Feb 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 2

The Blues - February ‘24 1

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VOL. 40 NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2024 

FEATURES 

DEPARTMENTS 

66 RICK FERNANDEZ & COP STOP 

84 DOJ REPORT ON UVALDE SCHOOL 

SHOOTING 

90 SPECIAL ELECTION INSERT 

HARRIS & GALVESTON COUNTY 

130 

DR. TINA JAECKLE, SENIOR EDITOR 

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH 

PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS 

EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS 

GUEST COMMENTARY - REX EVANS 

GUEST COMMENTARY - DANIEL CARR 

GUEST COMMENTARY - MICHAEL BROWN 

GUEST COMMENTARY - ART WOOLERY 

GUEST COMMENTARY - DANIEL CARR 

NEWS AROUND THE US 

SURVIVING THE STREETS 

SHOT SHOW RECAP 

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES 

WAR STORIES 

AFTERMATH 

HEALING OUR HEROES 

DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS 

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR. 

LIGHT BULB AWARD 

ADS BACK IN THE DAY 

PARTING SHOTS 

BUYERS GUIDE 

NOW HIRING 

BACK PAGE 

06 

08 

12 

14 

18 

22 

24 

26 

60 

64 

102 

106 

110 

116 

120 

124 

126 

130 

132 

136 

140 

142 

146 

220 

COVER: Rick Fernandez 

shares with our readers 

how his faith and his family 

guided him to open his 

Pearland business, the COP 

STOP and why it is so successful 

today. 

126 

DARYL LOTT 

“DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS” 

116 

120 


4 The Blues - February ‘24

FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-N-CHIEF 

Michael Barron 

OUR TEAM 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

Chief Rex Evans 

SENIOR EDITOR 

Dr. Tina Jaeckle 

CREATIVE EDITOR 

Jessica Jones 

COPY EDITOR 

Lt. John King (Ret) 

OUTDOOR EDITOR 

Rusty Barron 

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR 

Lt. Daryl Lott (Ret) 

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS 

Sam Horwitz & John Salerno 


Doug Griffith 


Art Woolery 


Daniel Carr 


Brandon Karr 

WARSTORY 

Officer Rusty Robbins 

AFTERMATH 

Amanda Sellers 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Joanna Putman 

Natalie Neysa Alund 

Paula Fitzsimmons 

Karen Kucher 

Will McCarthy 

Linnh Tat 

Shelly Bradbury 

Rolf Boone 

Garry Parker 

Lomi Kriel 

Robert Salonga 

The Law Officer & Police 1 

The BLUES is published monthly by Kress-Barr, LLC, PO Box 2733, League City Texas 77574. The opinions expressed in some articles, 

op-eds, and editorials are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of The BLUES or its parent company. 

Rebuttals or submission of news articles and editorials may be submitted to: The BLUES @ bluespdmag@gmail.com. 

The entire contents of The BLUES IS copyrighted© and may not be reprinted without the express permission of the publisher. 


FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK 

ASS-CEVEDO IS BACK 

Just when you thought we were 

done with Art ASScevedo, the damn 

dude is headed back to Texas. To 

some made up frickin’ BS job in 

Austin. Quite frankly, if I were the 

ATX Police Chief, I would be pissed. 

Who in the hell needs Art Acevedo 

telling anybody how to run their 

department. But wait, I’m getting 

ahead of myself. 

Acevedo is a like a wandering 

Gypsy, traveling this great country 

seeking his next Chief of Police job. 

But he sucks as a chief. He failed 

as Austin’s police chief from 2007- 

2016. Left Austin to become 

Houston’s chief in 2016 and 

stayed until 2021. He was one 

of the worst police chiefs in 

the history of HPD. In ’21 he 

packed his bags and headed 

for Miami which didn’t last 

long. He was fired after only six 

months. 

Next, he tried being an onair 

analyst for CNN. The perfect 

place for a washed-up liberal 

police chief, but even there he 

didn’t cut it. His next stop was 

interim police for Aurora Colorado, 

one of the most liberal 

cities in America. 

Acevedo says he was leaving 

because he wanted to return to 

Texas to spend time with his family. 

According to news reports, Acevedo 

is returning to Austin, Texas to fill a 

newly created position to oversee 

the police department. 

So why in the hell is ATX bringing 

the ASS back? I mean thank God it 

isn’t in Houston, but our brothers 

and sisters in Austin don’t want him 

either. An Austin officer texted me 

when the news broke 

and said they were 

considering throwing a 

roadblock up on I35. 

“Let’s station people at 

the airport, bus stations 

and train stations. Roadblocks 

on all highways and interstates 

and issue a BOLO for one Art 

Acevedo.” 

When we featured Acevedo in 

our November 2021 issue, (https:// 

www.yumpu.com/en/document/ 

read/65957865/nov-2021-blues-vol- 

37-no-11) he had just been fired 

from Miami when he referred to his 

bosses as the Cuban Mafia. 

I really didn’t know much about 

Acevedo before he came to Houston. 

Only that he was chief in Austin 

for almost 10 years and the city 

council loved him. The rank-andfile 

cops, not so much. But once I 

started digging and researching him 

for the article, it became obvious 

that Acevedo was a piece of work. 

He started his police career with the 

CHP in California and worked his 

way quickly to assistant chief. But 

he wanted to be the top dog and 

was one of the top candidates to 

replace retiring California Highway 

Patrol Commissioner D.O. “Spike” 

Helmick. 

But that came to a grinding 

halt when a story in the LA 

Times detailed his relationship 

with a female CHP officer and 

the sexual harassment claims 

that followed. The article stated 

Acevedo had been investigated 

for allegedly showing 

nude photographs of a fellow 

CHP officer to other high-ranking 

officers while on duty. 

Claims filed with three state 

agencies allege that Acevedo 

kept sexually explicit Polaroid 

photographs of the woman in 

the glove box of his state-issued 

car and showed them to 

other supervisors after the affair 

ended. Needless to say, he didn’t 

get the job and moved to Austin and 

became chief. 

BREAKING: Now it seems everyone 

on the Austin City Council, the PD 

and even the custodian at Austin 

City Hall, hated the idea of Acevedo 

coming back, so the deal is dead. 

BUT. Acevedo said he is still returning 

to Austin to be with his family. 



FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

The Evolution of 

Modern Day Policing 

The older we get, specifically 

in this profession, we witness 

the change and evolution of our 

profession. Call pads and key 

maps have been replaced with 

super computers in our cars. (I 

still carry my call pad and key 

map because one day Sky-Net 

will take down everything and 

I’d be lost) We have advanced 

from mechanical rotating light 

bars to strobes to LEDS to super 

LEDS. And we have hand-held 

radios that work. Even inside 

a building and everything. It’s 

crazy. 

Personally, I’ve migrated from 

a poly-wool uniform, long 

sleeve and tie in the winter 

months and a revolver, to some 

of the lightest and coolest uniforms 

ever made. Our sidearms 

and clips hold nearly 48 rounds 

verses the 18 we used to carry. 

(I still carry my 1911, winner of 

TWO World Wars) We now carry 

mini rechargeable flashlights 

that weigh less than 5 oz. vs our 

old SL-20’s that weighed several 

pounds and could easily kill 

someone. And those little lights 

are somehow computer chip 

driven. Here again, it’s crazy. 

Our patrol cars have evolved 

from the old Dodge Diplomat, 

(my first) to Chevrolet Tahoe’s 

that will absolutely scream 

down the highway and carry 

everything we need. The inside 

of my old Diplomat had one 

small VHF Radio and a toggle 

switch to turn on the rotating 

light bar. Oh yeah, it had the old 

blue faced Federal siren. And 

that my friends, was it! Away we 

went, screaming into the night. 

Crushing crime and communism 

wherever we found it. Yep. You 

guessed it. It was crazy! 

But wait there’s more. You see, 

I retired at the end of 2023. I 

picked up my retired Chief’s ID 

and out the door I went. In all 

the years, I have seen a LOT of 

changes. And most importantly, 

I have seen a lot of good men 

and women not have the opportunity 

I had….to actually survive 

this job and retire. 

Oh, I have plenty of scars 

inside and out and somehow 

survived. Although, I sure don’t 

know how. I‘ve ridden in several 

ambulances and was loaded 

into life flight twice. Honestly, I 

don’t know how I made it. Especially 

when far better people 

than I could ever be, didn’t. 

I honestly feel a bit guilty and 

think at times, “Those medics 

and doctors saved the wrong 

guy.” 

One thing about retirement 

that sucks is that those who 

trained us, are slowing fading 

away. Those “Old Guard” guys 

and gals are much older now 

and every day another one slips 

the surly bounds of this old 

earth. And it’s painful. They were 

damn good cops and damn 

good people and now they’re 

gone. 

It is not all doom and gloom. 

There are plenty of memories of 

laughter and craziness. I’ve had 

some amazing times over the 

past thirty plus years, carrying 

a badge and gun every single 

day. We all could do without the 

bad times and bad people, but 

then I would not have appreciated 

the good times and good 

people nearly as much. So, that’s 

a winning hand. And yes, in the 

end, as I sit here with my cup of 

coffee and reflect, it was crazy 

and so were we. I’ll always miss 

the crazy people and the crazy 

times. I feel privileged to have 

had the life I lived, and I’m not 

done yet. Stay tuned for Part 2. 


Well, it’s the New Year. Which 

in and of itself, brings about new 

opportunities. One of those new 

opportunities is the new TCOLE 

web site. Its up and running!!! Now 

to be fair, there’s still some “under 

construction” going on and I am OK 

with that. 

The fact that they finally got the 

darn thing back up and running is a 

huge help in more ways than one. 

For example, finding your account 

and information is critical to ensure 

you’re staying up to date on all the 

required courses the TCOLE Board 

continues to administer. Equally, 

there is a lot of information that 

helps officers understand how 

TCOLE works and gives an officer an 

opportunity to see what’s happening 

around the state. 

One of the critical features of this 

site is the Job Listings. This feature 

helps all kinds of people in our state 

who are looking for a job in the Law 

Enforcement / Criminal Justice field. 

Telecommunicators, Jailors, Peace 

Officers, and more, can all find 

the most up to date postings from 

across Texas. And as difficult as it is 

to fill those open positions, it’s just 

as welcome by Department Heads, 

START SHOPPING 




GUEST COMENTARY 

Rex Evans 

DOJ Report on Uvalde: 

Over 300 cops on the scene and not a damn one of them 

did anything to stop the killing for over an hour. 

Have your read and seriously 

reviewed the DOJ Report on 

the Robb Elementary School 

Tragedy? I have. Three times, 

to be exact. I have watched 

every video and reviewed 

hundreds of still photos from 

that awful day. Which unfortunately, 

happens to be my 

Birthday, May 24th. 

In the DOJ Report, it’s just 

the facts. There are no opinions. 

There’s no subjective 

insight of “If I was there, I 

would’ve done…” It is paragraph 

after paragraph, page 

after page, of excruciatingly 

painful miscommunication 

and lack of decisive action, 

at all levels of the Command 

Structure. 

No one “wants” to be the 

Incident Commander of a 

tragedy. No one “wants” to be 

“in charge” and responsible 

(directly and vicariously) for 

everything that happens. But 

you promoted. You wanted 

the Bars or Stars…This is what 

comes with them. R-E-S-P- 

O-N-S-I-B-L-I-T-Y. 

Someone on the scene, no 

matter who they were or 

what agency they were with, 

should have had the mental 

intellect to say: “This whole 

thing is FUBAR!” And we need 

to act NOW! The reality is, no 

one did that and as a result, 

there was a terrible loss of 

life. Not one law enforcement 

supervisor or administrator 

stood up and said “On me. 

This is what we’re doing.” 

Before you go chastising my 

critical analysis, I am not saying 

I know everything or have 

all the answers. I am saying, 

I’ve been a cop for over 34 

years. I have been an ISD Chief 

and a Chief for a total of over 

10 years. I have been an Incident 

Commander of multiple 

multi-victims, traumatic incidents. 

I have a clue about how 

things should have gone. And 

I am here to tell you, the DOJ 

got this report right. Law Enforcement 

absolutely dropped 

the ball, period. 

Law Enforcement MUST do 

better. For God’s sake the Fire 

Department does a much better 

job of Incident Command 

than we do. What does that 

tell you? We have got to train, 

train, and train some more. 

Not in some damn classroom 

either. I’ve established and 

orchestrated several full-scale 

incident command scenarios. 

Active-Shooter. Special Needs 

Student Bus Crash. Haz-Mat 

incident in a High School Lab. 

Each time, I had my supervisors 

take Command and run 

those scenes. As did the Chiefs 

of the various other responding 

agencies. Not to be a hard 

ass. But, to make sure the entire 

Chain of Command knew 

what was expected, they had 

to recognize when things 

were going south, and be flexible 

and resourceful enough to 

arrive at a positive outcome. 

ALERRT is simply NOT 

enough. There must be real 

time training that’s realistic 

for Supervisors to know what 

to do in the heat of an absolute 

crisis. Every moment you 

waste with indecision is a life 

lost. How many minutes and 

lives are acceptable before we 

as professionals understand 

and acknowledge this fact? 

To simply say “We have 

learned from this tragedy, 


and it won’t happen again,” 

isn’t going to cut it. We MUST 

get off the proverbial “X” 

and move. We must get to a 

place with realistic Incident 

Command Training, with all 

the moving parts and people, 

that a response is instinctive 

and immediate. Will you be 

scared? Of course, you will. 

Will you second guess your 

decisions? Absolutely. But doing 

nothing means people will 

die. Hesitating means people 

will die. 

As a supervisor and the ISD’s 

Chief of Police, you do not 

have the luxury of indecision. 

Especially in a crisis. You have 

to act and act now. You must 

have a steadfast determination 

to mitigate loss, organize 

response and follow through. 

If you fail at this, you have 

failed, period. It’s the kids that 

lose, not you. And that is, totally 

unacceptable. 

Perhaps ALERRT or some 

other entity, will actually create 

an Incident Command College 

or Academy Course. With 

a minimum of forty hours of 

intensive training and NOT in 

a classroom. In a real school 

or large community center. 

An abandoned mall or shopping 

center. A movie theatre 

or a grocery. Perhaps all of 

the above. Train like your life, 

or the life of child or teacher, 

depend on it. Cause one day it 

just may. 

Full Scale Exercises are a 

tremendous drain on resources. 

I will acknowledge that. 

However, practical real-time 

lessons cannot be taught in a 

classroom. It is a “Real World 

Emergency” that requires 

“Real World Emergency 

Training.” Even Naval Aviators 

must get out of the simulator 

at some point and land on an 

Aircraft Carrier. 

ISD and other Law Enforcement 

Leaders, need to get 

out of the simulator and start 

landing on their aircraft carrier. 

Otherwise, we are going 

to continue to crash and burn 

under duress and more lives 

will needlessly be lost in the 

midst of all the chaos. 

P.S. I know someone out 

there who has the resources 

to put together such a class. 

I’d be more than willing to 

come learn, help, assist and 

see that it succeeds without 

hesitation. Texas should be 

the leader on this because 

that’s who we are. 



police law news 

Daniel Carr 

This Week in Policing: 

APD-DWI Unit, Courtsey Cards and I Retired. 

APD DWI UNIT 

This could be huge. 

The District Attorney (Sam 

Bregman) of Bernalillo County, 

NM (Albuquerque metro area) 

has dismissed over 150 DWI 

(driving while intoxicated) cases 

in the last few days. 

Bregman cited an ongoing 

“Federal investigation” as the 

reason and directed all media 

inquiries to the Feds. 

The FBI stated that they have 

conducted search warrants at 

the homes of a few Albuquerque 

Police officers and local 

attorneys in reference to an 

alleged “kickback scheme”. The 

allegation is that officers were 

working with defense attorneys 

to not show up for DWI cases 

in exchange for money. 

I hope this is not true and/or 

that a minimal version of the 

allegations are what happened. 

This will be a national story. 

And the implications of this 

could effect the DOJ Consent 

Decree that the City of Albuquerque 

has been under for 

over a decade - that was on its 

way to sunsetting. 

For the most substantive daily 

reporting on this (and other 

Albuquerque News) check out 

ABQ RAW. 

COURTESY CARDS 

There is an interesting case 

in New York City that involves 

“courtesy cards”. 

The allegation is that these 

are laminated cards issued by 

police unions, to police officers, 

for them to distribute to friends 

and family. The idea is that if a 

card is presented to an officer 

during a traffic stop - that the 

stopping officer not issue the 

driver a ticket. 

One officer (Matthew Bianchi) 

decided that he was not going 

to play this game and issued 

tickets to the chosen people 

who possess these cards. 

Officer Bianchi alleges that 

he was retaliated against by 

his supervisors and also by 

the police union. He has filed a 

lawsuit in response. 

Officer Bianchi claims that he 

initially filed a complaint with 

Internal Affairs and that his 

concerns were ignored. A department 

spokesperson disputed 

that claim. Like most stories, 

the truth is likely somewhere 

stuck in the middle. Either way, 

hopefully the result of this is 

the ending of this ludicrous 

practice. 

I understand that this is part 

of “East Coast policing” in 

some jurisdictions. It seems 

foreign to me as I grew up in 

the Midwest and spent nearly 

two decades as a cop in the 

Southwest. I have never seen 

anything like this. 

This courtesy card scandal 

seems like the plot of a 1980’s 

Stallone movie - where he is 

the only honest cop fighting 

against an entire corrupt police 

force and the matter is ultimately 

solved by an arm wrestling 

match in a dive bar. 

This practice should stop. It’s 

a bad idea. It spits in the face 

of the principle that we are all 

equal under the law. And that 

ideal is non negotiable. 

I RETIRED 

This week I retired from the 

Albuquerque Police Department 

after nearly twenty years. 

Here is what I wrote on my 

personal Instagram: 

“Nearly 2 decades ago I 



moved 1300 miles away from 

home (for reasons I still don’t 

understand) for a police job in 

Albuquerque. 

Today was my last day as an 

Albuquerque police officer. 

It’s an important job and one 

for young, motivated warriors. It 

should only be a “calling” when 

you are in it. There’s a lot more 

out there. #retired” 

When I started in 2005 the 

state of New Mexico offered a 

20 year retirement system. I was 

able to “buy” a year and then 

burn/use sick and vacation time 

and only worked 18.5 years and 

am “retired” at 41 years old. 

I worked over ten years as a 

patrol officer. 

I worked over four years in the 

DWI unit. 

And I spent the last four years 

working as a detective in the 

Internal Affairs Force Division 

and the Compliance Bureau, conducting 

high level administrative 

investigations and presenting 

cases to the Force Review Board. 

I also served as an elected 

union representative for officers 

in the Albuquerque Police Officers 

Association. 

I have worked as an instructor 

and taught classes on DWI and 

recently served as a “collateral 

instructor” for the Advanced 

Training Unit teaching: ABLE 

(active bystandership in law enforcement), 

general law block/ 

legal updates, and the class explaining 

the DOJ Consent Decree. 

While working as a cop, I went 

back for a Master’s in Criminal 

justice and a law degree (J.D.). 

In “retirement” I plan to write 

more on Substack and create 

more social media content (follow 

me everywhere.) 




Michael Brown 

How the People’s Republic of China’s foreign 

policies impact street-level policing in the USA 

Law enforcement agencies 

across the United States are in 

a daily battle against organized 

drug trafficking organizations. 

Their main objective of law 

enforcement is to serve and 

protect the public from criminal 

activities that arise from the 

distribution of narcotics, such 

as fentanyl. They are also striving 

to dismantle the drug supply 

chains that smuggle fentanyl and 

other narcotics across the southern 

border. Once narcotics are 

smuggled into the United States, 

they travel through America’s 

highway networks, small towns, 

and cities, spreading their deadly 

effects. Police departments, 

particularly smaller ones, face a 

growing complex fentanyl challenge. 

The danger of cartel fentanyl 

is not limited to just creating 

thousands of individuals addicted 

to a powerful street narcotic, 

which is 50 times more potent 

than heroin, but also those who 

think they are taking a legitimate 

prescription drug which turns 

out to be a cartel fentanyl pill. 

These individuals sometimes fall 

into the web on new addiction or 

worse yet, suffer a fatal overdose. 

While the narcotics battle 

is nationwide, smaller police 

departments are least prepared 

for the fight due to a shortage of 

resources: human, equipment, 

finances, and intelligence. 

Fentanyl is primarily imported 

from cartels in Mexico, but many 

of the precursor chemicals (the 

raw ingredients needed to produce 

fentanyl) reach Mexico via 

China. The U.S. has been trying 

to collaborate with the Peoples 

Republic of China (PRC) to 

disrupt the fentanyl supply chain 

at its source, requesting the PRC 

to stop allowing the export of 

essential precursors. In response, 

the PRC passed laws in 2018 and 

2019 to curb the export of fentanyl 

and some precursors to the 

United States. However, not all 

precursors were restricted, and 

it seems as if there was little 

resolve on the part of the PRC 

to enforce the current fentanyl 

export laws. 

Despite political rhetoric, the 

PRC has not fulfilled its anti-narcotic 

obligations, made promises 

but delivered little in preventing 

and prosecuting those in the 

fentanyl supply chain. In October 

2023, the US Justice Department 

announced indictments against 8 

Chinese chemical companies and 

12 of their employees for their 

role in supplying and distributing 

synthetic opioids and precursors 

in America. Similarly, four 

Chinese companies and eight 

executives and employees were 

indicted on similar charges in 

June 2023. It remains to be seen 

whether the PRC will prosecute 

or even investigate. 

On a more positive note, after 

a November 2023 meeting between 

the PRC’s President Xi Jinping 

and U.S. President Joseph R. 

Biden, the PRC agreed to impose 

additional restrictions to deal 

with the fentanyl crisis, which, 

so far, it seems intent on honoring. 

America can only hope to 

see positive action from the PRC 

and vigorous law enforcement 

followed by successful prosecutions 

in its courts. 

TWO OUT OF THREE 

One problem this agreement 

still faces, even if enforced 100%, 

is that only two sides are involved. 

The fentanyl supply chain 

consists of China (and some 

other countries) producing the 

narcotic or precursor chemicals; 

America, which is the distribution 

and usage point; and Mexico, 

where the fentanyl is imported 

from and where large laboratories 

making the narcotics are 

located. The supply chain will 

never be degraded if Mexico is 

omitted from any agreement. 

With the enormous cash resources, 

chemical and narcotic 

stockpiles, and the influence the 

cartels have at the highest levels 

in Mexico, the stream of narcot- 


ics crossing the southern border 

every day will continue. 

In 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA) 

reported seizing more than 364 

million lethal doses of fentanyl 

(2 mg of fentanyl is considered 

a lethal dose). The 2023 figures 

have risen to enough for 410 million 

deadly doses. 

MORE CHALLENGING THAN 

LARGE CARTELS 

The fight against precursors 

is challenging. The chemicals 

used are usually not on a restricted 

list, making them legal 

to produce and distribute. 

In addition, due to the strength 

of fentanyl, smaller quantities 

can be shipped with ease. With 

millions of legitimate deliveries 

dispatched to the United States 

each month, finding the narcotics 

among them is close to impossible 

for agencies like the Customs 

and Border Protection (CBP). 

The small quantities and the 

ease of making fentanyl from 

precursors (and the enormous 

profits) also encourage the 

growth of small ‘mom-and-pop’ 

narcotic start-up distributors 

that operate from anywhere, including 

American suburbs. They 

take a small amount of fentanyl, 

cut it with other chemicals, 

and press them out into deadly 

fentanyl pills ready for on-line 

distribution. 

An example is 64-year-old 

Joanne Marian Segovia, the executive 

director of the San Jose 

Police Officers’ Association, who 

was charged in early 2023 with 

ordering thousands of opioids, 

including fentanyl, to be delivered 

to her home (at least 61 

shipments were mailed to her) 

with the intent of selling them. 

Worse still, she used her computer 

at the police union office 

to run her operation. 

The shipments were labeled 

as ‘Shirts Tops’, ‘Chocolate 

and Sweets’, and ‘Gift Makeup’, 

among other innocent designations. 

Moreover, no briefcases 

full of cash changed hands. She 

communicated via WhatsApp 

and paid via an app. 

Additionally, in some American 

cities with progressive laws that 

legitimize the possession, use, 

and sale of limited quantities 

of narcotics, like cocaine, and 

heroin, dealers know that being 

caught means a slap on the 

wrist, at worst, further encouraging 

them. 

BIG TROUBLE IN SMALL- 

TOWN AMERICA 

The DEA, the U.S. Justice Department, 

and many other authorities 

are tackling the problem 

of transnational narcotic cartels, 

as the above indictments and 

others demonstrate. Even police 

departments in large towns and 

cities have dedicated personnel 

focusing on narcotics. 

Small- to medium-sized police 

departments are not that fortunate, 

however. Not only are 

they faced with a shortage of 

staff who have to address all 

the law enforcement issues in 

their region, but some smaller 

towns only have dedicated law 

enforcement officers in daylight 

hours. Additionally, these officers 

do not have extensive training 

programs, especially in relation 

to complex narcotics investigations. 

This makes it even easier 

for cartels to establish small 

operations in these towns. 

The solution to this crisis is 

complex. However, it can be done 

if all sectors of society acknowledge 

the issue and work together. 

The following five points provide 

an action plan that would 

assist smaller departments in 

keeping their communities and 

officers safe. 

1. DECLARE THE TOP MEXI- 

CAN CARTELS AS NARCO-TER- 

RORISTS 

To counteract the resources 

and murderous brutality that define 

the cartels, the Federal Government 

must declare a national 

emergency and designate them 

as narco-terrorists. 

Only once this is done can the 

country’s resources be combined 

to address the cartels in 

the same way America identifies 

and degrades terrorist actions 

against the Homeland using 

integrating police, military, and 

intelligence strategies to effectively 

diminish all threats. 

2. IMPROVED COOPERATION 

TO GATHER AND ANALYZE IN- 

TELLIGENCE 

Collecting and collating all the 

data gathered from various classified 

and unclassified sources, 

is critical to knowing the enemy 

and how to deal with them. The 

DEA and CBP understands this. 

