLUES Police Magazine has served the law enforcement 

these young souls to rest. If you were on this scene, the images of this horrible 

community in Texas. Each month, we highlight the men and women in 

tragedy are forever etched in your mind. No matter how hard you try, you can 

law enforcement and their sacrifices for their community. Sometimes 

never 

they 

forget 

pay the 

what 

ultimate 

you saw. 

sacrifice 

After covering 

with their 

this 

life. 

event 

Other 

and 

times, 

speaking 

these men 

with 

and 

parents 

women and first are responders, injured duty The BLUES and lose wants the ability to do more to work than their just extra report jobs what 

happened. and provide We want for their to do families. everything Thankfully we can some to support non-profit not only groups the and families 

who individuals lost loved hold ones, fundraisers but all the for first these responders officers, who and were The BLUES involved is happy in one to way 

or another. promote Please these events. donate But whatever we want you to can. do more. The BLUES So beginning will join this forces month, with 

other The non-profits BLUES has in set Uvalde up a special to determine assistance the best fund use whereby of these our funds readers and can ensure 

donate they benefit money the to assist families these and officers first responders. and their families. The BLUES The will BLUES be donating currently 

$500 has to over this 100,000 fund. Let’s readers break each the month. goal of If $100,000 everyone and donated show only Uvalde 

the first 

how $1 much a month, we care. we could raise over $1 million a year. Let’s do our part and 

make a difference. God Bless our First Responders and God Bless our 

readers for making a difference. 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE 



YOU CAN’T HIDE 

THE BORDER IS COMING TO YOUR TOWN 

By Paul Goldenberg and 

Michael Gips 

Communities far from the 

border are confronting complex 

criminal issues spawned by the 

unbridled flood of illegal migrants 

In Sheriff Kieran Donahue’s 

County, fentanyl, methamphetamine 

and heroin from Mexico 

flow freely. Overdoses are spiking. 

Families are fracturing. Human 

trafficking is taking its toll. 

Follow-on crime is affecting an 

already fragile economy. 

Sheriff Donahue isn’t in McAllen, 

Texas, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 

Bisbee, Arizona, or anywhere 

else along the 1,954 miles that 

the U.S. and Mexico share as a 

border. In fact, he’s about as far 

away as you can get – Canyon 

County, Idaho, which sits just 

west of Boise. 

Every conceivable record related 

to migrant crossings, rescues 

and deaths is reaching historical 

heights for 2022. 

HE’S NOT AN OUTLIER. 

Like Sheriff Donahue, law 

enforcement officials in communities 

far from the border are 

confronting complex criminal 

issues spawned by the unbridled 

flood of illegal migrants, many 

of whom are victims of human 

trafficking and smuggling operations 

run by the cartels. County 

sheriffs and police departments 

facing budget cuts and rising 

crime, by no choice of their own, 

now find themselves assuming 

law enforcement national security 

duties for which they are 

ill-prepared and inadequately 

equipped. Every conceivable 

record related to migrant 

crossings, rescues and deaths 

is reaching historical heights 

In March alone, an estimated 

62,000-plus border-crossers 

from Mexico eluded authorities; 

referred to as “gotaways.” 

Comparatively, FY2021 saw an 

estimated 400,000 “gotaways” 

compared to 300,000 in the first 

six months of FY2022. [3, 4] And 

it’s likely to get worse when 

the current administration lifts 

Title 42, a statute that prevents 

border crossings and authorizes 

removals to stop the spread of 

COVID-19. 

CARTELS BROADENING THEIR 

SPHERE OF INFLUENCE 

An unprecedented increase in 

deadly drugs like fentanyl, gang 

activity and human trafficking 

across all 50 states reflect expanding 

interests as the cartels 

seek to broaden their sphere of 

influence. They are now offering 

wads of cash to American 

teenagers to use their or their 

parents’ vehicles to travel 

south to load migrants and 

then transport them to preset 

destinations throughout the 

country. [5] The young drivers 

are coming from suburbs, 

cities and rural areas across 

America. 

The recruitment of these socalled 

“loaders” is occurring 

where parents aren’t looking; 

multiplayer online video 

games and youth-oriented 

apps such as TikTok, Instagram 

and Snapchat. First-person 

shooter games are particularly 

ripe targets because the 

audience is overwhelmingly 

male, fascinated with weapons 

and perhaps intoxicated 

by the prospect of real-life 

action. Tragic accidents are 

mounting. Thirteen migrants 

recently died in a crash in Imperial 

Valley, California, in a 

vehicle believed to be operated 

by a teenaged loader. 

Cartels have mastered 

social media for recruitment, 

a page taken out of the 

playbooks of ISIS and other 

radical Islamic and white 

supremacist organizations 

and openly recruiting adolescents 

to do their bidding. This is 

not an idle comparison: I (author 

Paul Goldenberg) previously led 

DHS’s Foreign Fighter Task Force 

and can directly attest that the 

similarities for recruitment used 

by traditional extremist groups 

and the cartels are striking. 

Within a matter of months, ISIS 

achieved inordinate success in 

building a caliphate by leveraging 

social media as their primary 

recruiting tool, with glamour and 

excitement as partial rewards. 

Just as ISIS recruited from the 

Arab world and beyond – pulling 

many youths from Western 

backgrounds – the cartels are 

succeeding in luring loaders 

from as far away as Los Angeles, 

Chicago, and my home state of 

New Jersey. 

Cartels have cleverly calculated 

– and correctly so – that 

federal authorities will not 

devote resources to investigating 

or charging U.S. minors leaving 

local police, many of whom 

have little experience managing 

border-related criminality, left 

to handle the chaotic and deadly 

aftermath. Social media platforms 

contacted by concerned 

law enforcement officials have 

either been nonresponsive or 

indifferent. 

Nonetheless, the loaders themselves 

are just the leading edge 

of the crisis. Their excursions 

correspond with the surge in 

human trafficking and illegal 

importation of fentanyl. In fact, 

in a recent report, the U.S. Commission 

on Combating Synthetic 

Opioid Trafficking stated bluntly: 

“One fact is clear: The availability 

of illegally manufactured synthetic 

opioids supplied to meet 

the country’s appetite for narcotics 

is a national crisis. These 

drugs are destroying lives and 

harming communities at historic 

levels.” [6] And they are coming 

from Mexico in droves. Fentanyl 

is killing people in places as 

distant as Spokane, Washington, 

and Bangor, Maine. Police, 

sheriffs, emergency workers and 

healthcare workers in midwestern 

and northeastern hamlets 

are dealing with addiction and 

overdose problems in their communities. 

THE IMPACT ON BORDER 

COMMUNITIES 

These days, in addition to 

fulfilling routine calls for service, 

dedicated law enforcement 

officials such as Cochise 

County Sheriff Mark Dannels and 

his valiant deputies, particularly 

those assigned to the Sabre 

Team now find themselves the de 

facto defenders of the American 

frontier. They work their regular 

crime-fighting shifts safeguarding 

the citizens of the county, 

then, when the sun sets over the 

desert terrain, they travel to the 

border region, in many instances 

the frontier may lie just a few 

hundred feet from the patios of 

their own homes. Deputies ad- 


vised us that their families routinely 

witness illegal migrants 

traversing their lands, some in 

military camouflage. 

We’ve noted conversations 

with rugged ranchers, whose 

only desire is to work the land 

and make a living for their 

families, dismally describe the 

onslaught of migrants crossing 

their properties, leaving behind 

a sea of crumpled plastic bottles, 

feces, old diapers, chicken 

bones, slaughtered cattle, food 

containers and in some cases 

corpses. Some locals are considering 

leaving the lands their 

families have labored for generations. 

Nevertheless, never once 

did I hear from either the Sheriff, 

deputies and ranchers that they 

were not sympathetic to the human 

tragedies taking place, the 

trafficking, death, and sustained 

harm that both citizens and migrants 

alike have suffered. 

MANY FACETS TO THE CRISIS 

There are many facets to 

this crisis. It’s about the toll on 

migrants, loaders, communities 

and local law enforcement 

officers risking their lives each 

day. It’s about toddlers dumped 

at the feet of officers, or worse, 

in desolate regions of the desert, 

to divert CBP attention so 

adults can slip across the border 

elsewhere. It’s about fentanyl 

and the mounting death toll. It’s 

about police, sheriffs, emergency 

workers and healthcare 

workers dealing with addiction 

and overdose in faraway communities. 

It’s about the national 

guardsman who died in his attempt 

to save three migrants and 

the federal officers and others 

who have succumbed to suicide 

due to stress and depression. 

[7, 8] It’s about the dedicated 

and intrepid members of CPB, 

HSI and others working in DHS 

growing frustrated and despondent 

due to political posturing 

by leadership. And it’s about so 

much more. 

Alongside the war in Ukraine, 

the border crisis has become 

one of the greatest disasters in 

modern American history. Law 

enforcement leaders hundreds 

of miles from the border must 

realize the crisis will likely reach 

their jurisdictions. 

WHAT NON-BORDER JURIS- 

DICTIONS CAN DO 

Exactly, how, then, can local 

law enforcement hundreds of 

miles away from the border become 

part of the solution? 

Sheriff Dannels, current chair 

of the National Sheriff Association’s 

Southern Border Security 

Committee, shared several key 

recommendations for law enforcement 

agencies throughout 

the United States to consider. 

Educating citizens about the 

See Something, Say Something 

campaign related to human 

trafficking and drugs is critical. 

Cartels have an extensive reach, 

so it’s paramount that we inform 

officers about the complexities 

of the opioid crisis and its potential 

nexus to cartels. 

The RAND Corporation report 

“Law Enforcement Efforts 

to Fight the Opioid Crisis” provides 

detailed recommendations 

agencies can implement. 

[9] Examples include increasing 

the frequency and scope of drug 

screens in death investigations to 

identify novel opioids and their 

effects and applying data from 

rapid analysis of seized materials 

to inform public health and 

law enforcement interventions. 

The International Association 

of Chiefs of Police offers another 

resource, a recently released 

toolkit of Enhanced Collaborative 

Model (ECM) protocol development 

checklists that provides 

a list of items human trafficking 

task forces should consider 

when developing their own protocols. 

Lastly, law enforcement 

agencies small and large need 

to train select officers in recognizing 

and interpreting emerging 

threats radiating from social 

media platforms. Organizations 

such as the Network Contagion 

Research Institute (NCRI) provide 

training, expertise and technology 

to address trends and provide 

comprehensive forecasting 

capabilities. 

We don’t escape border issues 

by not being near the border. 

Sheriff Donahue’s words ring 

true for many and are a harbinger 

for the rest of us: 

Border issues are driving the 

criminality in our streets and 

rural areas as well as unprecedented 

numbers of overdoses, 

including overdose incidents and 

even deaths inside our jails,” 

he explains. “My jurisdiction is 

not unique in the threats we are 

facing. This border crisis will 

continue to get worse, and it is 

affecting every single city, county, 

and borough in the United 

States, whether we are talking 

about drug, human and or sex 

trafficking” 

If your jurisdiction has been 

fortunate enough to have been 

spared, now is the time to prepare. 

The border is coming to 

your door. 



MEALER WINS RUNOFF 

Alexandra Del Moral Mealer to Face Lina Hidalgo 

in November Race for Harris County Judge. 

HOUSTON - Former Army Captain 

Alexandra del Moral Mealer has 

decisively defeated Vidal Martinez 

by capturing more than 75 percent 

of the vote in a Republican primary 

runoff election for Harris County 

judge. 

“I am extremely proud to have 

earned the Republican nomination 

for Harris County Judge,” Mealer 

said in a statement. “I was nominated 

with a broad, diverse coalition 

of support, and we will continue to 

build on this incredible momentum.” 

Unofficial totals posted by Harris 

County indicate Mealer captured 

85,498 votes: more than three times 

Martinez’s 27,810. 

A graduate of West Point, Mealer 

served with an Army bomb squad in 

Afghanistan and later earned business 

and law degrees from Harvard 

University. She worked in energy 

finance after settling in Houston 

with her husband and is the mother 

of two young children, but left 

the private sector to run for county 

judge. 

