April 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 4

The Blues - April ‘24 1

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VOL. 40 NO. 4 APRIL 2024 

FEATURES/COVER 

DEPARTMENTS 

88 TOM RIZZO, 

GUEST HOST ON OPL, 

AUTHOR AND CREATOR OF 

“THE IVORY TOWER” 

PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS 

EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS 

GUEST COMMENTARY - DANIEL CARR 

GUEST COMMENTARY - ART WOOLERY 

GUEST COMMENTARY - CHIEF JOEL SHULTS 



NEWS AROUND THE US 

MIGRANT CRIME 

BREAKING NEWS 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES 

WAR STORIES 

AFTERMATH 

HEALING OUR HEROES 

DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS 

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR. 

LIGHT BULB AWARD 

OPEN ROAD 

ADS BACK IN THE DAY 

PARTING SHOTS 

BUYERS GUIDE 

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES 

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS 

NOW HIRING 

BACK PAGE 

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14 

18 

20 

24 

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58 

62 

102 

110 

118 

120 

122 

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126 

128 

130 

132 

136 

140 

144 

146 

150 

236 

12 

GUEST COMMENTARY 

DANIEL CARR 

182 

GUEST COMMENTARY 

CHIEF JOEL SHULTS 

118 

120 


4 The Blues - April ‘24

FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-N-CHIEF 

MICHAEL BARRON 

OUR TEAM 

OUR CONTRIBUTORS 

EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

Chief Rex Evans(Ret) 

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 & Det. John Salerno (Ret) 


Doug Griffith 


Art Woolery 


Daniel Carr 


Bill King 

WARSTORY 

Michael Barron 

AFTERMATH 

Unnamed Widow 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Joanna Putman 

Chief Joel Shults 

Dr. Ron Brown 

Lia Lando 

Rosalio Ahumada 

John Lippman 

Luke Sprinkel 

Bethany Barnes 

Richard Winton 

Alexia Weisend 

Frank Heinz 

Mark Price 

Lucas Bell 

Associated Press 

The Law Officer & Police 1.com 

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 

First time I have nothing to say, 

well maybe that’s not true. 

6 The Blues - April ‘24 

For the first and only time 

in 40 years, I really don’t have 

much to say for this month’s 

column. Well, that’s not true. 

I have a lot I could say, but 

I’m close to selling my house 

and I’m trying to pack and 

go through what goes to the 

new house and what goes in 

the trash. When you’ve lived 

in your current residence for 

nearly 15 years, you have no 

idea how much crap you have 

accumulated until you start 

packing. 

There must be other retired 

officers out there that keep all 

kinds of junk with the mindset 

that “hey I’d better hang on to 

that in case I need it someday.” 

For instance, I found a huge 

box of cables and cords. Power 

cords, USB cables, audio cables, 

old coaxial cables, etc. I 

have no idea what the hell any 

of it goes to or why I would 

have saved any of it for 15 

years. Trash. 

In the garage I found a floor 

jack that leaks and won’t stay 

up. (No ED jokes please) Parts 

for various old cars I no longer 

own, such as a 2018 Dodge 

Charger. For that car I have: an 

upper grill; airbox and ram air; 

custom valve covers; a carbon 

fiber cover for the windshield 

washer tank; and a brandnew 

set of 3D Floor Mats. 

Speaking of floor mats, I 

have front mats for a Jeep 

Wrangler and a Cargo Mat 

to match. 

I have a couple bikes that 

haven’t been ridden since 

George Bush was president, 

dirt bikes that all have bad gas, 

a couple of electric scooters 

(who knows where the chargers 

are) a couple of old filing 

cabinets, and lots of cans of old 

paint, bug spray and God knows 

what else. 

If you live near me, I suggest 

you make late-night runs by 

my house on Thursday nights, 

just before Friday’s heavy trash 

day. There’s no telling what you 

might find at the curb. 

So, while I’m trying to sort 

out the logistics of moving to a 

temporary home while our new 

home is being built, there was a 

moment I thought there might 

not be an April 2024 Issue. 

(kinda like the non existent 1983 

Corvette.) Just skip a month! 

But in the 40-year history of the 

Blues, some 483 issues to be 

exact, we have NEVER missed 

an issue. Every single month 

since 1984, we have always 

published something. Not every 

month was spectacular or contained 

award-winning material, 

and perhaps some were even 

boring. But nevertheless, a copy 

of The BLUES was delivered like 

clockwork to police departments 

all across Texas. 

I run into officers every week 

that say “I remember the BLUES 

arriving at the station the first 

of every month. They would 

be stacked up in the roll call 

room and every officer would 

grab one and totally ignore 

the sergeants briefing while 

they scanned the pages to see 

if someone they knew was 

the recipient of the Light Bulb 

Award.” 

So, skipping an issue was 

certainly not in the cards. 

Therefore, if this issue was a 

little late, now you know why. 

Finally let me close with this. If 

we haven’t thanked every one 

of you for reading this magazine, 

let me say THANK YOU. 

We wouldn’t be here today if 

it wasn’t for the thousands of 

officers that grew up with the 

BLUES. And if you are one of the 

nearly 1.5 million new readers 

that just discovered us, I say 

“welcome aboard.”


FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE 

More than just a job. 


For me, law enforcement was 

always more than just a job. It 

was my career. My profession. I 

worked and studied diligently to 

be the best law enforcement officer, 

supervisor and administrator 

I could be. 

In an ever-changing world and 

environment for law enforcement, 

this was and continues to 

be a tremendous challenge. No 

matter who you are or where you 

are geographically, the community 

you serve and its governing 

body, determines how you “Police.” 

Along this long and winding 

road of wins, losses and unbelievable 

moments, I have learned 

a few things about being a supervisor 

and ultimately a Chief of 

Police for over 13 years. 

Here’s my top ten list…I’d love 

to hear yours!! 

1. Stop. Just listen and take a 

deep breath. More often than not, 

especially as a Chief, a knee jerk 

reaction will cost you more later 

than the problem was ever worth. 

2. Don’t be a “Micro-Manager.” I 

know it’s cliché. But it’s so damn 

true. Get off your troop’s back 

and just let them do their job. You 

might just be surprised what a 

great job they are actually doing. 

3. Get off the damn radio. Stop 

yakking on that damn thing. Let 

them know you’re there. But to 

just stay on the radio all day or 

night. Just stop it already. 

4. Policy is, Policy. I completely 

understand this concept. I 

have directed and written three 

Department Manuals and two 

complete Emergency Operations 

Plans. That being said, being a 

decent, compassionate and understanding 

human being is far 

more integral to what we do than 

to just bury someone with policy. 

Have a heart. Give people the 

opportunity to survive a mistake 

and grow. You’ll be grateful for 

what you did, I can promise you 

that. 

5. Always stand up for your 

troops. Back your First Line Supervisors. 

As a Chief, I’ve seen 

Assistant Chiefs on down to 

Corporals, make good decisions. 

It was the delivery that was the 

problem. Stay on your people 

constantly is demoralizing and 

polarizing. Stop it. Be attentive 

and supportive to your subordinate 

staff and help them deliver 

the message the way you want or 

need it to be delivered. 

6. This one will cause a ruckus. 

You and your Command Staff, and 

every Supervisor in the department, 

do NOT NEED to have every 

new car, radio, MDT or toy that 

the Department gets. I’ll repeat it 

for those in the back. Don’t take 

all the BRAND-NEW STUFF for 

yourself. Let the worker bees, especially 

your swing shift or night 

shift guys and gals get a taste of 

a new car, new radio, new body 

armor, etc. You’ll be shocked at 

the skyrocketing moral this will 

cause. I’m just saying. Remember 

where you came from. 

7. Work with local agencies and 

department heads, not against 

them. One thing I can tell you 

working night shift as a Deputy, 

Sergeant, and a Lieutenant, (Yes, 

I can spell Lieutenant) is this, we 

all got along with each other. 

Chief’s and Command Staff need 

to do the same. Getting along 

with one another is the ONLY way 

we as a profession are ever going 

to survive this onslaught of anti-police 

ideologies. 

8. Provide a safe, sealed means 

for Mental Health for your Troops. 

This is critical. In my younger 

days, the most highly recommended 

Mental Health Professionals 

were Jack Daniels and 

Marlboro. As a profession, we 

have made great strides in providing 

our officers with the help 

they need, but we still have a 

way to go. Providing a place for 

your officers to get assistance 

for their mental health is criti-

cal to the overall mission of the 

department. Not to mention to 

the community we are sworn to 

protect. Give them the space and 

place to get help. 

9. Support your support staff. 

Telecommunicators, Administration, 

Assistants, IT, Fleet. You 

know the ones. They are rarely 

seen and always in the background 

getting the job done so 

that the front-line troops can do 

their job. These are the cogs that 

hold the entire operation together. 

We must stop forgetting them. 

10. Finally, police work isn’t 

always pretty. It’s not all balloons 

and stickers. Sometimes, you 

must employ force and be hard 

on people to stop or prevent a 

violent incident, injury or death 

from occurring. In this profession, 

it’s just a FACT. We cannot 

continue to be totally immersed 

in the art of Community Policing 

when the bullets start flying. 

We must act Immediately. When 

someone chooses to start shooting 

and killing innocent people, 

especially children, there is no 

time to talk, hand them a balloon 

or a sticker. It’s time to punch 

their ticket and send them down 

the road. Period. 

These are just some of the 

big-ticket items that come to 

my mind with regards to being a 

solid supervisor or administrator 

in law enforcement. If you have 

more to share, please write me 

at bluespdmag@gmail.com. I am 

open to hearing more from those 

whom we share our Calling with. 

Let’s be careful out there…. 

START SHOPPING 




GUEST COMENTARY 

police law news 

Daniel Carr 

This Month in Policing 

NMSP Officer Justin Hare, an interstate tragedy. 

As many of you know - New 

Mexico is my home state and 

I recently retired from the Albuquerque 

Police Department. 

This tragedy occurred approximately 

three hours east of Albuquerque 

on Interstate I-40. And 

ended this morning on the far 

West-side of Albuquerque. 

Every police officer that is 

murdered in the line of duty is 

a tragedy. But, it sadly happens 

so often that the news stories of 

cops being murdered thousands 

of miles away can blur together 

- stories stacked like a pile 

of books that are waiting to be 

read. I think it hits a little harder 

for all of us the closer to home 

this happens. 

NMSP OFFICER JUSTIN HARE 

WHAT HAPPENED 

On March 15, 2024 at approximately 

0540 hrs a New Mexico 

State Police Officer (NMSP) 

named Justin Hare was murdered 

in the line of duty. 

According to the NMSP Chief, 

Officer Hare responded to a 

call where someone requested 

assistance for a flat tire on the 

side of the highway. 

Officer Hare responded and 

observed a white BMW stopped 

on the shoulder. A man named 

Jaremy Smith emerged from the 

driver’s seat, approached the 


front passenger window of the 

police vehicle, and made contact 

with Officer Hare. Officer 

Hare offered Mr. Smith assistance 

with his tire and asked if 

he needed a ride into town. 

That was the last conversation 

that Justin Hare would ever 

have. 

Without warning and in cold 

blood Mr. Smith produced a 

firearm and shot Officer Hare 

- as he sat in his police car. 

Ambushed. The coward then 

walked to the driver’s side of 

the vehicle and shot Officer Hare 

again. 

Mr. Smith then pushed Officer 

Hare into the passenger side of 

the vehicle and got into the drivers 

seat and fled the scene in the 

police vehicle. At some point Mr. 

Smith pushed Officer Hare out of 

the vehicle and onto the side of 

the frontage road - to die alone 

on the cold pavement. 

The “alert” tone went off from 

Officer Hare’s radio and another 

NMSP officer was dispatched to 

assist. Officer Hare was located, 

laying alone on the frontage 

road and the NMSP officer and 

a Quay County deputy rendered 

aid, called for rescue, and spent 

the last moments of life with 

Officer Hare. Officer Hare was 

transported to the hospital - 

where he died. 

There was a massive manhunt 

for Mr. Smith this night and he 

was able to successfully evade 

law enforcement. 

YOU NEVER KNOW 

The thing about police work 

is that you never know who 

you are dealing with. Officer 

Hare was just trying to help 

someone who was having car 

trouble. Likely a call that most 

cops would view as no big deal. 

There would be no way for any 

officer to predict this outcome. 

The investigation into this case 

revealed several things: 

Mr. Smith is from Marion, 

South Carolina but had ties to 

Albuquerque, NM. 

The vehicle that Mr. Smith had 

been driving was registered 

to Phonesia Machado-Fore - a 

medic in SC - that had been 

found dead on March 14, 2024. 

Mr. Smith has a lengthy and 

violent criminal history.


MORE SHOTS FIRED 

As the manhunt intensified 

and now involved local, county, 

state, and federal law enforcement 

- there was a “shots 

fired” call near Santa Rosa, NM. 

A rancher was checking on his 

livestock when a black male 

began shooting at him. This 

being a rural area and within 50 

miles of the site where Officer 

Hare was murdered - law enforcement 

personnel descended 

on the area and conducted an 

exhaustive search. But, Mr. Smith 

(who was the likely shooter) 

was able to escape. The rancher 

was not injured. 

CAUGHT! 

On March 17, 2024 just before 

0900 hrs it was reported that 

Mr. Smith had been taken into 

custody and shot by police on 

Albuquerque’s far West side. 

“At 9:30 AM, the New Mexico 

State Police confirmed our initial 

report, which stated that Jaremy 

Smith was taken into custody 

after a pursuit and a deputy-involved 

shooting with the Bernalillo 

County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Multi-Agency Task Force 

has initiated an investigation 

into the deputy-involved shooting. 

No deputies were injured.” 

REMEMBER 

A message to all officers who 

risk their lives and engage in 

these dangerous manhunts: 

These people have nothing to 

lose. 

Kill them - before they kill you. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

I am often asked why the life 

of a police officer has “more 

value” than other people. They 

question why society briefly 

pauses and communities unite 


to grieve together when a police 

officer is murdered in the line of 

duty. 

And I have thought about this 

question a lot over the last few 

years. Because, clearly, all human 

lives have value and most 

everyone has made some positive 

impact on this world and 

will be missed by family and 

friends. 

I guess, simply, this hits different 

when it’s someone who is 

out there protecting us. Because 

the good guys are not supposed 

to CLICK die like TO this. TAP TO WATCH 

There are no words to express 

gratitude for those who make 

the ultimate sacrifice. 

OTHER NEWS 

PROGRESSIVE CRIME POLICY 

FAILURE 

If you take progressive crime 

policy to its logical resting place 

you will end up with Seattle, 

San Francisco, and New York 

City. Cities where violent and 

property crime expand, police 

officers are demoralized, and 

communities are destroyed. 

But, recently, the obvious consequences 

of these inane “soft 

on crime” policies are disliked 

- even by those who wanted to 

take the risk to give them a try. 

REALITY ALWAYS WINS 

THOUGH. 

Oregon had decriminalized 

small amounts of hard drugs in 

2020. 

Predictably, there were a shit 

ton of overdoses. 

Last week the Oregon House 

passed bill 4002 - which will 

again make the possession of 

hard drugs a crime. 

Bad public policy has consequences 

and costs real lives. In 

2019 (per the CDC) Oregon had 

84 overdoses due to “synthetic 

opioids.” By 2023 that number 

was 1100. 

This is not that complicated: 

alcohol, caffeine, and marijuana 

may not be great - but we 

can still maintain a functioning 

society if they are present. 

The same is not true for heroin, 

meth, and fentanyl. Public 

policy should follow that logic. 