As one of their strategic goals, 

it collaborates with “a wide 

range of stakeholders to increase 

seizures of illicit synthetic drugs 

and to disrupt the supply chain.” 

From these data-driven operations, 

it plans to improve the 

inter-agency network that gathers 

and shares information to 

produce actionable intelligence 

to support joint operations 

against narcotics trafficking. This 

is where smaller police depart- 


ments are sometimes forgotten. 

However, intelligence from large 

agencies can assist these departments 

in their anti-narcotics 

operations. At the same time, 

the information they gather can 

add to the knowledge analyzed 

to unravel broader cartel operations 

and strategies. 

3. ENSURE POLICE HAVE AC- 

CESS TO PRESUMPTIVE ANAL- 

YSIS CAPABILITIES 

Accurately identifying whether 

a suspect has narcotics and 

what they have is critical for police 

officers. They cannot assume 

and cannot act without probable 

cause, meaning they need to be 

able to quickly identify a substance 

with certainty. Equipping 

officers with presumptive analysis 

equipment will allow them 

to rapidly identify narcotics on 

the scene with great accuracy. 

This will reduce their reliance on 

larger agencies and laboratories 

for drug analysis and confirmation 

and speed up the processing 

and prosecution of suspects. 

One proven method of presumptive 

analysis is Raman 

Spectroscopy. The Scientific 

Working Group for the Analysis 

of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG), 

responsible for developing standards, 

techniques, protocols, and 

policies for forensically examining 

seized drugs, considers 

Raman Spectroscopy a Class 

A analytical technique for presumptive 

field testing. 

4. CREATE AN INTEGRATED 

TASK FORCE 

An integrated approach is 

a vital component if America 

is to win the narcotics war, 

as it empowers authorities to 

draw on various departments’ 

skills, methodologies, tactics, 

and intelligence. The successes 

experienced by this integrated 

approach prove that cooperation 

and collaboration work. 

The Westchester County Police, 

in New York, for example, 

produced results by initiating 

an integrated task force in 2020 

to combat the rising number of 

fentanyl overdose deaths. The 

collaborative action achieved 

remarkable results in only two 

years. 

Additionally, federal grants 

should be specifically designed 

to assist small town police 

agencies in meeting the ever-evolving 

challenges presented 

by the Mexican cartels as well 

as the domestic drug trafficking 

organizations. 

5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Law enforcement alone will 

never be able to deal with the 

narcotics scourge. Smaller departments 

need assistance from 

other departments but must also 

capitalize on their most significant 

asset, the community. 

Community engagement is a 

force multiplier as it builds trust 

in the police service and will see 

numerous ‘undocumented deputies’ 

supporting the police simply 

by going about their daily lives 

and reporting anything unusual 

or suspicious. With community 

engagement and support, law 

enforcement can avoid a continual 

uphill battle where the 

police are designated as ‘the 

enemy’ and potentially valuable 

information is withheld. 

A MULTI-FACETED CONFLICT 

The battle against Mexican 

cartels is a complex and 

multi-faceted engagement. 

Small towns with limited law 

enforcement resources can stand 

up to the threats by using an 

integrated approach that draws 

upon and supports the work 

done by larger agencies, involves 

the community, and employs the 

latest technology to support and 

streamline their work. 

More than half of America’s 

police departments, despite their 

small size, are critical factors in 

the fight against fentanyl. These 

departments must work consistently 

to effectively degrade the 

cartels’ trafficking strategies and 

cut their profits. This combined 

effort will build a defensive wall 

that will likely push back against 

the behemoth China has become. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Michael W. Brown is the global 

director for counter-narcotics at 

Rigaku Analytical Devices. He has 

a distinguished career spanning 

more than 32 years as a Special 

Agent for the Drug Enforcement 

Administration (DEA). Most 

recently he was the DEA Headquarters 

staff coordinator for 

the Office of Foreign Operations 

for the Middle East-Europe-Afghanistan-India. 

Prior to that he 

served as the country attaché 

in India and Myanmar providing 

foreign advisory support for 

counter narcotic enforcement. 

He also spent 10 years in Pakistan 

as a special advisor to 

the US Embassy on various law 

enforcement issues. Michael is 

a graduate of the United States 

Ranger Training Battalion and 

has a Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary 

Technology and Management 

from the University of 

Eastern Michigan. Contact him at 

michael.brown@rigaku.com 




Detective Art Woolery, RT 

Wake Up America 

I understand loyalty to your beliefs. 

I understand choosing a political 

party based on philosophy as most 

people need a baseline to live by. 

When that group of people swing 

the pendulum too far one way or the 

other at the expense of the American 

people, it’s time for us to get 

our head out of our ass. We must 

put politics aside and look at reality. 

When “We the People” elect someone 

to office, the candidate usually 

has run based on party affiliation. 

Then once in office, we expect that 

person to be the elected official for 

all the people. The last four years 

have proven we can’t have both. So, 

it seems to me that “We the People” 

better start looking at what the 

people we elect are going to do for 

America, not SOME Americans, not 

for THEIR family or themselves, but 

for ALL Americans. 

Let’s talk about Democrats and 

Republicans. I know there are Independents 

and Libertarians and so 

on. But for the purpose of making 

a point, let’s just use the 2 largest 

groups. So, do you think that police 

officers are Democrats or Republicans? 

Do you think all gun owners 

are Democrats or all Republicans? 

Speaking of that, I wonder if government 

knocks on a gun owners’ door 

and says “We are here to take your 

guns” what are they going to do? 

I know what I will do, what about 

you? Back to the point I am making. 

What I am saying is there are people 

who vote candidates into office with 

no consideration for anything except 

what party they belong to. 

Do most Americans think it is OK 

to let anyone who wants to come 

into our Country just walk in. Hell, 

even Walmart has better security 

than we do at the border. They at 

least check people at the door. At 

the same time “We the People” have 

allowed our government to invite 

about 11 million illegal immigrants 

to enter our Country with no questions 

asked except: How many in 

your party; will you be staying long; 

where would you like for us to send 

you; are you pregnant so we know 

how much to allow for health care, 

housing and education; Oh yeah, I 

forgot to ask, what color cell phone 

you would like? 

Excuse me, as I sit here writing this 

article for the Blues, I just got a popup 

on my phone. I am admittedly one 

of those that can’t stand it. I must 

see what it says. It seems Joe Biden 

has credited the 2022 Bipartisan 

Safer Communities Act (BSCA) with 

saving lives. Reading further, Biden 

is calling for: universal background 

checks; banning assault weapons 

and high-capacity magazines; removing 

the gun industry immunity 

from liability; and passing a national 

red flag law. While he is at it, let’s 

take all the cars away from drunk 

drivers and hold the auto manufacturer 

responsible for making the 

car. We also need to confiscate all 

hammers, knives, and other items 

that can be used as weapons. 

I wonder if the 13 or 14 states 

who think they have the authority 

to decide who can run for office, by 

simply removing them from the ballot, 

also think the ATF rules or may 

or may not suit them as well. 

One other thing I haven’t heard 

Biden address is his son Hunter. The 

younger Biden lied on a federal form 

4473 and if convicted, could get 10 

years in prison and up to $250,000 

fine. But the President insists he’s 

innocent and this is all brought 

about by MAGA Republicans. Excuse 

me, out laws and judicial system 

decide who is innocent or guilty, 

but “MAGA” Republicans. 

For years now, our country has 

seen laws on top of laws with 

nothing to show for them except an 

increase in crime. Why? Because 

laws are only as good as the people 

who abide by them. The crime 

problem in America didn’t happen 

overnight, and it won’t go away 

overnight. We have let it creep up 

on us and now it’s panic city. When 

I was in high school it went like 

this. “Did you hear Larry got caught 

smoking in the bathroom?” “Yeah, 

his parents had to come pick him 

up because he got expelled for 2 

days.” Today, Larry is 12-year-old 

got caught with a 9 mm in his 

backpack. So, what did people 

expect the end results for “Larry” 

will be? You know the song, “Momma 

is in the graveyard, Papa is in 

the pen, and Grandma is raising the 

kids at 70, with little to no income. 

And because all of Larry’s buddies 

are in the same boat, they do what 

Momma and Daddy did. They rob, 

steal, and sell drugs. Then they quit 

school, because they don’t know 

the importance of an education and 

have no one to teach them. 

We talk about rehabilitation and 

that’s fine, but unless we start fixing 

the problem before it starts, we are 

just letting the next generation follow 

in the footsteps of the previous 

one. We must somehow break the 

cycle. Wake up America and get 

your head out of your ass. 




police law news 

Daniel Carr 

Officer Involved: David Dimas 

A case of Sympathetic Fire? 

This Officer-Involved-Shooting 

(OIS) involved multiple police 

officers deploying multiple applications 

of force at the same time. 

That fact alone is not necessarily 

surprising - as officers often perceive 

the same threat unfolding in 

real time. 

This case is different because 

both less lethal and lethal force 

were deployed - at the exact same 

time. 

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED… 

THE CALL 

On December 15, 2023 police 

officers in Mesa, Arizona were dispatched 

to a residence in reference 

to a domestic dispute. 

The information provided to 

dispatch from the caller (a family 

member) is that a 27-year-old man 

named David Dimas had locked 

himself inside of a shed on the 

property and started setting “fires” 

in the shed. Additional information 

was provided that Mr. Dimas was 

armed with a knife and that he had 

attempted to harm himself. 

THE RESPONSE 

Multiple officers with the Mesa 

Police Department responded to 

the scene. 

Appropriately, the officers responded 

with a “force array”. 

A force array is when officers 

respond to a situation with a multitude 

of force options (both less 

lethal and lethal). 

In this case the responding officers 

were equipped with (and 

assigned to deploy with) a Taser 

and beanbag shotgun - as well as 

lethal force. 

FORCE ARRAY, THE THREAT 

As officers approached the shed, 

Mr. Dimas exited and began walking 

toward officers. His hands were 

not visible to officers and were 

concealed underneath some sort of 

fabric/clothing. 

The officers gave Mr. Dimas reasonable 

commands such as, ”David, 

show me your hands!” “Show 

me your hands!” and “Stop what 

you are doing!” 

Instead of following the easily 

digestible orders from police officers 

- Mr. Dimas further escalated 

the situation by leaving his hands 

concealed and then rapidly moving 

into a “shooting stance” and pointing 

at the officers. Essentially, he 

positioned his body and held out 

hands as someone would if they 

were shooting a gun. 

SHARED USE OF FORCE 

One officer deployed a Taser. 

Another officer simultaneously 

fired a beanbag shotgun. 

A third officer also fired rounds 

from his handgun. 

Mr. Dimas sustained critical injuries 

but survived. 

ANALYSIS 

Once Mr. Dimas took the “shooting 

stance” any reasonable officer 

in this situation would have perceived 

a threat. 

At minimum - Mr. Dimas had 

committed a felony, was armed 

with a knife, and was not following 

the instructions of officers. 

Therefore, it is not even a question 

whether or not the use of less lethal 

force options (Taser/beanbag) 


were reasonable. 

The question is whether or not 

the use of deadly force was reasonable. 

ONE OF THE INVOLVED OFFI- 

CERS. SOME QUESTIONS 

If I were the investigator on this 

case. Here are some of the questions 

that I would ask: 

Was the caller/witnesses asked if 

Mr. Dimas had access to a gun? 

Was there briefing with the other 

involved officers (prior to going on 

scene) where a force array was 

established? 

Was there a plan on which force 

option would be utilized first? 

Were you aware that other officers 

deployed less lethal force 

options? 

Did you hear the other officers 

say “Taser, taser, taser” or “Beanbag, 

beanbag, beanbag”. 

Did you perceive a deadly threat? 

What was that specific threat? 

Why did you utilize deadly force 

before it was determined if the less 

lethal options were successful? 

Whether or not this OIS was 

objectively reasonable, within 

department policy, and/or within 

the law will likely hinge on the 

answers to these questions and the 

objective evidence that supports/ 

contradicts the officer’s statement. 

Drill that was under clothing held 

like a gun. 

OTHER FACTS 

After the OIS. it was discovered 

that Mr. Dimas was armed with 

a knife and a cordless drill. The 

cordless drill held under the clothing 

did resemble a handgun. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

I could make an argument that 

this was a case of sympathetic fire 

- that the officer fired his weapon 

only because the other officers 

fired their (less lethal) weapons. 

That this was a tactical error made 

under stress. 

I could also make an argument 

that the officer honestly believed 

that Mr. Dimas was holding and 

pointing a firearm at police officers. 

Why would a person pretend 

to point a gun at police officers? If 

the officer waits until rounds start 

coming down range - it is too late. 

Either argument could be made 

with a clear conscience… 

Instead. I will make the point 

that if an OIS seems complicated 

from the comfort found behind the 

safety of body cam footage - it is 

exponentially more complicated in 

a split, intense, and stressful quarter-second. 

It is important for investigators, 

prosecutors, and department leaders 

to ask questions and then know 

when to wait for the answer before 

establishing an official finding. 

But. If pressed. It is likely that the 

officer thought that Mr. Dimas was 

pointing a gun. If that perception 

was reasonable then the use of 

deadly force would be a proper respond 

to that threat. The actions of 

the other officers are a moot factor 

if there was reason to believe that 

a deadly threat was immediate. 


AROUND THE COUNTRY 

STONE COUNTY, AR. 

Arkansas residents remember Stone County Deputy Justin 

Smith who was killed while trying to serve a warrant. 

STONE COUNTY, AR. – Community 

members in Stone County 

are mourning the loss of a 

deputy who was shot and killed 

in the line of duty, while the man 

accused of the shooting waits in 

jail. 

Officials with the Stone County 

Sheriff’s Office said Deputy Justin 

Smith was called to a home 

on Sawmill Road Tuesday night 

to serve a warrant for misdemeanor 

terroristic threatening. 

According to preliminary evidence 

from Arkansas State Police, 

Smith was trying to arrest 

52-year-old Clinton Hefton when 

Hefton shot the deputy, who was 

later found by other officers and 

died from his injuries. 

The news of Smith’s death 

shocked many in the small rural 

Arkansas county. In a county 

of just over 12,000, the loss of 

Smith hits close to home. 

“There’s so much stuff going on 

in the world today,” Stone County 

Judge Stacey Avey said. “It’s 

hard to comprehend that people 

would do this to someone just 

serving a warrant.” 

Dozens lined the streets of 

downtown Mountain View 

Wednesday to pay their respects 

to the deputy gone too soon. 

“He was a very good officer,” 

Avey recalled. “Always did his 

job, and loved his job.” 

The sheriff’s office placed a 

patrol car outside the courthouse 

where people could pay 

their respects. Many came by 

to drop off flowers and share 

stories of Smith and his work in 

Stone County. 

“People who do this line of 

work, they do it because they 

love it,” Avey said. “They love 

their community, and they want 

to make a better place for us to 

live, and that’s what Justin was 

doing.” 

Hefton was taken into custody 

Tuesday night after a standoff 

DEPUTY JUSTIN SMITH 

with authorities. It was taken 

to the Cleburne County jail 

where he is being held without 

bond. According to Stone County 

Sheriff Brandon Long, Hefton 

is facing a charge of capital 

murder. 

Deputy Smith had served with 

the Stone County Sheriff’s Office 

for 14 years. 

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CHAMBERS COUNTY, AL. 

Coweta County Deputy Eric Minix was struck and killed by a suspect 

involved in a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle. 

By Natalie Neysa Alund, 

USA TODAY 

COWETA COUNTY, GA. – A Georgia 

sheriff’s office deputy died 

Thursday, January 4th, after authorities 

said a police officer from 

another agency ran over him on an 

interstate during a high-speed police 

chase that crossed state lines. 

Coweta County Sheriff’s Office 

Deputy Eric Minix died in the line of 

duty while pursuing a stolen vehicle 

on Interstate 85 that sped into 

Chambers County, Alabama, the 

sheriff’s office reported. 

Minix, 31, was struck by a City of 

Lanett Police Department vehicle 

driven by Officer Cornelius J. Robinson. 

Lanett is located in Alabama 

along the Chattahoochee River on 

the Alabama-Georgia state line, 

roughly 80 miles northeast of Montgomery. 

According to state law enforcement, 

Robinson struck Minix as he 

was exiting his patrol vehicle, a 

2017 Dodge Charger. After the initial 

impact, officials said, the Explorer 

struck the Charger before hitting a 

2022 Dodge Challenger driven by 

Decedric Donson, 25, of Pensacola, 

Florida. 

Minix was taken to a hospital 

where he was pronounced dead, the 

sheriff’s office reported. 

Officials said the vehicle driven 

by Donson was reportedly stolen. 

Donson was arrested on charges of 

receiving stolen property and felony 

attempting to elude law enforcement. 

He remains jailed in Chambers 

County. 

DEPUTY ERIC MINIX 

Lanett police reported its officer 

has been placed on administrative 

leave pending an investigation 

and said the stolen car driver is in 

custody. 

Minix previously worked for the 

Tyrone Police Department before 

joining Coweta County Sheriff’s 

Office. 

“Eric Minix was a dedicated Deputy 

and K9 Officer, but more importantly, 

he was a friend,” the agency 

released in a statement. “We have 

lost a good deputy. We have lost 

a good man. We have lost a good 

friend.” 

Minix, the sheriffs office reported, 

leaves behind a wife and three 

daughters. 


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GEORGE COUNTY, MS. 

George County Deputy Jerry Malone was shot and 

killed during a traffic stop outside a Dollar General. 

GEORGE COUNTY, MS. – A hero 

cop in Mississippi was shot and 

killed during a traffic stop outside 

a Dollar General by a man 

with a criminal history spanning 

three decades. 

George County Sheriff’s Deputy 

Jeremy Malone, 44, was killed 

around 5:15pm on January 4 

outside of a Dollar General on US 

Highway 98 near Lucedale. 

The suspect, Ricky Powell, 43, 

shot Malone as he approached 

his vehicle before he fled the 

scene. Cops later chased Powell 

as he drove through Greene 

County and into Perry County 

before they shot and killed the 

suspect. 

An outpouring of support 

flooded social media as the 

small community mourned 

Malone’s sudden death. 

George County Sheriff Mitchell 

Mixon said Malone was “larger 

than life” and that he centered 

his life around his family and his 

career. 

Malone previously served with 

multiple law enforcement agencies 

across the state, including 

the Leakesville Police Department 

and the Jackson County 

Sheriff’s Department. 

Beaumont Mayor Scotty Dailey 

who graduated alongside 

Malone at Perry Central High 

School in 1988 told WDAM: “If we 

played cops and robbers out on 

the playground, then we knew 

Jeremy was gonna be the cop 

because that was his whole life 

ambition, to be an officer.” 

“Mississippi will always remember 

Deputy Malone. Our 

state remains deeply thankful for 

all of our law enforcement officers 

who bravely place their lives 

on the line every day in defense 

of our communities,” Mississippi 

Governor Tate Reeves said in an 

executive order. 

A GoFundMe page was created 

in honor of Officer Malone 

and has set out to raise money 

for his family. It has raised more 

than $44,000 as of Friday. 

First responders across the 

state also reached out to the 

Tunnels to Towers Foundation 

to assist Malone’s family following 

his death. The foundation, 

which has set out to help ‘America’s 

heroes by providing mortgage-free 

homes’ to the families 

of fallen first responders. 

On Monday, the foundation 

announced that they paid off 

Malone’s home, which the family 

had just purchased, according to 

DEPUTY JERRY MALONE 

WXXV. 

Malone’s patrol car has also 

been placed outside of the 

George County Sheriff’s Office 

Memorial in honor of the fallen 

officer. 

“I feel that incident speaks 

for who Jeremy Malone truly is. 

He was the most selfless kind 

hearted man I have met in law 

enforcement,” Brandon Walley, 

an officer that worked alongside 

Malone said in a Facebook 

post. 

“It was truly a honor to get 

to share that moment with him 

and I know The George County 

Sheriffs Office will never be the 

same without him, asking me 

every weekend where we was 

gonna set up.” 




CLIFTON, NJ. 

New Jersey Sheriff Richard Berdnik apparently committed suicide inside a 

restaurant restroom in New Jersey. 

CLIFTON, N.J. – Passaic County 

Sheriff Richard Berdnik died by 

suicide inside a restroom at a 

New Jersey restaurant Tuesday 

afternoon, according to sources, 

the New York Post reported. 

The sheriff reportedly walked 

into the restroom at Turkish 

restaurant Toros in Clifton about 

3:30 p.m. on Tuesday when 

other patrons heard a gunshot, 

and confirmed that he died by 

a self-inflicted gunshot wound, 

sources told The Post. 

His bio on the Passaic County 

Sheriff’s website provides the 

following details: 

“Prior to becoming Sheriff, 

Richard Berdnik had a distinctive 

twenty-eight year career with 

the Clifton Police Department. 

Upon retirement, Sheriff Berdnik 

was the Commander of the 

Juvenile Division and the SWAT 

Team; previously, he had served 

in virtually every position in the 

agency. During his Clifton career, 

Sheriff Berdnik received numerous 

citations for exceptional service 

and received many certifications 

in various law enforcement 

functions.” 

Running as a Democrat, he became 

sheriff and was first sworn 

into office Jan. 1, 2011. On January 

1, 2014, he began his second 

term. 

Continuing, his bio says: 

Sheriff Berdnik is a graduate of 

Clifton High School, New Jersey 

State Police Academy, FBI National 

Academy and FBI National 

Executive Institute. … For nearly 

thirty years, Richard Berdnik has 

been married to his wife, Monica 

Berdnik, who is a pediatric 

nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in 

Paterson; they have four adult 

children. 

Former Clifton Mayor James 

Anzaldi said the shooting was 

heartbreaking, northjersey.com 

reported. 

“I can’t imagine,” Anzaldi said. 

“Richie was the salt of the earth, 

my kind of person. My heart 

breaks for his family.” 

The sheriff’s death comes 

during department turmoil, 

which includes plans to lay 

off 29 personnel as a result of 

the forthcoming closure of the 

county jail, according to northjersey.com. 

Moreover, two sheriff sergeants 

and a correctional officer 

were arrested and charged last 

week for allegedly violating a 

prisoner’s civil rights during an 

alleged 2021 assault and cover-up, 

the US Attorney’s Office 

for the District of New Jersey 

said. 

The inmate reportedly 

splashed a mixture containing 

urine on an officer the day before 

the alleged unlawful use of 

force occurred, the feds said. 


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BRIDGEPORT, MI. 

Michigan State Trooper Joel Popp was struck and killed by a vehicle along a 

stretch of I-75 while conducting a DWI traffic stop. 

BRIDGEPORT TOWNSHIP, MI. 

- The Bridgeport community is 

remembering a hometown hero. 

Michigan State Police Trooper 

Joel Popp died after he was 

struck by a vehicle along I-75 as 

Popp and other troopers were 

conducting a traffic stop on a 

suspected impaired driver. 

The driver of the van that hit 

Popp, an 81-year-old man, was 

hospitalized with serious injuries. 

Joel worked in the private 

sector for about fifteen years but 

wanted to get into law enforcement. 

He graduated from the 

trooper recruit school in 2020. 

Joel Popp was 35 years old 

when he became a Michigan 

State Police trooper. He was 

a graduate of Bridgeport High 

School. A friend of Popp says he 

married his high school sweetheart, 

and they have a young 

daughter together. 

Lt. Kim Vetter of the Michigan 

State Police worked with Popp at 

the Tri-City post in Freeland. 

“It seems like he had a love for 

the job,” says Vetter. “He had a 

heart for public service, and we 

will greatly miss him.” 

“He’s from Bridgeport,” says 

Bridgeport Fire Chief Dave Smigiel. 

“So there is that much more 

connection to the great many 

people in this community.” 

He heard the call go out that a 

trooper was injured on I-75. 

“Still has a lot of family relations 

and friends here, including 

this fire department,” says 

Smigiel. “It hit hard. Once we 

learned it was him, it was just 

that much more shocking.” 

The investigation continues 

into exactly how the accident 

unfolded, but police are looking 

at the possibility of distracted 

driving being the cause. 

“There is a move-over law, 

TROOPER JOEL POPP 

and people are required to move 

over and slow down ten miles 

an hour below the posted speed 

limit when passing an emergency 

scene,” says Vetter. 

“People just don’t take the care 

that they need to do, and that 

is, give us space, slow down, be 

aware of what else can be going 

on, and it just happens far too 

much, and unfortunately, it took 

a young man’s life last night,” 

says Smigiel. 


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ATLANTA, GA. 

Georgia State Trooper Jimmy Cenescar was killed in a crash while pursuing a 

motorcycle on I-85 North. 

ATLANTA, GA. - Georgia State 

Trooper Jimmy Cenescar was 

killed in a crash on Sunday January 

28, in Gwinnett County while 

in pursuit of a motorcycle. 

“As a young public safety officer, 

he was at the beginning of 

a life with years of experiences 

and opportunities that lay ahead 

and a career dedicated to protecting 

others,” Gov. Brian Kemp 

said. 

According to the Department 

of Public Safety, Cenescar was 

attempting to stop a motorcycle 

for a traffic violation on I-85 

North near Old Peachtree Road. 

A Georgia crash report offers 

new details into the chase that 

ended in Trooper Jimmy Cenescar 

swerving off the road in the 

deadly wreck. 

It details how Cenescar maneuvered 

to avoid putting other 

drivers in danger as the motorcycle 

“split” two lanes to get 

away. 

According to the report, as the 

motorcycle was directly ahead of 

the chasing trooper, it suddenly 

took the dangerous “split maneuver.” 

Trooper Cenescar initially attempted 

to continue the pursuit; 

the report notes, “However, both 

lanes were occupied by motorists 

traveling north.” Cenescar 

“took evasive actions to avoid 

these vehicles” and “lost control 

and began rotating clockwise 

traveling towards the east shoulder.” 

At that point, the trooper 

veered off the roadway, eventually 

going down an embankment 

and hitting trees and drainage 

rocks. 

Gwinnett County Fire/EMS arrived 

on the scene to pull Trooper 

Cenescar from his vehicle and 

perform lifesaving measures but 

tragically, the trooper was pronounced 

deceased at Northside 

Gwinnett Hospital. 