In what became an increasingly 

heated runoff campaign, Martinez 

criticized Mealer for having only 

lived in the area for six years while 

touting his long history of serving 

on multiple boards in Harris County. 

Martinez drew heavy backlash from 

the community after he attempted 

to discredit Mealer with a photograph 

Fidel Castro signed for her 

grandfather Armando del Moral in 

1952. 

The incident prompted a response 

from popular local radio icon Michael 

Berry, who lambasted Martinez 

on air and drew attention to his 

campaign donations to Rep Sheila 

Jackson Lee (D-TX-18), former Rep. 

Rick Noriega (D-Houston), and even 

incumbent Harris County Judge 

Lina Hidalgo, as well as Democratic 

political action committee Act Blue 

Texas. 

Although she trailed in fundraising 

before the nine-way GOP Primary 

in March, Mealer outraised Martinez 

over the past two and a half 

months, reporting $959,653 in total 

political contributions last week. 

She frequently impressed supporters 

with extensive knowledge and 

understanding of county finances. 

Mealer will now face incumbent 

Judge Lina Hidalgo, who has received 

praise as a rising Democratic 

Party star and reported $1.5 million 

in total political contributions as of 

February 2022. 

Prior to her surprise victory in 

2018 with less than 50 percent of 

the vote, Hidalgo worked as a medical 

interpreter at the Texas Medical 

Center in Houston and volunteered 

for the Texas Civil Rights Project. A 

graduate of Stanford University, Hidalgo 

also worked for international 

media group Internews. 

Amid public outcry over rising 

crime, Hidalgo has pushed funding 

for alternative programs such as the 

$50 million initiative to fight crime 

by adding sidewalks, streetlights, 

and trees to blighted neighborhoods. 


WE WILL NEVER FORGET 


By Michael Barron 

MASSACRE IN UVALDE – KIDS SLAUGHTERED 

IN UVALDE- All hyped up headlines by the 

main steam media. Truth is the media doesn’t 

care about the kids, they want the scoop, the 

ratings, the sound bites, some morsel their 

competitor doesn’t have. And get that live as 

quick as possible. Whether it’s factual isn’t 

even required. Just that someone on the scene 

said it is good enough to go with. 

Remember, the news media hates cops. 

They will look for every reason in the world 

to second guess you, judge you, question your 

every move, and then crucify you at every 

turn. The news media is not our friends. Remember 

that. I said all that to say this. 

The most important thing to know about 

this shooting in Uvalde is that 19 precious 

children lost their lives. Two caring, loving 

teachers also lost their lives protecting those 

children. That’s what really matters today. 

Hell, the crime scene hadn’t been cleared, nor 

had the ME even arrived to process the victims 

when EVERYONE started second guessing the 

responding officers and why they did what 

they did. For God sakes, let’s at least grieve 

before we cast judgment. 

As we go to press with this issue, it’s been 

a week since this tragedy took place. The 

timeline and narrative have changed multiple 

times. If in fact after all investigations 

are complete and it turns out the incident 

commander, who appeared to be ISD Police 

Chief Pete Arredonda, did in fact order everyone 

to stand down while they waited on 

backup, then he was wrong and he should 

be terminated. The rules since Columbine 

have changed and we all have been trained 

to charge the shooter even if its just you by 

yourself. That’s the deal. 

I can understand the general public criticizing 

the actions of the officers on scene 

that day, because they have no idea what it’s 

like to have bullets flying past your head. It’s 

easy to Monday morning quarterback when 

you’ve never been in combat. But what I can’t 

fathom is all the cops, both active and retired, 

lashing out on social media. “Why didn’t they 

do charge the guy? Why didn’t the breakout the 

windows, create a diversion and have someone 

take him out? Why did it take so long to get a key? 

Who the fuck needs a key? We kick doors all the 

time, you mean you guys couldn’t kick this door. 

Why did you even let him get inside the school?” 

Blah, Blah Blah. Not saying these aren’t valid questions, 

but the truth is, we weren’t there. Bullets 

aren’t flying as you read this now. 

In the heat of battle, you instantly do what you’ve 

been trained to do. You act. You don’t sit and plan, 

you implement what you been trained to do with 

an active shooter. If you haven’t been to a ALERRT 

class, then you need to take it this summer. You 

need to know what to do, how to do it and when. 

It may only be YOU that arrives first. It may just be 

you that has to take the guy out. You need to have 

a plan in your head and be prepared to execute it. 

Period. 

If have any second thoughts about being ‘that’ 

officer that has to face death head on and save innocent 

lives, you need to reevaluate your career as 

a cop and find another line of work. Because in today’s 

world, that’s the job. You run towards danger, 

while getting everyone else out of harm’s way. 

In the days, weeks and months to come. We 

will learn what really happened on May 24th, at 

Robb Elementary School, in Uvalde Texas. We will 

know what actions responding officers took, and 

what could have been done to save those 21 lives. 

Changes will be made. Some officers may be fired. 

Others, hopefully everyone involved, will be retrained 

to better handle active shooter’s and save 

more lives in the future. 

In the meantime, we need to rally around the 

entire town of Uvalde. Wrap our arms around the 

families who lost their baby girls and precious little 

boys. Pray for the officers that had to make split 

second decisions and live with the outcome for the 

rest of their lives. Pray for the person that left a 

door unlocked that will forever blame themselves 

for this horrible event. Pray for the officers that had 

to process the scene and carry those lifeless little 

bodies out of the building. Pray for all the first 

responders, medical staff, doctors and nurses, that 

tried their best to save as many lives as possible. 

And finally pray for those hospitalized fighting for 

their lives and God forbid they don’t join the other 

21 in heaven. 


Texas School District Chiefs Association 

Member/Conference in San Antonio, June 9-12 

Marriott Riverwalk Hotel 

HISTORY OF THE TEXAS SCHOOL 

DISTRICT CHIEF’S ASSOCIATION 

The Texas School District Police Chiefs Association began 

in 1996 when a group of school district police chiefs from 

Houston and the surrounding area held a luncheon for the 

purpose of discussing mutual concerns and sharing ideas. 

The chiefs continued to have quarterly meetings, on an informal 

basis, until the decision was made in 1997 to form the 

Southeast Texas School District Police Chiefs Association. 

The intent of the group was to promote the professionalizing 

of school district policing and to collectively resolve problems 

faced by these law enforcement agencies. During this 

time, school district police departments were a relatively new 

concept and many were experiencing problems associated 

with non-traditional police organizations. 

CONFERENCE 

GUIDE 

In furtherance of the goal of professionalizing school district 

policing, the Association sponsored its first annual training 

conference in 1998. The event was held at the Aldine 

School District in Harris County and attracted over 100 participants 

from many parts of the state. The conference was 

such a success that it has continued to be held each year. 

In 2001, the group voted to change the name to the Texas 

School District Police Chiefs Association in order to promote 

the standardization of school district policing on a statewide 

basis. 

30 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 31 





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What to Do This Summer? 

Head Down to 

Galveston Island 

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 beach- 

Historic Buildings & Homes 

Although most of the original structures are long gone, the 

stories of early islanders live on in renovated structures 

and new establishments created in memory of the past. 

Galveston Beaches 

With 32 miles of shoreline and a variety of 

parks, Galveston Island offers something for 

every kind of beachgoer. And with warm Gulf 

waves from spring through October, there’s 

plenty of time to explore each beach’s unique 

personality. Whatever your sunseeking fancy, 

Galveston has a beach for you. 

46 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 


Head Down to 


Katie’s Seafood House 

2000 Wharf Rd Galveston, Texas 

(409) 765-5688 

For more than 20 years, Katie’s Seafood 

Market has provided the highest quality 

seafood to Galveston locals and visitors. 

In September of 2019, Katie’s husband, 

Buddy, opened Katie’s Seafood House 

right next to the store. The market supplies 

the restaurant with its fresh seafood, 

which is a unique attribute among 

restaurants and takes each dish to the 

next level. Stop in for a delicious shrimp 

platter and enjoy a house cocktail next 

time you in Galveston! 

Where to Stay? 

The BLUES recommends: 

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. 

The Spot 

3204 Seawall Blvd Galveston, Texas 

(409) 621-5237 

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. It’s the perfect setting to hang out with 

your friends and meet new ones. 

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. 

Rudy & Paco Restaurant and Bar 

2028 Postoffice St., Galveston, TX 

Phone: (409)762-3696 

When visiting Galveston Island, you simply 

can’t miss the Island’s most unique 

dining experience, Rudy & Paco. Awarded 

Top 100 Restaurants of 2017 and Top 100 

Romantic Restaurants of 2018, Rudy & 

Paco features grilled seafood and steak 

with a South and Central American sabor. 

Relax and unwind with your favorite 

cocktail while enjoying delicious Antojitos. 

Whether you’re dining for a special 

occasion or just grabbing a drink at the 

bar, coming to Rudy & Paco will surely 

be an experience like no other. 


Head Down to 


TRAIN RIDES 

EVENT VENUE 

Galveston Railroad Museum 

Visit the Galveston Railroad Museum to learn the history of the golden age of rail and experience 

the excitement of bygone days. Interactive activities include walking through a 

railroad post office, sleeping cars, dining and baggage cars. Visit the fully restored train depot 

and enjoy current exhibits as well as hands-on fully operational signal lights, learn the 

Legacy of the Railroad including the story of the Pullman Porter, view a rare railroad calendar 

collection, artwork and the take selfies with the lifelike alabaster sculptures that depict 

depot passengers in period dress. Step inside a telephone booth, lift the receiver to your 

ear and overhear their conversations. Don’t miss additional exhibits located on the railyard 

and board a caboose for a real train ride! The Galveston Railroad Museum is family friendly 

and has something for all ages to enjoy! Check our online schedule for upcoming events. 

Home of the popular Christmas holiday family event The Polar Express Train Ride, pajamas 

are encouraged for the full experience that runs November thru December. Membership at 

the Galveston Railroad Museum is loaded with benefits including Polar Express early bird 

ticket purchase. In addition, members enjoy year- round access to the museum and enjoy 

discounts in the museum store and at special events. Don’t miss the train! For additional 

information go to www.GalvestonRRMuseum.org or call (409) 765-5700. 

EXHIBITS 

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409-765-5700 

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20% discount on museum exhibits and rides. Valid Through September 30, 2022 


HONORING A FALLEN HERO 

DEPUTY ROBERT ADAM HOWARD 

“Our hearts are broken as we announce the 

passing of our Deputy Robert Adam Howard, who 

succumbed to his injuries after a crash that occurred 

this afternoon,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said 

in a news conference. “Our hearts are very heavy 

at this moment. We’re devastated that we’re losing 

such a great teammate, described as a workhorse 

described as having a great personality, 

funny, and just outgoing, a wonderful friend.” 

Deputy Robert Adam Howard 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

End of Watch: Wednesday, May 11, 2022 








68th HEROES AWARDS BANQUET 

Thursday, May 26, 2022 

EST. 1953 

® 

Message from William F. Skeen, Executive Director 

As we proudly honor this year’s award recipients, I am once again 

humbled. Not only by the tremendous selflessness, commitment, and 

bravery of all our officers and firefighters, but also by the support of 

our exceptionally generous 100 Club members. 

I am humbled by the extraordinary responsibility of representing an 

organization that boasts almost 30,000 members. And I am energized 

daily by our mission to make a positive impact in the lives of dependents 

who have lost a loved one, provider, and family member. 

So let me be the first to congratulate our 35 Heroes Awards Recipients 

for 2022. It is truly well-earned recognition for a job well done. 

Since we were not able to have our annual in-person banquet the 

last two years because of the Covid pandemic, we invited the 2020 

and 2021 Heroes Award Recipients from those two years, to be in 

attendance at this year’s banquet. 

I also wish to sincerely thank any and all who helped make these 

awards possible, as well as our members for your ongoing support. 