San Francisco voters just 

embraced conservative ballot 

measures. In part because 806 

people died from overdoses last 

year in SF. 

Prop E. More police surveillance, 

more leeway for police in 

pursuits with the use of drones, 

less documentation on low level 

use of force investigations, and 

limited oversight of civilian police 

commission. 

Prop F. Requires adults who 

receive cash assistance from the 

city to be screened for drugs. If 

positive - they have to enroll in 

treatment to keep benefits. 

It’s almost as if Ben Shapiro 

wrote those ballot initiatives. 

In New York, Governor Kathy 

Hochul deployed 750 National 

Guard members to the NYC subways 

and 250 State Police and 

transit officers to combat rising 

violent crime. 

Broken Windows1 (implemented 

the last half of the 1990s 

under Giulani and Chief Bratton) 

focused police efforts on 

addressing the signs of social 

decay. 

It worked. 

New York City murders: 

1990 - 2605 murders 

2000 - 952 murders



Det. Art Woolery, Ret. 

“The Armed Citizen” Be prepared. 

At the beginning of each 

month, I look forward to the 

delivery of my N.R.A. issue of 

the American Rifleman magazine. 

Within its contents is a 

section titled “The Armed Citizen.” 

It is usually seven short 

stories about people from all 

walks of life that have decided 

to exercise their second amendment 

rights to arm themselves, 

to protect themselves, family 

and property. Having read these 

stories every month for many, 

many years, I did a little math. 

Eighty-four stories a year, but 

that is just the ones published 

in one magazine each month. I 

wonder what the total number 

would be if the Uniform Crime 

Report (UCR) from every state 

were gathered. Maybe I’ll ask 

Google for the number. Wow, 

Google did not have a number. 

In the February issue, I gave 

my thoughts on what it is going 

to take to solve the crime 

problem in this country. In the 

meantime, I suspect there will 

be no shortage of material for 

“The Armed Citizen” staff. 

Regarding the constant call 

for more gun legislation, it is 

hard for me to understand how 

more laws are going to change 

anything. Any act is not a crime 

unless an existing law is violated, 

so why would anyone 

think that new laws would be 

obeyed with all the crime we 


see today? Gun owners are not 

the ones calling for more legislation, 

more restrictions and 

the like. It’s the non-gun owners 

most of whom have never 

held a firearm, don’t know the 

difference between auto and 

semi auto, single shot or 8 

round magazines. These are the 

very people wanting to impose 

more gun legislation on us. If 

you were to place a handgun 

on a table alongside a hammer, 

screwdriver, butcher knife, and 

chain saw, the handgun would 

be singled out as the villain. 

However, it’s a tool just like 

all the other items mentioned. 

That is until such time it’s in the 

hands of the wrong person and 

used to commit a crime. I wonder 

if the anti-gun people are 

raising all this hell because they 

truly believe all the BS that is 

being spread or, have they just 

found a “tool” they can use to 

draw support to their side for 

other political reasons. Society 

is going to have to take responsibility 

to change the mindset 

of future generations. We must 

change the way people think, 

how they feel about each other 

and themselves. Federal and 

State Governments can’t do it. 

The Laws only apply to those 

who want to obey them. Society 

will decide if we want our 

country to be a safe place to 

live the American Dream. Our 

country is only as strong as 

the citizens are as individuals. 

Strength in numbers only happens 

when singles come together 

as “one”. 

Recently, I had the occasion to 

be in a conversation with two 

friends of mine, one on one at 

different times and places. The 

conversation with both however 

was the same, crime and the 

condition of the country as it 

is today. The first friend said to 

me, “I have my CHL (concealed 

handgun license), but I don’t 

carry. I asked why not? and he 

replied, “All my friends carry so 

I don’t feel I need to.” Okay, so 

he can’t defend himself when 

he is alone, and with friends, 

he puts the burden on them 

not only to be ready to defend 

themselves but him as well. The 

second friend said “I am thankful 

for the police and citizens 

who carry because I really don’t 

want to have to shoot someone 

or have any of my family to have 

to shoot someone. So, number 

one at best is going to tell his 

assailant “Stop I have a CHL.” 

Number 2 is going to be held 

at gun point, while his wife or 

daughter are assaulted. Some 

people say I’m paranoid. I like 

to think I’m just alert and prepared. 

Until next time, stay safe my 

friends and God Bless



No Spring Break for the Police 

Chief Joel F. Shults, 

We aren’t yet a third of the 

way into 2024. As Springtime 

provides its annual renewal of 

hope, the season of mayhem has 

not abated. 

As of March 12, 2024, 7 law 

enforcement officers had been 

murdered by gunfire, 1 by stabbing, 

1 has drowned, 4 were 

killed being struck by a vehicle, 1 

by beating, 7 in car crashes, and 

1 along with 2 National Guardsmen 

in a helicopter crash. Thousands 

more had been injured and 

assaulted in ways that are not 

uniformly measured. Five police 

K9s had also died. 

Heroism is in no short supply. 

Conroe, TX officers saved a 

woman being held with a knife 

to her throat in an attempted 

sexual assault. Officers’ attempts 

at de-escalation were to no 

avail. The incident ended with 

the hostage taker dead and the 

victim physically uninjured. 

A deputy in Alabama saved a 

fellow officer’s life whom he had 

never met by donating a kidney. 

“Somebody needed something to 

live, and I was very lucky to be 

able to help with that,” said Jefferson 

County Sheriff’s Lt. Mike 

House, who donated a kidney to 

Vestavia Hills Police Cpl. Jerry 

Hughes. 

Two NYPD officers faced a 

rain-slicked Brooklyn Bridge, 

climbing 25 feet to save a suicidal 

woman. After talking with the 

woman, they were able to lead 


her to safety. In Akron, OH officers 

rescued a 2-year-old boy 

from Larry Spence, 54, who stole 

a pickup truck with a sleeping 

child buckled in the back seat. 

The officers offered comfort to 

the child, including offering a 

story from a child’s book about 

dinosaurs. LAPD officers were attempting 

to stop a vehicle driving 

with no headlights when the 

driver crashed into a utility pole, 

causing the vehicle to catch fire. 

Officers broke into the vehicle to 

pull two teen occupants out of 

the flames but were unable to 

save a third. 

Broward County, FL, sheriff’s 

deputies fatally shot a transit 

worker in Pompano Beach after 

he allegedly killed a colleague 

and opened fire at law enforcement 

officers. Marana, AZ police 

attempted to stop a suspected 

drunk driver who led officers on 

a foot chase. The man was reportedly 

armed with a handgun 

and, when located, was killed in 

an exchange of gunfire. 

Arrests have been made in the 

January attack on two police 

officers at a migrant shelter in 

New York. The officers were 

kicked and beaten by multiple 

suspects after one of the officers 

was engaged in taking custody 

of a suspect. Manhattan District 

Attorney Bragg, typical of his 

reputation for being a friend of 

offenders, initially allowed four 

suspects released with no bail 

but then indicted them after 

protests. 

Officers in Phoenix protecting 

Vice President Harris’ motorcade 

were assaulted with red dye 

thrown by a protester. A Hamilton 

Township, NJ police officer 

underwent surgery after he was 

shot multiple times by a gunman 

who was subsequently shot and 

killed by police during a domestic 

violence call. Police in 

Sante Fe, NM were attempting to 

apprehend a fugitive when gunfire 

erupted. One officer and two 

suspects were hospitalized. 

While the stories of chaos and 

tragedy are too many to cite, police 

work never ceases to offer 

occasional amusement. Police 

in Colorado were searching for a 

burglary suspect when they discovered 

him answering nature’s 

call with his pants down on a 

toilet in the building. The Superintendent 

of the New Orleans 

Police Department is lobbying 

for new facilities, reporting that 

rats are eating marijuana held 

in evidence. A Weld County, CO 

deputy was successful in rounding 

up a runaway emu. Despite 

attempts to escape the deputy, 

the bird was wrangled back to 

its owner. 

The seasons may change, but 

the challenges of policing never 

do. 

This article originally appeared 

in the National Police Association 

and was reprinted with permission.



police law news 

Daniel Carr 

Officer Involved: Jaheim McMillian 

The race of a suspect and an 

officer are literally the least important 

part of any police interaction. 

If two humans treat each 

other with respect: the eye color, 

hair color, fingernail length, or 

skin color have no relevancy. That 

should not be controversial - that 

should be boring common sense. 

But it clearly isn’t. 


THE GRIFT 

There was an Officer-Involved-Shooting 

(OIS) on October 

6, 2022 in Gulfport, Mississippi. 

A police officer killed a 

teenager. The police dash camera 

footage of the incident was 

recently released. 

During the four months in between 

the incident and the video 

becoming public: the media 

“race-baited” for ratings, the 

family of the deceased tried to 

profit from the tragedy, people 

who don’t know any better (or 

who don’t care) protested in the 

streets, a police officer who was 

not involved in this incident received 

death threats, and the police 

officers who were involved 

were forced into bureaucratic 

silence. 

This story was covered by local 

and national news outlets and 

exploited by anti-police activists. 

Many of the headlines of the 

stories produced by The Guardian, 

Mother Jones, Daily Kos, The 

Huffington Post and others highlighted 

the race of the ‘victim’ 

while conveniently leaving out 

that he was armed with a gun. 

Ever wonder why municipalities 

cannot recruit or retain 

decent cops? 

WHAT HAPPENED? 

Multiple individuals called into 

police dispatch to report that a 

car full of people were wearing 

masks and pointing guns at 

random drivers. A location and 

description of the vehicle was 

provided to police. 

Officers responded to the area 

and actually located the offender 

vehicle (good job!). A traffic stop 

was conducted and the vehicle 

stopped in the parking lot of a 

Family Dollar store. 

Once the vehicle stopped, two 

young men exited the vehicle. 

Both were armed with handguns. 

THE USE OF FORCE 

Jaheim McMillian exited the 

rear passenger door of the vehicle 

- while holding a handgun. 

He initially ran away from the 

officer and towards the front 

door of the store. Mr. McMillian 

ran left and then when he 

reached the end of the building 

he reversed course and ran to the 

right. During this time the handgun 

was visible and the officer 

did not utilize any force. 

Then (for some reason) Mr. 

McMillian ran around another 

parked car and turned towards 

the officer - while holding the 

gun. In this instant Mr. McMillian 

went from an armed fleeing felon 

to an armed felon who was 

rushing towards the police officer. 

It was at that point that the 

officer fired his weapon - killing 

Mr. McMillian.

This is an example of the 

involved police officer demonstrating 

great restraint. Two 

people who had reportedly committed 

felonies (by pointing guns 

at random drivers) and eluded 

police while armed with handguns. 

The officer did not use any 

level of force as the two young 

men ran away and the officer did 

not chase after either individual. 

The officer stood by his patrol 

car. However, once Mr. McMillian 

changed course and ran towards 

the officer with the handgun - 

only then did the officer fire his 

weapon. This indicates that the 

officer had no interest in using 

deadly force (or any force for 

that matter) until his life was in 

immediate danger. 

The other teenager who kept 

running away from the officer 

was arrested later, without incident, 

and no force was utilized 

against him - as he posed no immediate 

threat to police officers. 

According to a Grand Jury 

report - there was no criminal 

action by any police officer. The 

District Attorney will not be 

filing any charges against the 

officer. 

In essence, this OIS was found 

to have been within the law. 

MONTHS OF PROTESTS OVER 

THIS OIS CONTROVERSY 

The description of this incident 

that I provided is not simply 

my opinion, but objective fact 

as seen on police dash camera 

footage. 

The problem is that there was 

a four month gap in between the 

OIS and the release of the police 

video footage. 

During those four months, 

Mr. McMillian’s mother (Katrina 

Mateen) started a gofundme 

account with a stated goal to 

raise $200k. The fundraiser was 

started on October 7, 2022 (the 

day after her son died). The 

description of the gofundme 

states that Mr. McMillian was 

“unarmed” and had his “hands 

up” and was shot “in the back of 

the head” while holding a bag of 

“McDonald’s and keys.” The fundraiser 

states that the police had 

no reason to utilize force against 

him. 

The description of the fundraiser 

also names the officer 

who was supposedly the one 

who shot Mr. McMillian. The 

officer’s name and rank are in 

the description for the fundraiser. 

The officer subsequently 

received months of death threats 

to himself and his family. However, 

the officer listed was not 

involved in this case. In fact, he 

was not even on scene, he was 

not working that day, and was 

out of state on vacation on the 

day that the OIS occurred. The 

chief of police was forced to 

make a public statement about 

this issue. 

As of the writing of this article 

- the description still remains 

- despite the public video evidence. 

However, that dishonest 

description of this tragedy did 

help to raise over $90k for Ms. 

Mateen. 

BEN CRUMP DESCENDS ON 

THE COMMUNITY - RELEASE 

THE VIDEO 

Ben Crump was retained by Mr. 

McMillian’s family in this case. In 

a public statement on October 

13, 2022 Mr. Crump said, “This 

child had his whole life ahead 

of him, but bullets from those 

officers took all possibility of 

that away in an instant. While 

much remains unknown about 

this case, we fully intend to put 

pressure on officials in Mississippi 

until this family gets the answers 

they need and deserve. We 

are calling for officials to release 

any and all video footage of the 

incident so that we can see with 

our own eyes what transpired on 

that tragic night.” 

Here is how we know that 

there is overwhelming evidence 

that this was a lawful, justified, 

and objectively reasonable OIS. 

Mr. Crump demanded the release 

of the police video footage. 

The footage was released. Since 

the release - Mr. Crump has not 

commented, complained, or 

made any statement about the 

use of deadly force by police. 

We all know that if there was 

even the slightest whisper of the 

police officer making any error 

- Mr. Crump would not have 

been shy about creating a media 

carnival to expose the wrongdoing 

by police. The silence by Mr. 

Crump is blaring to those who 

pay attention to the playbook of 

anti-police activists. 

JAHEIM MCMILLIAN 

Mr. McMillian was only fifteenyears-old. 

We should all be angry 

about the end result. But who 

should we be mad at? 

The police officer who responded 

to a call in reference 

to a car full of people pointing 

guns at random citizens - who 

utilized deadly force only after 

an immediate deadly threat was 

posed? or, 

The parents, guardians, teachers, 

coaches, and/or other adults 

in his life who failed to provide 


a good example for this young 

man and who also did not care 

enough to make sure that he 

was not running the streets with 

a gun? 

If we are going to assign blame 

- it seems dishonest to put the 

majority of the fault on the police 

officer who was forced into 

a dynamic and violent situation 

- through no fault of his own - 

while simultaneously not blaming 

the other adults who allowed 

this situation to deteriorate to 

the point that Mr. McMillian was 

out and about with a group of 

criminals terrorizing random 

citizens. 

THE DOUBLE STANDARD 

There is a double standard at 

gofundme. gofundme routinely 

shuts down fundraiser accounts 

established for police officers 

when they are charged with 

crimes and trying to raise money 

for a legal defense. However, 

during the 2020 riots, thousands 

of people who were arrested for 

vandalism, theft, and arson were 

allowed to establish gofundme 

accounts and raised funds for 

their various criminal defenses. 

Mr. McMillian’s family has been 

allowed to establish such a 

fundraiser on this platform - despite 

the fact that he committed 

multiple crimes (felonies) before 

he was shot by a police officer 

- including Aggravated Assault 

against a Police Officer. 

gofundme is a private company 

and can/should be allowed to 

set their own standards. As customers 

we should request that 

they apply the same standards to 

every fundraiser. That is not an 

unreasonable request. 


