OCT 2022. Blues Vol 38 No. 10
FEATURES THE EVOLUTION OF POLICE CARS PART II 50 2023 FORDS 56 2023 DODGES 62 2023 CHEVYS 64 UPFITTERS-CAP FLEET @ DANA SAFETY SUPPLY 78 RETIRED COPS SHOP STORIES 82 2023 TCOLE CONFERENCE DEPARTMENTS 6 PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS 8 EDITOR’S THOUGHTS 12 GUEST COMMENTARY - BILL KING 14 NEWS AROUND THE US 40 COP CAR NEWS 96 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 98 REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES 108 WAR STORIES 112 AFTERMATH 116 OPEN ROAD 120 CLASSIFIEDS - NEW 122 HEALING OUR HEROES 124 DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS 126 LIGHT BULB AWARD 128 RUNNING 4 HEROES 130 BLUE MENTAL HEALTH WITH DR. TINA JAECKLE 134 ADS BACK IN THE DAY 138 PARTING SHOTS 140 BUYERS GUIDE 160 NOW HIRING - L.E.O. POSITIONS OPEN IN TEXAS 202 BACK PAGE
FEATURES
THE EVOLUTION OF POLICE CARS PART II
50 2023 FORDS
56 2023 DODGES
62 2023 CHEVYS
64 UPFITTERS-CAP FLEET @ DANA SAFETY SUPPLY
78 RETIRED COPS SHOP STORIES
82 2023 TCOLE CONFERENCE
DEPARTMENTS
6 PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS
8 EDITOR’S THOUGHTS
12 GUEST COMMENTARY - BILL KING
14 NEWS AROUND THE US
40 COP CAR NEWS
96 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
98 REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES
108 WAR STORIES
112 AFTERMATH
116 OPEN ROAD
120 CLASSIFIEDS - NEW
122 HEALING OUR HEROES
124 DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS
126 LIGHT BULB AWARD
128 RUNNING 4 HEROES
130 BLUE MENTAL HEALTH WITH DR. TINA JAECKLE
134 ADS BACK IN THE DAY
138 PARTING SHOTS
140 BUYERS GUIDE
160 NOW HIRING - L.E.O. POSITIONS OPEN IN TEXAS
202 BACK PAGE
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The BLUES 1
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REX EVANS<br />
contributing editor<br />
JESSICA JONES<br />
creative editor<br />
RUSTY BARRON<br />
outdoor editor<br />
DR. TINA JAECKLE<br />
contributing editor<br />
DARYL LOTT<br />
contributing editor<br />
SAM HORWITZ & JOHN SALERNO<br />
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The BLUES is published monthly by Kress-Barr, LLC, PO Box 2733, League City Texas 77574. The opinions<br />
expressed in some articles, op-eds, and editorials are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion<br />
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4 The BLUES The BLUES 5
FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK<br />
“Jackie are you here? Where’s Jackie?”<br />
When Biden was elected, I remember<br />
my conversation with our<br />
editor, Rex Evans. “It’s only four<br />
years, how much damage can he<br />
possibly do?”<br />
Well, we’re half-way through his<br />
presidency and boy was I wrong.<br />
Just this past week Biden was<br />
looking for Representative Jackie<br />
Walorski at one of his boring conferences<br />
at the White House. “Jackie<br />
are you here? Where’s Jackie?<br />
She must not be here.”<br />
Uh, she’s in Heaven you idiot. See<br />
Jackie died in a horrible car accident<br />
back in August.<br />
“I thought she was going to be<br />
here to help make this a reality.”<br />
The reality is Mr. President, you’re<br />
way past your expiration date. You<br />
need to retire to your basement for<br />
good.<br />
And his staff just keeps making<br />
excuses for his mental instability.<br />
Like his Press Secretary making<br />
up some BS line about his “Top of<br />
Mind” for calling out dead people at<br />
a press briefing.<br />
What the hell does “Top of Mind”<br />
even mean? I wonder if his “Top of<br />
Mind” had anything to do with his<br />
other screw ups:<br />
• Like how he screwed up our<br />
departure from Afghanistan and got<br />
13 servicemen and women killed.<br />
• Or the fact our border is wide<br />
open, and millions of illegals are<br />
roaming free in our country.<br />
• And because of that open border,<br />
Fentanyl is flowing freely into<br />
our country killing hundreds of<br />
Americans every day.<br />
• His so-called new energy<br />
deals have closed the XL Pipeline;<br />
prompted US energy companies to<br />
stop drilling for oil; resulting in the<br />
US begging for oil in all the wrong<br />
places; which caused gas prices<br />
to soar; and if all of that isn’t bad<br />
enough, he’s depleted HALF of our<br />
strategic oil reserves.<br />
• All of his “New Energy” deals<br />
have sent Inflation through the roof<br />
which stands at 8.5% - a 20 year<br />
high.<br />
• Families can’t find baby formula<br />
to feed their babies.<br />
• The so-called pandemic literally<br />
destroyed hundreds of thousands<br />
of businesses in this country, and<br />
hardworking citizens were fired because<br />
they wouldn’t get vaccinated<br />
and now the President says the pandemic<br />
is over, but these individuals<br />
still can’t go back to work.<br />
• Finally, he has all but killed<br />
ICE cars in hopes of creating an<br />
all-electric transportation system<br />
without the infrastructure to support<br />
it.<br />
So Evans, I was wrong, Biden can<br />
screw up America and it didn’t take<br />
four years. Forget the fact, he can’t<br />
ride a bike without training wheels,<br />
he shakes hands with people who<br />
aren’t there, can’t complete a sentence,<br />
must have a teleprompter to<br />
order lunch and has spent 80% of<br />
his time in Delaware.<br />
And despite the fact the border is<br />
in crisis, he hasn’t once taken the<br />
time to fly down there and meet<br />
with the troops on the ground and<br />
see what they are facing each and<br />
every day. Millions have flooded the<br />
border towns and the liberals go<br />
Sgt. Michael Barron RET<br />
crazy when 50 show up at Martha’s<br />
Vineyard.<br />
But let’s talk about the REAL CRI-<br />
SIS here in Texas. BETO O’ROURKE.<br />
If this clown gets elected as<br />
Governor, you may as well be<br />
living in California. Because his<br />
liberal ass is going to try and annex<br />
Texas into California. Constitutional<br />
Carry - he would abolish it<br />
along with any conceal carry laws.<br />
He hates guns. And he would repeal<br />
Texas’ Abortion Ban. The only<br />
saving grace if he is elected, we’ll<br />
still have a Republican House and<br />
Senate stop him dead in his tracks.<br />
I said all that to say this. Elections<br />
have consequences. Your<br />
vote does make a difference. If you<br />
don’t want stupid politicians running<br />
your country, state or local<br />
government, then make sure they<br />
don’t get elected. Which brings me<br />
to the most important race in Harris<br />
County – Harris County Judge.<br />
We all know Lina isn’t qualified<br />
to hold the office of County Judge.<br />
She needs to go! Go to the polls<br />
and VOTE FOR Alexandra del Moral<br />
Mealer. She has our endorsement<br />
as well as that of virtually every<br />
law enforcement group in Harris<br />
County.<br />
Let all that be “Top of Your Mind!”<br />
6 The BLUES The BLUES 7
FROM THE GUEST EDITOR’S DESK<br />
ARE THE WORDS ACCURATE?<br />
On the outside of the Harris County Courthouse,<br />
the words read “Harris County Criminal Justice<br />
Center.” But is that an appropriate title for what<br />
goes on inside? Probably <strong>No</strong>t!<br />
I can tell you I was once just a<br />
small part of a Special Response<br />
Group who was responsible for<br />
the overall safety and security of<br />
all persons inside this building. We<br />
responded to every single call for<br />
help, no matter what. <strong>No</strong> matter<br />
who called or who they may be.<br />
We responded.<br />
Standing in the lobby<br />
of this building in full<br />
tactical gear, I’ve had<br />
crooks walk out of the<br />
elevators laughing and<br />
loudly singing ‘F**k the<br />
Police’ as they leave.<br />
I’ve had the surviving<br />
family members of<br />
those who fell victim<br />
to violent crime, walk<br />
those same steps, tears<br />
pouring from their eyes,<br />
grab the forward straps<br />
on my vest, begging<br />
me “Please. Please.<br />
Where’s the Justice for my baby?”<br />
Believe me when I tell you, there’s<br />
no words a man can tell another at<br />
such a moment. Though each time<br />
it happened, I tried.<br />
On one occasion, a repeated<br />
sexual predator attacked a woman<br />
at 8:20 am in front of a crowded<br />
fitness center. He partially pulled<br />
her pants down in the course of<br />
his attack. Thankfully, this lady<br />
fought back and was able to fend<br />
off her attacker. He was arrested a<br />
short distance and time later. Easily<br />
recognizable to responding Deputies<br />
who were aware of his Criminal<br />
History of being a Sexual Predator.<br />
His Bond? $<strong>10</strong>0.00. You’ve read<br />
that right. Just $<strong>10</strong>0 dollars.<br />
I’d simply ask you to pause and<br />
think how hurt you’d be if the lady<br />
involved was your grandmother.<br />
Your Mom, Wife, Daughter, Sister<br />
or Niece. How angry would you<br />
be at the indifference and blatant<br />
indignation leveled from those who<br />
serve as Judges inside this building<br />
towards your loved one and your<br />
family.<br />
If you wonder “How did it ever<br />
come to this in Houston and Harris<br />
County?” I’d counter with that’s not<br />
nearly as important as what can be<br />
Chief Rex Evans<br />
done about it.…<br />
The cops are catching the crooks.<br />
The crooks are quite literally, walking<br />
out of this building, before the<br />
cops of Houston and Harris County<br />
can even get all the paperwork<br />
they’re drowning in,<br />
done.<br />
This woman, she<br />
was doing absolutely<br />
nothing wrong. Simply<br />
trying to go to the<br />
gym in broad daylight,<br />
in a crowded parking<br />
lot. And still, she was<br />
ruthlessly and violently<br />
attacked.<br />
My post isn’t political.<br />
Hell, both parties at<br />
one point and another,<br />
suck. I think we can all<br />
agree on that. My post<br />
is from being right there, on the<br />
front line. I can tell you all, there’s<br />
absolutely NO Justice coming from<br />
inside this building.<br />
Maybe the building should read:<br />
“Harris County Criminal Injustice<br />
Center”.<br />
Just my thoughts. I don’t speak for<br />
any organization or party or other<br />
persons. I’m simply speaking from<br />
what I’ve personally seen.<br />
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8 The BLUES The BLUES 9
<strong>10</strong> The BLUES The BLUES 11
READERS SPEAK OUT<br />
This Isn’t Bail Reform<br />
Last Wednesday, 37-yearold,<br />
Omar Ursin, went to pick<br />
up take-out for his family.<br />
Witnesses reported that as<br />
Ursin was driving down Medera<br />
Run Parkway in northeast<br />
Harris County, near Atascocita,<br />
another car pulled alongside<br />
and fired one or more shots<br />
into Ursin’s car. When police<br />
arrived, they found Ursin had<br />
crashed into a tree in the median<br />
and Ursin was dead. The<br />
District Attorney has charged<br />
Ahsim Taylor and Jayland<br />
Womack, both 20, with Ursin’s<br />
murder.<br />
Sadly, this has been all too<br />
common a story in Harris<br />
County as of late. Over the last<br />
two years, we have been averaging<br />
almost two murders per<br />
day in Harris County. But there<br />
are two details which make<br />
this crime standout. First Ursin<br />
was a Precinct 3 Constable<br />
Deputy. He was off duty at the<br />
time. At this point, we do not<br />
know if his murder was related<br />
to him being a law enforcement<br />
officer.<br />
Second, both Taylor and<br />
Womack were out on bail,<br />
pending trials for other felonies.<br />
Murder, to be specific.<br />
Taylor had been charged with<br />
a capital murder because he<br />
killed someone during a robbery.<br />
Womack was charged<br />
with a killing that occurred<br />
during a drug deal.<br />
Taylor’s bond was originally<br />
set at $220,000 by a magistrate<br />
but Judge Amy Martin lowered<br />
it to $95,000. Womack’s<br />
initial bond was set by Judge<br />
Greg Glass at $35,000 but later<br />
increased to $75,000 because<br />
of violations of this pre-trial<br />
release. These bonds were<br />
granted by each of the judges,<br />
notwithstanding there was substantial<br />
evidence against them.<br />
Both men were able to make<br />
bond and were released from<br />
custody. Traditionally, bail<br />
bondsmen have required defendants<br />
to pay fee equal of<br />
<strong>10</strong>% of bond. But because of<br />
increased competition, many<br />
bond companies have been<br />
discounting their fees. So, these<br />
two alleged murderers were<br />
able to secure their freedom<br />
for no more than about $18,000<br />
and probably substantially less.<br />
As a result of them being out<br />
on bond, instead of in the Harris<br />
Bill King<br />
County jail, Ursin’s 7-year-old<br />
daughter no longer has a dad.<br />
I have long thought the cash<br />
bail bond system used in<br />
most of the U.S is an anachronistic<br />
abomination that<br />
should, at least, be dramatically<br />
reformed or scrapped<br />
altogether. The federal courts<br />
did so nearly four decades<br />
ago. And I have supported the<br />
efforts to reduce the reliance<br />
on the cash bonds for misdemeanor<br />
charges or non-violent<br />
offenses. Having someone<br />
sit in jail for a hot check or<br />
marijuana charge because<br />
they cannot afford the bail<br />
bond fee is ridiculous and<br />
counterproductive on many<br />
levels.<br />
But granting any bond to defendants<br />
credibly accused of<br />
cold-blooded murders is pure<br />
insanity. According to Houston<br />
Crime Stoppers, over 180 individuals<br />
in Harris County have<br />
been murdered by a person<br />
released on a felony bond since<br />
2018.<br />
Certainly, judges have a duty<br />
to ensure that the rights of defendants<br />
in their courts are protected.<br />
But they also have a duty<br />
to protect the public from individuals<br />
who have demonstrated<br />
their violent proclivities.<br />
I have no idea what was going<br />
through the minds of Judge<br />
Martin and Judge Glass when<br />
they set these bonds. It is just<br />
hard to imagine what would<br />
make any rational jurist conclude<br />
that releasing defendants<br />
like these two young men back<br />
onto the streets would end<br />
in anything other than another<br />
tragedy. It either represents<br />
some blind allegiance to a<br />
warped ideology or a callous indifference<br />
to the public’s safety.<br />
Or both.<br />
By the way, Democratic voters<br />
had the good sense to show<br />
both Martin and Glass the door<br />
in their primary earlier this year.<br />
Only time will tell if their replacements<br />
will be any better.<br />
Beyond the individual tragedies<br />
the insane decisions<br />
to release violent criminals<br />
have resulted in, these horrific<br />
crimes are likely to set off a<br />
backlash that could wipe out<br />
the progress made to date on<br />
legitimate misdemeanor bond<br />
reform. How ironic that would<br />
be.<br />
Folks, this is not rocket science.<br />
Our system should determine<br />
who should be released<br />
pending a trial based on two<br />
factors. If the person is likely<br />
to show up for their trial and<br />
if they are a danger to the<br />
public. It should have nothing<br />
to do with whether they<br />
are financially able to pay a<br />
bondsman. Until we get the<br />
money out of the equation and<br />
start electing judges that are<br />
dedicated to basing their decisions<br />
to release defendants<br />
based on those two criteria,<br />
there will be more children<br />
like Ursin’s daughter growing<br />
up without a parent. It could<br />
also result in a backlash that<br />
will result in more lives being<br />
destroyed by cruel and unnecessary<br />
incarceration for trivial<br />
offenses.<br />
12 The BLUES The BLUES 13
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
HONDO, TEXAS<br />
Texas Dept. Of Criminal Justice Correctional<br />
Officer III Kaitlyn ‘Birdie’ Ritnour Killed In Crash.<br />
HONDO, TX – Texas Department<br />
of Criminal Justice Correctional<br />
Institutions Division<br />
Correctional Officer III Kaitlyn<br />
“Birdie” Ritnour died in the line<br />
of duty on Sept. 3 after being<br />
involved in a two-vehicle crash,<br />
according to local police.<br />
The 23-year-old correctional<br />
officer had just wrapped up<br />
an assignment at the Ruben M.<br />
Torres Unit located at 125 Private<br />
Road 4303 and was returning to<br />
her regular duty station at the<br />
Brisco Unit, when she was struck<br />
by an oncoming vehicle while<br />
merging into traffic, according to<br />
the Officer Down Memorial Page.<br />
Correctional Officer Ritnour<br />
suffered severe injuries in the<br />
collision and was pronounced<br />
dead at the scene.<br />
She had been with the department<br />
for just five months.<br />
“Kaitlyn was proud of her decision<br />
to become a correctional<br />
officer for the Texas Department<br />
of Criminal Justice,” her obituary<br />
read. “Kaitlyn’s life was tragically<br />
taken too soon but her legacy of<br />
love will live on in the hearts of<br />
those she knew and loved.”<br />
Correctional Officer Ritnour<br />
leaves behind her parents, Tara<br />
and Gene, and her fiancé, Zachariah.<br />
She is also survived by her sister,<br />
grandparents, aunt, her three<br />
Officer Kaitlyn Ritnour<br />
best friends, her three dogs, and<br />
many extended family members<br />
and friends.<br />
Ritnour was laid to rest on Sept. 12.<br />
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14 The BLUES The BLUES 15
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
MARETTA, GA.<br />
Two Cobb County Sheriff’s Deputies killed while serving a warrant.<br />
MARIETTA, GA. – Two individuals<br />
are in custody after two<br />
Cobb County Sheriff’s deputies<br />
were killed in the line of duty<br />
Thursday September 8th while<br />
serving a warrant, according to<br />
Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens.<br />
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Koleski<br />
and Deputy Sheriff Marshall<br />
Ervin were shot and killed while<br />
serving a felony theft warrant at<br />
2474 Hampton Glen Court in Marietta<br />
shortly before 8:00 pm.<br />
Sheriff Owens confirmed the<br />
two deputies were serving a<br />
warrant at a home southwest of<br />
Marietta but nobody answered.<br />
As they were walking back to the<br />
police cruiser, someone pulled<br />
up in a car and started shooting.<br />
The SWAT and FAST teams<br />
responded to the scene near the<br />
intersection of Habersham Road<br />
and John Ward Road SW near<br />
Marietta around 9 p.m. after the<br />
suspected shooters barricaded<br />
themselves inside a home.<br />
One of the deputies was reportedly<br />
shot in the head and<br />
the other in the pelvic area. The<br />
deputy shot in the pelvic area<br />
died on the way to Kennestone<br />
Hospital.<br />
According to Sheriff Owens,<br />
this marks the first line-of-duty<br />
death in Cobb County since<br />
Deputy Jonathan Koleski<br />
he took office 18 months ago.<br />
The two deputies, leave behind<br />
wives.<br />
Gov. Brian Kemp contacted the<br />
Cobb County Sheriff’s Office to<br />
ask what he can do to help.<br />
“We’ve also received help calls<br />
from all over the state of Georgia<br />
asking what others can do<br />
to help during this time,” said<br />
Owens.<br />
The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office<br />
has identified the two men<br />
arrested after two deputies were<br />
killed Thursday night.<br />
CCSO says Christopher James<br />
Cook Jr., 32, and Christopher<br />
Patrick Golden, 29, made their<br />
first appearance at the Cobb<br />
Deputy Marshall Samuel Ervin<br />
County Adult Detention Center<br />
at 4 p.m. Bond was denied for<br />
both men.<br />
According to jail records,<br />
Golden faces two counts of<br />
Felony Murder and Aggravated<br />
Assault against an Officer.<br />
Meanwhile, Cook faces several<br />
theft charges including<br />
three counts of Felony Theft<br />
by Receiving Stolen Property,<br />
two counts of Theft by Deception<br />
and a misdemeanor Theft<br />
by Receiving Stolen Property<br />
charge. Jail records indicate his<br />
listed home address matches<br />
the location of the scene where<br />
the two deputies were fatally<br />
shot.<br />
TERMINATED<br />
16 The BLUES The BLUES 17
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
Air Bear announces the arrival of<br />
the DA62-MPP in <strong>No</strong>rth America<br />
FORSYTH, GA.<br />
Georgia State Patrol cadet dies during training exercise<br />
at Georgia Public Safety Training Center.<br />
FORSYTH, GA. – A Georgia<br />
State Patrol cadet who dreamt<br />
of becoming a state trooper died<br />
while training for the job last<br />
month, a report said.<br />
Cadet Patrick Dupree, 36,<br />
collapsed after performing an<br />
exercise with other cadets at the<br />
Georgia Public Safety Training<br />
Center, Fox5 Atlanta reported,<br />
citing the Georgia Department of<br />
Public Safety.<br />
Dupree, a married father of<br />
three, reportedly suffered a<br />
medical emergency and was<br />
rushed to an area hospital, but<br />
couldn’t be saved,<br />
His wife, Shanna Dupree, told<br />
Fox5 that her husband spent his<br />
last breath doing what he loved<br />
and if still alive, he wouldn’t<br />
have it any other way.<br />
“Last month, he told me, ‘If I go<br />
out, I want to go out doing what<br />
I love,’” she said. “He was at that<br />
trooper training, doing what he<br />
loved, reaching for his goals. I’m<br />
proud of him.”<br />
Dupree hoped to complete the<br />
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trooper training and eventually<br />
work in the aviation unit, according<br />
to his family.<br />
Patrick Dupree spent his life<br />
serving in different positions of<br />
law enforcement.<br />
He began his career in law enforcement<br />
at the Cave Spring Police<br />
Department and then joined<br />
the Euharlee Police Department<br />
for six years, according to Fox5.<br />
Before working as an officer,<br />
Dupree played semi-pro football<br />
after standing out on his high<br />
school team. He continued to<br />
play the game after taking on the<br />
responsibilities of the badge.<br />
“He said enforcement reminds<br />
me of a football team, that’s<br />
what he said,” Shanna Dupree<br />
said. “He felt like, when we’re a<br />
team, we gotta go out there and<br />
help and save the community.”<br />
The father deeply loved his<br />
family and was always there for<br />
his daughter and two sons, she<br />
added.<br />
Dupree leaves behind three<br />
daughters and his wife, Shanna.<br />
Sponsored by<br />
Trooper Patrick Dupree<br />
“He was an honorable, admirable,<br />
inspirational, motivational<br />
man, very caring. He made you<br />
feel safe and secure,” Shanna<br />
Dupree said.<br />
Their daughter said she knows<br />
her father would want them all<br />
to stay strong and use their faith<br />
as a guide through the dark time.<br />
“It’s not a loss, it’s a win because<br />
God got him right now.”<br />
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18 The BLUES The BLUES 19
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
ARVADA, CO.<br />
Arvada officer killed during a large family disturbance in Arvada Colorado.<br />
ARVADA, CO. – Detectives<br />
have identified the man accused<br />
of shooting and killing<br />
Officer Dillon Michael Vakoff,<br />
27, as Sonny Thomas Almanza.<br />
The Arvada Police Department<br />
in Colorado said Monday September<br />
12th, that the suspect<br />
remained at a local hospital<br />
in custody, but they plan on<br />
booking him into the Jefferson<br />
County Jail.<br />
Officers said they got an<br />
arrest warrant for charges<br />
including first-degree murder<br />
of a peace officer, possession<br />
of a weapon by a previous offender,<br />
child abuse, and crime<br />
of violence.<br />
Vakoff and another officer<br />
were dispatched to a<br />
well-being check on two children<br />
Sunday, September 11th<br />
at around 1:41 a.m.<br />
“When officers arrived in the<br />
6700 block of West 51st Avenue,<br />
they encountered a large<br />
family disturbance,” officers<br />
said. “The officers arrived to<br />
a chaotic scene with multiple<br />
people in the street. When<br />
the officers tried to separate<br />
several belligerent and uncooperative<br />
individuals, the suspect<br />
began to fire and shot a female<br />
victim. An exchange of gunfire<br />
then occurred between officers<br />
and the suspect. The suspect<br />
fired, striking an Officer Vakoff,<br />
killing him.”<br />
Police have said that a second<br />
officer tried to save Vakoff,<br />
by providing first aid, but the<br />
27-year-old was declared dead<br />
at a hospital.<br />
The second officer is on administrative<br />
leave after the<br />
shooting, sources familiar with<br />
the investigation said, according<br />
to The Gazette of Cedar Rapids.<br />
“It is with a heavy heart & deep<br />
sorrow that we inform you an<br />
Arvada Police Officer has been<br />
killed serving his community,”<br />
Arvada stated Sunday. “The officer<br />
was responding to a call for<br />
service when he was killed.”<br />
The suspect, who also got hurt<br />
during the shootout, was sent to<br />
a local hospital was expected to<br />
survive, officials said. The injured<br />
woman was also expected<br />
to survive after being sent to a<br />
hospital, officers said.<br />
Officer Michael Vakoff<br />
Vakoff was a local. He graduated<br />
from Ralston Valley High<br />
School in 2012. He reached the<br />
rank of staff sergeant during<br />
six years with the U.S. Air Force,<br />
authorities said. He joined the<br />
department in 2019.<br />
“Dillon is an example of everything<br />
good you would want in<br />
a police officer. He was training<br />
toward being a SWAT Officer,<br />
and without a doubt would have<br />
continued to have a positive<br />
impact on his community.” said<br />
officials with Arvada PD.<br />
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20 The BLUES The BLUES 21
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
RICHMOND, IND.<br />
Richmond Officer dies more than five weeks after<br />
she was critically injured in a shooting.<br />
RICHMOND, IND. – Richmond<br />
Officer Seara Burton died Sunday<br />
Sept. 18th, more than five weeks<br />
after she was critically injured<br />
in a shooting, Richmond Police<br />
Chief Michael Britt announced.<br />
In a statement, Britt said Burton<br />
died at 9:59 p.m. on Sunday,<br />
Sept. 18 at a hospital surrounded<br />
by her family. Funeral arrangements<br />
are pending and will be<br />
announced when details are<br />
available, Britt said.<br />
“We would sincerely like to<br />
thank the Richmond community,<br />
and those who have supported<br />
Seara, her family, and<br />
the Department from near and<br />
far,” Britt said in the statement.<br />
“Thank you to all of those who<br />
have shown unbelievable support<br />
throughout this very difficult<br />
time including the Dayton<br />
Police Department, The Indiana<br />
State Police, Indiana State Fraternal<br />
Order of Police, Richmond<br />
Fire Department and Wayne<br />
County Sheriff’s Department, as<br />
well as many other agencies.<br />
“The family is extremely grateful<br />
for the massive amount of<br />
support from the community,”<br />
Britt said. “We kindly ask that<br />
you respect the family’s privacy<br />
during this difficult time.”<br />
Burton was taken off life support<br />
on Thursday, Sept. 1, a little<br />
over three weeks after being<br />
shot at close range during a<br />
traffic stop. She was transferred<br />
to hospice care on Sept. 3. The<br />
Richmond Police Department<br />
updated that K-9 Brev visited<br />
Burton on multiple occasions.<br />
“Our hearts are shattered as<br />
we learn of the passing of Officer<br />
Seara Burton,” Richmond<br />
Mayor Dave Snow said in a statement<br />
posted on social media.<br />
“Officer Burton fought like a<br />
warrior through every minute of<br />
this battle. Her endearing spirit,<br />
professional service, and shining<br />
personality will live with us for<br />
years to come.<br />
Snow said the lights at the<br />
Richmond City Building will be<br />
turned off beginning Monday<br />
night, flags at city buildings will<br />
be lowered, and that he will ask<br />
Gov. Eric Holcomb to request all<br />
flags across Indiana be lowered<br />
on the day of Burton’s funeral.<br />
On Monday, Sept. 19, the Richmond<br />
Police Department and<br />
multiple other agencies will be<br />
escorting Burton back to Richmond<br />
from Dayton, Ohio, Richmond<br />
Police announced.<br />
Police Officer Seara Burton<br />
Officer Seara Burton<br />
succumbed to a gunshot wound<br />
sustained while conducting a<br />
traffic stop on August <strong>10</strong>th, <strong>2022.</strong><br />
Other officers had requested<br />
her assistance to stop a moped<br />
being driven by a narcotics suspect<br />
in the 200 block of N 12th<br />
Street. Officer Burton had deployed<br />
her canine partner, Brev,<br />
who indicated to the presence of<br />
narcotics in the moped. As officers<br />
began to search the vehicle,<br />
the man pulled out a concealed<br />
handgun and opened fire, striking<br />
Officer Burton in the head.<br />
The man was shot and wounded<br />
by other officers before he fled<br />
on foot.<br />
22 The BLUES The BLUES 23
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
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TAMPA, FL. – Two road construction<br />
The sheriff said they initial-<br />
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charges after one allegedly ran was Victor Vazquez of Puerto<br />
into a Pinellas County deputy Rico, but it turned out he was<br />
with a forklift, killing him, and a 32-year-old undocumented<br />
then fled the scene.<br />
immigrant named Juan Ariel<br />
The collision occurred just Molina Salles, who was previously<br />
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24 The BLUES The BLUES 25<br />
digiss.com
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
COLUMBIA, S.C.<br />
Columbia mourn sudden loss of officer due to medical<br />
emergency during SWAT assessment.<br />
COLUMBIA, S.C. – A Columbia<br />
Police officer has died after<br />
authorities say he suffered a<br />
medical emergency during an<br />
assessment.<br />
According to a statement<br />
released by the department on<br />
Saturday evening, Master Police<br />
Officer Tyrell Owens Riley<br />
died following a Specialized<br />
Weapons and Tactics (SWAT)<br />
assessment.<br />
“During the physical fitness<br />
training portion of the assessment,<br />
MPO Owens Riley became<br />
ill,” the statement said.<br />
“He was transported by EMS to<br />
Providence Hospital in downtown<br />
where he suffered cardiac<br />
arrest and could not be<br />
revived.”<br />
The department said the<br />
Columbia native had been<br />
with the department for more<br />
than seven years and was<br />
recently assigned as a patrol<br />
officer in the Metro Region.<br />
Before joining law enforcement,<br />
Owens Riley had served<br />
with distinction with the U.S.<br />
Marine Corps.<br />
Funeral arrangements are<br />
still being established and<br />
were not available at the time<br />
of the department’s announcement.<br />
Officer Tyrell Owens-Riley<br />
Deputy Matthew Yates<br />
26 The BLUES The BLUES 27
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
ARLINGTON, TX.<br />
Arlington PD mourns the sudden death of Recruit Officer.<br />
Be sure and check out<br />
our new<br />
BUYERS GUIDE<br />
on Page 140.<br />
ARLINGTON, TX. – It is with<br />
great sadness and heavy<br />
hearts that the Arlington<br />
Police Department announces<br />
the death of Recruit Officer<br />
Marquis Kennedy, Badge<br />
#3524. Recruit Kennedy was a<br />
member of Academy Class 62,<br />
which began instruction on<br />
July 25, <strong>2022.</strong> He was pronounced<br />
deceased by medical<br />
staff on Sunday, September<br />
25, <strong>2022.</strong> The cause of his<br />
death is unknown.<br />
On Friday, September 23,<br />
2022, Recruit Kennedy and<br />
the other members of Class<br />
62 were participating in defensive<br />
tactics training when<br />
he indicated to training staff<br />
that he was not feeling well.<br />
He was immediately removed<br />
from the exercise and told<br />
to sit with a member of the<br />
training staff for further monitoring.<br />
A short time later, he<br />
collapsed.<br />
Training staff immediately<br />
began performing CPR on him<br />
and continued to do so until<br />
EMS personnel arrived. He was<br />
transported to a nearby hospital.<br />
The department notified<br />
Recruit Kennedy’s family of the<br />
situation and helped ensure<br />
they could get to the hospital<br />
to be with him. The department’s<br />
Peer Support team<br />
was also activated and made<br />
available to his fellow recruits<br />
and the training staff.<br />
“Our hearts are broken,”<br />
said Chief of Police Al Jones.<br />
“Recruit Kennedy had a bright<br />
and promising future as a<br />
police officer. On behalf of the<br />
Arlington Police Department,<br />
I want to express our deepest<br />
condolences to his family and<br />
Sponsored by<br />
Officer Marquis Kennedy<br />
our profound gratitude for his<br />
service to the City of Arlington.<br />
I ask the community to<br />
join me in lifting up his immediate<br />
and police families with<br />
love and prayer during this<br />
extremely difficult time.”<br />
AUSTIN, TX.<br />
Congratulations U.S. Army Sergeant and Houston Police Department<br />
Veteran Chase Cormier, for Receiving the Star of Texas Award.<br />
U.S. Army Sergeant and Houston<br />
Police Department Veteran Chase<br />
Cormier, who has selflessly dedicated<br />
his life to serving others,<br />
suffered a tragic accident in May<br />
2020 while on duty with the Houston<br />
Police Department.<br />
Cormier was the pilot in a fatal<br />
helicopter crash that killed his partner,<br />
Officer Jason Knox. They were<br />
patrolling the city of Houston on<br />
May 2, 2020, when they received a<br />
call for a search and rescue mission<br />
involving a body in a nearby<br />
bayou. At least one individual was<br />
shooting at the aircraft which may<br />
have caused mechanical failure.<br />
Cormier tried to maneuver the<br />
helicopter to safety but was unable<br />
to prevent the vehicle from crashing<br />
into an apartment complex. He<br />
was trapped in the wreckage for<br />
nearly an hour before the Houston<br />
Fire Department Rescue Team could<br />
extricate him<br />
Cormier was life-flighted to the<br />
hospital where he underwent emergency<br />
surgery.<br />
His injuries included head trauma,<br />
damage to this right eye, three fractured<br />
ribs, nine spinal cord fractures,<br />
five of which are compression<br />
fractures, three transverse process<br />
fractures and a burst fracture with<br />
numerous severed nerves. He had<br />
a torn MCL, ACL and fractured left<br />
foot. Surgeons fused his vertebrae<br />
and put a plate, pins and screws<br />
in his left foot. Due to the severed<br />
nerves he also suffers from paralysis.<br />
His doctors say he will not gain<br />
any function below the knees or be<br />
able to walk unassisted ever again.<br />
For his fearless service, Cormier<br />
has been awarded the Houston Police<br />
Department Life Saving award,<br />
Chief of Police Unit Citation and the<br />
Distinguished Marksmanship award,<br />
among other accolades.<br />
As an Army veteran, and a veteran<br />
of the police force, Cormier understands<br />
his duty to protect and serve.<br />
After many surgeries and medical<br />
assistance, Cormier is rehabilitating<br />
with his wife, Brooke, by his side.<br />
Although they’re not quite sure what<br />
the future will look like, Cormier<br />
plans on starting a 501c3 non-profit<br />
named “Cormier Strong.” The goal<br />
of the non-profit would be to help<br />
children of killed or significantly<br />
injured veterans or first responders<br />
receive a college education.<br />
Cormier along with S&H Custom<br />
Built Homes LLC are working together<br />
to construct a custom-built<br />
home to meet his new needs in<br />
Spring, Texas.<br />
28 The BLUES The BLUES 29
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
POLK COUNTY, FL.<br />
Deputy Chief Jason DiPrima was accused of agreeing to pay a<br />
prostitute, but the “high class prostitute” was an undercover detective.<br />
By Mark Price,<br />
The Charlotte Observer<br />
POLK COUNTY, FL. – A deputy<br />
chief of police from Georgia<br />
ended up in a Florida jail after<br />
he was accused of agreeing to<br />
pay a prostitute $120 per half<br />
hour for her services, according<br />
to the Polk County Sheriff’s<br />
Office.<br />
But the “high class prostitute”<br />
was actually an undercover detective,<br />
officials say.<br />
Jason DiPrima of Kingston,<br />
Georgia, was arrested at 11 p.m.<br />
Sept. 1 and charged with soliciting<br />
a prostitute, a misdemeanor,<br />
the sheriff’s office said in a news<br />
release.<br />
DiPrima, 49, is “deputy chief of<br />
police administration for Cartersville<br />
Police Department” and<br />
“was in Orlando for the American<br />
Polygraph Association Seminar/Workshop,”<br />
the sheriff’s<br />
office said. Cartersville is about<br />
45 miles northwest of downtown<br />
Atlanta.<br />
“On August 31, 2022, DiPrima<br />
responded to an online escort<br />
advertisement and began a<br />
conversation with an undercover<br />
detective by asking ‘Are you<br />
available tonight’ and<br />
‘I’d like to come see you.<br />
What is your rate?’” the<br />
sheriff’s office reported.<br />
“During the online<br />
communication, DiPrima<br />
agreed to engage in<br />
sexual activities with the<br />
undercover detective,<br />
but then told the detective<br />
‘I got spooked,’ and<br />
asked to see her the next<br />
night.”<br />
DiPrima contacted the<br />
undercover detective<br />
again the next day and<br />
agreed to a meeting,<br />
officials said.<br />
“He initially agreed<br />
to pay the undercover<br />
detective $120 for a half<br />