And as always, I thank you, our heroes, for all that you do every day. 

With warmest regards, 

William F. Skeen Executive Director 

Law Enforcement Award Recipients 2022 

Rookie of the Year 

Deputy Jacob B. Hayden .............................. Montgomery County Constable Pct 5 

Officer of the Year 

Sergeant Gabriel Alvarez .............................. Bryan Police Department 

K-9 Deputy Ethan R. Kahla............................ Chambers County Interdiction Unit 

Detective Cody J. Burk ..................................Chambers County Sheriff’s Office 

Deputy Larry Llamas .....................................Harris County Constable’s Office Pct 4 

Deputy Brandon Morales.............................. Harris County Constable’s Office Pct 4 

Deputy Noe Rodriguez Jr................................Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

Senior Police Officer Neey Gutierrez ............ Houston Police Department 

Senior Police Officer Dan R. Johnson............ Houston Police Department 

Senior Police Officer Christopher McCain..... Houston Police Department 

Senior Police Officer Diego Morelli............... Houston Police Department 

Senior Police Officer Jorge Morin Jr............. Houston Police Department 

Sergeant Michael Vance................................Houston Police Department 

Trooper Craig Hunter.................................... Texas Department Public Safety 

Special Agent Jamie Neault.......................... Texas Department Public Safety 

Trooper Drew A. Stoner................................ Texas Department Public Safety 

Trooper Joshua C. Strawn............................. Texas Department Public Safety 


EST. 1953 

® 

Starting January 1, 2021, Deputy 

Jacob Hayden began his first full 

year as a solo deputy. As a member 

of the Precinct 5 Patrol Team, 

he quickly was noticed for his 

outstanding work ethic and possessing 

skills beyond the expectations 

of someone his training and 

experience. He has made himself 

a vital member of his agency and 

the community he serves. 

He is also part of the Precinct 5 

Special Response Team, assisting 

in multiple search warrants and 

call outs. He located and cleared 

102 active fugitive warrants within 

the Precinct 5 area and completed 

129 hours of Texas Commission of 

Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training 

in addition to everything else he 

accomplished in his rookie year 

as a law enforcement officer. His 

performance in 2021 has been 

that of a seasoned deputy and has 

shown that he has a bright future 

in law enforcement. In addition,the 

work ethic and achievements that 

were made during 2021 by Deputy 

Hayden have also brought great 

recognition to his agency. 

On February 25, 2021, Sergeant 

Gabriel Alvarez organized 

a rescue crew of officers to 

rescue other officers who were 

being fired at by a suspect at an 

apartment complex. The suspect 

was firing at the officers out 

of an apartment window. Sergeant 

Alvarez commanded an 

armored personnel carrier (APC) 

to rescue the trapped officers. 

He rallied his people together, 

came up with a quick reaction 

plan and went with his men 

into the line of fire. Upon seeing 

two officers in harm’s way and 

despite seeing a suspect actively 

shooting at these officers, he 

opened the APC’s door, exposing 

himself to the line of fire to get 

the attention of the trapped officers 

and ushered them to safety. 

Sergeant Alvarez distinguished 

himself with valor during this incident 

and saved fellow officers’ 

lives at the risk of his own which 

made the difference in resolving 

a live shooter incident. 

DEPUTY JACOB B. HAYDEN 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONSTABLE PCT. 5 

SERGEANT GABRIEL ALVAREZ 

BRYAN POLICE DEPARTMENT 


EST. 1953 

® 

K-9 DEPUTY ETHAN R. KAHLA 

CHAMBERS COUNTY INTERDICTION UNIT 

TROOPER CRAIG HUNTER 

TEXAS DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

DETECTIVE CODY J. BURK 

CHAMBERS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 



EST. 1953 

® 

On August 12, 2021, Detective Cody Burk, 

K-9 Deputy Ethan Kahla were advised of an 

armed car jacking involving a shot Harris 

County deputy, heading to their jurisdiction. 

Deputy Burk located the vehicle and 

began a pursuit and was later joined by 

Deputy Kahla in the pursuit. The suspect 

began firing at both deputies during the 

pursuit. The suspect avoided a set of stop 

sticks that nearby DPS troopers had set 

and Trooper Hunter join the pursuit. Trooper 

Hunter used his patrol car to hit the 

suspect’s vehicle head-on, disabling it and 

ending the chase and the suspect was shot 

and killed. Trooper Hunter was life-flighted 

from the scene to receive immediate medical 

attention and made a full recovery. 


EST. 1953 

® 

In August of 2021, Deputy Brandon Morales 

and Deputy Larry Llamas were working a night 

shift and responded to a suspect trespassing in 

a Walmart parking lot. As the deputies arrived, 

the suspect exited his vehicle and began shooting 

at them. The deputies chased the suspect 

on foot as he was continuing to fire back at 

them. The suspect eventually stopped, turned 

around, and began shooting at the deputies 

and they were forced to return fire to stop the 

threat. The deputies acted with bravery and 

extraordinary heroism during their pursuit and 

gunfight with an armed adversary and were 

fully aware of the imminent threat to their lives 

and danger to nearby civilians. 

DEPUTY BRANDON MORALES 

HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PCT. 4 

DEPUTY LARRY LLAMAS 

HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE PCT. 4 


EST. 1953 

® 

DEPUTY NOE RODRIGUEZ, JR. 

HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

On October 21, 2021, Deputy 

Noe Rodriguez, Jr. was called to 

a situation in southeast Harris 

County where a homicidal and 

suicidal husband, armed with a 

hand gun, was holding his baby 

hostage and threating his wife, 

the baby’s mother. The subject 

appeared to be homicidal and 

suicidal causing his wife to fear 

for her life and their baby’s life. 

The suspect refused to come 

outside or give up the baby. Over 

the course of an hour and a half, 

Deputy Rodriguez remained 

calm and spoke with the suspect 

in Spanish, using deescalation 

techniques and finally convinced 

the suspect to give him the baby, 

allowing the SWAT team to take 

the suspect into custody a short 

time later. Deputy Rodriguez 

utilized the fundamentals of the 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

training in crisis intervention and 

deescalation and exercised one 

of the agency’s core values to 

“Protect our citizens with honor 

and courage”. 

On July 5, 2021, Officer Samuel 

Cleveland and Senior Officer 

Christopher McCain were dispatched 

to a disturbance call at 

an apartment complex in Kingwood. 

After determining that 

there had been an altercation 

over a parking space, the officers 

located the suspect at his apartment. 

After a brief conversation at 

his front door, the suspect pulled 

a weapon and shot Officer Cleveland 

three times. Senior Officer 

McCain rushed inside to subdue 

the suspect and the suspect 

pointed the pistol at Senior Officer 

McCain. Senior Officer McCain 

forced the suspect to the ground 

and dislodged the weapon from 

the suspect, then placed him into 

custody. Senior Officer McCain 

began emergency first aid on 

Officer Cleveland by applying a 

tourniquet to his arm which was 

bleeding profusely. While still 

maintaining control of the suspect, 

Senior Officer McCain found 

another wound on Officer Cleveland 

and began applying pressure 

until emergency personnel 

arrived. The attending physician 

confirmed that the quick emergency 

first aid given by Senior 

Officer McCain saved the life of 

Officer Cleveland. 

SENIOR POLICE OFFICER CHRISTOPHER MCCAIN 

HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 


EST. 1953 

® 

SERGEANT MICHAEL VANCE 


SENIOR POLICE OFFICER DON R. JOHNSON 


SENIOR POLICE OFFICER NEEY GUTIERREZ 



EST. 1953 

® 

On September 20, 2021, Sergeant Michael Vance, Senior 

Police Officers Dan Johnson, Neey Gutierrez, Diego Morelli, 

and Jorge Morin executed a felony warrant when the suspect 

opened fire. The officers were part of the Houston Police 

Department’s Major Offenders Unit, which serves high-level 

felony arrest warrants considered to be the “most serious.” As 

the officers made contact with an occupant of the residence, 

they were met with a barrage of gunfire. Senior Officer William 

Jeffrey was mortally wounded and Sergeant Vance sustained 

multiple bullet wounds as the suspect continued to shoot at 

the officers, using a fully automatic pistol. After over a hundred 

rounds were exchanged, the suspect was contained and died 

at the scene. The officers demonstrated extraordinary bravery 

and valor while continuing to engage the fugitive, knowing that 

two of their members were down. 

SENIOR POLICE OFFICER DIEGO MORELLI 


SENIOR POLICE OFFICER JORGE MORIN, JR. 


72 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 73 73

EST. 1953 

® 

On August 17, 2021, Special Agent Neault was 

a tactical medic as part of a Special Response 

Team that was called in to help other agencies in 

Burleson County with a barricaded suspect. Trooper 

Strawn was called in to assist. The suspect exited 

the residence and fired his handgun two times, 

striking Trooper Strawn. Trooper Strawn fired back 

at the suspect even though he had been shot 

twice. Trooper Strawn was bleeding profusely from 

his arm and Special Agent Neault evacuated him 

to a casualty collection point and called for assistance. 

Special Agent Neault applied a tourniquet to 

stop the bleeding and checked him for additional 

wounds. In another incident, Special Agent Neault 

also saved a man’s life that had his leg severed 

below the knee by a train, by applying two tourniquets 

and administered IV fluids to stabilize the 

man while waiting for a helicopter to transport him 

for treatment. 

SPECIAL AGENT JAMIE NEAULT 


TROOPER JOSHUA C. STRAWN 


74 74 The The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The 

The BLUES 

BLUES POLICE 

POLICE MAGAZINE 

MAGAZINE 75 

75

EST. 1953 

® 

On February 20, 2021, 

Trooper Stoner was on 

his way to work when he 

witnessed a man getting 

shot multiple times in the 

chest by another man. 

Trooper Stoner stopped his 

patrol vehicle and followed 

the man with a gun inside 

the house. He confronted 

the man and ordered him 

to the ground and to drop 

his weapon, which he did. 

Once he was apprehended, 

Trooper Stoner found 

a female victim on the 

floor who had been shot 

in the back. He made sure 

she was still alive so he 

could render aid. He then 

secured the shooter in his 

patrol vehicle and assisted 

EMS when they arrived. 

On behalf of the entire staff here at The BLUES, we wish to 

congratulate each and every one of these brave officers who 

truly represent the best of the best and are true heroes. 

Sgt. Michael Barron (RET) 

Founder & Publisher, 

The BLUES Police Magazine 

TROOPER DREW A. STONER 


76 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 77 77

REMEMBERING THOSE WE’VE LOST 

Lost in the Line of Duty 

Patrol Officer Brian Lee Sember 

Ottawa Police Department, Illinois 

End of Watch Sunday, April 3, 2022 

Age 49 Tour 23 Years Badge # 31 Veteran 

Patrol Officer Brian Sember died from complications as the result of contracting 

COVID-19 in the line of duty. 

Officer Sember was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with 

the Ottawa Police Department for 23 years. He is survived by his two children. 

During his service with the U.S. Army, Senior Inspector Keyworth escorted the 

riderless horse during President Ronald Reagan’s funeral. 

Police Officer Darryl Wayne Fortner 

Vestavia Hills Police Department, Alabama 

End of Watch Wednesday, April 6, 2022 

Age 53 Tour 25 Years 5 Months Badge # 815 

Police Officer Darryl Fortner died from complications as the result of contracting 

COVID-19 in the line of duty. 

Officer Fortner had served with the Vestavia Hills Police Department for over 

seven years and previously served 20 years with the Birmingham Police Department. 

He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, three grandchildren, mother, and 

sister. 

Sergeant Nicholas W. Tullier 

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana 

End of Watch Thursday, May 5, 2022 

Age 46 Tour N/A Badge # T-82 

Sergeant Nick Tullier succumbed to injuries sustained six years earlier when he 

was ambushed by a subject outside a convenience store at 9611 Airline Highway 

shortly before 9:00 am. Officers had received reports of a subject walking 

along the roadway carrying a rifle. As responding officers arrived in the area, 

they were ambushed by the subject. Corporal Tullier was critically wounded. 