If provided any reason (whether 

plausible or not) anti-police 

activists will exploit every situation 

to the maximum to promote 

their dishonest narrative. There 

are strategies and practices 

that can be employed to limit 

the damage that can be inflicted 

upon communities. There 

are misguided individuals who 

believe that it is their destiny to 

destroy and dismantle communities 

- while the rest of us are 

responsible for maintaining the 

thin blue line between order and 

chaos. 

For example, the reason that 

the Ma’Khia Bryant OIS in Columbus, 

OH is not associated 

with ‘police violence’ is because 

politicians made the good decision 

to release the police body 

cam footage almost immediately. 

The release of this footage 

depicted literally one of the 

most justifiable and reasonable 

OIS incidents ever captured on 

police body camera. There were 

no riots, no dishonest narratives, 

and no police officers received 

serious threats. (Listen to Officer 

Nate discuss this incident on the 

incredible podcast On Being a 

Police Officer). 

This is an honest playbook that 

politicians and police leaders in 

other communities should employ. 

The quick release of the 

footage in Mr. McMillian’s case 

could have stopped much of 

the chaos fueled by anti-police 

activists who only possess the 

goals to divide and destroy communities. 

The only way that we can fight 

against dishonesty is with the 

willingness to promote truth. 

We should all be allowed and 

encouraged to express, discuss, 

and debate opinions. We should 

do that in a reasonable and respectful 

manner. But, we should 

be more aggressive when it 

comes to objective truth. 

The time for silence is over. 




Daniel Carr 

Boots & Flashlights: The fog of Naivety 

I started the police academy in 

July 2005 - a few months after 

I graduated from college with 

an undergraduate degree in Law 

Enforcement and Justice Administration 

(an unnecessary way to 

say “Criminal Justice.”) 

Going away to college as a 

quasi-independent young adult 

and half-heartedly attending 

easy college courses prepared 

me exactly zero for the police 

academy and somehow less for 

the realities of policing in a violent 

city. 

It’s strange to look at a career 

on a timeline where norms and 

practices dramatically evolve 

but you exist as the same person. 

The official training that I 

received in the police academy 

was some (now unimaginable) 

version of “Ask, Tell, Make.” 

I sat through that “training” 

enamored, hanging on every 

word as though my police academy 

instructors were Socrates 

and nearly two decades later I 

was the detective investigating 

officers for not using enough 

“de-escalation” and the teaching 

the preferred police ethics 

course of the day. 

BOOTS AND FLASHLIGHTS 

As a rookie I was assigned to 

work graveyard shift in an area 

dubbed “the warzone.” 

It was 2006 and I was in a 

squad with my best friend. Policing 

as a new cop in a wild area 


is more satisfying when close 

calls, near misses, and successful 

foot chases are shared with a 

friend. 

My buddy and I were dispatched 

to a residential burglary 

call in the middle of a busy night 

on a specifically awful street. 

The victim scared the burglar 

and after forcing entry he ran 

from the scene. The caller provided 

surprisingly accurate information 

to dispatch that included: 

a description of the offender, the 

direction of travel, and an update 

of where the offender was 

in real time. 

As my partner and I approached 

the scene, to our absolute 

shock, we saw the offender 

near the scene of the crime. 

There was no one else on the 

street at this time of the night 

and the description provided was 

exactly what my mind imagined 

and now saw. 

We quickly exited the car (we 

were riding together as one of 

our cars was out of service) 

and approached the offender 

- shouting a barrage of verbal 

commands. As we approached 

I noticed that in between the 

offender and us - was a six-foot 

chain link fence. In the darkness, 

from a distance, I had not 

realized that a fence separated 

us. The offender was encased in 

another backyard. 

With the clarity of nearly 20 

years of 20/20 hindsight - we 

had multiple options. But, in the 

moment we gave the offender 

commands to climb over the 

fence - so that we could arrest 

him. He hesitated at first and 

said that he could not climb the 

fence. I responded that he surely 

did not want us to come and 

collect him. The offender meekly 

obliged and climbed over. 

He climbed over and was now 

on our side at the top of the 

fence and we put hands on him 

and guided him to the ground 

and got him in handcuffs. The 

explanation of “guided” is not an 

exaggeration. This guy was not 

armed, did not resist arrest, and 

we used zero force to get him 

into custody. 

As this was one of my first 

felony arrests I turned to my 

friend with the intent to give 

him a high-five, a chest bump 

and celebrate like Canseco and 

McGwire after a steroid fueled 

game-winning homer. 

For that brief second I was on 

top of the world. I just made a 

felony arrest without using force. 

I thought that this was the epitome 

of good police work. 

That brief second was corrupted 

by a squad of slightly more 

senior cops and their sergeant. 

Without knowing it they had 

pulled up on scene and starting 

approaching us as we guided the 

offender off of the fence and into

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handcuffs. 

I expected them to join our 

celebration or at minimum give 

us a “good job guys.” But, to my 

dismay, the first words spoken 

by our backup was criticism that 

the bad guy didn’t have any injuries. 

The sergeant condescended 

from on high that when cops 

catch someone who committed 

a felony that the drive to jail 

should be proceeded by a stop at 

the emergency room. 

There was then a sudden cloud 

of anonymous dust as a few 

seconds of boots and flashlights 

proceeded getting this guy to his 

feet. 

DARK 

Things after that were different 

for me. There was a cynicism 

and a darkness in policing that I 

had previously, naively not been 

aware of. This opened a new 

door and closed others in the 

structure that I had set up neatly 

in my mind. 

All these years later the fog of 

time clouds some of the details 

but the experience of disappointing 

eyes judging me in the 

moments after that arrest is still 

clear. 

I don’t know if the other officers 

on scene used force that 

day. I know that there was no 

stop at the hospital. I can’t even 

remember the names or the 

faces of the officers/sergeant. 

But, that isn’t the point. I am not 

griping about their possible unprofessionalism 

- but instead this 

is a vulnerable highlighting of 

my obscene naivety. 


I had held this idea that police 

were always the good guys and 

that criminals were always the 

bad guys. Things after this incident 

were different for me. 

I questioned the paradigm of 

what “good guy” and “bad guy” 

really were. I explored the idea 

that maybe more aggressive 

policing is the answer. That if 

police were slightly more aggressive 

with criminals who 

victimize the innocent - that the 

community may be safer for everyone 

else. 

And, maybe the statistics 

reflect that. Between 2006 and 

2024 the city entered into a DOJ 

Consent Decree (2014). 

In 2006 the city had 36 homicides. 

In 2022 the city had 121 

homicides. Maybe aggressive 

policing saves innocent lives? 

Maybe aggressive policing 

further divides populations that 

already distrust police? 

I still don’t have the answer. 

That’s the reason I continue this 

project. Asking important questions 

at the intersection of morality, 

law, and reality. 

“Whoever fights monsters 

should see to it that in the process 

he does not become a monster” 

- Friedrich Nietzsche 


AROUND THE COUNTRY 

KNOXVILLE, TN. 

Knoxville Police Officer Wisbens Antoine was in his first day at the 

academy when he collapsed during a 1.5 mile run and died. 

The law enforcement community 

across Tennessee, already 

reeling from the shooting death 

of a Blount County sheriff’s deputy 

and the drowning of a Meigs 

County sheriff’s deputy, is in 

mourning again after the death 

of a Knoxville Police Department 

recruit. 

Wisbens Antoine, a member of 

the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class, 

collapsed during a training session 

Feb. 23, Police Chief Paul 

Noel said in a press release. Antoine 

was rushed to the hospital, 

but died Feb. 25, Noel said. 

“I don’t have the words to express 

the magnitude of the grief 

and sadness that we are all feeling 

right now,” Noel said during 

a press conference Feb. 25, 

wiping tears away as he mentioned 

Antoine’s wife and two 

daughters. “We are all beyond 

devastated.” 

A Knoxville Police Department 

patrol car memorial was set 

up outside of the Public Safety 

Complex in honor of Antoine on 

Monday, Feb. 26, 2024. 

Antoine, 32, joined the Knoxville 

Police Department in 2023 

as a Public Safety Recruit and 

started the basic recruit academy 

on Sept. 25, Noel said. 


Antoine was set to be sworn in 

alongside of his 18 classmates 

on March 4. 

On Friday afternoon, Antoine 

collapsed during a routine physical 

training session at the end of 

a mile and a half run for reasons 

that remain unknown, Noel said. 

Members of the police department 

training staff immediately 

provided CPR and other life-saving 

care, including using a mobile 

defibrillator, he said. 

Antoine was rushed to the 

University of Tennessee Medical 

Center and died at around 4 a.m. 

Sunday, Noel said. 

As Antoine’s conditioned worsened 

Friday, Noel made the decision 

to swear him in as a police 

officer. 

“There was no better way to to 

honor his service and his sacrifice 

to the department and the 

community than to make him a 

police officer at the hospital,” 

Noel said during the press conference. 

The police department command 

and training staff, Antoine’s 

recruit class and Mayor 

Indya Kincannon were on hand 

as Knoxville Municipal Judge 

Tyler Caviness swore Antoine in, 

Noel said. A fellow recruit took 

OFFICER WISBENS ANTOINE 

the oath on Antoine’s behalf and 

placed his new badge on his 

chest, Noel added. 

Services for Antoine are pending, 

Noel said Sunday, adding 

that details of a memorial service 

are still being worked out. 

A memorial fund account has 

been set up at the Knoxville 

Law Enforcement Federal Credit 

Union. Those wishing to donate 

money directly to the Antoine 

family can do so in person or 

by mailing a check to the credit 

union at 501 E. Summit Hill, 

Knoxville, TN, 37915. Checks 

should be made payable to the 

Wisbens Antoine Memorial Fund.

PRICE REDUCED 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



KANSAS CITY, MO. 

Independence Police Officer Cody Allen was shot and killed by a 

suspect while assisting a civil process server who had been shot. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - On 

Thursday Feb. 29th, the Independence 

Police Department lost 

one of its own. 

While responding to assist in 

the shooting of a civil process 

server, Officer. Cody Allen was 

fatally shot by a suspect at a 

home in the 1100 block of North 

Elsea Smith Road. 

The Independence Police Department 

and Jackson Co. Circuit 

Court have confirmed that one 

officer and one process server 

are dead while one is in custody. 

“He is a hero, and unfortunately 

he lost his life while serving 

this community,” IPD chief Adam 

Dustman said. “He did exactly 

what the men and women of law 

enforcement are called to do 

day-in and day-out, and I could 

not be more proud of him and 

his service to his community.” 

Allen was a two-time member 

of the Independence Police 

Department. He began his law 

enforcement career with the 

Grandview Police Department 

before joining the police force in 

Independence. 

He then took a job in the private 

sector to try something 

different, but came back to the 

Independence Police Department 

nearly two years ago. 

“He missed it,” Dustman said. 

“But that’s not lost on me (that 

he re-joined IPD.) I could not be 

more proud.” 

Dustman said he remembered 

Allen as always having a smile 

on his face and being able to diffuse 

things at a moment’s notice. 

“One of a kind,” Dustman added 

about Allen. “A human being 

among human beings.” 

The Grandview Police Department 

shared similar sentiments. 

“Our hearts are heavy at the 

Grandview Police Department 

and our condolences go out 

to all the family, friends and 

co-workers reeling from the 

effects of today’s tragedy in Independence,” 

Grandview police 

chief Charles Iseman said. “Officer 

Cody Allen worked with us 

OFFICER CODY ALLEN 

in Grandview for nearly six years 

before transferring to Independence. 

He was loved and respected 

by all those who worked 

with him. His death is a huge loss 

to the law enforcement community.” 

Allen was 35 years old, and he 

leaves behind a wife, two small 

children and his parents. 


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EVERETTE, WA. 

Washington State Trooper Chris Gadd was killed when a DUI driver 

struck his patrol car parked on the shoulder of I-5. 

EVERETT, WA. — Trooper Chris 

Gadd was a man of action who 

loved deeply, was competitive to a 

fault and was passionate about arresting 

drunken drivers to keep the 

roads safe. 

Hundreds of police officers from 

across the country, along with a 

contingent from Canada, joined 

Gadd’s family, friends and members 

of the public in remembering the 

goofy, gregarious 27-year-old who 

was killed in the line of duty March 

2. 

Motorcycles from police departments 

from Spokane Valley to 

Auburn were parked outside Angel 

of the Winds Arena, while inside a 

sea of uniforms in shades of blue, 

green and brown — and at least one 

red uniform of the Royal Canadian 

Mounted Police — amassed for a 

somber service steeped in military 

tradition. 

An honor guard stood at attention 

and saluted as Gadd’s family was 

escorted to the front of the arena, 

where his casket was draped in an 

American flag. The Seattle Police 

Pipes & Drums, dressed in kilts and 

tartans, played “Going Home,” and a 

color guard bearing flags marched 

to the stage. 

Seven troopers who knew Gadd 

best huddled in a group hug before 

one of them attached a streamer 

bearing Gadd’s name to the 

State Patrol flag, where it joined 

streamers with the names of 32 


other troopers killed in the line of 

duty. Gadd, who was a volunteer 

firefighter and emergency medical 

technician before joining the Patrol 

2 years ago, was the 33rd trooper 

killed in the agency’s 103-year history. 

Pastor Matt Krachunis, who has 

known Gadd’s family for 20 years, 

said Gadd was proud to be a trooper, 

loved his job and did it well. 

The pastor remembered him as a 

“pudgy, round-faced kid” growing 

up in Covington who would show 

up on his bike with an airsoft rifle 

and his hair styled into a mohawk. 

Gadd and Krachunis’ son would 

raid the pantry to steal the pastor’s 

“premium snacks” — namely macadamia 

nuts and the good chocolate, 

he said. 

“Chris became a man when none 

of us were watching,” Krachunis 

said. “Chris took the world by the 

reins and just did it. … He made his 

decisions based on what he thought 

was important” and forged his own 

path. 

Gadd found his best friend in his 

wife Cammryn, and his favorite person 

was his young daughter, Kaelyn, 

who he’d hoped to rebuild a car 

with someday, Krachunis said. He 

was incredibly proud of his younger 

sister, Jackie, who became a Texas 

State trooper, and was a devoted 

son to his parents, Gillian and David, 

the latter a retired state trooper. 

“Chris and every single one of you 

TROOPER CHRIS GADD 

stand as society’s first and last line 

of defense,” Krachunis said to the 

crowd of law enforcement officers. 

“Please, remember who Chris was: 

an honorable man, a father, a husband, 

a son and a friend.” 

Robinson expressed anger and 

sadness over the senselessness of 

Gadd’s death, which investigators 

have said was caused by an intoxicated 

driver who struck the back 

of Gadd’s patrol vehicle while the 

trooper was parked on the shoulder 

of Interstate 5 near Marysville. 

“I would trade places with him in 

a second if I had the chance because 

he was there doing his job to 

keep others safe,” she said. “It’s not 

fair and it’s not right.” 

State Patrol Chief Batiste called 

Gadd’s death a devastating loss and 

said he served with excellency and 

humility.



RIO GRANDE CITY, TX. 

A U.S. Border Patrol agent and two N.Y. National Guard soldiers were killed in 

a helicopter crash near Rio Grande City in South Texas. 


LA GRULLA, TX. — A National 

Guard soldier from New York 

who was seriously injured in the 

crash of a helicopter flying over 

the U.S.-Mexico border remained 

hospitalized Sunday while authorities 

released the names of the 

two National Guard soldiers and a 

Border Patrol agent on board who 

were killed. 

The three killed Friday in the 

crash in a field in Texas near Rio 

Grande City were: Chief Warrant 

Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, 28, 

and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John 

Grassia, 30, both with the New 

York National Guard; and Border 

Patrol Agent Chris Luna, 49. The 

cause of the crash remains under 

investigation. 