hour of ‘full service’ sex.<br />
When he arrived at the undisclosed<br />
location, he confirmed<br />
the arrangement by giving the<br />
undercover detective $180 and a<br />
multi-pack of White Claw Hard<br />
Seltzer,” the sheriff’s office said.<br />
DiPrima was arrested, taken to<br />
Polk County Jail and released after<br />
he paid a $500 bond, officials<br />
said.<br />
The Cartersville Police Department<br />
released a statement Sept.<br />
2, noting DiPrima was “placed on<br />
administrative leave pending an<br />
internal investigation.”<br />
At a news conference, Polk<br />
County Sheriff Grady Judd noted<br />
DiPrima had been with Cartersville<br />
police almost 30 years and<br />
was considered a “well respected<br />
police officer in town.”<br />
DiPrima had arrived at the<br />
rendezvous carrying two Bud<br />
Lights and driving an unmarked<br />
government vehicle attached to<br />
Cartersville’s DEA Task Force,<br />
Judd said.<br />
“So ostensibly, this guy has<br />
come to have sex with a prostitute<br />
while driving the Cartersville<br />
Police Department<br />
undercover vehicle and he was<br />
in possession of alcohol,” Judd<br />
said.<br />
The arrest came during a<br />
“week-long human trafficking<br />
undercover enforcement operation<br />
conducted by the Polk<br />
County Sheriff’s Office and other<br />
law enforcement agencies.”<br />
“The purpose of the operation<br />
was to identify those involved<br />
in human trafficking and arrest<br />
those who procure and engage<br />
in prostitution,” the sheriff’s office<br />
said.<br />
©2022 The Charlotte Observer.<br />
Visit charlotteobserver.com.<br />
Distributed by Tribune Content<br />
Agency, LLC<br />
30 The BLUES The BLUES 31
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
PATROL LESSON #1<br />
Don’t park your patrol car with a handcuffed suspect in the backseat<br />
on a active RAILROAD TRACK, with a train coming. DUH.<br />
By Steve Staeger<br />
PLATTEVILLE, CO. – The chief<br />
of the Platteville Police Department<br />
told 9NEWS Sunday that<br />
an officer has been placed on<br />
administrative leave after, investigators<br />
say, he put a suspect<br />
in his squad car parked on train<br />
tracks and a train hit the squad<br />
car, seriously injuring the suspect.<br />
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation<br />
(CBI) is looking into the<br />
case involving injury of someone<br />
in police custody. The agency<br />
said Monday that the victim,<br />
20-year-old Yareni Rios-Gonzalez<br />
of Greeley, remains in the<br />
hospital with serious injuries.<br />
She is expected to survive, CBI<br />
said.<br />
CBI said the woman was believed<br />
to be a suspect in a road<br />
rage incident moments earlier in<br />
Fort Lupton.<br />
According to police radio traffic<br />
reviewed by 9NEWS, someone<br />
called 911 and said the woman<br />
had been tailgating their vehicle<br />
and pulled out a gun.<br />
As the woman traveled northbound<br />
on Highway 85, Fort<br />
Lupton police officers and<br />
Weld County sheriff’s deputies<br />
searched for her truck. A Platteville<br />
police officer radioed that<br />
he saw the truck in his jurisdiction<br />
and pulled it over.<br />
According to CBI, the woman<br />
stopped just beyond railroad<br />
tracks that cross Weld County<br />
Road <strong>38</strong>. The Platteville officer<br />
stopped behind her truck, parked<br />
across the tracks. Two Fort Lupton<br />
officers arrived and helped<br />
the Platteville officer conduct a<br />
high-risk traffic stop and take<br />
the woman into custody.<br />
After they put her in the back<br />
seat of the Platteville squad car,<br />
the officers begin to search her<br />
vehicle. Moments later, another<br />
officer radioed that a train had<br />
hit the patrol vehicle with the<br />
woman inside.<br />
“Those who are in your custody,<br />
you’ve detained them or<br />
they’re in the back of your patrol<br />
car, you have a duty of care<br />
towards that subject,” said Ed<br />
Obayashi, a California sheriff<br />
deputy who is an expert on<br />
police practices. “In other words,<br />
since you have assumed control,<br />
physical control, over them<br />
and their movements, you are by<br />
definition responsible to protect<br />
them in any situation.”<br />
Obayashi said after reviewing<br />
available information about the<br />
case, he didn’t understand why<br />
the officer in question didn’t<br />
order the suspect to pull forward<br />
so his car wouldn’t be on the<br />
train tracks. Or after the suspect<br />
was in the vehicle, he said, the<br />
officer should have immediately<br />
moved the car before searching<br />
the woman’s truck.<br />
“I can’t fathom why he would<br />
leave his vehicle on the tracks<br />
with the subject inside,” he said.<br />
“Why didn’t you move the vehicle<br />
off the tracks? That’s going to be<br />
the biggest question.”<br />
EDITOR: Uh I have lots of<br />
questions. Like first off didn’t<br />
you see that you were parked<br />
on a train track. Second, every<br />
train crossing I’ve ever sat at<br />
waiting on a train, the train engineer<br />
starts blowing the horn<br />
like two miles up the tracks.<br />
<strong>No</strong>t to mention they have bright<br />
as shit lights on the front of<br />
the train. So when you heard<br />
the first horn and then saw the<br />
bright light, did it not occur to<br />
you at that moment to jump in<br />
the car and GET OFF THE TRACKS?<br />
And if that isn’t bad enough,<br />
the video of you dancing around<br />
just before the train demolishes<br />
your patrol car with a handcuffed<br />
suspect in the back seat<br />
makes you look like a complete<br />
idiot.<br />
32 The BLUES The BLUES 33
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
MONTGOMERY, TX.<br />
Harris County Precinct 5 Deputy Chief fired after arrest<br />
during prostitution sting in Montgomery County.<br />
SPRING, TX. – Brian Harris, a<br />
former Houston Police Department<br />
detective who was working<br />
at the Harris County Precinct<br />
5 Constable’s Office, was among<br />
14 people arrested and charged<br />
with solicitation of prostitution.<br />
Harris County Precinct 5 Constable<br />
Ted Heap said Thursday<br />
that Precinct 5 Deputy Chief<br />
Brian Harris, a longtime law<br />
enforcement officer in Southeast<br />
Texas, had been terminated. Harris,<br />
57, was among 14 men arrested<br />
and charged with solicitation<br />
of prostitution, a felony, as<br />
part of an undercover operation<br />
Wednesday at a hotel on Interstate<br />
45 in the Spring-Woodlands<br />
area, according to the<br />
Montgomery County Sheriff’s<br />
Office.<br />
“We hold our deputies to the<br />
highest standard,” Heap said in a<br />
statement released by a spokesperson.<br />
“(Harris’) termination is<br />
effective immediately.”<br />
It was not clear Thursday<br />
morning whether Harris had<br />
enlisted an attorney. An online<br />
search on the Montgomery County<br />
District Clerk website did not<br />
yield any criminal cases listing<br />
Harris as a defendant.<br />
The arrests were<br />
made at about 8 p.m.<br />
Wednesday by the<br />
Montgomery County<br />
Sheriff’s Office Organized<br />
Crime Unit in<br />
cooperation with the<br />
Human Trafficking<br />
Rescue Alliance, according<br />
to the sheriff’s<br />
office, which did<br />
not identify the other<br />
13 people arrested in<br />
its Thursday morning<br />
news release. The<br />
sheriff’s office said<br />
Harris remained in the<br />
county jail as of about<br />
9 a.m. Thursday.<br />
According to Harris’<br />
LinkedIn page, he first worked as<br />
a police officer in Port Aransas<br />
in the late 1980s and early 1990s<br />
before a stint as a deputy for<br />
the Precinct 5 constable’s office.<br />
He later worked as a homicide<br />
detective for the Houston Police<br />
Department and also has been<br />
an instructor for the FBI National<br />
Academy as well as a public<br />
speaker, according to the LinkedIn<br />
page.<br />
“We are sending a message<br />
that we are not going to tolerate<br />
this activity in our community,”<br />
the Montgomery County Sheriff’s<br />
Office said. “We will arrest<br />
and charge those who engage<br />
in this illicit act. We will also<br />
continue to identify those who<br />
have been forced into trafficking<br />
by rescuing them from their<br />
situations and connecting them<br />
with services to help with their<br />
recovery.”<br />
34 The BLUES The BLUES 35
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
DALLAS, TX.<br />
Can’t make it to the IACP Conference? Don’t worry, it is still possible<br />
to connect with and learn from other law enforcement leaders.<br />
BY Greg Friese, MS, NRP,<br />
Reprinted from Police1<br />
More than 16,000 law enforcement<br />
leaders from around the<br />
world will gather in Dallas from<br />
October 15-18 for IACP <strong>2022.</strong> The<br />
annual International Association<br />
of Chiefs of Police conference is<br />
the signature event of the year<br />
for training and professional<br />
development. In addition to<br />
hundreds of education sessions,<br />
attendees will have access to the<br />
thousands of products and solutions<br />
showcased by more than<br />
600 exhibitors.<br />
But if you can’t make it to IACP<br />
2022, don’t worry, as there are<br />
several ways to learn from and<br />
stay connected to your colleagues.<br />
1. FOLLOW IACP 2022 ACTION<br />
ON SOCIAL MEDIA<br />
#IACP2022 is the official<br />
hashtag for the event. Check the<br />
feed regularly for updates and<br />
images posted from education<br />
sessions and the show floor.<br />
You’ll find top takeaways from<br />
instructors about their sessions,<br />
notable moments shared<br />
by attendees, and product announcements<br />
from sponsors and<br />
vendors. Also, keep an eye on<br />
similar hashtags like #IACP22<br />
and #IACP.<br />
Top LEO companies are sure to<br />
be posting on their social accounts<br />
from IACP, so follow their<br />
accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter<br />
and Facebook for conference<br />
updates.<br />
2. REVIEW THE EDUCATION<br />
PROGRAM<br />
Even if you can’t attend IACP<br />
in person, you can still learn<br />
about the top trends, challenges<br />
and opportunities facing law<br />
enforcement leaders by reviewing<br />
the education program and<br />
speaker lineup. The program<br />
can be filtered by topics, like<br />
community-police engagement,<br />
innovation, officer safety and<br />
leadership development.<br />
You can also browse the conference<br />
program by speaker<br />
name or track. For example,<br />
there are 15 education sessions<br />
in the “Smaller Agency” track,<br />
spanning a range of topics from<br />
recruitment and retention to human<br />
trafficking to responding to<br />
suicidal subjects.<br />
3. SEEK OUT SIMILAR CONTENT<br />
Many of the speakers who<br />
reach the IACP big stage have<br />
previously presented and written<br />
on their IACP topic. Google<br />
search the presenter and their<br />
topic for videos, podcasts and<br />
articles from the speaker about<br />
the topic.<br />
Sometimes it won’t be the<br />
speaker who sparks your interest,<br />
but rather the topic or track<br />
of their presentation. Follow up<br />
on your interest in the Police1<br />
topic and product category sections,<br />
both great places to search<br />
for more information on topics<br />
from body armor to less-lethal<br />
to virtual reality training. Supplement<br />
your reading by listening<br />
to subject-matter experts on<br />
the Policing Matters podcast or<br />
with these Police1 digital events.<br />
John Hollywood, RAND Corporation,<br />
is discussing the Mass<br />
Attack Defense Toolkit at IACP,<br />
a topic he recently discussed on<br />
the Policing Matters podcast.<br />
4. CONNECT WITH IACP PRE-<br />
SENTERS<br />
Connect with presenters who<br />
you would have liked to see at<br />
the show with the questions you<br />
would have asked face-to-face.<br />
I’ve always found conference<br />
presenters to be approachable<br />
and humble about their experiences.<br />
Generally, they are quick<br />
to reply to LinkedIn connection<br />
requests or respond to emails<br />
with presentation materials. You<br />
won’t know until you ask.<br />
Check out the full list of IACP<br />
presenters here.<br />
5. JOIN AND PARTICIPATE IN<br />
THE IACP<br />
The IACP is more than an<br />
annual conference. The IACP is<br />
the world’s largest professional<br />
association for law enforcement<br />
leaders. The association offers<br />
learning and networking opportunities<br />
throughout the year to<br />
advance leadership and professionalism<br />
in policing.<br />
In addition to IACP, law enforcement<br />
leaders find value in<br />
joining and participating in their<br />
state law enforcement associations<br />
and membership groups.<br />
Online and offline networking<br />
and training events are important<br />
for professional development,<br />
building community and<br />
rekindling a sense of purpose.<br />
6. ATTEND VIRTUAL EVENTS<br />
Some shows offer virtual<br />
events during or after the main<br />
conference. Look for virtual<br />
event information on the show’s<br />
information page and social<br />
feeds. On-demand viewing can<br />
be a great way to digest a treasure<br />
trove of content from an<br />
industry conference at your own<br />
speed.<br />
7. VISIT VENDOR WEBSITES<br />
The exhibit hall is a top destination<br />
for most conference<br />
attendees. Hours can be spent<br />
wandering the aisles, waiting to<br />
talk to a sales rep and receiving<br />
important information to guide<br />
an upcoming purchase. Viewing<br />
the IACP 2022 exhibitor list and<br />
then visiting the websites of vendors<br />
of most interest can save<br />
a lot of time while also getting<br />
the information you need. Also,<br />
if you are early in the purchase<br />
process, check out this collection<br />
of free Police1 How to Buy<br />
Guides.<br />
PLAN AHEAD FOR IACP 2023<br />
For many LEO leaders, the cost<br />
of conference attendance – travel,<br />
registration fees and meals<br />
– is out of reach of the annual<br />
budget. If you can’t attend IACP<br />
2022, start making plans for<br />
other IACP events or IACP 2023,<br />
scheduled for October 14-17 in<br />
San Diego. The education sessions,<br />
face-to-face networking<br />
with vendors, and the inspiration<br />
and renewal from spending time<br />
with colleagues are well worth<br />
the investment.<br />
Bookmark Police1’s IACP topic<br />
page to follow our coverage<br />
from the event.<br />
About the author:<br />
Greg Friese, MS, NRP, is the<br />
Lexipol Editorial Director, leading<br />
the efforts of the editorial team<br />
on PoliceOne, FireRescue1, Corrections1,<br />
EMS1 and Gov1. Greg<br />
has a bachelor’s degree from the<br />
University of Wisconsin-Madison<br />
and a master’s degree from<br />
the University of Idaho. He is an<br />
educator, author, paramedic and<br />
runner. Greg is a three-time Jesse<br />
H. Neal award winner, the most<br />
prestigious award in specialized<br />
journalism, and 2018 and 2020<br />
Eddie Award winner for best<br />
Column/Blog. Ask questions or<br />
submit article ideas to Greg by<br />
emailing him at gfriese@lexipol.<br />
com and connect with him on<br />
LinkedIn.<br />
36 The BLUES The BLUES 37
AROUND THE COUNTRY<br />
AUSTIN, TX.<br />
Tragedy struck the Austin Police Dept. last month when Senior<br />
Officer Anthony “Tony” Martin was struck and killed on his way<br />
home from working the night shift.<br />
GEORGETOWN, TX – The Austin<br />
Police Department identified one<br />
of its officers who was killed in an<br />
off-duty motorcycle crash in Liberty<br />
Hill Friday September 23rd.<br />
APD said in a release the officer<br />
was Senior APD Officer Anthony<br />
“Tony” Martin, who had been with<br />
the department for over 16 years.<br />
APD said he was on his way home<br />
from a night shift when the crash<br />
happened.<br />
Austin Cops for Charities set up<br />
a donation fund for Martin’s family.<br />
(see next page to donate)<br />
According to the Texas Department<br />
of Public Safety, the wreck<br />
took place just before 6 a.m. at the<br />
intersection of State Highway 29<br />
and RM 1869.<br />
DPS said a Lincoln MKZ car was<br />
headed east on SH 29, while a BMW<br />
motorcycle was headed westbound.<br />
The Lincoln tried to turn left onto<br />
RM 1869 but hit the motorcycle in<br />
the process.<br />
The motorcyclist was pronounced<br />
dead at the scene. APD said it’s unknown<br />
at this time if charges were<br />
pending.<br />
“The coroner came, and then<br />
that’s when the officers were saluting<br />
the other officer,” said Rani<br />
Collins, who works near where the<br />
crash happened. She saw the aftermath.<br />
“It was horrible,” she said.<br />
Liberty Hill Police Chief Royce<br />
Graeter, whose department responded<br />
to the crash, released the<br />
following statement:<br />
“This has all been very sad and<br />
devastating. Our hearts, thoughts,<br />
and prayers are with the Officer’s<br />
family as well as with his APD family,”<br />
Graeter said.<br />
The <strong>10</strong>0 Club of Central Texas also<br />
put out a statement Friday, saying,<br />
“our hearts are heavy with the news<br />
of a police officer killed in a traffic<br />
collision this morning. Our thoughts<br />
are with @Austin_Police and the<br />
family of SPO Martin today.”<br />
“Everyone just needs to love on<br />
their families right now,” said Collins.<br />
“Because nobody is promised<br />
tomorrow or the next day.”<br />
DPS said the crash is still under<br />
investigation, and SH 29 and RM<br />
1869 were closed at the intersection<br />
at an extended period of time.<br />
Just hours after Officer Martin’s<br />
death, hundreds of Liberty Hill<br />
high school football fans gathered<br />
for the team’s homecoming game<br />
against Kerrville Tivy.<br />
Booster teams like the Panther Pit<br />
Crew used the presence of the large<br />
crowd to help support Martin’s<br />
wife, a teacher in the district, and<br />
their daughter who is still in high<br />
school. The crew took donations<br />
Senior Officer Tony Martin<br />
from guests. All proceeds went to<br />
the family for the funeral or other<br />
expenses.<br />
“It’s not us the Panther Pit Crew<br />
that’s doing all this. It’s the community<br />
that’s donating,” said Chad<br />
Becker, treasurer of the organization.<br />
Before kickoff, the Liberty Hill<br />
varsity team carried a flag representing<br />
police during its entrance<br />
onto the field. The captains of the<br />
team then carried the flags to<br />
midfield for a moment of silence<br />
before singing the national anthem.<br />
Superintendent Steven Snell said<br />
the gesture was just a small way<br />
for the district to pay its respects<br />
to Martin and show solidarity with<br />
his surviving family.<br />
<strong>38</strong> The BLUES The BLUES 39
NYPD SHIFTS TO HYBRID SUVS<br />
SUVs, which include both hybrids and all-electrics, are becoming the new<br />
norm as the NYPD starts to retire its traditional sedan-based vehicle fleet.<br />
NEW YORK, NY – Siren-blaring<br />
SUVs — hybrids and all-electrics<br />
— are becoming a staple at New<br />
York City crime scenes as the<br />
NYPD gradually retires its traditional<br />
sedan-based vehicle fleet.<br />
New all-electric Ford Mustang<br />
Mach-E Sport Crossover Utility<br />
Vehicles, which were shown<br />
off at this year’s New York Auto<br />
Show, are among the vehicles<br />
expected to take the places of<br />
the four-door “police interceptor”<br />
sedans New Yorkers have<br />
seen on city roads for decades.<br />
SUVs are becoming the norm<br />
for the NYPD as they move away<br />
from the iconic sedan.<br />
But the department isn’t ready<br />
for an all-electric fleet just yet<br />
— so it’s stocking up on hybrid<br />
Ford Explorer SUVs, said Robert<br />
Martinez, deputy commissioner<br />
of the NYPD’s support services<br />
bureau.<br />
The SUVs have a number of<br />
advantages over the older sedans,<br />
including higher seats that<br />
give officers a better view when<br />
they respond to emergency calls,<br />
Martinez said. They also have<br />
more storage space and are<br />
roomier than the sedans. Anyone<br />
who has had the misfortune of<br />
riding in one will tell you the sedans<br />
have cramped back seats.<br />
The Ford Explorers also have<br />
four-wheel drive, which will<br />
help cops respond to emergencies<br />
quicker in snow and stormy<br />
weather, Martinez said.<br />
“Years ago when we only had<br />
cars with rear-wheel drive, we<br />
would have to put chains on our<br />
tires every time it snowed, which<br />
would lead to overtime costs,”<br />
Martinez said. “We no longer<br />
have that issue.”<br />
One reason for the NYPD’s increased<br />
use of SUVs is that new<br />
police-rated sedans are disappearing<br />
from the market.<br />
Ford Motor Company, which<br />
provides the NYPD and law enforcement<br />
agencies throughout<br />
the country with police vehicles,<br />
discontinued its Taurus line of<br />
sedans in 2019 and its Fusion line<br />
of sedans in 2020.<br />
By then, the NYPD had already<br />
stocked up on interceptors. The<br />
department is maintaining them<br />
— but can’t replace them when<br />
they wear out.<br />
Ford’s main U.S.-based rival,<br />
General Motors, has also<br />
stopped building sedans the<br />
NYPD and other departments<br />
consider suitable.<br />
That means SUVs are the only<br />
new vehicles available to build<br />
up the NYPD fleet, department<br />
officials said.<br />
The Ford Explorer SUVs making<br />
up an increasing proportion of<br />
the NYPD’s fleet are the “smallest<br />
vehicle that’s rated for police<br />
use,” said Martinez.<br />
“The most important thing<br />
is that the vehicle meets the<br />
mission and that it’s safe for<br />
everybody,” Martinez told the<br />
Daily News. “Thank God we have<br />
something that is available.<br />
There are not a lot of choices<br />
out there.”<br />
While New Yorkers already<br />
see more police SUVs rolling<br />
around the city, sedans for now<br />
make up most of the vehicles<br />
in the NYPD fleet, a department<br />
spokesman said.<br />
As of Aug. 3, 428 NYPD sedans<br />
were still in operation responding<br />
to 911 calls — 549 more than<br />
the 2,879 SUVs the department<br />
has.<br />
The department recently<br />
ordered 600 additional Ford<br />
click or scan here,<br />
for your FREE BLUES<br />
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Explorers, which will tip the<br />
scales in the SUVs’ favor, Martinez<br />
said.<br />
The NYPD has over 6,300 police<br />
vehicles, according to the<br />
city’s Department of Citywide<br />
Administrative Services — the<br />
largest single group of vehicles<br />
in the city’s fleet of nearly<br />
30,000.<br />
The shift to an all-electric<br />
fleet is just getting underway.<br />
In December, the city ordered<br />
184 of the Ford Mustang Mach-E<br />
vehicles for the NYPD, the city<br />
Sheriff’s Office, the Department<br />
of Correction, and other city<br />
agencies with law enforcement<br />
vehicles.<br />
The first wave of Mach-E vehicles<br />
arrived at the end of June,<br />
and 148 of the 184 vehicles are<br />
being outfitted for NYPD use,<br />
Martinez said.<br />
The vehicles will help the<br />
NYPD determine how to go<br />
fully electric. One issue is finding<br />
the best spots for vehicle<br />
charging stations. Another issue<br />
is the vehicles’ range in patrol<br />
areas that vary widely in size.<br />
“It’s a work in progress,” Martinez<br />
said. “We have precincts<br />
that are 1 square mile and precincts<br />
that are 20 square miles.<br />
But this is a great opportunity<br />
to get our feet wet and see<br />
where they work and where<br />
they don’t work.”<br />
40 The BLUES The BLUES 41
DEPUTY’S DEATH PROMPTS $25M<br />
PROPOSAL FOR BULLET-RESISTANT<br />
GLASS IN MICHIGAN PATROL CARS<br />
Murder of officer prompts $25M proposal for patrol vehicle safety features<br />
in patrol cars. The $25M would help Michigan State Police buy bullet-resistant<br />
windows and doors to help prevent officer injuries and deaths.<br />
By Ashley Silver<br />
GRAND RAPIDS, MI. – The<br />
death of Kalamazoo County<br />
Sheriff’s deputy Sgt. Ryan Proxmire<br />
prompted a bill that will<br />
provide nearly $25 million in<br />
funds for an important vehicle<br />
safety component to become a<br />
reality.<br />
According to WOOD News, it’s<br />
been a year since the murder of<br />
Proxmire. A conversation between<br />
Kalamazoo County Sheriff<br />
Richard Fuller and Officer<br />
Proxmire’s father shed light on<br />
a feature that could potentially<br />
prevent future officer deaths:<br />
bullet-resistant windows in<br />
patrol vehicles.<br />
The sheriff shared the idea<br />
with lawmakers in Michigan,<br />
leading to State Rep. Christine<br />
Morse introducing a bill that<br />
would set aside approximately<br />
$25 million to install the safety<br />
feature into patrol vehicles.<br />
“I talked to his family about<br />
it,” Morse told WOOD News.<br />
“And it really has brought<br />
them to tears. It really is incredible<br />
how they have gone<br />
through this terrible tragedy,<br />
and they don’t want anybody<br />
else to have to deal with this<br />
and lose a loved one in such a<br />
terrible way.”<br />
Half of the funds will be used<br />
to purchase new bullet-resistant<br />
windows and doors<br />
for current cruisers, while the<br />
latter portion will be utilized to<br />
create a grant program to help<br />
other law enforcement agencies<br />
in Michigan also upgrade<br />
their vehicles.<br />
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42 The BLUES The BLUES 43<br />
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ARMORING POLICE GLASS<br />
More and more agencies are adding front and side ballistic window protection<br />
to better shield officers from gunfire when they are attacked in their vehicles.<br />
By Wayne Parham<br />
There once was a time when<br />
ballistic vests were new and not<br />
widely accepted by officers, but<br />
now vests are the norm. Patrol<br />
vehicle ballistic protection now<br />
sits at a pivotal point where it<br />
is not standard with all departments,<br />
but more agencies are<br />
moving in that direction.<br />
The Elwood Police Department,<br />
a small Indiana department of<br />
just 19 officers, lost its first officer<br />
in 90 years July 31 when a<br />
gunman ambushed Officer <strong>No</strong>ah<br />
Shahnawaz during a traffic stop<br />
and fired 36 rounds. He never had<br />
a chance to unholster his duty<br />
weapon.<br />
Soon after the fatal ambush,<br />
Elwood Police Chief Jason Brizendine<br />
took steps to provide<br />
better protection for his officers.<br />
The chief decided to install bullet-resistant<br />
windshields in all<br />
the department’s patrol vehicles.<br />
“I wasn’t even sure of the route<br />
to go because you just don’t hear<br />
of that with windshields. You<br />
have door panels and side windows,<br />
but I never had heard of a<br />
windshield for a regular police<br />
car that was ballistic for the curvature<br />
and everything like that,”<br />
says Brizendine.<br />
The chief researched the<br />
idea and on the Sunday after<br />
Shahnawaz’s funeral found a<br />
company that could supply ballistic<br />
windshields. He emailed<br />
and immediately heard back<br />
from equipment supplier Dana<br />
Safety Supply.<br />
“After a little bit of research<br />
that week, I made the decision<br />
to order from them,” Brizendine<br />
says. He was put in contact with<br />
the Texas Department of Public<br />
Safety (DPS), an agency that has<br />
researched the topic and now<br />
is equipping its vehicles with<br />
ballistic windshields. “I was able<br />
to kind of piggyback off of their<br />
research that they had done.”<br />
The chief had money in his<br />
police department budget for<br />
the ballistic windshields, but still<br />
needed approval to move forward.<br />
“When I walked into the board<br />
of works meeting to get their<br />
approval to be able to spend the<br />
money to purchase these, they<br />
acted quickly a unanimous vote,”<br />
the chief says. For Elwood, the<br />
windshields will cost an average<br />
of about $2,000 per vehicle. “We<br />
spend twice that amount for<br />
computers in the cars,” Brizendine<br />
says, arguing that the cost is<br />
not prohibitive.<br />
Protective Windshields<br />
“Given the location and what<br />
they went through recently, I immediately<br />
answered him and told<br />
him that our hearts went out to<br />
him, and we would be very happy<br />
and proud to help him,” said<br />
Thomas Sabo, general manager<br />
of marketing and business development<br />
at Dana Safety Supply,<br />
who replied to Brizendine’s<br />
email.<br />
Sabo has been in the industry<br />
for about 30 years and recalls<br />
25 years ago there were early<br />
ballistic replacements for windshields<br />
and side glass, plus armor<br />
for the interior door panels.<br />
But back then, the concept did<br />
not catch on.<br />
“I just couldn’t get any interest<br />
or traction on the product. It just<br />
wasn’t the time. It’s kind of if you<br />
think about it from a timeline<br />
standpoint, back in the 70s when<br />
Second Chance initially came<br />
out with ballistic or body armor<br />
most cops were saying ‘Yeah, I’m<br />
never going to wear that’,” says<br />
Sabo.<br />
Several decades later, now<br />
body armor is commonly accepted<br />
in law enforcement.<br />
“So, I believe that we’re in a<br />
place that the armor industry is<br />
moving in the direction of putting<br />
armor where it’s really needed. I<br />
believe we’re at a turning point<br />
to where we’re going to see armoring<br />
of vehicles very prevalent<br />
moving forward,” he adds.<br />
Sabo explains initially police<br />
departments were looking at<br />
ballistic protection for vehicles<br />
as costly, but now departments<br />
are finding it’s something that<br />
they may put in their budgets<br />
because of the recent attacks on<br />
officers.<br />
“I think we’re just scratching<br />
the surface on where it’s going<br />
to go. I think the percentage of<br />
doors and windows and windshields<br />
that are armored in the<br />
country is minuscule compared<br />
to the actual cars on the road,”<br />
Sabo says.<br />
Proving Protection<br />
Dana Safety Supply works with<br />
several glass manufactures that<br />
produce ballistic windshields to<br />
their specifications and another<br />
vendor for the side window<br />
glass. <strong>No</strong> standard certification<br />
exists for ballistic glass; however,<br />
ballistic glass is commonly<br />
categorized by the equivalent<br />
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)<br />
terminologies for armor protection<br />
ratings. Ballistic windshields<br />
are a glass-resin-film hybrid and<br />
Sabo says they are designed to<br />
stop handgun rounds.<br />
“The glass is tested to Level IIIA<br />
standards, although there are<br />
no current NIJ test standards for<br />
ballistic glass,” explains Sabo.<br />
“The majority, and probably<br />
close to <strong>10</strong>0% of agencies, are<br />
going with a Level IIIA product.<br />
44 The BLUES The BLUES 45
Level III product and Level IV<br />
product is available, but when<br />
you get to the Level III and Level<br />
IV product the vehicle modification<br />
can get rather extensive<br />
and the visibility can be affected<br />
as well.”<br />
If an agency decided to use<br />
Level IV, it would be thicker,<br />
heavier, much more costly, and<br />
require extensive vehicle modification.<br />
To handle such heavy<br />
ballistic protection, Sabo says<br />
a department would need to<br />
change drivetrain parts of the<br />
car because of added weight.<br />
For the Level IIIA windshield<br />
and side glass there are some<br />
minor modifications needed to<br />
the vehicle. The ballistic windshields<br />
do not allow return fire<br />
by an officer, but ballistic side<br />
windows do. The company also<br />
works with Angel Armor to<br />
provide Level IIIA ballistic door<br />
panels.<br />
“Back in the day, you would<br />
look at that expense as prohibitive.<br />
These days, you’d have<br />
to look at it as necessary. It’s<br />
just an important part of the<br />
equipment package and if you<br />
quantify it over the five years of<br />
the vehicle, it’s kind of negligible,”<br />
he says. “Frankly, it’s the<br />
time. Certain products have a<br />
time where all of a sudden,<br />
they become very, very viable.”<br />
Dana Safety Supply is working<br />
closely with Texas DPS to<br />
install ballistic glass in a large<br />
portion of their fleet and also<br />
has helped many other departments<br />
of all sizes. Some<br />
departments update an entire<br />
fleet of vehicles at once while<br />
others choose to add ballistic<br />
protection into new builds as<br />
older vehicles are retired.<br />
Protecting The Flanks<br />
About seven years ago, officers<br />
were being shot while still in<br />
their patrol vehicles frequently in<br />
the larger cities and one company<br />
took note, then action.<br />
Officers in New York City and<br />
Philadelphia are better protected<br />
from gunfire from the side<br />
through the help of Hardwire<br />
LLC, a company that offers Level<br />
IIIA B-Kit armored door panels<br />
and Level IIIA transparent armor<br />
window inserts.<br />
“We had seen the officer assassinations<br />
up in New York City<br />
and just figured we could help;<br />
we could do something different<br />
because the officers were<br />
being shot through the window<br />
or through the doors fairly regularly.<br />
We came out with both<br />
the B-Kit and the window armor<br />
at the same time knowing that<br />
we wanted to keep the weight<br />
on the door as light as possible,”<br />
says George Tunis, Hardwire CEO.<br />
Tunis recalls about seven years<br />
ago a story was published in<br />
POLICE Magazine about ballistic<br />
vehicle protection offered by<br />
Hardwire. As a result, he says,<br />
the company received a call<br />
from officials in New York asking<br />
them to visit and explain the<br />
products. After that, Hardwire<br />
launched a pilot program to upfit<br />
police cars in New York City with<br />
both forms of side protection.<br />
“The pilot program went really,<br />
really well and then it was<br />
decided to roll it out across the<br />
city,” explains Tunis. He says<br />
thousands of cars were armored<br />
with the window insert and B-Kit<br />
following the success of the pilot<br />
program. That number eventually<br />
grew to tens of thousands<br />
of cars, he says, as the company<br />
began working to upfit police<br />
cars in Philadelphia also. Cost<br />
for the B-kit and window insert<br />
is roughly $3,000 per door, however<br />
large municipalities with<br />
hundreds of cars may see a price<br />
break, he explains.<br />
The two ballistic items not only<br />
provide protection from gunfire<br />
but also shield officers from<br />
thrown items such as cinder<br />
blocks, bricks, stones, jugs full<br />
of concrete, and Tunis says they<br />
may even add strength to the<br />
vehicle during a side-impact<br />
collision.<br />
Door Armor<br />
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s<br />
football, warfare, or policing, the<br />
flank is always one of the most<br />
vulnerable areas,” says Tunis.<br />
“We’re able to armor the entire<br />
outside of the door to cut down<br />
any shot line that comes from<br />
an officer’s flank. That includes<br />
the door handle, which is really<br />
a critical area because it lines<br />
up almost exactly with your vital<br />
organs.”<br />
The vehicle door armor is designed<br />
using the same technology<br />
trusted by the U.S. military.<br />
The ballistic panels, made from<br />
Dynema and sometimes Spectra,<br />
are bolted onto the existing door.<br />
A drill jig makes preparing the<br />
attachment points easy. The door<br />
is then installed using anti-tampering<br />
bolts and AVK automotive<br />
fasteners. Part of the simplicity<br />
is that the interior of the door<br />
does not have to be removed<br />
during installation. An outer<br />
shell of ABS goes over the panel<br />
and is scratch and kick resistant<br />
plus can easily accept paint or<br />
decals the departments uses.<br />
Four men can easily upfit a<br />
patrol vehicle with both the B-kit<br />
door armor plus the transparent<br />
armor window insert in <strong>10</strong> minutes,<br />
according to Tunis. And if a<br />
patrol vehicle is damaged in an<br />
accident, both armor elements<br />
can easily be moved to another<br />
like-model vehicle.<br />
Most departments that choose<br />
to armor the side of patrol<br />
vehicles go with both the door<br />
armor and the window protection,<br />
Tunis says. With both<br />
the window and the B-kit, the<br />
added weight to the vehicle is<br />
between 20 and 24 pounds per<br />
door.<br />
“We have definitely found in<br />
our experience working in New<br />
York and Philadelphia, as our<br />
primary big roll out cities, that<br />
bad guys shy away from hardened<br />
targets. Armor that is visible<br />
is a deterrent,” Tunis says.<br />
Transparent Armor<br />
“The window is a critical component<br />
in armoring a car door<br />
for the simple fact people will<br />
shoot at what they are looking<br />
at,” says Tunis.<br />
Hardwire’s Level IIIA+ window<br />
insert is tested under different<br />
specifications than body armor,<br />
and is made of layers of laminated<br />
polycarbonate, not glass.<br />
The window inserts have emergency<br />
egress when needed and<br />
do not interfere with normal<br />
operation of the original glass<br />
windows.<br />
A huge importance in crafting<br />
quality transparent armor<br />
is creating a design that does<br />
not delaminate and Hardwire<br />
has not had delamination issues<br />
with the window inserts.<br />
“It’s a very specific recipe<br />
that we’ve come out with that<br />
has withstood the test of time,<br />