According to the report, the 

motorcycle continued fleeing 

northbound and has not yet been 

identified. 

Trooper Cenescar had been 

with GSP since Jan. 2023 and 

was a graduate of the 114th 

Trooper School, DSP said. In 

2021, 11Alive and other news 

organizations reported when 

he helped save a man’s life as 

an Atlanta Police Department 

officer. 

Atlanta News spoke with a 

man who said he witnessed the 

bike going in and out of traffic 

and a trooper trying to stop him. 

“I looked at my son and I said 

TROOPER JIMMY CENESCAR 

look it’s a chase and he looked 

over there and the next thing you 

know all you see is just debris 

from his car just flying in the 

air,” said Chris Davis. “You could 

see something was different his 

lights and sirens were on. He’s 

weaving in and out of traffic and 

then his car goes airborne with 

all the debris.” 

“I’ll be honest, I’m from Ohio 

and I’m a former police officer 

myself, and just seeing that my 

heart automatically went to his 

family and just thinking he’s just 

doing his job and it’s tough out 

here being a police officer these 

days. I just felt bad for him, and 

then, of course, I’m nervous because 

I’m in the car on the same 

freeway, and these chases happen 

all the time. Too frequent to 

be honest with you,” Davis said. 




MARS HILL, N.C. 

North Carolina Police Chief Jon Clark was fired after 

soliciting nude photos from the wife of a subordinate. 

MARS HILL, N.C. – Jon Clark 

is the former chief of the Mars 

Hill Police Department in North 

Carolina. He was originally 

suspended without pay Sept. 

20, 2023, before being terminated 

later in October for multiple 

allegations of misconduct, 

including soliciting nude photos 

from the wife of a subordinate, 

according to reports. 

Clark had been with the small 

agency since 2016 and spent 

two years in the position of 

police chief. When allegations 

of misconduct became known 

last year, the town hired U.S. 

Investigative Security Services 

based in Huntersville, to conduct 

the investigation, Citizen Times 

reported. 

The third-party investigation 

sustained multiple allegations 

of misconduct, to include soliciting 

nude photos from the wife 

of a subordinate, mishandling 

firearms in his office, insubordination, 

and misuse of a town-issued 

car, according to Clark’s 

termination letter obtained by 

The News-Record & Sentinel. 

Town Manager Nathan Bennett 

listed several reasons for Clark’s 

termination in the letter dated 

Oct. 16, 2023, according to the 

Citizen Times. 

The first was for engaging in 

inappropriate actions toward the 

wife of then-Capt. Chad Wilson, 

who was later named to be 

Clark’s replacement as chief of 

police, effective Jan. 1. 

“Your conduct in attempting to 

pursue a romantic relationship 

with the wife of one of your officers 

is reprehensible,” Bennett 

noted in the letter of termination. 

“To actively solicit that relationship 

is unforgivable and 

put your entire Department and 

the Town of Mars Hill at risk. To 

have attempted that relationship 

showed great lack of judgment, 

and could have resulted in a 

situation where you would have 

been publicly embarrassed and 

embarrassed this Town.” 

When commenting on the 

termination, Bennett said, “There 

was never a picture shared, but 

he asked two different times.” 

The town manager also confirmed 

that Wilson approached 

him with screenshot evidence 

after the ex-chief sought the 

photos via SnapChat, Citizen 

Times reported. 

“The next day, I called Jon up 

here to suspend him pending an 

investigation, and I present him 

those things, and he admits to 

me, ‘Yes, I sent those,’” Bennett 

said. 

On the day the article was 

originally published, Jan. 8, Clark 

was employed by the Madison 

County Sheriff’s Office, where 

he served as a school resource 

officer at Madison Early College 

High School, according to the 

Citizen Times. 

It is unclear whether Clark 

remains employed by the Madison 

County Sheriff’s Office since 

media calls to Sheriff Buddy 

Harwood went unanswered. 


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STARKE, FL. 

The Florida Community of Starke, disbanded their police department 

and opted for cheaper version of law enforcement. 

By Joanna Putman 

Police1 

STARKE, FL. — The city of 

Starke has voted to disband its 

police department in favor of 

contracting with county law enforcement, 

WCJB reported. 

The City Commission voted 4-1 

on the issue on Jan. 16, according 

to the report. The decision will 

displace the department’s 11 officers 

and one civilian employee 

starting March 1. 

The police chief position can 

only be eliminated if voters pass 

a ballot referendum, meaning 

that Starke Police Chief Jeff 

Johnson, who opposed the 

decision, will remain chief of a 

nonexistent department. 

All employees were offered 

the opportunity to apply at the 

Bradford County Sheriff’s Office, 

which will be providing law 

enforcement services to Starke 

after the department disbands, 

according to the report. 

The contract with the sheriff’s 

office will cost the city about 

$625,000 per year, according to 

the report. The police department’s 

annual budget was more 

than $1 million. 

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AUSTIN, TX. 

Acevedo turns down Austin job after his proposed hiring caused a backlash 

at city hall....says he’s still going to Austin. 

AUSTIN, TX. - Art Acevedo 

is bound for Austin but is now 

without a job at his old police 

department. 

The former chief of the Houston 

Police Department announced 

on Tuesday he declined 

to return to the Austin Police Department 

in an interim capacity 

to be a resource to Chief Robin 

Henderson. 

KUT-FM in Austin reported that 

he was to create new recruiting 

strategies, review patrolling 

operations, and improve police 

academy training for APD. 

In an Instagram post, Acevedo 

said it was clear that his hiring 

“has become a distraction from 

the critical work ahead” for the 

city, the police department, and 

the police officers’ union. 

“Unfortunately, politics and 

power struggles have hindered 

our efforts to create real positive 

improvements for the people of 

this city. I firmly believe that if 

we are to build a future together, 

we cannot afford to blame others 

and point fingers,” Acevedo 

wrote in part. 

Acevedo served as Austin’s police 

chief from 2007 to 2016 before 

becoming Houston’s police 

chief. Since then, he’s worked in 

Miami and Colorado and served 

as a CNN on-air analyst. 

He has served as interim police 

chief for Aurora, a suburb 

outside Denver, for the last 13 

months. 

In a memo to council members, 

interim City Manager Jesús 

Garza said there were challenges 

facing the Austin Police Department 

and that he believed “additional 

resources are needed to 

better support the department, 

our interim police chief, and her 

management team to ensure 

success.” 

Mayor Kirk Watson expressed 

his support for the decision in 

an emailed statement. He emphasized 

that Acevedo’s police 

background can strengthen the 

relationship between ADP, City 

Hall, and the community. 

However, KUT reported that 

the decision was made without 

community or council input. 

Last Friday, Council member 

Vanessa Fuentes posted on X, 

formerly known as Twitter, expressing 

her surprise about Acevedo’s 

appointment. 

Council members Paige Ellis, 

Alison Alter, and Chito Vela also 

expressed concerns with Acevedo’s 

sudden hiring. 

KUT reported that Ellis felt this 

was a bad move and a step in the 

wrong direction. She highlighted 

the fact that while Acevedo was 

police chief, hundreds of rape kits 

went untested. 

Alter called it a slap in the face 

for the survivors, advocates, and 

others who have worked to make 

changes in the system around 

sexual assault. 

Despite turning down the job, 

Acevedo stated that he is still 

moving to Austin. 




WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Video created to help promote awareness of the Protect & Serve Act 

(H.R. 743 

By Paula Fitzsimmons 

The Protect & Serve Act (H.R. 743) 

needs to be enacted because our 

guardians are being attacked in 

greater numbers and it’s not letting 

up. This isn’t something that can 

wait, either. 

I’m not naive to think that this bill 

will stop all the carnage. You can’t 

legislate morality, and people intent 

on doing harm will always find a 

way. What this bill can do is punish 

offenders (the Feds don’t mess 

around). It will send a resounding 

message that attacks on officers of 

the law will not be tolerated. 

There are currently few, if any 

deterrents for assaulting local or 

state police officers. While most 

states in the union have laws to 

penalize these attacks, they vary in 

their wording. And depending on 

the political persuasion of a district 

attorney, justice can be arbitrary. 

What You Can Do 

The sad fact is that we’re losing 

the info war. In fact, Joe Gamaldi, 

vice president of the Fraternal Order 

of Police (FOP) recently stated 

that META, the company that owns 

Facebook and Instagram, refused 

to run ads that highlight attacks on 

officers. 

We need all hands-on-deck, and 

that, dear reader, includes you! 

Please don’t think for a moment 

that you’re not making a difference. 

By sharing this video (or article), 

you’re helping to plant another 

seed. Even if a small percentage of 

viewers take the time to call their 

Congressperson, you’ve helped us 

get closer to making H.R. 743 a reality. 

With that, please consider doing 

the following : 

• Watch and Share the Video 

with your friends, family members, 

on social media, and on forums 

where links are allowed. You can 

either share this article or the link 

to the video. 

• Lobby Your U.S. Congressperson 

If you haven’t already, please urge 

your Congressperson to co-sponsor 

H.R. 743. If short on time, feel free 

to use FOP’s convenient automated 

form. If you prefer not to share the 

video, please still ask your network 

to contact their House Representatives. 

The list of co-sponsors is 

here. 

House Judiciary Committee Update 

As mentioned in a previous post, 

H.R. 743 is being held up because a 

group of House Judiciary Committee 

Republicans informed Chairman 

Rep. Jim Jordan (OH) that 

they wouldn’t support the bill. Yes, 

Republicans; you read that correctly. 

{Sigh} 

After reaching out to several 

people knowledgeable about the 

Protect & Serve Act, I still haven’t 

received any answers about which 

specific Representatives made this 

statement. This is so wrong. Not 

just that this group won’t support 

the bill, but that I have to jump 

through hoops just to get names 

that should have been made public. 

So for now, the list of Representatives 

who haven’t yet signed on 

as co-sponsors provides important 

clues. If you live in the district of a 

Congressperson on this list, can you 

please make a quick call or send 

an email urging that the Committee 

prioritize the Protect & Serve Act? 




SAN DIEGO, CA. 

Sgt. Elliott Anthony, of the San Diego Police Department, was 

welcomed home by members of his department after undergoing 

extensive rehabilitation. 

By Karen Kucher, 

The San Diego Union-Tribune 

SAN DIEGO, CA. — A San Diego 

police sergeant shot in the head 

in December — leaving him with 

injuries that initially left him unable 

to walk — returned home Tuesday 

after making what city officials 

called “an amazing recovery.” 

Accompanied by family members, 

Sgt. Anthony Elliott walked off an 

airplane and was greeted by Police 

Chief David Nisleit and several other 

officers at San Diego International 

Airport. 

A procession of police motorcycles 

later led him into his neighborhood, 

where neighbors waved signs 

and cheered as he approached, 

according to a video released by the 

police department. 

“Hello! Thanks, everybody!” he 

shouted, as he was hugged by children. 

On the video, Elliott pauses in 

front of a home and addresses the 

crowd gathered around him. 

“I’m profoundly grateful for the 

department and the community. I 

love you guys,” he said, adding that 

he was trying not to cry. 

“I wouldn’t have progressed the 

way I did if you guys didn’t love me, 

so (that is) very much appreciated.” 

The police department posted 

video of his homecoming on X, the 

social media site formerly known 

as Twitter. 

Elliott has undergone extensive 

rehabilitation since he was shot in 

the head Dec. 7 in a parking lot outside 

a grocery store in 4S Ranch. 

After the shooting, Elliott lost the 

use of his left arm and leg and was 

initially unable to walk, the department 

said. He was moved to an outof-state 

facility Dec. 21 to continue 

rehabilitation therapy. 

His dramatic physical improvement 

is obvious as he walks off the 

plane, shown on the video released 

Tuesday night. He was accompanied 

by his wife, Laura, and two young 

sons. 

According to the department, 

Elliott will continue therapy at an 

outpatient rehab facility in the San 

Diego area. 

Elliott was shot during a confrontation 

with 46-year-old Curtis 

Harris in a Ralphs parking lot on 4S 

Commons Drive. 

Investigators said Elliott and 

three other officers had gone to the 

store to serve a protection order on 

Harris. 

Body-worn camera footage released 

by the department showed 

Harris running away from the officers 

as they approached him just 

outside the grocery store. Elliott 

gave chase, and Harris opened fire. 

The three other officers returned 

gunfire and fatally shot Harris. 

“He and his family continue to be 

grateful for the support they receive 

from the entire San Diego community,” 

the department said in a 

statement. 


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ACROSS THE US 

The Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE. 

KAMALA HARRIS COMPARES 

FERGUSON RIOTS WITH THE 

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG 

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kamala Harris 

made an outlandish comment 

that has gone largely unchecked 

when she compared the 2014 

Ferguson riots with the 1863 Battle 

of Gettysburg. The vice president, 

who is prone to non-nonsensical 

word salads, made 

the absurd statement during 

a speech in South Carolina on 

Martin Luther King Day, the Post 

Millennial reported. 

Harris said both events were 

examples of Americans fighting 

to “make the promise of freedom 

real.” What she failed to mention 

was that more than 300 arrests 

were made in Ferguson, Missouri 

for all manner of violent crime 

while law enforcement tried 

to keep the peace, or that more 

than 350,000 Union soldiers died 

during the Civil War in order 

fulfill the hope of freedom for 

enslaved people. 

“The 1863 Battle of Gettysburg 

eventually led to the end of the 

Civil War two years later and 

secured victory for the North, 

while quashing the Confederate’s 

ambition of forming a 

separate nation. It also helped 

set the country on path towards 

the abolition of slavery, the Post 

Millennial noted. 

The Civil War cost tens of 

thousands of lives on both sides. 

Yet the North, fighting to abolish 

slavery, suffered more losses 

than the South. 

“The 2014 Ferguson riots 

should never be categorized 

with anything noble. The ongoing 

violence was the result of a false 

and politically twisted narrative 

that Officer Darren Wilson fatally 

shot Michael Brown—a strongarmed 

robbery suspect—as he 

had his hands raised in the air. 

Evidence revealed that Brown 

violently attacked Wilson, forcing 

the officer to resort to lethal 

force. 

Wilson was exonerated for his 

actions at the state and federal 

level, despite lies being perpetuated 

to disparage his name and 

the institution of law enforcement. 

The riots that soon followed 

the shooting were among several 

landmark events in the past 

10 years that have undermined 

the rule of law and upended the 

institution of law enforcement, 

which has further damaged 

marginalized individuals living in 

high crime areas in America. 

CALIF. PD ALMOST FULLY 

STAFFED 10 MONTHS AFTER 

IT ANNOUNCED $75K HIRING 

BONUSES 

By Will McCarthy 

Bay Area News Group 

ALAMEDA, CA. — During the 

pandemic, California lost thou- 


sands of police officers, falling 

between 2020 and 2022 to the 

lowest number of patrol officers 

per capita since at least 1991, 

according to the Public Policy 

Institute of California. 

Alameda was no exception. But 

in its rebuilding effort, its police 

department was willing to go 

further with financial incentives 

than any other city in the country, 

offering $75,000 in signing 

bonuses to new officers last 

year. Ten months later, the recruitment 

plan has worked, but 

it has yet to be reflected in the 

city’s crime statistics. 

Last year, 30% of positions in 

the Alameda Police Department 

were still open. Since the signing 

bonus was implemented, the 

department has received over 

400 applications, and 20 officers 

have been hired, while four retired 

or resigned, leading to a net 

gain of 16 officers and nearing 

the maximum of 88. 

Alameda Chief of Police Nishant 

Joshi said he expects the 

department to have completely 

filled its vacancies by June. The 

$75,000 bonuses are funded by 

unspent police salaries. 

LASD SUPERVISORS REC- 

OMMEND STRICTER RULES 

FOR OFF-DUTY INTOXICATION 

WHILE CARRYING FIREARMS 

By Linh Tat 

Daily Breeze, Torrance, Calif. 

LOS ANGELES — In response 

to dozens of incidents over the 

years of law enforcement officers 

being intoxicated while 

carrying a gun, the Los Angeles 

County Board of Supervisors on 

Tuesday, Jan. 23, passed a motion 

asking Sheriff Robert Luna 

to consider banning deputies — 

whether on duty or not — from 

drinking while in possession of a 

firearm. 

The motion asks Luna to update 

a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 

Department policy “to include 

a strict prohibition against 

carrying firearms while consuming 

alcohol, on or off-duty” in 

addition to other measures. It 

comes more than four years after 

the county’s Office of Inspector 

General (OIG) first recommended 

changes to the department’s 

policy on firearms safety. 

In 2019, the OIG identified 81 

cases in which Sheriff’s deputies 

were charged with being under 

the influence of alcohol while 

a firearm was within reach. In 

another report this past November, 

the OIG identified eight more 

incidents in which deputies consumed 

alcohol while in possession 

of a firearm. 

These instances included 

examples where the deputies 

allegedly fired their weapons 

negligently, threatened others 

by displaying the gun or got into 

fights while in possession of a 

firearm. 

“I was surprised that LASD 

firearms safety policy was filled 

with weaknesses and loopholes,” 

said Supervisor Hilda Solis, who 

introduced Tuesday’s motion 

to the board, along with board 

chair Lindsey Horvath. 

“We know that mixing of alcohol 

and guns never ends in a 

good manner and, rather, increases 

the risk of injuries and 

death,” Solis added at the board 

meeting. 

The motion passed 4-0. Supervisor 

Janice Hahn abstained 

from voting, saying she believes 

it should be up to Luna, as sheriff, 

to set the policy for his department. 

Tuesday’s motion referenced 

both OIG reports and recent 

news reports that alleged members 

of a deputy gang got into 

a confrontation with teenagers 

outside a Montclair bowling 

alley, during which an off-duty 

deputy who had been drinking 

flashed a gun. 

The L.A. Sheriff’s Department 

currently allows off-duty deputies 

to carry a firearm if their 

blood-alcohol content is below 

0.08. If it’s higher than 0.08, a 

deputy can challenge a claim 

that he or she is unfit to handle 

a firearm if they believe they 

aren’t impaired — based on socalled 

“rebuttable presumption 

language” in the department’s 

firearms safety policy. 

DENVER POLICE OFFICER 

PLEADS GUILTY IN SHOOTING 

THAT WOUNDED 6 BYSTAND- 

ERS 

By Shelly Bradbury 

The Denver Post 

DENVER — The Denver police 

officer accused of shooting six 

bystanders while aiming at an 

armed man in Lower Downtown 

in July 2022 pleaded guilty to 

misdemeanor assault on Tuesday 

and was sentenced to probation. 

Brandon Ramos, 30, can no 

longer work as a police officer 

in Colorado after the third-degree 

assault conviction for the 

July 2022 shooting near 20th and 

Larimer streets. 

As part of the plea agreement, 

14 other criminal charges filed 

against Ramos were dismissed, 

and prosecutors and defense 

attorneys agreed that Ramos be 

sentenced to 18 months of pro- 


ation. Ramos could have otherwise 

faced up to a year in jail on 

the misdemeanor conviction. 

Three people who were shot 

by Ramos spoke in court during 

his sentencing Tuesday about the 

ongoing recovery process, both 

physically and emotionally. 

“It was only by the grace of 

God that nobody was killed on 

the night an officer unleashed 

bullets into a crowd of innocent 

civilians,” said Willis Small, who 

was shot in the foot. 

“The world doesn’t seem as 

safe or familiar as it used to be,” 

said Yekalo Weldehiwet. “It’s like 

I lost something, and finding my 

way back feels really tough.” 

Ramos and two other Denver 

police officers confronted Jordan 

Waddy, 23, around 1:30 a.m. 

July 17, 2022, as bars closed in 

the busy LoDo nightlife district. 

The officers believed Waddy was 

carrying a gun and followed him 

through streets crowded with 

pedestrians. They confronted 

Waddy, who pulled a gun from 

his clothing and was holding it 

by the slide on top of the gun 

when the officers fired, body 

camera footage shows. 

Three officers fired, shooting 

Waddy, but also injuring six bystanders. 

A grand jury later determined 

that only Ramos’ shots 

hit the bystanders and that the 

other two officers did not injure 

any bystanders. Waddy and the 

bystanders all survived. 

Ramos, who fired from a different 

angle than the other two 

officers, could see there was a 

large crowd of people behind 

Waddy and should not have 

fired, the grand jury found. Waddy 

never turned the gun toward 

Ramos or directly threatened 

him, the grand jury found. 

“The police shot me and five 

other innocent bystanders,” 

Bailey Alexander said in court 

Tuesday. “The police. How is that 

possible? They are supposed to 

protect us from the bad guys, 

right? … It was a police officer 

who hit me. It was a police 

officer who pulled the trigger. It 

was Mr. Ramos.” 

Denver police and the police 

union defended the police officers’ 

actions in the days after the 

incident, and then-Mayor Michael 

Hancock said he was surprised 

that Ramos was criminally 

charged. 

“It (was) incredibly difficult 

and tragic not only for the 

victims, but also for the city,” 

District Court Judge Nikea Bland 

said before sentencing Ramos 

Tuesday. “As a citizen of this city, 

it’s really polarized the city in a 

way that is not helpful for us to 

continue to grow together. …The 

plea agreement is appropriate 

based on what I have seen about 

the case, and ultimately, despite 

the fact Ramos is not serving 

time in custody, it’s a life-altering 

plea agreement.” 

Ramos has been suspended 

without pay from the police department 

since the charges were 

filed. The police department 

did not immediately answer an 

inquiry about his employment 

status after the guilty plea Tuesday. 

CHICAGO OFFICERS CAN 

WEAR UNIFORMS TO SUS- 

PECTED COP KILLER’S TRIAL, 

JUDGE DECIDES 

By Joanna Putman 

Police1 

CHICAGO — Police officers who 

wish to attend the trial of a murder 

suspect in the case of Officer 

Ella French are allowed to come 

to court in uniform, the Chicago 

Sun-Times reported. 

Defense attorneys had asked 

that officers who attend the trial 

of Emonte Morgan, 23, not wear 

their uniforms, citing concerns 

that a “sea of blue” might intimidate 

the jury, according to the 

report. 

The incident occurred on Aug. 

7, 2021, when Officer Ella French 

and her partners pulled over Eric 

Morgan, 25. Emonte was in the 

backseat, according to the report. 

After Eric refused to put down 

a drink and a cell phone he was 

holding, a struggle with officers 

ensued. During the struggle, 

Emonte produced a handgun 

from his waistband and shot 

French and her partner, Officer 

Carlos Yanez. The suspects were 

taken into custody after trying 

to flee, according to the report. 

French did not survive. 

Officers did wear uniforms in 

the October trial of Morgan’s 

brother, Eric Morgan, 25, who 

pleaded guilty to battery with 

a deadly weapon and obstruction 

of justice in the incident. He 

was sentenced to seven years in 

prison, the maximum allowed 

for the charges, according to the 

report. 

Defense attorneys filed several 

motions to keep the shows of 

support for French at bay during 

Emonte’s trial, claiming they 

wanted to prevent it from “becoming 

a circus,” according to 

the report. 

Judge Ursula Walowski, who 

also presided over Eric’s trial, 

stated she would not let that 

happen, according to the report. 



She also denied a motion to prohibit 

trial attendees from wearing 

T-shirts in support of French. 

“I’m not going to tell people 

what they can or can’t wear in 

the courtroom,” Walowski said. 

Jury selection for the trial is 

scheduled for Feb. 27. 

LAW WOULD REQUIRE STU- 

DENTS DRESSED AS FURRIES 

TO BE REMOVED BY ANIMAL 

CONTROL 

Oklahoma City, OK. – Dressing 

up like animal characters has 

become quite the rage these days 

in public schools and Law Officer 

has heard from more than a few 

teachers that kids are not only 

dressing like cats but carrying 

stuffed animals throughout the 

day. We say kids lightly because 

we are talking about highs 

school kids. You know, the future 

leaders of our country. 

Anyway, we refused to believe 

that fur and whiskers was an 

actual thing until we saw a new 

bill proposed in Oklahoma. 

Oklahoma Representative 

Justin Humphrey has an idea to 

end the distracting behavior. He 

has filed House Bill 3084, which 

would ban furries from Oklahoma 

schools. 

If a kid comes to school or a 

school event dressed like a furry, 

then their parents will be contacted 

to take them home and if 

the parents or guardians cannot 

be reached, it gets very weird. 

“Students who purport to be 

an imaginary animal or animal 

species, or who engage in anthropomorphic 

behavior commonly 

referred to as furries at 

school shall not be allowed to 

participate in school curriculum 

or activities. The parent or 

guardian of a student in violation 

of this section shall pick the 

student up from the school, or 

animal control services shall be 

contacted to remove the student.” 

From a law enforcement perspective, 

we are grateful. Animal 

calls are the worst but the only 

thing more troubling would be a 

self identifying animal call. 

Kudos to Representative Humphrey 

for filing a bill just as silly 

as the act itself. 

N.Y. OFFICER DIES FROM 

9/11-RELATED ILLNESS 

By Joanna Putman, Police1 

NEW YORK — A New York State 

Police officer has died from cancer 

he developed as a result of 

working at Ground Zero after the 

9/11 terror attacks, according to 

the Officer Down Memorial Page. 

Technical Sergeant Christopher 

Philip Rock, 59, aided in search 

and recovery efforts after the 

attacks. He died from cancer on 

December 3, 2023. 

Rock had served with New 

York State Police for 26 years, 

according to the page. He is survived 

by his wife, mother, brother, 

nieces and nephews. 

ARRESTED MIGRANTS RE- 

LEASED WITHOUT BAIL AFTER 

MOB ASSAULT ON NYPD OFFI- 

CERS 

A group of eight migrants 

accused of pummeling a pair of 

officers in a caught-on-camera 

Midtown attack are “cowards” 

who “should be sitting on Rikers 

Island,” a top NYPD official says. 

One of the suspects took a defiant 

posture, flashing two middle 

fingers after being arraigned 

in court on Wednesday, the New 

York Daily News reports. 