The UH-72 Lakota helicopter 

was assigned to the federal government’s 

border security mission 

when it went down while the 

helicopter was conducting aviation 

operations, according to a 

statement released by Joint Task 

Force North, a military unit that 

supports Customs and Border 

Protection. No other details were 

provided. 

The injured soldier was from the 

New York National Guard, according 

to the National Guard Bureau. 

The soldier, whose name isn’t 


being released, was the aircraft 

crew chief. The soldier remained 

hospitalized, according to a news 

release posted by the New York 

State Division of Military & Naval 

Affairs. 

Major General Ray Shields, the 

adjutant general of New York, 

said in the release that they are 

“shocked and devastated” by the 

deaths of Frankoski and Grassia, 

and are “praying for the quick recovery” 

of the injured crew chief. 

Troy Miller, acting commissioner 

of Customs and Border Protection, 

said in a statement that they were 

“heartbroken” by the death of 

Luna, who is survived by his wife 

and two children, parents and 

brother. 

Homeland Security Secretary 

Alejandro Mayorkas said in a 

statement that they are praying for 

the injured national guardsman’s 

“swift recovery,” and said his 

thoughts and the “deepest condolences” 

of the department were 

with the families of those killed. 

Grassia, who was a New York 

state trooper, was from Schenectady, 

New York, and he enlisted in 

the New York Army National Guard 

in 2013 as a UH-60 Black Hawk 

helicopter maintenance specialist, 

according to the New York State 

Division of Military & Naval Affairs. 

The release said that Frankoski, of 

DEPUTY CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON 

Rensselaer, New York, enlisted in 

the New York Army National Guard 

in 2016 and she trained to become 

a UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72 

Lakota helicopter pilot. 

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul 

said in a statement that she was 

“deeply saddened” by the deaths 

of Grassia and Frankoski. 

“There is no greater calling than 

service to and defense of your 

country,” she said. 

Frankoski and Grassia were assigned 

to Detachment 2, Company 

A, 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation 

Regiment. Luna was assigned to 

the Border Patrol’s Rio Grande City 

Station. 

The helicopter that crashed was 

assigned to the District of Columbia 

Army National Guard, according 

to the New York State Division 

of Military & Naval Affairs release.



GENESEE COUNTY, NY. 

Genesee County Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello died after being attacked by a 

suspect in a bar in Batavia New York. 

By Lia Lando 

BATAVIA, N.Y. (WKBW) — There 

is an outpouring of support for 

a fallen member of local law 

enforcement and his family. 

Earlier this week the Genesee 

County Sheriff’s Office announced 

the line-of-duty death 

of Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello. 

The sheriff’s office said Sgt. 

Sanfratello was killed on March 

10 after an incident while working 

a special assignment detail 

at Batavia Downs. 

Two suspects in the case, 

33-year-old Michael Elmore and 

39-year-old Lyndsey Wilcox, 

appeared in Batavia Town Court 

Tuesday. At the sheriff’s office, a 

patrol car sits out front in honor 

of Sgt. Sanfratello and serves as 

a memorial. 

“Tommy should be remembered 

as a good all-around guy,” 

said Gordon Dibbles, a retired 

Chief Deputy who has fond 

memories of working with Sgt. 

Sanfratello. “You know it’s not 

real...these types of things for 

me...it’s something that doesn’t 

set in until quite a while later.” 

“The community that we all 

have, they come together immensely 

for things like this,” said 

Joshua Lathan who has lived in 

the area his entire life. 

He is proud to see his neighbors 

showing so much support 

for Sgt. Sanfratello and his family. 

“Just driving, especially at 

nighttime, seeing all the blue 

lights on everyone’s front porches, 

the flags being hung in all the 

towns, the yard signs that people 

are getting. Just recently a 

couple from Oakfield are getting 

together buying t-shirts with his 

name on them,” Lathan said. 

Other signs of support include 

posters in windows all over town 

along with artwork and signs 

honoring the Sergeant. 

“I noticed all the sheriff’s badges 

on all the businesses and it 

was nice to see,” said Leah Ford 

who came to town for lunch 

with her family. 

“He would be very appreciative 

SGT. THOMAS SANFRATELLO 

of all of this,” said Dibbles. “He 

also had a good sense of humor 

and I think he would be on more 

of the side of the ‘celebrate life 

type of thing’ but people are 

hurting so this is what you do.” 

Earlier this week an emotional 

Ian Sanfratello, the son of Sgt. 

Sanfratello, spoke alongside 

several Genesee County sheriff’s 

deputies and Batavia police officers 

during a news conference. 

“He will never be forgotten and 

he will be missed immensely by 

all that not only had the chance 

to know him, but talk to him. 

And he will always be loved,” 

Sanfratello said 

DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S 

AFTERMATH ON PAGE 120 


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VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL. 

A motorcyclist with a fake plate that read ‘WILL RUN” was arrested after a 

chase involving six Florida agencies. 

By Law Officer 

VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL. – A motorcyclist 

in Florida with a fake 

personal license plate reading, 

“WILL RUN,” fled from police at 

speeds reaching 145 mph before 

he was safely tracked down and 

arrested, according to law enforcement 

authorities. 

The biker “taunted and fled” 

from six different law enforcement 

agencies prior to being 

captured. He was trailed by air 

support and finally taken into 

custody in Sanford. 

Ashtin Jarvis, 19, New Smyrna 

Beach, was arrested on several 

charges including fleeing at high 

speed, reckless driving, and possession 

of a counterfeit license 

plate, in addition to traffic violations. 

Thank you Seminole County 

Sheriff’s Office and Sanford Police 

Department for the assist! 

Jarvis taunted and fled from 

Port Orange PD, New Smyrna PD, 

Ormond Beach PD, Edgewater PD, 

South Daytona PD, and VSO deputies. 

Participating law enforcement 

agencies did not engage 

in any pursuits, instead calling in 

Air One to respond, follow and 

help protect the public from the 

reckless behavior on our roads. 

“Oh man, was that fun?” a 

deputy asked Jarvis as he approached 

him during the arrest. 

“No, not really,” the rider said. 

According to a probable cause 

arrest affidavit obtained by 

Law&Crime, a deputy was patrolling 

the area of Dunlawton 

Avenue in Port Orange when he 

saw a group of motorcycle riders 

popping wheelies. He saw one of 

the riders had the license plate 

“WILL RUN” on his bike, which 

the deputy recognized as a motorcycle 

that fled the week prior 

during “Bike Week.” 

The deputy noticed the license 

plate was invalid and started 

following the crew. He pulled up 

to them at a stop light, got out 

of his patrol unit, and walked up 

to them. That’s when the motorcyclist 

took off. 

Once he was arrested, deputies 

asked Jarvis about the fake 

plate. He reportedly said he saw 

it in a video and thought it was 

funny, so he decided to buy it, 

while saying his actual license 

plate was at home. 


DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S 

WAR STORY ON PAGE 118



NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE 

New Mexico State Policeman Justin Hare was shot and 

killed while responding to a stranded motorist on I-40. 

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New 

Mexico State Police have identified 

the suspect in the shooting 

of Officer Justin Hare as 

32-year-old Jaremy Smith of 

Marion, South Carolina. In an update 

posted on Facebook, NMSP 

Chief Troy Weisler said around 

5 a.m. Friday, Officer Hare was 

sent to help a motorist with a 

flat tire on I-40 near mile marker 

320, west of Tucumcari. 

Officer Hare parked behind the 

vehicle. Jaremy Smith, 32, then 

approached the officer’s passenger 

side window. 

“Officer Hare offered to give 

the suspect a ride to town, then, 

without warning, the suspect 

pulled out a firearm and shot 

Officer Hare. The suspect then 

walked to the driver’s side and 

shot Officer Hare again,” said 

Chief Weisler. 

The chief also said Smith then 

pushed Officer Hare to the passenger 

seat and took off in the 

officer’s patrol car which was 

later found abandoned. Police 

are still searching for Smith. 

NMSP has also issued an arrest 

warrant for the 32-year-old 

charging him with First Degree 

Murder, Armed Robbery, Shooting 

at or from a Motor Vehicle, 

Tampering with Evidence, Felon 

in Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful 

Taking of a Motor Vehicle, 

and Criminal Damage to Property. 

“The last words Officer Hare 

uttered on this earth was an 

offer to help the man who was 

about to kill him. I am disgusted 

and sickened by the actions 

of this cold-blooded murderer. 

We are bringing every resource 

to bare to bring Officer Hare’s 

killer to justice and we will not 

rest until that is done,” said Chief 

Weisler. 

Officer Hare is the first New 

Mexico State Police Officer to be 

killed in the line of duty since 

Officer Darrian Jarrott in February 

of 2021. 

Officer Hare became a member 

of the NMSP in December 

2018, successfully completing the 

training program as part of the 

93rd graduating class for NMSP. 

He was born in Albuquerque and 

was raised in Logan and Moriarty, 

New Mexico. He attended CNM 

and Embry–Riddle Aeronautical 

University. He is survived by 

his parents, girlfriend, and two 

young children. 

OFFICER JUSTIN HARE 

UPDATE: The gunman believed 

to be responsible in the homicides 

of a patrolman with the 

New Mexico State Police as well 

as a paramedic in South Carolina 

was identified as Jaremy Smith, 

was taken into custody on Sunday 

March 17th, after an alert 

gas station clerk in Bernalillo 

County New Mexico, spotted the 

suspect and called 911, authorities 

said. 

Smith is being charged with 

murdering Officer Hare and 

off-duty paramedic Phonesia 

Machado-fore earlier in the 

month. At the time of publishing, 

Smith was held without bond. 


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NEW YORK CITY, NY. 

New York City Police Detective First Grade Jonathan Diller was 

shot and killed during a traffic stop near 1919 Mott Avenue in the 

Far Rockaway area of New York City. 

A New York Police Department 

officer was shot and 

killed in the line of duty Monday, 

March 25th in Queens, according 

to Mayor Eric Adams. 

The NYPD officer, identified 

as 31-year-old Jonathan 

Diller, was shot in the torso 

underneath his bullet-proof 

vest during a traffic stop in 

Far Rockaway. Diller was taken 

to Jamaica Hospital, where 

he later died. 

Police said two suspects 

were taken into custody and 

that the driver of the car has 

21 prior arrests, while the 

passenger, who was also the 

shooter, has four prior arrests. 

“It’s because of a senseless 

act of violence that we 

witness a person had a total 

disregard for the safety of 

this city,” Mayor Adams said 

at a news conference Monday 

evening. “It is the good 

guys against the bad guys 

and these bad guys are violent. 

They carry guns and the 

symbol of our public safety, 

which is police uniform, they 

40 The Blues - April ‘24 

have a total disregard for,” 

Adams said. 

“Tonight this city lost a hero, 

a wife lost her husband, and a 

young child lost their father,” 

Police Commissioner Edward 

Caban said on social media. 

“We struggle to find the words 

to express the tragedy of losing 

one of our own. The work 

that police officer Jonathan 

Diller did each day to make 

this city a safer place will 

NEVER be forgotten,” Caban 

said on X. 

“Our prayers are with his 

family, loved ones, and brothers 

and sisters in blue,” Caban 

concluded. 

According to NYPD, Diller 

and his partner conducted the 

traffic stop at 1919 Mott. Ave., 

around 5:48 p.m. Monday. As 

they approached the vehicle, 

one of the suspects displayed 

a gun and pointed it at the 

officers. Shots were fired and 

Diller’s partner returned fire 

at the armed suspect, striking 

him. 

“He was given a lawful order 

DETECTIVE JONATHAN DILLER 

numerous times to step out of 

the car. He refused. When the 

officer took him out of the car, 

instead of stepping out of the 

car, he shot our officer,” NYPD 

Chief of Detectives Joseph 

Kenny said at a news conference 

Monday night. 

The NYPD said Diller made 

more than 70 arrests during 

his time on the force. Diller 

leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, 

and their child. 

Coverage of Detective Diller’s 

memorial service and his 

wife’s eulogy will be featured 

in next months issue.



DAVIS, CA. 

CHP Officers injured when a driver deliberately crashed head-on into their 

patrol vehicle while they were parked along Interstate 80 in Davis California. 

By Rosalio Ahumada, 

The Sacramento Bee 

DAVIS, CA. — California Highway 

Patrol shared video Thursday 

that officials say captured 

a driver who “deliberately” 

crashed head-on into a parked 

patrol vehicle, injuring two officers 

Wednesday along Interstate 

80 in Davis. 

The CHP on Thursday afternoon 

released video of the white vehicle 

slamming into the patrol vehicle 

parked on the right shoulder 

of the I-80 eastbound lanes, 

just west of Mace Boulevard. 

Ezery Beauchamp, a CHP assistant 

commissioner, said in a 

video news release that the officers 

working for the CHP Woodland 

office were “targeted” by 

the driver, who crashed head-on 

into their parked vehicle. He said 

the officers had just completed 

an unrelated traffic stop on another 

vehicle along the freeway. 

The driver, who has since been 

arrested and booked at the Yolo 

County Jail, drove his vehicle at 

a high rate of speed along the 

right shoulder of the freeway 

and “intentionally struck” the 

stopped CHP vehicle, Beauchamp 

said in the narrated CHP video, 


which includes footage from another 

driver who was in the area 

at the time of the crash. 

The video shows the force of 

the impact cased the white vehicle 

to become airborne before it 

rolled over and came to rest on 

its wheels on the right shoulder. 

The crash crushed the front end 

of the CHP patrol vehicle, and its 

airbags appeared to have deployed. 

At the time of the crash, both 

officers were seated in the patrol 

vehicle and wearing their seat 

belts. The CHP said the officers 

were taken by ambulance to a 

hospital and medically treated 

for minor to major injuries. 

“Acts of violence like this 

against our officers will not be 

tolerated,” Beauchamp said in 

the video. “Our CHP detectives 

and investigative personnel will 

work collaboratively with the 

Yolo County District Attorney’s 

Office to ensure this individual is 

held accountable for his actions.”

Police chief Anthony Anderson collapses 

watching college basketball game, later dies 

BOONEVILLE, MS. – A community in Mississippi is mourning after a police chief collapsed 

while watching a college basketball game and later died. 

The Northeast Mississippi Community College announced the death of Police Chief 

Anthony Anderson, 61, who worked for the school for nearly 10 years. Officials said he 

collapsed at the basketball game Saturday evening and was rushed to Baptist Memorial 

Hospital where he was later pronounced dead from natural causes, WTVA reported. 

Anderson was a 24-year law enforcement veteran. He previously served the Union 

County Sheriff’s Office, and became the Verona Police Chief prior to being employed as 

the Northeast Mississippi Community College’s police chief, according to WFSB. 

School officials noted “even the strongest among us are not immune” as they grieve his 

loss. 

“Chief Anthony Anderson’s untimely departure reminds us that even the strongest 

among us are not immune to life’s fragility,” said the community college president Dr. 

Ricky G. Ford in a post to social media. “His dedication to safety, service, and community 

will be deeply missed but forever cherished in the hearts of those he protected and inspired.” 

Anderson leaves behind his wife and three children. 



BETHEL, VT. 

Vermont State Trooper Cpl. Eric Vitali was severally injured when he 

slammed into an unoccupied fire truck in Bethel Vermont. 

By JOHN LIPPMAN, 

Valley News Staff Writer 

The Vermont state trooper 

who sustained serious injuries 

when his vehicle collided into 

the back end of a fire truck near 

the Bethel exit on Interstate 89 

last week, remains hospitalized 

and the next several days “will 

be critical in determining the 

outcome of his recovery,” the 

Vermont Troopers Association 

said in an announcement of a 

fundraising campaign to assist 

the trooper’s family with medical 

and care costs. 