which is not just ballistically the<br />
test of time, but it is the New<br />
York-Philadelphia [weather] test<br />
of time, which can be pretty<br />
brutal,” Tunis says.<br />
With higher levels of protection,<br />
such as moving up to NIJ<br />
III or IV, delamination becomes<br />
more of a problem since those<br />
items usually are a glass-polycarbonate<br />
system. Those higher<br />
levels of transparent protection<br />
are usually found in military vehicles<br />
and Tunis says the United<br />
States military often has faced<br />
problems with delamination.<br />
Tunis, like Sabo, believes<br />
the time is right for agencies<br />
to adopt vehicle armor given<br />
the nature of the job and the<br />
increasing severity of threats<br />
to officers. He also thinks cost<br />
is no longer as prohibitive to<br />
departments when considering<br />
officer safety.<br />
“I don’t think there’s literally<br />
a price we can put on officer<br />
safety. When it’s your dad or<br />
your uncle or your son or your<br />
daughter or mom, there’s really<br />
no price that can be put on officer<br />
safety if they’re going to be<br />
in the line of fire,” he says.<br />
46 The BLUES The BLUES 47
The Evolution of<br />
POLICE CARS<br />
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE<br />
Over the years, I guess you could say just about every car manufactured has been a police car at one<br />
time or another. The first “police vehicle” was actually a wagon run by electricity on the streets of Akron,<br />
Ohio in 1899.<br />
In the 1920s the New York City Police Department has employed a fleet of “Radio Motor Patrol” vehicles<br />
to aid in its fight against crime within the city.<br />
In the United States and Canada, police departments have historically used standard-size, low-price<br />
line sedans since the days of the Ford Model A.<br />
In this 3-part series, we’ll look back at the history of the police car beginning with a 1899 police patrol<br />
wagon; what the “big 3” have in store for the 2023 models; and look into the future to see what you<br />
might be driving and or flying in 2031.<br />
1899<br />
2023<br />
2031<br />
48 48 The The BLUES The The BLUES 49 49
PART II - 2023 Model Year Offerings<br />
2023 FORDS<br />
2023 Ford Interceptor Utility “Explorer”<br />
What’s new for the Explorer<br />
platform for 2023? Actually, it’s<br />
pretty much the same as both the<br />
’21 and ’22 models.<br />
The new 4th generation hybrid<br />
system, which became the first<br />
for police duty, is still available<br />
along with several power train<br />
options.<br />
For the 2023 Police Interceptor<br />
Utility, the standard drivetrain is<br />
the 3.3-liter V-6 hybrid with a<br />
combined 318 hp and 322 lb.-ft<br />
of torque. Optional power trains<br />
are the 285-hp, 260-lb-ft naturally<br />
aspirated 3.3-liter or the<br />
400-hp, 415-lb-ft 3.0-liter turbocharged<br />
EcoBoost V-6. All are<br />
mated to a <strong>10</strong>-speed automatic,<br />
and all-wheel drive is standard.<br />
And the new Hybrid System as<br />
well.<br />
Ford recently provided some<br />
standard hybrids at its test track<br />
in Dearborn for several police<br />
departments to try out. Explorers<br />
are modified to become Interceptors,<br />
including upgrading the<br />
engine so when the controller<br />
senses pursuit driving, it engages<br />
special tuning optimized<br />
for quicker throttle response,<br />
transmission logic, and reduced<br />
concern for fuel consumption. A<br />
short course was set up to drivers<br />
a chance to accelerate hard,<br />
slam on the brakes, and corner<br />
around some cones. The time<br />
behind the wheel was only a few<br />
minutes, but it was enough to<br />
discern a few things.<br />
Tossing the SUV into gear is via<br />
a traditional column shifter for<br />
police duty—the civilian Explorer<br />
has a rotary dial, which you<br />
don’t want to be fiddling with<br />
when every second counts.<br />
The larger brakes on the police<br />
vehicle have serious bite. Coming<br />
to a hard stop was effortless.<br />
Trying to brake gently was<br />
not: They grabbed hard with the<br />
slightest touch. Ford vehicle dynamics<br />
engineer Shin Scott said<br />
he has spent a lot of time in the<br />
Explorer and the Interceptor and<br />
appreciates the ability to brake<br />
late in the police vehicle and still<br />
negotiate turns. “You get really<br />
used to them, and then you find<br />
that you really enjoy them. You<br />
know that they are there, especially<br />
at the really high-speed<br />
braking points.”<br />
The Interceptor’s immediate<br />
torque, providing an initial jump<br />
in response, brings it to high<br />
speeds quickly and requires<br />
more from the brakes, Scott said.<br />
“To be able to get the brakes<br />
right when you want them is<br />
really important.” We also noticed<br />
how quickly the vehicle<br />
decelerates when you lift your<br />
foot off the gas. The engineer<br />
said the police hybrid is tuned<br />
for track work, and the regen is<br />
programmed to produce power<br />
at different times than the regular<br />
Explorer. Cooling upgrades<br />
include special ducts to cool the<br />
brakes.<br />
Michigan State Police testing<br />
recorded a top speed of 137 mph<br />
for the hybrid and 149 mph for<br />
the EcoBoost, with 0-60 mph<br />
taking just 7.3 seconds for the<br />
hybrid, 7.8 for the 3.3, and 5.8 for<br />
the 3.0-liter EcoBoost. Overall<br />
performance was deemed superior<br />
to even the V-8 competition<br />
from Dodge and Chevy.<br />
Here are just some of the<br />
standard features and options of<br />
the 2023 Ford Police Interceptor<br />
Utility<br />
STANDARD HYBRID/AWD<br />
POWERTRAIN<br />
The simple fact is this: Police<br />
vehicles spend a lot of time<br />
idling on the job. That’s what<br />
makes the standard hybrid powertrain<br />
on the Police Interceptor<br />
Utility ideal for law enforcement.<br />
On-board electrical equipment<br />
can be powered using the lithium-ion<br />
hybrid battery, allowing<br />
the gasoline engine to shut off<br />
– running only intermittently to<br />
charge the battery. The standard<br />
Intelligent AWD drivetrain pro-<br />
50 The BLUES The BLUES 51<br />
50 The BLUES The BLUES 51
vides improved handling stability<br />
and traction in all driving conditions.<br />
It also offers significant<br />
improvements in fuel economy<br />
and reduced engine idle time<br />
(compared with the previous<br />
model), along with across-theboard<br />
improvements in performance<br />
and capability.<br />
75-MPH REAR-IMPACT<br />
CRASH-TEST RATED*<br />
The Ford Police Interceptor<br />
Utility continues a tradition of<br />
extreme officer protection. It’s<br />
the only vehicle, worldwide,<br />
engineered to meet the 75-MPH<br />
rear-impact crash test.* Beyond<br />
that, the SPACE (Side Protection<br />
and Cabin Enhancement) Architecture,®<br />
along with structural<br />
reinforcement, work to protect<br />
officers on the job.<br />
AVAILABLE 12.1-INCH INTE-<br />
GRATED COMPUTER SCREEN<br />
The available 12.1-inch Integrated<br />
Computer Screen on the<br />
Ford Police Interceptor® Utility<br />
reduces clutter and frees<br />
up valuable space in the front<br />
passenger cabin by allowing<br />
on-board laptops to be relocated<br />
to the rear cargo area. The<br />
touchscreen display takes place<br />
of the laptop display and can<br />
potentially eliminate the need<br />
for a keyboard in the cabin as<br />
well. With an easy connection<br />
in the cargo area, and no special<br />
software required to operate,<br />
laptop setup is streamlined. The<br />
available 12.1-inch Integrated<br />
Computer Screen also includes<br />
SYNC® with vehicle audio controls<br />
integrated right into the<br />
display.<br />
AVAILABLE POLICE PERIME-<br />
TER ALERT<br />
Police Perimeter Alert is a<br />
much-improved, factory-installed<br />
version of Surveillance<br />
Mode. It uses BLIS® (Blind Spot<br />
Information System) sensors<br />
for approximately 270-degree<br />
monitoring outside of the vehicle<br />
and analyzes the motion<br />
to determine if a behavior is<br />
a potential threat. It features<br />
a visual display in the instrument<br />
panel cluster that shows<br />
moving objects, the motion<br />
trail and potential threat level.<br />
When potentially threatening<br />
behavior is detected, it also<br />
will sound a chime, activate<br />
the Rear View Camera, and<br />
automatically roll up the windows<br />
and lock the doors.<br />
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning PRO SSV<br />
Ford unveils America’s first electric pickup truck purpose-built for police.<br />
Ford Pro continues to help<br />
guide cities into an electrified,<br />
software-driven world with the<br />
launch of America’s first electric<br />
pickup truck purpose-built<br />
for police: the 2023 Ford F-150®<br />
Lightning Pro Special Service<br />
Vehicle.<br />
Ford has been providing police<br />
departments with the vehicles<br />
they need to protect and serve<br />
communities for more than 70<br />
years. Currently, Ford Pro customers<br />
include more than 12,000<br />
police departments across the<br />
country and its police vehicle<br />
lineup outsells all other police<br />
vehicles combined1. The company<br />
attributes this success and<br />
customer loyalty to the automaker’s<br />
close collaboration with<br />
its customers, specifically the<br />
Ford Police Advisory Board.<br />
“We’re proud to offer America’s<br />
first electric police pickup<br />
truck to local government customers<br />
who can use the truck’s<br />
game-changing technology to<br />
help improve their productivity,”<br />
said Nate Oscarson, Ford<br />
Pro national government sales<br />
manager. “Pro Power Onboard<br />
can serve as a mobile power<br />
source2 to light up evening<br />
accident scenes on the highway,<br />
the electric powertrain helps to<br />
potentially reduce costs associated<br />
with fuel and scheduled<br />
maintenance needs3 and the<br />
Mega Power Frunk provides<br />
extra lockable storage on top of<br />
purpose-built police additions<br />
our customers have come to<br />
expect from the leader in police<br />
vehicles.”<br />
An intelligent electric truck<br />
purpose-built for police<br />
The 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning<br />
Pro SSV blends familiar<br />
Built Ford Tough® power and<br />
performance, including available<br />
sub-four-second 0-60 mph<br />
acceleration capabilities4, with<br />
the vehicle’s high-tech electric<br />
52 The BLUES The BLUES 53
platform and innovation with<br />
Ford Pro’s real-time software<br />
and support.<br />
The F-150 Lightning Pro SSV is<br />
designed to handle specialized<br />
departmental needs outside of<br />
pursuit situations, such as assisting<br />
at an accident or crime scene<br />
or giving departments the ability<br />
to tow a boat or trailer. Purpose-built<br />
features from F-150<br />
Police Responder® include:<br />
Police-grade heavy-duty cloth<br />
seats with reduced bolsters to<br />
help holstered officers enter and<br />
exit the vehicle more easily<br />
Built-in steel intrusion plates in<br />
the front seat backs.<br />
Available red/blue, amber/<br />
white roof-mounted LED warning<br />
beacons<br />
An upfit-friendly reinforced instrument<br />
panel top tray for easy<br />
mounting of police equipment<br />
Easy-to-clean vinyl rear seats<br />
and vinyl flooring<br />
Standard features include:<br />
Interior: 12-inch digital cluster<br />
screen and 12-inch landscape-style<br />
touchscreen on the<br />
center stack<br />
Exterior: Mega Power Frunk<br />
gives officers 14.1 cubic feet of<br />
lockable cargo area in the front<br />
and offers easy access for upfitters<br />
to locate a 220-amp DC-DC<br />
power source<br />
Targeted performance and<br />
capability: 452 horsepower, 775<br />
lb.-ft. of torque5, 7,700-pound<br />
towing capacity6 and 2,235<br />
maximum payload7 with a standard-range<br />
battery, and subfour-second<br />
0-60 mph acceleration4,<br />
580 horsepower, 775 lb.-ft.<br />
of torque5, and <strong>10</strong>,000-pound<br />
towing capability6 with the extended-range<br />
battery<br />
Technology: Intelligent Range,<br />
SYNC® 4, over-the-air Ford<br />
Power Up software updates and<br />
Ford Co-Pilot360 technology,<br />
including Automatic Emergency<br />
Braking and Blindspot Information<br />
System (BLIS®) with<br />
Cross-Traffic Alert8<br />
Accelerating productivity and<br />
sustainability with the Ford Pro<br />
platform<br />
As part of Ford Pro’s platform<br />
of connected vehicles, software<br />
and services, the targeted<br />
zero-emissions9 police truck<br />
comes pre-configured to seamlessly<br />
connect to a department’s<br />
existing fleet of Ford and non-<br />
Ford internal combustion engine<br />
and battery-electric vehicles,<br />
chargers, and fleet management<br />
software. When used together,<br />
police departments can proactively<br />
manage when vehicles are<br />
charged and serviced, resulting<br />
in potentially lower operating<br />
costs and improved uptime.<br />
More information on 2023<br />
F-150 Lightning, including range,<br />
will be released later this summer.<br />
For more information on<br />
America’s first electric truck<br />
purpose-built for law enforcement,<br />
please visit www.ford.<br />
com/police-vehicles/ssv/.<br />
2023 Ford F-150 Police Responder<br />
The all-new 2021 Ford F-150<br />
Police Responder® continues to be<br />
the only pursuit-rated pickup truck<br />
on the market. And now, thanks to<br />
on-the-beat insights from law enforcement<br />
professionals, it’s been<br />
enhanced to an even higher degree<br />
of street performance and off-road<br />
capability.<br />
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE<br />
In pursuit situations, the new 2023<br />
F-150 Police Responder delivers<br />
improved top-speed capability, now<br />
increased to 120 mph from the previous<br />
<strong>10</strong>5 mph in prior year models.<br />
A Solid Grip on the Job<br />
With the demands of law enforcement,<br />
standard tires just<br />
won’t cut it. New police-specialized<br />
all-terrain tires allow for both<br />
exceptional off-road capability and<br />
the improved top-speed on-road<br />
performance of the 2021 Ford F-150<br />
Police Responder.<br />
SAFE TO BE LEFT SOLO<br />
The new, available Police Engine<br />
Idle feature allows for secure idling.<br />
It prevents the 2021 Ford F-150 Police<br />
Responder® from being driven<br />
unless an authorized key is present.<br />
INSTALLS MADE EASY<br />
A universal top tray on the 2021<br />
F-150 Police Responder® dash<br />
allows for easy mounting of aftermarket<br />
hardware. This includes<br />
lights, radios and radar equipment.<br />
SYNC® 4 WITH OVER-THE-AIR<br />
UPDATES<br />
Standard SYNC 4 makes it possible<br />
to use your voice to control<br />
some of your favorite compatible<br />
smartphone apps. SYNC 4 includes<br />
advanced Over-the-Air Updates<br />
capability for wireless upgrades.<br />
Meanwhile, available SYNC 4 with<br />
Enhanced Voice Recognition brings<br />
new levels of intelligence to the<br />
F-150 Police Responder® with<br />
natural voice control using cloudbased<br />
connectivity and conversational<br />
voice recognition, as well<br />
as expanded touch-free control of<br />
vehicle functions.<br />
BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert<br />
Available BLIS (Blind Spot Information<br />
System) uses radar to<br />
identify if a vehicle is detected in<br />
your blind spots. It instantly alerts<br />
you with an indicator light in the<br />
appropriate exterior mirror. The<br />
Cross-Traffic Alert feature also<br />
uses this radar to watch for traffic<br />
behind you as you’re slowly backing<br />
out of a parking spot or driveway.<br />
If Cross-Traffic Alert sensors detect<br />
a vehicle, you will be audibly and<br />
visually alerted.<br />
EASIER TOWING AND A 360° VIEW<br />
Available Pro Trailer Backup Assist<br />
makes backing up a trailer as easy<br />
as turning a knob. Simply rotate the<br />
knob left or right in the direction<br />
you want the trailer to go while the<br />
system controls the steering wheel.<br />
The available 360-Degree Camera<br />
Package also gives you a bird’s-eye<br />
view all around the F-150 Police<br />
Responder.<br />
54 The BLUES The BLUES 55
2023 DODGES<br />
2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit<br />
The Dodge Charge Pursuit<br />
model was New and Improved<br />
for 2021. In 2023 it’s been fined<br />
tuned and unfortunately this will<br />
be its FINAL YEAR.<br />
I’m sure you’ve heard, Dodge<br />
is phasing out its ICE engines<br />
and in the process canceled its<br />
Challenger and Charger line of<br />
vehicles.<br />
Which in turn leaves Dodge<br />
with only one Police Vehicle<br />
after 2023 - The Dodge Durango<br />
Pursuit.<br />
But if you can find your way<br />
onto an order sheet, it’s not too<br />
late to replenish your fleet of<br />
MOPARS.<br />
Dodge, Plymouth and Chrysler<br />
have been a mainstay in the police<br />
car business since the 1940’s.<br />
And when the goal is to protect<br />
and serve, the new 2023 Dodge<br />
police vehicles answer the call.<br />
They come fully equipped with<br />
many of the power, technology,<br />
safety and security features necessary<br />
to help keep officers safe,<br />
sound and secure, from shift to<br />
shift. All in the name of the law.<br />
All in the pursuit of justice.<br />
The 2023 Dodge Charger Pursuit<br />
came together to create a<br />
purpose-built vehicle that offers<br />
impressive capabilities and comprehensive<br />
standard and available<br />
safety and security features.<br />
Both vehicles in the Dodge<br />
Law Enforcement portfolio offer<br />
protection and purposeful engineering.<br />
Safety and security<br />
features include: the ParkView®<br />
Rear Back Up Camera, Rain Brake<br />
Support and Ready Alert Braking,<br />
a high-strength steel safety<br />
frame, available ballistic frontdoor<br />
panels and more.<br />
Officers rely on a partner they<br />
can trust, and our standard<br />
and available engines offer the<br />
power and performance they can<br />
count on. The 3.6L Pentastar®<br />
V6 engine delivers outstanding<br />
performance and impressive<br />
efficiency. When the job calls<br />
for a tough V8, few engines<br />
carry the legacy and command<br />
respect like the legendary available<br />
5.7L HEMI® V8 engine. All-<br />
Wheel Drive (AWD) is available<br />
on the Charger Pursuit when<br />
equipped with the standard<br />
3.6L V6 engine. Equip your fleet<br />
with cutting-edge technology<br />
that is both functional and officer-friendly.<br />
Tech features include<br />
multi view full-color<br />
customizable displays, a<br />
Driver Information Digital<br />
Cluster Display with dozens<br />
of graphics that communicate<br />
vehicle data and available<br />
Uconnect® systems<br />
with hands-free voice-activated<br />
commands. In addition,<br />
the available Equipment<br />
Mounting Bracket and<br />
the Patrol Package Base<br />
Prep allow for the addition<br />
of police-specific communications<br />
and equipment.<br />
CHARGER PURSUIT EQUIPMENT<br />
• Power trains:<br />
• Alternator — 220-amp<br />
• Badge Delete<br />
• Battery — 800-CCA Absorbent<br />
Glass Mat (AGM) maintenance-free<br />
• Column-Mounted Automatic<br />
Shifter with AutoStick<br />
• Spare Tire — Full-size<br />
56 The BLUES The BLUES 57
• Heavy-Duty Cloth Bucket Seats with<br />
Vinyl Rear Bench — Includes six-way<br />
power driver’s seat<br />
• Heavy-Duty Vinyl Floor Covering<br />
Police-Specific Front Seats — Accommodates<br />
full-duty belts<br />
• Rear Door and Window Deactivation<br />
Tire Service Kit<br />
• 3.6L Pentastar® V6 Engine with<br />
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and 8-speed<br />
TorqueFlite® Transmission<br />
• 5.7L HEMI® V8 Variable Valve Timing<br />
(VVT) Engine with Fuel Saver Technology<br />
• Vehicle System Interface Module (VSIM)<br />
• Fleet Safety Group<br />
• Entire Fleet-Alike Key<br />
• <strong>No</strong>n-Alike Key Fobs, Two<br />
• Street Appearance Group<br />
• Heavy-Duty Cloth Front Bucket Seats<br />
and Vinyl Rear Bench Seats<br />
SAFETY & SECURITY<br />
• Active Head Restraints(25)<br />
• Air Bags(21) — Advanced multistage<br />
front, supplemental front-seat-mounted<br />
side thorax and supplemental<br />
side-curtain<br />
• Driver’s- and Passenger-Side Ballistic<br />
Door Panels<br />
• Driver’s- and Passenger-Side Steel<br />
Seat back Panel Inserts<br />
• Four-Wheel Heavy-Duty Disc Brakes<br />
with Unique Electronic Stability Control<br />
(ESC),(6) including All-Speed Traction<br />
Control and Brake Assist<br />
• ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System,(11)<br />
including ParkView® Rear<br />
Back-Up Camera(1)<br />
• Safety Cage Construction — Exceeds<br />
federal mandates for strength<br />
• Secure Park — The system prevents<br />
idling cars from being driven without<br />
the key fob in the vehicle<br />
• Dodge Air Filtration System<br />
AVAILABLE FLEET FEATURES<br />
• Patrol Package Base Prep<br />
• Driver’s- and Passenger-Side Steel<br />
Seat back Panel Inserts<br />
• Driver’s- and Passenger-Side Ballistic<br />
Door Panels<br />
• Rear Door and Window Deactivation<br />
• Police Floor Console<br />
• Optional 130-mph Maximum Speed<br />
Calibration<br />
• Convenience Group I — Power eightway<br />
driver’s and passenger seats with<br />
power four-way lumbar-adjusts — •<br />
Power-adjust pedals<br />
• Patrol Package Wiring Prep Package —<br />
Includes front and rear wiring harness<br />
and Power Distribution Center<br />
WE CATER TO ALL<br />
LAW ENFORCEMENT.<br />
Turnkey quotes available with<br />
upfit partners that will take care of<br />
all your emergency equipment needs<br />
Doug Adams<br />
Fleet/Commercial/Municipality Manager<br />
Police Tahoe and Police Truck Specialist<br />
972-952-1561 direct line<br />
dadams@reliablechevrolet.com<br />
58 The BLUES The BLUES 59
2023 DODGES<br />
2023 Dodge Durango Pursuit<br />
The Ford Police Interceptor<br />
Utility (aka the Explorer) may<br />
be the most commonly law<br />
enforcement vehicle, but some<br />
departments opt for the Dodge<br />
Durango Pursuit instead. The<br />
Durango received minor updates<br />
for 2023, mostly coming down<br />
to quality of life changes from<br />
the 2020 models.<br />
To start, the 2023 Dodge<br />
Durango Pursuit now gets the<br />
eight-speed automatic transmission<br />
across both the V6 and<br />
V8 options. The former mates<br />
up to a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6<br />
with all-wheel drive. Police<br />
departments opting for Hemi<br />
power will get rear-wheel drive<br />
instead. FCA says the V6 has<br />
more horsepower and torque,<br />
but did not dive into technical<br />
figures.<br />
The 2023 Dodge Durango<br />
Pursuit carries on more or less<br />
unchanged, save again some<br />
quality of life changes. FCA<br />
moved the shifter up onto the<br />
instrument panel to free up<br />
space<br />
The updated Durango Pursuit<br />
also includes a “Vehicle Systems<br />
Interface Module” to make<br />
upfitting equipment easier. A<br />
heavy-duty ‘BR9’ brake package<br />
comes with this model, as does<br />
standard vinyl flooring and a<br />
three-zone climate control system<br />
to accommodate the needs<br />
of K-9 units. The Durango Pursuit’s<br />
top speed is limited to 130 mph.<br />
2023 FACT SHEET<br />
• All Durango Pursuit models feature<br />
AWD and offer the standard 3.6-liter<br />
Pentastar V-6 engine rated at 293<br />
horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque or<br />
the available 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 model<br />
that’s rated at a best-in-class 360<br />
horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque<br />
• Dodge Durango Pursuit V-8 includes<br />
the segment’s most technologically<br />
advanced AWD system with a segment-exclusive<br />
active transfer case to<br />
improve real-world fuel economy while<br />
also enhancing the vehicle’s traction<br />
and handling<br />
Pursuit-rated hardware: performance-tuned<br />
suspension, load-leveling<br />
NIVOMAT shocks,<br />
• 13.8-inch front and 13.0-inch rear<br />
pursuit-rated brake package, front- and<br />
rear-stabilizer bars, 18-inch tires on<br />
aluminum wheels and electronic stability<br />
control (ESC)<br />
• Up to an EPA-estimated 25 miles per<br />
gallon (mpg) highway with the 3.6-liter<br />
Pentastar V-6 and 22 mph highway<br />
with the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine<br />
• 2023 Durango Pursuit is available with<br />
a spot lamp wiring prep package, red/<br />
white auxiliary dome lamp and, when<br />
equipped with a HEMI V-8 engine, 800<br />
cold cranking amp (CCA) battery<br />
Best-in-class 7,200-lbs. towing capability<br />
and available trailer tow<br />
Under-vehicle mount for spare tire,<br />
maximizing interior cargo space and<br />
accessibility<br />
8.1 inches of ground clearance for offroad<br />
capability<br />
Electronic eight-speed transmission<br />
for improved responsiveness and fuel<br />
economy<br />
Class-exclusive, K-9-friendly tri-zone<br />
interior temperature control<br />
Segment’s longest wheelbase (120<br />
inches) for added stability and handling<br />
ParkView rear backup camera with<br />
ParkSense<br />
Eight-way power adjusting driver seat<br />
controls<br />
Certified speedometer<br />
220-amp alternator<br />
60 The BLUES The BLUES 61
2023 CHEVY<br />
2023 Chevrolet Tahoe PPV<br />
The All-New 2023 Chevrolet<br />
Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicle<br />
has been engineered and built<br />
to meet the extensive needs of<br />
today’s law enforcement community.<br />
Using the All-New 2023<br />
Chevy Tahoe as its foundation,<br />
Tahoe PPV features all the<br />
performance of its predecessor,<br />
with a smooth ride, greater<br />
interior space, larger load capacity<br />
(GVWR†) and new towing<br />
technology. Inside, an ergonomic<br />
design tailored to officers makes<br />
entry and exit easier while the<br />
police-specific seats are contoured<br />
to accommodate duty<br />
belts. Plus, extensive electrical<br />
architecture featuring updated<br />
wiring harnesses simplifies upfitting<br />
in both the front row and<br />
cargo areas.<br />
NEW FOR 2023<br />
“ROOM FOR’ ESSENTIALS”<br />
• 125.9 cu. ft. max cargo volume<br />
behind front seat.<br />
• 70.3 cu. ft. max cargo volume<br />
behind second row seat.<br />
• 123.2 cu. ft. passenger compartment<br />
volume index.<br />
• Available second-row seat<br />
delete reduces costs.<br />
• Increased trailering capacity<br />
up to 6,000 lbs. for 2WD and<br />
optional 4WD to help eliminate<br />
the need for a dedicated towing<br />
vehicle.<br />
USING SIZE TO ITS ADVAN-<br />
TAGE<br />
• Improved ergonomics help<br />
officers get in and out of the<br />
vehicle.<br />
• Greater views thanks to larger<br />
dimensions and high roofline.<br />
• Rear door openings are 3 1/2”<br />
wider than previous generation<br />
to make loading passengers<br />
easier.<br />
KEEPING A LOOKOUT<br />
• Larger side view mirrors<br />
• Steering wheel-mounted<br />
switches to help operate aftermarket<br />
emergency equipment.<br />
Vehicle system signals for door<br />
ajar, brakes applied, transmission<br />
in Park, surveillance mode,<br />
instrument panel dimming.<br />
BUILT FOR LIFE ON THE BEAT<br />
• All-new <strong>10</strong>-speed transmission<br />
with on-dash button selector<br />
creates more space for emergency<br />
equipment and upfits.<br />
Improved battery capabilities<br />
with dual batteries providing<br />
900 CCA and 760 CCA with 250-<br />
amp alternator.<br />
• 6-piston front Brembo® brake<br />
calipers with 16” front rotors<br />
(increased 3” in diameter) and<br />
eBoost antilock brakes to reduce<br />
driver effort and improve control.<br />
• Available 4WD with Autotrac<br />
electronic transfer case and Terrain<br />
Mode helps officers stay on<br />
track when the pursuit leaves the<br />
pavement.<br />
2023 Chevy Tahoe Police Package<br />
62 The BLUES The BLUES 63
UPFITTING<br />
Outsource UpFitting?<br />
Should a government fleet upfit<br />
its new police cars in-house or<br />
send the job elsewhere? It depends<br />
on staffing, fleet size, and<br />
how the fleet operates, as well as<br />
external factors such as regulations<br />
and vendor availability.<br />
Sean Williams, fleet and procurement<br />
manager for Collier<br />
County Sheriff’s Office in Florida,<br />
believes whether an agency keeps<br />
or sends out this work depends<br />
on the structure of the organization<br />
and the complexity of the<br />
vehicle. For the Sheriff’s Office,<br />
outsourcing this work has proven<br />
to be the best solution.<br />
“I don’t have the staffing levels<br />
that allow me to manage<br />
it in-house. I do some updating<br />
in-house…but new upfitting<br />
for me is <strong>10</strong>0% outsourced just<br />
because of the time it takes to<br />
do it and the size of my staff,” he<br />
explained.<br />
Williams, who is president of<br />
the Florida Association of Governmental<br />
Fleet Administrators<br />
(FLAGFA), manages a fleet<br />
of 1,060 vehicles, about 450 of<br />
which are patrol cars. Up to 90%<br />
of vehicles purchased require<br />
some form of upfitting, and he<br />
has six technician positions at the<br />
maintenance facility. He purchased<br />
about <strong>10</strong>0 new vehicles in<br />
2016, and the complexity of many<br />
of the upfits and his small staff<br />
size means it’s more efficient to<br />
send the work out.<br />
“How complex are my vehicles?<br />
What does a patrol or the agency’s<br />
requirements call for that<br />
goes into the vehicle? Do they<br />
have video? Do they have radars,<br />
printers, gun locks, or gun boxes?<br />
If they have all that, sometimes<br />
it’s so time-consuming that it’s<br />
hard for a fleet management<br />
operation to do that internally,”<br />
he said.<br />
He instead set out to find the<br />
best vendor for the job and three<br />
years ago, began using a local<br />
vendor in the radio business that<br />
wanted to expand to upfitting.<br />
This outsourced work also allows<br />
in-house technicians to focus<br />
on aggressive preventive maintenance<br />
to keep vehicles on the<br />
road.<br />
For Keith Marian, fleet manager<br />
at the City of Orange, Calif.,<br />
moving to outsourced police fleet<br />
upfitting eight years ago was a<br />
smart decision. Marian oversees a<br />
diverse fleet of 418 vehicles — 48<br />
of which are black-and-white<br />
patrol units and about 20 more<br />
police vehicles that require specialized<br />
equipment. He purchases<br />
between 12 and 15 patrol vehicles<br />
each year.<br />
Previously, the fleet dedicated<br />
one technician who worked on<br />
building out police vehicles about<br />
75% of the time. At the time,<br />
workload increased, and it was<br />
taking him longer to complete the<br />
job; the Police Department didn’t<br />
want to wait. Rather than invest<br />
in additional resources to speed<br />
up the process, Marian decided to<br />
send it out to a local vendor with<br />
a detailed build specification.<br />
Marian said it’s a faster method,<br />
and the cost is about the same as<br />
having fleet staff do the work.<br />
The Florida Highway Patrol,<br />
in contrast, chooses to upfit its<br />
fleet of 2,345 vehicles in-house,<br />
2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE PPVs<br />
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64 The BLUES The BLUES 65
UPFITTING<br />
Keep Police Car Upfitting in House.<br />
even though it doesn’t do its own<br />
maintenance and repairs. It has<br />
a central installation facility near<br />
Jacksonville that employs 12<br />
technicians and three production<br />
support personnel. In 2016, the<br />
facility completed 355 vehicle<br />
installations.<br />
With a land area of nearly<br />
54,000 miles, it’s more efficient<br />
for the Florida Highway Patrol to<br />
leave maintenance and repair to<br />
the 13 troops around the state.<br />
“Yet when you talk about<br />
upfitting, we found that with a<br />
centralized installation facility,<br />
we can be more efficient than<br />
other shops. Since we specialize<br />
in only performing emergency<br />
equipment installation, we can<br />
do it more efficiently than most<br />
other fleet shops [that] include<br />
maintenance and repair, ” said<br />
John Kreiensieck, fleet & property<br />
operations manager, Florida<br />
Highway Patrol. “We can service<br />
the complete state’s fleet, where<br />
it’d be difficult or impossible for<br />
a vendor to accomplish the same<br />
task while complying with state<br />
statute requirements.”<br />
The FHP has been doing its<br />
own upfitting for a long time,<br />
but it wasn’t until about 12 years<br />
ago that it opened the central<br />
installation facility. Kreiensieck<br />
attributes the need for such a<br />
facility to the increased use of<br />
technology, beginning with the<br />
widespread use of laptop computers<br />
in patrol cars. As more<br />
technology was needed for law<br />
enforcement vehicles, it became<br />
too difficult for radio technicians<br />
at each troop to handle installs.<br />
They needed a place to store<br />
parts and equipment, leading to<br />
the centralized facility.<br />
One of the biggest reasons why<br />
in-house upfitting works for FHP<br />
is volume — finding a single vendor<br />
that could house and complete<br />
upfits for 350 vehicles per<br />
year as efficiently as FHP does<br />
would be difficult. Additionally,<br />
state statute requires vehicles be<br />
inspected when dropped off, and<br />
it would be a challenge to send<br />
fleet personnel all over the state<br />
to inspect vehicles at upfitting<br />
facilities upon delivery.<br />
Kreiensieck also believes centralized,<br />
in-house upfitting is just<br />
more efficient. “It’s for uniformity<br />
of installation, consistency of<br />
installation, and quality control,”<br />
he explained.<br />
Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s<br />
current upfitter formerly specialized<br />
in radios. Williams saw the<br />
need for a local upfitter — the<br />
one the Sheriff’s Office was using<br />
was two counties away — and<br />
gave the new vendor a chance. He<br />
researched the company, looked<br />
at the facility, spoke to those<br />
responsible for upfitting, started<br />
them with simpler work in small<br />
quantities, and made sure he was<br />
fully comfortable before handing<br />
over front-line patrol cars and,<br />
eventually, the entire fleet.<br />
In the past three years, they’ve<br />
worked out a system for deliveries.<br />
“We work together to decide<br />
when’s a good time to order, get<br />
them upfitted, and issued in the<br />
same fiscal year. Communicating<br />
with our upfitter is key to timing<br />
our upfit process in order to reduce<br />
unnecessary downtime,” Williams<br />
said.<br />
For example, if the upfitter is fully<br />
scheduled with other work in October<br />
and <strong>No</strong>vember, Williams will<br />
schedule deliveries for December.<br />
This close communication allows<br />
the upfitter time to purchase parts<br />
and also allows Williams to warn<br />
the vendor if there are delays, such<br />
as instances when he doesn’t get<br />
vehicle funding until mid-year. In<br />
this case, the vendor would have to<br />
prepare to upfit <strong>10</strong>0 vehicles in six<br />
months.<br />
In return, Williams will be flexible<br />
as well — he went with a new<br />
light bar brand because the new<br />
vendor wasn’t selling the same<br />
product. This was a change he was<br />
willing to make for better customer<br />
support of a vendor in the area.<br />
“Folks have to decide what’s<br />
most critical for them — if service<br />
is more important than the brand<br />
of lights. Is that vendor able to<br />
provide after-upfit support? If we<br />
have a programming issue in the<br />
light bar that’s acting up, can they<br />
come and fix it quickly and efficiently<br />
or is it something that you<br />
have to tackle yourself? The support<br />
element is the most important<br />
RUSH<br />
66 The BLUES The BLUES 67
UPFITTERS<br />
Working with a Partner Agency.<br />
key for us.”<br />
The vendor can upfit up to five<br />
cars a week for the Sheriff’s Office,<br />
or two weeks from start to<br />
finish.<br />
To expedite the procurement<br />
progress, Marian at the City of<br />
Orange uses cooperative contracts<br />
for services including upfitting.<br />
His current upfit contract<br />
for patrol vehicles comes from a<br />
neighboring agency.<br />
He gets police vehicle deliveries<br />
all at the same time, and a vendor<br />
can usually complete two vehicles<br />
per week. He communicates<br />
with the vendor so its staff can<br />
order parts ahead of time to start<br />
builds right away.<br />
“If we had to do it in-house,<br />
it’d probably be hard for us to<br />
get one [complete] a week based<br />
other priorities,” Marian said.<br />
To ensure vehicles are being<br />
upfitted correctly, fleet and police<br />
staff members sometimes make<br />
visits to the vendor location. They<br />
also have multiple meetings with<br />
the upfitter once the purchase order<br />
has been issued, Marian said.<br />
This is to ensure the technical<br />
aspects and quality requirements<br />
are being met.<br />
Streamlining the New Police<br />
Car Upfitting Process<br />
FHP orders vehicles in three<br />
waves, and it takes six to eight<br />
weeks after delivery for vehicles<br />
to arrive, plus an additional two<br />
weeks for painting. The dealer<br />
agrees to deliver a set number of<br />
vehicles to the central installation<br />
facility per week, depending on<br />
the facility’s production goals,<br />
Kreiensieck said.<br />
With three teams — one prepping<br />
and two installing — staff<br />
can finish about 12 units per<br />
week. The build season takes<br />
anywhere between seven to <strong>10</strong><br />
months, and the rest of the time is<br />
spent prepping for the next year’s<br />
deliveries and performing repairs<br />
on lights and equipment.<br />