All five young men taken into 

custody so far for the Saturday 

night brawl outside a migrant 

shelter on W. 42nd St. near Seventh 

Ave. were released without 

bail — inflaming the already 

heated debate surrounding the 

city’s migrant crisis. 

“You saw the video. Reprehensible,” 

NYPD Chief of Patrol 



John Chell told reporters following 

the annual State of the 

NYPD Breakfast at Cipriani 42nd 

St., about five blocks from where 

the attack took place. “(They’re) 

cowards. You have eight people 

attacking a lieutenant and a cop, 

running up to them to kick them 

in the face.” 

ARK. OFFICER DIES FOLLOW- 

ING MEDICAL EMERGENCY 

By Joanna Putman, Police1 

SHANNON HILLS, AR. — A Shannon 

Hills Police Department officer 

has died following a medical 

emergency, according to the 

Officer Down Memorial Page. 

Officer Michael Cain Maxheimer 

helped a disabled motorist 

push a car out of the roadway 

on December 18, 2023. He then 

responded to a vicious animal 

complaint, where two stray dogs 

approached him as if they were 

going to attack, according to 

ODMP. 

Maxheimer drew his gun in 

preparation to confront the dogs, 

but the dogs ran into the woods. 

He returned to the police station, 

where he complained of nausea 

and chest pain. He was admitted 

to a hospital where he passed 

away the following day, according 

to ODMP. 

Maxheimer was 39 years old 

and had served in the Shannon 

Hills Police Department for three 

years. He had served in law enforcement 

for 16 years in many 

different departments. He is 

survived by three daughters and 

his girlfriend, according to his 

obituary. 

2 FLORIDA OFFICERS 

WOUNDED IN GUNFIGHT WITH 

MURDER SUSPECT 

The 24-year-old man killed after 

shooting two Palm Bay police 

officers and fatally wounding his 

grandfather Sunday was driving 

a car packed with a cache 

of handguns and other weapons 

that may have been part of a 

bigger, planned attack, the Palm 

Bay police chief said. 

The car, seized by police after 

the shootout that left gunman 

Brandon Kapas dead, was 

tracked to its owners, retired 

Catholic priest Robert Hoeffner 

and his sister, Sally Hoeffner. 

Both were shot to death by Kapas 

earlier in their northwest Palm 

Bay home, Police Chief Mariano 

Augello said at a Monday press 

conference. 

“It’s unknown what his intentions 

were, showing up with an 

arsenal of weapons,” Augello 

said. 

“Our officers’ actions yesterday 

prevented something even more 

tragic from happening.” 

Palm Bay patrol officers were 

called about 2:07 p.m. Sunday to 

the Kapas family home, Florida 

Today reports. 

Augello said officers arrived 

about 2:19 p.m. and immediately 

met with an uncle who told 

them Kapas, his nephew, was in 

the home being disruptive during 

a family birthday celebration. The 

uncle told police that Kapas was 

possibly armed. At that moment, 

Kapas stepped out of the home 

and quickly began walking away 

“as Palm Bay officers attempted 

to talk with him,” Augello said. 

An officer tased Kapas and 

got into a brief struggle before 

Kapas reached for his handgun 

and fired at police, the chief said. 

Officers Stephen Ball and Nicholas 

Franze were shot, one in the 

arm and the other in the leg. 

The gunman’s grandfather, 

William Kapas Sr., attempted 

to intervene but was shot and 

killed by the suspect, Augello 

said. 

“The grandfather was trying to 

help,” the chief said. 

Officers returned fire in response, 

killing Kapas. 

Auguello spent time Monday 

visiting the wounded officers, 

one of whom was recovering 

from surgery and the other, who 

was set to be released. 

MAN WHO RAMMED, IN- 

JURED TEXAS OFFICER DE- 

PLOYING SPIKES GETS LIFE 

A man who intentionally 

rammed into a Fort Worth police 

officer trying to stop a vehicle 

pursuit by deploying spikes was 

sentenced to life in prison on 

Monday. 

Officer Matthew Brazeal suffered 

serious injuries when Ronnie 

Jackson mowed him down in 

June 2020. 

Jackson was found guilty of 

hitting Brazeal in a collision that 

had him dragging the officer 

more than 100 feet. 

Brazeal was hospitalized for 

several weeks and continues 



ecovering from his injuries. The 

officer returned to light duty just 

last week, nearly four years after 

being hit. 

LOUISVILLE FIREARMS IN- 

STRUCTOR SUSPENDED FOR 

ACCIDENTALLY SHOOTING RE- 

CRUIT DURING TRAINING 

A Louisville Metro Police officer 

and firearms instructor received 

a month long suspension for 

shooting a recruit during a training 

exercise and floating the idea 

of a cover-up, according to a 

case report by LMPD. 

On March 10, 2023, Officer 

Christopher Kitchen was helping 

two recruits — whose names are 

redacted in the released files — 

practice close-quarter tactics 

and hadn’t realized his gun was 

loaded when he fired at one of 

them, Kitchen later told investigators. 

The round struck the recruit in 

his bullet-resistant vest, bruising 

his abdomen, the Courier Journal 

reports. 

During the training exercise, a 

recruit was walking across the 

room and kept leaving himself 

open as a target, according to 

Kitchen’s interview. When asked 

why he fired his weapon, Kitchen 

said he wanted to drive home 

the point that the recruit needed 

to keep himself covered during a 

sweep. 

Kitchen fired a live round 

shooting the recruit in his 

vest-protected abdomen. 

LMPD launched an investigation. 

In November, Kitchen was 

found in violation of LMPD’s 

mandated care and discharge of 

a firearm, as well as having unbecoming 

conduct for discussing 

a cover-up with the recruits. 

BORDER PATROL UNION 

BACKS TEXAS NATIONAL 

GUARD, REBUKES ‘CATASTRO- 

PHE THAT THE BIDEN ADMIN 

HAS UNLEASHED ON AMERICA’ 

The National Border Patrol 

Council (NBPC), which is the 

official union of U.S. Customs 

and Border Protection personnel, 

released a statement last Thursday 

supporting the Texas National 

Guard’s attempts to secure the 

southern border and slamming 

the Biden administration for its 

“catastrophic” border policies, 

according to the Daily Wire. 

The union, which has more 

than 18,000 members, said, 

“Rank-and-file BP agents appreciate 

and respect what TX has 

been doing to defend their state 

in the midst of this catastrophe 

that the Biden Admin has unleashed 

on America.” 

NBPC tried to dispel some 

“fake news” that federal agents 

were going to begin arresting 

members of the Texas National 

Guard. 

“Rank-and file BP agents are 

not going to start arresting TX 

NG members for following their 

LAWFUL orders. That’s fake new,” 

the union said on X. 

Continuing, “TX NG and rankand-file 

BP agents work together 

and respect each other’s jobs. 

Period,” the union emphasized. 

“If TX NG members have LAWFUL 

orders, then they have to carry 

out those orders.” 

“We want to be perfectly clear, 

there is no fight between rankand-file 

BP agents and the TX 

NG, Gov. Abott (sic), or TX DPS. It 

may make flashy headlines, but 

it simply isn’t true,” NBPC said in 

conclusion. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave 

President Joe Biden a lesson in 

the U.S. Constitution when he 

issued a defiant statement last 

Wednesday as the Lone Star 

State continues to combat the 

massive infusion of people who 

are illegally crossing the southern 

border, Law Officer reported. 

The U.S. Supreme Court sided 

with the Biden administration 

earlier in the week, ruling that 

it could remove or cut through 


concertino wire the state has 

deployed to stop illegal aliens 

from crossing the Rio Grande 

into the state. Despite the high 

court ruling, Texas has remained 

steadfast in its own security as 

the Texas National Guard continued 

to install concertina wire 

along the U.S.-Mexico border on 

Tuesday, the day after the ruling 

by SCOTUS. 

On Wednesday, Abbott issued a 

statement on Texas’ constitutional 

right to defend and protect itself 

as Biden continues to attack 

the governor’s actions and refuse 

to perform his duties to secure 

the border. 


CRUISER RAMMED, WASH. 

DEPUTIES INJURED DURING 

PURSUIT 

By Rolf Boone 

Thurston county, wash. — A 

28-year-old man was arrested 

on suspicion of multiple 

crimes early Friday after leading 

deputies on a wild pursuit 

across Thurston county that at 

one point crossed an area golf 

course, according to the Thurston 

county sheriff’s office. 

The suspect also rammed a 

sheriff’s office vehicle, injuring 

two deputies, according to a 

social media post that detailed 

the pursuit. One deputy has since 

been released from the hospital, 

while the second deputy is still 

being treated for their injuries. 

It all began about 1:30 a.m. 

Friday when a deputy attempted 

to stop a pickup truck driver on 

suspicion of driving under the 

influence on Martin Way East. 

The driver took off and drove 

north on Interstate 5, according 

to the sheriff’s office. He then 

drove across the median onto 

Southbound i-5, got back onto 

Martin Way and drove through 

Lacey to Ruddell road, according 

to the post. 

At Ruddell Road and Yelm 

Highway in Lacey, a deputy executed 

a pit maneuver, to stop 

the driver. However, the driver 

allegedly rammed that vehicle, 

injuring a deputy and a new 

recruit. 

From there, the driver drove 

onto Capitol City golf course, 

according to the sheriff’s office. 

The pursuit was paused, according 

to the post, then resumed 

when deputies saw the driver 

head south on Rainier Road. 

Throughout the pursuit, multiple 

pit maneuvers were attempted, 

according to the sheriff’s 

office. 

At Waldrick Road and Old 

Highway 99 , the sheriff’s office 

was able to push the driver 

onto a field, but he kept driving, 

smashing through a fence, and 

got back onto Old Highway 99, 

but with only three tires, not four. 

About halfway through the city 

of Tenino, the transmission on 

the suspect’s truck failed and the 

suspect was taken into custody 

with the assistance of a K9. 

The man was arrested on suspicion 

of Drug DUI, two counts of 

first-degree assault with a deadly 

weapon, multiple counts of 

first-degree malicious mischief, 

and attempting to elude law 

enforcement, according to the 

sheriff’s office. 

The sheriff’s office said the 

pursuit lasted for more than 30 

minutes. 

PILOT DIES AFTER STOLEN 

PLANE CRASHES NEAR TEX- 

AS-OKLAHOMA BORDER 

ADDISON, TX. – A plane was 

stolen from an airport in the 

town of Addison, Texas and 

crashed near the Texas-Oklahoma 

border on Wednesday. 

The individual flying the small 

aircraft is dead, according to 

the Texas Department of Public 

Safety. 

A single-engine Cessna 172 

was taken from the ATP Flight 

School at Addison Airport. After 

the plane was stolen, it was 

flown more than 80 miles northeast 

toward Paris, investigators 

said, NBC 5 DFW reported. 

The plane departed at 6:53 

p.m. Wednesday, Addison Airport 

officials confirmed with 

NBC 5. It went down and 

crashed about 8:15 p.m. into a 

field near the Fannin and Lamar 

County lines. The male pilot, and 

sole person aboard the aircraft, 

was killed. He was identified 

Thursday by DPS as Timothy 

James Logan, 23, of Stokesdale, 

North Carolina. 

It’s not immediately clear if 

the pilot declared an emergency 

or radioed for assistance prior 

to the crash. The circumstances 

behind the theft also remain 

unclear. 

The National Transportation 

Safety Board (NTSB) is now 

leading the investigation into the 

crash and is being assisted by 

the FAA. 


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SURVIVING THE 

STREETS 


The Secret to Ending Chases 

By Garry Parker 

Last year I wrote several articles 

on law enforcement emergency 

vehicle operation. It is 

difficult to understand how a law 

enforcement officer spends so 

much of their duty time in vehicle 

operation and loses control 

of their vehicle and crashes into 

a tree or a guardrail. The operator 

is skilled through (sometimes) 

years of exposure. The 

advantage is you drive like you 

breathe. The detriment comes 

from complacency. Complacency 

comes from attitude. 

I have been reading a couple of 

books recommended by Gorden 

Graham. The first was Warnings 

Unheeded by Andy Brown. This 

book describes two tragedies at 

Fairchild Air Force Base outside 

of Washington. The second tragedy 

covered in the book was the 

most intriguing to me. A story of 

the pilot of a B-52 bomber. The 

pilot, Lt. Colonel Authur “Bud” 

Holland, skilled to the point of 

complacency. Lt. Colonel had 

logged over 5200 hours flying 

missions behind the controls of 

this massive aircraft. Lt. Colonel 

Holland routinely pushed the 

envelope of safety due to his 

attitude of superiority. He had 

performed daring stunts, pushing 

the aircraft limits. After one 

such event the aircraft suffered 

structural damage due to the Lt. 

Colonel performing a low-level 

pass for a photo op, then making 

a high pitch climb of 60 degrees. 

Lt. Colonel Holland was a rogue 

pilot. A rogue believes the rules 

do not apply to them because 

of their superiority in control of 

the aircraft. Lt. Colonel Holland’s 

ultimate goal was to perform 

a barrel roll a B-52. Lt. Colonel 

Holland completed his last 

act of defiance in preparing to 

fly an airshow. He was to take 

off, bank, make a pass, do a 

touch and go then demonstrate 

a midair refueling. When Lt. 

Colonel Holland prepared his 

approach for the touch and go, 

the refueling craft was still on 

the runway. Holland requested 

a fly by and was given permission 

from the tower. Lt. Colonel 

Holland banked hard placing the 

aircraft at 90 degrees at 250 feet 

of altitude. The aircraft, (a flying 

house) stalled, the wing struck 

a power line and crashed killing 

all on board. Every level of flight 

wing command knew of Lt. Colonel 

Hollands antics and discipline 

was never imposed. 

The second book, Darker Shade 

of Blue, by Tony Kern, describes 

many instances of rogue pilot 

behavior. This book identifies 

many rogue pilots and crashes 

that took their lives. 

Now you may be asking yourself, 

what does flying an aircraft 

have to do with emergency vehicle 

operation. In reading these 

two books (Thank you Mr. Graham) 

I found what I believe to be 

the key to ending law enforcement 

at fault car crashes. Over 

the last 15 years I have become 

obsessed searching for anything 

that will end the needless car 

crashes in law enforcement. We 


must begin by reviewing our 

training methods. 

Emergency vehicle operator 

training begins with a short 

classroom discussion on vehicle 

dynamics and the law 

that authorizes patrol vehicles 

to exceed the speed limit, disregard 

stop signs and lights, 

to stop, stand or park, where 

necessary, and move against the 

normal flow of traffic. I teach a 

paraphrase for this “Emergency 

vehicles are not bound by signs, 

signals and road markings”. 

During this classroom discussion 

instructors will identify when an 

operator may use this authorization. 

As I reflect on my initial 

EVO training, I remember very 

little of when I was authorized 

to drive in contrast with the law. 

I do, however, remember being 

on the track and encouraged by 

instructors to push the limits of 

the vehicle. After 2 years serving 

as a state trooper, I became an 

instructor. Needless to say, I possessed 

very little knowledge or 

experience, so I taught the same 

aggressive driving behavior that 

was taught to me. Not only did I 

believe my skill set was superior, 

but I demonstrated it at every 

opportunity. I drove at excessive 

speeds and blew through red 

lights without slowing to clear 

the intersection as required by 

law. Today I can honestly say I 

had a celestial co-pilot that had 

plans for me. After burying 3 

of our police officers, all killed 

in traffic crashes, I began contemplating 

what role I played in 

the deaths of these young men. 

Not only what I taught, but the 

role model I set for the younger 

troopers that I worked around. 

I can honestly say I failed all 

those who I trained and those 

who were in the vehicle with me, 

along with those who witnessed 

my driving. 

Allow me to explain why I am 

so passionate about EVO. When 

I was younger, my ego was the 

size of the Gulf of Mexico. Ego 

clouds judgment. Without clear 

judgment the operator can slip 

into rogue status. I was the 

quintessential rogue. I believed 

the law did not apply to me 

because I drove an emergency 

vehicle. I also believed I possessed 

superior skill; therefore, I 

could drive anyway I felt necessary. 

Late for work, no problem, 

traveling across the state for an 

assignment, going home after a 

long shift, no problem, leave late, 

get there early was always my 

modus operandi. 

I possessed many attitudes that 

should have led to my demise 

many times. I maintained a cando 

attitude, which is not a bad 

thing until personal safety was 

at risk. Always pressing, the need 

to be involved in events outside 

of my area of responsibility. Antiauthority, 

I am above the law. Invulnerability, 

my skill is so superior, 

nothing will happen to me. 

All of this led to complacency. 

Here is the underlying problem of 

all those things. I was unaware 

of my rogue behavior. 

I have developed a course to 

identify rogues. In my case I did 


not know I was a rogue. This 

may also be the case for many 

of you reading this. When we 

are amped up and pressing to 

arrive at a call for assistance, 

we may take chances. Not slowing 

at a red light or stop sign or 

operating at dangerous speeds. 

I am not sure when I began to 

understand I was not as good as 

I believed, but it happened, and 

I want others to see that rogue 

behavior exists in the law enforcement 

profession and it can 

be overcome. Rogue behavior, 

if continued, will ultimately end 

up in one of three places. You 

may find yourself on the unemployment 

line, in the defendant’s 

chair trying to defend your actions, 

or in a casket leaving those 

who love you to survive on their 

own. 

Below 100 has been around 

for many years now and we are 

no closer to achieving that goal 

than we were when the seminar 

began years ago. We can not do 

anything to prevent assailants 

from shooting us other than 

wearing protective equipment. 

There is only so much we can do 

to prevent impaired drivers from 

crashing into our patrol units 

while on the side of the road 

except keeping your head on a 

swivel, using the patrol car for 

what protection it can offer. Discussing 

Spike deployment regularly, 

discussing the difference 

between cover and concealment 

while deploying spikes to end a 

pursuit. Lastly, we should consistently 

train to focus on the task 

at hand, the safe operation of the 

patrol unit. These things should 

be discussed early and often 

with your patrol staff. 

I read a story about a police 

officer while responding to a 

call, blew a red light, no audible 

signal, and no emergency lighting, 

without slowing for safety. 

The police officer killed two 

teenaged girls who were not 

involved in the event. The police 

officer was fired, indicted, and 

sentenced to 10 years in prison 

on 2 counts of involuntary manslaughter. 

During discovery, the 

defense found where this police 

officer was reprimanded twice 

and had a history of aggressive 

driving. (So why were they 

allowed to continue to drive)? 

The family of the two girls sued 

the department and the officer’s 

supervisors for vicarious liability. 

To say none of these events 

should have occurred would be 

an understatement. Supervisors 

while reviewing dash-cam video 

should have honest conversations 

with officers who operate 

on the edge of danger, even 

when there are no negative consequences. 

There are those who 

do the right thing, at the right 

time, for the right reason, and 

there are others who do what 

they want, when they want, and 

give very little thought to the 

consequences. There are many 

law enforcement officers who 

understand and respect the dangers 

associated with emergency 

operations. Then there are those 

who possess an air of superiority. 

Every leader of your agency 

should lead by example, drive 

to their skill level, and educate 

those who continue to push the 

envelope. If you care for the welfare 

of your staff, team, friends, 

and family let’s make 2024 the 

year we eliminate senseless car 

crashes in law enforcement. 

I challenge everyone who 

reads this article to host our 

8-hour mental aspects of emergency 

vehicle operation seminar 

“The Law Enforcement Driving 

Concern”. This training can and 

has changed the attitudes of the 

rogues, the officers who are on 

the edge, and provide inspiration 

to all in attendance to understand 

driving an emergency vehicle 

is not just driving. It can be 

as deadly as an encounter with 

an armed suspect. The difference, 

an out-of-control patrol 

unit with a rogue driver rarely 

lives to talk about it. 

Until next time, please be safe, 

drive to your skill level and keep 

the dirty side down. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Garry Parker has served the 

citizens of Texas more than four 

decades in law enforcement and 

retired from the Texas Department 

of Public Safety in 2009. He holds a 

commission from the Texas Department 

of Public Safety as a Special 

Ranger. Garry served as a Law 

Enforcement Liaison and Instructor 

with the Texas Municipal Police Association 

and retired in 2020. Garry 

is certified as speaker, trainer and 

coach, through the Maxwell Leadership 

Team, the International Speakers 

Network, and the Texas Commission 

on Law Enforcement. Garry is 

a nationally recognized trainer and 

consultant in traffic safety, crash 

prevention, law enforcement tasks, 

and emergency vehicle operation. 

Garry is a motivational speaker, 

trainer and coach on communication 

and leadership. Garry has served as 

keynote speaker for many conferences 

around the country. He has 

been recognized for excellence in 

program development and presentation 

by the Texas Commission on 

Law Enforcement and nationally by 

Uniform Safety Education Officers 

inc. Gary can be reached at: www. 

garryparkerandassociates.com 



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BY DR. TINA JAECKLE 

Driven by Faith and Passion 

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Rick 

Fernandez a few months ago on a trip to Houston, 

Texas and then followed up with him again to 

author this article. Rick’s story is an excellent example 

of success through taking a chance on a 

vision through the path of entrepreneurship. At his 

core, he is driven by his Christian faith and a passion 

to offer unique clothing and equipment to 

keep our responders safe. It is truly my pleasure to 

share this interesting journey with you. 



A Career in Law Enforcement 

I started law enforcement in 

1997. When I finished high school 

here in Pearland, I joined the fire 

department and at the time it 

was in a voluntary role. I was 

able to just jump in. Shortly after 

I began volunteering, the police 

academy came available. When 

I finished with training, I started 

looking for a job and was hired 

by the Surfside Beach Police Department. 

This is where my journey 

in law enforcement began, 

and while my heart was pulled to 

Pearland, they were not hiring at 

that time. Within a year, I started 

the hiring process with the 

Pearland Police Department and 

then spent the rest of my time 

here, totaling about 10 years in 

law enforcement. I initially served 

in the patrol division and had the 

privilege of being a part of the 

honor guard. This was special to 

me because I have been a lifelong 

resident of Pearland. 



A Gift for Media Relations 

and a Vision is Born 

During my last three years with Pearland, I worked as both an officer and a 

business owner as I started Cop Stop in May of 2003. The Chief of Police also 

appointed me to create the public information division of the Pearland Police 

Department. Prior to my role as the public information officer, my supervisor 

addressed this need and then asked if I would consider doing it on a regular 

basis. There were some incidents in Pearland, and I happened to be in the 

area. I always joked that they scanned the area and said, “oh there’s Fernandez,” 

let us ask him and see if he could manage the media! With the support 

of the Chief, I managed both the PIO role and my business for about three and 

a half years as I had this flexibility. 

A Family Affair 

My family has been incredibly instrumental in my success. My mom, Olga, 

worked at the store behind the counter while I was at the police department. 

She was retired so she wanted to help. She had no knowledge of public safety, 

no knowledge of the product, but it was very impressive how she learned 

it. I now have a glimpse of the things we do for our kids since I now have a 

wife, Natalie, and two sons, Nick, and Cristian. What really made this possible 

was not only my mom behind the counter, but also my grandparents. They 

were the driving force for me to take the full-time step to grow the business. 

They believed in me. I will never forget my grandfather looking at me 

one afternoon at my parent’s house and asking, “why don’t you do it”? With a 

$30,000 loan from my grandfather, the decision was made. I remember feeling 

excited and having the passion, but the Lord had really guided me to this. 

This is how Cop Stop officially started and I will never forget the moment I 

turned on the open sign for the first time. Natalie remains our Chief Financial 

Officer, is also incredibly involved in the business. She, and our sons, have 

been a true gift in this journey. 



Leadership and Opportunities 

The best reward and the best part of this business is being able to 

find people that are like-minded in a passion of wanting to come 

aboard. I enjoy employing people and then discovering things about 

them that they did not even know and encouraging these traits for 

their success. It is my goal to elevate them even higher in their work, 

and, in turn, being able to elevate them even higher within themselves. 

When I see my team, I give them glory as they are the true 

heroes of Cop Stop. I often tell people that business leadership is 

about people. While my wife and I may be at the top, it is the men 

and women that make Cop Stop what it is. I describe it as the culture 

of the business. You must build a good culture, a foundation. 

When you build a culture where people like what they do, embrace 

our purpose, it makes people want to come to work and fully engage 

in what they do. Cop Stop also employs some prior first responders 

who have been dedicated to the business for years. I give 

credit to my past staff, my current staff, and then of course staff 

that we do not even know yet (and who the Lord will bring). 

72 The Blues -- February ‘24


The Mission and Structure of Cop Stop 

We cater to public safety. Our top two things are uniforms and 

body armor, and all the accessories that go with it, from clothing to 

firearms. Our customers include police departments, fire and EMS, 

security companies, and military. We have six divisions of the company. 

We have what I call the front of the house, which is the retail. 

We have our account reps who serve as the face or voice to our 

customers that stretch throughout the country. We have our office 

personnel, of course, that make up our accounts receivable and payables. 

We also have our warehouse team, as well as our custom 

shop, made up of employees (seamstresses, embroidery technicians, 

and heat press operators) who possess many years of experience. 

Our sixth department is newer for us, our e-commerce. We 

relaunched E-Commerce about a year and a half ago, and it is under 

development, and are adding more products onto the website. It 

is doing well. That is a division that is going to continue to grow. In 

the next ten years, I would love to continue to employ more people. 

I would love to open more locations. There is going to be a lot more 

enhancement as technology is rapidly changing. 

We pride ourselves on how we manage our orders. Every single 

online order that comes in during operating hours will get an order 

confirmation tracking number within an hour or two. They are getting 

it very quickly, packaging it, and we put appreciation in each order. 

We have little things that we will put in the package to say thank you 

and to encourage them to come back to our website. We want our 

customers to know we genuinely appreciate their business and want 

to build an ongoing relationship with them. 

74 The Blues - - February ‘24


Our Lifesaving Tool 

We are responsible for the lifesaving tool that they wear each and 

every day so when we are given the opportunity to be able to size 

somebody for their body armor, we need to make sure it’s done properly. 