Cpl. Eric Vitali, a 19-year veteran 

of the Vermont State Police, 

“suffered life-threatening traumatic 

injuries and his condition 


is critical,” the trooper’s association 

reported late Monday evening. 

The VTA said Vitali’s injuries 

include “traumatic brain, spinal 

fractures and pelvis fracture. 

His doctors are indicating that 

the coming 72 hours” will be 

all-important in ascertaining the 

extent of the trooper’s recovery. 

Vitali was airlifted to Dartmouth 

Hitchcock Medical Center in 

Lebanon from the scene of the 

accident on Friday. 

A passionate family man and 

father of two young boys, Vitali 

is an avid outdoors man who 

enjoys camping, hunting, mountain 

biking, motorcycle riding, 

jeeping and scuba diving — he 

is a member of the state police’s 

Underwater Recovery Team — in 

addition to teaching and sharing 

his knowledge of jiu-jitsu with 

his family. He also had a hobby 

in blade smithing, the troopers 

association said. 

“Eric and his family are going 

to face enormous medical, personal, 

and financial challenges 

as a result of his injuries. This 

has been a life altering event for 

the entire Vitali family, and they 

are facing an uncertain future,” 

the VTA said. “The support they 

have received so far has been 

overwhelming and appreciated 

but that support is going to need 

to continue well into the future.” 

People interested in donating 

can go to https://helpahero.com/ 

campaign/support.



MINNEAPOLIS, MN. 

Farmington Police Chief Gary Rutherford blasted the ‘sham’ prosecution 

of Trooper Londregan. 

By Luke Sprinkel 

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – Farmington 

Police Chief Gary Rutherford released 

a statement on Monday defending 

State Trooper Ryan Londregan 

and urging other police chiefs 

to publicly speak out in support of 

law enforcement officers. Additionally, 

the police chief pointed to the 

Londregan case as a reason for the 

ongoing “recruiting and retention 

crisis in Minnesota law enforcement.” 

Trooper Londregan is currently 

facing felony charges for a July 

2023 incident in which the law 

enforcement officer shot and killed 

Ricky Cobb. 

Cobb, a convicted felon, attempted 

to flee law enforcement in a 

vehicle while another state trooper 

was half-inside, half-outside 

the vehicle. In response, Londregan 

shot Cobb as his fellow state 

trooper was dragged for a short 

distance by Cobb’s vehicle. 

“When Mr. Cobb chose to flee 

with another Trooper hanging part 

in and part out of the car, Trooper 

Londregan was not only justified 

in his decision to use deadly force, 

but some would also argue that he 

was obligated to do so in defense 

of his partner,” said Rutherford. 

The police chief added, “Trooper 

Londregan made a decision under 

Farmington Police Chief Gary Rutherford, left, released a statement on 

Monday defending State Trooper Ryan Londregan. 

the incredible stress of a dynamic 

and rapidly evolving use of force 

incident, a situation the Hennepin 

County Attorney obviously knows 

nothing about.” 

In particular, Chief Rutherford 

criticized Hennepin County Attorney 

Mary Moriarty for the current 

controversy surrounding a use-offorce 

expert that was hired by her 

office to examine the Londregan 

case. 

Alpha News previously reported 

that a court document filed by 

Londregan’s attorneys says Jeffrey 

Noble, the use-of-force expert 

selected by the Hennepin County 

Attorney’s Office (HCAO), told Moriarty 

that “a reasonable officer in 

Trooper Londregan’s position would 

have perceived that Trooper [Brett] 

Seide was in danger of death or 

great bodily harm, specifically from 

being dragged by the vehicle as it 

continued to accelerate.” 

In his statement, Chief Rutherford 

blasted Moriarty, saying, “she 

ignored her paid expert and criminally 

charged Trooper Londregan 

anyway.” 

“Cases like this are why so many 

cops have left the profession early 

and why so few young men and 

women are seeking to join our 

ranks. Who can blame them?” added 

the police chief. 


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PASCO COUNTY, FL. 

A suspect attempted to flee with Pasco County Deputy 

Christopher Howell still inside the suspect’s vehicle. BWC 

shows the OIS that followed. 

By Bethany Barnes 

Tampa Bay Times 

PASCO COUNTY, FL. — A deputy 

fatally shot a 40-year-old 

man after a fight inside a moving 

vehicle near Hudson on Saturday 

evening, according to the Pasco 

County Sheriff’s Office. 

Authorities identified the man 

Sunday morning as Paul Smith, 

40. The sheriff’s office identified 

the deputy as Christopher Howell. 

Authorities would not immediately 

release further information 

about Howell. 

Around 5:30 p.m., Howell, on 

duty, approached Smith outside 

a 7-Eleven gas station near U.S. 

19 and New York Avenue, according 

to the sheriff’s office. Howell 

believed Smith to be a suspect in 

a recent battery case, and asked 

him to speak with him. 

The sheriff’s office released 

body-worn camera footage of 

the incident, which the Times reviewed. 

The video shows Howell 

walked up to Smith, who was 

parked at a gas pump. The deputy 

said “Hey Paul” several times 

and told him to step out of his 


car. 

At that 

point, video 

shows 

Smith, who 

had been 

standing 

and leaning 

into his 

vehicle, sat 

down in the 

driver’s seat, 

gripped 

the wheel and asked “What’s 

the matter?” as Howell grabbed 

Smith’s forearm. The deputy 

repeatedly told Smith to get out 

of the car. Smith remained in 

the driver’s seat and kept asking 

what was going on, before starting 

the car. 

Footage then shows the deputy 

is inside the vehicle as Smith 

starts driving. It is unclear how 

Howell ended up inside the vehicle. 

Throughout the incident, the 

deputy repeatedly screamed at 

Smith to get out of the car, the 

footage shows. Howell can be 

seen using a Taser on the driver 

while tires are heard screeching. 

Eventually, Howell yelled, 

“Stop the car, you’re going to get 

shot.” Video shows Howell pointing 

his gun at Smith while he is 

behind the driver. 

At a news conference, Pasco 

spokesperson Col. Jeff Harrington 

defended Howell’s actions 

as necessary. 

Pasco records show several 

criminal convictions against a 

Paul Smith in that county, including 

battery and drug charges. 

Smith was convicted in 2019 of 

fleeing law enforcement by car, 

aggravated assault on a law enforcement 

officer and hit-andrun, 

and served three years in 

state prison.



HOUSTON, TX. 

The Houston Police Department is not only short 2,000 officers, but they 

have more than 260,000 open cases that have been suspended due to that 

shortage. Chief Finner and the Mayor have launched a full-scale investigation. 


HOUSTON, TX. – What began 

with a tweet has resulted in 

a Houston Police Department 

scandal now entering its second 

month. 

In the past eight years, HPD 

has suspended more than 

260,000 cases coding them 

with “Suspended - Lack of 

Personnel.” HPD Chief says his 

department is reviewing those 

cases and is focusing their 

attention on contacting the 

victims in nearly 4,000 alleged 

sexual assault cases. 

HPD Chief Troy Finner informed 

Houstonians last 

month, that sexual assault 

investigations along with thousands 

of other cases, had been 

“suspended” due to a lack of 

personnel to investigate them. 

Some time back, before Finner 

was appointed Chief, a 

code was created to temporary 

suspend cases due to personnel 

shortages plaguing the 

department. Finner says he first 

learned of the cases and the 

code back in 2022 and thought 

the practice had ended. Apparently 

not. 

Since the investigation was 

launched, two Assistant Chiefs 

have been demoted and now 

law enforcement sources tell 

say multiple HPD Commanders 

are being asked questions 

about the over 4,000 sexual 

assault investigations that were 

suspended. 

In a statement on X, formerly 

known as Twitter, Finner said 

this is unacceptable. 

I am addressing this matter 

and I have assigned a team of 

investigators to review those 

cases coded “Suspended - Lack 

of Personnel.” Furthermore, 

I am permanently assigning 

additional investigators to the 

Special Victims Division to 

prevent this from recurring,” 

Finner said. 

Finner said despite staffing 

challenges, this should have 

never happened and said it will 

not continue. “All victims and 

their families are important to

me and deserve to be treated 

as such,” Finner said. 

In the meantime, Ray Hunt, 

Director of the HPOU, expressed 

concerns Monday with Finner 

handing down disciplinary 

actions in an investigation the 

chief is at the center of, “Remember, 

the chief of police determines 

the final discipline on 

a case, is that fair if the chief is 

a part of the investigation that 

that person also makes the determination? 

That’s a question 

as to whether or not this mayor 

wants to dig into and say, ‘Do I 

think it’s fair to my officers, do 

I think it’s fair to my members 

to be investigated and the final 

discipline be issued by someone 

who also is being questioned 

on this case?’” said Hunt. 

On Tuesday, March 19th, The 

Houston Police Officers Union 

sent a letter to Mayor John 

Whitmire on Monday, requesting 

that Chief Finner be recused 

from the investigation 

and outcomes of the department’s 

suspended cases scandal. 

The letter comes after Mayor 

Whitmire last week officially 

launched an investigation into 

sexual assault and other criminal 

investigations that had been 

“suspended” dating back to 

2021. It also comes weeks after 

KPRC 2 Investigates first posed 

the question as to how IAD 

can properly investigate Chief 

Finner if the chief can direct 

IAD the way he wants to? Since 

the investigation was launched, 

two Assistant Chiefs have been 

demoted. 

(See letter, following pages) 

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Spring Cleaning Protocol Tips to Protect 

Law Enforcement from Viral Threats 

By Dr. Ron Brown, M.D., CEO of 

AeroClave 

A healthy police department 

can mean the difference between 

a safe and crime-ridden 

community. Over the last four 

years, the U.S. has experienced 

a police staffing crisis that has 

significantly impacted the way 

police departments approach 

health and wellness. 

Police officers can face a 

multitude of health risks each 

time they wear the uniform, and 

department heads must help 

to mitigate these risks when or 

wherever possible. From mental 

health initiatives and workshops 

to supplying personal protective 

equipment in the wake of infectious 

diseases, departments 

can help to minimize the impact 

health risks can have on their 

respective communities. With an 

already dwindling staff of officers 

across the U.S., the prioritization 

of lowered unplanned sick 

leave through necessary infection 

control protocols can help 

to ensure communities are well 

protected and served. 

According to the National Law 

Enforcement Memorial Fund, 

police departments across the 

country saw a 39% decrease 

in line-of-duty deaths in 2023. 

This statistic also represents a 


52% decrease in deaths caused 

by falling objects, fire-related 

incidents, and medical-related 

illnesses or events, including 

COVID-19. 

While these numbers are 

encouraging, law enforcement 

agencies must continue to put 

the necessary time and energy 

into creating effective protocols 

to defend officers from avoidable 

health risks. COVID-19 and other 

communicable diseases remain 

a consistent threat. This year so 

far, there have been several viral 

outbreaks, including Norovirus, 

RSV, and measles. 

It is doubtful that these risks 

can be entirely eliminated; however, 

maintaining a clean workplace 

for first responders can 

help to reduce their impact. Here 

are some effective spring cleaning 

tips departments can carry 

out to help keep their officers 

safe from viral spread and other 

health hazards in 2024. 

Organize a Gear Cleaning 

Station 

Police departments with proactive 

approaches to infection 

control can help mitigate health 

risks before they have the opportunity 

to cause a threat. This 

can be as simple as organizing 

a cleaning station for any police 

gear that has come into contact 

with potential viruses or communicable 

diseases. 

Setting aside a designated 

area for officers to clean their 

gear and clothes within the 

department can help prevent 

them from bringing unwanted 

contaminants into department 

common areas or back to their 

homes and families. This protocol 

can also help to ensure 

potential contaminants are disposed 

of in a consolidated space. 

Officers don’t have the liberty 

of choosing who or what they 

come into contact with; therefore, 

these proactive measures 

can help prevent others from 

being exposed. 

Disinfect Surfaces and Vehicles 

Daily 

While gear and clothing can be 

the perfect surface for spreading 

certain contaminants, objects 

including countertops, chairs, 

desks, and others can pose the 

same threats. Investing in disinfectants 

that can be used daily is 

the easiest way for departments 

to encourage the safety of their 

officers. Officers should always 

use surface-safe disinfectants 

such as antibacterial soaps or 

EPA-registered disinfectant wipes. 

Departments can also invest 

in more advanced decontamination 

tools and technology. From 

electrostatic sprayers to UV light 

systems and even large-area

fogging systems, there are several 

techniques departments can 

use for surface and air decontamination. 

To maintain a clean environment, 

however, a routine is necessary. 

Implementing a cleaning 

schedule for officers on duty can 

help ensure surfaces are not going 

untouched and that the next 

shift is presented with a clean 

environment. 

Stock vehicles with PPE 

While an officer may spend 

a large part of their day within 

the department headquarters, 

vehicles also play an important 

role. Law enforcement vehicles 

can act as a nursery for germs 

and other contaminants like the 

flu due to their high volume of 

traffic, escorting detainees. This 

is where the need for personal 

protective equipment (PPE) 

increases. 

Departments should not only 

provide access to PPE such as 

masks and gloves within the 

station, but also stock vehicles 

with the proper essentials for 

encountering a civilian with a 

potential viral contagion. 

Police gear goes through an 

extensive oversight process 

to make sure they provide the 

protections listed in their materials 

and product specifications. 

However, with PPE, as we saw 

during the wake of COVID-19 and 

the years following the pandemic, 

the increased need for PPE 

caused shortages which posed 

a tremendous challenge to the 

U.S. healthcare system and other 

first responders. With the wavering 

supply of PPE, law enforcement 

agencies must also 

ensure the items they offer meet 

the current safety standards 

to protect against viral threats. 

Departments have the opportunity 

to consult with local health 

organizations and utilize online 

resources like those provided by 

the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC). 

By implementing some of 

these spring cleaning techniques 

and decontamination protocols, 

law enforcement agencies can 

assist in providing a clean and 

safe environment for their officers, 

ultimately protecting the 

communities they serve. Actions 

as simple as cleaning gear and 

equipment, wiping down surfaces, 

and stocking vehicles with 

prevention supplies can have a 

significantly positive impact on 

the health and wellness of officers 

to combat current staffing 

issues across the U.S. 



LOS ANGELES, CA. 

South American Gangs fly into LA to burglarize wealthy homes. “They don’t 

carry guns because they don’t want to get gun charges if caught.” 

By Richard Winton 

Los Angeles Times 

LOS ANGELES, CA. — In the desert 

around Scottsdale, Arizona, 

on Monday, police officers hunted 

for a member of an international 

heist ring suspected of 

swiping jewels and luxury goods 

from homes across Los Angeles. 

Using helicopters and drones, 

they eventually found him hiding 

under a tree. 

The wanted man, it turned out, 

was a 17-year-old from Chile. 

Authorities say the teenager 

and his two adult accomplices 

later admitted to breaking into 

multiple homes, part of a growing 

trend of “burglary tourism” 

from South America. 

The Los Angeles Police Department 

said the teenage fugitive 

was first arrested Feb. 29 in Pacific 

Palisades along with three 

other Chileans as they cased 

homes in the wealthy enclave. 

Police tracked down the crew 

after a security camera captured 

the license plate of their 2024 

Hyundai Tucson amid a series 

of burglaries across East Hollywood. 

Increasingly over the last five 


years, police officials say, thieves 

from South American nations 

have entered the U.S. for the purpose 

of committing robberies. 