Deputy Sheriff Brad Garafola of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, 

Corporal Montrell Jackson, and Police Officer Matthew Gerald, both of the Baton 

Rouge Police Department, were shot and killed. Two other officers were wounded. 

The subject was shot and killed by other responding officers. 

Sergeant Tullier was posthumously promoted to Sergeant. He is survived by his 

parents, his two sons, two brothers, and five nephews. 

Deputy Sheriff Walter Donald Jenkins, Jr. 

Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia 

End of Watch Wednesday, May 11, 2022 

Age 54 Tour 24 Years Badge # 2893 

Deputy Sheriff Walter Jenkins was struck and killed at about 9:30 pm while 

directing traffic at the intersection of Highway 138 and Highway 212. He was 

transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, where he succumbed to his 

injuries. Deputy Jenkins was wearing a reflective vest when he was struck by a 

vehicle traveling east on Highway 138. The juvenile driver has not been charged. 

Deputy Jenkins had served with the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office for over 

a year and previously served with the College Park Police Department for 22 

years. He is survived by his mother, daughter, two sons, former wife, and two 

sisters. 


REMEMBERING THOSE WE’VE LOST 

Lost in the Line of Duty 

Deputy Sheriff Robert Adam Howard 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas 

End of Watch Wednesday, May 11, 2022 

Age 27 Tour 3 Years Badge # N/A 

Deputy Sheriff Robert Howard was killed in a vehicle crash when his patrol car 

struck the back of a tractor-trailer that was parked on the left shoulder of the 

Tomball Parkway near Spring Cypress Road. He was transporting evidence as 

part of a criminal case when the crash occurred at about 2:00 pm. 

Deputy Howard had served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for three 

years and was assigned to the Gang Unit. He is survived by his wife, two children, 

parents, and sister. 

Chief Deputy Sheriff Jody Wayne Cash 

Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky 

End of Watch Monday, May 16, 2022 

Age 44 Tour 22 Years Badge # 2 

Chief Deputy Jody Cash was shot and killed in front of the Marshall County 

Sheriff’s Office at 52 Judicial Drive in Benton at 2:10 pm. He was escorting a 

prisoner when the man shot him. The prisoner was also shot and killed during 

the incident. Chief Deputy Cash was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed 

to his wounds. 

Chief Deputy Cash had served with the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office for 

1-1/2 years and had previously served eight years with the Kentucky State 

Police, six years as the Assistant Chief of the Murray State University Police Department, 

and six years with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived 

by his wife and two children. 

Border Patrol Agent Daniel Salazar 

United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government 

End of Watch Tuesday, May 17, 2022 


Border Patrol Agent Daniel Salazar was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the 

Bell Valley Truck Trail near Campos, California. He was responding to investigate 

a sensor that had been activated in the area when his Jeep Wrangler patrol 

vehicle left the roadway and overturned in a rugged area. Another agent located 

the wreckage at about 5:30 am. 

Border Patrol Agent Salazar had served with the United States Border Patrol for 

four years and was assigned to the El Cajon Station. He is survived by his wife 

and son. 

Senior Corrections Officer Daniel Sincavage 

New Jersey Department of Corrections, New Jersey 

End of Watch Thursday, May 19, 2022 


Senior Corrections Officer Daniel Sincavage was killed in a vehicle crash on 

Route 47 in Maurice River Township at about 10:45 pm. He and another officer 

were driving from one section of the Southern State Correctional Facility to 

another when his vehicle left the roadway, struck a tree, and became engulfed 

in flames. 

Officer Sincavage had served with the New Jersey Department of Corrections 

for 20 years. He is survived by his wife and three children. 


By A.L. Jones 

war stories from IA 

Most of my readers know that 

I have been around longer than 

dirt. Thirty-five years to be exact. 

I am the old man in the department. 

The dinosaur (the other 

names may not be printed and a 

few the officers hold copyrights 

to) the one that has seen it all, 

the one that tells true stories 

that are too wild to have happened, 

and the one who has 

heard it all - not. As long as there 

are police, there will be police 

stories. They are more commonly 

known as War Stories. 

War stories are commonplace 

in all sectors of police work. I 

worked in Internal Affairs for 

the longest time and the stories 

we tell are no different. Only 

we are actually laughing with 

the accused not at them. Sooner 

or later, everyone will screw 

up. Usually with a little help 

of a co-conspirator who influenced 

the officer at the time. The 

co-conspirator is usually intoxicants 

beer, wine, Jack (Daniels), 

or some other illegal substance. 

Though humorous in most of 

the following, the officers were 

severely punished up to and 

including termination. Here are 

a few on the many I’ve heard or 

experienced. 

LOST IN SPACE 

An officer failed to report for 

duty for several days. The supervisor 

made the obligatory phone 

calls and visited the home to 

ensure the safety and well-being 

of the officer. The supervisor 

made no contact with the officer 

or his patrol vehicle. A few days 

later the officer returned to work 

with the following explanation: 

While on the way home from 

the end of his shift, he became 

extremely ill and drove himself 

to a hospital in the state capital 

(names and cities removed) that 

was some 50 miles away. He 

has in hand an excuse from the 

hospital, stating he was treated 

released after 3 days. 

The chief of police became 

suspicious and initiates an investigation. 

The first thing to raise 

the scale of suspicion is that the 

city he lives in, had a reputable 

hospital. The investigation revealed 

that the officer left work 

and met his girlfriend. She had 

enough cocaine to keep them 

going for a few days. The officer 

having never taken cocaine goes 

on a magical mystery tour with 

the girlfriend. Three days later, 

the light in the old brain goes on 

and he knew he had better come 

up with a good story. Girlfriend 

types a fake excuse and has it 

notarized. You have to admit they 

tried. Sadly, the bosses didn’t buy 

the story and he was fired. 

GHOSTS 

An officer is out on the road 

in a secluded part of a county. 

He was the only officer on duty 

after midnight. He had served 

in that capacity for many years. 

He was bored and did not have 

enough to keep him entertained. 

One evening the officer puts a 

call for help in that shots were 

fired at him while he was seated 

in his patrol car. The entire state 

responds, all off duty officers are 

summoned, and the state investigation 

unit is notified. 

The officer told investigators 

he was checking a man walking 

on the roadway. Before he 

could leave his unit, the man 

pulled a automatic pistol from 

his pants and began firing. The 

officer slumped into the passenger 

seat to avoid being shot. 

After the shots were fired the 

man flees into a wooded area 

and the officer chased the man 

eventually losing him. The officer 

described the man that he shot 

at him with a 1911 semi-automatic 

firearm. All six rounds are 

placed perfectly dead center 

over the steering wheel. Just one 

problem, no semi-automatic pistol 

shell casings were found on 

the roadway. In fact no casings 

were found anywhere. On the 

other hand, the lead projectiles 

recovered from the front seat of 

the patrol car were .38 caliber. 

Ballistics from the officer’s .38 

backup pistol were a perfect 

match. As Bill Engval would say - 

Here’s your sign. 

PARTY ANIMAL 

One officer loved to party. He 

was first there and last to leave 

any party thrown by fellow officers. 

There was to be a party 

one weekend night. The officer 

was going to be there. However, 

earlier in the day he and a 

few buddies were working at 

one of the officer’s homes. Beer 

and Jack (Daniels) were flowing 

most of the day. The officer, 

already intoxicated, decided to 

drive his take home car to the 

party. He took what he thought 

was an alternative route - the 

railroad track would be quicker. 

Two miles later all four tires are 

deflated, the front end destroyed, 

as well as the transmission. He 

left the car next to the railroad 

and walked the rest of the way. 

He was taken home by one of 

the designated drivers who had 

no idea of what transpired. Next 

day he awakens to find his take 

home car gone. He did not remember 

a thing. A report was 

made, and a BOLO issued. A train 

crew found it within hours. Moral 

of this story if you do something 

like this at least remember 

where you left it. 

There are lots more stories in 

this old brain, but I’m old and 

retired and I need a nap. 



Drunk Mom Kills 6yr Old Daughter 

In my 10 years on the street, 

I've responded to probably 

thousands of car crashes and 

road accidents. Most are very 

minor, or even if they look 

bad, most have no injuries 

or only minor injuries. Cars 

are designed to basically fall 

apart to absorb impacts and 

they do their job well. But 

sometimes speed doesn't 

matter. Seatbelt use or other 

factors determine whether 

it’s a fatal accident. 

Probably the worst crash 

I've ever responded to, for 

me at least, involved two 

pedestrians, a mother and 

her 6-year-old daughter. The 

driver was actually doing 

everything right (for once). 

He was going the speed limit 

(45mph), had the right of 

way, everything. Unfortunately, 

this dumb drunk b**ch had 

decided at about 11pm that 

she wasn't drunk enough. 

So, she takes her small child 

with her to the gas station to 

get a 40 oz., then proceeded 

to lead the child across the 

street into oncoming traffic. 

Because she was so drunk, 

she just couldn't process 

what she was doing. The 

daughter, trusting her mother 

completely, stepped out into 

the road with the mom. Mom 

only sustained minor injuries. 

A broken leg, a broken 

arm, and minor scrapes. The 

little girl however was killed 

instantly. She was thrown 

about 30 feet through the air 

and landed in the roadway. 

I feel lucky that I wasn't the 

first officer on scene. Two of 

our guy’s left work early that 

night to go home and decompress. 

I'll always remember 

this crash. Seeing that little 

girl laid out on the road with 

EMS, Fire, and police surrounding 

her trying their best 

to help. There were a lot of 

tears from first responders. 

I've never seen so many crying 

at a scene in public before, 

or since. 

The mother was locked up 

and not allowed to attend the 

funeral. The father was no 

longer in the picture, but the 

little girl’s relatives came to 

pay their respects. But what 

struck me the most and will 

forever be etched in my memory, 

were the hundreds of 

first responders from all over 

the state that came to mourn 

the loss of this precious little 

girl. Never have I seen such an 

outpouring that didn’t involve 

a fellow first responder. 

I guess we all have moments 

like these that will last 

a lifetime. The horrible memory 

of that little girl laying 

broken in the street, her mom 

so drunk, she had no clue that 

her baby girl was gone. The 

paramedics that worked on 

them both and the anger they 

had towards the mom and 

tears they shed for the little 

girl. And the bond they all 

shared at the funeral, saying 

goodbye to someone 

they barely knew. 

How in the hell do you 

pick up the pieces and 

move on to yet another 

devasting scene? And do 

this over, and over again? 

Because it’s what God 

chose us to do. To be there 

in the worst of times and 

be the heroes that save the 

day. We do it because it’s 

our calling. Not because we 

want to, but because we 

have too. It’s what we do. 

I’ll close with this. When 

you think you can’t go on? 

That you can no longer be 

that hero and you feel like 

you are out of options. Stop 

and call one of the many 

first responder hotlines and 

share your feelings with 

someone who can relate to 

what you’re going through. 

DO NOT BECOME A STATISTC 

of officers taking their own 

lives. We need you. They need 

you. Your family needs you. 

Take whatever time you 

need to regroup, refresh, and 

rejoin. 


THE OPEN ROAD 

by Michael Barron 

PATROL CARS 

LEFT TO DIE 

PURSUIT 2 ENROUTE 

This former pursuit car has long struggled at the hands of Mother Nature, 

and yet unlike the car directly next to it, it still wears a set of tires that hold 

air. This picture shows the effects that maintenance can have on a car’s 

exterior, as cars used in official capacities like police and fire departments 

are often kept cleaned, waxed, and sparkling. With plenty of rust forming, 

this cop car is just about beyond saving—and yet, compared to 

its neighbor, the exterior paint has held up much better over the years, 

which should serve as inspiration for car owners who think that waxing 

their vehicles is a waste of time. 