The climate of law enforcement is so much more dangerous on 

the streets today. It is an extreme honor to provide these vests, especially 

when women officers share with us that they have never had a 

vest that fits properly. We all know that every woman is shaped differently, 

therefore it needs to be done right. Our vests require a custom 

fit. We often receive praise; some customers tear up because of 

how well it fits because they can breathe. The industry is constantly 

evolving and one of the areas that has changed is product design for 

women. More women are now embracing law enforcement. I can tell 

you in the twenty-one years there has been a tremendous transformation 

and there are so many women that are coming on board, so 

the manufacturers are now understanding that we need to step up. 

Giving Back 

I always think one of our core values is founded in giving back to 

those that have made us what we are today. We participate in countless 

award ceremonies, provide gift cards, or raffle items to help raise 

funds for an officer injured in the line of duty. This may include a 

high-priced rifle or a weapon of some sort to be auctioned off. There 

is an aspect of helping others that really touches my heart. When a 

police officer passes away, the family either decides to lay that loved 

one to rest in the uniform with their original gear; or they will seek 

other gear to outfit their loved one because they want to place the 

original in a shadow box or a case. When approached by an agency 

that is asking for us to outfit their loved one, it is a true honor. It tugs 

on our heart to know that the officer is laid to rest in their most important 

outfit, and it is incredibly meaningful to that family and the 

attendees. 



L 


Driven by Faith and Passion 

I continue to get excited because of my walk in my 

Christian faith and my passion in the mission of 

Cop Stop, sustains me as I think about the future. 

ook at what the Lord has done thus far, but like the 

Bible says, this is just the beginning, and He wants 

to rain down more blessings upon us. 

Rick Fernandez, CEO, Cop Stop 





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UVALDE SCHO 

“Cascading failures” 

Justice Department blasts law enforcement’s botched 

response to Uvalde school shooting. 

By Lomi Kriel 

UVALDE, TX. — Law enforcement agencies 

across the country should immediately 

prioritize active shooter training, U.S. Attorney 

General Merrick Garland said Thursday 

as he released a scathing report about the 

handling of the 2022 massacre in Uvalde in 

which lives could have been saved if training 

protocols had been followed. 

The Justice Department’s long-anticipated 

report about the shooting found that 

“cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, 

tactics, policy and training” 

led to the bungled response, which Garland 

said should never have happened. Nineteen 

children and two teachers were killed on 

May 24, 2022. 

“Had law enforcement agencies followed 

generally accepted practices in an active 

shooter situation and gone right after the 

shooter to stop him, lives would have been 

saved and people would have survived,” 

Garland said during a news conference on 

Thursday. 

The report’s findings about the failure 

to follow protocol and the lack of sufficient 

training to prepare officers for a 

mass shooting largely mirrored the flaws 

revealed in a Texas Tribune, ProPublica 

and FRONTLINE investigation published 

last month that found that states require 

students and teachers to receive far more 

training to prepare them for a mass shooting 

than they require for the police. At least 

37 states require schools to conduct active-shooter-related 

drills, nearly all on an 

annual basis. But Texas is the only state that 

mandates that all its police officers complete 

repeated training, at least 16 hours 

every two years. That requirement was 

implemented after the Uvalde shooting. 

Garland said the report was produced 

in an effort to offer lessons that would 

hopefully better prepare law enforcement 

across the country to respond to future 

mass shootings. It offered recommendations 

that included requiring all agencies in 

a region to train together and providing officers 

across the country with at least eight 

hours of active shooter training annually. 

The vast majority of at least 380 officers 

from about two dozen local, state and federal 

agencies who responded to the school 

had never trained together, “contributing to 

difficulties in coordination and communication,” 

the report stated. 

“Our children deserve better than to grow 


OL SHOOTING 

The Blues -- February ‘24 85 85

up in a country where an 18-year-old has 

easy access to a weapon that belongs on 

the battlefield, not in a classroom,” Garland 

said. “And communities across the country, 

and the law enforcement officers who protect 

them, deserve better than to be forced 

to respond to one horrific mass shooting 

after another. But that is the terrible reality 

that we face. And so it is the reality that 

every law enforcement agency in every 

community across the country must be 

prepared for.” 

Mo Canady, executive director of the 

National Association of School Resource 

Officers, said in an interview that he appreciates 

the emphasis the Department 

of Justice placed on widespread active-shooter 

training. Still, Canady said he 

is frustrated that leaders have not already 

learned that “25-year-old lesson” after the 

shootings at Columbine High, Sandy Hook 

Elementary and Marjory Stoneman Douglas 

High School. 

Since the 1999 Columbine shooting, law 

enforcement officers have been trained to 

prioritize stopping the shooter. The report 

stated that everything else, including officer 

safety, should be secondary, adding 

that efforts to engage the shooter “must 

be undertaken regardless of the equipment 

and personnel available.” 

“We’ve got to understand what the priorities 

are and, quite frankly, I see there are 

not a lot of priorities greater than keeping 

students safe at school,” Canady said. 

Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old 

daughter Lexi was killed in the shooting, 

said she hopes the report’s findings lead to 

action, that “the failures end today and that 

local officials do what wasn’t done that 

day, do right by the victims and survivors 

of Robb Elementary: terminations, criminal 

prosecutions and that our state and federal 

government enacts sensible gun laws.” 

Garland directed questions about whether 

any officers who responded to the shooting 

would be criminally charged to the local 

district attorney, saying that was not within 

the jurisdiction of the federal government. 

Uvalde District Attorney Christina Mitchell 

initially planned to present her case 

to a grand jury in late 2023 but later told 

the Associated Press that her investigation 

86 The Blues - February January ‘24

would continue into this year. Mitchell said 

in a statement Wednesday that her office 

“will continue our independent review for 

any potential criminal charges.” 

The district attorney and the Texas Department 

of Public Safety have fought the 

release of records related to the shooting, 

prompting news organizations, including 

ProPublica and the Tribune, to sue. A Travis 

County district judge ruled in the newsrooms’ 

favor last month, but DPS appealed. 

The agency did not respond to requests for 

comment about the Justice Department’s 

report. 

Gov. Greg Abbott, who initially praised 

the response and later said he was misled, 

released a statement thanking the Justice 

Department. He said the state has already 

adopted some of the recommended measures 

and would review others. 

The report, which offers the most comprehensive 

account to date from authorities 

The Blues -- February January ‘24 87

about the shooting, echoes many findings 

from a probe released by a state House 

committee two months after the shooting. 

In presenting the new report’s findings, 

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta 

criticized initial misinformation and conflicting 

accounts provided by officials, including 

Abbott and DPS. 

The report noted that the “misguided and 

misleading narratives, leaks, and lack of 

communication about what happened on 

May 24 is unprecedented and has had an 

extensive, negative impact on the mental 

health and recovery of the family members 

and other victims, as well as the entire 

community of Uvalde.” 

The previous mayor of Uvalde requested 

the federal review days after the shooting 

when it became clear that the response 

was flawed. The review was led in part by 

Sheriff John Mina of Orange County, Florida, 

who was the incident commander 

during the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre 

in Orlando. 

An outside review of that incident found 

that Florida officers, who waited three 

hours to take down the shooter, mostly followed 

best practices, although it stated that 

the law enforcement agencies in Orlando 

should update their training and policies. 

In multiple after-action reviews, including 

the Pulse report, authors opted not to 

criticize significant law enforcement delays 

during mass shootings, according to an 

analysis of more than three dozen of these 

reports by ProPublica, the Tribune and 

FRONTLINE. 

The Uvalde report was far more critical, 

finding failures in leadership, command and 

coordination. 

It stated that officers wrongly treated the 

situation as a barricaded suspect incident 

instead of one in which a shooter was an 

active threat to children and teachers. Officers 

should “never” treat an active shooter 

with access to victims as a barricaded suspect 

— especially in a school, where there 

is a “high probability” of potential victims 

and innocent civilians being present, the 

report stated. 

Officers had multiple indicators that 

should have made it clear they were facing 

an active shooter, including 911 calls from 

children and teachers pleading for help, a 

dispatcher’s announcement minutes after 

officers arrived that students were likely 

in the classroom with the shooter, and an 

Uvalde school police officer announcing 

that his wife had called to tell him she had 

been shot, according to the report. 

Gupta condemned the medical response, 

saying that after police breached the classroom 

and killed the gunman, dead victims 

were placed in ambulances while children 

with bullet wounds were put on school 

buses. Many of those findings were revealed 

in a 2022 investigation by the Tribune, Pro- 

Publica and The Washington Post that determined 

medical responders did not know 

who was in charge and that two students 

and a teacher who later died still had a 

pulse when they were rescued from the 

school. 

In its blistering criticism of responding officers, 

the report said that supervisors from 

various law enforcement agencies “demonstrated 

no urgency” in taking control of the 

incident, which exacerbated communication 

problems and added to overall confusion. 

Uvalde school district Police Chief Pete 

Arredondo, who was listed as the incident 

88 The Blues - - February January ‘24

commander in the district’s active-shooter 

plan, had the “necessary authority, training 

and tools” to lead the response but did not 

provide “appropriate leadership, command 

and control,” the report found. Arredondo 

could not be reached for comment Thursday 

through his attorney. He has previously 

defended his actions and those of others 

involved in the response. 

Beyond that, no leader from any of the 

other responding agencies “effectively 

questioned the decisions and lack of urgency” 

demonstrated by Arredondo and Uvalde 

Police Department Acting Chief Mariano 

Pargas, who both arrived at the school 

within minutes of the first round of gunfire. 

The report listed Uvalde County Sheriff 

Ruben Nolasco, Uvalde County Constables 

Emmanuel Zamora and Johnny Field, and 

an unidentified Texas Ranger as examples 

of such leaders. 

“Responding officers here in Uvalde, who 

also lost loved ones and who still bear the 

emotional scars of that day, deserved the 

kind of leadership and training that would 

have prepared them to do the work that 

was required,” Garland said. 

The report also found that key officers, 

including Pargas, had no active shooter 

or incident command training despite, 

in some instances, having decades of law 

enforcement experience. Nolasco, the sheriff, 

also had no active shooter training and 

“minimal” incident command training. 

Law enforcement training academies 

must ensure that active shooter training 

instructs officers on how to distinguish 

between active threats and barricaded or 

hostage situations, the report said. Officers 

should be prepared to approach the threat 

using the tools they have with them, which 

are often standard firearms. They should 

not wait for specialized equipment or tactical 

teams if they know that people are 

injured, the report stated. 

The Tribune reported early last year that 

some officers were afraid to confront the 

gunman because he had an AR-15 rifle. 

“No law enforcement agency or community 

can assume that what happened here 

— or in Newtown or in Parkland or in Columbine 

The Blues -- February January ‘24 89

HARRIS 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF 

90 The The BLUES Blues 40th - January February Anniversary ‘24 Issue

GALVESTON 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF 

The BLUES Blues 40th - February January Anniversary ‘24 Issue 91

HARRIS 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S RACE 

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY 

GLENN COWAN 

“I remember the first night of the 

George Floyd riot in downtown 

Houston. As soon as I reported to 

my division, I was ordered downtown 

immediately to assist. I reported 

to the Central Patrol Division at 

61 Riesner, and the building had a 

security perimeter like a compound 

under siege. I remember downtown 

looking post-apocalyptic, with people 

running around on the streets 

with no cars to be seen anywhere. 

On the radio, I heard officers asking 

for assistance at a specific intersection, 

so I headed that way. I saw 

officers in disarray with no leadership 

– we were short on supervisors 

– so I stepped up and eased the 

panic I saw in some of the officers’ 

faces. Officers were asking me for 

directions and looking to me for 

leadership, and I stepped up to the 

challenge. As I stood downtown, I 

was in absolute disbelief. 

I considered the county and 

community that I grew up in and 

wondered, “How did we get here?”. 

Harris County, for all its problems, 

has historically enjoyed one distinct 

characteristic beyond other large 

cities and counties - lower crime. 

Why? Because county leadership 

resembled the citizens’ bi-partisan 

attitudes toward law and order and 

their resistance to relinquishing a 

safe community by submitting to 

contrary ideologies. I witnessed the 

chaos in that riot with the realization 

that it was a byproduct of 

weak local and national leadership. 

The riot was indicative of endemic 

attitudes that were against law 

and order produced by politicians, 

judges, and their activist associates. 

The cameras and journalists were 

there covering every minute of the 

riot, but it was just one example 

of the community’s influence being 

appropriated by people who didn’t 

represent or respect them. 

I later learned that most of the rioters 

who were arrested that night 

weren’t members of our community 

- they were bused in as far as out 

of state. It was in this situation that 



most people would never experience 

that I realized how vital it is to 

have qualified police leadership that 

is ready at a moment’s notice. I was 

born and raised in Harris County, 

and I don’t like what it has become. 

Due to my concerns for our community, 

I prayed and spoke with my 

family and decided that I needed to 

step up and run for sheriff. I’m the 

only republican candidate with police 

supervisory experience and jail 

supervisory experience - qualifications 

that are paramount to being 

sheriff of the nation’s third-largest 

county. Escalating violent crime and 

violence and death in our county 

jail equate to human rights violations 

that have to be addressed 

immediately. We should ask sheriff 

candidates tough questions about 

their recent training, supervisory 

experience, real-life scenarios that 

they have encountered, and their 

commitment to protecting citizens’ 

constitutional rights. One Republican 

candidate has stated that you 

just need to be a good politician to 

be sheriff – I think 100% of Harris 

County citizens would disagree.” 

PAUL DAY 

As I stand before you as a candidate 

for Harris County Sheriff, 

I am reminded of the journey 

that has led me here. With over 

45+ years of experience in law 

enforcement, including 32 dedicated 

years with the Houston 

Police Department (HPD) and a 

significant tenure with the Harris 

County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), 

my life has been a testament to 

the values we uphold as guardians 

of the community. 

My years with HPD, particularly 

the 17 spent with SWAT, shaped 

me into a resilient officer, ready 

to face the unpredictable challenges 

of law enforcement. I 

continued my service by joining 

the HCSO, where I eventually 

retired after 11 years of diligent 

work. This unique journey makes 

me the only Republican candidate 

in the primary who has not 

just served but retired from the 

HCSO. This firsthand experience 

as a Harris County Sheriff’s deputy 

gives me an intimate understanding 

of the intricacies and 

demands of the role I now aspire 

to lead. 

As Sheriff… my focus will be 

clear: 

• Advocate for High Double-Digit 

Raises: I am committed 

to using all available resources 

to persuade the Commissioners 

Court of the critical need for 

significant salary increases. Our 

dedication and risk deserve equitable 

compensation. 

• Expand the Recruiting Process: 

Recognizing the need for 

a robust and talented force, I 

aim to broaden our recruitment 

strategies to bring in individuals 

who reflect the values and skills 

essential for modern policing. 

• Stand Behind Our Deputies: A 

fundamental promise from me – 

to always have your backs. Your 

safety and well-being will be 

my utmost priority, in and out of 

the field. 

• Control & Pass Jail Inspections: 

Managing the County Jail 

efficiently and ensuring it surpasses 

the Texas Commission 

Jail Standards (TCJS) will be a 

top priority. Our aim is not just 

to meet but exceed these standards. 

• Expand K-Time: Understanding 

the importance of your 

professional growth and financial 

stability, I plan to increase 

opportunities for you to engage 

in specialized assignments, 

enhancing both your career and 

personal well-being as well as 

enhancing the ability to protect 

those we serve. 

• Invest in advanced training for 

a skilled Deputy/Detention Officer 

workforce. 

In my bid for Sheriff, my commitment 

is to you, the men and 

women who put their lives on 

the line every day. I understand 

your challenges, I share your 

concerns, and I promise to lead 

with the same dedication that I 

served. Together, we can elevate 

the Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

to new heights of excellence 

and integrity. With your vote on 

March 5th, I WILL NOT LET YOU 

DOWN! 

Paul Day 


Elect Vergil Ratliff 

for 

Harris County Sheriff 

Committed to service has been my mantra and has defined 

my purpose throughout my law enforcement career. I am 

committed to the safety and security of all the citizens of 

Harris County and want to continue my service to the 

community as the next Sheriff for Harris County, Texas. 

Early Voting 

February 20 - March 1, 2024 

Primary Election Day 

March 5, 2024 

Ratliff for Sheriff Campaign 

P. O. Box 980533 

Houston, TX 77098 

832-965-1748 

info@ratliffforsheriff.com 

www.ratliffforsheriff.com 


Political Advertisement Paid For by the Ratliff for Sheriff Campaign

MIKE KNOX 

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY 

Harris County faces serious 

threats. Increasing crime related 

to illegal immigration, narcotics 

and human trafficking, jail safety 

and the lack of manpower are 

issues which must be addressed. 

The next Sheriff of Harris County 

must be an advocate for law enforcement 

and must abandon the 

popular “hug a thug” approach 

currently infecting the politics at 

Commissioners Court. As Sheriff, 

I will focus on pushing back 

against unreasonable demonization 

of our law enforcement 

community. I will focus on enforcing 

all the laws of Texas and 

will get the jail recertified under 

the requirements of the Texas 

Jail Commission. I will reestablish 

the relationship with our 

federal partners by cooperating 

with I.C.E. and reinstituting the 

287G program. 

I bring over 15 years of practical 

police experience, from routine 

patrol to investigating complicated 

homicide cases to this 

office. I helped create the first 

Divisional Gang Unit in Houston 

and I am a founding member 

of the board of the Texas Gang 

Investigators Association, which 

now has hundreds of members 

statewide. Over 20 years ago, I 

launched a firm which consults 

with law enforcement agencies 

in the United States and abroad 

about street gangs and violent 

youthful offenders. I am a published 

author and a recognized 

international expert on street 

gangs. 

In 2015, I was elected to At- 

Large Position 1 of the Houston 

City Council and served two 

4-year terms. I gained a reputation 

as a person who stood up 

for conservative values and was 

unafraid of confrontation with 

the Democrat Mayor and liberal 

majority of council by focusing 

on good government based on 

social and fiscal conservative 

values. 

I have the law enforcement, 

business, political and electoral 

experience to be the winning 

Republican nominee for Harris 

County Sheriff. I am the best 

candidate to make public safety 

the most critical issue at the 

Sheriff’s office and at Commissioner’s 

Court. I ask you to vote 

for Mike Knox for Harris County 

Sheriff in the March 5 Republican 

primary. 

JOE INOCENCIO 

My name is Joe Inocencio and I 

am running to become your next 

Harris County Sheriff? 

My primary reason to run 

against the Incumbent is the 

way the Jail has been neglected 

and managed like those in a 

Third World Country. The state 

Jail with its historic homicides, 

suicides, recent violent sexual 

assault of a female Jailer by 

an unescorted violent offender, 

Jailer on detainee and detainee 

on detainee assaults and beating 

deaths, detainee deaths due to 

medical malfeasance, historic 

staff shortages, resignations, and 

low morale, historic number of 

Federal class-action lawsuits, 

and FBI and Texas Rangers’ murder 

investigations are just some 

of the reasons why I am running 

for Sheriff. We are in the national 

news for all the wrong rea- 


sons. The way the Harris County 

Jail has been managed has been 

labeled by employees as “The 

Culture of Death” and it has 

become not only a Public Safety 

crisis, but a Human Rights issue. 

My solution: We must reintroduce 

deputies back into the 

Jail. The experiment of having 

civilians with only five weeks 

of training staffing the Jail has 

failed miserably. The idea to save 

taxpayers’ dollars has ironically 

cost millions more due to multiple 

lawsuits, overtime, and outsourcing 

detainees out of state, 

not to mention multiple needless 

deaths. The “culture of violence” 

is perpetrated by undertrained 

civilians. When I joined the Harris 

County Sheriff’s Department 

in 1980 as a deputy jailer we had 

a lot less problems than we have 

today with a lot less deputies, 

and we certainly did not have a 

national stigma of a “culture of 

death” an “expectation of violence”, 

or a “place of torment 

and punishment”. Deputies must 

be the ones that control the jail, 

not the inmates. I have over 38 

years in law enforcement, retiring 

as a lieutenant from the 

Houston Police Department in 

2014, and as an Assistant Chief 

Investigator from the Harris 

County District Attorney’s Office 

in 2020. It is time for change! 

VERGIL RATLIFF 

As a public servant in law enforcement 

for more than thirty-eight 

years, I bring a varied 

amount of experience, both of 

which is essential in the role of 

an effective leader. I am currently 

employed as Captain 

with the Texas Comptroller of 

Public Accounts - Criminal Investigation 

Division, Professional 

Standards. I have patrolled the 

streets of Houston and Harris 

County, primarily working in 

black and brown communities. I 

have worked undercover in various 

capacities from purchasing 

and selling narcotics to posing 

and soliciting prostitution. I have 

investigated allegations of inappropriate 

behavior and/or criminal 

activities of officers while 

assigned to the Internal Affairs 

Division-Personnel Concerns. 

Yet, while all of the aforementioned 

assignments are notable, 

my most rewarding experience 

was as a Police Activities League 

(P.A.L.) Officer. I mentored and 

cultivated relationships with inner-city 

kids in the Cuney Homes 

community. Many of them call 

upon me today for advice and 

guidance. 

In the 1990’s, when communities 

across the country were 

being infiltrated with crack cocaine, 

I organized a community 

of people in Acres Homes. They, 

along with law-enforcement 

officers, developed strategies to 

combat drugs in their community. 

The organization was later called 

the “Acres Homes War on Drugs,” 

and for my leadership role I 

received the Presidential 1000 

Points of Light Award from President 

George H.W. Bush. Based on 

my extensive law-enforcement 

experience and my known commitment 

to community service, in 

2010, I was appointed by City of 

Houston Mayor Annise Parker to 

serve on the Board of Managers 

for the Greater Harris County 911 

Network. As of this date, I continue 

to serve on the Board of Managers 

as an appointee by Mayor 

Sylvester Turner. 

I have received numerous 

awards, commendations, and 

recognitions throughout my law 

enforcement career. In 2019 I 

was recognized with a life saving 

award and for Women in Leadership 

in 2023 by the Texas Comptroller. 

Over the years I’ve cultivated 

my leadership by attending 

classes, workshops, conferences 

and seminars. I have accepted 

leadership roles through employment, 

political appointments, and 

community volunteerism, all of 

which have afforded me the opportunity 

to exercise my acquired 

leadership skills through practical 

application. 

I am hard-working, dedicated 

and committed to professionalism 

and excellence. Although 

my chosen profession is under 

attack and scrutiny, I continue 

to wear the badge proudly and 

remain committed to restoring 

community faith and trust in law 

enforcement. 


GALVESTON 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S RACE 

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY 

JIMMY FULLEN 

98 The Blues - February ‘24 

Jimmy Fullen is a 35+ year law 

enforcement veteran rising through 

the ranks as a patrolman, to police 

chief, to most recently serving 

the past 14 years as the Republican 

Elected Constable for Galveston 

County Precinct 2. His dedication to 

protecting the citizens of Galveston 

County has earned him the endorsements 

of nearly every municipal police 

association in the County along 

with CLEAT, TMPA, COPS and 90% 

of the Republican elected officials 

in Galveston County. Jimmy Fullen 

will dedicate more resources in the 

Sheriff’s Office to tackle the increase 

of gang violence and fentanyl overdoses 

in Galveston County. I will 

continue allocating resources to the 

southern border to help combat the 

invasion of illegal aliens that are 

flooding across our borders. 

As Sheriff, I will put criminals on 

notice that Galveston County is no 

longer open for business and criminal 

activity will not be tolerated. I 

will defend your 2nd amendment 

rights, fight against the woke left 

that want to defund the police and 

you have my promise that I will aggressively 

protect and defend your 

God Given Rights as Americans. 

Elect me, Jimmy Fullen as your next 

Galveston County Sheriff. 

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Almost a year 

ago, longtime friend and fellow law 

enforcement officer Jimmy Fullen, 

called me to say he was running for 

sheriff. I’ve known Jimmy for well 

over 30 years, and he is one of the 

finest men to ever wear a badge. 

We’ve worked together during good 

times and bad. Hurricanes and Mardi 

Gras. Traffic accidents and serving 

felony warrants. No matter what 

the circumstances, Jimmy has always 

shown his passion for the job 

and his desire to serve the citizens 

of his community. He’s always the 

first one through the door and 100% 

has your back. There is NO ONE 

more qualified or prepared than 

Jimmy Fullen to be the next Sheriff 

of Galveston County. It is with great 

honor on behalf of The BLUES, 

the largest police magazine in the 

world, to endorse Jimmy Fullen for 

the Office of Sheriff for Galveston 

County. MICHAEL BARRON, PUBLISH- 

ER, THE BLUES


RAY NOLEN 

Major Ray Nolen is a dedicated 

law enforcement professional with 

an impressive career spanning 

over three decades. He began his 

journey with the Galveston County 

Sheriff’s Office in June 1991 as a 

Reserve Deputy while also working 

full-time for the City of La Porte. 

After 32 years of service, he retired 

as the Chief of EMS, leaving behind 

a legacy of excellence. 

Major Ray Nolen’s career in law 

enforcement and public service 

spans over three decades, showcasing 

his dedication to protecting 

and serving his community. 

Throughout his tenure, he has acquired 

a wealth of experience and 

expertise in various areas. 

As the Chief of EMS for the City 

of La Porte, Major Nolen played a 

crucial role in ensuring the safety 

and well-being of the residents. 

His leadership and strategic decision-making 

skills contributed to 

the efficient operation of the emergency 

medical services, ultimately 

saving countless lives. 

Major Nolen’s commitment to 

continuous learning and professional 

development led him to pursue 

higher education. He attended 

the University of Houston, where he 

obtained his Law Enforcement credentials, 

Additionally, he completed 

the prestigious Certified Public 

Manager Graduate Program at Sam 

Houston State University, solidifying 

his expertise in public administration 

and management. 

In addition to his law enforcement 

and EMS background, Major 

Nolen has been actively involved in 

various community organizations 

and initiatives. He currently serves 

as a board member for the College 

of the Mainland - Police Academy 

Program, where he contributes to 

shaping the future of law enforcement 

professionals. Major Nolen’s 

involvement with the Galveston 

County Crisis Incident Stress Management 

Team demonstrates his 

commitment to supporting and assisting 

law enforcement individuals 

in times of crisis. 