“We preassemble everything<br />
we can, so when the cars do<br />
come in for the next year’s orders,<br />
we can just plug and play, putting<br />
them in, bolting them down, and<br />
moving on,” he said. Preassembled<br />
parts include center consoles<br />
and partitions.<br />
As for repairs, officers in the<br />
area and anyone in transit can<br />
bring their vehicles to the facility<br />
during this down time, allowing<br />
the state to reduce its outsourcing<br />
costs for this period of time.<br />
One of the keys to success for<br />
FHP is in having a dedicated parts<br />
person, Kreiensieck said. This person<br />
makes sure parts arrive early<br />
in time for preassembly, and that<br />
there’s extra in case of a delivery<br />
delay for the next batch.<br />
“I can’t stress how important<br />
the supply chain and supply management<br />
is to a production facility,”<br />
Kreiensieck said. “Without the<br />
[parts personnel], you just cannot<br />
operate efficiently, or you’ll never<br />
hit your goals.”<br />
Kreiensieck has honed the process<br />
through trial and error —<br />
as well as through research. He<br />
researched common industries<br />
and learned about preassembly<br />
from another state highway<br />
patrol facility. He reaches out<br />
for training opportunities from<br />
other agencies and private sector<br />
shops, which can conduct<br />
training events to demonstrate<br />
upfit building techniques.<br />
“We then take the good and<br />
bad and implement what works<br />
into our processes. Process improvement<br />
is always a continuous<br />
thing,” he said.<br />
He thinks creating a sense of<br />
buy-in with technicians is essential,<br />
as well as holding staff<br />
members accountable to their<br />
production goals from the top<br />
down.<br />
Finally, he believes sworn officers<br />
need to be involved in every<br />
aspect of vehicle decisions.<br />
Kreiensieck runs the installation<br />
facility from a different city,<br />
but he makes sure to have a<br />
lieutenant that runs the facility<br />
on the grounds there. He also<br />
manages contracts used for<br />
procurement, and another sworn<br />
officer is always available to test<br />
and check compliance for anything<br />
new.<br />
“I want it to be officer tested,<br />
officer approved. If he thinks it’s<br />
a good idea, then I feel good<br />
about rolling it out,” he explained.<br />
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68 The BLUES The BLUES 69
UPFITTERS<br />
Working with a Upfitter.<br />
We are very fortunate to have some of the best<br />
UpFitters in the business as sponsor’s here at<br />
The BLUES. I recommend you reach out to<br />
one of these fine businesses for a quote before<br />
Upfitting your new fleet.<br />
CAP Fleet is a premier emergency<br />
vehicle upfitter, based<br />
in Texas. With locations in<br />
Belton, Houston, and a new<br />
state-of-the-art facility under<br />
construction in Caldwell, Texas,<br />
CAP Fleet has been an<br />
industry leader since<br />
its founding in 20<strong>10</strong>.<br />
“One of the advantages<br />
that CAP Fleet<br />
has in the industry<br />
is the ability to provide<br />
customers with<br />
a turn-key solution,<br />
offering a new, completely<br />
upfitted vehicle<br />
through our dealership network”,<br />
explains Eric Hansen,<br />
CAP Fleet’s Sales and Marketing<br />
Director. CAP Fleet’s parent<br />
company owns dealerships<br />
offering GM, Ford, and Dodge<br />
products, and includes Caldwell<br />
Country Chevrolet, the<br />
largest Chevrolet fleet dealership<br />
in the nation.<br />
“From ordering the vehicle,<br />
the parts, and scheduling the<br />
upfit, the customer receives<br />
a true one-stop-shop experience,<br />
and takes delivery of<br />
a fully outfitted vehicle”, said<br />
Hansen. “A real advantage to<br />
the customer is that they don’t<br />
have to store a vehicle, or<br />
parts, or arrange logistics in<br />
moving vehicles and equipment<br />
from one place to another.”<br />
CAP Fleet also offers “prebuilt”<br />
vehicles, enabling a cus-<br />
tomer to quickly obtain a patrol-ready<br />
vehicle without the<br />
usual ordering process. “This<br />
program has been a lifesaver<br />
for many agencies, particularly<br />
those with smaller fleets”, noted<br />
Hansen.<br />
CAP Fleet has a<br />
strong law enforcement<br />
background, with<br />
many members of the<br />
organization being<br />
former police officers,<br />
including Hansen, who<br />
spent 34 years as a<br />
police officer, supervisor,<br />
and fleet manager.<br />
CAP Fleet boasts over <strong>10</strong>0 years<br />
of law enforcement experience<br />
within the organization, ranging<br />
from the company President<br />
to installation technicians.<br />
“We are pleased to offer a<br />
quality product, with excellent<br />
craftsmanship, at a reasonable<br />
price”, said Hansen.<br />
70 The BLUES The BLUES 71<br />
70 The BLUES The BLUES 71
UPFITTERS<br />
Working with a Upfitter.<br />
Dana Safety Supply is the Nation’s<br />
largest supplier of Public Safety<br />
equipment, Emergency Vehicle<br />
equipment, installation, and upfitting.<br />
With 31 locations across<br />
13 states, Dana Safety Supply is<br />
uniquely positioned to support any<br />
sized agency, from a single unit<br />
to Nationwide Federal contracts.<br />
DSS is a subsidiary of Duval Motor<br />
Company, a family run business in<br />
continual operation, and under the<br />
same family ownership since 1916.<br />
David Russo, the CEO of Dana Safety<br />
Supply, also heads up the Duval<br />
Motor Company Government Automotive<br />
Sales Division.<br />
“Our size makes us a viable option<br />
for agencies who outsource their<br />
emergency vehicle upfitting, but<br />
that’s only part of the story,” says<br />
Russo. “Our locations are locally<br />
managed with seasoned industry<br />
professionals, many of whom have<br />
law enforcement, public safety, or<br />
military backgrounds. I have complete<br />
faith in our Management and<br />
every one of our full time Outside<br />
Sales Representatives, Technicians<br />
and support team members.<br />
Typically, when a company gets<br />
large, they forget what it’s like to<br />
be small, decisions take longer to<br />
make and customer service lags.<br />
Our people can make decisions at<br />
the local level to be super responsive.<br />
Being big is great but being as<br />
nimble as a small supplier is what<br />
truly sets us apart.”<br />
Dana Safety Supply upfitted just<br />
over 13,000 emergency vehicles<br />
in 2021 and is on track to exceed<br />
that number in <strong>2022.</strong> Again, that is<br />
only part of their story. During the<br />
height of the Covid-19 Pandemic,<br />
Dana Safety Supply never shut<br />
down and never laid anyone off, and<br />
still produced over 11,000 vehicles,<br />
sometimes splitting shifts to<br />
spread out workstations and keep<br />
the cars flowing. “Our commitment<br />
to our Law Enforcement partners is<br />
literally in our DNA, and we work<br />
extremely hard to support our ‘Everyday<br />
Heroes’ but sometimes the<br />
Heroes are the Technicians getting<br />
your cars on the street” says Russo.<br />
Although the height of the pandemic<br />
appears to have passed, we<br />
are all still dealing with extraordinary<br />
times. Between continuing<br />
supply chain issues and semiconductor<br />
shortages it’s tough to get<br />
materials on time. Lead times have<br />
72 The BLUES The BLUES 73<br />
72 The BLUES The BLUES 73
allooned across many public safety<br />
manufacturers, in many cases requiring<br />
two to three months to take<br />
delivery on even the simplest products.<br />
Why does that matter? The<br />
people reading this already know.<br />
When a $45,000 police vehicle<br />
with $20,000 worth of equipment<br />
between laptop, radio, in car video,<br />
lighting, etc. sits on a lot unbuilt because<br />
of a lightbar delay- it keeps<br />
a car out of service, sometimes for<br />
an extended amount of time. That’s<br />
a problem public safety agencies<br />
have, a hard time dealing with and<br />
understanding.<br />
“We looked at the climate,<br />
weighed the expected vehicle<br />
deliveries, and the expected needs<br />
of our customer base and did<br />
something many companies don’t<br />
have the financial capability to do:<br />
Anticipated the need and took extraordinary<br />
action” says Russo. “We<br />
worked with our partner manufacturers<br />
and purchased over $50<br />
million worth of inventory. From<br />
lightbars and sirens, to secondary<br />
lighting, to metal products like push<br />
bumpers, cages, and consoles and<br />
more.. We foresaw that the flood<br />
gates would open, cars would once<br />
again start flowing and the resulting<br />
“bubble” of massive orders would<br />
slow things down even further. We<br />
needed to get ahead of even worse<br />
delivery times on the horizon…and<br />
we did.”<br />
Aside from your typical “bolt on<br />
and wire-up” products, Dana Safety<br />
Supply is also anticipating the next<br />
need in today’s law enforcement<br />
vehicles: Up Armoring. Recently the<br />
Texas Department of Public Safety<br />
did an exhaustive study including<br />
in-depth testing of ballistic glass.<br />
Ultimately DSS was awarded their<br />
statewide contract for providing<br />
bullet resistant windshields, side<br />
glass, and door panels into many of<br />
their vehicles. With the rise of “ambush<br />
style” shootings of law enforcement<br />
officers this is a product<br />
that has gained a lot of interest.<br />
“Our glass products are top of<br />
the line and are actually more affordable<br />
than one may think” says<br />
Russo. Our glass requires minimal<br />
modification, the side windows<br />
still function normally and visually<br />
there is no indication they are bullet<br />
resistant. With the addition of the<br />
level IIIA door panel, the entire door<br />
can be a viable shield in an active<br />
shooter situation.”<br />
“When you break down the cost<br />
of Up-Armoring a police vehicle<br />
across the life of the unit, the cost is<br />
truly negligible; but it’s tough to put<br />
a price tag on someone’s husband,<br />
wife, father, mother, daughter or<br />
son coming home safe after one of<br />
these incidents. That’s when it will<br />
really hit home” says Russo.<br />
Russo goes on to explain that<br />
DSS holds numerous Federal (GSA),<br />
State (including Buy Board) and<br />
Local contracts departments can<br />
utilize to make the purchasing process<br />
simple.<br />
Dana Safety Supply’s 31st location<br />
just opened last month in Rincon,<br />
Georgia, a suburb of Savannah.<br />
DSS continues to expand across<br />
the country and employs well over<br />
300 people. DSS is in the process<br />
of opening additional locations to<br />
deliver their brand of local service<br />
coupled with National reach.<br />
“I’ve often said each of our locations<br />
is managed by a responsible<br />
adult. I normally say that in a joking<br />
manner, but it’s really true!” says<br />
Russo. “We are always looking for<br />
opportunities to open locations in<br />
areas where it makes sense, but we<br />
have to have a solid management<br />
team in place to run things…it’s the<br />
only way to ensure customers are<br />
taken care of. We’re constantly on<br />
the lookout for strong people to join<br />
our team.”<br />
While Dana Safety Supply is<br />
certainly a capable upfitter, it’s<br />
important to note that agencies<br />
that complete their own upfits can<br />
also purchase equipment only if an<br />
agency completes their own upfitting.<br />
That includes the in-stock<br />
items available for immediate<br />
delivery. Additionally, DSS rounds<br />
out their “One Stop Shop” philosophy<br />
by also being a leading supplier<br />
of Body Armor, duty gear, tactical<br />
clothing, boots and badges. All of<br />
DSS’s products are supported by<br />
assigned Outside Sales Representatives<br />
who tailor fit the agencies<br />
needs with their wide range of<br />
available products.<br />
Dana Safety Supply can be found<br />
at www.danasafetysupply.com and<br />
will be launching a totally redesigned<br />
website by the end of the<br />
year.<br />
74 The BLUES The BLUES 75
<strong>No</strong>w hiring police officers to work extra employment<br />
and Level II and Level III security officers for<br />
various locations.<br />
For information call: 713.540.0544<br />
76 The BLUES The BLUES 77
RETIRED COPS & THEIR SHOPS<br />
We asked some retired officers<br />
from the Houston Police<br />
Dept. to tell us about their<br />
wildest experiences in their<br />
old shops. These are their<br />
stories ... the names have<br />
been changed in case the<br />
statute of limitations hasn’t<br />
expired.<br />
Randy<br />
Every time i shared a car with a certain day shift officer it<br />
would eventually get roach infested. One night after fighting<br />
them off most of the night me and my partner decided to<br />
use a couple of bug bombs on them. So the next night at the<br />
beginning of the shift behind the station we tossed a bomb<br />
into the car and one into the trunk and shut the doors. MIS-<br />
TAKE, even with the windows and trunk closed it looked like<br />
smoke pouring out of the car. Before long there was a crowd<br />
standing around us and we had to tell them what was going<br />
on. White powder was EVERYWHERE. <strong>No</strong> telling how much<br />
we breathed in just cleaning it out.<br />
Mark<br />
I was working a Hot Spot detail and on this particular hot<br />
and muggy night, we had just rounded up three crack dealers<br />
after chasing them round and round through an apartment<br />
complex. All of us, including the three suspects, were<br />
soaked with sweat. While parked in a Stop N’ Go parking lot<br />
filling out our paperwork, one of the three in the back started<br />
wrenching and then proceeded to vomit his recently consumed<br />
Spaghetti O’s all over the second suspect seated next<br />
to him. This led to the second suspect vomiting all over the<br />
third suspect. The vehicle began shaking as all three of them<br />
tried to move away from each other. My partner and I jumped<br />
out and threw open the rear doors and asked them what<br />
the H*LL happened? One of them said, “Well, he got sick on<br />
me and I got sick on him....” and so on. We pulled all three<br />
of them out and after securing a mop, bucket, soap, water,<br />
rags and anything else that seemed appropriate, had the first<br />
suspect clean himself up along with the second suspect, who<br />
in turn had to clean up the third suspect. Then we had them<br />
all mop out the backseat and floorboard before transporting<br />
them to jail. Even after all their work spent cleaning the back<br />
of our shop, the smell never quite went away. Every summer<br />
night after that, once the car warmed up, the smell returned.<br />
I think we eventually got used to it but would be reminded<br />
of it each time a prisoner placed in the backseat would ask,<br />
“What’s that smell back here?”<br />
Glen<br />
I was just off probation at Park Place with no regular assigned<br />
shop and no pool shops available. The sergeant gave<br />
me the shop of a notorious set of partners who probably still<br />
hold the record for most assists dropped. I pulled into the car<br />
wash at Telephone Rd. and Park Place. When the blow dryer<br />
activated, there was a loud thud from the front end. The grill<br />
to the Dodge Monaco had been taped together with Scotch<br />
tape. <strong>No</strong>w I know why they didn’t wash it.<br />
John<br />
I was not supposed to ever tell this . I was riding with Skip<br />
and we were trying to catch up to a chase . We went over<br />
the tracks at Bellfort and Mykawa , Skip driving because he<br />
would not let me drive . Don’t blame him . Anyway I diverse<br />
lol. We go over the tracks and the floor underneath Skips<br />
seat gives way and it actually drags the pavement. The air<br />
conditioning condensation rotted out the floor. But the funniest<br />
thing was me laughing my ass off , Skip with his face<br />
pressed against the window and that voice of his looking at<br />
me . “ Don’t you ever tell anyone what just happened “ . Lol I<br />
think I told the first person I saw. But anyone who knew Skip<br />
Todd . Omg I laughed and laughed. He was a great guy .<br />
W Bruce<br />
I had been on about a week (early September 1977) and we<br />
tied our shop up for a PM. Got it back the next day. My FTO,<br />
Bobby Brooks, drove our loaner back and I followed in our<br />
shop. I pulled up to the light s/b on the loop service road at<br />
Beechnut and the engine was idling at about 6,000 rpm. I put<br />
on the lights and went through the intersection and on to the<br />
station with my foot on the brake. I pulled to a stop behind<br />
Beechnut and turned the key off. I never heard a car make the<br />
sound it made. Like maybe a whale raking a breath to dive.<br />
It backfired and sounded like artillery. Officers were ducking<br />
and drawing weapons.<br />
David<br />
My partner and I were transporting a field dope salesman<br />
to 61 Riesner one afternoon when all of a sudden a bullet<br />
discharged in the front seat of our shop. My partner was<br />
driving and immediately looked at me and said are you shot<br />
? I replied no, how about you ? Right after uttering those<br />
words our prisoner in the back started a sort of cry-yelling.<br />
Please don’t shoot me , please don’t shoot me ! I’ll tell<br />
you anything you want , who else is dealing in the hood and<br />
where ! At this point my partner and I were trying to figure<br />
out what just happened as we knew that the prisoner did<br />
not have a gun as we both searched him twice. My partner<br />
asked me why I did I shoot ? I said I didn’t fire a round. Still<br />
unconvinced, he asked me to check my revolver. So I did and<br />
showed him 6 very much live cartridges ! So he pulled over<br />
into the closest parking lot and we got out and started to<br />
search our prisoner. Our prisoner thought we were going<br />
to shoot him as he begged us not to. For some reason he<br />
actually thought one of us took a shot at him ! After searching<br />
our prisoner again and researching the back seat area,<br />
we put him back in and he thanked us profusely ! My partner<br />
and I both felt like the “shot” came from inside the car , in the<br />
area of our front seats. We both started searching each side<br />
under the seats, between the seats,the center console, under<br />
the dashboard. I finally started to search the floorboards ,<br />
moving the well worn and torn rubber floor mat and there I<br />
found a spent shell casing with the primer still intact ! After<br />
a few seconds and feeling the floorboards and feeling that<br />
they were very hot, we decided that this round stuck between<br />
the hot floor boards and covered with the thick rubber<br />
mat, had just cooked off ! We had no idea who had been<br />
using this shop before us or how long it was at our station.<br />
We continued on to 61 Riesner and when we arrived, our<br />
prisoner kept his word to us ! He told us about every dope<br />
field sales representative’s name, where they sold, what they<br />
sold and when they sold dope. ! We never did find the bullet.<br />
Thank God it didn’t hit any of us.<br />
Mike<br />
Another time, we got back in one of those 1979 Dodges. We<br />
started the car, and the entire engine was engulfed by flame!<br />
Thought it was the end of that POS. Came back the next<br />
night, it was back in service!<br />
Russell<br />
Park place night shift, riding with my training officer (who<br />
will remain unnamed). We were in another town, WAY out<br />
of our district (for a reason I won’t share here). He ran hot,<br />
trying to get back to where we were supposed to be, when<br />
78 The BLUES The BLUES 79
we had a blowout. He managed not to wreck it. We got help<br />
from a wrecker driver and made it back in time for shift<br />
change. I thought it was a very risky thing for a senior officer<br />
to do. I later discovered it wasn’t. Lol<br />
Randy<br />
The old Dodges in the late 70s use to whistle after a chase or<br />
high speed run. Pressure being released thru the gas cap. The<br />
cars in the 80s got so hot you couldn’t put your hands on the<br />
hood. Some would overheat or set fires while sitting in one<br />
place to long. Someone put out a memo to sit idling into the<br />
wind.<br />
Renee<br />
When I was pregnant I rode around with my pants and gun<br />
belt open, I pulled over traffic many times while clicking my<br />
gunbelt over my baby bump. I also got in a high speed chase<br />
in 1 0H40s beat when I was pregnant and lost the Saab I was<br />
chasing and started crying and I knew it was time to get a<br />
desk job.. That kid is a Conroe Fire Department firefighter.<br />
David<br />
During the Whitmire era you could pull up the floor mat and<br />
actually see the street. Worst Mayor ever!<br />
Ross<br />
The motor caught on fire at a intersection. I was happily<br />
watching it burn while waiting for H.F.D. all of a sudden<br />
a citizen came running towards me through traffic while<br />
tearing open a fire extinguisher box. He sprayed the fire out .<br />
The shop ran better then it ever had in a long time after that...<br />
True Story...<br />
Vickie<br />
I was taking my furbaby Patches a schnoodle to my mom<br />
residence. I got out the car to knock on my mom’s door so<br />
that she could keep him . I left the motor running as it was<br />
summertime. When I came back to the patrol vehicle the<br />
doors were locked. Patches in the front seat had hop into the<br />
driver’s seat and locked the door. I kept trying to get him to<br />
step on the door locks to unlock the car but he wouldn’t do<br />
it. After several minutes of trying to coast him I finally had to<br />
ask Jamie Escalante to take channel 8 and go to northeast<br />
police station to bring me another key to the shop. He got to<br />
my mom’s residence saw the dog in the driver’s seat and bust<br />
out laughing. Then he said I didn’t know you were a K-9 unit.<br />
I begged him not to tell anyone that my furbaby locked me<br />
out of the patrol car. He didn’t but every time he saw me he<br />
would crack jokes.<br />
Jill My partner had an accidental discharge of a shotgun,<br />
while we were in the intersection of Fannin and 6<strong>10</strong> rush<br />
hour traffic. He was moving his gun, brought it over to my<br />
side, and it went off between my feet... blowing a hole in the<br />
floor of the shop<br />
Jay<br />
The passenger side front tire broke off and slide under the<br />
chassis during a left turn on the obstacle course at the academy.<br />
<strong>No</strong>rman was driving I felt it under the floor board as it<br />
slide to the transmission. <strong>No</strong>t as crazy as some of you but<br />
sure shut the track down.<br />
Scott<br />
James and I were unloading our gear at the end of our night<br />
shift, when the unoccupied shop jumped into reverse. Like<br />
a shot it headed straight toward the Lieutenant’s car at the<br />
back of the Beechnut station. I was almost able to jump<br />
in, when it hit the curb, throwing me off of the seat edge.<br />
Hanging on to the steering wheel like a bull dog, I was able<br />
to turn the car a little. We only crashed into a brick pillar,<br />
thankfully not into the bosses car. This was probably 1982,<br />
wow 30 years ago.<br />
Wayne<br />
I was night shift and eating at a Cafe in 1 dist. A couple of<br />
buddies came in , no names given but initials are ( DC and<br />
CW ). They came in sat with me , while I ate. They didn’t<br />
order anything. The was a supervisor, eating also at another<br />
table, which was Sgt. MARSALIS. So then everybody left and<br />
I was still eating. Short time later, Sgt bumped me over the<br />
air. Hey Wayne do you take the chronicle or post. Um. Didn’t<br />
understand, why that question. I leave the Cafe now. I walk<br />
outside, my shop was parked across the parking lot. I looked<br />
at my shop from a distance, which it looked odd. So as I got<br />
closer, my shop was STUFFED with wadded up newspaper<br />
from the front to the back, to the roof top. This was close<br />
to the end of shift also. So I had bumped Sgt. Marsolais and<br />
requested a little overtime. He asked what I had. ( just a little<br />
paperwork to finish up) . He denied my overtime.<br />
Jim<br />
I was training a rookie and we had just picked up a very<br />
non-compliant female from Ben Taub and were en route to<br />
Central Jail with her. She was handcuffed but began kicking<br />
the windows and banging her head on the steel cage. I pulled<br />
over and told my rookie to drive and I’ll get in the back to<br />
try to control the female. She’s screaming at the top of her<br />
lungs when my rookie keys the mike to call out to central.<br />
Dispatcher asks, “<strong>10</strong>63, is everything ok?” My rookie replied,<br />
“Yeah, my partner’s in the back seat with a female.” Then the<br />
inevitable….”click click click click click” over the radio.<br />
Pat<br />
My partner Doug Estes, was driving when we jumped a<br />
stolen car. We chased them on some back streets, for just a<br />
few minutes, we took a left curve, the shop, went sideways.<br />
The rear end went into a ditch. We hit a culvert , on the R/R<br />
wheel. It spun us around and put our rear end, in the ditch on<br />
the other side of the road. The only damage to the shop. The<br />
whole rear axle and tires were down the street. A wrecker<br />
driver. Caught our stolen car driver, shortly after that.<br />
Mike Peters<br />
Running hot from downtown back to Park Place for an assist<br />
in a real rag of a car. People doing the speed limit were<br />
passing us (1981).<br />
Jay<br />
The passenger side front tire broke off and slide under the<br />
chassis during a left turn on the obstacle course at the academy.<br />
<strong>No</strong>rman was driving I felt it under the floor board as it<br />
slide to the transmission. <strong>No</strong>t as crazy as some of you but<br />
sure shut the track down.<br />
Rosalie<br />
When I worked at <strong>No</strong>rth I was transporting a prisoner to<br />
Central. He was able to slip out of the seatbelt and crawled<br />
under the half cage (old box shop xx302). When I saw him<br />
pop up behind me I pinned him between the cage and the<br />
seat. My 5’4 legs could no longer reach the pedals so I had to<br />
get on the air to request a taller officer to check by with me<br />
and drive my shop to the Central garage to free my prisoner<br />
so I could book him.<br />
Scott<br />
James and I were unloading our gear at the end of our night<br />
shift, when the unoccupied shop jumped into reverse. Like<br />
a shot it headed straight toward the Lieutenant’s car at the<br />
back of the Beechnut station. I was almost able to jump in,<br />
when it hit the curb, throwing me off of the seat edge. Hanging<br />
on to the steering wheel like a bull dogger, I was able<br />
to turn the car a little. We only crashed into a brick pillar,<br />
thankfully not into the bosses car. This was probably 1982,<br />
wow 30 years ago.<br />
Gregory<br />
was working an OT shift <strong>10</strong>-2 am. I stopped by a cantina<br />
that my buddies worked security. I worked there too. I’m<br />
updating my work card a and Hispanic male jumps in the<br />
back seat of my shop and says “ Take me to yail. I looked in<br />
the mirror and told him to GTFO. He says “ no, I want to go to<br />
yail. I get out and he scoots to the passenger side. I grab his<br />
foot and try to pull him out. His shoe comes off. He’s holding<br />
on to the cage. I’m trying to get him out when the officers<br />
working the cantina come out and see the struggle. So although<br />
it was only 30 or so seconds, I realize the officers are<br />
trying get him IN the shop. Finally I said what are you doing?<br />
The offices say “ trying to cuff him”. I said why? I’m trying<br />
to get him out. The officers ask “ why did you arrest him? I<br />
say “ I didn’t he jumped in the back demanding to go to yail.<br />
Finally I just said fuck it I’ll take him in for PI. As I make a left<br />
on Hempstead highway, the drunk says “ where you going? I<br />
want to go to central yail. I said fuck you your going to NW<br />
substation.<br />
Next Month we’ll hear from Harris County Deputies on their<br />
experiences with vintage police cars. If you have a story<br />
you’d like to tell, send it to bluespdmag@gmail.com.<br />
Doesn’t matter what department you worked for, just tell<br />
us your worst experience.<br />
80 The BLUES The BLUES 81
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS<br />
AMERICAN BANK CENTER<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 23-27, 2022<br />
82 The BLUES The BLUES 83
BREAK OUT SESSIONS<br />
BREAK OUT SESSIONS<br />
Conflict Solutions and Active<br />
Listening – Corporal Kimberlee<br />
Jones and Corporal John Willhelm,<br />
Lubbock Police Department<br />
During this course, the student<br />
will review the basic models of<br />
active listening skills. The student<br />
will have the opportunity<br />
to practice those active listening<br />
skills in a classroom environment.<br />
The student will receive<br />
feedback from fellow officers<br />
and instructors to assist them<br />
in improving their active listening<br />
skills. The student will also<br />
learn about different types of<br />
conflict, how conflict occurs,<br />
how officers become involved<br />
in situations where conflict has<br />
occurred, and how active listening<br />
skills can assist in resolving<br />
conflict.<br />
TCOLE Presents: From Fundamentals<br />
to Futuristic Approaches<br />
- The last couple<br />
of years identified our need to<br />
reorient ourselves to the basic<br />
mission and goals of successful<br />
law enforcement training while<br />
looking for new and innovative<br />
approaches that yield effective<br />
results. The planned program<br />
includes a look at overcoming<br />
some common challenges,<br />
as well as exploring ideas on<br />
developing future training excellence<br />
for peace officers, jailers<br />
and telecommunicators. The<br />
program topics include building<br />
strong learning objectives,<br />
developing quality lesson plans,<br />
facilitating successful advisory<br />
boards, implementing quality<br />
assessments, maintaining training<br />
records, understanding and<br />
complying with both the TCOLE<br />
rules and your written contract<br />
agreement, and ideas on collaboration<br />
and the use of technology<br />
throughout your training<br />
program.<br />
Physical Fitness in the Academy<br />
Setting – Texas Department<br />
of Public Safety, Fitness<br />
Wellness Unit<br />
Many different approaches to<br />
the topic of physical fitness in<br />
the academy and beyond have<br />
been attempted. Despite previous<br />
efforts, law enforcement officers<br />
still suffer from disproportional<br />
rates of heart disease, obesity,<br />
diabetes, and hypertension.<br />
With these risks, police officers<br />
have reduced job effectiveness,<br />
proven increase in personal and<br />
agency liability, and substantially<br />
reduced life expectancy1.<br />
The Texas Department of Public<br />
Safety has taken the lead in<br />
successfully mitigating these<br />
risks with a comprehensive<br />
and award-winning program<br />
of physical fitness testing and<br />
assessment, wellness, resiliency,<br />
and nutrition. Details about this<br />
progressive, rigorous, and result<br />
driven physical fitness program<br />
not only for incumbents but incoming<br />
Trooper Trainees will be<br />
discussed along with steps that<br />
any agency can utilize to adopt<br />
components into their program<br />
for incumbents and trainees.<br />
1. Violanti, J.M., Fekedulegn, D.,<br />
Shi, M. and Andrew, M.E. (2020).<br />
Hidden danger: A 22-years analysis<br />
of law enforcement deaths<br />
associated with duty-related<br />
illnesses (1997–2018). Policing:<br />
An International Journal, 43(2),<br />
330-344.https://doi.org/<strong>10</strong>.1<strong>10</strong>8/<br />
PIJPSM-07-2019-0<strong>10</strong>9<br />
Train, the Trainer – Lana<br />
Gudgel, Heart of Texas Council<br />
of Governments<br />
The focus of the Train, the<br />
Trainer, is to develop the trainer’s<br />
ability to enhance the law enforcement<br />
training by delivering<br />
it in a manner that permanently<br />
imprints the most desirable<br />
responses at the officer’s subconscious<br />
level and the most<br />
effective programs for success.<br />
Training must be meaningful,<br />
challenging, rewarding, and build<br />
on the strengths and talents<br />
officers already possess. Train<br />
the trainer provides trainers with<br />
simple, proven strategies for accomplishing<br />
this mission.<br />
TCOLE Presents: Education<br />
Services<br />
The Education Services presentation<br />
will focus on creating,<br />
presenting, and maintaining<br />
educational materials. The<br />
program topics include building<br />
effective learning objectives, the<br />
differences between an instructor<br />
resource guide and a lesson<br />
plan, how to convert an in-person<br />
training lesson plan into<br />
e-learning, instructor roles and<br />
responsibilities, and much more!<br />
Rethinking Strategies for<br />
Police Selection, Field Training,<br />
and Retention: The Game<br />
has Changed – Marshall Jones,<br />
Florida Institute of Technology<br />
This interactive presentation<br />
explores contemporary issues<br />
and trends impacting police<br />
recruiting, field training outcomes,<br />
and retention. Current<br />
research will be explored highlighting<br />
shifting candidate-pool<br />
challenges requiring new approaches.<br />
Best practices will be<br />
reviewed related to recruiting<br />
strategies, selection processes,<br />
field training implementation,<br />
retention outcomes, and retirement<br />
transition. Major paradigm<br />
shifts in job requirements and<br />
agency policies will be presented.<br />
Challenges emerging from<br />
recent events, along with potential<br />
solutions, will be discussed.<br />
TCOLE Presents: TCLEDDS<br />
for Agencies: Do’s and Don’ts<br />
– Richard Gutierrez and Lisa<br />
Landry<br />
This presentation covers the<br />
fundamentals of form submission<br />
via TCLEDDS. It is not a<br />
comprehensive step-by-step<br />
tutorial or “user manual” type of<br />
instruction, but rather an overview<br />
of the most common submission<br />
errors made by agency<br />
staff and the preventive measures<br />
to avoid them. The program<br />
topics include how to do<br />
a PID number search and a PID<br />
application, how to search and<br />
submit training rosters, how to<br />
submit and search for L-1s and<br />
L-1Ts, understanding F-5 form<br />
submission prerequisites, and the<br />
F-5R form updates.<br />
TCOLE Presents: Governments<br />
Relations: Navigating<br />
TLO and Legislative Updates<br />
Each legislative session brings<br />
its share of changes and challenges,<br />
but there is no need for<br />
the process to be a mystery. This<br />
breakout will provide you with<br />
a foundation for where to look<br />
for the latest information, how<br />
to keep up with legislation as it<br />
works its way through the process,<br />
and how to get involved.<br />
Texas Law Enforcement Peer<br />
Network Program: How it Developed<br />
and How it Works – B.J.<br />
Wagner, Senior Vice President<br />
of Health and Public Safety,<br />
Meadows Mental Health Policy<br />
Institute, Jeff Spivey, Executive<br />
Director of Caruth Police Institute<br />
Meadows Mental Health Policy<br />
Institute, and Dustin Schellenger,<br />
State Director of the Texas Law<br />
Enforcement Peer Network<br />
The trauma associated with<br />
police work affects all police<br />
officers and has contributed to<br />
record high suicide rates across<br />
the state of Texas. It has been<br />
proven time and again that peer<br />
support groups can drastically<br />
reduce these numbers. Despite<br />
these facts, 70 percent of police<br />
departments in Texas have no<br />
peer network or mental health<br />
resources. The Texas Law Enforcement<br />
Peer Network was<br />
created to provide statewide<br />
peer support and culturally<br />
competent resources to officers<br />
no matter where they are in the<br />
State, while prioritizing their anonymity.<br />
This presentation will<br />
cover the history, development,<br />
structure, training, and resources<br />
of the Texas Law Enforcement<br />
Peer Network.<br />
Link Between Officer Safety<br />
and Nutrition – Texas Department<br />
of Public Safety, Fitness<br />
Wellness Unit<br />
The 6th Pillar of 21st Century<br />
Strategic Recommendations<br />
for Policing focuses on Officer<br />
Safety and Wellness. With an<br />
emphasis within law enforcement<br />
on command presence<br />
and de-escalation techniques,<br />
nutrition can play a vital role.<br />
Proper nutritional education<br />
can help ensure that officers are<br />
appropriately fueled for performance<br />
and recovery in addition<br />
to having the knowledge needed<br />
to lose weight as well as maintain<br />
weight. Finding the right<br />
strategies to implement a sound<br />
nutritional plan can be difficult<br />
within law enforcement due to<br />
the dynamic and unpredictable<br />
components of the job. However,<br />
there are simple strategies that<br />
can be implemented.<br />
VINCIBLE: Stop the Killing/<br />
Stop the Dying –In Our Own<br />
Ranks – Chief Stan Standridge,<br />
San Marcos Police Department<br />
ZERO. The number zero does<br />
not have its own Roman numeral.<br />
Instead, the word “nulla”<br />
was used by medieval scholars<br />
in lieu of zero. It can mean vain<br />
or pointless. With that said, the<br />
State of Texas and its law enforcement<br />
departments desire<br />
zero line of duty deaths…and as<br />
soon as that is said, doubt and<br />
cynicism gain ground. It seems<br />
pointless to suggest this huge<br />
state could have zero line of duty<br />
deaths.<br />
Badges have been worn by the<br />
law enforcement community<br />
as an emblem of legal authority<br />
and as a sign to honor and<br />
to protect the communities they<br />
serve. Unfortunately, for many<br />