Junkyards all over the world are 

full of cars, trucks, and SUVs that 

have been neglected, abandoned, 

or demolished in accidents. There 

they sit, exposed to the hot sun and 

harsh weather while slowly being 

eaten by rust and accumulating 

dust. Every vehicle has a point at 

which it has run the course of its 

life and has become simply too 

outdated or beat-up to restore or 

refurbish. Official service vehicles 

used by the police, fire fighters, 

sheriffs, and highway patrol are 

often maintained at a much higher 

level than daily drivers owned by 

commuters. After all, the authorities 

need to be able to depend on their 

vehicles to perform flawlessly when 

they need to quickly respond to an 

emergency, deploy to the scene 

of an accident, or of course, tail a 

criminal during a high-speed chase. 

Almost every police car on the 

roads leaves the yard each morning 

absolutely spotless, while under the 

skin, its mechanical components 

have been gone over with a finetoothed 

comb. And yet, after the 

course of a rough day on the job, 

plenty of cop cars will limp back 

home covered in dents, dings, and 

dust—while some might not even 

make it home at all. The life of an 

official vehicle certainly isn’t easy, 

and plenty end up in a state beyond 

the point of repair. Photographers 

searching for great subjects have 

often found police cars that appear 

to have simply been abandoned at 

some point, left to slowly die. 

PLYMOUTH BEFORE THE HEMI 

Exactly when many of these abandoned police cars began their 

struggle will always remain a mystery. But this Plymouth looks like 

it was simply parked out back next to barn—it's not like it was hidden 

in a dark forest or anything, but clearly everyone forgot all about 

the car. Still, despite the elements, this piece of split-window history 

features a bit of brightwork that still shines in the sunlight, although 

most of its surfaces are clearly covered in rust patches and dust that 

has accumulated over the years. Of course, as automobiles developed 

in the ensuing decades, keeping this car running would have been an 

increasingly futile effort. 


BOSTON’S FINEST 

Part of the reason that police cars are eventually scrapped or sold 

at auction is due to the hard lives that they lead. Most drivers may 

have, at some point, noticed that cops don't turn off their cars when 

they are on duty. Leaving the car running not only allows for quicker 

response times, but also saves the engine (and starter motor) from 

having to be started and stopped all the time, which conserves fuel 

as well as reducing wear and tear. From chasing criminals to daily 

patrols, police cars are on duty just as much as their drivers, and 

despite high build qualities, they can only last so long. 

RUN FLATS 

This country is lucky enough to have Dodge Chargers being increasingly utilized as 

police cruisers, but most of the world's police, big Detroit muscle is a ways off. Of 

course, several countries in the Middle East have also turned to high-end supercars, 

like Lamborghinis, so that they can catch wealthy speed demons enjoying 

their otherwise unbeatable supercars and presumably make cops in more average 

countries jealous. Comparing this compact car that's been abandoned after 

receiving minor damage in the line of duty to a supercar is a bit ridiculous. After 

all, it doesn't even have run-flat tires, fancy wheels, or an aero kit. 

TWO-TONE RUST COLOR 

Most drivers think that snow and the salt used to melt it are the 

absolute worst thing for their cars' longevity, but in reality heat is 

often the bane of a vehicle's existence. Just take a look at any car 

that's lived its life in the desert, where the sun beats down and cracks 

plastic parts, ruins rubber trim, oxidizes paint remarkably quickly, 

and ruins tires in almost no time at all. Compared to the chemicals 

that most regions use to melt snow, which can be rinsed off at a car 

wash any time the weather turns terrible, the sun that destroyed this 

abandoned cruiser is typically a car's consistent adversary. 

PRE-GHOST CROWN VIC 

This Crown Victoria is well on its way to wearing a matte black finish, 

although not in the fashion that many drivers these days would hope 

to wrap their fancy sports cars. With the popularity of matte wrap 

jobs, and even gold or chrome wraps, there has also been a rarer 

segment of the population that wraps their cars in a color scheme 

to mimic the effects of long years spent in harsh weather. But rather 

than waste a few thousand bucks to get that faux-rust look, this 

Crown Vic has simply been left outside for the weeds to grow around 

it while its black paint slowly fades to a dark brown. 

RESERVES CAR 

The fact that so much of the glass on the lights of this abandoned police car 

remain intact seems like something of a miracle. With rust on just about every 

surface, flat tires, and chrome pieces that look about to drop right off the body, 

somehow all those blue and red lenses have weathered the test of time. Imagine 

being flagged down by a cop car today with an aggressive lighting kit like this, 

rather than the standard rooftop set. Especially at night, the entire area would be 

lit up in a kaleidoscope of flashes—perhaps so many lights were necessary in the 

era before electronic loudspeakers were fitted to every police cruiser. 

ANOTHER DWI CONTACT 

The life of a State Trooper in Utah is definitely not easy. With so much 

of the state barely populated by humans, and long stretches of roadway 

that see little, if any, traffic on a daily basis, maintaining the constant 

vigilance necessary to remain safe for an entire day of driving 

must be a challenge. Hopefully, the driver of this Charger was simply 

sacrificing his car during the course of duty, otherwise it almost looks 

like a semi truck may have sideswiped the rear end and caused such 

catastrophic damage. Dodge Chargers certainly aren’t fragile cars, so 

something big was definitely involved in this collision. 


A BADGE OF HONOR 

heal ing our heroes 

Asking the Follow Up Questions: 

How to Support Those we Work With. 

By Samantha Horwitz 

As I walked into the classroom 

to speak to a sheriff’s recruit 

class located in rural Texas 

about stress and post-traumatic 

stress, all thoughts were on the 

tragic events in Uvalde, Texas. 

For me personally, I thought 

about the chaos on 9/11. More 

than 20 years has passed, and 

in the blink of an eye I was right 

back there remembering people 

running through the streets, the 

jumpers from World Trade Center 

Tower 1, and the survivor’s 

guilt of not being able to save 

more that day. 

I shared my memories with 

the recruits and how an event so 

far removed can bring forward 

trauma from the past. Our brain 

is an amazing organ. Its storage 

capacity for the unimaginable is 

frightening and exciting. 

The conversation turned into 

a discussion on awareness 

and how we can support each 

other after trauma. The law 

enforcement officers and first 

responders in Uvalde, Texas 

who exchanged gunfire with the 

shooter and those first on the 

scene will need to be supported 

by their departments over the 

next days, weeks, and months. 

Once the CISM teams leave, the 

funerals end, and the investigation 

concluded what then? Uvalde 

will never be the same and 

neither will the law enforcement 

officers and first responders. 

As part of the team at A Badge 

of Honor, our workshop addresses 

the things we miss as law 

enforcement officers and first responders 

inside our own departments. 

We are trained to capture 

the details and document 

crime scenes, yet we sometimes 

miss what is going on with our 

own partners and co-workers. 

How many times have we heard 

reports of an officer completing 

suicide and those closest saying, 

“I noticed recently that he / she 

was showing up late for work, I 

should have said something.” We 

are so quick to jump into action 

for strangers, yet when it is one 

of our own, we hesitate. Why? I 

posed that question to the recruits. 

Here is a list of a few of 

the answers they gave me: 

• Stigma. 

• I do not want to get them in 

trouble. 

• I am afraid I might make 

things worse. 

I have been trapped in the prison 

of post-traumatic stress, one 

of the biggest things I did was 

self-isolate. I did not talk to anyone 

and if someone asked me if I 

were okay, I would respond with, 

“I’m fine.” There was no follow 

up, no asking another probing 

question. How many of you reading 

this have either told someone 

you were “fine” when you were 

SAMANTHA HORWITZ & JOHN SALERNO 

not, or received “I’m fine” as a 

response from someone else? 

What your partner, your 

co-worker, your friend, needs 

for you to do is challenge an 

“I’m fine” response with, “Are 

you sure? Because I have noticed 

that you seem really angry, really 

distracted, you never hang out 

anymore, whatever the change 

in behavior is.” Being specific, 

stating what you observe will 

usually garner a response in return 

where the person will open 

up. Once open, stress is released. 

When stress is released, then 

there is hope. Where there is 

hope, there is not feeling alone 

anymore and a strong possibility 

that you just saved someone’s 

life. 

I often talk about courage in 

our workshops. Our training 

creates courage that is almost 

unconscious. It allows us to run 

into burning buildings and toward 

gunfire. That courage is 

easy to muster. The greatest 

courage we can show is the 

courage to ask the follow up 

question to, “I’m fine.” And the 

courage to ask for help. 

It is important that our 

departments start creating 

changes in the way they deal 

with trauma. We cannot keep 

telling one another that we 

have each other’s backs and 

then turn away when we need 

to talk about the calls that are 

causing us nightmares and 

stress. Once command staff 

in our departments decide to 

face the reality that trauma 

is real, that post-traumatic 

stress is real, and that our 

brains were not designed to 

handle the levels of traumatic 

incidents and then create 

outlets for us like peer support 

or partnerships with 

organization that can bring in 

resources, will we be able to 

finally do away with the stigma 

that has robbed us of 1,051 

first responders since 2017, 

bluehelp.org. It is time that our 

profession creates meaningful 

change. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Samantha Horwitz is a regular 

contributor to The Blues Police 

Magazine. She is a 9/11 first 

responder, former United States 

Secret Service Agent, speaker, 

and author. She and her business 

partner, retired firefighter 

and NYPD detective John Salerno 

created A Badge of Honor, a 

501(c)(3), non-profit post-traumatic 

stress awareness and 

suicide prevention program for 

first responders. John and Sam 

host MAD (Making a Difference) 

Radio, Wednesdays 7pm central 

live on FB @Makingadifferencetx. 

For more about Sam 

& John and the wellness and 

resiliency workshops for first 

responders, visit ABadgeofHonor.com. 

Delivered to Your Inbox 

Every Month FOR FREE 


DARYL LOTT 

daryl’s deliberations 

Number Four Thousand, Four 

Hundred, and Seventy Four 

Memorial Day seems to me to 

gain more importance very year. 

Maybe it’s because as one ages, 

thoughts of mortality and life 

experience generally reveal just 

how fragile life is. In our country, 

Memorial Day marks the beginning 

of Summer, but in doing so, 

remembers the ends of life for 

the people who gave their “last 

full measure of devotion,” as 

President Lincoln so eloquently 

put it. Gold Star Families gather 

to remember the loved ones lost 

in the never ending fight between 

good and evil. Those sacrifices 

are beyond the description 

mere words attempt to convey. 

Every jubilant victory in battle 

is tempered with the thoughts 

that not everyone survived. In my 

own family, the Battle of Midway 

and the Air War Over Hitler’s 

Germany produced tide turning 

victories for our country, but our 

family lost a sailor (Garland Lott) 

on the “USS Yorktown” and an 

airman (Edgar Lott) on the B-17 

“Lady Liberty.” Neither body was 

recovered. In the case of missing 

or unrecoverable remains, 

our country honors the fallen 

with symbolic resting places as 

they are memorialized on official 

cenotaphs. Garland’s name 

appears on the cenotaph at the 

National Cemetery of the Pacific 

in Hawaii. Edgar’s name is etched 

on the cenotaph at the Netherlands 

American Cemetery not 

far from where his aircraft was 

blown out of the sky. 

Cenotaphs are not the exact 

same as a memorial. A cenotaph 

only contains the names of 

the missing or those with unrecoverable 

remains. The largest 

and most famous cenotaph in 

Texas is located at the Alamo. 

The Alamo defenders’ bodies 

were unceremoniously burned 

in a pyre by a madman dictator. 

Therefore, the sacred cenotaph 

in the Alamo Plaza is their symbolic 

final resting place. 

This Memorial Day I draw your 

attention to a photo accompanying 

this essay. I encourage the 

reader to study the young man 

pictured in the photograph. At 

first glance he appears to be a 

handsome lad with a bright future. 

One could say he represents 

the blossoming of the best of 

American youth. 

His hometown is listed as 

Greensboro, North Carolina. I can 

tell you that he played outside 

linebacker on the Northeast H.S. 

Rams football team. He was their 

team captain and graduated in 

the Class of 2006. After high 

school, he attended college, but 

found out that it wasn’t really for 

him. He joined the Army in 2009. 