Major Nolen’s impact extends 

beyond his daily duties. He wrote a 

grant for Operation Lone Star, securing 

State of Texas funding of $3.1 

million to assist with South Texas 

Border security in Kinney County. His 

proactive efforts have ensured that 

agencies in Galveston County can 

provide much-needed assistance at 

the border. 

Outside of his professional commitments, 

Major Nolen has taken 

on leadership roles in community 

organizations. He served as President 

of the Rotary Club, where he 

worked alongside fellow members 

to carry out impactful projects and 

initiatives. Additionally, he held the 

position of President of the Heritage 

Society, contributing to the preservation 

and celebration of the rich 

history and heritage of his community. 

Major Nolen’s personal life is 

equally fulfilling. He resides in 

League City with his wife Michelle, 

creating a loving and supportive 

home environment. Together, they 

have raised three children and are 

proud grandparents to four grandchildren. 

Major Nolen’s dedication to 

his family mirrors his commitment 

to his profession and community, 

showcasing his well-rounded character 

and values. 

Overall, Major Ray Nolen’s impressive 

career, extensive qualifications, 

and active involvement in community 

organizations exemplify his 

unwavering commitment to public 

service, leadership, and making a 

positive impact in the lives of others. 

With his wealth of experience, 

unwavering dedication, and impressive 

track record, Major Nolen is the 

ideal candidate to serve as Galveston 

County Sheriff. He is committed 

to upholding the values of integrity, 

professionalism, and public safety. 

With Major Nolen at the helm, 

the community can trust that their 

well-being and security are in capable 

hands. 


Over 13 Million 

Views in 2023! 

CLICK HERE FOR 2024 MEDIA KIT & RATES 


NOW HIRING 

PRIORITY BOLO 


IS YOUR ISD PD 

HIRING? 

YOUR DEPARTMENT’S RECRUITING AD 

CAN BE LISTED HERE FOR ONLY $250 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 


ALDINE ISD 

POLICE DEPARTMENT 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 

• Sick Leave 

• Paid Vacation 

• Paid Holidays 

• Personal Days 

• Teacher Retirement System 

TCOLE CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE 

• Intermediate PO: $2,400 

• Advanced PO: $4,800 

• Master PO: $7,200 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be 21 Years Of Age 

• Must Hold an Active Tcole Peace Officer License 

• Must Complete the Following: 

• Pass Physical Agility Test 

• Background Investigation 

• Psychological Evaluation 

• Drug Screening 

DEPARTMENT BENEFITS 

• Uniforms Provided, Including Duty Weapon 

• Department Provided Training 

• Starting Pay Depends on 

Qualifications / Experience 

• TCOLE Certification / Education Pay 

• Most Officers work Day Shift with Weekends Off 

(INCENTIVE PAY FOR DETECTIVES, K-9 HANDLERS, AND 

FIREARM INSTRUCTORS.) 

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT 

SGT. HALL AT 281.442.4923 

OR VISIT ALDINEISD.ORG 

APPLY AT 

ALDINEISD.ORG 

STARTING SALARY $55,000 WITH NO EXPERIENCE 

UP TO $85,000 DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE 

ALDINE ISD PD OFFERS 

SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS 

• Criminal Investigations 

• Emergency Response Team 

• Honor Guard 

• Gang Task Force 

• Community Outreach Division 

• K-9 Division 

• Firearm Instructor 

$1,000 SIGNING BONUS 

 


NOW HIRING 

PRIORITY BOLO 


FIND YOUR ISD 

POSITION HERE 


Now Hiring 

School District Police Officer 

Must be TCOLE Certified 

www.pfisd.net/police 

226 day work schedule with starting 

salary between $52,884 and $60,821 

depending on experience 

Overtime Opportunities Available 

Stipends for TCOLE Advanced & Master 

Licenses, MHO Certification, College 

Degrees, and Bilingual Proficiency 

Thanksgiving, Winter, & 

Spring Breaks off 

Take Home Vehicle Program 

Great Insurance & Benefits 

Package with TRS 

Retirement 

SPRING BRANCH ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT 

WE’RE 

HIRING 

Patrol & Onsite Officers (HS/MS) 

Gang Officer 

Mental Health Officers 

Community Relations Officer 

Emergency Management 

Criminal Investigations 

K-9 programs 

*All equipment provided including duty weapon 

**Training opportunities available 

DEPARTMENT 

HIGHLIGHTS 

55 officer department 

44 square mile district 

47 schools 

35,000 population 

24/7 Patrol 

We want you to preserve, protect, and defend our future. 

Starting Pay $63,000 (TCOLE Basic Peace Officer certification with no experience) 

Language pay 

Shift differential pay 

Intermediate, Advanced and 

Master Peace Officer 

certificate pay 

Paid time off 

Ample overtime opportunities 

Apply online today. springbranchisd.com/join-our-team 


The following conferences represent only a few 

of the better police conferences you should attend 

in 2024. A list of EVERY police conference 

will appear later this month in this section. If 

your group has a conference or training session 

scheduled for2024, please send the information 

to: bluespdmag@gmail.com. 

17th Annual Gang Training / Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang 

Investigators Network 

When: March 17-20, 2024 

Where: Hanover, Maryland 

Why Attend: This annual training conference is restricted 

to sworn law enforcement officers, corrections officers, and 

criminal justice professionals and is organized in partnership 

with the US Attorney’s Office - District of Maryland, the 

American Military University, and the Middle Atlantic-Great 

Lakes Organized Crime Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN). 

10th Annual International Police K-9 Conference & Vendor 

Show 

When: TBD 

Where: Las Vegas, NV 

Why Attend: If you’re a K-9 officer, this is the must-attend 

conference for police and military professionals who work 

with dogs. Meet K-9 Handlers from around the world, shop 

for over 60 vendors, and learn from diverse training topics. 

FBI-LEEDA the Annual Executive Education Conference 

When: April 28 - May 1, 2024 

Where: San Antonio, Texas 

Why Attend: This education-based event brings some of the 

top law enforcement thought-leaders in the profession and 

is open to law enforcement – sworn and civilian professional 

staff. 

2024 National Interdiction Conference 

When: August 18-23, 2024 

Where: Anaheim, California 

Why Attend: This event focuses on training and influencing a 

pro-active “All Crimes” approach to criminal interdiction and 

is coordinated by the National Criminal Enforcement Association. 


Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association 

46th Annual Symposium 

When: TBD 

Where: Los Angeles, CA 

Why Attend: The HAPCOA is the oldest and largest association 

in the U.S. of Hispanic-American command officers from 

law enforcement and criminal justice agencies at the municipal, 

county, state, and federal levels. This year’s national 

training symposium will also feature a career fair. 

International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence 

Analysts 

When: April 21-26, 2024 

Where: New Orleans, Louisiana 

Why Attend: The IALEIA annual training event is designed 

to help set high standards for professionalism in law enforcement 

intelligence analysis at the local, state/provincial, 

national, and international levels and this is perhaps, the 

best event for those working in the analytical side of law 

enforcement. 

IACP Technology Conference 

When: May 21-23, 2024 

Where: Charlotte, North Carolina 

Why Attend: The IACP Technology Conference is a professional 

law enforcement information technology event bringing 

together leaders in law enforcement to discuss the best 

ways to adopt and apply new technologies in policing to 

keep pace with sophisticated cyber crimes. The event hosts 

up to 750+ attendees, roughly 50 education sessions, and 75 

industry exhibitors. 

2024 National Child Protection Task Force Conference 

When: TBD 

Where: Virtual Conference 

Why Attend: This three-day event, is geared toward teaching 

law enforcement professionals to enhance and expand their 

ability to identify and track suspects involved in child exploitation 

and child sexual abuse material featuring speakers 

from industry and law enforcement. 

Annual SMILE CONFERENCE 2024 

When: TBD 

Where: Scottsdale, AZ 

Why You Should Go: Hosted by the Scottsdale Police Department, 

the SMILE annual conference is the leading event 

devoted to Social Media, the Internet and Law Enforcement 

initiatives. The organization pioneered the adoption of social 

media by law enforcement agencies across the world for 

public outreach, crime prevention, and forensics. 

National Sheriff’s Association Annual Education & Technology 

Conference 2024 

When: June 24-27, 2024 

Where: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 

Why You Should Go: The NSA Annual Conference and Exhibition 

features vendor displays of products and equipment 

relevant to every aspect of law enforcement including; jails, 

prisoner transport, courtroom security, and police work.


Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators 

When: June 24-27, 2024 

Where: New Orleans 

Why You Should Go: The IACLEA 2024 annual conference will 

provide campus law enforcement professionals with the best 

educational programming for university police, a vendor 

showcase, and training and tools to positively impact their 

jobs. 

National Law Enforcement Exploring Leadership Conference 

When: TBD 

Where: TBD 

Why Attend: This conference is designed to inspire and 

educate law enforcement explorers who will be future law 

enforcement professionals and leaders. 

2024 National Cyber Crime Conference 

When: April 23-25, 2024 

Where: Norwood, MA 

The NCCC event will feature “three days of extensive training 

full of instructions and conversations on the most recent and 

challenging cyber crime concerns for law enforcement. This 

unique training event is sponsored by the National White 

Collar Crime Center (NW3C), SEARCH, the National Association 

of Attorneys General, the Fox Valley Technical College/ 

National Criminal Justice Training Center, and Federal Law 

Enforcement Training Center 

CRIMES AGAINST CHildren Conference 

When: TBD 

Where: TBD 

The annual CACC event, typically held in Dallas, Texas, is organized 

by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and brings 

together up to 10,000 law enforcement and children advocates 

focused on preventing and addressing the repercussions 

of crimes against children. 

FBI National Academy Associates Annual 2024 Conference 

When: July 20-23, 2024 

Where: Kansas City, Missouri 

Why Attend: FBINAA is one of the best networking events 

with more than 17,000 members from 170 countries. Training 

and learning sessions have been led by experts from the likes 

of FBI, NYPD, Philadelphia Police Department, Department of 

Defense, Homeland Security, US Army War College, Ontario 

Provincial Police, leading technology companies such as 

Microsoft, and major retailers. 

National Association for Civilian Oversight in Law Enforcement 

Conference 

When: October 13-17, 2024 

Where: Tucson, Arizona 

Why Attend: NACOLE started with its first event in 1995, and 

continuously works to put together comprehensive, informative, 

and inclusive programs that address skills training and 

current or emerging topics. This conference is best suited for 

civilian oversight practitioners, law enforcement officials, 

journalists, elected officials, students, community members, 

and others. 

International Public Safety Association Annual Conference 

When: May 1-2, 2024 

Where: Mesa, Arizona 

Why You Should Go: The IPSA hosts an annual conference 

that brings together law enforcement, fire, EMS, telecommunications, 

emergency management and allied emergency 

responders from around the world and provides excellent 

networking and learning opportunities for the latest public 

safety best practices. 

High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) 

When: September 19-22, 2023 

Where: Phoenix, AZ 

Why You Should Go: HTCIA features some of the world’s 

top industry leaders and is one of the most respected high 

technology investigation conferences in the world. Current 

practitioners who engage in high technology daily serve as 

both presenters and attendees. 

International Association of Chiefs of Police 2024 Conference 

When: October 19-22, 2024 

Where: Boston, Massachusetts 

Why You Should Go: The IACP annual conference provides 

law enforcement leaders with the new strategies, techniques, 

and resources they need to successfully navigate the 

ever-evolving policing environment. 

Feria de Informática Forense en España (FiFE´24) 

When: TBD 

Where: Spain 

OnRetrieval organizes the Forensic Informatics Fair in Spain 

as a face-to-face event. Fife has become a highly prestigious 

fair in the Forensic Informatics sector in which the main representatives 

of the Spanish State Security Forces and Bodies, 

experts in computer security, forensic investigators, public 

entities, and companies related to Computer Forensics, learn 

directly from manufacturers, the most innovative trends in 

Computer Forensics tools in the world. 

Ontario Gang Investigators Association 2024 Conference 

When: TBD 

Where: TBD 

The ONGIA conference brings together members of the law 

enforcement community to learn the latest in gang trends, 

investigations, and intelligence while providing professional 

development for Police, Probation and Parole, Correctional 

Officers, Crowns Attorneys, CBSA Officers, Victim Witness 

Assistance Program (MAG) and others. 


PROUDLY PRESENTS THE 2024 

ST ND RD 

1 / 2 / 3 PLACE PRIZES TO BE AWARDED IN THREE CATEGORIES: 

ISD Police Unit Non-ISD Police Unit Open Category 

FOR CONTESTANT HANDBOOK AND TO The REGISTER, Blues - February VISIT: ‘24 109 

txssc.txstate.edu/events/tss-conf

HONORING OUR 

COURT OFFICER ROBERT J. SILVER 

110 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 

110 The Blues -- February ‘24 

ST. CLAIR COUNTY 72ND DISTRICT COURT, MICHIGAN 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 

AGE: 66 TOUR: 35 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Court Officer Bob Silver was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice in the 6100 

block of Genaw Road in Clay Township. Officers from the Clay Township Police Department 

were dispatched to the address to locate Officer Silver after court staff were unable to reach 

him for several hours. They located his body on the property suffering from gunshot wounds. 

The tenant at the home barricaded himself inside of the home for a short time before being 

taken into custody. The man was charged with murder. 

Officer Silver had served with the St. Clair County 72nd District Court for 35 years.

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF JUSTIN SMITH 

STONE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, ARKANSAS 

END OF WATCH TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024 

AGE: 60 TOUR: 14 YEARS BADGE: 512 

Deputy Sheriff Justin Smith was shot and killed while serving a warrant at the 300 block of 

Sawmill Road in Mountain View, Arkansas, at 4:30 p.m. When Deputy Smith attempted to 

arrest the subject for terroristic threats, he was shot. 

The subject was apprehended after a brief standoff and charged with capital murder. 

Deputy Smith had served with the Stone County Sheriff’s Office for 14 years. 


HONORING OUR 

DEPUTY SHERIFF ERIC ANTHONY MINIX 

COSTA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, GEORGIA 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 

AGE: 31 TOUR: 10 YEARS BADGE: 145 

Deputy Sheriff Eric Minix died as a result of being struck by a police car while in a high-speed chase in Chambers 

County, Alabama. In the early hours of Thursday, January 4, the pursuit began in Georgia before crossing 

into Alabama on I-85, where Deputy Minix was struck by a police car from an assisting agency. He was 

transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. At least seven law enforcement agencies 

were assisting in apprehending the subject, who was driving a stolen vehicle. The subject was arrested and is 

waiting charges. Deputy Sheriff Minix was also a K9 officer and had served with the Coweta County Sheriff’s 

Office for 4 1/2 years and had previously served with the Tyrone Police Department for over five years. He is 

survived by his wife, three daughters, father and stepmother, and four sisters. 

112 The The Blues - February - ‘24 ‘24

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY SHERIFF JEREMY MALONE 

GEORGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, MISSISSIPPI 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 


Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Malone was shot and killed during a traffic stop in front of 12298 US Highway 98 

at about 5:15 pm. He was shot as he approached the vehicle. The suspect fled after shooting Deputy 

Malone and led officers on a pursuit through multiple counties before being shot and killed near 

Beaumont, Mississippi. 

Deputy Malone had served in law enforcement for 21 years, serving with the George County Sheriff’s 

Office and previously served with the Leakesville Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, 

Biloxi Police Department, and Greene County Sheriff’s Department He is survived by his wife, three 

daughters, mother, and two brothers. 

The Blues -- February ‘24 113

HONORING OUR 

TROOPER JOEL POPP 

MICHIGAN STATE POLICE, MICHIGAN 

END OF WATCH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2024 


Trooper Joel Popp was struck and killed by a vehicle while assisting with a DUI investigation on northbound 

I-75 near Birch Run at about 7:10 pm. 

He was standing outside of his vehicle when another motorist struck him and two patrol cars. Trooper Popp 

was transported to Hurley Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Trooper Popp had served with the Michigan State Police for four years and was assigned to the Tri-City Post. 

He is survived by his wife and daughter. 

114 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 


FALLEN HEROES 

TROOPER JIMMY CENESCAR 

GEORGIA STATE PATROL, GEORGIA 

END OF WATCH SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 

AGE: 28 TOUR: 3 YEAR BADGE: 436 

Trooper Jimmy Cenescar was killed in a single-vehicle crash attempting to stop a fleeing motorcycle on Interstate 

85 North at 5:39 p.m. While pursuing a motorcycle for a traffic violation, Trooper Cenescar lost control 

of his patrol vehicle near Old Peachtree Road in Atlanta. His vehicle left the road and struck an embankment. 

He was transported to Northside Gwinnett Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

Trooper Cenescar had served with the Georgia State Patrol for one year, assigned to Post 9, Marietta. He 

previously served with the Atlanta Police Department for two years. He is survived by his parents and fiancée. 


WORDS BY OFFICER RUSTY ROBBINS, RET. 

Retired Dallas Officer Recalls Events 

Before and After JFK Assassination. 

In his 78 years, Rusty Robbins 

has accumulated a lot 

of stories, though he is quick 

to point out that he considers 

them reports. 

“I call them ‘reports’ and 

not stories,” said the Flower 

Mound resident. “I don’t add 

anything to my reports. Just 

facts as I recall them.” 

Those reports range in topic, 

from scuba diving to his time 

as a police officer. In fact, his 

30 years with the Dallas Police 

Department have provided a 

wealth of reports. 

And as the nation recognizes 

the 50-year anniversary of 

the assassination of President 

John F. Kennedy, a few reports 

in particular have been crossing 

Robbins’ mind lately. 

PROTECTING KENNEDY 

Robbins was working the 

downtown beat when Kennedy 

came to Dallas in November 

1963. He was one of 

several officers in charge of 

monitoring the parade route 

that went through Dallas 

during Kennedy’s visit. 

“I worked the 1800 block of 

Main Street,” Robbins said. “As 

the motorcade passed, I was 

instructed to watch the crowd 

and protect the president 

by not letting anyone rush 

out and do anything stupid. I 

glanced at the president, just 

like every other officer did.” 

Robbins’ job was essentially 

done once the motorcade 

passed by, so as people 

turned to go back into their 

shops along Main Street, 

Robbins returned to the police 

headquarters to change 

clothes. 

As he was about to leave the 

station to head home, someone 

came through, yelling that 

the president had been shot. 

Instead of ending his shift, 

Robbins went to his supervisor’s 

office to wait for direction. 

Robbins soon found himself 

at a nearby hotel, where 

the president’s communication 

center was set up. While 

Robbins waited in the hotel 

hallway, a man emerged from 

the communications room 

and asked Robbins if he could 

drive him to Love Field so he 

could board Air Force One. 

As the two men reached 

Love Field, they could see the 

presidential plane was already 

starting to leave the runway. 

“I told him that I knew a 

quick way around the back 

to get to the plane,” Robbins 

said. “That would have been 

the wrong thing to do. I was 

young and stupid. I think machine 

guns would have been 

pulled out, and we would 

116 The Blues - - February ‘24

have been shot to pieces if 

we had pulled up alongside 

Air Force One in an unmarked 

police car.” 

The man left Robbins to 

catch a civilian flight. Robbins 

said he never found out who 

the man was, but he said his 

involvement in the incident 

wasn’t over yet. 

Two days later, local club 

owner Jack Ruby shot Lee 

Harvey Oswald, whom police 

had arrested in connection 

with the Kennedy shooting, as 

police were transporting Oswald 

from the Dallas city jail 

to the county jail. 

THOUGHTS ON JACK RUBY 

Robbins said he was familiar 

with Ruby, saying The Carrousel 

Club owner made a point 

to hang around Dallas police. 

“In the year prior to the assasination, 

I worked the police 

beat in downtown, which held 

all three strip joints in Dallas,” 

Robbins said. “I routinely 

went to Jack Ruby’s place 

as part of my regular duties. 

Jack was always so friendly 

and welcomed all police 

officers. There was later talk 

that Jack was tied in with the 

local police. If he was, I didn’t 

know about it. But we went 

there because he was friendly. 

That’s how I got to know Jack 

Ruby, and that’s why I would 

have an opinion about him 

concerning the assassination 

later.” 

Robbins recalled a time 

when Ruby invited him to go 

bowling “probably to bolster 

the friendship,” Robbins said. 

He said one antic by Ruby at 

the bowling alley was telling 

of what he was capable of, 

Robbins said. 

“After the fifth or sixth 

frame, Jack got a strike,” 

Robbins said. “Jack ran three 

lanes this way and three lanes 

the other way to get people 

to look at the scoreboard to 

see what he had done. He was 


trying to be somebody. That’s 

why he was arm-around-neck 

buddies with the police. It 

made him a bigger person if 

he had police friends, in my 

opinion.” 

On Nov. 24 Ruby found his 

way into the police department’s 

garage and shot Oswald. 

“I can see how Ruby’s character 

allowed that to happen,” 

Robbins said. “Jack wanted 

to be acknowledged and 

validated. He had the desire 

to be known for something. 

I 100 percent believe that he 

shot Oswald because it would 

make him important.” 

As for the notion that the 

shooting was simply retaliation 

for Oswald shooting Kennedy, 

Robbins said he believes 

the shooting was spur-of-themoment 

and more about Ruby 

wanting to be somebody. 

“Records prove that Ruby 

was down the street at the 

Western Union office, sending 

a small sum of money to 

a stripper so she could catch 

a bus and come up here and 

work at his strip joint,” Robbins 

said. “This was less than 

20 minutes before Ruby shot 

Oswald. He had to know he 

would be arrested and go 

to jail. A sane man wouldn’t 

do that. A man with a plan 

wouldn’t do that.” 

GUARDING OSWALD’S BODY 

News reporters and photographers 

lined the hallway of 

the morgue at Parkland Hospital, 

where Oswald’s body was 

being tended to, Robbins said. 

Robbins and officer Sam 

Sorsby were directed to stand 

at the door to the morgue, 

armed with shotguns, to prevent 

anyone from getting in. 

One photographer got a picture 

of both officers guarding 

the door. Robbins still has the 

photo, which appeared in the 

Dallas Times Herald. Robbins 

found the same photo in a 

book about the assassination 

at the Sixth Floor Museum 

years later. 

The day of the autopsy, a 

Fort Worth funeral home delivered 

a casket to Dallas for 

Oswald’s body, and Robbins 

was part of a police escort to 

take the casket back to Fort 

Worth. 

Robbins said that officially 

ended his involvement in the 

series of events. 

Recently, Robbins has spoken 

publicly about the events 

of that week, though he said 

it’s not something he has 

spent a lot of time thinking 

about during the last 50 years. 

“This is something you 

would never forget,” Robbins 

said. “However, it did not 

weigh heavily on my mind. I 

was not much into politics 

or world affairs. I was just 

looking out for my family and 

personal interest. Like everyone 

else, I wished it had never 

happened here or anywhere, 

for that matter.” 

118 The Blues - 40th - February Anniversary ‘24 

Issue

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DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE 

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Memorial Page (ODMP) is participating in the 2023 Combined Federal Campaign 

(CFC) organized by OPM.Your support through the CFC can make a significant 

impact on our mission to honor and remember the over 26,000 brave men 

and women in law enforcement who have sacrificed their lives for our safety. To 

pledge your support to ODMP, follow these simple steps: 

1. Visit https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/offerings 

2. Search “Officer Down Memorial Page” or use CFC code 62937. 

3. Add us to your pledge by January 2023. 

Your pledge in CFC shows gratitude to those who protect us. Thank you for 

considering ODMP in the CFC 

Learn more at ODMP.org/info/cfc. 

The Blues The Blues 40th Anniversary - February ‘24 Issue 119

WORDS BY AMANDA SELLERS 

Twenty-three years later, two UCF Officers 

reflect on responding to 9/11 

While honoring the nearly 3,000 

people killed from the 9/11 attacks, 

Eric Walton and Joel Witherspoon 

share their memories 

from providing services at the 

World Trade Center and Pentagon. 

The smell of jet fuel still 

transports UCF Police officer Eric 

Walton to the Pentagon — even 

20 years later. 

Walton and fellow UCFPD 

officer Joel Witherspoon were 

two of the first responders who 

responded to the terrorist attacks 

in New York, Washington 

D.C., and Pennsylvania. 

Nearly 3,000 people were 

killed on 9/11, making it the 

deadliest day in United States 

history. Countless others were 

wounded or have since passed 

away due to lingering effects of 

the tragedy. 

As we mark the 20th anniversary 

of the day the world 

changed, Witherspoon and 

Walton share their experiences 

and the significance that 9/11 still 

holds for them. 

GROUND ZERO 

Witherspoon, who joined the 

New York Police Department in 

1984, remembers the call coming 

over the radio when the plane hit 

the north tower. 

“My partner and I had just 

finished our breakfast and had 

started our patrol,” says Witherspoon. 

“When we heard about 

the first plane, we thought it was 

just a terrible accident.” 

After the second plane hit, 

Witherspoon knew something 

was very wrong and his police 

instincts kicked in. 

“From that point on, we knew 

something was going on, but we 

still didn’t know what,” he says. 

“But the radio started getting really 

crazy, and then they started 

mobilizing us, calling us in to go 

to different locations.” 

Although Witherspoon and 

his partner weren’t sent to the 

World Trade Center immediately, 

in the days that followed, he was 

one of the officers stationed at 

UCFPD Officer Joel Witherspoon 

Ground Zero to ensure the security 

of the scene. 

“Everything was covered in 

gray soot and ashes — the whole 

street, the buildings, everything,” 

Witherspoon says. “It was just 

eerily quiet, obviously there were 

no people there other than the 

cops responding. It was definitely 

something out of the scene of a 

movie.” 

Witherspoon later found out 

120 The Blues -- February ‘24

that one of his friends, a firefighter 

with the New York Fire 

Department, had died while 

responding to the towers. 

“He was one of the first firemen 

to get into the building and he 

unfortunately lost his life,” says 

Witherspoon. “It definitely had 

an effect on me personally, big 

time.” 

Of the 2,753 people killed in the 

attack at the World Trade Centers, 

343 firefighters and paramedics, 

23 New York City police 

officers, and 37 Port Authority 

police officers died. 