officers, badges have also been<br />
viewed as a guard from danger,<br />
injury, or even death. In those officers’<br />
minds, badges make them<br />
invincible.<br />
84 The BLUES The BLUES 85
BREAK OUT SESSIONS<br />
SPONSORS<br />
This class focuses on the core<br />
question: what does Different<br />
Look Like for Texas? Welcome to<br />
the conversation; we have work<br />
to do!<br />
TCOLE Presents: TCLEDDS for<br />
Academies: Do’s and Don’ts<br />
– Richard Gutierrez and Lisa<br />
Landry<br />
This presentation covers the<br />
fundamentals of form submission<br />
via TCLEDDS. It is not a<br />
comprehensive step-by-step<br />
tutorial or “user manual” type of<br />
instruction, but rather an overview<br />
of the most common submission<br />
errors made by agency<br />
staff and the preventive measures<br />
to avoid them. The program<br />
topics include how to do<br />
a PID number search and a PID<br />
application, how to search and<br />
submit training rosters, how to<br />
submit and search for L-1s and<br />
L-1Ts, understanding F-5 form<br />
submission prerequisites, and the<br />
F-5R form updates.<br />
Resilience – Texas Department<br />
of Public Safety, Fitness<br />
Wellness Unit<br />
This course examines basic<br />
resiliency principles along with<br />
strategies and techniques to<br />
improve the officer’s response<br />
to stressors. This course will<br />
discuss topics such as the fixed<br />
mindset versus the growth mindset,<br />
the Texas Department of<br />
Public Safety Resiliency Domains<br />
and Tenets, and tactical breathing<br />
to regulate the physiological<br />
symptoms associated with the<br />
stress response. In this class<br />
learn the positive impact resilience<br />
training can have on an<br />
officer while at work as well as<br />
off duty.<br />
Evaluating Reality-Based<br />
Training – Lieutenant James<br />
Molloy, Austin Community College<br />
Often, when conducting reality-based<br />
training, instructors<br />
rely on simple check list style<br />
performance evaluations. This is<br />
an effective tool to record observations,<br />
but in most cases does<br />
not actively involve the student<br />
in the process. By engaging<br />
students in a Socratic evaluation<br />
of the exercise instructors will<br />
actively engage the student in<br />
the evaluation process, enhancing<br />
critical thinking, recall, and<br />
articulation skills.<br />
Incorporating the “objective<br />
reasonableness” Graham v. Connor<br />
standard into every exercise<br />
will further cause students to<br />
evaluate situations based on the<br />
Constitutional use of force. In<br />
truth, nearly every contact with<br />
the public requires law enforcement<br />
to continually evaluate<br />
their legal basis for force, if any,<br />
and what the articulable facts<br />
are surrounding those decisions.<br />
Using guided questioning and<br />
requiring students to state facts<br />
rather than conclusions will enhance<br />
the ability to make better<br />
decisions in the future along<br />
with providing a basis for writing<br />
clear reports.<br />
This class will cover the use<br />
of student-centered feedback,<br />
common feedback errors, the<br />
benefits of student-centered<br />
feedback, and the incorporation<br />
of Constitutional use of force<br />
into the evaluation process.<br />
PTSD and Modern Brain Science<br />
– Lieutenant Paul Christ,<br />
Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental<br />
Risk Pool and<br />
Rick Randall, Senior Chaplain,<br />
The Randall Group<br />
This course educates police<br />
officers and leaders to the issue<br />
of trauma and how it impacts<br />
the brain, often resulting in injury<br />
to the brain and symptoms of<br />
depression, anxiety, and impulsive<br />
behavior. The goal is to<br />
address potential risks to officers<br />
to prevent them from becoming<br />
issues for the individual, their<br />
family, and the department.<br />
Using the CISM model, the value<br />
of early intervention strategies is<br />
described and recommended as<br />
effective prevention.<br />
TCOLE Presents: Background<br />
Investigations and Secure<br />
Share<br />
Do you conduct background<br />
investigations for your agency’s<br />
applicant pool? Are you responsible<br />
for the final hiring decision<br />
at your agency? Come to our<br />
class where we will discuss<br />
Senate Bill 24 as it relates to<br />
background investigations, the<br />
Background Confirmation Form,<br />
and TCOLE Secure Share. Think<br />
you already know all there is to<br />
know about these topics? Think<br />
again! <strong>No</strong>t only will we discuss<br />
these topics as they stand now,<br />
but we will also cover the vision<br />
of where these projects are<br />
headed.<br />
86 The BLUES The BLUES 87
Time<br />
12:00noon5:00pm<br />
2:00pm6:00pm<br />
Time<br />
7:00am1:30pm<br />
8:00am5:30pm<br />
(EndsWed3:30pm)<br />
8:00am–5:00pm<br />
2022TCOLEConferenceSchedule<br />
PRECONFERENCE<br />
(OPTIONAL)<br />
2:00pm3:00pm OPENINGCEREMONY HenryGarrettBallroom<br />
3:00pm3:15pm<br />
Event<br />
VendorSetup<br />
RegistrationBegins<br />
Event<br />
Registration<br />
SilentAuction<br />
VendorExhibitsOpen<br />
9:00am11:00am LegislativeUpdateCourse3187 HenryGarrettBallroom<br />
11:00am2:00pm Lunch OnYourOwn<br />
CONFERENCEBEGINS<br />
REQUIREDINDIVIDUALSMUSTATTENDEACHEVENTFORCONFERENCECREDIT<br />
Breakrelocatetobreakoutsession<br />
SUNDAY, Sunday,October23rd<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 23RD<br />
MONDAY, Monday,October24th<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 24TH<br />
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE<br />
Location<br />
WatergardenA<br />
C<strong>10</strong>1<br />
Location<br />
C<strong>10</strong>1<br />
WatergardenA<br />
WatergardenA<br />
1:00pm2:45pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
2:45pm3:15pm<br />
3:15pm5:00pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
(Continued)<br />
OpeneveninginCorpusChristi<br />
2022TCOLEConferenceSchedule<br />
Network<br />
WEDNESDAY Wednesday,October26th<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 26TH<br />
Time Event Location<br />
8:00am3:00pm<br />
FORPOLICESELECTION,<br />
FIELDTRAINING,AND<br />
RETENTION:THEGAME<br />
HASCHANGED<br />
MarshallJones,Florida<br />
InstituteofTechnology<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSTCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
FORAGENCIES<br />
EducationServices<br />
SilentAuction<br />
ExecutiveDirectorof<br />
CaruthPoliceInstitute,<br />
MeadowsMentalHealth<br />
PolicyInstitute,andDustin<br />
Schellenger,StateDirector<br />
oftheTexasLaw<br />
EnforcementPeer<br />
Network<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD TUESDAY, RoomTBD <strong>OCT</strong>OBER 25TH RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
RETHINKINGSTRATEGIES<br />
FORPOLICESELECTION,<br />
FIELDTRAINING,AND<br />
RETENTION:THEGAME<br />
HASCHANGED<br />
MarshallJones,Florida<br />
InstituteofTechnology<br />
Break<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSTCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
FORAGENCIES<br />
EducationServices<br />
HealthandPublicSafety, LINKBETWEENOFFICER<br />
MeadowsMentalHealth SAFETYANDNUTRITION<br />
PolicyInstitute,JeffSpivey,TexasDepartmentof<br />
PublicSafety,Fitness<br />
WellnessUnit<br />
WatergardenA<br />
CONFLICTSOLUTIONS<br />
ANDACTIVELISTENING<br />
LubbockPolice<br />
Department<br />
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE<br />
TEXASLAW<br />
ENFORCEMENTPEER<br />
NETWORK:HOWIT<br />
DEVELOPEDANDHOWIT<br />
WORKSJeffSpivey,<br />
ExecutiveDirectorof<br />
CaruthPoliceInstitute,<br />
MeadowsMentalHealth<br />
PolicyInstituteandDustin<br />
Schellenger,StateDirector<br />
oftheTexasLaw<br />
EnforcementPeer<br />
LINKBETWEENOFFICER<br />
SAFETYANDNUTRITION<br />
TexasDepartmentof<br />
PublicSafety,Fitness<br />
WellnessUnit<br />
CONFLICTSOLUTIONS<br />
ANDACTIVELISTENING<br />
LubbockPolice<br />
Department<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
CommissionerWorkshop<br />
3:15pm5:00pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
CONFLICTSOLUTIONS<br />
ANDACTIVELISTENING<br />
LubbockPolice<br />
Department<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
TRAINING<br />
COORDINATOR/ACEs<br />
PHYSICALFITNESSINTHE<br />
TRAIN,THETRAINER<br />
ACADEMYSETTINGTexas<br />
LanaGudgel,Heartof<br />
DepartmentofPublic<br />
TexasCouncilof<br />
Safety,FitnessWellness<br />
Governments<br />
Unit<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
NAVIGATINGTLOAND<br />
LEGISLATIVEUPDATES<br />
RETHINKINGSTRATEGIES<br />
FORPOLICESELECTION,<br />
FIELDTRAINING,AND<br />
RETENTION:THEGAME<br />
HASCHANGEDMarshall<br />
Jones,FloridaInstituteof<br />
Technology<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
5:00pm6:00pm VendorReception WatergardenA<br />
TUESDAY, Tuesday,October25th<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 25TH<br />
Time Event Location<br />
6:30amCheckin<br />
8:00am5:30pm<br />
8:00am–3:30pm<br />
9:00am<strong>10</strong>:15am<br />
<strong>10</strong>:15am<strong>10</strong>:45am<br />
<strong>10</strong>:45am12:00pm<br />
12:00pm1:00pm<br />
1:00pm2:45pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
2:45pm3:15pm<br />
RETHINKINGSTRATEGIES<br />
FORPOLICESELECTION,<br />
FIELDTRAINING,AND<br />
RETENTION:THEGAME<br />
HASCHANGED<br />
MarshallJones,Florida<br />
InstituteofTechnology<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSTCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
FORAGENCIES<br />
EducationServices<br />
TEXASLAW<br />
ENFORCEMENTPEER<br />
NETWORK:HOWIT<br />
DEVELOPEDANDHOWIT<br />
WORKSB.J.Wagner,<br />
SeniorVicePresidentof<br />
HealthandPublicSafety, LINKBETWEENOFFICER<br />
CONFLICTSOLUTIONS<br />
MeadowsMentalHealth SAFETYANDNUTRITION<br />
ANDACTIVELISTENING<br />
PolicyInstitute,JeffSpivey,TexasDepartmentof<br />
LubbockPolice<br />
ExecutiveDirectorof PublicSafety,Fitness<br />
Department<br />
CaruthPoliceInstitute, WellnessUnit<br />
MeadowsMentalHealth<br />
PolicyInstitute,andDustin<br />
Schellenger,StateDirector<br />
oftheTexasLaw<br />
EnforcementPeer<br />
Network<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
88 The BLUES The BLUES 89<br />
RETHINKINGSTRATEGIES<br />
FunRun<br />
SilentAuction<br />
VendorExhibitsOpen<br />
TCLEDDS<br />
Break<br />
SECURESHARE<br />
LUNCH<br />
Break<br />
TEXASLAW<br />
ENFORCEMENTPEER<br />
NETWORK:HOWIT<br />
DEVELOPEDANDHOWIT<br />
Seawall(infrontofOmniHotel)<br />
WatergardenA<br />
WatergardenA<br />
HenryGarrettBallroom<br />
HenryGarrettBallroom<br />
CommissionerWorkshop<br />
9:00:00AM12:00PM<br />
12:00am1:00pm<br />
1:00pm2:45pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
2:45pm3:15pm<br />
3:15pm5:00pm<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
(Continued)<br />
OpeneveninginCorpusChristi<br />
8:00am9:15am<br />
9:15am11:00am<br />
BreakoutSessions<br />
TRAIN,THETRAINER<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSLanaGudgel,Heartof<br />
FORACADEMIES TexasCouncilof<br />
Governments<br />
VINCIBLEChiefStan<br />
Standridge,SanMarcos<br />
PoliceDepartment<br />
RESILIENCETexas<br />
DepartmentofPublic<br />
Safety,FitnessWellness<br />
Unit<br />
PTSDANDMODERN<br />
BRAINSCIENCE<br />
EVALUATINGREALITY LieutenantPaulChrist,<br />
BASEDTRAINING TexasMunicipalLegague<br />
LieutenantJamesMolloy, IntergovernmentalRisk<br />
AustinCommunityCollege PoolandRickRandall,<br />
SeniorChaplain,The<br />
RandallGroup<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
TRAIN,THETRAINER<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSLanaGudgel,Heartof<br />
FORACADEMIES TexasCouncilof<br />
Governments<br />
VINCIBLEChiefStan<br />
Standridge,SanMarcos<br />
PoliceDepartment<br />
RESILIENCETexas<br />
DepartmentofPublic<br />
Safety,FitnessWellness<br />
Unit<br />
PTSDANDMODERN<br />
BRAINSCIENCE<br />
EVALUATINGREALITY LieutenantPaulChrist,<br />
BASEDTRAINING TexasMunicipalLegague<br />
LieutenantJamesMolloy, IntergovernmentalRisk<br />
AustinCommunityCollege PoolandRickRandall,<br />
SeniorChaplain,The<br />
RandallGroup<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
THURSDAY<br />
Thursday,October27th<br />
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER 27TH<br />
Time Event Location<br />
PTSDANDMODERN<br />
BRAINSCIENCE<br />
LieutenantPaulChrist,<br />
TexasMunicipalLegague<br />
IntergovernmentalRisk<br />
PoolandRickRandall,<br />
SeniorChaplain,The<br />
RandallGroup<br />
COMMISSIONMEETING<br />
LUNCH<br />
Break<br />
coffeebreak<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
TRAINING<br />
COORDINATOR/ACEs<br />
EVALUATINGREALITY TCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
BASEDTRAINING BACKGROUND<br />
LieutenantJamesMolloy, INVESTIGATIONSAND<br />
AustinCommunityCollege SECURESHARE<br />
HenryGarrettBallroom<br />
3:00pm SilentAuctionEnds WatergardenA<br />
5:00pm5:30pm<br />
pickupwinningsilentautionitems<br />
WatergardenA<br />
TCOLEPRESENTS:TCLEDDSTCOLEPRESENTS:<br />
FORAGENCIES<br />
EDUCATIONSERVICES<br />
RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD RoomTBD<br />
CONFERENCEEND
EVENTS<br />
EVENTS/NEWS<br />
Monday Night Vendor Happy Hour<br />
October 24th, from 5pm – 7pm<br />
We will be kicking off the 2022 TCOLE Training Conference this year in Corpus Christi<br />
with a Happy Hour Reception on the evening of Monday, October 24th, 2022, from 5 pm<br />
– 7 pm. The Happy Hour will be in ‘Watergarden A’ where the vendors are located. Hors<br />
D’oeuvres and refreshments will be available and shuttle buses will run through the end<br />
of the event.<br />
‘Peace Officers’ Memorial Flag Fun Walk/Run<br />
October 25th, 6am, Seawall across from Omni<br />
The “Fun Run/Walk” starts<br />
and ends in front of the<br />
OMNI Bayfront hotel and<br />
covers approximately 3.2<br />
miles along the seawall.<br />
Entry fee is only $25.00<br />
which includes a nice-looking<br />
T-shirt, bottled water,<br />
fruit and other snacks.<br />
Event proceeds go toward<br />
the Texas Peace Officer<br />
Flag Program which honors<br />
fallen Peace Officers with<br />
a Texas Flag flown over the<br />
State Capitol. To sign up for<br />
the event, participants will<br />
need to stop by the “Fun<br />
Run/Walk” booth during<br />
registration. For additional<br />
information, contact Field<br />
Agent Richard Gutierrez at:<br />
Richard.gutierrez@tcole.texas.gov<br />
TCOLE Commission Meeting<br />
October 26th, 9am-11am, Henry Garrett Ballroom<br />
The October TCOLE Commission Meeting will be held during the TCOLE Training Conference<br />
this year in Corpus Christi. Attendees will be able to scan in for credit. On Wednesday,<br />
October 26, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., the Commission meeting of the Texas Commission on<br />
Law Enforcement (TCOLE) will be held. The meeting will be held at the American Bank<br />
Center, 1901 Shoreline Blvd., Henry Garrett Ballroom, Convention Center Second Floor,<br />
Corpus Christi, Texas, to discuss the following agenda. If this meeting cannot be concluded<br />
by 5:00 p.m., the commission may recess until<br />
Interim Executive Director Named<br />
At the June 9th meeting, the Commissioners<br />
named TCOLE General Counsel John Beauchamp<br />
as Interim Executive Director. He will serve in this<br />
position beginning September 1st, following the<br />
retirement of ED Kim Vickers, while the Commission<br />
conducts its search for a permanent Executive<br />
Director.<br />
Mr. Beauchamp has served as General Counsel<br />
for the agency since 2012. He came to the<br />
Commission after six years at the Texas Attorney<br />
General’s Office, where he represented state<br />
agencies in district and appellate courts, and<br />
was an advocate for open government as Chief<br />
of the Open Records Litigation Section. His prior<br />
legal experience includes criminal defense work<br />
and family law.<br />
Mr. Beauchamp began his career in public ser-<br />
vice as a Rifleman in the United tates Marine<br />
Corps, including a tour on the Presidential<br />
Security Detail at Camp David, Maryland.<br />
90 The BLUES The BLUES 91
EXHIBITORS<br />
Exhibitors Located Inside Watergarden A<br />
Table Exhibitor<br />
1 Ti Training<br />
2 Criminology & Criminal Justice Graduate Program - TCU<br />
3 Texas A&M University - Bush School of Government and Public Service<br />
4 NMS Labs<br />
5 Blue 360 Media<br />
6 Lexipol<br />
7 Virtual Precision<br />
8 Smart Firearms Training Devices<br />
9 Lone Star Hero Gear<br />
<strong>10</strong> Public Agency Training<br />
11 Law Enforcement Advanced Data Reporting System (LEADRS)<br />
12 TXSFST<br />
13 Texas Drug Recognition Expert<br />
14&15 TMPA & TMPA - LEL Program<br />
16 Columbia Southern University<br />
17&18 Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas - CLEAT<br />
19 Computer Information Systems, Inc.<br />
20 Element Learning Management Solutions<br />
21 Glock Inc.<br />
22&23 Justice Federal Credit Union n<br />
24 Bexar County Sheriff’s Office<br />
25 Fit Supply, LLC<br />
26 Turn-Key Mobile Inc.<br />
27 Tarleton State University<br />
28 Texas A&M Commerce<br />
29 G T Distributors<br />
30 Federal Signal<br />
31 Cradlepoint, Inc.<br />
32 Texas Police Trainers LLC<br />
33 Informasystems Inc.<br />
34 University of Houston-Downtown<br />
35 National University<br />
36&37 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)<br />
<strong>38</strong> Spanish on Patrol<br />
39 OSS Academy<br />
40 MSU - Graduate and Adult Education / BAAS<br />
41 Smith & Wesson<br />
41 Virtual Academy<br />
42 CAA USA<br />
44 Range USA Law Enforcement<br />
45 DetectaChem, Inc.<br />
46 AED Brands<br />
47 SiTNA Solutions<br />
48 Instructor Z & Associates International, LLC<br />
49 Phoenix Geosystems<br />
50 Rock Springs<br />
51 LensLock<br />
52&53 Axon<br />
54 Texas School Safety Center<br />
55 Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training<br />
56 ICARUS Aerospace Inc.<br />
57 FoldAR<br />
58 Proforce Law Enforcement<br />
59 Aardvark Tactical<br />
60 NCIC Inmate Communications<br />
61 Gunfighter Supply, LLC<br />
62 Primary ARms Government<br />
63 TXAT LLC / Aguila Ammunition<br />
64&65 Mindmelt Enterprise<br />
66 Laser Shot<br />
67 Tactical R/C<br />
68 Off Duty Management<br />
69 Avrio Analytics<br />
EXHIBITORS<br />
Exhibitors Located Inside Watergarden A<br />
92 The BLUES The BLUES 93
WHERE TO EAT<br />
WHERE TO EAT<br />
1 2 3 4<br />
Breakfast<br />
Spots<br />
fast food<br />
favorites<br />
lunch time<br />
bites<br />
happy hour<br />
hot spots<br />
GLASS PAVILLION<br />
SUBWAY<br />
BREWSTER STREET<br />
ICE HOUSE<br />
BAR UNDER<br />
THE SUN<br />
FRESCO<br />
LUCY'S<br />
SNACKBAR<br />
BURGER KING<br />
WHATABURGER<br />
BY THE BAY<br />
ELIZABETH'S AT<br />
THE ART MUSEUM<br />
THAI SPICE<br />
AKA SUSHI<br />
EXECUTIVE<br />
SURF CLUB<br />
NUECES<br />
BREWING CO.<br />
WATER STREET<br />
SUSHI ROOM<br />
RAILROAD SEAFOOD<br />
& BREWING CO.<br />
DOKYO DAUNTAUN<br />
HOUSE OF ROCK<br />
5<br />
dinner bell<br />
favorites<br />
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS<br />
BAR & GRILL<br />
VIETNAM<br />
RESTAURANT<br />
LANDRY'S<br />
SEAFOOD HOUSE<br />
WATER STREET<br />
OYSTER BAR<br />
HARRISON'S LANDING<br />
MESQUITE STREET<br />
PIZZA & PASTA CO.<br />
JOE'S CRAB SHACK<br />
CRAWDADDY'S<br />
94 The BLUES The BLUES 95
<strong>OCT</strong>OBER<br />
3-7 5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX<br />
3-7 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Lansing, MI<br />
3-7 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Scott , LA<br />
4-5 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC San Antonio, TX<br />
4-6 Sexual Deviant Offenders *BY PATC Denver, CO<br />
4-6 The Essential Field Training Officer By LLRMI Cleveland, TN<br />
<strong>10</strong>-14 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Greeley, CO<br />
11-12 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Plainfield, IN<br />
11-13 Ambush and Lethal Environment Recognition Training *BY PATC Austin, TX<br />
11-13 Hands- On Electrical Fire / Arson Investigation by LLRMI Hammond, LA<br />
11-13 Homicide Investigations, Tactics and Procedures by LLRMI Staple, AL<br />
17-21 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Myrtle Beach, SC<br />
17-21 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Corpus Christi, TX<br />
18-20 3-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Millington, TN<br />
18-20 Interview & Interrogation for New Detectives BY LLRMI Abington, PA<br />
18-20 Investigating Basic Sex Crimes *BY PATC Van Buren, AR<br />
20-21 Search Warrant Major Case Investigation *BY PATC Duncansville, PA<br />
24-26 Leadership Through Understanding Emotional Intelligence *BY PATC Jonesboro, GA<br />
24-26 Vehicle Fire Investigation *BY PATC Morris Plains, NJ<br />
24-28 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Charlotte, NC<br />
24-28 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Dover, DE<br />
25-26 Investigating Cases of Child Homicide By LLRMI Urbana, IL<br />
25-27 2.5 Day New Fire/Arson Invet. NFPA 921 & NFPA <strong>10</strong>33 By LLRMI Upper Darby, PA<br />
25-27 Arson Case Management By LLRMI Sandy, UT<br />
27-28 Criminal Justice Mental Health Summit Minneapolis, MN<br />
31-4 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Imlay City, MI<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
1-2 Internal Affairs Administrative Investigation By LLRMI Ft. Worth, TX<br />
1-2 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Van Buren, AR<br />
1-2 Search Warrant Major Case Investigation *BY PATC Plainfield, IN<br />
3-4 Critical Task in Jail/Correction Operations By LLRMI Grapevine, TX<br />
7-9 Human Trafficking *BY PATC Albuquerque, NM<br />
7-9 Protests, Demonstrations and Civil Unrest Operations By LLRMI Las Vegas, NV<br />
7-11 5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation By LLRMI Las Vegas, NV<br />
7-11 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Lynchburg, VA<br />
7-11 National Internal Affairs Training and Certification By LLRMI Las Vegas, NV<br />
7-11 Use of Force Conference and Certification By LLRMI Las Vegas, NV<br />
8-<strong>10</strong> Jail/Corrections Risk Management, Liability Conference By LLRMI Las Vegas, NV<br />
14-16 3-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Surprise, AZ<br />
14-17 NTOA’s 22nd Annual Crisis Negotiations Conference Scottsdale, AZ<br />
14-18 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC San Antonio, TX<br />
14-18 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Allen, TX<br />
15-17 Emerging Legal Trends & Liability Mgt. for SWAT By LLRMI Gatlinburg, TN<br />
15-17 Sexual Deviant Offenders *BY PATC <strong>No</strong>rmal, IL<br />
18-22 California Narcotic Officers’ Association Training Conference Indian Wells, CA<br />
28-29 Search Warrant Major Case Investigation *BY PATC Chambersburg, PA<br />
28-30 Human Trafficking *BY PATC Morgantown, PA<br />
28-30 School Violence, Safety and Security Conference *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
28-2 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
28-2 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
28-2 New Fire and Arson Investigator Academy *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
29-30 Mentoring the Underachieving Employee *BY PATC Plainfield, IN<br />
DECEMBER<br />
1-2 School Resource Officer Training *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
5-6 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations and Retention *BY PATCLas Vegas, NV<br />
5-9 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Jeffersonville, IN<br />
5-9 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
5-9 Hostage Negotiations Phase 1 By LLRMI Abington, PA<br />
7-8 Courtroom Security and Threat Assessment *BY PATC Las Vegas, NV<br />
7-9 The Essential Field Training Officer By LLRMI Urbana, IL<br />
12-13 Advanced Internal Invest: Legal and Practical Issues *BY PATC Idaho Falls, ID<br />
12-14 Ambush and Lethal Environment Recognition Training *BY PATC Albuquerque, NM<br />
12-14 Investigating Basic Sex Crimes *BY PATC Ocala, FL<br />
12-16 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Waterville, OH<br />
12-16 Train the Trainer Instructor Academy Las Vegas, NV<br />
13-14 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Fort Myers , FL<br />
20-21 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Greeley, CO<br />
JANUARY<br />
9-<strong>10</strong> Courtroom Security and Threat Assessment *BY PATC West Monroe, LA<br />
9-13 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Hayden, ID<br />
9-13 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Rock Hill , SC<br />
9-13 Internal Affairs Conference and Certification *BY PATC Hoover, AL<br />
<strong>10</strong>-11 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Austell, GA<br />
<strong>10</strong>-12 Fire/Arson Investigation and Arson Case Management By LLRMI Upper Darby, PA<br />
<strong>10</strong>-12 Responding to Veterans and Police Officers in Crisis *BY PATC Royal Oak, MI<br />
11-12 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Abington, PA<br />
16-20 New Fire and Arson Investigator Academy *BY PATC Wayne, NJ<br />
16-20 Train the Trainer Instructor Academy Scott, LA<br />
23-24 Search Warrant Major Case Investigation *BY PATC Hoover, AL<br />
23-27 Fit-to-Enforce Fitness Instructor Course Huntsville, AL<br />
23-27 Special Operations Supervisors Training Nashville, TN<br />
26-27 Responding to Veterans and Police Officers in Crisis *BY PATC Jonesboro, GA<br />
30-3 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Belfast , ME<br />
31-1 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Beaumont, TX<br />
FEBRUARY<br />
6-8 The Essential Field Training Officer By LLRMI Abington, PA<br />
6-<strong>10</strong> Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Pearland, TX<br />
13-17 5 Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator By LLRMI Abington, PA<br />
14-15 Recruiting, Hiring, Background Investigations *BY PATC Easley, SC<br />
21-22 Arrest, Search and Seizure - Law Enforcement Best Practices Hoover, AL<br />
27-3 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Denton, TX<br />
APRIL<br />
11-12 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Hoover, AL<br />
17-21 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Texas City, TX<br />
18-19 Managing the Property and Evidence Room *BY PATC Texas City, TX<br />
24-28 Detective and New Criminal Investigator *BY PATC Texas City, TX<br />
25-27 Hands-On Vehicle Fire/Arson Investigation By LLRMI Upper Darby, PA<br />
Send your calendar listings to:<br />
bluespdmag@gmail.com<br />
96 The BLUES The BLUES 97
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES<br />
CORRECTIONAL OFFICER III KAITLYN BREANNE RITNOUR<br />
DEPUTY SHERIFF JONATHAN RANDALL KOLESKI<br />
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE<br />
END OF WATCH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2022<br />
AGE: 23 TOUR: 5 MONTHS BADGE: N/A<br />
Correctional Officer III Kaitlyn Ritnour was killed in a vehicle crash while leaving the Ruben M. Torres Unit at<br />
125 Private Road 4303 in Hondo. She had worked an assignment at the Torres Unit and was returning to her<br />
regular duty station at the Briscoe Unit when her car was struck by an oncoming vehicle as she merged into<br />
traffic. She succumbed to her injuries at the scene.<br />
Officer Ritnour had served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division for<br />
five months and was assigned to the Brisco Unit. She is survived by her mother, father, sister, grandparents,<br />
and fiancé.<br />
COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, GEORGIA<br />
END OF WATCH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022<br />
AGE: 42 TOUR: N/A BADGE: 07072<br />
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Koleski and Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ervin were shot and killed while serving a felony<br />
theft warrant at 2474 Hampton Glen Court in Marietta shortly before 8:00 pm. They were taking the subject into<br />
custody when another subject inside the home confronted them with a firearm. Both deputies gave commands for<br />
the man to drop the firearm before an exchange of shots. Both deputies suffered fatal wounds. The wanted subject<br />
and the shooter both barricaded themselves in the home but were both taken into custody later in the night.<br />
Deputy Sheriff Koleski was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. He<br />
is survived by his wife.<br />
98 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES 99
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES<br />
DEPUTY SHERIFF MARSHALL SAMUEL ERVIN, JR.<br />
TROOPER CADET PATRICK DONNELL DUPREE<br />
COBB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, GEORGIA<br />
END OF WATCH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022<br />
AGE: <strong>38</strong> TOUR: <strong>10</strong> YEARS BADGE: 12004<br />
Deputy Sheriff Marshall Ervin and Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Koleski were shot and killed while serving a felony<br />
theft warrant at 2474 Hampton Glen Court in Marietta shortly before 8:00 pm. They were taking the subject<br />
into custody when another subject inside the home confronted them with a firearm. Both deputies gave commands<br />
for the man to drop the firearm before an exchange of shots. Both deputies suffered fatal wounds. The<br />
wanted subject and the shooter both barricaded themselves in the home but were both taken into custody<br />
later in the night.<br />
Deputy Ervin had served with the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office for <strong>10</strong> years. He is survived by his wife and two<br />
children.<br />
GEORGIA STATE PATROL, GEORGIA<br />
END OF WATCH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022<br />
AGE: 36 TOUR: 8 YEARS BADGE: 847<br />
Trooper Cadet Patrick Dupree passed away after participating in a physically demanding weapons retentions<br />
course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center at <strong>10</strong>00 Indian Springs Drive in Forsyth at 7:30 pm.<br />
After completing the exercise, Trooper Cadet Dupree collapsed. He received lifesaving measures on site and was<br />
rushed to the hospital, where he could not be revived.<br />
Trooper Cadet Dupree had served with the Georgia State Patrol for almost two months and previously served in<br />
law enforcement for eight years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.<br />
<strong>10</strong>0 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES <strong>10</strong>1
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES<br />
POLICE OFFICER DILLON MICHEAL VAKOFF<br />
POLICE OFFICER LLOYD “MIKE” TODD<br />
ARVADA POLICE DEPARTMENT, COLORADO<br />
END OF WATCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2022<br />
AGE: 27 TOUR: 3 YEARS BADGE: N/A<br />
Police Officer Dillon Vakoff was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance in the 6700 block<br />
of W. 51st Avenue at about 1:40 am.He and another officer were attempting to break up a fight between the<br />
family members when one of the involved men opened fire, wounding a woman who was also involved in the<br />
disturbance. The subject then exchanged shots with Officer Vakoff and the other officer. Officer Vakoff was<br />
mortally wounded before the subject was also shot. Officer Vakoff was transported to Lutheran Hospital where<br />
he succumbed to his wounds.<br />
Officer Vakoff was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Arvada Police Department for three years.<br />
DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT, MICHIGAN<br />
END OF WATCH MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022<br />
AGE: 57 TOUR: 5 YEARS BADGE: 473<br />
Police Officer Mike Todd succumbed to complications of gunshot wounds sustained on December 5th, 1998, by gunfire<br />
at Nashville Street and Westphalia Street in Detroit at 11:<strong>10</strong> pm. Officer Todd and two other plainclothes officers<br />
were attempting to stop a van wanted in connection with an abduction earlier in the day. When the van slowed down, a<br />
suspect in the back opened fire on the cruisers, striking all three officers. Officer Todd, who was driving, was shot in the<br />
head. All officers were transported to St. John Hospital, where Officer Bandy succumbed to his injuries the following<br />
day. Officer Todd remained in a coma for over two months and spent a year in a rehabilitative facility. He was paralyzed<br />
on the left side of his body, lost his right eye, and suffered partial brain damage. He required 24-hour care until succumbing<br />
to his injuries 23 years later. Officer Todd was a United States Coast Guard veteran and had served with the<br />
Detroit Police Department for five years. He is survived by his son, sisters, and brothers.<br />
<strong>10</strong>2<br />
<strong>10</strong>2 The<br />
The BLUES<br />
BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE<br />
The<br />
MAGAZINE BLUES <strong>10</strong>3<br />
<strong>10</strong>3
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES<br />
POLICE OFFICER SEARA BURTON<br />
DEPUTY SHERIFF MICHAEL HARTWICK<br />
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT, INDIANA<br />
END OF WATCH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2022<br />
AGE: 28 TOUR: 4 YEARS BADGE: 140<br />
Police Officer Seara Burton succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained while conducting a traffic stop on<br />
August <strong>10</strong>th, <strong>2022.</strong> Other officers had requested her assistance to stop a moped being driven by a narcotics<br />
suspect in the 200 block of N 12th Street. Officer Burton had deployed her canine partner, Brev, who indicated<br />
to the presence of narcotics in the moped. As officers began to search the vehicle, the man pulled out<br />
a concealed handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Burton in the head. Officer Burton was flown to Miami<br />
Valley Hospital where she remained on life support until September 1st. She was taken to a hospice facility on<br />
September 3rd and succumbed to her wounds on September 18th, <strong>2022.</strong> Officer Burton had served with the<br />
Richmond Police Department for four years. She is survived by her fiancée, mother, and stepmother. Officer<br />
Burton was shot nine days before her scheduled wedding date to her fiancée.<br />
PINELLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, FLORIDA<br />
END OF WATCH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2022<br />
AGE: 51 TOUR: 19 YEARS BADGE: N/A<br />
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hartwick succumbed to injuries received when he was struck by a front-end loader truck<br />
at I-275 and Ulmerton Road, near the Howard Frankland Bridge at <strong>10</strong>:30 pm. Deputy Harwick was working an<br />
overnight assignment directing traffic for construction work on the I-275. He was outside his cruiser when the<br />
front-end loader carrying concrete barriers hit him. The construction worker fled the scene but was apprehended<br />
<strong>10</strong> hours later. Another construction worker who helped the subject hide his work vest and flee was charged with<br />
accessory after the fact.<br />
Deputy Harwick had served with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years. He is survived by his two sons<br />
and mother.<br />
<strong>10</strong>4<br />
<strong>10</strong>4 The<br />
The BLUES<br />
BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE<br />
The<br />
MAGAZINE BLUES <strong>10</strong>5<br />
<strong>10</strong>5
HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES<br />
MASTER POLICE OFFICER TYRELL OWENS-RILEY<br />
SENIOR PATROL OFFICER ANTHONY MARTIN<br />
COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA<br />
END OF WATCH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2022<br />
AGE: N/A TOUR: 7 YEARS BADGE: N/A<br />
Master Police Officer Tyrrell Owens-Riley suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in the physical fitness training<br />
portion of the department’s SWAT Team assessment.<br />
He was transported to Providence Hospital after exhibiting symptoms of a heart attack. Once at the hospital he suffered<br />
cardiac arrest and could not be revived.<br />
Officer Owens-Riley was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Columbia Police Department for over<br />
seven years and was assigned to the Metro Region.<br />
AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, TEXAS<br />
END OF WATCH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022<br />
AGE: 54 TOUR: 15 YEARS BADGE: N/A<br />
Senior Patrol Officer Tony Martin was killed in a motorcycle crash at the intersection of State Highway 29 and RM<br />
1869 in Liberty Hill at 6 am.<br />
Officer Martin was traveling westbound on State Highway 26 when a vehicle traveling eastbound attempted to turn<br />
left and struck the police motorcycle. Officer Martin died at the scene.<br />
Officer Martin was a United States Air Force Security Forces veteran and had served with the Austin Police Department<br />
for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, granddaughter, and parents.<br />
<strong>10</strong>6 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE The MAGAZINE BLUES <strong>10</strong>7
WORDS BY 5FRANK36<br />
Just another night shift.<br />
According to the careers section<br />
of my sons “high school<br />
career manual” a career as a<br />
police officer can be: “satisfying,<br />
rewarding, saddening, lonely,<br />
and fulfilling—all during the<br />
same shift. The job pays pretty<br />
well, and the benefits are typically<br />
very good, but each day<br />
can present—and probably will<br />
present—a new challenge.”<br />
UH HUH. These days, I’m just<br />
satisfied if I can make it through<br />
a shift in one piece and make it<br />
back home again.<br />
I’m still working nights, which<br />
is good and bad. The good thing<br />
is it seems I have a lot more “day<br />
hours” to get things done. The<br />
bad thing is, while I get a lot<br />
done in my daylight hours, my<br />
3-hour nap from 6-9 isn’t helping<br />
much. I’m still tired as shit.<br />
But the truth is, I love working<br />
nights. It’s cooler for one. And<br />
there’s a lot less report writing.<br />
And getting my car ready for<br />
shift isn’t done in the blistering<br />
heat. And when I say get ready,<br />