He didn’t have to go too far 

from home as he was assigned 

to the 82nd Airborne Division out 

of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He 

went to Iraq as a Specialist with 

the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. 

Specialist David E. Hickman was 

on a police type of patrol in 

Baghdad. He was patrolling in an 

armored vehicle when a roadside 

bomb exploded and ripped 

through his patrol vehicle. Specialist 

Hickman has the distinction 

of not only being a brave 

and dedicated soldier, but his 

is the last combat death in Iraq. 

As such, I consider this gallant 

young man to be representative 

of all of our loved and lost 

Americans in Iraq. 

There were a total of 4,474 

young Americans who gave 

their lives in the War on Terror 

in Iraq. They did not sell their 

lives cheaply. There were 23,984 

enemy combatants killed in 

Iraq, leading to freedom for the 

Iraqi people and security in our 

homeland. 

The other photo that accompanies 

this essay is of the only 

memorial at this time to those 

Americans who paid the ultimate 

price in Iraq and Afghanistan. It 

is called the “Northwood Gratitude 

and Honor Memorial” and 

it contains the names of all the 

fallen heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan. 

The memorial is located in 

Irvine, California. There are other 

active funding projects to honor 

our heroes of the War on Terror 

in other locations. If any reader 

feels so inclined to donate, I am 

sure the projects are worthy. 

Have a blessed Memorial Day 

and enjoy the freedom you 

posses as a result of others 

who were willing to give everything 

they had to provide 

it. Remember the Gold Star 

families who bear a disproportionate 

burden in the quest 

for freedom and justice among 

men and nations. God Bless the 

United States of America. 


HOUSTON POLICE OFFICERS UNION 

from the president 

TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE 

What does it look like? 

I am hearing a lot about this 

new “transformational change” 

classes that is provided by 

way of the Being First group. 

While I support anything that 

improves our department, let 

me be clear when I say this, no 

change will come to the rank 

and file without the command 

staff being direct, respectful, 

and transparent. I respect 

most of the command staff and 

understand that running the department 

is a difficult one. You 

must walk a tight rope, one 

that allows you to play politics 

with the community and still 

have the respect of the troops. 

I truly believe that you can do 

both and be an effective leader. 

When I speak with the membership 

the top three issues are 

morale, discipline, and manpower. 

All three are tied together, 

as discipline and manpower 

are the two things that 

directly affect morale. Manpower 

has been low for as long 

as I can remember but we have 

always been able to handle the 

job. It is getting to the point 

now that we will not be able to 

provide some of our basic services 

if this lack of hiring and 

retention continues. I am not 

blaming our Mayor and Council 

as they have provided the 

funding for all the classes we 

can fill. Retirements are up and 

recruiting is down. I truly do 

not blame anyone who wants 

to leave the department in the 

current state of affairs and understand 

the hesitancy by some 

to join a police department. 

Discipline is the largest issue 

that we deal with on a regular 

basis. Currently the department 

takes every complaint 

and conducts an investigation. 

Unfortunately, once a complaint 

is initiated, they will pick 

out every little infraction and 

you will be cited with it. This is 

where morale suffers the most. 

Everyone knows that if they receive 

a complaint, they will get 

“hit” with something. Real or 

perceived, the fear of discipline 

is the largest driver of morale 

in this department. I will say 

that there are many cases that 

are cleared information after 

the body camera proves the 

allegations did not happen, but 

the department does a poor job 

of letting people know that. 

We have been blessed that 

our department has not been 

defunded like other cities, 

but when we can’t recruit it 

hursts us all. Sadly, I predict 

in the near future that some of 

these specialized units will be 

back to running calls because 

there are not enough officers 

DOUGLAS GRIFFITH 

in patrol. I predict that we will 

lose more officers and be below 

5000 by the end of the 

year. This will get worse before 

it gets better and no form 

of change in this department 

can fix that issue. As long as 

the vocal activists are out there 

blaming law enforcement for 

all of the world’s problems, we 

will continue to have issues 

hiring and retaining officers. 

Transformational change 

sounds all warm and fuzzy, 

but in reality, our department 

needs to define what this 

change is and what it will look 

like once completed. Until we 

have a clearly defined goal and 

a direction in which to reach 

that goal, transformational 

change is nothing but a catch 

phrase. 


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD 

lig ht bul b award 

MAY YOUR WISH 

COME TRUE DORA 

by Bill King 

In a jaw-dropping tweet and 

press conference this week, 

County Judge Lina Hidalgo said 

that she expects to be indicted in 

connection with the now infamous 

vaccine outreach contract scandal. 

At a press conference, Hidalgo 

went much further, calling out 

Harris County District Attorney 

and fellow Democrat, Kim Ogg, for 

conducting a “politically motivated” 

investigation. Hidalgo’s 

six-minute diatribe is hard to follow 

but she makes several statements 

that are blatantly false. 

First, she alleges that the fact 

the investigation is being conducted 

during her campaign is a 

priori evidence that it is politically 

motivated. That, of course, is 

complete nonsense. The alleged 

crimes did not come to light until 

Commissioners began to ask for 

details about the contract last fall. 

So, the investigation has only been 

ongoing for about eight months 

which is hardly unusual. Also, 

according to my sources, Hidalgo’s 

office refused to voluntarily hand 

over documents to the District 

Attorney’s office, regarding the 

contract resulting in the necessity 

to bring in the Texas Rangers 

to subpoena them, delaying the 

investigation. If Hidalgo and her 

staff had nothing to hide, why not 

voluntarily turn over the documents 

and expedite the process? 

Second, Hidalgo alleges that 

the District Attorney’s office gave 

a motion to revoke her chief of 

staff’s bail to the press before it 

was given to his attorney. Her sole 

“evidence” for this assertion is that 

a reporter called the defense attorney 

before he had seen the motion. 

This proves absolutely nothing. 

All of the reporters following this 

story are daily checking for court 

filings in the case. It is not at all 

unsurprising that a reporter might 

see it online before a copy made it 

to a defense attorney’s desk. 

She also claims that the District 

Attorney’s Office has been litigating 

the case in the press while she 

was supposedly “forbidden from 

responding.” Of course, she was 

never forbidden by the legal process 

from responding. Her lawyers 

may have told to keep quiet. 

Certainly, after her performance at 

the press conference last week you 

can see why they might. 

But in fact, it was Hidalgo who 

dispatched her attorneys to make 

her case to media outlets that she 

believed would be sympathetic. 

Her lawyers met with Texas 

Monthly, the Texas Tribune and the 

Houston Chronicle, providing each 

documents which they have refused 

to hand over to investigators 

voluntarily. It is Hidalgo’s team, not 

the District Attorney’s office, that 

has been aggressively trying the 

case in the press. 

She went on to allege that “we 

have state media and local media 

that have reported on how the allegations 

are . . . based on a distortion 

of the facts.” But those stories 

reported on how Hidalgo’s attorney’s 

alleged that the charges were 

based on distorted facts. Each of 

the stories pointed out numerous 

contradictions and inconsistencies 

in the story being spun by Hidalgo’s 

lawyers. Even the normally 

Hidalgo-fawning Houston Chronicle 

editorial board concluded that 

while the documents presented by 

Hidalgo’s lawyers cast some doubt 

on the bid-rigging allegations, they 

did not clear her and that serious 

questions remained. 

Toward the end of the press 

conference, after a question from 

a reporter pointing out that Hidalgo 

and Ogg were both Democrats, 

Hidalgo’s comments descend in a 

nearly indecipherable rant about 

the “they” who are coming after 

her. While continuing to lambast 

Ogg, she throws in references 

to Ted Cruz, Mike Lindell and 

Steve Hotze for good measure. Of 

course, she did not mention that 

Ogg’s office just indicted Hotze. 

But apparently notwithstanding 

that “they” are all in some great 

cabal to derail her efforts to shepherd 

Harris County into her progressive 

utopia. 

I think it is important to understand 

that the corruption alleged 

regarding the vaccine contract is 

different from the garden variety 

cronyism and influence peddling, 

which are so endemic in our state. 

This corruption is born in the hubris 

of zealots so convinced of their 

righteousness that any means justify 

the ends, even if those means 

violate the law. I actually fear this 

type of corrupt more. The inability 

of ideological zealots to engage in 

critical self-examination leads to 

the pursuant of policies based on a 

religious-like belief regardless of 

real-world consequences. I think 

this is the reason we are seeing 

such widespread dysfunction of 

Harris County government from 

election administration to IT failures 

to the breakdown of the criminal 

court system and the hellish 

conditions in the Harris County jail. 

I have no idea if Hidalgo will be 

indicted on the vaccine contract. 

The facts set out in the affidavit of 

the Texas Ranger attached to the 

application for the search warrant 

certainly show that Hidalgo was 

intimately and directly involved 

in the effort to steer the contract 

to Elevate Strategies. But clearly 

something happened last week 

that rattled Hidalgo. I suspect her 

attorneys found out that someone 

close to her is cooperating with 

investigators. If so, her concerns 

may be well founded. 


HONORING FALLEN HEREOS 

“Honoring our fallen heroes through running while providing financial support to the families of our 

fallen Heroes, First Responders injured in the Line of Duty and Safety Equipment to K9s in need.” 

Zechariah 

Cartledge: 

a True American Hero 

Grants Awarded to Injured First Responders: 32 

Total Amount Awarded: $277,500 

Funds Awarded to Families of Fallen Heroes: 16 

Total Amount Awarded: $165,000 

Funds/Equipment Awarded to K9 Officers: $10,000 

2022 Run Tracker: 

Total Miles Run in 2022: (as of 5/25/22): 142 

- Zechariah - 139 

- Giuliana - 1 

- Jayden - 2 

Total Miles Run in 2021: 325 



Overall Miles Run: 1,244 

- - - - - - - - - - 

2022 Run Stats: 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen LEO’s (Non COVID-19): 50 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Firefighters (Non COVID-19): 40 

Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Canada LEO’s: 0 

Total Miles Run in 2022 for Fallen COVID-19 Heroes: 18 

Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen LEO’s: 21 

Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen Firefighters: 2 

Total Tribute Runs by State/Country: 8 

States/Cities Zechariah has run in: 

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

Cocoa, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Starke, Melbourne 

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, Sadler, San Antonio • Kentucky - Nicholasville • Arkansas - Bryant, Hot Springs, Springdale, Prairie Grove 

Nevada - Henderson • Kansas - Overland Park • California - Mt. Vernon, La Jolla • Arizona - Mesa 

North Carolina - Concord, Raleigh • Virginia - Norton, Richmond • Tennessee - Bristol, Bartlett 

Oklahoma - Stilwell (2) • Delaware - Milford • Maryland - Towson • Minnesota - Arden Hills • Indiana - Sullivan, Spencer 

Mississippi - Grenada, Olive Branch • Missouri - Springfield, Rolla, Joplin • Iowa - Independence, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids 

District/Countries/Territories: 

Washington D.C. • Puerto Rico - San Juan 



blue mental health 

Shattered: Moral Injury and 

the Uvalde, Texas Tragedy 

“It looked like a war zone. Complete 

chaos and trauma and young, 

innocent victims literally everywhere. 

We didn’t even know where 

to begin. We were also in shock”. 

These were the words spoken to 

me during a recent debrief with a 

first responder who was present in 

the moments following the mass 

casualty disaster in Uvalde, Texas on 

May 24, 2022. Much like the critical 

incident that occurred at Sandy 

Hook Elementary School in Newtown, 

Connecticut on December 14, 

2012, the nation was stunned and in 

disbelief that this could occur and 

impact our children so heavily. The 

survivors, relatives of the victims, 

and first responders from Sandy 

Hook have openly expressed their 

anger and frustration that this could 

happen… again. Between these 

two major events, thirty-nine of the 

forty-seven victims were children. 