PENTAGON TARGETED 

On the morning on September 

11, 2001, Walton was at the FBI 

Academy in Quantico, Virginia, 

for training. 

When the planes hit the twin 

towers in New York, Walton 

and other officers at the academy 

stopped like many other 

Americans to watch the news on 

television in horror at what was 

unfolding. 

Then, news broke that another 

plane had hit the Pentagon. 

UCFPD officer Eric Walton 

“We were scheduled to go to 

the Pentagon probably an hour 

before the plane hit it,” Walton 

says. “When the plane hit, they 

asked for all first responders to 

come because they needed assistance.” 

Once they reached the scene, 

Walton says none of his training 

could prepare him for what he 

saw. 

“The building kind of looked 

like a dry cake,” says Walton. 

UCFPD Officer Eric Walton 


“Part of it was standing and 

another part was just missing. 

It was unreal to see half a plane 

sitting in the middle of a building.” 

Walton was part of the search 

and rescue mission and stayed 

for several days, working 12 to 

18-hour shifts. Officers slept on 

scene in cots and sleeping bags. 

“You think about what you’ve 

seen, what you saw,” says Walton. 

“With time the images kind 

of fade away, but for the first five 

years after, I didn’t want to talk 

about it. When I smell jet fuel, 

that smell takes me back.” 

Walton later learned that 184 

people were killed in the attack 

on the Pentagon. An additional 

40 were killed on a fourth plane 

that crashed in a field in Shanksville, 

Pennsylvania, after passengers 

on the plane fought back 

against the hijackers. 

“The things that we saw were 

not something that you want to 

keep remembering,” says Walton. 

“But the one big thing that 

I always remember is how law 

enforcement came together, 

from Virginia to Maryland. There 

wasn’t one agency that wasn’t 

out there.” 

REMEMBERING THOSE TAKEN 

20 YEARS LATER 

Countless first responders and 

civilians were impacted by the 

attack in New York, Washington, 

D.C. and Pennsylvania and those 

who were there will likely never 

forget what they saw. 

But instead of focusing on the 

death and destruction of that 

day, Witherspoon likes to remember 

the days after and how 

the nation came together. 

“It was the first time in my life 

that I saw so many people come 

together for a common cause,” 

he says. “You never think something 

like that would happen, but 

it did. I think we just always need 

to remember the loved ones who 

lost someone and support them.” 


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A BADGE OF HONOR 

healing our heroes 

Deflate your Balloon 

As a First Responder, the 

stress from your job can become 

overwhelming at times. 

We continue to internalize our 

stress allowing it to fill up in our 

system until one day it POPS. 

Just like a Balloon, as we fill 

it up it gets bigger and bigger, 

expanding, getting tense until 

without warning the Balloon 

explodes. As First responders we 

are no different. We never know 

how many more incidents it will 

take before we explode either 

internally or externally. 

If we view our system, the 

way we look at a balloon as it is 

filling, we need to regulate and 

adjust just how much (air) or in 

our case, stress each can handle. 

Our careers will never be without 

stress or tension, so the key 

is to let the air out as it is needed. 

We can see and feel when a 

balloon is at its popping point, 

so we know that if I keep adding 

air to it, it will soon explode. We 

need to be able to recognize our 

bodies the same way. 

By releasing some of our daily 

stress, it can make a big difference 

in the way we perform at 

work and at home. There is no 

right or wrong way to release 

the tension, so if it is not harmful 

or can’t lead to any additive 

issue. Go for it. 

The reason I say that is, Alcohol, 

gaming, social media, Porn, 

gambling etc. are all types of 

stress relievers which someone 

may use, and if used in proper 

moderation can all be a release. 

The types of mental health releases 

are unlimited. Individually 

you will need to find what works 

for you. 

First responders by nature have 

a type ‘A” high energy personality. 

If we were the type “B” we 

would most likely have chosen a 

different career. So, we tend to 

release our stress with activities 

that may border harmful, so we 

need to tread with caution. 

This is the reason we try and 

stick to activities that will not 

place us in harm’s way. 

Walking, Running, Weightlifting, 

Yoga, or any exercise has 

SAMANTHA HORWITZ & 

JOHN SALERNO 

been proven to not only release 

stress but provides overall better 

physical health as well. 

If you are not the physical 

type, maybe tap into your artistic 

side. Learn to draw, play an 

instrument or any other creative 

projects. Theatrical art such as 

drama or comedy, providing 

laughter is a huge stress release. 

Our balloons should never 

reach the point of “Bust.” 

Educate those around us in 

Mental Health so they can also 

help boost our support network 

giving us an extra layer in our 

safety net. 

The more people watching 

over our balloon gives us the 

best chances to not overfill it. 

John Salerno, Retired NYPD, 

A Badge of Honor 



DARYL LOTT 

daryl’s deliberations 

When Was the Last Time You Read 

“The Communist Manifesto?” 

DARYL LOTT 

If you had been visiting London 

in 1848, you may have gone to 

the massive library there. Had 

you done that, you may have 

seen a couple of not-so-wellmeaning 

Germans there writing 

a little book: “The Communist 

Manifesto.” The little book, 

more of a pamphlet, has caused 

deaths in the millions with no 

stopping in sight. Karl Marx 

and his pal, Frederick Engels, 

stepped on the European stage 

during a time of revolution and 

upheaval. They threw their two 

cents’ worth into the fiery mix 

and ignited a conflict that still 

rages today. What’s their deal? 

FYI: I use the 1906 English 

translation from the Harvard (insert 

left wing joke here) Library. 

Their deal is to incite what they 

call “class struggles” (p.12). They 

use many names for class warfare, 

but they settle on “oppressor 

and oppressed.” This is the 

175th Anniversary of the manifesto 

and it is more popular than 

ever! Their “oppressor and oppressed” 

theme is in all the most 

popular movements now. Marx 

and Engels listed some specific 

oppressor tools to destroy that 

would enable the ushering in 

of a new world run by the oppressed. 

The trio of “law, morality, 

religion” (p.13) are basic 

tools of oppression. You might 

be interested in knowing the 

“abolition of the family” is another 

goal since the family is only a 

unit based on “private gain” and 

the “exploitation of the children 

by their parents” (pp. 39-40). 

The education system is another 

tool of the oppressors. Socialists 

want to “rescue education from 

the influence of the ruling class” 

(p. 40). Of course, the big number 

one on their list is the “abolition 

of property in land and 

application of all rents of land to 

public purposes” (p. 64). 

The “Oppressor/Oppressed” 

theme is all over the globe. The 

focal point of the world is the 

Israel-Hamas War. The Marxists 

have literally hit the streets 

over the war. I was watching 

them rioting in our capital city 

and threatening the White House 

(I guess it’s not insurrection 

if you’re an enemy combatant). 

I looked closely at their 

signs. I took photos to see who 

the sponsors of this riot were: 

“Workers World Party” and 

“A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition”. 

Of course, I went to the WWP 

website to see what their “All 

About Us” was all about. “Workers 

World Party is a revolutionary 

Marxist-Leninist party dedicated 

to organizing and fighting 

for a socialist revolution in the 

United States and around the 

world. WWP develops militant 

organizers in every struggle, 

from anti-racist and immigrant 

rights to labor, anti-war and anti-imperialist 

struggles.” At least 

they’re honest from a “Who Are 

We” standpoint. Did you notice 

all the “struggles” the Socialists 

are involved with? We can’t 

overlook the recent Eco-vandalism 

in the name of climate 

change. Because, you know, 

somehow the lower classes are 

affected more making fossil fuels 

a tool of the oppressor. 

The A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition is 

also a large sponsor of the New 

York Anti-Israel riots. It’s very 

similar to the WWP. I checked 

them out from their own website. 

Brian Becker is the National 

Coordinator of the ANSWER 

Coalition. He is a founder of and 

a central organizer for the Party 

for Socialism and Liberation. 

Immigration chaos, race riots, 

gender confusion, DEI bans on 

free speech (except for antisemitic 

speeches), the failures of 

the education system (K-PhD), 

are all connected to socialist 



organizations. 

One facet of the Israel-Hamas 

War is the exposure of overt 

socialist attacks on Israel to 

the point of supporting terror. 

Of course, Marx and Engels 

saw violence was necessary to 

overthrow private ownership 

and supported it. One self-described 

socialist organization is 

Black Lives Matter. Their Chicago 

chapter published a cartoon that 

showed support for a paragliding 

terrorist on the way to cut 

a baby’s head off. That chapter 

said the image wasn’t “great”, 

but they would not walk back 

the sentiment. They support 

Hamas over Israel. 

Israel is a lightning rod for 

despicable lies (such as being 

called a “colonizer state”) and 

hate. That hate is not limited to 

Israel. The hate is for western 

capitalism of which Israel is 

front and center. The war exposed 

just how many socialists 

are in our own country. Radical 

Islamic terrorists are the newest 

oppressed class. Poor Hamas! 

They are just simple proletarians. 

If I had only known! 

The war showed how ugly hate 

is and how much our institutions 

have decayed under generational 

socialistic indoctrination. 

The family should be our society’s 

building block and most 

sacred unit, but Marx called 

such a notion, “claptrap” (p.40). 

How can you have a family if you 

don’t know what a male or female 

is? Or is not. A weaponized 

justice system treats concerned 

parents as agents of oppression 

just as Marx wanted. 

The war and its flashpoints of 

hate caused me to look at current 

events through the lens of 

a 175-year-old pamphlet. When 

I do that, I see the Chinese Communist 

Party, Putin’s reborn Red 

Army, millions of illegal immigrants 

rushing our border, our 

schools in chaos, universities 

abandoning their mission of 

teaching in favor of indoctrination, 

gutting of laws to protect 

property (shoplifting), allowing 

violent offenders to walk the 

streets with impunity, the loss of 

energy independence, firearms 

rights, and priceless works of art 

damaged by socialist punks as 

obvious corollaries of a worldwide 

socialist agenda. 

For me, the murders of Jewish 

families and Holocaust survivors 

removed the veil. I saw the 

man behind the curtain with his 

brutal allies and it revealed the 

Jews as the first in a long line 

of western peoples with targets 

on their backs. I considered our 

world and followed the radical 

left-wing rhetoric of hate from 

the Harvards and Berkleys to 

its logical conclusion: bloodsoaked 

cribs in southern Israel 

containing unspeakable horrors. 

To comment, go to Faithful- 

TexasFootprints.com or email: 

DarylLott.Texas@gmail.com 



DR. TINA JAECKLE 

blue mental health 

Survivors of LODD: 

We Honor Your Journey to Healing 

We continue to honor our survivors 

by dedicating this monthly 

mental health column to sharing 

the first-person journeys of those 

who have been deeply impacted 

by a line of duty death and 

will continue until Police Week 

2024. As we listen to their voices, 

I am hopeful you will gain 

powerful life lessons and 

perspective, appreciation, 

and respect for those who 

continue to serve every day, 

and for those who have 

made the ultimate sacrifice. 

We should also never forget 

those left behind in the 

aftermath. This story is the 

third in the series, Kimberly 

Hornsby Wagner, the wife of 

Officer Robert Hornsby, graciously 

agreed to offer her 

insight and road to recovery 

in her own words. 

“Before my husband was 

killed, the term “survivor” 

seemed somewhat hyperbolic 

to me, almost a paradox. 

It wasn’t until after my 

husband, Robert “Bobby” Hornsby, 

was killed that I realized the 

term “survivor” doesn’t do justice 

to the excruciating journey that 

follows. Bobby was a member of 

the Killeen Police Department’s 

SWAT team in Killeen, TX. On 

July 14, 2013, he was deployed 

as part of that SWAT team to 

an apartment complex where 

a young soldier was walking 

around the complex pool with 

an AK-47, pointing it at innocent 

people and asking them if they 

were ready to meet their maker. 

After some different interactions 

took place, this young soldier, 

who blew well over the legal 

Police Officer 

Robert Layden Hornsby 

Killeen Police Department, 

KilleenTexas 

End of Watch 

Sunday, July 14, 2013 

DR. TINA JAECKLE 

limit for alcohol, fired that 

same weapon into the 

sea of officers outside his 

apartment complex. Bobby 

was hit twice; the first 

bullet was a flesh wound, 

something he would have 

easily survived. How desperately 

I wish that would 

have been his only wound. 

The second bullet was 

the shot that ultimately 

would kill him instantly. In 

an attempt to provide us 

some solace, the doctor 

told us he probably just felt 

sleepy. I feel like I should 

be thankful that he didn’t 

suffer, but sometimes my 

mind wonders and asks, 

“Did his body trick him?” I struggle 

with wondering if it ever 

crossed his mind he wasn’t coming 

home. 

Thanks to social media, I 

was expecting a knock at the 

door. After watching Facebook 

for some time trying to get an 

update on the situation, some- 


one had posted that two officers 

had been shot. I turned on the 

scanner to hear anything out of 

the ordinary, hoping this was a 

careless post of misinformation. 

It didn’t take long until two 

badge numbers were given over 

the scanner: one badge number 

for each officer shot. One lived, 

and one died. 

When Bobby was killed, he 

was 32 years old, and I was 31. 

Two weeks before his murder, 

we had celebrated our 6th wedding 

anniversary, and we were 

preparing to take our first vacation 

as a family of 4 just four 

days after his death. At the time 

of his death, we had a 4-yearold 

daughter, Layden, and a 

15-month-old son, Braxx. Truly, 

the hardest part of losing him 

was explaining to my children 

that there had been an accident 

and that their dad was now living 

with Jesus. 

The term survivor isn’t hyperbolic 

at all. We survived burying 

a husband, a dad, a brother, 

a son, an uncle and a friend. 

I survived figuring out how to 

mow my yard once all the newness 

faded and people returned 

to their everyday lives. I survived 

the first days of school, 

the first holidays, and empty 

chairs where he should have 

been sitting. And each milestone 

that he misses reminds me we 

are still surviving. I don’t survive 

because I have some superhuman 

strength or because I am 

rigid and devoid of all emotions. 

I survive, may I say, thrive because 

I have been lifted by those 

around me when I was too weak 

to stand alone. Exodus 17 gives 

this account: “When Moses’ 

arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur 

brought a stone for him to sit 

on, while they stood beside him 

and held up his arms, holding 

them steady until the sun went 

down. In this way Joshua totally 

defeated the Amalekites.” I am 

incredibly thankful for the Aarons 

and Hurs of my life that held me 

up. I hope that telling our story 

allows us to be someone’s Aaron 

or Hur and gives, even if it’s 

just one person, the courage not 

only to survive, but survive well, 

the unimaginable”. -Kimberly 

Hornsby Wagner, Wife of Officer 

Robert Hornsby 

For more information on the 

services and resources offered 

by Concerns of Police Survivors, 

please visit Concerns of Police 

Survivors (C.O.P.S.) 

We are ready for 2024! Experience 

the only first responder owned and 

operated THEME studio in the Country! 

10 years strong! We are Family! 

We look forward to seeing you soon! 


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD 

Light Bulb Award 

FAKED OFFICER SHOOTING 

Ex-Santa Clara Deputy convicted of staging an 

on-duty shooting of himself. 

By Robert Salonga 

Bay Area News Group 

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A disgraced 

former Santa Clara County 

sheriff’s deputy has been convicted 

in a bizarre case in which 

authorities say he inexplicably 

staged a fake on-duty shooting 

of himself on a remote road near 

the Uvas Reservoir four years 

ago. 

Sukhdeep Gill, 30, pleaded 

no contest Tuesday — the day 

his preliminary examination 

was scheduled to start — after 

agreeing to a court offer 

to reduce his felony vandalism 

charge to a misdemeanor, 

according to the Santa Clara 

County District Attorney’s Office, 

which objected to the leniency. 

As part of the court agreement, 

Gill will have to perform 

150 hours of community service, 

pay unspecified restitution and 

surrender his policing license to 

the state Commission on Peace 

Officer Standards and Training. 

The latter requirement means he 

will be barred from serving as a 

police officer again in California. 

Gill’s listed attorney did not 

immediately respond to an email 

seeking comment on the plea, 

for which Gill was not required 

to be present in court. 

In the wake of the Jan. 31, 2020 

drive-by shooting claim by Gill, 

the sheriff’s office called the 

incident an “unprovoked attack” 

and that it was a “close call” 

between life and death for the 

then-deputy. But a year later, 

the agency changed its tune and 

said its investigation uncovered 

significant factual inconsistencies 

and no evidence of another 

motorist being on the lightly 

traveled Uvas Road at the time of 

the purported shooting. 

“I have gone to officers’ funerals 

after they are shot,” District 

Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a 

statement Tuesday. “I hope to 

never hear again about an officer 

faking being shot. It’s outrageous, 

diverts public resources, 

and dishonors officers who put 

their lives on the line to protect 

us.” 

According to the sheriff’s office 

investigation, on the night of 

the shooting report, Gill told his 

supervisors and later detectives 

that he was on patrol and pulled 

over on the northbound side of 

Uvas Road near Wallace Place, 

just south of the reservoir parking 

lot, so that he could urinate. 

He reported that a vehicle approached, 

the driver turned off 

its headlights, and someone in 

the vehicle fired four shots, with 


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f u r n i t u r e a n d a f i r e p i t c o f f e e t a b l e . T h e p o o l a l s o i n c l u d e s a n A I P o o l C l e a n e r . S i m p l y b e a u t i f u l ! 

This 2-story, 4,3.5, 2, 3400 sq. ft. David Weekly Home has everything ready for a worry-free move-in. Located 

on an oversize lot in Magnolia Creek in the City of League City, you’re only 25 minutes from Downtown Houston 

or the Beaches of Galveston. The primary bedroom is downstairs with an amazing view of the pool and 

lake. Three more bedrooms are upstairs along with a large game room. New roof, HVAC and updated appliances. 

Enjoy the outdoor kitchen on a 600’ covered patio surrounded by tropical landscape. Simply Beautiful. 

M i c h e l l e H a t m a k e r 

B r o k e r / O w n e r 

office. 409-744-4622 

email. mhatmaker@hatmakergroup.com 

website. hatmakergroup.com 

cell. 409-457-8716 

office address. 1021 61st St Suite 100-B, Galveston, TX 77551 


© 2023 Weichert, Realtors. 

REALTORS® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict 

Code of Ethics. Weichert® is a federally registered trademark owned by Weichert Co. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Each Weichert® franchised office is independently 

owned and operated. If your home is currently listed with a real estate broker, this is not intended to be a solicitation of the listing. Equal Housing Opportunity.

one bullet hitting him squarely 

in the chest and destroying his 

body camera, and three bullets 

hit his SUV. Gill also reported he 

fired two retaliatory shots with 

his 9mm service pistol, as he 

tumbled down an embankment. 

The sheriff’s office staged a 

massive manhunt, and stopped 

drivers whose cars matched 

Gill’s phony description of the 

shooter’s vehicle. But none were 

linked to the shooting, and home 

security footage from the area 

showed no cars heading toward 

or away from Gill’s location 10 

minutes before and after the 

shots were fired. 

Investigators had more grounds 

for suspicion: Two .380 bullet 

casings were recovered on the 

passenger side of the patrol 

SUV, well away from the roadway, 

and no markings to suggest 

that they had been inadvertently 

kicked over or displaced by a car 

tire. When they tried to recreate 

the shooting — firing at a standing 

target from a moving vehicle 

— they could not replicate the 

pattern in which the bullet casings 

fell at the shooting site. 

But when they decided to 

shoot at the target from a stationary 

position, the test pattern 

matched. 

In the summer of 2020, sheriff’s 

detectives started surveilling 

Gill, and he seemed to notice, 

reaching speeds of 120 mph on 

the freeway and 80 mph on city 

streets in San Jose to elude the 

tail, according to a police report. 

Gill’s home was searched three 

months later, and detectives 

found he had two .380 pistols 

registered to him, but did not 

recover guns or ammunition that 

matched the crime scene. 

Given the facts of the case, 

Deputy District Attorney Jason 

Malinsky, who works in his 

office’s Public and Law Enforcement 

Integrity Unit, objected to 

the charge reduction, saying that 

the original felony vandalism 

charge was already limited in 

encompassing the scope of Gill’s 

crime. 

“Making it a misdemeanor 

undermined the seriousness. He 

fabricated a shooting, and multiple 

deputies responded who 

believed this was real,” Malinsky 

said. “They believed two people 

out there were randomly driving 

up on law enforcement officers 

and shooting at them, and were 

on the loose.” 

Additionally, Malinsky noted 

that a felony conviction would 

bar Gill from possessing guns. 

“I thought it was appropriate 

that he should not be allowed to 

have firearms.” 




136 The Blues -- January February ‘24 ‘24

The Blues - February January ‘24 137


138 The Blues - January February ‘24

The Blues - February January ‘24 139

THERE ARE 

parting shots... 

140 The Blues - February ‘24

NO WORDS 


142 142 The The Blues - January - February ‘24 ‘24

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operated by Rick Fernandez, a former 

officer of 10 years, he prides himself 

on maintaining the highest standards 

of customer service. Cop Stop understands 

its our customers who drive our 

success, and we strive to offer the best 

service to everyone who walks through 

our doors. At Cop Stop we offer quality 

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The Blues - - January February ‘24 ‘24 143

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144 The Blues - - January February ‘24 ‘24

POLICE SUPPLIES 

GUNS/AMMO 

Starting in 2003, Cop Stop Inc. 

Opened with a vision and goal to 

service first responders; “Our everyday 

heroes.” Catering mainly to Police, 

Fire, Military and EMS, but also open to 

the public, Cop Stop offers a variety of 

products, gear and apparel. Open and 

operated by Rick Fernandez, a former 

officer of 10 years, he prides himself 

on maintaining the highest standards 

of customer service. Cop Stop understands 

its our customers who drive 

our success, and we strive to offer the 

best service to everyone who walks 

through our doors. At Cop Stop we 

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Supporting Law 

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Working with PROFORCE through the 

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Inset: Dan Rooney ProForce President 

The company features an excellent selection of high demand 

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transaction has set a trend for many other law enforcement 

agencies in the State of Texas. 

Agency demonstrations, test and evaluation 

of products is available upon request. Ask us 

about trade-ins! We will buy your agency duty or 

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CENTRAL POLICE SUPPLY is 

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nearly 50 years with the absolute best 

The Blues - January February ‘24 145

4 

bed 

Transferring to Houston and need a home? 

Located in League City, 30 minutes to Downtown Houston 

or the Beaches 2119 of Galveston Quiet Falls Island. Lane 

3.1 

bath 


sqft 

League City, TX 77573 

T h i s 2 - s t o r y 4 3 . 5 2 D a v i d W e e k l y h o m e h a s e v e r y t h i n g r e a d y f o r a w o r r y - f r e e m o v e - i n . L o c a t e d o n a n o v e r s i z e d l o t 

o v e r l o o k i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y l a k e , f e a t u r e s i n c l u d e e n g i n e e r e d w o o d f l o o r s d o w n s t a i r s , a s p a c i o u s o f f i c e w i t h F r e n c h 

d o o r s , 42 " k i t c h e n c a b i n e t s , a n d a l i v i n g a r e a w i r e d f o r S u r r o u n d S o u n d . T h e p r i m a r y b e d r o o m i s d o w n s t a i r s a n d 

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SCAN CLICK 

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OR 

n e w 

TAP 

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FOR t h a t MLS i s c o m p l e t e l y h i d d e n f r o m v i e w b y t w o l o c k a b l e g a t e s . S t e p o u t s i d e t o e n j o y t h e 33 , 000 g a l l o n p o o l w i t h 

w a t e r f a l l a n d s l i d e . T h e 600 f t . o v e r s i z e p a t i o a n d p o o l d e c k c o m e c o m p l e t e w i t h o u t d o o r k i t c h e n , p r e m i u m o u t d o o r 

f u r n i t u r e a n d a f i r e p i t c o f f e e t a b l e . T h e p o o l a l s o i n c l u d e s a n A I P o o l C l e a n e r . S i m p l y b e a u t i f u l ! 

Welcome Liberty Police Department 

This 2-story, 4,3.5, 2, 3400 sq. ft. David Weekly Home has everything ready for a worry-free move-in. Located 

on an oversize lot in Magnolia Creek in the City of League City, you’re only 25 minutes from Downtown Houston 

or the Beaches of Galveston. The primary bedroom is downstairs with an amazing view of the pool and 

lake. Three more bedrooms are upstairs along with a large game room. New roof, HVAC and updated appliances. 

Enjoy the outdoor kitchen on a 600’ covered patio surrounded by tropical landscape. Simply Beautiful. 

M i c h e l l e H a t m a k e r 

B r o k e r / O w n e r 

office. 409-744-4622 

email. mhatmaker@hatmakergroup.com 

website. hatmakergroup.com 


cell. 409-457-8716 

office address. 1021 61st St Suite 100-B, Galveston, TX 77551 

© 2023 Weichert, Realtors. 

REALTORS® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a Member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict 

Code of Ethics. Weichert® is a federally registered trademark owned by Weichert Co. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Each Weichert® franchised office is independently 

owned and operated. If your home is currently listed with a real estate broker, this is not intended to be a solicitation of the listing. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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JOIN OUR TEAM! 

ARANSAS PASS POLICE DEPARTMENT 

IS HIRING FOR 

TCOLE CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS 

The Aransas Pass Police Department is a progressive agency, employing some of the sharpest 

minds and equipping them with some of the best technology available. We continue to seek 

applications from those desiring to become part of our law enforcement family. 

Making a positive dierence in our community is what APPD is all about! Are you in? 

Opportunities 

Bike Patrol 

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DEA Task Force 

Field Training Officer 

Gang/Narcotics Investigations 

Criminal Investigations Div. 

Marine Patrol & Dive Team 


School Resource Officer 

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Salary 

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$6,600 Retention Stipend 

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Paid Bereavement Leave 

Cell Phone 

Holiday Pay/Leave 

Longevity Pay 

Paid Personal Leave 

Sick Leave 

TMRS Retirement (2:1 at 6%) 

Tuition Reimbursement 

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Weapon Purchase Program 

Point of contact: Administrative Captain Troy Poe (361) 758-5224 ext. 2421 or tpoe@aptx.gov 

For an application or more information visit: police.aptx.gov/jobs 


The City of Aransas Pass is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.