I mean cleaning up after my car<br />
share partner. I’m lucky that he<br />
drops the car at my house and<br />
for the most part, he keeps it<br />
fairly clean. But when he’s late,<br />
I must move all his crap to the<br />
trunk and get mine out. But hey<br />
I’m not complaining. I can get in<br />
service from my driveway and<br />
only have roll call a couple of<br />
times a week.<br />
But today is his day off and I<br />
washed and cleaned the unit and<br />
she’s ready to go. I’m showered<br />
and shaved and about ready to<br />
walk out the door. <strong>No</strong> wife or<br />
kids to kiss goodbye. With over<br />
15 years on the job, the wife left,<br />
and the kids are all in college.<br />
But I think about all the other<br />
cops on my shift that do have<br />
families. What it must be like<br />
these days for them to walk out<br />
the door and worrying what will<br />
happen if they don’t come back.<br />
In that high school manual,<br />
I also read that when you get<br />
dressed “you become quiet,<br />
stern, and thoughtful as you<br />
prepare yourself mentally for the<br />
day ahead. You stop being “you”<br />
and become “officer you” as you<br />
put on your vest, zip up your<br />
uniform shirt and strap on your<br />
gun.” Yeah, I don’t know about<br />
all that. I just hope and pray<br />
tonight won’t be another protest<br />
night.<br />
“5Frank36, I’m in service<br />
checking traffic.”<br />
“5Frank36, show you in service<br />
and you’re clear at this time.”<br />
I log in on the laptop, check for<br />
emails, BOLOs and see what’s<br />
what.<br />
I pull out of the driveway, turn<br />
on to the highway outside my<br />
subdivision and first thing I spot<br />
is a car with a headlight that’s<br />
out. Please dear God let’s don’t<br />
start the night with an asshole. I<br />
was nice, he was nice, gave him<br />
a warning and sent him on his<br />
way. Why can’t they all be this<br />
simple.<br />
“5Frank36, major accident,<br />
14300 FM3466, two pinned in,<br />
possible fatality. Care Flight has<br />
been dispatched.”<br />
“5Frank36 is enroute” Yep, it’s a<br />
Friday night.<br />
They should teach people what<br />
to do if you see flashing lights in<br />
your rear view and hear sirens<br />
and air horns blasting in your<br />
ears. Because people obviously<br />
don’t know shit about what to<br />
do. Assholes all over the place.<br />
5Frank36 arrived, FD is on the<br />
scene.<br />
Holy shit. It’s hard to tell these<br />
were even two cars. Head-on<br />
collision. Both had to be traveling<br />
at 60-70+. It’s pure chaos.<br />
You can smell burnt oil and<br />
coolant. It’s always the coolant<br />
that hangs in the air.<br />
The Fire Dept and EMT’s have<br />
both just arrived. I hear the Fire<br />
Chief yelling commands to his<br />
guys on how they were going to<br />
cut open the two cars. An EMT<br />
walks up and tells me the driver<br />
of the SUV is DOA. “Hey, are you<br />
guys still needing Care Flight?<br />
He says yes and I tell him they<br />
are inbound with an ETA of 3<br />
minutes.<br />
“Let’s put them down in the<br />
school across the street. I’ll get<br />
an LZ set up.”<br />
“5Frank36, I need units to set<br />
up an LZ at the High School for<br />
Care Flight. I have one confirmed<br />
fatality. Can you notify DPS and<br />
get them in route to work that.”<br />
I walk over to my unit and<br />
grab a blanket out of my trunk<br />
to cover up the front of the SUV.<br />
On my way back to the crumpled<br />
remains of what was a new<br />
Tahoe, I see the roof come off<br />
the compact car. The woman inside<br />
is covered in blood. My first<br />
instinct? Look in the back seat<br />
and pray to God there is not a car<br />
seat. NOPE. <strong>No</strong> car seat. Thank<br />
you, Father.<br />
A fireman and I had just finished<br />
placing the blanket over<br />
the Tahoe when I heard Care<br />
Flight overhead. I thought to myself<br />
they are going to be waiting<br />
awhile. They are still cutting<br />
that car into a dozen pieces. The<br />
crowd of onlookers has grown<br />
to a few dozen, everyone with<br />
their phones out. I just don’t understand<br />
the need to film people<br />
when they are having the worst<br />
day of their life.<br />
Trooper Evans walked up, and I<br />
filled him in on what I had so far.<br />
He agreed to start the report if I<br />
handled traffic and Care Flight.<br />
This was going to be a long, long<br />
night for him. Fatalities take forever<br />
to work.<br />
Finally, they got the lady out of<br />
the car and onto a stretcher and<br />
headed to the helicopter. Once<br />
you hear those blades and motor<br />
rev up, you know to look away<br />
<strong>10</strong>8 The BLUES The BLUES <strong>10</strong>9
ecause dirt and sand are headed<br />
your way.<br />
I gathered all the witnesses’<br />
names and turned them over<br />
to the Trooper. He was already<br />
taking statements and working<br />
the scene.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w came the worst part of<br />
my night. “Hey Evans, I’ll do the<br />
notification for you.”<br />
“Are you sure” he asked, but<br />
really didn’t want me to say no.<br />
“Yeah, it was my call, and you<br />
have a shitload of work ahead of<br />
you, so I’ll do it”<br />
I shot a pic of the man’s driver’s<br />
license and Googled the<br />
address. I was thankful it wasn’t<br />
right around the corner. I needed<br />
time to prepare myself. I hate<br />
making notifications. As I pulled<br />
up outside a beautiful two-story<br />
home on a cul-de-sac, I couldn’t<br />
help but think how I was about<br />
to destroy someone’s life. I mean<br />
I know it wasn’t me that took his<br />
life, but I’m the one that would<br />
deliver that horrible news and<br />
his family would always remember<br />
that cop that told them their<br />
loved one was never coming<br />
home.<br />
As I walked up the driveway,<br />
I saw what I assumed was the<br />
wife’s minivan. On the back window<br />
was one of those stupid decals<br />
I hate with the stick figures.<br />
A man, wife and two kids. So,<br />
you already know in your head<br />
what’s about to happen.<br />
I rang the doorbell and a small<br />
boy about <strong>10</strong> years old opens<br />
the door. “Hi son, is your mom<br />
home?”<br />
The mom walks up as I said<br />
‘home’, and you could tell by the<br />
look on her face, she knew. She<br />
knew her world was never going<br />
to be the same no matter what<br />
I was there for. She knows why<br />
you’re there, and you know she<br />
knows.<br />
There is just no easy way to<br />
tell them. “Ma’am, can we go<br />
inside, I have some bad news<br />
to share with you about your<br />
husband. I’m very sorry to tell<br />
you that your husband has been<br />
killed in a car crash.”<br />
Naturally, she cries, while you<br />
do your best not to. You offer to<br />
make phone calls for her and<br />
to stay with her until a family<br />
member, minister, or someone<br />
that cares about her can get<br />
there. And the kids. Why is mommy<br />
crying? I don’t know what’s<br />
worse. Telling a spouse, the<br />
one they love isn’t coming home<br />
again, or telling a parent they<br />
lost a child.<br />
I stayed there comforting her<br />
for almost two hours, until her<br />
sister arrived. Then I needed<br />
someone for the sister. It was<br />
almost 4am. I had two hours to<br />
go. Truth is I just wanted to go<br />
home.<br />
“5Frank36, I’m back in, notification<br />
was made at 01.56 hrs.<br />
ma’am”<br />
I check the open calls and take<br />
an open burglary just around the<br />
corner. As I pull up the family is<br />
standing in the driveway. What<br />
the hell!<br />
“Hello. What’s going on? Why<br />
are you guys outside? Is someone<br />
in your house?<br />
The husband tells me they just<br />
returned home from a family trip<br />
and found the front door wide<br />
open. I called for backup, and we<br />
checked the house. It was clear,<br />
but someone had obviously ransacked<br />
the place. The homeowners<br />
check for missing property,<br />
and I started the report. The total<br />
value wasn’t much, and I knew,<br />
CS Techs weren’t coming out for<br />
this. So, I finished the report and<br />
gave the wife the case number.<br />
With an hour to go, I decided<br />
a Whataburger drive-thru for a<br />
Breakfast on a Bun was just the<br />
ticket. A block away, the pickup<br />
in front of me was weaving all<br />
over the road. WTF.<br />
5Frank36, traffic, possible<br />
DWI, Main Street in front of the<br />
Whataburger. Can you send me<br />
another unit.<br />
Sure enough, he was drunk.<br />
Three more hours of paperwork.<br />
<strong>No</strong> Breakfast on a Bun, and damn<br />
if it wasn’t daylight. I hate getting<br />
home after sunrise.<br />
So, there it is, my war story.<br />
Really not much of a war story<br />
at all. Just another routine night<br />
on patrol.<br />
Good night, all.<br />
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1<strong>10</strong> The BLUES The BLUES 111
WORDS BY LT. DAVID WILLIAMS, RET<br />
First 12 hours of ‘defunded’ police.<br />
On September 4, 2020, our<br />
city council voted to defund the<br />
police department I just retired<br />
from. Effective October 1, 2020,<br />
the start of the city’s fiscal year,<br />
the police department and its officers<br />
was replaced by what the<br />
city called ‘a non-violent social<br />
alternative to law enforcement.’<br />
What you’re about to read is<br />
what happened in just ONE PA-<br />
TROL DISTRICT in the first 12 hours<br />
without a police force.<br />
October 1, 2020<br />
00:01 am – Just after midnight,<br />
I stepped outside to see if<br />
anything was happening, and it<br />
seemed like a quite night. I expected<br />
the worse but didn’t hear<br />
any sirens. <strong>No</strong> screams for help.<br />
So, I walked back inside and<br />
went to sleep. All was well.<br />
02:20 am – I woke up to the<br />
sound of my neighbor’s car<br />
alarm going off next to our bedroom<br />
window. I looked outside<br />
and saw several people standing<br />
by his new black BMW. I grabbed<br />
my new conceal-carry Glock and<br />
ran outside and started yelling<br />
at the men to get out of the car.<br />
My neighbor was already on the<br />
front lawn with a golf club (he<br />
despises guns and says he is a<br />
non-violent person) and he too<br />
was yelling at the men to get<br />
out of his car. One of the men,<br />
teenagers actually, pointed a gun<br />
out of the driver’s side and fired<br />
a shot at my neighbor. Luckily,<br />
he missed, but my neighbor<br />
ran inside to get his phone. The<br />
three boys smoked the tires and<br />
left the cul-de-sac in a cloud of<br />
smoke. By this time my wife was<br />
outside with me.<br />
“I called 911” she said.<br />
What did they say? We don’t<br />
have police, who are they sending?<br />
“<strong>No</strong> one, they advised me to try<br />
and reason with the young men”<br />
“Do what? Reason with them?”<br />
My neighbor re-emerged from<br />
his house screaming into the<br />
phone, saying they took his car<br />
and tried to kill him. The 911<br />
operator said a Crime Prevention<br />
Specialist would come out after<br />
8am to speak with him if he<br />
liked. He threw the phone across<br />
the driveway. I did my best to<br />
calm my neighbor and went<br />
back inside and turned on the<br />
citywide scanner. For the next <strong>10</strong><br />
hours I was glued to the computer<br />
and could not believe what<br />
was happening in my city.<br />
02:50 am – Two blocks away,<br />
three men in a Black BMW<br />
walked into the Corner Convenience<br />
store, pointed a gun at<br />
the clerk and demanded all the<br />
money. On the way out the door<br />
with $45 in cash, an armful of<br />
beer and cigarettes, they fired<br />
two shots at the clerk. One hit<br />
him in the upper arm. A customer<br />
saw what happened called<br />
911. 911 dispatched an ambulance<br />
but they waited two blocks away<br />
for the scene to be cleared by<br />
police. But there were no local<br />
police, so they had to wait 30<br />
minutes for a State Trooper to<br />
arrive. The clerk lost so much<br />
blood they didn’t know if he<br />
would survive.<br />
03:55am – A major accident<br />
on the Interstate with people<br />
trapped in a car that was on fire<br />
was dispatched on the intercity<br />
radio band. That’s what the 911<br />
operators were told to do given<br />
the local agency was now defunct.<br />
The trooper handling the<br />
robbery was the closest unit to<br />
the accident, so he left the crime<br />
scene and headed to the accident.<br />
Since there were no detectives<br />
or crime scene units to be<br />
called, he turned the scene over<br />
to a manager the alarm company<br />
had called.<br />
04:11am – The trooper arrived<br />
on the scene of the accident and<br />
immediately called for backup<br />
for traffic control. The dispatcher<br />
said all the units were tied up<br />
on other city calls. <strong>No</strong> one was<br />
coming. The trooper asked one<br />
of the witnesses what happened,<br />
and she said the white car that<br />
was on fire, was run off the road<br />
by a black car that looked like a<br />
BMW (wait is that my neighbor’s<br />
car?) The white car struck the<br />
bridge support and burst into<br />
flames, while the black car with<br />
3-males inside took off at a high<br />
rate of speed.<br />
04:20am – Two more cars<br />
slammed into the burning vehicle<br />
on the Freeway. The trooper<br />
was lucky to be alive. He jumped<br />
over the guardrail, just before<br />
the first car slammed into the<br />
burning hulk of a car. When the<br />
accident was all said and done.<br />
One person was dead, and three<br />
more went to the hospital.<br />
05:01am- According to 911<br />
call records, sixty-five calls for<br />
police service were now holding.<br />
Twenty-five were in progress<br />
calls.<br />
05:16am – A citizen called 911<br />
to say that he saw a wrecker<br />
driving at a high rate of speed<br />
down Main Street. And was<br />
dragging what appeared to be<br />
an ATM machine with sparks<br />
flying everywhere. Make that 26<br />
in-progress calls.<br />
05:25am – A report of a minor<br />
accident, Main and 33rd Avenue.<br />
A UPS truck reports his van was<br />
struck by an object being towed<br />
behind a wrecker - an ATM I<br />
assume.<br />
05:26am – A man walking his<br />
dog in the 2500 block of 33rd,<br />
reports a wrecker has struck a<br />
fire hydrant and water is flooding<br />
the street. While 911 is talking<br />
to the gentlemen, the operator<br />
hears tires squealing and<br />
the man says a car spun out of<br />
control on the flooded street<br />
and has struck his dog. Please,<br />
please send help. The 911 operator<br />
calls animal control and the<br />
wastewater department. Both<br />
departments are closed and<br />
don’t open until 8am.<br />
05:55am Reports come into<br />
911 that a man is sitting on the<br />
overpass on the Interstate threatening<br />
to jump. Troopers are still<br />
tied up and the 911 operator calls<br />
the emergency number for the<br />
county health dept for a social<br />
worker. Sorry they don’t get in<br />
until 8am. The Health Dept transfers<br />
the call to a Suicide Help<br />
Line. “Can you pass the phone<br />
to the gentlemen in distress<br />
please.” Wait, What?<br />
06:<strong>10</strong>am - Another major acci-<br />
112 The BLUES The BLUES 113
dent was reported on the feeder<br />
of the Interstate and Barker Rd.<br />
The reportee says a black BMW<br />
ran the red light and slammed<br />
into a green Honda Civic. Two,<br />
possible three men crawled out<br />
of the BMW and car jacked a<br />
red Toyota that was stopped at<br />
the light. The lady of the Toyota<br />
needs an ambulance, she is<br />
bleeding from the head. The Toyota<br />
was last seen southbound<br />
on Barker from the freeway. (I<br />
called my neighbor. Hey Fred, I<br />
think your car is on Barker Rd.<br />
and the Interstate. It’s been in an<br />
accident.)<br />
06:17am – Reports of shots<br />
fired at a 24-hr check cashing<br />
store at the 24000 Block of<br />
Interstate 55. Subjects left Westbound<br />
on the feeder headed<br />
towards Barker, driving a black<br />
4-door car.<br />
06:35am – A silent alarm at the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth Side Bank & Trust on 45th<br />
Avenue.<br />
06:45am – Citizen reports<br />
hearing glass breaking in the<br />
2600 Block of 45th Avenue.<br />
06:50am – Reports of a wrecker<br />
driving at a high rate of speed<br />
on 45th pulling a square piece of<br />
metal making lots of sparks. And<br />
same reportee says there is glass<br />
all over the road and someone<br />
should get it cleaned up before<br />
cars get flat tires.<br />
07:01am – Alarm company<br />
calls back says there is glass<br />
breakage and movement inside<br />
the bank. A bank representative<br />
has been notified.<br />
07:<strong>10</strong>am – Several motorists<br />
have called 911 to report flat tires<br />
caused by what appears to be<br />
broken glass and metal on 45th<br />
Street.<br />
07:35am – 911 receives a call<br />
from the manager of the <strong>No</strong>rth<br />
Side Bank & Trust asking for a<br />
police unit. The front of the bank<br />
has been smashed in and the<br />
front door is missing. 911 advised<br />
that a Crime Prevention Specialist<br />
will be dispatched to his<br />
location, but they don’t come in<br />
until 8:00am. The bank manager<br />
wasn’t happy.<br />
07:44am – The manager of<br />
the Corner Convenience Store<br />
call 911 to ask when a police<br />
unit was coming to his store to<br />
take a report. Yes sir, we have<br />
dispatched a Crime Prevention<br />
Specialist to your location, they<br />
should arrive sometime after<br />
8am. “But I don’t want a Crime<br />
PREVENTION specialist, the<br />
crime has already been committed.<br />
We know sir, but all crime<br />
reports are now handled by the<br />
Civilian Crime Bureau.” The manager,<br />
now beside himself says,<br />
“what the hell is the Civilian<br />
Crime Bureau? They are the ones<br />
dispatched to your location sir.<br />
8:01am – The County Health<br />
Dept., Mental Health Division<br />
& Suicide Help Line, opens for<br />
business. “You have 33 new calls<br />
for service – Press 1 to hear the<br />
first call”<br />
08:05am - Civilian Crime<br />
Bureau is now open for business.<br />
“You have 115 new calls for<br />
service – Press 1 to hear the first<br />
call”<br />
08:35am – MHD-SU is dispatched<br />
to a call of a man on a<br />
bridge threatening suicide. When<br />
MHD-SU arrives, they advise<br />
there is no one on the bridge.<br />
They do report a large backup<br />
on the Interstate just north of<br />
the bridge where the jumper<br />
was supposed to be. They hear<br />
reports of debris on the roadway<br />
below. (By the way, MHD-SU<br />
stands for Mental Health Department<br />
– Suicide Unit)<br />
09:00am – CPS (Crime Prevention<br />
Specialist) Unit 33 is<br />
dispatched to a report of a car<br />
burglary in progress at 2409<br />
Walker Street. The vehicle is a<br />
2019 Black BMW. The reportee<br />
will meet you in the driveway.<br />
Hey that’s next door. Hey Fred,<br />
CPS are on the way...LOL)<br />
09:05am – CPS Unit 143 can<br />
you check for a man reported to<br />
be bleeding from an unknown<br />
type of injury at the Corner Convenience<br />
store at Walker and<br />
Elm.<br />
09:15am – Any CPS unit clear<br />
to take a call. We have 85 calls<br />
holding.<br />
09:35am – CPS Unit 143 arrives<br />
at the Corner Convenience and<br />
is met by the manger. “Yes sir,<br />
we received a report about a<br />
man bleeding from an unknown<br />
injury”<br />
“Yes, my employee was shot by<br />
a robber. Are you here to investigate?”<br />
“Aw no sir, that’s handled by a<br />
CPSS unit”<br />
“What the hell is that?” asks<br />
the manager<br />
“That a Crime Prevention Specialist<br />
Supervisory unit sir”<br />
09:44am – 911 Dispatch to CPS<br />
Unit 143. Can you check by with<br />
CPS33 about two blocks from<br />
you. He’s requesting backup on<br />
a reported car break-in and an<br />
angry man threatening him with<br />
a golf club.<br />
09:46am – CPS Unit 143 advises<br />
the store manager a CPSS unit<br />
will be dispatched to his location<br />
within the next 24-48 hours.<br />
Please don’t touch anything sir<br />
until they arrive. I must leave sir,<br />
there is a situation a couple of<br />
blocks from here.<br />
09:50am – CPS Unit 143 to<br />
dispatch. I’ve arrived with CPS<br />
Unit 33 and ma’am there’s a man<br />
beating CPS Unit 33’s Prius with<br />
a golf club. Is there a CPSS unit<br />
in the area? Or can you dispatch<br />
a POLICE unit from a neighboring<br />
city to assist us.<br />
09:55am – Dispatch to CPS Unit<br />
143, CPSS Unit 02 advises that he<br />
is unavailable to assist but has<br />
requested a Mental Health Advisory<br />
Unit to head your way, ETA<br />
is 45 minutes.<br />
<strong>10</strong>:44am – MHA Unit 22 show<br />
me arrived with CPS Unit 143 and<br />
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11:05am – MHA Unit 22 to dispatch,<br />
we have a CODE 12 at our<br />
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11:08am - MHA Unit 22, be<br />
advised MHA Supervisor Unit 11<br />
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an ETA of 55 minutes. Also, can<br />
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12:01pm – MHA Unit 11 is on the<br />
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12:30pm. - Well, I’ve heard<br />
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114 The BLUES The BLUES 115<br />
114 The BLUES The BLUES 115
THE OPEN ROAD<br />
by Michael Barron<br />
FORD STAYS WITH ICE<br />
Ford Introduces The 2024 Mustang<br />
Overview<br />
Ford launches the seventh<br />
chapter of its storied Mustang<br />
sports car with reworked-but-familiar<br />
styling, revised chassis<br />
hardware, an all-new interior,<br />
and two improved<br />
powertrains. While<br />
the new pony is<br />
saddled-up for the<br />
future with a bevy<br />
of upgrades, the<br />
long-term fate of<br />
its closest competitors,<br />
the Chevy<br />
Camaro and Dodge<br />
Challenger, isn’t as<br />
rosy. The new-gen<br />
car will continue<br />
to be powered<br />
by a 5.0-liter V-8<br />
and an updated<br />
turbocharged<br />
2.3-liter EcoBoost<br />
engine, though Ford hasn’t told<br />
us how many horses are present<br />
in either powertrain—only that<br />
there will be more of them than<br />
before. Both a six-speed manual<br />
and a <strong>10</strong>-speed automatic will be<br />
available depending upon engine<br />
choice. The Mustang will continue<br />
to be offered in both hardtop<br />
coupe and soft top convertible<br />
body styles. The Mustang’s rethought<br />
cockpit includes an<br />
available 13.2-inch display that’s<br />
part of a large, curved screen<br />
that extends over the center stack<br />
area. The system also replaces<br />
traditional knobs for climate and<br />
radio control with touchscreen<br />
“buttons.” Sales of the new pony<br />
car should begin sometime<br />
during summer,<br />
2023.<br />
What’s New<br />
for 2024?<br />
The Mustang<br />
will enter its<br />
seventh generation<br />
with sales<br />
beginning in<br />
Summer, 2023.<br />
The new design<br />
brings the<br />
Mustang some<br />
desperately<br />
needed updates.<br />
Amid its many<br />
style and powertrain<br />
changes<br />
is a fresh roster of offerings for<br />
those with a true need for speed.<br />
Both Mustang GT and EcoBoost<br />
models will offer an optional<br />
Performance Pack equipment<br />
upgrade. The Performance Pack<br />
adds a front strut-tower brace,<br />
Torsen limited-slip differential,<br />
wider wheels and tires, larger<br />
Brembo brakes, and a MagneRide<br />
active-dampening suspension.<br />
Optional Recaro buckets and an<br />
active exhaust are also available<br />
for the performance minded.<br />
Additionally, Ford offers a Performance<br />
Electronic Parking Brake<br />
that looks like a traditional lever-action<br />
handbrake and is said<br />
to make the Mustang easier to<br />
drift. An all-new Mustang Dark<br />
Horse track-ready model has also<br />
been added to the ranks, toting a<br />
more sinister 500-hp Coyote V-8<br />
engine and a direct line to the<br />
Ford Performance parts bin with<br />
leaner and meaner equipment<br />
upgrades.<br />
Pricing and Which One to Buy<br />
The Mustang continues to<br />
offer a turbocharged four-cylinder<br />
EcoBoost at the base level<br />
and a V-8 in the GT model. We<br />
estimate the former will start<br />
around $30,000 and the latter at<br />
$40,000. While we won’t know<br />
the specifics of each trim until<br />
the 2024 Mustang gets closer to<br />
its summer, 2023 sale date, it<br />
would be hard not to recommend<br />
the top-dog GT. A Mustang with<br />
a V-8 engine just feels right,<br />
bringing more performance and<br />
an ear-pleasing growl. Plus, it’s<br />
the only powertrain that offers a<br />
six-speed manual transmission.<br />
Engine, Transmission, and<br />
Performance<br />
The new Mustang comes standard<br />
with an upgraded 2.3-liter<br />
turbocharged four-cylinder<br />
EcoBoost engine. We think it’s<br />
likely the Mustang will share a<br />
similar output to the Bronco that<br />
uses a 300-horsepower 2.3-liter<br />
EcoBoost engine, but Ford hasn’t<br />
released official specs just yet.<br />
While every EcoBoost Mustang<br />
gets a <strong>10</strong>-speed automatic transmission,<br />
the Mustang GT, which<br />
continues to offer a 5.0-liter V-8,<br />
has a six-speed manual standard.<br />
The last generation’s Coyote<br />
V-8 produced 450 horsepower<br />
with 420 pound-feet of torque,<br />
so fingers crossed Ford sweetens<br />
its new steed with a little extra<br />
giddy-up. The all-new Mustang<br />
Dark Horse model is a track-focused<br />
step up based on the GT<br />
that uses a 500-hp 5.0-liter V-8<br />
with either a <strong>10</strong>-speed automatic<br />
transmission or a six-speed manual.<br />
Ford said the heart of this<br />
engine contains connecting rods<br />
from the 760-hp Mustang Shelby<br />
GT500 plus a revised intake system.<br />
We’ll update this space with<br />
manufacturer performance specs<br />
when Ford makes them available.<br />
Fuel Economy and Real-World<br />
MPG<br />
The EPA hasn’t released official<br />
fuel economy estimates for the<br />
2024 Mustang EcoBoost or GT, but<br />
for reference, we should mention<br />
the last Mustang earned an<br />
EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and<br />
32 mpg highway with the turbo<br />
four-cylinder and <strong>10</strong>-speed<br />
automatic. For the last-gen V-8,<br />
the added horsepower sacrificed<br />
116 The BLUES The BLUES 117
efficiency for an estimated 15<br />
mpg city and 24 mpg highway.<br />
We’ll update this space with<br />
info for the updated 2024 Mustang<br />
when it becomes available.<br />
For more information about the<br />
Mustang’s fuel economy, visit the<br />
EPA’s website.<br />
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo<br />
From the driver’s seat of the<br />
2024 Mustang, every detail has<br />
been chiseled in place with what<br />
Ford is calling a “fighter-jet inspired,”<br />
design. While we wait to<br />
find out if the Mustang’s performance<br />
will break the sound barrier,<br />
its standard 12.4-inch instrument<br />
cluster is a massive leap<br />
ahead from the previous car’s.<br />
The configurable display can be<br />
customized to fit the needs of<br />
most red, white, and blue patriots,<br />
with selectable colors, gauges,<br />
and even a “calm” screen that<br />
reveals only the most necessary<br />
details. Ambient lighting and a<br />
driver’s display adapts to whichever<br />
drive mode you’ve selected.<br />
Base Mustangs come with cloth<br />
seats and available micro-suede<br />
vinyl inserts, while the Premium<br />
level adds stitched bits and pieces<br />
from door trim to dashboard. The<br />
Mustang GT gets leather inserts.<br />
Ford has also introduced a Remote<br />
Rev function that allows the<br />
car’s engine to blast up the RPMs<br />
with a simple click from the key<br />
fob while you admire the sounds<br />
from outside the car.<br />
Infotainment and Connectivity<br />
A major area of improvement<br />
for the new Mustang is its interior<br />
gadgetry. An available 13.2-inch<br />
infotainment screen using Ford’s<br />
Sync 4 software flows from the<br />
gauge cluster toward the center<br />
of the car behind a curved glass<br />
panel. Apple CarPlay and Android<br />
Auto come standard on this<br />
system, and an optional wireless<br />
smartphone charger helps drivers<br />
reduce the clutter of charging<br />
cables. Amazon Alexa and Ford<br />
Streaming allow voice commands<br />
to replace knob-turning<br />
or button presses, and every Mustang<br />
comes with Ford Power-Up<br />
software capability which allows<br />
for over-the-air updates for later<br />
software and vehicle function<br />
improvements.<br />
Safety and Driver-Assistance<br />
The Mustang is also available<br />
with more driver-assistance<br />
technology than any rival pony<br />
car, so you can go faster and<br />
feel safer. Every Mustang comes<br />
with Ford Co-Pilot360. For more<br />
information about the Mustang’s<br />
crash-test results, visit the National<br />
Highway Traffic Safety Administration<br />
(NHTSA) and Insurance<br />
Institute for Highway Safety<br />
(IIHS) websites.<br />
118 The BLUES The BLUES 119
120 The BLUES The BLUES 121
A BADGE OF HONOR<br />
heal ing our heroes<br />
Getting Out of My Head: The One Little<br />
“Big” Lesson I Wish I Knew Early On.<br />
Another night sitting in front<br />
of the television with a bottle of<br />
wine drowning out everything<br />
and everyone, craving the numbness<br />
which stop the visions of<br />
death and destruction. Somehow,<br />
I convince myself that this is the<br />
best way to “deal” with the crap<br />
in my head. Meanwhile, everything<br />
around me is crumbling. I have<br />
pushed my husband and my family<br />
away. When they ask if I am okay,<br />
I respond, “I’m fine.” I push on<br />
living a bad version of Groundhog<br />
Day.<br />
The turning point did not come<br />
for months and after my suicide<br />
attempt. I finally got into therapy.<br />
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization<br />
Therapy) saved my life.<br />
But it was the big lesson I learned<br />
during my “time on the couch”<br />
that set me up for long term success.<br />
That big lesson came in the<br />
form of a short walk outside. Prior<br />
to entering therapy, I became a<br />
prisoner inside my own home. Too<br />
afraid to go outside for fear that<br />
there would be a sound or smell<br />
that would trigger me and send<br />
me reeling, having to relive the<br />
memories I was trying to avoid.<br />
One day I decided to get off the<br />
couch and go for a walk. Feeling<br />
the sunshine on my face, it was as<br />
if I was surrounded by an invisible<br />
shield. I heard the noises one<br />
would hear in a busy suburban<br />
town. When I got home, I realized<br />
I was okay. I did it and nothing<br />
happened. I repeated this the next<br />
day and the day after, each time<br />
walking a little longer. Then came<br />
the realization that I did not need<br />
to drink as much to fall asleep<br />
and the wanting to “numb out”<br />
faded as well. In conjunction with<br />
therapy, I was building a solid<br />
foundation of healing. What was<br />
behind it? Science. More specifically<br />
endorphins.<br />
“While it is obvious that your<br />
feelings can influence your movement,<br />
it is not as obvious that your<br />
movement can impact your feelings<br />
too. When you feel tired and<br />
sad, you may move more slowly.<br />
When you feel anxious, you may<br />
either rush around or become<br />
completely paralyzed. But recent<br />
studies show that the connection<br />
between your brain and your<br />
body is a “two-way street” and<br />
that means movement can change<br />
your brain, too!”<br />
According to Srini Pillay, MD’s<br />
article How Exercise Can Improve<br />
Mood Disorders, “Regular aerobic<br />
exercise can reduce anxiety<br />
by making your brain’s “fight or<br />
flight” system less reactive. When<br />
anxious people are exposed to<br />
physiological changes they fear,<br />
such as a rapid heartbeat, through<br />
regular aerobic exercise, they<br />
can develop a tolerance for such<br />
symptoms.<br />
After feeling better and understanding<br />
the science, I no longer<br />
had to stay stuck in the trauma<br />
and stress. I had some control<br />
back. Control is key. The ability<br />
to control a cycle of destruction<br />
and consciously choose to do the<br />
Samantha Horwitz &<br />
John Salerno<br />
things that led me getting my<br />
brain health back and ultimately<br />
my health overall gave me goals<br />
and provided purpose.<br />
Ultimately, I transformed my way<br />
of thinking about my trauma, and<br />
what getting out of my head looks<br />
like. And it all started by moving.<br />
If you are finding yourself stuck<br />
in your trauma, feeling burnt out,<br />
at the end of your career with<br />
your head full of negative voices,<br />
why not try a walk or a run, going<br />
to the gym, woodworking, yoga,<br />
setting a goal and acting toward<br />
it, martial arts, or whatever type<br />
of movement you gravitate to.<br />
Transform your way of thinking,<br />
start moving, and transform your<br />
life.<br />
• • •<br />
Samantha Horwitz & John<br />
Salerno are regular contributors<br />
to The <strong>Blues</strong> Police Magazine.<br />
They are the founders of A Badge<br />
of Honor, a 501(c)(3) post-traumatic<br />
stress awareness and suicide<br />
prevention program for first<br />
responders. John and Sam host<br />
A Badge of Honor Podcast Mondays<br />
5pm CST. You can also listen<br />
anytime on your favorite podcast<br />
app.<br />
122 The BLUES The BLUES 123
DARYL LOTT<br />
daryl’s deliberations<br />
“You Are the Only<br />
Real American Here”<br />
The American Civil War was<br />
unequivocally the most significant<br />
disaster to ever hit our<br />
country. The reverberations still<br />
echo across the decades and<br />
years to our own time. I can’t<br />
imagine living in a country<br />
which turns on itself and kills<br />
over 600,000 of its people. The<br />
Founding Fathers knew that<br />
such a war was possible, but<br />
they could not get the southern<br />
states on board if slavery was<br />
outlawed under the Constitution<br />
in 1788. In fact, Rhode Island and<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth Carolina were the last<br />
states to ratify the document<br />
in 1790 because they would not<br />
ratify it without the Bill of Rights.<br />
Ratifying the Constitution and<br />
keeping the <strong>No</strong>rth and South<br />
together was a tricky and desperate<br />
endeavor. George Washington,<br />
ever the archetype for<br />
precedence, freed his slaves at<br />
his death. He was hoping that<br />
his example would be precedent<br />
setting and the issue would<br />
literally die out. However, with<br />
the invention of the cotton gin,<br />
slavery became profitable and<br />
enslaved people became the<br />
South’s most valuable resource.<br />
The Civil War was now unavoidable.<br />
The South fought the war in<br />
a way that would cause war<br />
fatigue in the <strong>No</strong>rth. The hope of<br />
the South was that Democrats<br />
would win the 1864 election and<br />
quit fighting. But thanks to timely<br />
Independence Day victories at<br />
Vicksburg and Gettysburg, the<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth’s will was reinvigorated.<br />
There was still much fighting<br />
to do, but General Grant was<br />
fighting a war of attrition that he<br />
could not lose. His numbers and<br />
advantages were overwhelming<br />
as he traded lives for lives and<br />
logistics for land. Finally, General<br />
Lee admitted the hopelessness of<br />
the issue and requested surrender<br />
terms.<br />
Lieutenant Colonel Eli Parker<br />
was on Grant’s staff as his military<br />
aide. Colonel Parker was an<br />
engineer before the war and he<br />
worked on the Erie Canal which<br />
was an engineering marvel of<br />
the day. Colonel Parker was a<br />
good fit on Grant’s staff because<br />
his engineering background was<br />
essential to what Grant needed<br />
to do in order to destroy the<br />
Army of <strong>No</strong>rthern Virginia under<br />
the command of Robert E. Lee.<br />
As the Confederate Army was<br />
running circles around Grant, it<br />
was caught on the very short<br />
end of an engineering triumph<br />
still marveled at today.<br />
In one night’s time, Grant got<br />
1<strong>10</strong>,000 men across a two thousand<br />
foot span of the mighty<br />
James River via a pontoon<br />
Daryl Lott<br />
bridge. All of this was done,<br />
including the construction of the<br />
bridge, in seven hours under the<br />
cover of darkness without Lee<br />
knowing anything. This turned<br />
out to be “a bridge too far” for<br />
Lee and his army. Grant pursued<br />
the final campaign of the war<br />
and was ultimately invited to a<br />
meeting with General Lee to be<br />
held in the parlor of the McLean<br />
Farm House in Appomattox, Virginia.<br />
In advance of the meeting,<br />
Grant had his always dependable<br />
engineer and military aide,<br />
Colonel Parker, write up the<br />
terms of surrender. President<br />
Lincoln and General Grant did<br />
not want to unintentionally start<br />
a guerrilla war with extremely<br />
punitive terms, so Colonel Parker<br />
wrote the surrender document<br />
up in a way that paroled the<br />
28,000 men, including Lee, and<br />
allowed them to go home and<br />
rebuild their homes and farms.<br />
The Painting shown above “The Surrender” by Tom Lovell, Col Parker is standing at Grant’s left arm.<br />
<strong>No</strong> Photographers were present and the painting was commissioned in1965 by Nat Geo.<br />
They were allowed to keep their<br />
horses and sidearms. Lee a short<br />
time later admonished his men<br />
to be as good at citizenship as<br />
they were at being soldiers.<br />