In the case of Chile, authorities 

suspect some criminals are taking 

advantage of the tourist visa 

system, which does not require a 

background check for travelers. 

Once in the country, police say, 

they plan heist sprees and fence 

the loot before dispatching their 

earnings back home. 

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton 

told The Times that South 

American theft groups are not 

new in L.A., but they have become 

more active in recent 

months. 

Although crime statistics show 

burglaries are on the decline 

overall, Hamilton said: “The 

number of crimes tied to these 

kind of crews are way, way up.” 

He cautioned that it’s difficult 

to know for certain how many 

robberies can be attributed to 

foreign burglars, but said evidence 

indicates they are behind 

scores of break-ins. He estimated 

that north of the 118 Freeway 

in L.A. last year there were 94 

burglaries, many probably committed 

by these crews. 

“They often target homes often 

connected to open spaces, hiking 

trails and canyons that give 

them access,” Hamilton said. 

The groups mostly hit wealthy 

neighborhoods where homes 

have jewelry and high-value 

items that can be easily exchanged 

for cash, he said. 

“They tend to not carry guns. 

They don’t want to get gun 

charges,” Hamilton said. “They 

sometimes carry jamming devices 

to disable home security 

systems.” 

While Chileans are among the

most common members of these 

criminal enterprises, Hamilton 

said, they are seeing other South 

Americans including Peruvians, 

Ecuadoreans and Colombians as 

well. The LAPD and other local 

law enforcement agencies have 

formed a task force dedicated to 

the problem. 

“I can tell you that we have a 

significant increase in burglaries 

from organized groups that 

are outside this country, that are 

coming into the country, and 

they are targeting high-end residents,” 

LAPD Chief Dominic Choi 

said at Tuesday’s Police Commission 

meeting. 

In one case on Aug. 17 of last 

year, Burbank police officers arrested 

a man identified as Felipe 

Leiva Solis, a 33-year-old Chilean 

national, after a woman hiding 

in the bathroom of her home 

called to report that four men 

had broken in through a sliding 

door. Leiva Solis was found in a 

nearby yard on Burbank’s North 

Parish Place and is suspected of 

four other burglaries across the 

city, according to court documents. 

Leiva Solis was released on 

bail but picked up again on Dec. 

19 in Glendale by police officers 

who suspect he was behind a 

string of burglaries in the city. 

He was among a group of three 

men who tried to flee on foot 

when their vehicle was stopped, 

according to Glendale Police 

Investigator Jackie Nguy. 

In court papers asking for 

Leiva Solis to remain in custody, 

Nguy alleged the Chilean was 

part of “an organized burglary 

ring responsible for a minimum 

of ten residential burglaries in 

Glendale,” and also tied to other 

thefts in Beverly Hills and other 

counties. 

LAPD Det. Robert Hoebink said 

in a court declaration that Leiva 

Solis’ crew was tied to at least 

30 burglaries in West Los Angeles 

alone. Hoebink alleged the 

Chilean used a fake passport to 

open a Bank of America account 

and wired more than $23,000 

back home despite being here on 

a tourist visa. 

LAPD officers on Dec. 27 

nabbed three more of the crew 

allegedly tied to Leiva Solis near 

Coldwater Canyon Drive south of 

Mulholland when called to assist 

Beverly Hills on a manhunt for 

burglars. Inside a Ford Explorer, 

police said they found $1 million 

worth of stolen designer purses, 

clothing, watches and jewelry — 

all believed to be from a single 

heist. 

Three more arrests would 

come the next day as LAPD investigators 

recovered more highend 

items from the group’s base 

of operations. 

On Dec. 30, another West L.A. 

burglary led Beverly Hills police 

to identify a white Mercedes GLS 

as tied to the crime, arresting 

a female driver and four other 

suspects nearby. 

Leiva Solis is being held without 

bail and is slated to be back 

in court next week. He’s pleaded 

not guilty to three counts of burglary 

and one count of conspiracy 

to commit burglary. 

Investigators say Chilean or 

South American crews are also 

behind hundreds of break-ins in 

Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara 

and San Diego counties. 



EL PASO, TX. 

Hezabollah Terrorist apprehended at US-Mexico border. 

His reason for coming to America - “I’m going to try 

and make a bomb!” 

EL PASO, TX. – An illegal immigrant 

who originated from 

Lebanon was taken into custody 

by US Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP) agents on March 9 

in Texas. During questioning, he 

reportedly acknowledged being 

a member of the Hezbollah terrorist 

organization and planned 

to make a bomb with aspirations 

to travel to New York City. 

Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, told 

CBP, “I’m going try to make a 

bomb” when asked what he was 

doing in the US, according to a 

document obtained by the New 

York Post. 

ICE documents 

revealed the man 

also said in a separate 

interview that 

he trained with 

Hezbollah for seven 

years, and focused 

on “jihad” and killing 

non-muslims. 

Once his training 

was complete, he 

served four years 

with the organization 

as a guard at 

weapons locations. 

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ACROSS THE US 

The Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE. 

BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER 

TOLD CLOSE FRIEND ‘IF ANY- 

THING HAPPENS, IT’S NOT 

SUICIDE’ 

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Boeing 

whistleblower John Barnett was 

found dead on March 9 from 

what authorities initially called a 

“self-inflicted” gunshot wound, 

Law Officer reported earlier this 

week. A close friend says she 

does not believe he died by suicide 

based upon prior comments 

he made noting his potential 

demise. 

Barnett, 62, worked for Boeing 

for more than three decades 

before he retired in 2017. Beginning 

in 2010, he specialized as a 

quality control manager at the 

North Charleston plant making 

the 787 Dreamliner. 

Barnett raised safety concerns 

at the airline’s factories and 

provided his first deposition in a 

lawsuit against Boeing just days 

before he was found dead in a 

hotel parking lot. His body was 

discovered when he mysteriously 

failed to show up for a second 

session of testimony. 

A close family friend, who only 

wants to be identified as Jennifer, 

told ABC 4 that once he 

began speaking out about safety 


concerns with the airplane giant, 

he apparently feared for his own 

safety, saying, “if anything happens, 

it’s not suicide.” 

As a result, Jennifer said, “I 

know that he did not commit 

suicide. There’s no way.” 

Barnett’s attorney, Brian 

Knowles, is also highly suspicious. 

He told TMZ that he has 

serious doubts regarding the 

circumstances surrounding his 

client’s death, and called the 

self-inflicted gunshot “alleged.” 

“Today is a tragic day,” 

Knowles told Corporate Crime 

Reporter on Saturday, March 9. 

“John had been back and forth 

for quite some time getting 

prepared. The defense examined 

him for their allowed seven 

hours under the rules on Thursday.” 

Barnett had talked about this 

exact scenario playing out after 

he began making public allegations 

regarding compromises in 

Boeing-related safety concerns 

following his retirement, the Post 

Millennial reported. 

“He wasn’t concerned about 

[his own] safety because I asked 

him,” Jennifer said. “I said, ‘Aren’t 

you scared?’ And he said, ‘No, I 

ain’t scared, but if anything happens 

to me, it’s not suicide.’” 

Jennifer said the conversation 

included the former quality 

control manager discussing his 

upcoming deposition in Charles-

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ton where he ultimately died. 

“I know that he did not commit 

suicide. There’s no way. He loved 

life too much. He loved his family 

too much. He loved his brothers 

too much to put them through 

what they’re going through right 

now,” Jennifer emphasized. 

Jennifer last saw Barnett at 

her father’s funeral in late February 

where served as one of the 

pallbearers. She believes someone 

“didn’t like what he had to 

say” and wanted to “shut him 

up.” 

“That’s why they made it look 

like a suicide,” Jennifer concluded. 

16 SWAT OFFICERS HOS- 

PITALIZED AFTER BLAST AT 

TRAINING FACILITY IN SOUTH- 

ERN CALIFORNIA 


IRVINE, CA. — An explosion 

during an indoor training exercise 

Wednesday sent 16 members 

of Southern California’s 


Orange County Sheriff’s Department 

SWAT team to the hospital, 

with one person requiring surgery 

for a leg injury, the department 

said. 

Two others had superficial 

wounds while the remaining 13 

had dizziness and ringing in their 

ears. 

The blast occurred shortly before 

1 p.m. at the facility in a remote 

area of Irvine, said sheriff’s 

Sgt. Frank Gonzalez. It was not 

immediately clear what caused 

the explosion, but it happened 

during a training with the sheriff’s 

bomb squad, he said. 

The most severe injury was a 

non-life-threatening leg wound 

that will require surgery, Gonzalez 

said. The two other wounded 

deputies won’t require surgery, 

he said. 

DALLAS P.D. ESTABLISHES 

NEW CONSTITUTIONAL POLIC- 

ING UNIT 

The Dallas Police Department 

is rolling out a new Constitutional 

Policing Unit. According 

to area news reports, the new 

group is composed of three 

sworn officers and five civilians, 

with a criminal justice expert 

from Tarleton State University 

serving in an advisory role. 

Though local news outlets didn’t 

provide specific details about the 

unit’s day-to-day activities, it 

appears to be focused on training 

as well as police reform, 

transparency and accountability. 

During a meeting with the Dallas 

City Council’s Public Safety 

Committee in December, Chief 

Eddie Garcia gave one example 

of the unit’s responsibility: 

training officers to be “active 

bystanders.” This training would 

focus on encouraging officers to 

intervene when they witness inappropriate 

conduct from fellow 

officers or supervisors. The new 

unit will launch its own website 

sometime this year. 

The Constitutional Policing Unit


isn’t the only reform-minded 

initiative to come about during 

Garcia’s tenure. The department 

has also implemented a Tactical 

Training Group that brings 

together the most experienced 

officers in the agency to conduct 

best practices training for the 

department’s various special 

units. The department has also 

implemented body cameras for 

all street-level officers and an 

expedited process for misconduct 

complaints. 

Despite these numerous reform 

initiatives, some people aren’t 

convinced. Changa Higgins, an 

activist who has led protests 

against the Dallas P.D., is a member 

of the Community Police 

Oversight Board that reviews 

discipline and policy. Responding 

to the constitutional policing initiative, 

he stated, “This looks like 

a workaround of the Office of 

Police Oversight. We don’t want 

workarounds. We want a real 

empowered oversight board …” 

Higgins’ response makes clear 

the difficulty faced by reform-minded 

agencies like the 

Dallas P.D. While many activists 

view policing as a function that 

needs to be monitored and constantly 

improved, some seem to 

consider it inherently flawed and 

in need of control. 

CALIF. PD INCREASES 

CIVILIAN OFFICER PATROLS 

By Joanna Putman 

Police1 

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA. — A 

California police department 

that has had civilian community 

service officers since 1980 has 

changed their titles and upped 

their numbers in the past year, 

KSBY reported. 


The San Luis Obispo Police Department 

renamed its Field Service 

Technicians to Community 

Service Officers (CSOs) in 2023, 

according to the report. The officers 

patrol the downtown area, 

respond to low-level crimes and 

educate the public. 

The department has added 

four more CSOs in the past year, 

making them more visible to the 

community as they patrol special 

events, according to the report. 

They use a warning system that 

can lead to citations if violations 

persist. 

“People have felt easier to 

approach us because we’re very 

readily accessible to them,” CSO 

Samantha Corsaw told KSBY. 

“Whether it’s just from wanting 

to talk about the day and the 

weather to, ‘Hey, I noticed this 

problem, can you go find a solution 

for me?” 

NO CHARGES FOR SEATTLE 

SWAT OFFICER WHO SHOT 

MAN CARRYING INFANT WHILE 

FLEEING 


Police1 

SEATTLE — A SWAT officer 

will not be charged in the 2020 

shooting of a man who fled police 

while holding an infant, the 

Seattle Times reported. 

Officer Noah Zech, 40, fired 

a single round from his patrol 

rifle, striking domestic violence 

and child abduction suspect 

Shaun Fuhr in the head as he 

fled, according to the report. The 

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney’s 

Office stated that given 

the information Zech had at the 

time of the shooting, his fear for 

the safety of the officers and the 

child were reasonable. 

At the time of the incident, 911 

callers included Fuhr’s partner, 

who said that Fuhr had beaten 

her, threatened her life and fired 

a gun, as well as a witness who 

said he saw Fuhr tucking a gun 

into his waistband and running 

away with the child. 

Officers, including the SWAT 

team, pursued Fuhr through a 

construction site, according to 

the report. Zech and Fuhr came 

into the open at the same time 

where Zech shot Fuhr. Senior 

Deputy Prosecuting attorney 

Joseph Marchesano said that 

because of the abduction of 

the child, officers had cause for 

alarm. 

“They had no idea what his intentions 

were,” Marchesano said.


ARIZ. DEPUTY RETURNS TO 

WORK 6 MONTHS AFTER FALL- 

ING 15 FEET OFF OVERPASS 


Police1 

COCHISE COUNTY, AZ. — Deputy 

Christopher Oletski, who fell 

15 feet off an overpass while in 

pursuit of fleeing, smuggled migrants 

has returned to light duty, 

ABC 15 reported. 

ABC 15 has obtained body 

camera footage from the night 

of September 28, 2023, when 

Cochise County Sheriff’s Office 

Deputy Oletski was severely injured 

in the fall, according to the 

report. Oletski was assigned to 

the Criminal Interdiction Team, 

which focuses on human smuggling 

and drug trafficking. 

The incident occurred while 

the team was pursuing a suspected 

human smuggler. Oletski 

was attempting to deploy spike 

strips when he tripped and fell 

off the bridge, landing on an 

embankment. Clips from the 

released body camera footage 

show other officers trying to 

figure out how to get Oletski to 

an ambulance without causing 

more pain. 

“We don’t want to move his 

back at all,” officials can be 

heard saying. 

Oletski told ABC 15 he sustained 

substantial brain injuries 

and broke his femur, pelvis, right 

elbow and wrist. He does not remember 

the fall or several days 

that followed, according to the 

report. 

“The reason why I am OK with 

getting hurt is because in my 

eyes, the way I look at it, if I 

didn’t try to stop that vehicle, 

it was going to go up the road 

and maybe kill a family,” Oletski 


told ABC 15. “If I didn’t try to stop 

that vehicle, the driver could 

have made a terrible decision 

and killed the passengers inside 

of that vehicle. If I didn’t stop 

that vehicle, the passenger could 

have gone up the road or the 

driver could have gone up the 

road and killed themselves,” he 

said. 

Oletski will be on light duty 

for at least 12 to 18 more months 

before fully returning to duty, 

according to the report. 

PITTSBURGH POLICE WILL 

ONLY RESPOND TO CALLS OF 

IN-PROGRESS EMERGENCIES 

AS PART OF NEW STAFFING 

PLAN 


Police1 

PITTSBURGH, PA. —The Pittsburgh 

Bureau of Police has 

implemented a new response 

policy. Beginning March 11, officers 

will only respond to calls of 

in-progress emergencies, WPXI 

reported. 

The policy is part of Chief 

Larry Scirotto’s efforts to reduce 

the bureau’s call volume from 

about 200,000 calls to about 

50,000 calls this year, according 

to the report. Calls for criminal 

mischief, theft, harassment and 

many others will be handled by 

the telephone reporting unit or 

by online reporting. 

“That allows our officers to be 

engaged in community in a way, 

now they’re at the YMCA instead 

of sitting on the 10th Street 

bypass with a bike complaint,” 

Scirotto stated. 

The bureau will offload most 

parking issues to the Pittsburgh 

Parking Authority, according to 

the report. It will remove desk 

officers from precincts between 

the hours of 3 a.m.-7 a.m., and 

reduce the number of officers on 

overnight shifts. 