ALDINE ISD 


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• Teacher Retirement System 

TCOLE CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE 

• Intermediate PO: $2,400 

• Advanced PO: $4,800 

• Master PO: $7,200 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be 21 Years Of Age 

• Must Hold an Active Tcole Peace Officer License 

• Must Complete the Following: 

• Pass Physical Agility Test 

• Background Investigation 

152 • Psychological The Blues Evaluation - February ‘24 

• Drug Screening 

ALDINEISD.ORG 

STARTING SALARY $55,000 WITH NO EXPERIENCE 

UP TO $85,000 DEPENDING ON EXPERIENCE 

ALDINE ISD PD OFFERS 

DEPARTMENT BENEFITS 

• Uniforms Provided, Including Duty Weapon 

• Department Provided Training 

• Starting Pay Depends on 

Qualifications / Experience 

• TCOLE Certification / Education Pay 

• Most Officers work Day Shift with Weekends Off 

(INCENTIVE PAY FOR DETECTIVES, K-9 HANDLERS, AND 

FIREARM INSTRUCTORS.) 

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT 

SGT. HALL AT 281.442.4923 

OR VISIT ALDINEISD.ORG 

SPECIALIZED DIVISIONS 

• Criminal Investigations 

• Emergency Response Team 

• Honor Guard 

• Gang Task Force 

• Community Outreach Division 

• K-9 Division 

• Firearm Instructor 

$1,000 SIGNING BONUS






NOW 

HIRING 

BIG SPRING PD IS NOW HIRING POLICE OFFICERS 

• 100% PAID ACADEMY TRAINING FOR 

NON-CERTIFIED CADETS 

• EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ARE PROVIDED 

INCLUDING TAKE HOME VEHICLES 

• TMRS RETIREMENT (2:1 CITY MATCH) 

• 100% EMPLOYEE MEDICAL AND LIFE 

INSURANCE PREMIUM PAID BY THE CITY 

• PAID VACATION AND HOLIDAYS 

• PAID SICK LEAVE 


• LONGEVITY PAY FOR YEARS OF SERVICE 

• EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM 

• PROGRESSIVE ANNUAL IN-SERVICE 

TRAINING AND EXTERNAL TRAINING 

OPPORTUNITIES. 

• OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE 

EXPERIENCE IN ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS 

SWAT, NARCOTICS, TRAFFIC, AND CRIMINAL 

INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION 

• $1500 ACADEMY REIMBURSEMENT AND 

$2400 RELOCATION PAY FOR CERTIFIED 

OFFICERS 

$55,900 STARTING ANNUAL SALARY FOR CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICERS. 

ENTRY LEVEL TESTING ON AUGUST 1, 2023 

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JULY 26, 2023 

APPLY NOW AT WWW.MYBIGSPRING.COM 

THE CITY OF BIG SPRING IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER




October 15 

WATCH FOR NEW TEST DATES 



Cuero Police Department 

Now Hiring for Patrol Officer Position 

Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com 


Department Benefits 

14 Paid Holidays 

2 Weeks Paid Vacation 

Certification Pay 

100% Insurance Paid for Employees 

Retirement 2 to 1 match (20yr Retirement) 

FSA for Employees 

Longevity Pay 

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

Take Home Vehicle Within Surrounding Counties 

10 Hour Work Shifts 

Membership Paid to Local Gym 

Department Provided Training 

Off-duty Security Opportunities 

Cell Phone Stipend 

Starting Pay Depends on Qualifications 

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

Academy and pass a background investigation.


Paid academy up to 

$70,560 

Lateral pay up to 

$81,321.70 

Additional Pay 

Education Pay 

Bachelor's 

Intermediate Cert. 

Advanced Cert. 


Shift Differential 

FTO Pay 

Language Pay 

WE'RE 

HIRING 

300+ NEW OFFICERS 

$2,880/yr 

$3,600/yr 

$600/yr 

$4,800/yr 

$7,200/yr 

3.5%-6.5% 

$1,200/yr 

$1,800/yr 

Benefits 


Pension plan 

Compensation plan 

15 paid vacation days 

12 paid holidays 

15 days military leave 

Additional 6 weeks paid 

parental leave 

Health/ Vision/Dental/ Life 

Insurance 

21-44 YEARS OLD 

45 COLLEGE 

CREDIT HOURS 

MUST MEET ONE REQUIREMENT 

19.5-21 YEARS 

OLD 

60 COLLEGE 

CREDIT HOURS 

ACTIVE TCOLE 

LICENSE 

MUST HAVE VALID 

TEXAS PEACE 

OFFICER LICENSE 

3 YEARS 

ACTIVE MILITARY 

HONORABLE 

DISCHARGE 

dallaspolice.net/join-dpd 214-671-4409 


Civilian positions available: (Apply at www.Dallascityhall.com)






GALVESTON 

COUNTY 

SHERIFF’S OFFICE 

Seeking Individuals Who Are Interested in a Rewarding Career in Corrections 

Begin Your Career Today! 

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY 

Position: Corrections Deputy I 

Bureau/Division: Corrections/Jail 

Title/Rank: Corrections Deputy/Deputy I 

Reports to: Sergeant - Corrections 

Starting Salary: $51,250.00 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES 

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

inspections; conducts outside perimeter checks. 

Preparation and proper completion in the documentation of inmate records. 

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

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

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

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

locations and activities of inmates. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

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

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

background investigation. 

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

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

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

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

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

• Must have a stable credit history. 

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

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

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

convictions of any level. 

• Applicant must pass all phases of the required testing. 

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

presently licensed. 

TO APPLY 

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

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

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

JOIN US 

VISIT SHERIFF.GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV TO APPLY! 


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

CONTACT US 

409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV



GOOSE CREEK CISD PD 

NOW RECRUITING 

POLICE OFFICERS ! 

POSITION DETAILS: 

Provides law enforcement services to the school district to prevent and protect all students, personnel, 

and visitors from physical harm and prevent property loss due to theft or vandalism. Enforce all 

laws including municipal ordinances, county ordinances, and state laws. 

● 

● 

● 

● 

240 or 202 Duty Day Schedule 

Competitive Salary - MTD9* Starting 

Stipends available for Intermediate, Advanced and Master TCOLE License 

Various opportunities including K9, Patrol, Investigations, FTO, Instructor and more 

REQUIREMENTS: 

● 

● 

● 

Current TCOLE Peace Officer License 

Ability to pass comprehensive background 

Ability to pass medical, drug and psychological 

exams 

HIRING PROCESS: 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Online Application 

Complete preliminary interview 

Complete background investigation 

Complete Oral Board Interview 

Conditional Job Offer 

Complete Medical, Psychological and Drug Screen 

PREFERRED: 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Intermediate TCOLE Peace Officer License 

Bilingual 

Previous ISD PD experience 

Background in law enforcement 

Contact us at 281-422-6461 to speak with a recruiter. 

Apply online @ https://www.gccisd.net/page/employment.home 


ARE WE 

HIRING 

Criminal Background 

Pass 

proficiently 

Type 

Nights, Weekends & Holidays 

Work 

Speaking Preferred 

Spanish 

11th Street 

1015 

Texas 

Hempstead, 

Hour work schedule 

12- 

every other weekend 

off 

THE CITY OF 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DIVISION 

HEMPSTEAD POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Dispatchers 

QUALIFICATIONS 

18 years of age 

Minimum 

Starting Salary: $41,600 

B E N E F I T S 

BlueCross Blue Shield 

Vision & Dental Insurance 

Longevity Pay > 1 year 

Certificate Pay 

Uniform Shirts Provided 

77445 


www.hempsteadcitytx.gov (job opportunities)

JOIN OUR TEAM 

Place your department’s recruiting ad 

in The BLUES for only $250 for an 

BECOME entire A HEMPSTEAD year, only $20 a POLICE month. OFFICER 

Hempstead's Finest 

Starting Salary: $57,750 

- BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD 

- VISION & DENTAL INS 

- CERTIFICATE PAY 

- WEAPONS ISSUED 

- OFF EVERY OTHER WEEKEND 

- CONTINUING TRAINING 

NOW HIRING 3 POLICE OFFICERS 

HPD BOASTS: 

- Training Provider 

- Canine Program 

- Narcotics Investigation 

- Crash Investigators 

- Telecommunications 

Division 

1015 11th St Hempstead, TX 

hpdrecruing@hempsteadcitytx.gov 

Or call us at: (979) 826-3332 



LATERAL DEPUTY 




WE ARE 

HIRING! 

LATERAL DEPUTY 

REQUIREMENTS 

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

Law Enforcement (TCOLE) in good standing 

• Must be currently employed as a Peace Officer (any break in 

service will be considered on a case-by-case basis) 

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

Peace Office at any one agency 

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

• Meet HCSO firearms qualification standard 

• Must pass a thorough background investigation (criminal 

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

required by TCOLE 

• Must pass a physical and psychological evaluation as required by 

TCOLE 

• Valid driver’s license and liability insurance (Texas by start date) 

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

peripheral vision 

• Correctable normal audible range in both ears 

• A two (2) year minimum commitment to Patrol before being 

eligible to transfer to other Bureaus 

For additional information contact 

Harris County Sheriff’s Office 

Recruitment Unit 

(713) 877-5250 


TO APPLY 

www.harriscountyso.org | www.hcsojobs.com 

SCAN 

THIS CODE Harris County 

@HCSOTexas 

Sheriff’s Office 

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas

WE ARE 

HIRING! 

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 

REQUIREMENTS 

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. 

• A minimum of 6 months of work experience in emergency 

dispatch, call center, customer service, or a closely related field 

• Must successfully complete Telecommunicator training and pass 

all testing required to obtain TCOLE certification within a year 

of employment 

• At least 18 years of age (by start date) 





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

required by TCOLE 

• Must pass a medical and psychological evaluation as required by 

TCOLE 

• Demonstrated proficiency with computer and related software, 

i.e., Word/Excel, writing correspondence, reports, and 

processing documents. (In-person testing required) 




(713) 877-5250 

TO APPLY 


SCAN 


@HCSOTexas 


HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas 


WE ARE 

HIRING! 

DEPUTY CADET 

REQUIREMENTS 

• At least 60 college credit hours and/or 2 years of military 

experience with an honorable discharge 


• Valid driver’s license and liability insurance (Texas by start date) 

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





background check, fingerprinting, personal interview, etc.) 

• Must pass a medical and psychological evaluation as required by 

TCOLE 

• Must pass all required testing 

YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER 

STARTS HERE, JOIN OUR ACADEMY! 

• Must pass all required testing upon completion of the Basic 

Peace Officer Course (BPOC), sworn Deputies must successfully 

complete the Field Training Program (FTP) before receiving a 

Patrol assignment 

• A two (2) year minimum commitment to Patrol before being 

eligible for other Bureaus 




(713) 877-5250 


TO APPLY 


SCAN 


@HCSOTexas 


HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas

WE ARE 

HIRING! 

DETENTION OFFICER 

REQUIREMENTS 

Ask About Our Hiring Incentive 

• High School Diploma or G.E.D 

• U.S. Citizen 


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

and peripheral vision 


• Must pass all pre-employment testing 


background check, fingerprinting, personal interview, etc.) 

as required by TCOLE 

• Must pass a medical and psychological evaluation as required 

by TCOLE 

Lateral Detention Officer: 

If you have verifiable experience as a correctional officer or a 

jailer from any correctional facility, we will pay you up to 14 

years for your experience. 




(713) 877-5250 

TO APPLY 


SCAN 


@HCSOTexas 


HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas 






THE KILLEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT 

IS NOW 

Hiring 

FOR THE POSITION OF 

Police Officer 

Online Applications 

will open: 

July 31, 2023 

Application Deadline: 

September 15, 2023 

Civil Service Exam will 

be: 

September 24, 2023 

To apply, go to: 

www.killeentexas.gov/16 

8/Job-Opportunities 

Wear The Badge, 

Make a Difference 

D 

b 

th 

a 

Officer De'Vonte Johnson 

Recruiter 

254-200-7987 

DJohnson@killeentexas.gov 

The Killeen Police Department is an 

190 

Equal 

The Blues 

Opportunity 

- February 

Employer 

‘24

Starting pay - $57,889 

Paid: Vacation, Holiday & Sick Leave 

$15K Sign-on incentive for TCOLE 

certified Peace Officers 

College Degree pay incentive 

7% retirement plan through TMRS 

with a 2:1 match ratio 

Comprehensive Benefits Package 

Opportunity to work in various 

specialized units 

The Killeen Police 

epartment is dedicated to 

uilding a partnership with 

e community to fight crime 

nd improve every citizen's 

quality of life. 

Follow us at: 

KilleenPD 

KilleenPolice 

JoinKilleenPD 

Visit www.KilleenPD.com for The further Blues - February details ‘24 191



L A P O R T E 

P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T 

Lateral Police Officer 

Starting Pay $ 62,416. to $73,775. 

Effective October 1, 2022 

No prior experience required. High School diploma or GED required. 

Possession of Class C Texas Driver License. 

Must possess a TCOLE License or be enrolled in accredited Basic Peace Officer Academy. 

Certification Pay (bi-weekly): 

$46.15 - Intermediate Peace Officer 

$69.23 - Advanced Peace Officer 

$92.31 - Master Peace Officer 

Education Pay (bi-weekly): 

$46.15 - Associates Degree 

$69.23 - Bachelors Degree 

$92.31 - Masters Degree 

Employee Benefits: 

Medical / Dental / Vision Insurance 

Longevity Pay 


TMRS Retirement (2 to 1 match) 

ICMA Deferred Compensation/Roth IRA 

$1,000 Physical Fitness Program 

Weapon Purchase Program 

Take-home Vehicles 

Specialized Divisions: 

SWAT / Bomb Squad 

Bike Patrol 

Criminal Investigative Division 

Crime Scene Unit 

Drone Pilots 

School Resource Officers 

Traffic/DOT Officers 

Police Area Representatives 

Apply online at 

www.laportetx.gov/jobs 

Paid Leave Benefits 

15 days vacation (Civil Service) 

15 days sick leave 

Military Leave 

9 observed holidays per year 

2 employee holidays per year 

Bereavement Leave 

Comp Time 




LEWISVILL 

E 

Benefits and Additional Pay: 

• $2500 Sign - On Bonus 

• Lateral Entry Program 

• Take - Home Vehicle 

$77,314 - $97,679 

• Cross Fit G ym 

• 24 /7 Private Indoor/Outdoor Range 

• Load Bearing Vests 

• Tattoos and Beards 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

• 20 Year TMRS Retirement 7% , 2:1 match 

• 457 Deferred Compensation p lan with 3.76% city match 

• 3 Weeks Paid Vacation 

• 15 Days Paid Sick Leave 

• 9 Paid Holidays 

• Field Training Officer 

• Bilingual 

• Longevity 

• Education /Certification 

GET PAID FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A CERTIFIED OFFICER 

• 1 YEAR $83,566 

• 2 YEARS $86,877 

• 3 YEARS $90,373 

Specialized Units : 

• SWAT 

• Street Crimes 

• K - 9 

• Narcotics 

• UAS Drone 

• Bicycle Patrol 

• Criminal In vestigations 

• Traffic 

• DWI 

• Commercial Vehicle Enforcement 

• Training 

• School Resource Officer 

• Neighborhood Resource Officer 

• Co - Care Crisis Team 

www .PROTECTLEWISVILLE. com 

• 4 YEARS $93,677 

• 5 YEARS $97,679 


community theatre, museums, shopping and much more, Lockhart has a community feel that can’t be beat. We have several 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• — 

 

• 

 

• 

 

• 

• 

$75, master’s $100 per 

 

• 

 

• 

 

• 

 

• 

 

• 

 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 

• 

 

• ’ 

 

 

 

 

198 

 

The Blues - February ‘24


LONGVIEW POLICE DEPARTMENT 

JOIN OUR 

TEAM 

2-TIER HIRING 

INCENTIVE 

STARTING SALARY 

$60,085 

$3,000 

Insurance 

120 Hours Vacation 

11 Paid Holidays 

80 Hours Sick Leave 

20-Year Retirement Plan 

2/1 City Match TMRS 


Beards & Tattoos Allowed 

Academy Pay 

Equipment Provided 

Excellent Training Provided 

Speciality/Cerification Pay 

Community Support 

Plentiful Outdoor Activities

$65,709-$67,685 

Based on Population and Experience 

25 YEAR STEP PLAN 

$60,085 - $84,308 

STEP INTO YOUR FUTURE 

NEW POLICE STATION 

COMING 2023 


Patrol Officer 

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

division. 

The City of Manvel is a rapidly growing and diverse community. The current population is estimated at a 

little over 16000 and is located in the northern part of Brazoria County along the State Highway 288 

corridor approximately 4 miles South of the City of Houston. 

The Manvel Police Department has a competitive pay structure for cities of the same size. Salary is based 

on experience and certification levels. 

Requirements: 

High school diploma or GED 

Valid Texas Driver’s License 

with good driving record 

TCOLE certified OR currently 

enrolled in Academy 

program 

Preference for LE experience 

Hiring Process Includes : 

Written test 

Oral board interview 

Physical agility test 

Thorough background 

investigation 

Accelerated Field Training 

Program for experienced officers 

One year probationary period 

Pay and Benefits: 

Competitive pay with an employment 

improvement step program 

TMRS retirement up to 7% with 2:1 match 

by city 

Retirement vested after 5 years of service 

Medical Insurance covered 100% for 

employees and 100% paid for employees 

and dependent by the city after 3 years 

12 hour shifts (DuPont Schedule) 

Personal time off - Vacation and Holiday 

accruals 

Paid sick time 

Lateral transfers 

For more information you can contact 

The City of Manvel Police Department at 

281-489-1212 

202 Rochelle The Blues Carr-Lacy - February ‘24 

rcarrlacy@manvelpd.org

MEMORIAL VILLAGES POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Serving the Villages of Bunker Hill, Piney Point and Hunters Creek 

POLICE OFFICER 

The Memorial Villages Police Department is currently looking for experienced officers who are 

self-motivated, innovative, enthusiastic and love working for a community that supports them. 

5+ Years Patrol Experience Required 

Hiring Bonus $1,500 

Night Shift Differential $3,600 

E.C.A $1300 

Bi-lingual Pay 

Education Pay 

Intermediate, Advanced, Master 

Peace Officer Certification Pay 

Healthcare, Dental and Vision Insurance 

100% paid for employee, 75% for 

spouse/dependents. 

Paid long-term disability and Life Insurance 

for employee, additional life insurance 

available for spouse/dependents. 

Health Savings Account with Department 

contributions up to $4,200 annually. 

TMRS Retirement 7% w/ 2:1 match (20 yr). 

457 Deferred Compensation Plan with 

employer contribution of 2.5% of annual 

salary. 


Longevity Pay up to a max of $2,400 

annually at 10 years of service. 

12 Hour shifts with every other Friday, 

Starting at $83,459 up to $94,164 

Scan for more 

information 

W W W . M V P D T X . O R G 

11981 Memorial Drive – Houston, Tx 77024 

713.365.3700 The Blues - February ‘24 203

WE’RE HIRING 

Join our team and receive: 

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance 

• Paid vacation, employee days, well days, 

sick days and holidays 

• Competitive pay (including bilingual pay incentive) 

AND MUCH MORE! 

APPLY NOW 

Scan here or visit 

RideMETRO.org/Careers 

Call 713-739-4953 or email JoinMPD@RideMETRO.org 

for additional information. 


METRO I S AN EQU A L O PPOR TUNIT Y E M P L O YER.




MAKE A 

DIFFERENCE 

IN YOUR 

COMMUNITY 

We are looking for outstanding individuals to 

join our team! As a Pearland Police Officer your 

mission will be to prevent crime and disorder, build 

partnerships within the community, and positively 

impact the quality of life for all our residents. 

CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS 

• Competitive Salary • Outstanding Training 

• Career Advancement • Exceptional Benefits 

The City of Pearland is one of the fastest growing 

communities within the region. Pearland is located 

approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Houston 

and the current population is approximately 130,000 

residents. 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

HIRING POLICE OFFICERS AND CADETS 

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

Officers who qualify with at least 2 years of experience. 

TEST DATE: 

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

Register by: April 12. 

Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium 

4141 Bailey Road, Pearland, TX 77584. 

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

Candidates must park in the north parking lot. 

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY 

• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals 

• Mandatory temperature checks 

• Masks required, hand sanitizer available 

• Candidates seated 6 feet apart 

For additional information and to register for an upcoming Civil Service Exam, visit 

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers 



PORT HOUSTON 


WE ARE 

HIRING 

SIGN UP TODAY! 

www.porthouston.com/careers-2 

STARTING PAY* 

$60,000 up to $71,000 

* Salary depends on experience 

Are you looking for a career with 

meaning? Do you want to make 

a difference in a highly supportive 

community? Join our team at 

Port Houston! 

REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be 21 years old 

• Must have 2+ years of po 

experience 

• Must have valid Texas Dr 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen 

• Must have an honorable 

from the military (if applic 

• Must never have been co 

Class A Misdemeanor or 

• Not been convicted of a C 

misdemeanor within the l 

• Must have a GED or high 


BENEFITS: 

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 

eligible first day of employment 

• Wellness Program 

(can earn up to $600 credit per year if requirements met) 

• Enrollment with Calm App for Wellbeing 

• Defined contribution plan (401a) 

– Employer Sponsored 

• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan) 

– Employee Contributions 

• Vacation 


• Paid Holiday 12 days/year 

• Life and Accidental Death and 

Dismemberment Insurance 

• Short Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits 

• Flexible spending account (FSA) 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 

• Pet Insurance 

• Legal and Identity Theft Protection 

• Tuition Reimbursement 

Up to the IRS annual limit and a maximum lifetime 

reimbursement of $25,000 

• Onsite Credit Union 

– Port of Houston Credit Union 

lice officer 

iver’s License 

discharge 

able) 

nvicted of a 

above 

lass B 

ast 10 years 

school diploma 

EMPLOYMENT 

TESTING 

Employment is contingent on passing 

any post-offer pre-employment 

screening as listed below: 

• Criminal background check 

• Motor Vehicle Record check 

• Drug screening 

• Physical exam 

• Psychological exam 

• Additional as required 

SCAN 

QR CODE 

TO APPLY 



Provide Exceptional 

Service to All! 

CONTACT 

US NOW 

972-412-6240 

Welcome Aboard 

Rowlett Police Department 

NOW HIRING 

kharrelson@rowlett.com 

4401 Rowlett Rd., 

Rowlett, TX 75088 

Accepting Lateral 

Police Officers. 

Get paid for your 

experience! 

CURRENT SALARY 

Starting salary is $65,554 

Top Out Police Officer salary is $90,861 

Lateral Transfer - May be eligible for a starting 

salary of up to $75,221 

UNITS/ DIVISIONS 

Containment Team 

SWAT 

Bike Unit 

Community Services 

School Resource Officer 

Field Training Officer 

Criminal Investigations Division 

Traffic 

Crisis Assistance Team 

Crisis Negotiation Team 

BENEFITS 

TMRS Pension 7/14 

Medical Insurance 

Dental Insurance 

Vision Insurance 

10 paid vacation days during 

first year & 10 Paid Holidays 

Paid Sick 

Beards and tattoos are 

authorized 

Longevity Pay 

Long Term Disability 

Life Insurance 

Dry cleaning 

Three department issued 

firearms 

The Blues GROW - February WITH US! ‘24 213


WELCOME ABOARD 

SAN ANTONIO ISD PD 




SPRING BRANCH ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT 

WE’RE 

HIRING 

DEPARTMENT 

HIGHLIGHTS 

55 officer department 

44 square mile district 

47 schools 

35,000 population 

24/7 Patrol 

We want you to preserve, protect, and defend our future. 

Starting Pay $63,000 (TCOLE Basic Peace Officer certification with no experience) 

Patrol & Onsite Officers (HS/MS) 

Gang Officer 


Community Relations Officer 

Emergency Management 

Criminal Investigations 

K-9 programs 

Language pay 

Shift differential pay 

Intermediate, Advanced and 


certificate pay 

Paid time off 

Ample overtime opportunities 

*All equipment provided including duty weapon 

**Training opportunities available 

Apply online today. springbranchisd.com/join-our-team 









VAN ALSTYNE POLICE DEPARTMENT 

JOIN OUR TEAM 

Van Alstyne Police is seeking motivated Certified Police Officers who are 

dedicated to making a difference in the community they serve! In exchange, 

VAPD offers a great opportunity for advancement in a fast-growing city! VAPD 

also offers the following incentives: 

▪ Excellent Salary $68,000 - $90,800 plus Certificate Pay 

▪ The City pays the employee’s Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance. The City also pays 

for 50% of dependent cost for medical insurance 

▪ TMRS 7% (City matches 2 to 1). Vested in five years 

▪ Twelve Paid Holidays 

▪ Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Leave 

▪ Twelve hours shifts 

▪ VAPD issues all uniforms, duty gear, body armor, duty weapon, patrol rifles, etc. 

▪ New state of the art Public Safety Complex currently in the design phase. Construction is slated 

to begin later Q4 2023 

For more information, contact Lt. Hayslip 903.482.5251 shayslip@vanalstynepolice.com 

Applications available at https://cityofvanalstyne.us/departments/human-resources/ 


PLACE YOUR 

DEPARTMENT’S AD 

HERE FOR ONLY 

$250 


We are hiring 

Police 

Officers 

now. 

Join the Waco ISD 

Police Department team! 

Pay Grade: 310 

Days: 207 and 226 

Salary: $42,228 to $55,542* 

*Depending on workday calendar 

and years of experience. 

Sign-on Bonus: $5,000 

Qualifications: 

Education/Certification: 

• High School Diploma or GED 

• Texas Peace Officer License issued by TCOLE 

• Current valid Texas class “C” drivers license 

To learn more or 

apply, please visit 

Wacoisd.org/apply 

Waco ISD Police Department 




HUNTER BIDEN

Feb 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 2

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