Lee acknowledged that the<br />
terms were generous and<br />
thanked Grant for that. It was<br />
April and Virginia could not lose<br />
another planting season. General<br />
Lee observed Colonel Parker,<br />
who was handling all the paperwork,<br />
and said, “You are the only<br />
real American here.” Colonel<br />
Parker was a Seneca Indian from<br />
upstate New York. His parents<br />
were both Seneca who bought<br />
into the notion that education<br />
was the key to anyone’s future.<br />
The colonel’s father was a Baptist<br />
minister among the Seneca<br />
and a full ally of the United<br />
States having fought the British<br />
in the War of 1812. As a boy,<br />
Colonel Parker attended Christian<br />
missionary schools and then<br />
he went to college (Rensselaer<br />
Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY) to<br />
earn his engineering degree.<br />
He met Grant a few years<br />
earlier in Grant’s hometown<br />
of Galena, Illinois and this is<br />
where their relationship started.<br />
Colonel Parker was a trusted<br />
advisor with considerable technical<br />
skills. He also practiced<br />
law and learned to write legal<br />
documents that would stand<br />
the test of time. He would later<br />
be appointed as the head of<br />
the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His<br />
mastery of multiple languages<br />
would be extremely valuable in<br />
that office.<br />
Back in that nondescript Virginia<br />
farmhouse in April 1865,<br />
when General Robert E. Lee<br />
signed the surrender papers<br />
ending the bloodiest catastrophe<br />
our country ever experienced,<br />
Colonel Parker responded to<br />
General Lee’s observation that<br />
Parker was the only real American<br />
in the room.<br />
“<strong>No</strong>, General Lee, we are all<br />
Americans now.” A lot can be<br />
said for graciousness in victory<br />
or, indeed, defeat. Seemingly,<br />
such graciousness is lost in our<br />
post-modern world. Perhaps<br />
the beginning of graciousness is<br />
the realization of what Colonel<br />
Parker understood so well, “We<br />
are all Americans.” God Bless the<br />
United States of America in this<br />
her 246th year of glorious freedom.<br />
Further Reading:<br />
“Hymns of the Republic: the<br />
Story of the Final Year of the<br />
American Civil War” by S.C.<br />
Gwynne “Grant” by Ron Chernow.<br />
124 The BLUES The BLUES 125
NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD<br />
lig ht bul b award<br />
4 FOR 4 @ WENDYS<br />
This month’s award go to four (4) of America’s Finest. It’s like a 4<br />
for 4 at Wendy’s. You just can’t make this crap up.<br />
We start in Bexar County Texas.<br />
Seems the sheriff over there, Javier<br />
Salazar, decided he was opening a<br />
Criminal Investigation into the Governor<br />
of Florida and others who<br />
allegedly were directly or indirectly<br />
involved in the one-way flight<br />
of illegal aliens to the world-renowned<br />
Martha’s Vineyard.<br />
First off, you’re just a Sheriff in<br />
the State of Texas. And before you<br />
start solving the political problems<br />
of the country, perhaps you should<br />
start with your own county. Your<br />
jail is overcrowded, has had multiple<br />
demerits from the Texas State<br />
Jail Commission, none of which<br />
have you mitigated or rectified.<br />
Second, the violent crime rate in<br />
Bexar County is on the rise and as<br />
the chief law enforcement officer<br />
in the county, it’s your responsibility<br />
to do something about it. Take<br />
for instance homicide cases, like<br />
the Anaqua Springs Case, where a<br />
young mother and her two young<br />
daughters were shot to death.<br />
In other words, work on your<br />
own problems and get your own<br />
house in order before you divert<br />
valuable resources into an investigation<br />
which is completely enveloped<br />
in the muck of politics.<br />
• • •<br />
Martha’s Vineyard can handle<br />
their own dilemma. It is after all,<br />
one of the wealthiest sectors of the<br />
entire Western Hemisphere. Bexar<br />
County, however, not so much.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w let’s hop on over to Florida<br />
where a Deputy Chief from the<br />
Cartersville, Georgia Police Department<br />
was arrested for soliciting<br />
a prostitute in Polk County.<br />
Seems Deputy Police Chief Jason<br />
DiPrima was attending a polygraph<br />
training workshop in Orlando<br />
when we decided he needed some<br />
special alone time with a local call<br />
girl in Florida.<br />
Unfortunately for DiPrima, the on<br />
line escort ads turned out to be not<br />
so legit. The first night, he tried to<br />
score with one prostitute and got<br />
ripped off. <strong>No</strong> happy ending there.<br />
So, he tried again the following<br />
night with a different ad and a<br />
different lady of the night. But<br />
strike two, the “high class prostitute<br />
turned out to be an undercover<br />
detective – in Polk County of<br />
all places. The County run by the<br />
infamous Sheriff Grady Judd. (You<br />
remember Sheriff Judd, “That’s all<br />
the bullets we had or otherwise,<br />
we’d shot him more times.)<br />
The facts as told by Sheriff Judd<br />
are: On August 31, 2022, DiPrima<br />
responded to an Online escort advertisement<br />
and began a conversation<br />
with an undercover detective<br />
by asking ‘Are you available tonight’<br />
and ‘I’d like to come see you.<br />
What is your rate?<br />
During the Online communication,<br />
DiPrima agreed to engage in<br />
sexual activities with the undercover<br />
detective, but then told the<br />
detective ‘I got spooked,’ and asked<br />
to see her the next night.”<br />
DiPrima contacted the undercover<br />
detective again the next day and<br />
agreed to a meeting, officials said.<br />
“He initially agreed to pay the undercover<br />
detective $120 for a half<br />
hour of ‘full service’ sex. When he<br />
arrived at the undisclosed location,<br />
he confirmed the arrangement by<br />
giving the undercover detective<br />
$180 and a multi-pack of White<br />
Claw Hard Seltzer,” the sheriff’s<br />
office said.<br />
“So ostensibly, this guy has come<br />
to have sex with a prostitute while<br />
driving the Cartersville Police Department<br />
undercover vehicle and<br />
he was in possession of alcohol,”<br />
Judd said.<br />
The arrest came during a “weeklong<br />
human trafficking undercover<br />
enforcement operation conducted<br />
by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office<br />
and other law enforcement agencies.”<br />
“The purpose of the operation<br />
was to identify those involved in<br />
human trafficking and arrest those<br />
who procure and engage in prostitution,”<br />
the sheriff’s office said.<br />
But I don’t tell the story near as<br />
well as Sheriff Judd. For his version<br />
of the story, click here. https://<br />
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1g_<br />
qHRClkgU.<br />
• • •<br />
Next we head over to Platteville<br />
Colorado where a Platteville<br />
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar Ex-Deputy Chief Jason DiPrima Ex-Chief Deputy Brian Harris<br />
Future Multi-Millionair,<br />
Yareni Rios-Gonzalez<br />
Officer stopped a suspect accused<br />
of road rage on Weld County Road<br />
just passed the railroad tracks. The<br />
Platteville officer stopped behind<br />
her vehicle, and it was smack dab<br />
in the middle of the tracks.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w most officers with half a<br />
brain cell would have the suspect,<br />
a woman named Yareni Rios-Gonzalez,<br />
pull her vehicle forward to<br />
get well clear of the tracks. NOPE<br />
not this fool.<br />
Two officers from the Fort Lupton<br />
police department, who had<br />
initiated the search for the women<br />
driving the pickup, assisted the<br />
Platteville officer arrest the women<br />
and place her in the Platteville<br />
officer’s car.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w you would think at this point<br />
the Platteville officer would move<br />
his car. WRONG AGAIN.<br />
As he’s searching the suspects<br />
truck, he hears a train horn. Hey, I’d<br />
better move my car. NOPE.<br />
And I’m sure you’ve seen the<br />
video, he looks at the train, looks<br />
at the other officers, looks at his<br />
car, spins around, looks at the train<br />
and then steps away as the train<br />
plows into what was his patrol car.<br />
With the handcuffed suspect still<br />
inside. You have to watch the video.<br />
Thankfully the woman was only<br />
severely injured but not killed.<br />
Several things are for sure going<br />
to happen here. He’s losing his<br />
job. His cop days are over. And the<br />
woman is going to be very, very<br />
rich at some point in the future. I<br />
see numerous TikTok’s coming our<br />
way.<br />
• • •<br />
Like the TV ads say, “But wait<br />
there’s more!”<br />
Apparently, Harris County Constable<br />
Pct. 5 Chief Deputy Brian<br />
Harris doesn’t follow the national<br />
news about his fellow Chief being<br />
arrested in Florida for prostitution.<br />
Because this moron goes out and<br />
does the exact same thing.<br />
On Sept. 21, Harris was arrested<br />
in Montgomery County Texas for<br />
solicitation as a part of an under<br />
sting at a local hotel.<br />
“Among the fourteen suspects<br />
arrested, one of the males was<br />
identified as Brian Harris, who is<br />
currently employed at Harris County<br />
Precinct 5 Constable’s Office,”<br />
the statement reads. “Brian Harris<br />
was arrested and charged with<br />
Solicitation of Prostitution which is<br />
a State Jail Felony. He is currently<br />
in the Montgomery County Jail.”<br />
Needless to say, he was terminated<br />
immediately by Constable<br />
Ted Heap. These guys just never<br />
learn.<br />
• • •<br />
So that’s it my friends. Your Light<br />
Bulb Awards for October brought<br />
to you by the fine men and women<br />
of law enforcement. All suspects<br />
and cops mentioned are innocent<br />
until proven guilty in a court of<br />
law.<br />
126 The BLUES The BLUES 127
HONORING FALLEN HEREOS<br />
“Honoring our fallen heroes<br />
through running while providing<br />
financial support to the families<br />
of our fallen Heroes,<br />
First Responders injured in the<br />
Line of Duty and Safety<br />
Equipment to K9s in need.”<br />
Zechariah<br />
Cartledge:<br />
a True American Hero<br />
Grants Awarded to Injured First Responders: 35<br />
Total Amount Awarded: $307,500<br />
Funds Awarded to Families of Fallen Heroes: 29<br />
Total Amount Awarded: $258,736<br />
Funds/Equipment Awarded to K9 Officers: $20,000 (estimate)<br />
2022 Run Tracker:<br />
Total Miles Run in 2022: (as of 9/29/22): 2<strong>38</strong><br />
- Zechariah - 218<br />
- Giuliana - 6<br />
- Jayden - 6<br />
- Andrew - 4<br />
- Anthony - 3<br />
- Morgan - 1<br />
Total Miles Run in 2021: 327<br />
Total Miles Run in 2020: 401<br />
Total Miles Run in 2019: 376<br />
Overall Miles Run: 1,342<br />
- - - - - - - - - -<br />
2022 Run Stats:<br />
Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen LEO’s (<strong>No</strong>n COVID-19): 115<br />
Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Firefighters (<strong>No</strong>n COVID-19): 69<br />
Total Miles Run for 2022 Fallen Canada LEO’s: 1<br />
Total Miles Run in 2022 for Fallen COVID-19 Heroes: 18<br />
Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen LEO’s: 21<br />
Total Miles Run for 2021 Fallen Firefighters: 2<br />
Total Tribute Runs by State/Country: 12<br />
States/Cities Zechariah has run in:<br />
Florida - Winter Springs, Lake Mary, Clearwater, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Orlando, Temple Terrace, Blountstown,<br />
Cocoa, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, West Palm Beach, Starke, Melbourne<br />
New York - New York City, Weedsport • Georgia - Cumming, Augusta, Savannah<br />
South Carolina - <strong>No</strong>rth Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Sumter • Pennsylvania - Monaca<br />
Illinois - Springfield, Naperville, Glen Ellyn • Texas - Houston (2), Fort Worth, Midland, New Braunfels, Freeport, Madisonville,<br />
Irving, Sadler, San Antonio • Kentucky - Nicholasville • Arkansas - Bryant, Hot Springs, Springdale, Prairie Grove<br />
Nevada - Henderson • Kansas - Overland Park • California - Mt. Vernon, La Jolla • Arizona - Mesa<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth Carolina - Concord, Raleigh • Virginia - <strong>No</strong>rton, Richmond • Tennessee - Bristol, Bartlett<br />
Oklahoma - Stilwell (2) • Delaware - Milford • Maryland - Towson • Minnesota - Arden Hills • Indiana - Sullivan, Spencer<br />
Mississippi - Grenada, Olive Branch • Missouri - Springfield, Rolla, Joplin • Iowa - Independence, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids<br />
District/Countries/Territories:<br />
Washington D.C. • Puerto Rico - San Juan<br />
128 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE<br />
The BLUES 129
DR. TINA JAECKLE<br />
blue mental health<br />
VALOR STATION’S Peer Wellness Seminar:<br />
Emphasizing the Need for Self-Care<br />
In September 2022 I had the<br />
wonderful opportunity to participate<br />
in a peer wellness<br />
seminar (PWS) facilitated by<br />
the Valor Station, Inc. and held<br />
at beautiful Pine Knoll Farms in<br />
Appling, Georgia. Valor Station,<br />
a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation<br />
located in Augusta, Georgia, is<br />
a mental health and wellness<br />
treatment facility dedicated exclusively<br />
for First Responders by<br />
First Responders. With years of<br />
experience dealing with trauma<br />
produced by critical incidents,<br />
their specific programs<br />
are designed to improve the<br />
physical, emotional, and mental<br />
well-being of all public<br />
safety personnel (www.<br />
valorstation.com). With<br />
the gracious support of<br />
The Shield Club of Greater<br />
Augusta, Inc. the seminar<br />
was a powerful two and a<br />
half day experience which<br />
brought together like<br />
minded peers and mental<br />
health clinicians who<br />
serve as supporters to<br />
public safety. The Shield<br />
Club of Greater Augusta,<br />
Inc. provides financial<br />
support to police officers,<br />
sheriff’s deputies, and<br />
firefighters (and their families)<br />
who are injured or<br />
killed in the line of duty.<br />
After 23 years in the<br />
field of crisis and trauma<br />
Dr. Tina Jaeckle<br />
counseling with first responders,<br />
I am often asked what steps I<br />
take to practice self-care given<br />
the amount of emotional energy<br />
that is required to effectively<br />
care for others in such challenging<br />
times. Admittedly, it can feel<br />
isolating at times in this work<br />
as it is such a specialized field<br />
and the chance to interact with<br />
and share fellowship with other<br />
like-minded professionals<br />
was a true blessing. In addition,<br />
the environment selected for<br />
this seminar, Pine Knoll Farms<br />
(www.pineknollfarms.com) was<br />
peaceful, spiritual, and allowed<br />
sufficient time for both introspection<br />
and networking with<br />
others from across the nation. A<br />
very memorable experience was<br />
achieved through a combination<br />
of educational sessions, social<br />
activities, and a demonstration<br />
from the wonderful<br />
owners (Bert and Angela<br />
Gates) of Kings Cross<br />
Ranch (Stapleton, GA)<br />
on their equine assisted<br />
healing program for first<br />
responders, Valor Unbridled<br />
(www.kingscrossranch.com).<br />
The most impactful part<br />
of the seminar was the<br />
amazing people who attended,<br />
many of whom I<br />
have never met, but I now<br />
would consider lifelong<br />
friends and colleagues.<br />
The collective expertise<br />
they bring to this field is<br />
simply priceless and the<br />
selfless dedication to<br />
help our first responders<br />
undoubtedly continues<br />
to create immeasurable positive<br />
social change. I have highlighted<br />
a few of these amazing professionals<br />
in this article as well<br />
as provided an overview of the<br />
missions of the organizations<br />
represented.<br />
Andy Carrier, LCSW, Chief<br />
Operating Officer and Clinical<br />
Director, Valor Station, LLC<br />
Andy served with the Georgia<br />
State Patrol for 31 years, reaching<br />
the rank of Captain and<br />
retiring as the Director of the<br />
Office of Public Safety Support.<br />
During his service he assisted in<br />
passing state legislation on two<br />
occasions, both of which, greatly<br />
benefit public safety in the<br />
area of peer support and mental<br />
health services for all first responders,<br />
including corrections<br />
and 911 dispatchers. He is a graduate<br />
of the 245th Session of the<br />
FBI National Academy in Quantico,<br />
Virginia, and a graduate of<br />
the 19th class of the Georgia Law<br />
Enforcement Command College<br />
at Columbus State University.<br />
Carrier also graduated from the<br />
Georgia Chiefs of Police Basic<br />
Class, 2018. Carrier is a licensed<br />
Social Worker and is licensed to<br />
practice mental health in Georgia,<br />
South Carolina, and New<br />
York. In 2020, he was appointed<br />
by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp<br />
to the Georgia Composite Board<br />
of Professional Counselors, Social<br />
Workers, and Marriage and<br />
Family Therapists. He serves as<br />
clinical director for the State of<br />
New York’s Post Critical Incident<br />
Seminar (PCIS) and has assisted<br />
in bringing the PCIS model to<br />
other locations throughout the<br />
United States. Carrier is a member<br />
of the International Association<br />
of Chiefs of Police (IACP),<br />
FBI National Academy Associates,<br />
American Association of State<br />
Troopers, Police Benevolent<br />
Association, Fraternal Order of<br />
Police, and the EMDR Institute.<br />
Georgia Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program (GALEAP)<br />
Mission: The Georgia Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program<br />
(GALEAP) responds to the actual<br />
needs of law enforcement<br />
officers, first responders, their<br />
families, and civilian staff. The<br />
staff and volunteers are on-call<br />
24 hours per day, 7 days per<br />
week, in order to better serve<br />
the needs of all Georgia law enforcement<br />
employees.<br />
South Carolina Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program<br />
(SCLEAP)<br />
Mission: The South Carolina<br />
Law Enforcement Assistance<br />
Program (SCLEAP) was born<br />
out of the actual needs of state<br />
police officers serving in the field<br />
as well as non-sworn administrative<br />
staff members and their<br />
families. Modeled on a concept<br />
currently used by the FBI,<br />
SCLEAP is an employee assistance<br />
program which provides<br />
services as well as maintaining<br />
a cadre of volunteer chaplains<br />
across the state. The staff and<br />
volunteers are on-call 24 hours<br />
per day, 7 days per week, in order<br />
to better serve the needs of<br />
130 The BLUES The BLUES 131
all South Carolina law enforcement<br />
employees. www.scleap.<br />
org<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth Carolina Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program<br />
(NCLEAP)<br />
Mission: The <strong>No</strong>rth Carolina<br />
Law Enforcement Assistance<br />
Program (NCLEAP) responds to<br />
the actual needs of law enforcement<br />
officers, first responders,<br />
their families, and civilian staff.<br />
The work of NCLEAP is focused<br />
on turning vulnerability into<br />
strength through education,<br />
training, peer support, and pastoral<br />
care. www.nc-leap.org<br />
New York Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program (NYLEAP)<br />
Mission: To improve the mental<br />
health and overall wellness<br />
of all law enforcement officers<br />
and first responders within New<br />
York State. These improvements<br />
will result in the reduction of<br />
divorce, alcohol and controlled<br />
substance abuse, PTSD, cumulative<br />
stress disorder, anxiety,<br />
depression, and suicide. NYLEAP<br />
will assist agencies and first responders<br />
to recognize the signs<br />
and symptoms of stress and<br />
trauma before things become<br />
unmanageable. Recognition will<br />
be paired with evidence-based<br />
techniques and services that<br />
will be provided through education<br />
and training to help first<br />
responders live healthier and<br />
happier lives. This mission will<br />
help our law enforcement officers<br />
and first responders improve<br />
their personal lives; and will<br />
make them more productive and<br />
effective at work. This result<br />
will in-turn improve the relationships<br />
with communities, and will<br />
ultimately create cost savings<br />
for their respective departments.<br />
www.nyleap.org<br />
California Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program (CALEAP)<br />
Mission: We’re here for you<br />
today, tomorrow, and every day.<br />
At California Law Enforcement<br />
Assistance Program (CALEAP),<br />
we provide peer-driven assistance<br />
with the aid of licensed<br />
clinicians and law enforcement<br />
chaplains to help current, former,<br />
and retired law enforcement<br />
and their spouses or significant<br />
others who have been<br />
involved in critical incidents.<br />
Through generous donations and<br />
partnerships with other nonprofits<br />
and state, county, and city<br />
law enforcement agencies we<br />
are able to provide Post Critical<br />
Incident Seminars and peer<br />
support to current, former,<br />
and retired law enforcement.<br />
www.caleap.org<br />
Thomas Coghlan, PsyD,<br />
Blue Line Psychological Services,<br />
PLLC<br />
Dr. Coghlan is a retired NYPD<br />
Detective and a Clinical Psychologist<br />
specialized in police<br />
and public safety psychology.<br />
Appointed to the NYPD in 1997,<br />
Dr. Coghlan retired in 2018 as<br />
a Second Grade Detective. Dr.<br />
Coghlan has worked clinically<br />
with police officers since<br />
20<strong>10</strong>, and brings a first-person<br />
understanding of both police<br />
work and the practice of<br />
psychology to his clinical work<br />
and the assessments he conducts.<br />
He has conducted hundreds<br />
of candidate pre-employment<br />
and fitness-for-duty<br />
evaluations, and brings the<br />
expertise and relatability necessary<br />
for clinical work with<br />
first responders. Dr. Coghlan is<br />
licensed to practice psychology<br />
in New York and New Jersey.<br />
www.bluelinepsychological.<br />
com<br />
First Responder Project/Dr.<br />
Tracy Hejmanowski, Founder<br />
and CEO<br />
First Responder Project (FRP)<br />
is a non-profit organization run<br />
by those who have “walked-thewalk,”<br />
as active and retired first<br />
responders, culturally competent<br />
behavioral health providers,<br />
and dual-uniform military<br />
veterans. Our express intent is<br />
to offer care, unburdening, and<br />
esprit de corps for those who<br />
protect and heal our community<br />
and the families who passionately<br />
support them. The acute<br />
need to serve first responders<br />
is evidenced not only by tragic<br />
suicide statistics but by concerning<br />
quality of life measures.<br />
We believe no first responder<br />
should suffer silently, as a consequence<br />
of their inordinate<br />
exposure to the suffering of<br />
others. FRP’s mission is to ensure<br />
no first responder is without the<br />
help they deserve to address the<br />
weight of acute and cumulative<br />
occupational impact. Our<br />
services include family support<br />
forums, recalibration retreats,<br />
online journals of strength and<br />
hope, annual state-of-the-service<br />
conferences, and behavioral<br />
health trainings for providers and<br />
peer support. www.FirstResponderProject.org<br />
The Leader In Law Enforcement Recruitment<br />
Delivering ZERO COST solutions to<br />
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132 The BLUES The BLUES 133
ADS BACK IN THE DAY<br />
134 The BLUES The BLUES 135<br />
134 The BLUES The BLUES 135
ADS BACK IN THE DAY<br />
136 The BLUES The BLUES 137
THERE ARE NO WORDS<br />
parting shots...<br />
... pardon our humor<br />
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1<strong>38</strong> The BLUES The BLUES 139
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140 The BLUES The BLUES 141
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142 The BLUES The BLUES 143<br />
142 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 143
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network.<br />
Since 2011, we have<br />
combined the highest<br />
quality products in the<br />
industry with superior<br />
craftsmanship, providing<br />
customer service and installations<br />
at a reasonable<br />
price.<br />
Our sales staff brings<br />
over <strong>10</strong>0+ years of law enforcement<br />
experience and<br />
our installation team has<br />
an equal number of years<br />
in the emergency vehicle<br />
upfitting industry. We<br />
understand your needs<br />
and strive to make your<br />
experience at CAP Fleet<br />
simple. All installations<br />
are completed by our inhouse<br />
technicians. Every<br />
vehicle goes through an<br />
extensive quality control<br />
program supervised by<br />
our shop managers. Our<br />
technicians are constantly<br />
focused on quality and<br />
efficiency.<br />
With locations in<br />
Belton, Tx and Houston,<br />
Tx, and a new state<br />
of the art facility under<br />
construction in Caldwell,<br />
Tx, as well as mobile<br />
technicians serving the<br />
Dallas/Fort Worth and<br />
Rio Grande Valley metro<br />
areas, we have you<br />
covered!<br />
Whatever your needs<br />
are, from turn-key police<br />
vehicle builds, product<br />
replacement and/or upgrades<br />
to existing vehicles,<br />
or building a complete<br />
new fleet, CAP Fleet will<br />
have your vehicles <strong>10</strong>-8.<br />
2023 CHEVROLET TAHOE PPVs<br />
ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH<br />
OUR BAILMENT POOL!<br />
CONTACT US FOR MORE<br />
DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN<br />
GET YOUR FULLY UPFITTED<br />
2023 TAHOE PPV THROUGH<br />
CAP FLEET.<br />
www.capfleet.com | sales@capfleet.com | 254-773-1959<br />
144 The BLUES The BLUES 145<br />
144 The BLUES The BLUES 145
Starting in 2003, Cop Stop Inc. Opened with a vision and goal to service first responders; “Our everyday<br />
heroes.” Catering mainly to Police, Fire, Military and EMS, but also open to the public, Cop Stop<br />
offers a variety of products, gear and apparel. Open and operated by Rick Fernandez, a former officer<br />
of <strong>10</strong> years, he prides himself on maintaining the highest standards of customer service. Cop Stop understands<br />
its our customers who drive our success, and we strive to offer the best service to everyone<br />
who walks through our doors. At Cop Stop we offer quality products at great low prices. With access to<br />
over hundreds of brands and products, and constantly adding more, we are confident we can fulfill your<br />
needs.<br />
“If you provide good service and a fair price, customers will talk about you and come back.<br />
It’s that simple!” Rick Fernandez<br />
146 The BLUES The BLUES 147<br />
146 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 147
DANA SAFETY SUPPLY<br />
Dana Safety Supply (DSS) is a major warehousing distributor,<br />
seller, service provider, and installer of law enforcement<br />
and public safety fleet vehicle equipment including emergency<br />
lighting, and related law enforcement products that are typically<br />
employed by public safety entities. In addition, DSS is a<br />
major distributor of law enforcement, tactical supplies, duty<br />
gear, firearms, ammunition, uniforms, and other public safety<br />
products. DSS operates 30 locations located in Greensboro, NC<br />
(2), Clinton, NC, Columbia, SC (2), Atlanta, GA, Marietta, GA,<br />
Preston, GA, DeLand, FL, Jacksonville, FL, Orlando, FL, Tampa, FL,<br />
Ft. Myers, FL, Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Miami, FL, Pompano Beach,<br />
FL, Tallahassee, FL, Livingston, MT, Memphis, TN, Nashville, TN,<br />
Little Rock, AR, Baton Rouge, LA, Alabaster, AL, Lorton, VA (also<br />
covering the Metro Washington D.C. area), Los Angeles, CA,<br />
Oklahoma City, OK, Houston, TX, La Feria, TX, Ft. Worth, TX and<br />
Austin, TX.<br />
DSS was founded in 2005 by a group of law enforcement and<br />
fleet professionals and has grown to become one of the largest<br />
companies of its type in the United States. DSS is a subsidiary<br />
of Duval Motor Company and the Scott McRae Group, (SMAG), a<br />
<strong>10</strong>6 year old family company that has been in continuous operation,<br />
and under the same ownership since 1916. SMAG employs<br />
more than 700 people across multiple companies in the automotive,<br />
finance, and service industries. Each company operates<br />
independently, is its own legal entity, and is headed by its own<br />
President and management team, but has the financial resources<br />
and backing of SMAG at its disposal. DSS acquired Fleet<br />
Safety Equipment in 2018. Fleet Safety Equipment was founded<br />
in Memphis, TN in 1980 and is a wholly owned division of Dana<br />
Safety Supply.<br />
DSS regularly provides emergency vehicle equipment, installation<br />
services, and public safety products to numerous state,<br />
federal, and local public safety agencies, as well as to automotive<br />
dealers who utilize our up-fitting services and products.<br />
DSS holds and has successfully completed hundreds of large<br />
volume contracts with major public safety agencies throughout<br />
its territory to include Federal & State Agencies in CA, NC, SC,<br />
GA, FL, AL, TN, AR, OK, MS, LA, AR, TX, VA, and MT. DSS is also<br />
an approved contractor for the GSA and has a GSA contract for<br />
numerous public safety products and also for installation and<br />
upfitting services.<br />
Let us help your department with all your<br />
vehicle equipment and upfitting needs.<br />
Vehicle Equipment<br />
Vehicle Armoring<br />
National Reach.<br />
Local Support.<br />
America's largest source for upfitting,<br />
installation, tactical gear and apparel.<br />
Accessories & More!<br />
31<br />
LOCATIONS<br />
DANASAFETYSUPPLY.COM<br />
Keep your Officers safe!<br />
Armored glass options available!<br />
148 The The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES 149
People are Your<br />
Purpose, and Ours<br />
In 2008, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office<br />
was informed by the federal government that it<br />
was violating inmates’ civil rights because of its<br />
indirect supervision policy. Part of the requirement<br />
to remedy the violation was to hire 200 detention<br />
officers in addition to the 450 they already<br />
had.<br />
Instead, Captain David Baisden turned to Digi<br />
Security Systems for a technological solution. Together,<br />
we designed a system that would provide<br />
<strong>10</strong>0 percent visibility in each of the 30 pods in the<br />
jail. Digi installed the system, and the impact was<br />
definitive.<br />
“All of a sudden, we noticed an immediate drop<br />
in altercations from 300 to 30,” said Captain Baisden.<br />
“Ninety percent of the violence was gone.”<br />
We have a saying around here that People Are<br />
Our Purpose. As a security systems integrator,<br />
the work we do is important: we design, install,<br />
and service commercial security systems for all<br />
kinds of organizations. Those very security systems<br />
are the technology that keeps our children<br />
safe in their classrooms, our police officers protected<br />
from wrongdoers, our business’ assets<br />
secure, and our communities free from the worry<br />
of violent threats. We design systems that maximize<br />
safety and limit the number of personnel<br />
and hours spent trying to identify and respond to<br />
incidents.<br />
It’s important work. It’s work that makes a real<br />
difference. And that work is just part of the Digi<br />
Difference that defines us. When an organization<br />
decides to partner with us, we become an<br />
extension of their team. Because we care deeply<br />
about the safety and security of the very people<br />
you care deeply about, we do whatever it takes to<br />
help you meet your goals while providing you the<br />
most exceptional experience possible.<br />
We serve and support law enforcement agencies<br />
across the region, including jails and city and<br />
county governments. We understand the unique<br />
needs you have in protecting your staff and the<br />
public. Learn more at digiss.com/government.<br />
Customized Security Solutions<br />
Government<br />
& Law Enforcement<br />
Keeping the peace and serving the public is a vital job for the health of a community.<br />
As your partner, we make technology your ally by providing you security solutions<br />
that are completely customized for your unique needs and budget.<br />
All-in-one solutions<br />
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE<br />
ACCESS CONTROL<br />
BODY-WORN CAMERAS<br />
COVID-19 RESPONSE<br />
INTRUSION ALARM & MONITORING<br />
CLOUD-BASED SECURITY SYSTEMS<br />
JAIL CONTROL SYSTEMS<br />
LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION<br />
ANALYTICS & AI<br />
MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS<br />
CONSULTING & DESIGN<br />
LOCKSMITH & KEYS<br />
SYSTEM INTEGRATION<br />
AND MORE<br />
SECURITY SYSTEMS<br />
Call today! 1-888-970-<strong>38</strong>30<br />
email contact@digiss.com<br />
We offer TIPS State Contract and HGAC!<br />
Digi knows law<br />
enforcement<br />
Reduce city crime & enhance public safety<br />
Search hours of footage in seconds<br />
Resolve incidents more quickly<br />
Monitor large crowds with analytics<br />
Gather real data for informed decisions<br />
Integrate systems to better communicate<br />
Limit the number of hostile environments<br />
digiss.com<br />
“Digi knows what<br />
they are doing.<br />
... All of a sudden<br />
we noticed an<br />
immediate drop in<br />
altercations from<br />
300 to 30.<br />
90%<br />
of the violence<br />
was gone.”<br />
Captain David Baisden<br />
Oklahoma County Sheriffs Office<br />
Experience the Digi Difference2<br />
Schedule your<br />
FREE Assessment,<br />
Demo & Quote<br />
digiss.com<br />
150 The BLUES The BLUES 151
Key Management &<br />
Key Control Products<br />
All of our KeyWarden Security<br />
products are reliable, easy to use<br />
and expandable to meet your<br />
growing needs.<br />
Through seamless design,<br />
manufacturing and support, we<br />
have earned the reputation as<br />
the world leaders in security<br />
management products. We also<br />
write our own software to ensure<br />
system compatibility and performance.<br />
Every Morse Watchman’s<br />
product and system is meticulously<br />
designed and inspected to<br />
offer the latest in security technology<br />
and reliability.<br />
KEYWATCHER TOUCH<br />
KeyWatcher Touch brings one touch key<br />
control to the KeyWatcher, one of our industry-leading<br />
electronic key cabinets. Our<br />
new big, bright 7″ touch screen key register<br />
systems give you an easier-to-use interface.<br />
KEYWATCHER FLEET<br />
The industry’s only key control system for<br />
fleet management applications, KeyWatcher<br />
Fleet puts you in command of vehicle<br />
distribution, comprehensive utilization,<br />
right-sizing of your fleet and much more.<br />
THE KEYBANK<br />
The KeyBank® key control system eliminates<br />
outdated key boxes and the paper<br />
chase created by outdated manual logs and<br />
provides extensive protection from liability<br />
issues.<br />
KeyWatcher Illuminated<br />
KeyWatcher Illuminated is a modular, scalable<br />
integrated key control and management<br />
solution that’s designed for interoperability<br />
with access control and other<br />
systems.<br />
KEYBANK TOUCH<br />
<strong>No</strong>w get touchscreen convenience with<br />
KeyBank key access control system, the<br />
safer, more secure way to manage keys. The<br />
bright 7 touchscreen key organizer system<br />
gives you an easier-to-use interface.<br />
KeyWarden is the Texas distributor of Morse Watchmans industry-leading key and asset management systems. We are actively involved<br />
in the Texas Law Enforcement community as a founding member of the East Texas <strong>10</strong>0 club, and corporate members of the <strong>No</strong>rth Texas<br />
Police Chiefs Association, the East Texas Police Chiefs Association, the High Plains Police Chiefs Association, and the Central Texas Police<br />
Chiefs Association. We are proud to participate in the TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.<br />
THE KEYWATCHER TOUCH SYSTEM is deployed in the law enforcement environment to:<br />
• Securely dispense track and audit the use of keys to: vehicles, facilities, lockers and<br />
other high-value assets.<br />
• Prevent unauthorized staff from driving specialist vehicles, or racking up miles on the<br />
newer fleet while older units sit idle.<br />
• Allow management to compel the use of vehicle pools rather than staff controlling the<br />
keys to particular units.<br />
• Quicker and more efficient shift changes.<br />
• Control the keys to facilities and mandate accountability.<br />
• Managing and controlling access to assets stored in lockers.<br />
As a Texas-based company, we provide on site evaluation, implementation, training and support of the<br />
KeyWatcher System. We are also a member of BuyBoard and offer discounted pricing and ease of purchase.<br />
19015 Gentle Knoll<br />
San Antonio, Texas 78258<br />
Office: 830-214-0867 Fax: 775-898-1807<br />
www.keywarden.com - click here to email us<br />
152 The BLUES The BLUES 153
PLANET FORD IN SPRING, 20403 I45 NORTH,<br />
SPRING TEXAS<br />
Planet Ford on I-45 in Spring, Texas has been<br />
the <strong>No</strong>. 1 Ford Dealer in the greater-Houston area<br />
for over 20 years.* Our Ford dealership earns<br />
this distinction year after year because our team<br />
makes our clients and their vehicle needs our top<br />
priority. Planet Ford is part of the award-winning<br />