“The staffing plan designed 

by police command is a direct 

response to a seriously understaffed 

police department,” said 

Bob Swartzwelder, FOP union 

President. “Only time will tell 

if the plan works or the Chief 

will need to pivot and modify 

his plan quickly. The FOP will


e watching carefully for any 

contract violations that develop 

especially when non-emergency 

events come up such as St. Patrick’s 

Day, parades, large concerts, 

July 4th etc. In short, the 

FOP believes that the police department 

is seriously over-committed 

and under-resourced.” 

RAT INFESTATION AT NEW 

ORLEANS POLICE HEAD- 

QUARTERS LEAVES RODENTS 

STONED AS MARIJUANA EVI- 

DENCE SHRINKS 

“The rats are eating our marijuana. 

They’re all high,” Superintendent 

Anne Kirkpatrick said. 

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – An infestation 

of rats at the headquarters 

of the New Orleans Police Department 

has apparently left the 

rodents stoned and the volume 

of marijuana booked as evidence 

is shrinking, according to the 

police superintendent. 

New Orleans Police Superintendent 

Anne Kirkpatrick is battling 

a new adversary: an army 

of rats that has begun feasting 

on drugs stored in the evidence 

room, the Daily Beast reported. 

On Monday, Kirkpatrick told 

the City Council’s Criminal Justice 

Committee that the police 

department needs to relocate 

its facilities to a downtown high 

rise in order to escape the unbearable 

conditions. 

“The rats are eating our marijuana. 

They’re all high,” Kirkpatrick 

was quoted as saying by 

local media. 

In addition to getting stoned, 

the superintendent noted the 

rodents have left feces on desks, 

and cockroaches have also 

moved in. 

“The uncleanliness is off the 

Stoned Rats are eating the marijuana booked as evidence at NOPD 

charts,” Kirkpatrick noted. 

Her comments regarding the 

conditions in the building that 

first opened in 1968 comes after 

the department spent years lobbying 

for a new location for its 

headquarters. 

On Monday, the City Council 

approved a motion to authorize 

a pending 10-year lease agreement 

that would see the department 

relocate to the upper two 

floors of 1615 Poydras Tower in 

the center of the city. 

SPEAKING OF ANIMALS - IN- 

DIANAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS 

REMOVED A “BIG ASS RAC- 

COON” FROM HOME IN HILARI- 

OUS HOME INVASION 

Newly released body-camera 

footage from earlier this year 

has revealed a comical rescue 

mission undertaken by Indianapolis 

police officers as they 

attempted to capture a “big 

ass raccoon” that had invaded 

a man’s home on the southeast 

side of the city. 

CLICK TO TAP TO WATCH 

The incident, which occurred 

in the early morning hours of 

January 9, saw Officer Aaron 

Laird responding to a homeowner’s 

distress call reporting an 

“unusual guest” that had barged 

into his residence and caused 

chaos. 

Upon entering the home, Officer 

Laird was greeted by the 

homeowner’s account of the 

havoc wreaked by the raccoon, 

explaining that it had knocked 


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down his TV and was now darting 

around the living room. 

In the bodycam footage released 

by the Indianapolis Metropolitan 

Police Department 

(IMPD), Officer Laird can be seen 

cautiously approaching the corner 

where the large raccoon was 

cowering amid scattered items. 

“He’s a big son of a bitch, easy 

partner,” Officer Laird can be 

heard saying in the video. “We 

got a big ass raccoon in here.” 

As the officers attempted to 

corner the elusive critter behind 

a refrigerator, the raccoon darted 

away, climbing on doors and 

doing “pull-ups” on the door 

moldings to evade capture. 

After a few failed attempts 

using a catch pole, Officer Laird 

eventually managed to safely 

capture the raccoon and release 

it back into the wild. 

In the aftermath of the chaotic 

encounter, officers apologized 

to the homeowner for the mess 

caused by the raccoon’s escapades 

within the house. 

“That’s fine, that’s the easy 

part,” the relieved homeowner 

responded as he began to clean 

up. 

“I just wanted him out of here. 

When I heard that big bang, I 

thought someone was robbing 

my house.” 

“He was a big boy,” Officer 

Laird added. 

The department later joked 

about the incident, stating on 

social media: “The raccoon was 

not charged with a crime.” 

ARIZONA POLICE SNIPER 

WOUNDS GUNMAN WHO FIRED 

ON OFFICERS 

MARANA, AZ. — A multi-agency 

law enforcement investigation 


team has released body camera 

and helicopter footage of an officer 

using a rifle to take down an 

armed suspect at long range, the 

Arizona Daily Star reported. 

The Feb. 10 incident began 

when officers from the Marana 

Police Department conducted 

a traffic stop. After conducting 

an CLICK investigation, TO TAP officers TO WATCH decided 

to arrest Tobin Pico, 29, for 

aggravated DUI, according to the 

report. 

When officers started trying to 

place Pico in handcuffs, he fled 

on foot, crossing multiple lanes 

of traffic. Body camera footage 

from one of the officers shows 

Pico dropping a handgun in the 

road’s median. He picked it up 

and continued to run from officers. 

Other officers were called to 

assist, and an air unit maintained 

a visual on the suspect 

as he started to walk toward a 

populous area, according to the 

report. Helicopter video shows 

the handgun on the ground next 

to him. 

An officer’s body camera then 

shows a team setting up a rifle. 

The officer with the rifle fired 

three shots. Helicopter video 

shows the suspect falling to the 

ground after the third shot. The 

distance between the officer and 

the suspect is unclear, but the 

officers cannot be seen on the 

thermal helicopter video that 

shows Pico being shot. 

After being struck by rifle fire, 

the suspect was able to get up 

and fire shots at officers, helicopter 

video shows. Officers 

returned fire, again bringing the 

suspect to the ground. 

Officers rendered aid, but the 

suspect was pronounced dead 

on the scene, according to the 

report. 

ANOTHER SMALL-TOWN 

POLICE DEPT TO CLOSE 

APB Team 

When most people think of 

American law enforcement, 

images of New York, Baltimore 

and the like come to mind. But 

the reality is that the vast majority 

of law enforcement agencies 

in the United States have 50 or 

fewer officers, with many well 

below that 50-officer mark.

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Smaller agencies in smaller 

towns face unique challenges, 

and a tiny department in Minnesota 

is no exception. 

Moose Lake, Minnesota, has 

slightly more than 2,700 citizens 

and law enforcement was being 

provided by just one officer as of 

February, as a result of ongoing 

budget cuts and a rash of officer 

resignations. But at a recent 

meeting, the town decided that 

even that was too much. In a 3–2 

vote, the city council chose to 

disband the police department. 

Apparently, public safety costs 

make up the majority of the 

city’s budget. They plan to save 

money by contracting with the 

county sheriff’s office to provide 

coverage to the town. The details 

of the new arrangement will 

take some time to finalize, but 

the Moose Lake Police Department 

will soon be no more. 

Despite the obvious difficulty 

the City faced in reaching the 

contentious decision (the two 

council members who voted 

against the move felt strongly 

about keeping the department), 

they aren’t alone. Data from 

Minnesota POST indicates that 

Moose Lake will be the 36th 

department in the North Star 

State to disband in the last seven 

years. 

It’s not unheard of for budget-balancers 

to seek new ways 

to save money, and various 

consolidation or contract arrangements 

can often give the 

taxpayers more bang for their 

buck. That being said, the need 

for cops doesn’t go away. Moose 

Lake’s contract with the local 

sheriff’s office is expected to 

provide them with four deputies. 

And then there were none. Moose lake PD disbanded. 

TEEN RUNS AT CALIF. DEPU- 

TY WITH BLADED GARDENING 

TOOL BEFORE FATAL OIS 

APPLE VALLEY, CA — The San 

Bernardino County Sheriff’s 

Department has released body 

camera footage from the fatal 

officer-involved shooting of a 

15-year-old wielding a bladed 

gardening tool, KCAL reported. 

The March 9 incident occurred 

when 911 callers reported that 

Ryan Gainer, 15, was using the 

5-foot-long tool to assault family 

members and damage property, 

according to the report. Video 

shows that Gainer confronted 

deputies when they arrived at 

the home. 

In the video, one deputy can be 

seen approaching the front door 

of the residence. As he nears the 

door, Gainer can be seen running 

toward the deputy with the tool 

in hand, apparently unprovoked. 

The officer begins to back away. 

The video then includes body 

camera from the second deputy 

to arrive at the scene, who was 

standing several yards away 

from the door as the first deputy 

approached it. The footage 

shows Gainer emerging from 

the home and running at the first 

deputy, who then turned around 

and pointed his gun at Gainer. 

The second deputy then raised 

his weapon and pointed it at 



Gainer. At least one of the deputies 

fired shots, striking Gainer, 

after the provided body camera 

footage cut out, according to the 

report. The deputies rendered 

medical aid until an ambulance 

arrived to take Gainer to the hospital. 

He later succumbed to his 

injuries, according to the report. 

The incident is under investigation. 

FELON WITH VIOLENT HIS- 

TORY ARRESTED FOLLOWING 

SHOTS FIRED AT POLICE 

By Crime Watch MN 

OAKDALE, MN. – Just weeks 

after three first responders were 

shot and killed during a standoff 

while responding to a domestic 

situation in Burnsville, an eerily 

similar scene played out in Oakdale, 

MN., overnight Monday to 

Tuesday. 

Just before 10:00 p.m. on Monday, 

Oakdale officers were called 

to a domestic dispute near the 

100 block of Greystone Avenue. 

Police located the vehicle involved 

in the dispatch and began 

trailing it, according to dispatch 

audio. 

The vehicle took off from officers 

who aired that there was 

a female in the passenger seat 

with her hands up. The dispatcher 

relayed that information indicated 

that the female was being 

threatened by a party with a gun. 

Police continued to follow the 

vehicle until it pulled up to the 

apparent residence involved in 

the call. An officer then shouted 

over the air, “shots fired, shots 

fired, get us armor here dispatch, 

ASAP.” 

Another officer indicated that 

shots were being fired out of a 

window and yelled at others to 


take cover. Another officer ordered 

everyone to take cover 

behind their vehicles as police 

indicated that shots continued to 

be fired. 

Police then indicated that the 

female involved in the incident 

was in the backyard holding a 

baby. Police were able to get the 

female to safety as they called 

for overhead help from a State 

Patrol flight operator and requested 

a sniper to respond to 

the scene. 

Further dispatch audio indicated 

that the officers who were 

sheltering behind vehicles in 

the front of the residence were 

eventually able to get to safety 

with the assistance of armored 

equipment. A “Code Red” alert 

was requested by police to be 

sent to the surrounding neighborhood 

advising residents to 

shelter in place. Several responders 

from SWAT, a negotiator 

team, and other agencies 

began responding to the scene. 

Information was aired that the 

female victim told police that the 

suspect claimed he was “ready 

to die tonight, and he wouldn’t 

go back to prison.” 

The standoff continued as radio 

dispatches went to an encrypted 

channel at about 11:30 

p.m. 

The city of Oakdale posted a 

press release on Tuesday detailing 

what transpired during 

the ordeal and confirmed that a 

suspect had been arrested: 

“Just before 10:00 p.m. on 

March 11, 2024, Oakdale officers 

were called to a domestic 

dispute near the 100 block of 

Greystone Avenue. The 911 caller 

expressed concern that the 

male involved had a gun and had 

25-year-old Devione Leeante 

threatened the female with it in 

the past. While en route to the 

address, officers located a vehicle 

they believed to be occupied 

by the involved parties and attempted 

a traffic stop near 10th 

Street and Hadley Avenue. The 

driver fled from officers, leading 

them on a brief pursuit before 

stopping at a residence on the 

100 block of Greystone Avenue. 

Immediately upon exiting the 

vehicle, the male driver, later 

identified as 25-year-old Devione 

Leeante Malone of St. Paul, 

began shooting at officers. At 

least one Oakdale police officer 

exchanged gunfire as Malone fled 

into the home where he continued 

to fire at officers before 

barricading himself inside. Law 

enforcement immediately secured 

the area, evacuating nearby 

homes. A female passenger 

and infant inside the vehicle 

were located unharmed and ushered 

to safety by police. 

Resources from multiple jurisdictions 

responded to assist at 

the scene, where four Oakdale 

officers were unable to safely 

retreat due to incoming gunfire.

RACE DAY 05.11.2024 

Embrace the spirit of remembrance and solidarity during Police Week at 

the 18th Annual National Police Week 5K, being held on May 11, 2024. 

Whether you join us in Arlington, Virginia or virtually from anywhere, 

together we’ll Run to Remember, echoing the mission of The Officer Down 

Memorial Page (ODMP) and emphasizing our commitment to honoring the 

brave souls who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

RegisteR Today at 

nationalpoliceweek5k.com 

national police week 2023 schedule of events 

National Police Week is a collaborative effort of many organizations dedicated to honoring America’s law enforcement community. 

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024 

• National Police K9 Memorial Service 

• ODMP 5K 

SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024 

• Police Unity Tour Arrival 

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2024 

• Candlelight Vigil 

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2024 

• The 30th Annual Pipeband Memorial March and 

Service, Organized by the National Conference of 

Law Enforcement Emerald Societies (NCLEES) 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 2024 

• Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service 

• Ambassador Wreath Laying and Stand Watch 

for the Fallen 

• Ford Giveaway Drawing 

MULTI-DAY EVENTS 

MAY 9–18, 2024 

• National Law Enforcement Museum OPEN 

each day from May 9-20, 2024 

MAY 14–16, 2024 

• C.O.P.S. National Police Survivors’ Conference 

and C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens Program 

Beyond the events listed here, all are welcome at the Memorial which remains open to the public 24/7. If you are interested in attending the museum, you can get more 

information here: nleomf.org/museum/. 

2024_ODMP-NPW5K_COPS_PrintAd.indd 1 


2/27/24 2:05 PM

Law enforcement in armored 

vehicles responded to help safely 

extricate the officers, all of 

whom remain physically unharmed. 

After hours of attempted contact 

with the suspect, Malone 

surrendered to police just after 

12:30 a.m. 

Malone remains in custody at 

the Washington County Jail on 

multiple felony charges, including 

felony assault, possession of 

a firearm by person convicted 

with a crime or violence, and 

domestic abuse no contact order 

violation. Charges may be added 

as the investigation continues. 

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 

(BCA) is handling the 

use of force investigation while 

the Washington County Sheriff’s 

Office is managing the criminal 

investigation. Oakdale Police 

Department is grateful for the 

assistance of the Washington 

County SWAT Team, Ramsey 

County Sheriff’s Office SWAT 

Team, St. Paul Police Department 

SWAT Team, Washington 

County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey 

County Sheriff’s Office, Woodbury 

Police Department, Cottage 

Grove Police Department, and all 

other neighboring agencies who 

responded to assist. 

More information will be released 

when it becomes available.” 

Malone posted $1,000 bond and 

was released from custody on 

Jan. 5, records show. 

CELEBRATED DRAG QUEEN 

HONORED BY WHITE HOUSE 

ACCUSED OF MULTIPLE SEXUAL 

ASSAULTS 

Celebrity drag performer 

Shangela — born Darius Jeremy 

Celebrity drag performer Shangela & VP Harris 

Pierce — is being accused of several 

sexual assault encounters. 

The high profile individual was 

lavishly honored by the Biden 

Administration and became the 

first person to wear drag at an 

event at the official vice presidential 

residence, the New York 

Post reported. 

Shangela, 42, was the focus of 

a revealing Rolling Stone exposé 

this week involving five accusers 

alleging sexual abuse. The allegations 

come nearly a year after 

the deviant niche performer was 

also sued for rape, according to 

the news outlet. 