In the days following the Uvalde 

shooting, the response by law 

enforcement has now taken center 

stage and the United States Department 

of Justice recently announced 

that they will be conducting an indepth 

investigation. It is important 

to note that numerous law enforcement 

and first responder agencies 

were on scene and the attempts to 

coordinate were extremely challenging. 

It will undoubtedly take 

time to fully understand the timeline 

and decision-making processes that 

impacted the ultimate outcome. 

However, there are some consistently 

shared emotions among 

many of these officers, a sense of 

complete and utter helplessness to 

tactically save these children. This 

can lead to a state of psychological 

distress called moral injury. 

While there is significant research 

into understanding moral injury and 

its effects, most of these studies 

have been geared toward military 

members and veterans. There is, 

however, also evidence of moral 

injury in law enforcement, given 

the potential to witness or experience 

a traumatic event. Police 

officers routinely encounter criminal 

and violent acts as part of their 

jobs. Consistent exposure to these 

stressors can have a significant 

impact on an officer’s physical and 

mental well-being. Some potential 

stressors that officers have identified 

include the inability to rescue a 

seriously injured victim, the use of 

force on a suspect, lethal or otherwise, 

or following orders that go 

against their personal beliefs, such 

as breaking up a protest. Additionally, 

it is common for officers to 

have feelings of emotional exhaustion 

and depersonalization. Due to 

these factors, as well as the symptoms 

discussed above, such as selfblame, 

anxiety, and remorse, law 

enforcement officers are likely to 

experience burnout. This may result 

in the decision to leave the policing 

field altogether. 

As I was authoring this article, I 

contacted a colleague and clinician, 

Andy Carrier (Retired Captain, 

Georgia Department of Public 

Safety and current Chief Operating 

Officer of Valor Station, Augusta, 

Georgia) who is currently offering 

critical incident stress management 


and peer support services to first 

responders in Uvalde, Texas. We 

discussed the significant issue of 

moral injury and he shared that he 

has already observed this is some 

of the law enforcement officers he 

has encountered. He further noted 

that the current national scrutiny on 

the law enforcement response has 

complicated the emotional and psychological 

reactions and fall out for 

the officers impacted by this crisis. 

As we spoke, Andy shared that the 

funeral services for the victims have 

now begun, adding an additional 

layer of sadness and remorse to this 

tragedy. 

It is essential to gain a deeper 

understanding of the potential 

symptoms indicating the presence 

of moral injury. These include, but 

are not limited to, social withdrawal 

and alienation; aggression; 

lack of trust in self or others; loss 

of religious faith; loss of trust in 

morality or meaning; a sense of 

powerlessness or resignation; relationship 

issues; depression; anxiety; 

anger; revenge seeking; shame; 

guilt; self-loathing; remorse; feelings 

of being damaged, worthless, 

helpless; nightmares; flashbacks; 

intrusive recollections; sense of loss 

of identity or role; reduced empathy 

or wanting to interact with others; 

impairment in social, personal and 

occupational functioning; increase 

in substance use; and suicidal ideation. 

In addition, there is a great 

deal of overlap between moral 

injury and posttraumatic stress 

disorder (PTSD). Both begin with 

an event that is often life threatening 

or harmful to self or others. 

Guilt and shame are core features 

of moral injury and are also symptoms 

of PTSD. The betrayal and loss 

of trust that could be experienced 

with moral injury are also common 

features of PTSD. 

What can be done to assist in 

healing from moral injury? While 

treatments for moral injury are 

still in development, there has 

been some success through the 

use of cognitive behavioral therapy 

emphasizing forgiveness and 

self-compassion to reduce anxiety 

and depressive symptoms for officers. 

The same treatment has also 

fostered post-traumatic growth. In 

addition, practices like meditation, 

mindfulness, resilience skills, exercise, 

and healthy eating are helpful, 

but they often do not address the 

root cause of moral injury. Most importantly, 

moving away from avoidance 

and speaking openly about 

one’s experience is often the first 

step of moving beyond moral injury. 

Those with a moral injury should 

reach out to a trusted individual 

who will not judge their experience. 

This could be a family member, 

close friend, support group of those 

with similar experiences, a religious 

or spiritual leader, or a therapist. 

This outside perspective can help 

validate the person’s feelings and 

provide a more forgiving outlook. 

Awareness of the risks of moral 

injury among those in law enforcement 

can encourage preventive 

actions and highlight the need for 

timely support. Moral injury in law 

enforcement is a growing issue that 

clearly requires more research and 

examination. For more information 

on this issue, I encourage you to 

refer to the following article: Papazoglou, 

Konstantinos et al. “The 

Role of Moral Injury in PTSD Among 

Law Enforcement Officers: A Brief 

Report.” Frontiers in psychology 

vol. 11 310. 4 Mar. 2020, doi:10.3389/ 

fpsyg.2020.00310 

To all the law enforcement officers, 

first responders, the Uvalde 

community, and the families of 

the victims, we at the BLUES Police 

Magazine send our thoughts and 

prayers for comfort and guidance 

during this very difficult journey. 


ADS BACK IN THE DAY 


ADS BACK IN THE DAY 


THERE ARE NO WORDS 

parting shots... 

... pardon our humor 


The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 107 

106 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE

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Sugar Land, the “Sweetest City in Texas,” is one of the state’s most diverse, progressive, and 

responsive municipal organizations and one of the best places to live, do business, work, and 

visit. Located 20 miles southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land boasts some of the 

nation’s best master-planned communities, parks, trails, and world-class medical facilities. 

Additionally, Sugar Land consistently ranks among the most beautiful and safest cities in the 

nation. 

Reporting to the Assistant City Manager, and with the support of 199 FTEs (174 sworn officers), 

and two (2) Assistant Chiefs, the Chief is responsible and accountable for the development, 

implementation, and continuous improvement of all SLPD goals, objectives, policies, 

procedures, and priorities of the department. 

Sugar Land seeks a collaborative, visionary, law enforcement executive who possesses 

excellent people skills. This member of the City’s leadership team will offer strong critical 

thinking skills, supported by a record of building and maintaining solid relations in the 

community. The successful candidate will develop and maintain credibility, trust, and respect 

internally with employees throughout the organization and externally with officials, community 

leaders, citizens, and representatives from other law enforcement agencies at the local, state, 

and federal levels. 

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Police Science, Public 

Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field. The candidate should have at 

least ten (10) years of professional experience, of which five (5) years must have been as the 

assistant or deputy chief in an agency similar to the SLPD (or a larger community). A valid 

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Advanced or Master Law Enforcement 

Officer Certification or a comparable certification from another state (must be able to obtain 

TCOLE certification within 6 months) and Possession of a valid Texas driver’s license (must 

obtain a Texas driver’s license within 2 months of employment) is required. A Master’s degree 

and graduation from a command leadership program such as the FBI National Academy, 

Southern Police Institute, Senior Management Institute for Police, LEMIT’s Leadership 

Command College, or a similar program desired, but not required 

The City of Sugar Land offers a comprehensive total rewards package that includes a base 

salary in the $150,000 – $175,000 range, depending on qualifications and experience. 

We invite qualified professionals to click on the link below to review the desired traits, attributes, 

characteristics, qualifications, and apply at 

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bakertilly/jobs/3606223/chief-of-police-sugarland-texas. 

Application review begins on Friday, July 22, 2022. For more information about 

this outstanding career opportunity contact edward.williams@bakertilly.com or call (214) 842- 

6478. 

For more information about the City of Sugar Land, please visit https://www.sugarlandtx.gov/ 

The City of Sugar Land is an Equal Opportunity Employer 


EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 

• Paid Vacation 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Compensatory Days 

• Certification Pay 

ALDINE ISD POLICE DEPT. 

now accepting applications for 

Full-Time Police Officers 

MUST HOLD A CURRENT TCOLE 

PEACE OFFICE CERTIFICATE 

Salary starting at $50,000 

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 


BECOME A BAYTOWN 

PATROL OFFICER! 

STARTING PAY: 

$67,320/YEAR 

$1,500 SIGNING 

INCENTIVE! 

SALARY 

(YEARLY) 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

PAID LEAVE 

Probationary Patrol Officer $67,320 

5 Year Patrol Officer $81,073 

9 Year Patrol Officer $93,694 

Annual salary increases up to a max of 

$93,694 with longevity pay 

Modified Lateral Pay Scale for Peace 

Officers from time at immediately 

preceding Law Enforcement Agency 

CERTIFICATION PAY 

Intermediate PO Certification $92.08 

Advanced PO Certification $157.08 

Master's PO Certification $212.33 

RELOCATION 

(MONTHLY) 

Health Insurance 

Dental Insurance 

Vision Insurance 

Life Insurance 

Employee Wellness Center 

Training and Fitness Facility 

Retirement Plan (7% Mandatory with a 

2:1 match; 20 year retirement) 

457 Deferred Compensation Plan 

Tuition Assistance and Academy Tuition 

Reimbursement 

City Vehicle Program 

Uniforms/Equipment Provided with 

Annual Allowances 

15 Vacation days accrued per year 

(civil Service Status) 

10 City Holidays per year 

1 Personal day per year 

15 Sick days accrued per year 

15 days of Military Leave per year 

EDUCATION PAY 

Associates $50 

Bachelors $100 

Master $125 

SPECIALTY/ SKILL PAY 

(MONTHLY) 

(MONTHLY) 

Relocation Expenses Reimbursed 

Bilingual in Spanish $50 

WWW.BPDCAREERS.ORG 281-420-5354 281-420-6660 


For additional information please scan the QR code to go to our recruiting website!

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 

• Paid Vacation 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Compensatory Days 

• Certification Pay 

ALDINE ISD POLICE DEPT. 

now accepting applications for: 

Dispatcher 

Salary starting at $32,690, 

no experience required. 

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 


• Complete Personal History Statement 



• Interview with the Chief of Police 


BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT 

WE'RE 

HIRING! 

AND 

RECRUIT 

POLICE 

LATERAL 

Cuero Police Department 

OFFICERS 

Requirements 

Be eligible for certification from TCOLE (Texas 

Commission on Law Enforcement). (Please refer to Texas 

Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 217.1 for clarification.) 

Must be 21 or older (at the time of certification) 

Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License (or ability to 

obtain) 

30 hours college credit from an accredited college (college 

requirement waived if certified peace officer OR two years 

active duty military experience with an honorable 

discharge) 

Incentives 

Step 

*College education pay for Associates Degree and above 

*TCOLE certification level pay 

*Foreign language pay 

*Tattoo and facial hair friendly 

Police Salary 

Police Recruit (No certification) - $58,242 

Police Recruit (TCOLE-certified) - $61,155 

Police Officer - $64,351- $80,257 

Hourly 

Annual 

1 $30.93 $64,351 

2 $32.09 $66,765 

3 $33.30 $69,268 

4 $34.55 $71,865 

5 $35.84 $74,560 

6 $37.19 $77,356 

7 $38.58 $80,257 

Eligible lateral applicants will be placed on the Step Plan 

based on their years of experience as a full time Police 

Officer at a paid Police Department. 

Now Hiring for Patrol Officer Position 

Department Benefits 

13 Paid Holidays 

2 Weeks Paid Vacation 

Certification Pay 

100% Insurance Paid for Employees 

Retirement 2 to 1 match (20yr Retirement) 

FSA for Employees 

Longevity Pay 

Equipment & Uniforms Provided Including Duty Weapon w/ Red Dot Sight 

Take Home Vehicle Within City Limits 

10 Hour Work Shifts 

Membership Paid to Local Gym 

Department Provided Training 

Off-duty Security Opportunities 

Cell Phone Stipend 

Starting Pay Depends on Qualifications 

For more info and to apply online, visit: 

us: 

Contact 

pd.recruiting@bedfordtx.gov 

2121 L. Don Dodson Dr. 

Bedford, TX 76021 

118 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The www.bedfordpolice.com 

BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 119 

https://bedfordtx.gov/503/Join-BPD 

Requirements: Must be TCOLE Certified or currently enrolled in an accredited Police 

Academy and pass a background investigation. 

Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com

DEER PARK POLICE 

DEPARTMENT 

Deer Park, Texas 

WE ARE HIRING 

www.deerparktx.gov 

Police Officer 

Dispatcher 

Public Safety Attendant - Jailer 

Animal Control Officer 

Part time Crossing Guard 

Officer Sam Jammas 281-930-2121 or sjammas@deerparktx.org 


Forney ISD 

Police Department 

NOW 

HIRING 

Police Officers 

Description 

School-based police officers work 

with school administrators, security 

staff, and faculty to ensure the safety 

and well-being of students at various 

campuses. This officer works as the 

main security arm of a school. 

Experience 

SBLE Experience preferred 

Demonstrate the ability to 

teach & engage with youth 

Requirements 

U.S. Citizen 

Accredited High School Diploma 

or equivalent 

Valid Texas Peace Officer License 

Valid Texas Driver's License 

Two or more years of college or 

advanced training preferred 

Positions starting 

at $29.89/hr 

Retention Stipends 

Clothing Allowance 

Health/Childcare Incentive 

Paid Training 

Lateral Entry 

APPLY ONLINE TODAY! 

www.forneyisd.net 


MANVEL POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Patrol Officer 

The City of Manvel Police Department is looking to find qualified candidates to fill the ranks of the patrol division. 

The City of Manvel is a rapidly growing and diverse community. The current population is estimated at a little over 16000 and is located in the 

northern part of Brazoria County along the State Highway 288 corridor approximately 4 miles South of the City of Houston. 

The Manvel Police Department has a competitive pay structure for cities of the same size. Salary is based on experience and certification levels. 

• The department currently has 32 sworn positions. 

• 18 officers currently in patrol with 8 positions added in this fiscal budget year. 

• Patrol Salary: $53,704.56 to $68,031.84. Salary is based off experience and certification. 

• Certification pay 

• 12-hour shifts / shifts rotate every four months. (Modified Dupont Schedule) 

• Retirement through TMRS - 7% contribution with a 2:1 match 

• Vested after 5 years with the city 

• Employee health coverage paid 100% by the city, additional for family 

• Health care for employee and eligible dependents through Prime Health Care. 

• Personal Time off – Vacation and Holiday accruals 

• Paid sick time 

Minimum Requirements: 

• High school diploma or GED 

• Valid Texas Driver’s License with good driving record 

• TCOLE certified OR currently enrolled in Academy program 

• Preference for LE experience 

Hiring Process Includes: 

• Written test* 

• Physical test * 

• Oral board interview* 

• Thorough background investigation 

• Modified Field Training Program for experienced officers 

• One-year probationary period 

For more information you can contact The City of Manvel Police Department at 281-489-1212 or email, rcarrlacy@manvelpd.org 

WE ARE 

HIRING! 

BENEFITS 

• Free basic Medical, Dental and Vision insurance for 

employee 

• Free basic Life insurance 

• Long Term Disability (LTD) 

• Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision benefits for 

eligible family members 

• Flexible Spending Accounts 

• 10 paid holidays per year 

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) including 10 vacation 

days and 13 sick days per year accrued biweekly 

RETIREMENT 

• Harris County matches your investment at 225% 

• 7% of your salary is invested pre-tax in your 

retirement account 

• Retirement Vesting after 8 years 

• Eligible upon earning 75 points (age+years of service) 

SALARY SCALE 

INCENTIVE PAY 

CLASSIFICATION SERVICE HOURLY ANNUAL 

DEPUTY I 0-47 $25.22 $52,458 

DEPUTY II 48-83 $26.99 $56,139 

DEPUTY III 84-119 $28.59 $59,467 

DEPUTY IV 120-155 $30.03 $62,462 

DEPUTY V 156-191 $31.52 $65,562 

LATERAL DEPUTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be a licensed Peace Officer by the Texas Commission on Law 

Enforcement (TCOLE) in good standing 

• Must be currently employed as a first responder Peace Officer 

(any break in service will be discussed on a case-by-case basis) 

• Must have a minimum of 12 months of consecutive experience as 

a first responder Peace Officer at any one agency 

• Must successfully pass the Physical Abilities Test (PAT) obstacle 

course 

• Must pass a thorough background investigation (Criminal 

background check, fingerprinting, personal interview, etc.) as 

required by TCOLE 

• Must pass a physical and psychological evaluation as required by 

TCOLE 

• Valid Driver’s License (TX by start date) 

• Eyesight must be correctable to 20/20, normal color and 

peripheral vision 

• Correctable normal audible range in both ears 

• Firearms qualification 

For additional information contact Harris County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Unit: (713) 877-5250 

TO APPLY 


Bilingual Program $1,800 

The BLUES 

Harris 

POLICE 

County 

MAGAZINE 125 

Receive up to fourteen (14) years of credit for time served! (Restrictions apply) 

@HCSOTexas 

SCAN THIS CODE 

Sheriff’s Office 

TCOLE CERTIFICATION 

ANNUAL 

Intermediate $1,560 

Advanced $3,420 

Master $6,000 

EDUCATION 

ANNUAL 

Associate Degree $1,320 

Bachelor’s Degree $3,180 

Master/Doctorate $4,500 

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas

GALVESTON 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

Seeking Individuals Who Are Interested in a Rewarding Career in Corrections 

Begin Your Career Today! 

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY 

Position: Corrections Deputy I 

Bureau/Division: Corrections/Jail 

Title/Rank: Corrections Deputy/Deputy I 

Reports to: Sergeant - Corrections 

Starting Salary: $47,715.20 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

Maintains the security of the facility by conducting security checks, settling disputes, and performing cell searches and 

inspections; conducts outside perimeter checks. 

Preparation and proper completion in the documentation of inmate records. 

Issues inmate meals, clothing, linens, and personal items. 

Supervise inmate programs (recreational, legal, health care, visitation and religious services) 

Prepares reports on jail and inmate activities, enforce inmate handbook rules. 

Supervises inmates performing such assignments as cleaning and maintaining the jail facility and continuously observe 

locations and activities of inmates. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

High School / GED Certificate and must be at least 18 years of age. 

Must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of the contiguous United States for a period of time sufficient to conduct a 

background investigation. 

Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays and mandatory shifts when needed. 

Must be able to work during natural disasters and or under declarations. 

Must possess a valid Texas driver's license and an acceptable driving record as determined by the Galveston County 

Sheriff's Office in effect at the time of application. 

Must have favorable employment history. All information given regarding past employment will be thoroughly checked 

Must have a stable credit history. 

Must possess good computer skills and demonstrate comprehensive reading and comprehension skills. 

No conviction above a Class B Misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years nor have been on or 

currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense and no Family Violence 

convictions of any level. 

Applicant must pass all phases of the required testing. 

Must be eligible for licensing by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for the position applied for, if not 

presently licensed. 

TO APPLY 

An applicant interested in any of GCSO position shall first download, complete and return 

the Application Packet, per the instructions on the downloadable form. 

The Application Packet can be found at SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV 

LATERAL DEPUTY 

JOIN US 

VISIT SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV TO APPLY! 

126 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV 

The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 127 

The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

CONTACT US

Now Hiring 

OFFICERS 

TCOLE Certified Peace Officers 

Our fast-growing City shows a trending decrease in crimes based 

on four offenses from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting. 

Benefits 

Hutto ranked one of the 

safest cities in Texas. 

Retirement 

2-to-1 City match with TMRS 

Take-home Patrol Car 

For officers living within 25 miles 

Top-of-the-line Equipment 

and Technology 

Beards and Tattoos Allowed 

Additional Pay 

+ 

+ 

Starting Salary 

$61K to $65K* 

Annual Leave Accruals 

12 paid holidays, 80 hrs vacation, 96 hrs sick leave 

Multiple Positions Available 

A wide variety of units and assignments available 

Education Pay up to $175/month 

Specialty/Certification up to $260/month 

To learn more or apply, visit or scan 

https://linktr.ee/huttopd 

Questions? Email: PDrecruiting@huttotx.gov 

Sign On Bonus! 

$2,500 


* Or more depending on experience

Memorial Villages Police Department 

Bunker Hill • Piney Point• Hunters Creek 

Police Officer 

EOE/M/F/D 

5+ Years Patrol Experience Required 

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

looking for experienced officers who are self- motivated, innovative, and enthusiastic about 

community policing. 

Starting Salary Range 

Effective Jan 2023 

Hiring Bonus $1500 

Night Shift Differential $3600 

ECA $1300 

Basic Peace Officer 

Starting $83,459 

Hiring Bonus $1500 

Night Shift Differential $3600 

Master Peace Officer 

ECA $1300 

Bi-Lingual 2.5% of base pay 

College up to $3000 (Masters) 

Up to $94,164 

Healthcare Insurance, DHMO Dental, Vision – 100% paid for employee, 75% Paid 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, 20 Year Retirement 

457 Plan with employer contribution of 2.5% of annual salary 

Tuition reimbursement 

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

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

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

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 

WATCH 

Open: 7:15 a.m. 

FOR 

No admittance 

UPCOMING 

after 7:45 a.m. 

Candidates must park in the north parking lot. 

TEST DATES IN 2022 

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY 

• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals 

• Mandatory temperature checks 

• Masks required, hand sanitizer available 

• Candidates seated 6 feet apart 

134 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE For additional information and to register for an upcoming The Civil BLUES Service POLICE Exam, MAGAZINE visit 135 

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers


City of Wylie 

Police Department 

OFFICER SALARY RANGE: HIRING PROCESS: BENEFITS: 

Non Certified Police Recruit Pay : $62, 370.00 

YEARS OF SERVICE ANNUAL SALARY 

1 Year—Step 0 $66, 626.06 

2 Years—Step 1 $68, 291.71 

3 Years—Step 2 $69, 999.00 

4 Years—Step 3 $71, 748.98 

5 Years—Step 4 $73, 542.70 

6 Years—Step 5 $75, 381.27 

7 Years—Step 6 $77, 265.80 

8 Years—Step 7 $79, 197.45 

9 Years—Step 8 $81, 177.38 

10+Years—Step 9 $83, 206.82 

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION: 

Certification Pay: Up to $1,800 annually 

Field Training Officer Pay: $2, 400 annually 

Bilingual Pay: $1 ,200 annually 

• Complete and submit a City of Wylie 

job application: https:// 

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/ 

wylietexas 

• Written Exam (exempt for Laterals) 

• Physical Agility Test 

• Complete and submit a Personal 

History Statement 


• Background Investigation 

• Police Chief Interview 

• Polygraph Examination 



RECRUITING CONTACT: 

Wylie Police Department 

2000 North Hwy 78 

Wylie, TX 75098 

Sergeant Mark Johnson 

mark.johnson@wylietexas.gov 

972-429-8013 

• City Paid Medical/Dental/Vision 

• Texas Municipal Retirement System 

(TMRS) 14% City Contribution 

• Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time) 

• City Paid Uniforms 

• City Paid Training 

• Life Insurance and AD&D 

• Long Term Disability Insurance 

• Employee Assistance Program 

• Longevity Pay 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

• Free Recreation Center Membership 

• Deferred Compensation Plan 

• Ancillary Benefits Available (Aflac, 

Avesis, and More) 

Wylie Police Department Mission: Our mission is to impact the quality of life, by providing a professional 

level of service that will foster, support, and build relationships with those we serve. 

https://www.wylietexas.gov/police.php 

138 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 139

STARTING SALARY 

$56,160 $57,824 $60,008 $62,400 $64,792 $67,184 $69,680 $72,384 $74,880 $77,480 $80,080 

High School Diploma 

or G.E.D. 

Minimum age of 21 

Must hold a valid 

Texas Driver’s License 

Current valid TCOLE 

certification 

At Hire 

At 

6 mos. 

end 

year 1 

end 

year 2 

end 

year 3 

end 

year 4 

end 

year 5 

end 

year 6 

end 

year 7 

end 

year 8 

end 

year 9 

GET STARTED 

LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF 

DOWNTOWN AUSTIN 

$3,000 



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