World Class Automotive Group. The dealership<br />
has earned many top honors, including multiple<br />
Triple Crowns, which is bestowed upon only<br />
the best. In order to be recognized, a dealership<br />
must receive all of Ford’s top awards, including<br />
The President’s Award for customer service. Planet<br />
Ford has been redesigned from the ground up<br />
to provide a superior customer experience. Planet<br />
offers over 30 acres of new Ford inventory, Certified<br />
Pre-Owned Fords, pre-owned vehicles of all<br />
makes and models, as well as aftermarket and<br />
performance parts, service, commercial truck<br />
services, and collision repair. Beyond automotive<br />
services, the Randall Reed family and Planet team<br />
support and gives back to the community, from<br />
local charity events to sponsoring schools and<br />
veteran programs. Learn more at PlanetFord.com.<br />
154 The BLUES The BLUES 155<br />
154 The BLUES The BLUES 155
Supporting Law<br />
Enforcement in<br />
TEXAS<br />
ProForce’s commitment to providing excellent customer<br />
service is a key element in the company’s success<br />
throughout the western United States. As a relative newcomer<br />
in the state of TEXAS ProForce has been welcomed with open<br />
arms by the law enforcement community.<br />
ProForce’s relationships with top industry manufacturers<br />
and vendors, as well as their sales volume, allows them<br />
to negotiate better pricing to meet the budgetary needs<br />
of law enforcement agencies. While some vendors may<br />
not always have product availability in a timely manner.<br />
ProForce’s industry relationships and direct contact through<br />
vendor representatives, the sales team is able to suggest<br />
and provide alternatives to meet specific requirements of<br />
agencies, ensuring that the agency’s needs are always met.<br />
Inset: Dan Rooney ProForce President<br />
The company features an excellent selection of high demand<br />
law enforcement firearms, equipment and accessories from<br />
great manufacturers such as:<br />
Axon/Taser, Aimpoint, Beretta, Colt, H&K, Bola Wrap,<br />
Bianchi, Smith & Wesson, Eotech, Daniel Defense,<br />
NightStick, Sig Sauer, Kimber, Otis, Defense Technology,<br />
Shadow Systems, Magpul, L3 Harris, Burris, Mossberg,<br />
Ruger, Streamlight, Safariland, Springfield, Blackhawk,<br />
Holosun, Trijicon, Vortex, Surefire, Us Peacekeeper ,OSS,<br />
Nightstick, FNH USA and UTM.<br />
Proforce takes great pride in distributing high quality public<br />
safety products from top tier manufacturers and this<br />
transaction has set a trend for many other law enforcement<br />
agencies in the State of Texas.<br />
“<br />
Working with PROFORCE through the<br />
bidding and purchasing of the M&P 2.0’s was<br />
very easy and simple. We added the ACRO red<br />
dot along with the holster and the light. This<br />
purchase was simple and easy.<br />
The troops love the improvement to the 2.0<br />
and the red dot.<br />
Lt. Socha. Austin PD.<br />
“<br />
#X300U-A #13353 #200691<br />
Agency demonstrations, test and evaluation<br />
of products is available upon request. Ask us<br />
about trade-ins! We will buy your agency duty or<br />
confiscated firearms, any model and condition!<br />
First class customer support and quality service<br />
makes PROFORCE the number one choice for first<br />
responder equipment and accessories!<br />
Call (800) 367-5855<br />
Email: sales@proforceonline.com or<br />
visit our website<br />
www.proforceonline.com<br />
SEND US AN EMAIL<br />
SCAN THE QR CODE<br />
156 The BLUES The BLUES 157<br />
156 The BLUES The BLUES 157
4807 KIRBY DRIVE • HOUSTON, TEXAS • 713-524-<strong>38</strong>01<br />
12722 HWY. 3 • WEBSTER, TEXAS • 281-488-5934<br />
AUTO FACELIFTS is located on the South Side of<br />
Houston across from Ellington Airport. Auto Facelifts<br />
is an industry leader in auto upholstery in the Houston,<br />
TX area. We work on cars, trucks, and even boats,<br />
so no matter what you’re riding in, we can give it a<br />
facelift! Whether you’re looking for a new leather interior,<br />
carpet replacement, or auto detailing, we’ve got<br />
a package that will fit your needs. But we don’t stop<br />
there! We’ve also got an incredible selection of car and<br />
truck accessories to really take your vehicle to the next<br />
level. And, if that’s not enough, we can also provide<br />
you with premium car audio and car stereo equipment<br />
that will make your vehicle the talk of the town. Stop<br />
into Auto Facelifts and upgrade your ride today!<br />
RIVER OAKS CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP & RAM<br />
Alan & Blake Helfman are the named and primary<br />
sponsor of The BLUES. For over 65 years the<br />
Helfman’s have supported local area law enforcement<br />
and supported The BLUES since our first issue.<br />
There is simply no better dealership in Houston<br />
to purchase your Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep,<br />
Ram or Ford product. The sales team provide<br />
honest, no BS pricing and their service department<br />
ranks among the top in the nation.<br />
Call Alan or Blake Helfman at 713-524-<strong>38</strong>01 when<br />
you are ready to purchase your next vehicle. It will<br />
be the best car buying experience you’ve ever had.<br />
CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY is your source<br />
for the best in police equipment. Based<br />
in Houston, we supply law enforcement<br />
with the equipment they need.”<br />
CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY has been<br />
serving Houston law enforcement for<br />
nearly 50 years with the absolute best<br />
customer service and quality products.<br />
CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY is<br />
located at 14<strong>10</strong> Washington Ave, near<br />
downtown Houston, but you can<br />
purchase everything you need online<br />
at:https://www.centralpolice.com/<br />
158 The BLUES The BLUES 159
NOW HIRING<br />
LE job posit ions<br />
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Marble Falls Police Dept. Get Info Patrol Officer <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
Tx. Comptroller Criminal Investigation (Odessa) Get Info State Police Officer 12/13/2022 - 5pm<br />
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Stephens Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info F/T Deputy Sheriff <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
Sandy Oaks Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer <strong>10</strong>/14/2022 - 5pm<br />
TWU Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer <strong>10</strong>/15/2022 - 5pm<br />
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Alamo Heights Police Department Get Info School Resource Officer 11/04/2022 - 5pm<br />
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TSTC Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer 11/25/2022 - 5pm<br />
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Rio Grande City Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer 11/22/2022 - 5pm<br />
Milam Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info School Resource Officer <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
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DeLeon Police Department Get Info Police Chief 11/27/2022 - 5pm<br />
The Leader In Law Enforcement Recruitment<br />
Delivering ZERO COST solutions to<br />
Texas Public Safety Agencies.<br />
160 The BLUES The BLUES 161
DeLeon Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/27/2022 - 5pm<br />
River Oaks Police Department Get Info Police Officer 12/01/2022 - 5pm<br />
Venus ISD Police Department Get Info Police Sergeant 11/01/2022 - 5pm<br />
Rusk Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/24/2022 - 5pm<br />
Lago Vista Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 11/27/2022 - 5pm<br />
Montgomery Police Department Get Info Sergeant Investigator <strong>10</strong>/26/2022 - 5pm<br />
Galveston Police Department Get Info Police Officer (Recruit) <strong>10</strong>/13/2022 - 5pm<br />
Cross Roads Police Deparment Get Info Police Officer 11/27/2022 - 5pm<br />
Lockhart Police Department Get Info Police Officer <strong>10</strong>/19/2022 - 5pm<br />
Portland Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/27/2022 - 5pm<br />
Katy Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/23/2022 - 5pm<br />
Abilene Christian University Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/25/2022 - 5pm<br />
San Antonio ISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Officers 11/28/2022 - 5pm<br />
Amarillo ISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer (4 positions) <strong>10</strong>/28/2022 - 5pm<br />
Corrigan Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer <strong>10</strong>/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Westlake Hills Police Dept. Get Info Peace Officer <strong>10</strong>/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Hays County Sheriff's Office Get Info Mobile Crisis Liaison 11/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Brown County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 11/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Fannin County Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 11/01/2022 - 5pm<br />
Josephine Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Coleman Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/26/2022 - 5pm<br />
Leonard Police Department Get Info Police Officer 11/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Tom Green Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 11/29/2022 - 5pm<br />
Alton Police Dept. Get Info Police Officer <strong>10</strong>/28/2022 - 5pm<br />
TJC Police Dept. Get Info Sergeant <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
STATEWIDE VACANCIES FOR JAILERS<br />
Collin County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Detention Officer <strong>10</strong>/12/2022 - 5pm<br />
Richardson Police Dept. Get Info Detention Officer <strong>10</strong>/21/2022 - 5pm<br />
Ellis Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer <strong>10</strong>/28/2022 - 5pm<br />
Travis Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Corrections Officer <strong>10</strong>/13/2022 - 5pm<br />
Rockwall Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Detention Officer <strong>10</strong>/15/2022 - 5pm<br />
Grimes County Sheriff's Office Get Info Jailer <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
STATEWIDE VACANCIES TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATOR<br />
<strong>No</strong>rthside ISD Police Dept. Get Info Police Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/06/2022 - 5pm<br />
City of Garland Get Info Public Safety Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/<strong>10</strong>/2022 - 5pm<br />
Madison County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/16/2022 - 5pm<br />
Richardson Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/21/2022 - 5pm<br />
Woodway Public Safety Department Get Info Communications Clerk <strong>10</strong>/24/2022 - 5pm<br />
Gillespie Co. Communications Ctr. Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/22/2022 - 5pm<br />
Castle Hills Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator <strong>10</strong>/21/2022 - 5pm<br />
Port Aransas Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
Plano Police Department Get Info Police-Fire-EMS Dispatcher 11/01/2022 - 5pm<br />
Castle Hills Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator <strong>10</strong>/06/2022 - 5pm<br />
Crowley Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/09/2022 - 5pm<br />
Guadalupe Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Telecommunications Operator <strong>10</strong>/12/2022 - 5pm<br />
TWU Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/13/2022 - 5pm<br />
Tarrant Regional Water District Get Info Telecommunication Specialist 11/11/2022 - 5pm<br />
League City Police Dept. Get Info Telecommunicator <strong>10</strong>/15/2022 - 5pm<br />
City of Wylie 911 Communications Division Get Info Communications Manager <strong>10</strong>/16/2022 - 5pm<br />
DeWitt Co. Sheriff's Office Get Info Dispatcher 11/16/2022 - 5pm<br />
<strong>No</strong>rth Texas Emergency Communications Center Get Info Operations Supervisor <strong>10</strong>/14/2022 - 5pm<br />
Alamo Heights Police Department Get Info Telecommunicator 11/04/2022 - 5pm<br />
Grimes County Sheriff's Office Get Info Telecommunicator/Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
Clute Police Dept. Get Info Dispatcher <strong>10</strong>/31/2022 - 5pm<br />
162 The BLUES The BLUES 163
164 The BLUES The BLUES 165
166 The BLUES The BLUES 167
austin officers<br />
austin dispatch<br />
168 The BLUES The BLUES 169
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS<br />
• Paid Vacation<br />
• Sick Leave<br />
• Paid Holidays<br />
• Personal Days<br />
• Compensatory Days<br />
• Certification Pay<br />
ALDINE ISD POLICE DEPT.<br />
now accepting applications for:<br />
Dispatcher<br />
Salary starting at $40,000,<br />
no experience required.<br />
TO APPLY VISIT<br />
WWW.ALDINEISD.ORG<br />
OR<br />
Contact the Personnel<br />
Department at<br />
281-985-7571<br />
OR<br />
Contact Sergeant R. Hall at<br />
281-442-4923<br />
HIRING PROCESS<br />
• Oral Board Panel Interview<br />
• Complete Personal History Statement<br />
• Psychological Evaluation<br />
• Medical Examination<br />
• Interview with the Chief of Police<br />
170 The BLUES The BLUES 171
BECOME A BAYTOWN<br />
PATROL OFFICER!<br />
STARTING PAY:<br />
$67,320/YEAR<br />
$1,500 SIGNING<br />
INCENTIVE!<br />
SALARY<br />
(YEARLY)<br />
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS<br />
PAID LEAVE<br />
Probationary Patrol Officer $67,320<br />
5 Year Patrol Officer $81,073<br />
9 Year Patrol Officer $93,694<br />
Annual salary increases up to a max of<br />
$93,694 with longevity pay<br />
Modified Lateral Pay Scale for Peace<br />
Officers from time at immediately<br />
preceding Law Enforcement Agency<br />
CERTIFICATION PAY<br />
Intermediate PO Certification $92.08<br />
Advanced PO Certification $157.08<br />
Master's PO Certification $212.33<br />
RELOCATION<br />
(MONTHLY)<br />
Health Insurance<br />
Dental Insurance<br />
Vision Insurance<br />
Life Insurance<br />
Employee Wellness Center<br />
Training and Fitness Facility<br />
Retirement Plan (7% Mandatory with a<br />
2:1 match; 20 year retirement)<br />
457 Deferred Compensation Plan<br />
Tuition Assistance and Academy Tuition<br />
Reimbursement<br />
City Vehicle Program<br />
Uniforms/Equipment Provided with<br />
Annual Allowances<br />
15 Vacation days accrued per year<br />
(civil Service Status)<br />
<strong>10</strong> City Holidays per year<br />
1 Personal day per year<br />
15 Sick days accrued per year<br />
15 days of Military Leave per year<br />
EDUCATION PAY<br />
Associates $50<br />
Bachelors $<strong>10</strong>0<br />
Master $125<br />
SPECIALTY/ SKILL PAY<br />
(MONTHLY)<br />
(MONTHLY)<br />
Relocation Expenses Reimbursed<br />
Bilingual in Spanish $50<br />
WWW.BPDCAREERS.ORG 281-420-5354 281-420-6660<br />
172 The BLUES The BLUES 173<br />
For additional information please scan the QR code to go to our recruiting website!
BEDFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT<br />
WE'RE<br />
HIRING!<br />
AND<br />
RECRUIT<br />
POLICE<br />
LATERAL<br />
OFFICERS<br />
Requirements<br />
Be eligible for certification from TCOLE (Texas<br />
Commission on Law Enforcement). (Please refer to Texas<br />
Administrative Code Title 37 Chapter 217.1 for clarification.)<br />
Must be 21 or older (at the time of certification)<br />
Must have a valid Texas Driver’s License (or ability to<br />
obtain)<br />
30 hours college credit from an accredited college (college<br />
requirement waived if certified peace officer OR two years<br />
active duty military experience with an honorable<br />
discharge)<br />
Step<br />
Police Salary<br />
Police Recruit (<strong>No</strong> certification) - $58,242<br />
Police Recruit (TCOLE-certified) - $61,155<br />
Police Officer - $64,351- $80,257<br />
Hourly<br />
Annual<br />
1 $30.93 $64,351<br />
2 $32.09 $66,765<br />
3 $33.30 $69,268<br />
4 $34.55 $71,865<br />
5 $35.84 $74,560<br />
6 $37.19 $77,356<br />
7 $<strong>38</strong>.58 $80,257<br />
Eligible lateral applicants will be placed on the Step Plan<br />
based on their years of experience as a full time Police<br />
Officer at a paid Police Department.<br />
Incentives<br />
*College education pay for Associates Degree and above<br />
*TCOLE certification level pay<br />
*Foreign language pay<br />
*Tattoo and facial hair friendly<br />
us:<br />
Contact<br />
pd.recruiting@bedfordtx.gov<br />
2121 L. Don Dodson Dr.<br />
more info and to apply online, visit:<br />
For<br />
https://bedfordtx.gov/503/Join-BPD<br />
Bedford, TX 76021<br />
174 The www.bedfordpolice.com<br />
BLUES The BLUES 175
Cuero Police Department<br />
<strong>No</strong>w Hiring for Patrol Officer Position<br />
Department Benefits<br />
13 Paid Holidays<br />
2 Weeks Paid Vacation<br />
Certification Pay<br />
<strong>10</strong>0% Insurance Paid for Employees<br />
Retirement 2 to 1 match (20yr Retirement)<br />
FSA for Employees<br />
Longevity Pay<br />
Equipment & Uniforms Provided Including Duty Weapon w/ Red Dot Sight<br />
Take Home Vehicle Within City Limits<br />
<strong>10</strong> Hour Work Shifts<br />
Membership Paid to Local Gym<br />
Department Provided Training<br />
Off-duty Security Opportunities<br />
Cell Phone Stipend<br />
Starting Pay Depends on Qualifications<br />
Requirements: Must be TCOLE Certified or currently enrolled in an accredited Police<br />
Academy and pass a background investigation.<br />
176 The BLUES The BLUES 177<br />
Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com
DEER PARK POLICE<br />
DEPARTMENT<br />
Deer Park, Texas<br />
WE ARE HIRING<br />
www.deerparktx.gov<br />
Police Officer<br />
Dispatcher<br />
Public Safety Attendant - Jailer<br />
Animal Control Officer<br />
Part time Crossing Guard<br />
Officer Sam Jammas 281-930-2121 or sjammas@deerparktx.org<br />
178 The BLUES The BLUES 179
Forney ISD<br />
Police Department<br />
NOW<br />
HIRING<br />
Police Officers<br />
Description<br />
School-based police officers work<br />
with school administrators, security<br />
staff, and faculty to ensure the safety<br />
and well-being of students at various<br />
campuses. This officer works as the<br />
main security arm of a school.<br />
Experience<br />
SBLE Experience preferred<br />
Demonstrate the ability to<br />
teach & engage with youth<br />
Requirements<br />
U.S. Citizen<br />
Accredited High School Diploma<br />
or equivalent<br />
Valid Texas Peace Officer License<br />
Valid Texas Driver's License<br />
Two or more years of college or<br />
advanced training preferred<br />
Positions starting<br />
at $29.89/hr<br />
Retention Stipends<br />
Clothing Allowance<br />
Health/Childcare Incentive<br />
Paid Training<br />
Lateral Entry<br />
APPLY ONLINE TODAY!<br />
www.forneyisd.net<br />
180 The BLUES The BLUES 181
GALVESTON<br />
COUNTY<br />
SHERIFF’S OFFICE<br />
Seeking Individuals Who Are Interested in a Rewarding Career in Corrections<br />
Begin Your Career Today!<br />
GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY<br />
APPLY TODAY AND BECOME A GALVESTON POLICE OFFICER<br />
Position: Corrections Deputy I<br />
Bureau/Division: Corrections/Jail<br />
Title/Rank: Corrections Deputy/Deputy I<br />
Reports to: Sergeant - Corrections<br />
Starting Salary: $47,715.20<br />
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES<br />
Maintains the security of the facility by conducting security checks, settling disputes, and performing cell searches and<br />
inspections; conducts outside perimeter checks.<br />
Preparation and proper completion in the documentation of inmate records.<br />
Issues inmate meals, clothing, linens, and personal items.<br />
Supervise inmate programs (recreational, legal, health care, visitation and religious services)<br />
Prepares reports on jail and inmate activities, enforce inmate handbook rules.<br />
Supervises inmates performing such assignments as cleaning and maintaining the jail facility and continuously observe<br />
locations and activities of inmates.<br />
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS<br />
High School / GED Certificate and must be at least 18 years of age.<br />
Must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of the contiguous United States for a period of time sufficient to conduct a<br />
background investigation.<br />
Must be able to work days, nights, weekends, holidays and mandatory shifts when needed.<br />
Must be able to work during natural disasters and or under declarations.<br />
Must possess a valid Texas driver's license and an acceptable driving record as determined by the Galveston County<br />
Sheriff's Office in effect at the time of application.<br />
Must have favorable employment history. All information given regarding past employment will be thoroughly checked<br />
Must have a stable credit history.<br />
Must possess good computer skills and demonstrate comprehensive reading and comprehension skills.<br />
<strong>No</strong> conviction above a Class B Misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last <strong>10</strong> years nor have been on or<br />
currently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense and no Family Violence<br />
convictions of any level.<br />
Applicant must pass all phases of the required testing.<br />
Must be eligible for licensing by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) for the position applied for, if not<br />
presently licensed.<br />
TO APPLY<br />
An applicant interested in any of GCSO position shall first download, complete and return<br />
the Application Packet, per the instructions on the downloadable form.<br />
The Application Packet can be found at SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV<br />
182 The BLUES The BLUES 183<br />
JOIN US<br />
VISIT SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV TO APPLY!<br />
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer<br />
CONTACT US<br />
409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV
Welcome Aboard<br />
Crowley Police Department<br />
and the<br />
Garland Police Department<br />
184 The BLUES The BLUES 185
LATERAL DEPUTY<br />
186 The BLUES The BLUES 187
WE ARE<br />
HIRING!<br />
BENEFITS<br />
• Free basic Medical, Dental and Vision insurance for<br />
employee<br />
• Free basic Life insurance<br />
• Long Term Disability (LTD)<br />
• Affordable Medical, Dental and Vision benefits for<br />
eligible family members<br />
• Flexible Spending Accounts<br />
• <strong>10</strong> paid holidays per year<br />
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) including <strong>10</strong> vacation<br />
days and 13 sick days per year accrued biweekly<br />
RETIREMENT<br />
• Harris County matches your investment at 225%<br />
• 7% of your salary is invested pre-tax in your<br />
retirement account<br />
• Retirement Vesting after 8 years<br />
• Eligible upon earning 75 points (age+years of service)<br />
SALARY SCALE<br />
INCENTIVE PAY<br />
LATERAL DEPUTY<br />
REQUIREMENTS<br />
• Must be a licensed Peace Officer by the Texas Commission on Law<br />
Enforcement (TCOLE) in good standing<br />
• Must be currently employed as a first responder Peace Officer<br />
(any break in service will be discussed on a case-by-case basis)<br />
• Must have a minimum of 12 months of consecutive experience as<br />
a first responder Peace Officer at any one agency<br />
• Must successfully pass the Physical Abilities Test (PAT) obstacle<br />
course<br />
• Must pass a thorough background investigation (Criminal<br />
background check, fingerprinting, personal interview, etc.) as<br />
required by TCOLE<br />
• Must pass a physical and psychological evaluation as required by<br />
TCOLE<br />
• Valid Driver’s License (TX by start date)<br />
• Eyesight must be correctable to 20/20, normal color and<br />
peripheral vision<br />
• Correctable normal audible range in both ears<br />
• Firearms qualification<br />
For additional information contact Harris County Sheriff’s Office Recruitment Unit: (713) 877-5250<br />
<strong>No</strong>w Hiring<br />
OFFICERS<br />
TCOLE Certified Peace Officers<br />
Our fast-growing City shows a trending decrease in crimes based<br />
on four offenses from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting.<br />
Benefits<br />
Hutto ranked one of the<br />
safest cities in Texas.<br />
Retirement<br />
2-to-1 City match with TMRS<br />
Take-home Patrol Car<br />
For officers living within 25 miles<br />
Top-of-the-line Equipment<br />
and Technology<br />
Beards and Tattoos Allowed<br />
Additional Pay<br />
+<br />
+<br />
Starting Salary<br />
$59K to $63K*<br />
Annual Leave Accruals<br />
12 paid holidays, 80 hrs vacation, 96 hrs sick leave<br />
Multiple Positions Available<br />
A wide variety of units and assignments available<br />
Education Pay up to $175/month<br />
Specialty/Certification up to $260/month<br />
CLASSIFICATION SERVICE HOURLY ANNUAL TCOLE CERTIFICATION ANNUAL<br />
DEPUTY I 0-47 $25.22 $52,458<br />
Intermediate $1,560<br />
Advanced $3,420<br />
DEPUTY II 48-83 $26.99 $56,139<br />
Master $6,000<br />
EDUCATION<br />
ANNUAL<br />
DEPUTY III 84-119 $28.59 $59,467<br />
Associate Degree $1,320<br />
DEPUTY IV 120-155 $30.03 $62,462<br />
Bachelor’s Degree $3,180<br />
Master/Doctorate $4,500<br />
DEPUTY V 156-191 $31.52 $65,562<br />
TO APPLY<br />
188 The BLUES<br />
Bilingual Program $1,800<br />
Harris County<br />
* Or more depending on experience<br />
The BLUES 189<br />
Receive up to fourteen (14) years of credit for time served! (Restrictions apply)<br />
@HCSOTexas<br />
HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas<br />
SCAN THIS CODE<br />
Sheriff’s Office<br />
To learn more or apply, visit or scan<br />
www.huttotx.gov/policejobs<br />
Questions? Email: PDrecruiting@huttotx.gov<br />
Sign On Bonus!<br />
$2,500
L A P O R T E<br />
P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T<br />
Lateral Police Officer<br />
Starting Pay $ 62,416. to $73,775.<br />
Effective October 1, 2022<br />
<strong>No</strong> prior experience required. High School diploma or GED required.<br />
Possession of Class C Texas Driver License.<br />
Must possess a TCOLE License or be enrolled in accredited Basic Peace Officer Academy.<br />
Certification Pay (bi-weekly):<br />
$46.15 - Intermediate Peace Officer<br />
$69.23 - Advanced Peace Officer<br />
$92.31 - Master Peace Officer<br />
Education Pay (bi-weekly):<br />
$46.15 - Associates Degree<br />
$69.23 - Bachelors Degree<br />
$92.31 - Masters Degree<br />
Employee Benefits:<br />
Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance<br />
Longevity Pay<br />
Tuition Reimbursement<br />
TMRS Retirement (2 to 1 match)<br />
ICMA Deferred Compensation/Roth IRA<br />
$1,000 Physical Fitness Program<br />
Weapon Purchase Program<br />
Take-home Vehicles<br />
Specialized Divisions:<br />
SWAT / Bomb Squad<br />
Bike Patrol<br />
Criminal Investigative Division<br />
Crime Scene Unit<br />
Drone Pilots<br />
School Resource Officers<br />
Traffic/DOT Officers<br />
Police Area Representatives<br />
Apply online at<br />
www.laportetx.gov/jobs<br />
Paid Leave Benefits<br />
15 days vacation (Civil Service)<br />
15 days sick leave<br />
Military Leave<br />
9 observed holidays per year<br />
2 employee holidays per year<br />
Bereavement Leave<br />
Comp Time<br />
190 The BLUES The BLUES 191
MANVEL POLICE DEPARTMENT<br />
Patrol Officer<br />
The City of Manvel Police Department is looking to find qualified candidates to fill the ranks of the patrol division.<br />
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<br />
northern part of Brazoria County along the State Highway 288 corridor approximately 4 miles South of the City of Houston.<br />
The Manvel Police Department has a competitive pay structure for cities of the same size. Salary is based on experience and certification levels.<br />
• The department currently has 32 sworn positions.<br />
• 18 officers currently in patrol with 8 positions added in this fiscal budget year.<br />
• Patrol Salary: $53,704.56 to $68,031.84. Salary is based off experience and certification.<br />
• Certification pay<br />
• 12-hour shifts / shifts rotate every four months. (Modified Dupont Schedule)<br />
• Retirement through TMRS - 7% contribution with a 2:1 match<br />
• Vested after 5 years with the city<br />
• Employee health coverage paid <strong>10</strong>0% by the city, additional for family<br />
• Health care for employee and eligible dependents through Prime Health Care.<br />
• Personal Time off – Vacation and Holiday accruals<br />
• Paid sick time<br />
Minimum Requirements:<br />
• High school diploma or GED<br />
• Valid Texas Driver’s License with good driving record<br />
• TCOLE certified OR currently enrolled in Academy program<br />
• Preference for LE experience<br />
Hiring Process Includes:<br />
• Written test*<br />
• Physical test *<br />
• Oral board interview*<br />
• Thorough background investigation<br />
• Modified Field Training Program for experienced officers<br />
• One-year probationary period<br />
For more information you can contact The City of Manvel Police Department at 281-489-1212 or email, rcarrlacy@manvelpd.org<br />
192 The BLUES The BLUES 193
Memorial Villages Police Department<br />
Bunker Hill • Piney Point• Hunters Creek<br />
Police Officer<br />
EOE/M/F/D<br />
5+ Years Patrol Experience Required<br />
The Memorial Villages Police Department (Located on the West Side of Houston) currently<br />
looking for experienced officers who are self- motivated, innovative, and enthusiastic about<br />
community policing.<br />
Starting Salary Range<br />
Effective Jan 2023<br />
Hiring Bonus $1500<br />
Night Shift Differential $3600<br />
ECA $1300<br />
Basic Peace Officer<br />
Starting $83,459<br />
Hiring Bonus $1500<br />
Night Shift Differential $3600<br />
Master Peace Officer<br />
ECA $1300<br />
Bi-Lingual 2.5% of base pay<br />
College up to $3000 (Masters)<br />
Up to $94,164<br />
Healthcare Insurance, DHMO Dental, Vision – <strong>10</strong>0% paid for employee, 75% Paid for<br />
spouse/dependents.<br />
Paid long-term disability and life insurance for employee, with additional life insurance<br />
available for spouse/dependents.<br />
Health Savings Account with departmental contributions up to $4200 annually<br />
TMRS Retirement 2 to 1 match, 7% Employee ,14% Employer Contribution, 20 Year Retirement<br />
457 Plan with employer contribution of 2.5% of annual salary<br />
Tuition reimbursement<br />
Longevity Pay up to a max of $2400 annually at <strong>10</strong> years of service.<br />
ECA (Emergency Care Assistant) $1300 Annually, training provided to each employee.<br />
12 hour shifts with every other Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off.<br />
To learn more or apply, visit our website at www.mvpdtx.org<br />
Or contact Sgt. Owens 713-365-3711 or lowens@mvpdtx.org<br />
Or Commander E. Jones 713-365-3706 ejones@mvpdtx.org<br />
11981 Memorial Dr. Houston, Texas 77024<br />
194 The BLUES The BLUES 195
196 The BLUES The BLUES 197
MAKE A<br />
DIFFERENCE<br />
IN YOUR<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
We are looking for outstanding individuals to<br />
join our team! As a Pearland Police Officer your<br />
mission will be to prevent crime and disorder, build<br />
partnerships within the community, and positively<br />
impact the quality of life for all our residents.<br />
CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS<br />
• Competitive Salary • Outstanding Training<br />
• Career Advancement • Exceptional Benefits<br />
The City of Pearland is one of the fastest growing<br />
communities within the region. Pearland is located<br />
approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Houston<br />
and the current population is approximately 130,000<br />
residents.<br />
JOIN OUR TEAM<br />
HIRING POLICE OFFICERS AND CADETS<br />
$5,000 Hiring Incentive for T.C.O.L.E Certified Police<br />
Officers who qualify with at least 2 years of experience.<br />
TEST DATE:<br />
SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 8:30 A.M.<br />
Register by: April 12.<br />
WATCH FOR UPCOMING<br />
Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium<br />
4141 Bailey TEST Road, DATES Pearland, TX IN 77584. 2022<br />
Doors Open: 7:15 a.m. <strong>No</strong> admittance after 7:45 a.m.<br />
Candidates must park in the north parking lot.<br />
SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY<br />
• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals<br />
• Mandatory temperature checks<br />
• Masks required, hand sanitizer available<br />
• Candidates seated 6 feet apart<br />
198 The BLUES For additional information and to register for an upcoming Civil Service Exam, The BLUES visit 199<br />
pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers
pasadena<br />
isd<br />
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PORT HOUSTON<br />
POLICE DEPARTMENT<br />
WE ARE<br />
HIRING<br />
SIGN UP TODAY! www.porthouston.com/careers-2<br />
BENEFITS:<br />
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance<br />
eligible first day of employment<br />
• Wellness Program<br />
(can earn up to $600 credit per year if requirements met)<br />
• Enrollment with Calm App for Wellbeing<br />
• Defined contribution plan (401a)<br />
– Employer Sponsored<br />
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan)<br />
– Employee Contributions<br />
• Vacation<br />
• Sick Leave<br />
• Paid Holiday 12 days/year<br />
• Life and Accidental Death and<br />
Dismemberment Insurance<br />
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits<br />
• Flexible spending account (FSA)<br />
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)<br />
• Pet Insurance<br />
• Legal and Identity Theft Protection<br />
• Tuition Reimbursement<br />
Up to the IRS annual limit and a maximum lifetime<br />
reimbursement of $25,000<br />
• Onsite Credit Union – Port of Houston Credit Union<br />
Are you looking for a career with meaning?<br />
Do you want to make a difference in a highly<br />
supportive community?<br />
Join our team at Port Houston!<br />
STARTING PAY*<br />
$60,000 up to $71,000<br />
REQUIREMENTS<br />
• Must be 21 years old<br />
• Must have 2+ years of police officer<br />
experience<br />
• Must have valid Texas Driver’s License<br />
• Must be a U.S. Citizen<br />
• Must have an honorable discharge<br />
from the military (if applicable)<br />
• Must never have been convicted of a<br />
Class A Misdemeanor or above<br />
EMPLOYMENT<br />
TESTING<br />
Employment is contingent on passing<br />
any post-offer pre-employment<br />
screening as listed below:<br />
• Criminal background check<br />
• Motor Vehicle Record check<br />
• Drug screening<br />
• Physical exam<br />
• Psychological exam<br />
SCAN<br />
QR CODE<br />
TO APPLY<br />
• <strong>No</strong>t been convicted of a Class B<br />
• Additional as required<br />
* Salary depends on experience<br />
misdemeanor within the last <strong>10</strong> years<br />
• Must have a GED or high school diploma<br />
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City of Wylie<br />
Police Department<br />
OFFICER SALARY RANGE: HIRING PROCESS: BENEFITS:<br />
<strong>No</strong>n Certified Police Recruit Pay : $62, 370.00<br />
YEARS OF SERVICE<br />
ANNUAL SALARY<br />
1 Year—Step 0 $66, 626.06<br />
2 Years—Step 1 $68, 291.71<br />
3 Years—Step 2 $69, 999.00<br />
4 Years—Step 3 $71, 748.98<br />
5 Years—Step 4 $73, 542.70<br />
6 Years—Step 5 $75, <strong>38</strong>1.27<br />
7 Years—Step 6 $77, 265.80<br />
8 Years—Step 7 $79, 197.45<br />
9 Years—Step 8 $81, 177.<strong>38</strong><br />
<strong>10</strong>+Years—Step 9 $83, 206.82<br />
ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION:<br />
Certification Pay: Up to $1,800 annually<br />
Field Training Officer Pay: $2, 400 annually<br />
Bilingual Pay: $1 ,200 annually<br />
• Complete and submit a City of Wylie<br />
job application: https://<br />
www.governmentjobs.com/careers/<br />
wylietexas<br />
• Written Exam (exempt for Laterals)<br />
• Physical Agility Test<br />
• Complete and submit a Personal<br />
History Statement<br />
• Oral Board Panel Interview<br />
• Background Investigation<br />
• Police Chief Interview<br />
• Polygraph Examination<br />
• Psychological Evaluation<br />
• Medical Examination<br />
RECRUITING CONTACT:<br />
Wylie Police Department<br />
2000 <strong>No</strong>rth Hwy 78<br />
Wylie, TX 75098<br />
Sergeant Mark Johnson<br />
mark.johnson@wylietexas.gov<br />
972-429-8013<br />
• City Paid Medical/Dental/Vision<br />
• Texas Municipal Retirement System<br />
(TMRS) 14% City Contribution<br />
• Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time)<br />
• City Paid Uniforms<br />
• City Paid Training<br />
• Life Insurance and AD&D<br />
• Long Term Disability Insurance<br />
• Employee Assistance Program<br />
• Longevity Pay<br />
• Tuition Reimbursement<br />
• Free Recreation Center Membership<br />
• Deferred Compensation Plan<br />
• Ancillary Benefits Available (Aflac,<br />
Avesis, and More)<br />
Serve Your Community with the<br />
Brenham Police Department<br />
jobs.cityofbrenham.org<br />
979-337-7<strong>38</strong>2<br />
Thanks<br />
Welcome Aboard<br />
Brenham Police Dept. &<br />
Brenham Washington Police County Department SO<br />
for placing your and recruiting the ads<br />
Washington The County BLUES. Sheriff’s Office<br />
Wylie Police Department Mission: Our mission is to impact the quality of life, by providing a professional<br />
level of service that will foster, support, and build relationships with those we serve.<br />
https://www.wylietexas.gov/police.php<br />
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STARTING SALARY<br />
$56,160 $57,824 $60,008 $62,400 $64,792 $67,184 $69,680 $72,<strong>38</strong>4 $74,880 $77,480 $80,080<br />
High School Diploma<br />
or G.E.D.<br />
Minimum age of 21<br />
Must hold a valid<br />
Texas Driver’s License<br />
Current valid TCOLE<br />
certification<br />
At Hire<br />
At<br />
6 mos.<br />
end<br />
year 1<br />
end<br />
year 2<br />
end<br />
year 3<br />
end<br />
year 4<br />
end<br />
year 5<br />
end<br />
year 6<br />
end<br />
year 7<br />
end<br />
year 8<br />
end<br />
year 9<br />
GET STARTED<br />
LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF<br />
DOWNTOWN AUSTIN<br />
$3,000<br />
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