Vice President Kamala Harris 

has known Shangela since 

at least 2019 when they posed 

together for a selfie when the 

now-VP was running for president. 

Shangela praised Harris for 

being “a fierce ally” of the 

“LGBTQIA+ family,” saying, “I can 

for sure say I am proud to see 

a strong, intelligent, dedicated 

Black/Indian woman going after 

the Democratic nomination.” 

Harris invited Shangela to a 

Pride event at the Naval Observatory 

in 2022. As a result, the 

performer became the first ever 

to attend the official residence in 

drag, People magazine reported 

at the time. 

“I woke up today asking myself 

‘Did that really just happen?’” 

Shangela wrote on Instagram 

after “laughing and sobbing” at 

the exposure of being invited to 

speak at Harris’ event. 

“Last night I had the honor of 

becoming the first drag queen in 

drag to ever attend an event at 

the residence of the Vice President 

of America.” 

“Me — the lil country gay kid 

from Paris, TX just helped introduce 

the highest ranking female 

leader ever elected in our country. 

And I did it standing in my 

truth.” 

Several months later, the Biden 

Administration invited Shangela 

to the White House for the president’s 

ceremonial signing of The 

Respect for Marriage Act. During 

the appearance the performer 

dressed in drag and posed with 

Harris. 

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“What an honor to be invited 

to the White House by our @ 

potus and @drbiden yesterday to 

witness the signing of the Respect 

for Marriage Act,” Shangela 

wrote on Instagram.” 

“The weather was chill but the 

emotions were warm and fuzzy 

… and as a drag queen whose 

community is specifically targeted 

right now, this type of inclusion 

meant A LOT.” 

Following recent revelations 

regarding the sexual assault 

allegations against Shangela, the 

Vice President’s Office did not 

immediately return a request for 

comment from The Post. 

Furthermore, Shangela’s attorney 

Andrew Brettler did not immediately 

respond to a request 

for comment Wednesday about 

the accusations of sex abuse or 

connections to Biden and Harris. 

According to Rolling Stone, 

Shangela, who only uses feminine 

pronouns while dressed in 

drag, has been accused of either 

sexually assaulting five people in 

the queer community, or trying 

to have sex with individuals after 

they were too intoxicated to give 

consent. 

The alleged crimes involve 

male and non-binary individuals 

between the ages of 18 and 

23. The accusations date back to 

2012, The Post reported. 

One of Shangela’s accusers 

was a teen at the time of the 

alleged encounter. He claimed 

the flamboyant performer tried 

to anally penetrate him after he 

had been prepped with alcohol 

and vomited all over a hotel bed, 

the Rolling Stone reported. 

Two additional accusers said 

they had blacked out and later 

awoke and led to believe they 


had participated in group sex 

with Shangela and another man. 

Brettler had reportedly denied 

the allegations against Shangela, 

saying he never had “nonconsensual 

sex of any kind with them, 

or anyone else.” 

The accusers told Rolling Stone 

they had been reluctant to speak 

out due to politics involving drag 

shows. Nevertheless, they felt 

empowered after a former HBO 

production assistant filed a lawsuit 

against Shangela for rape 

last year. 

FLORIDA PBA ENDORSES 

DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESI- 

DENT 

Restoring a semblance of order 

to the inner cities of America as 

well as preserving our nation’s 

borders and maintaining security 

in flyover country has rarely 

been more of a focal point than 

it has become in recent years. No 

institution knows public safety 

better than law enforcement 

and its officers who are sworn to 

“bear true faith and allegiance” 

to the Constitution of the United 

States. 

Cops are also keenly aware 

that political office holders can 

empower or cripple their efforts 

as it relates to public safety. In 

the past four years the institution 

of law enforcement has 

taken a historic beating as the 

progressive movement seeks to 

cripple its ability to preserve the 

peace. Hence, community members 

should take note of political 

endorsements made by police 

organizations. 

In Florida, the largest police 

union announced on Thursday 

which candidate for president 

they will support in the November 

general election. 

Florida Police Benevolent Association 

(PBA) President John 

Kazanjian declared his organization 

will support former President 

Trump. In a letter shared 

with Fox News Digital, Florida 

PBA says Trump is the right person 

to handle the many crises 

facing the nation. 

“It’s no secret that over the 

past four years, under the current 

administration, America 

has regressed. Law enforcement 

officers are leaving their jobs in 

record numbers throughout this 

country, crime is rising in our 

major cities, and over 8 million 

migrants have entered this 

country, putting a heavy and 

untenable strain on the ability 

of local municipalities to effectively 

maintain public safety and 

provide essential services to the 

citizens of this country,” Kazanjian 

wrote. 

“This November, America is 

once again at a critical juncture. 

The choice we make in electing 

the next president of the United 

States will have a lasting impact 

on our nation for generations to 

come. And for us, the choice is 

crystal clear. On behalf of the 

30,000 members of Florida’s 

largest law enforcement union, 

the Florida PBA is proud to once 

again endorse you for president 

of the United States,” he added. 

“Moving forward, we will ask 

all of our 30,000 members, their 

friends and family, and all Floridians, 

who love and respect 

law enforcement, to cast their 

ballots in support of President 

Donald J. Trump. Together we’ll 

make America great again.”

‘HE’S GOT MY GUN, I’M SHOT’: 

BWC SHOWS SUSPECT TAKING 

FLORIDA OFFICER’S GUN AND 

SHOOTING HIM. 


Police1 

TALLAHASSEE, FL. — The Tallahassee 

Police Department has 

released body camera footage 

of a suspect shooting an officer 

with the officer’s service weapon. 

The March 8 incident began 

when officers ordered Willis Adams, 

36, to leave a hotel, according 

to the video release. Video 

shows an officer giving Adams a 

card. 

“They already refunded you, 

I made sure they did that,” the 

officer told Adams. 

The officer then informed Adams 

that he needed to remove 

his belongings from the hotel 

room and assisted him for more 

than an hour, according to the 

release. Adams, shirtless and 

speaking erratically, continually 

insisted that “the charges were 

dropped” and that he would return 

to the hotel. 

The officer repeatedly warned 

Adams that if he returned, he 

would be arrested. He tells Adams 

to lock up the car with his 

possessions and leave the property. 

About 10 minutes later, one of 

the initial responding officers 

spotted Adams trying to enter 

the property on foot. He approached 

Adams, who informed 

the officer he was on the phone 

with 911 dispatch and dared him 

to deploy his TASER “for no reason,” 

video shows. 

As Adams continued to run 

away, the officer deployed his 

TASER, which did not appear to 

have any effect on Adams. Adams 

then hit the officer twice 

with a metal can, according to 

the release. 

The officer then used a baton 

in an attempt to keep Adams at 

a distance. Adams was able to 

knock the baton from the officer’s 

grasp. 

“I will hurt you,” Adams can be 

heard yelling at the officer. 

The officer and Adams then 

get into a physical altercation. 

During the struggle, Adams was 

able to climb on top of the officer 

and lock his arm around his 

neck, according to the release. 

The officer then retrieved his 

firearm, which Adams grabbed 

and attempted to wrestle away 

from the officer. 

A bystander can be seen stopping 

and attempting to help 

the officer. The officer’s firearm 

discharges, striking the officer in 

the hand, according to the release. 

Adams then picked up the 

firearm and walked away with it. 

“Dispatch, he’s got my gun, he’s 

got my gun,” the officer said. “I’m 

shot.” 

The officer was treated for the 


gunshot wound and is expected 

to recover. Adams was arrested 

and charged with attempted 

homicide of a law enforcement 

officer, according to the release. 

MAN ON TERROR WATCH 

LIST INVOLVED IN STANDOFF 

WITH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN 

NORTH CAROLINA 

GATES COUNTY, N.C. – A man 

later identified as an illegal 

immigrant on a terror watch 

list was involved in a four-hour 

standoff with law enforcement 

authorities in North Carolina 

last week, according to multiple 

reports. 

Awet Hagos held deputies 

and troopers at bay for about 

four-hours last Monday. He is a 

citizen of the African nation of 

Eritrea who entered America illegally 

after a stay in Haiti, The 

Western Journal reported. 

Hagos, 32, was arrested on 

March 11. He has been in the 

North Carolina area for the past 

six months illegally, according 

to officials. 

Once Hagos’ fingerprints were 

checked, federal authorities 

reportedly discovered that he 

was on the terrorist watch list, 

reported Fox News. 

A representative for the U.S. 

Immigration and Customs 

Enforcement (ICE) said Hagos 

“entered the United States as 

a non immigrant in 2016 and 

violated terms of admission,” 

according to the News & Observer. 

On March 11 at about 6:40 

p.m., deputies with the Gates 

County Sheriff’s Office were 

dispatched to a convenience 

store regarding a report of a 

part-time employee firing a gun 

Terror Watch Suspect & Illegal Immigrant, Awet Hagos 

outside the business, according 

to Sheriff Ray Campbell, the 

Roanoke-Chowan News Herald 

reported. 

“Upon arrival, the deputies and 

a Trooper with the North Carolina 

State Highway Patrol attempted 

to take the suspect into 

custody,” Sheriff Campbell said. 

“However, the suspect became 

extremely combative and at 

one point attempted to disarm 

a deputy of their firearm. The 

suspect then fled into a small 

camper located adjacent to the 

business,” the sheriff said. 

“At first we believed he was 

still inside the camper, but 

thanks to the Ahoskie Police, 

their drone, that has an infrared 

camera, spotted him attempting 

to crawl out from underneath 

a home next door,” Campbell 

said. “That allowed us to focus 

our attention there and we were 

able to get him to come out.” 

Nevertheless, the standoff lasted 

about four hours before the 

man surrendered, according to 

authorities. 

Following Hagos’ arrest, he 

was charged with three counts 

of assault on a government 

official, three counts of resisting 

a public officer and carrying 

a concealed weapon. He was 

booked into jail and held on a 

$100,000 bond. 

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark 

Robinson was unhappy that local 

law enforcement officials had 

to deal with a “violent illegal 

immigrant,” the Carolina Journal 

reported. 

As a result, the gubernatorial 

candidate sent a letter to President 

Joe Biden seeking answers 

and challenging the president’s 

border policy. 

“This incident raises a number 

of serious questions that deserve 

to be addressed urgently,” 

the letter read, according to Fox 

News. 

“I called on President Biden to 

give immediate answers,” Robinson 

said “How did Hagos enter 

the United States? How did Hagos 

get to North Carolina? Did he 

travel by air, interstate, or rail? 

Are there other places that he’s 

been in our state that he’s traveled 

to or through, and should 

those areas be on alert?” 

Robinson’s letter is largely 

symbolic since he notes that 

even elected officials in Washington, 

D.C. cannot get answers 

from the president. 

“The silence from the Biden 

administration on this situation is 

not an isolated incident,” he said. 


“Not even our elected officials 

in Congress or the Senate have 

been able to get any answers 

from him.” 

WASH. MAN SENTENCED FOR 

SELLING LOW-QUALITY BODY 

ARMOR TO LAW ENFORCEMENT 

AND THE MILITARY 

By Alexis Weisend 

The Columbian, Vancouver, 

Wash. 

VANCOUVER, WA. — A Vancouver 

man was sentenced Tuesday 

to a year and a day in federal 

prison for intentionally selling 

low-quality ballistic protective 

equipment produced in China to 

dozens of domestic law enforcement 

agencies and the U.S. 

military. 

Jeffrey Meining, 42, operated 

a ballistic equipment business 

from 2016 to 2022 called BulletProof-IT, 

according to a news 

release from the U.S. Attorney’s 

Office for the District of Oregon. 

He sold equipment, including 

helmets, body armor and shields 

to state, local and federal agencies 

that included law enforcement 

agencies, fire departments 

and the military. 

He told buyers the products 

were from the United States 

when they were actually from 

China. For instance, Meining 

purchased 600 helmets from 

a Chinese company in 2017 for 

about $50,000 and sold them 

for $90,000 to a reseller. That 

reseller sold them to the U.S. 

Department of State for $107,994, 

according to the news release. 

Meining also lied about safety 

testing, the news release said, 

claiming his products met certain 

safety standards. However, 

he did not test them to meet the 

Jeffrey Meining sold low-quality ballistic vest produced in China 

advertised levels, or he altered 

reports to reflect inaccurate results, 

court records show. 

Customers relied on Meining’s 

false statements and falsified 

product testing results when deciding 

to purchase his products, 

the news release said. 

Meining was charged with 

wire fraud in November 2022. On 

March 23, 2023, he pleaded guilty 

to the single charge. 

After serving time in prison, 

Meining will have three years of 

supervised release. 

“In the shadow of deceit, 

Jeffrey Meining orchestrated a 

scheme of betrayal, defrauding 

not only law enforcement agencies 

but the very fabric of trust 

woven into our nation’s armor,” 

said Robert Hammer, special 

agent in charge of Homeland Security 

Investigations Seattle Field 

Office. 

CHICAGO SUES GLOCK OVER 

CONVERSIONS TO MACHINE 

GUNS 


CHICAGO, IL. — The city of Chicago 

sued Glock Inc. on Tuesday, 

alleging the handgun manufacturer 

is facilitating the proliferation 

of illegal machine guns that 

can fire as many as 1,200 rounds 

per minute on the streets of the 

city. 

The lawsuit alleges Glock 

unreasonably endangers Chicagoans 

by manufacturing and 

selling semiautomatic pistols 

that can easily be converted 

to illegal machine guns with 

an auto sear — a cheap, small 

device commonly known as a 

“Glock switch.” The switches 

are the size of a quarter and are 

easily purchased illegally online 

for around $20 or manufactured 

at home using a 3D printer. 

The complaint filed in Cook 

County Circuit Court is the first to 

use Illinois’s new Firearms Industry 

Responsibility Act, passed 

and signed into law in 2023 to 

hold gun companies accountable 

for conduct that endangers the 

public. 

The lawsuit states police in 

Chicago have recovered over 

1,100 Glocks that have been converted 

into illegal machine guns 

in the last two years in connection 

with homicides, assaults, 

kidnappings, carjackings and 

other crimes. 

The lawsuit alleges that Glock 


knows it could fix the problem 

but refuses to do so and seeks a 

court order requiring the company 

to stop selling guns to people 

in Chicago. It also seeks unspecified 

damages. 

“The City of Chicago is encountering 

a deadly new frontier in 

the gun violence plaguing our 

communities because of the increase 

of fully automatic Glocks 

on our streets,” Mayor Brandon 

Johnson said in a news release. 

“Selling firearms that can so 

easily be converted into automatic 

weapons makes heinous 

acts even more deadly, so we 

are doing everything we can in 

collaboration with others committed 

to ending gun violence 

to hold Glock accountable for 

putting profits over public safety,” 

Johnson said. 

Joining the city in the lawsuit 

is Everytown Law, a Washington-based 

firm that seeks to 

advance gun safety laws in the 

courts. 

“Right now, anyone in the United 

States with $20 and a screwdriver 

can convert their Glock 

pistol into an illegal machine 

gun in just a few minutes,” said 

Eric Tirschwell, executive director 

of Everytown Law. 


RILEY STRAIN FOUND: NASH- 

VILLE POLICE LOCATE BODY 

OF COLLEGE STUDENT WHO 

WENT MISSING AFTER NIGHT 

OUT 

NASHVILLE, TN. – Nashville PD 

said on Friday they found the 

body of Riley Strain, a University 

of Missouri senior who went 

missing on March 8 after going 

out downtown. 

Authorities said Strain’s body 

was recovered from the Cumberland 

River in West Nashville 

on Friday morning, about 8 miles 

from downtown. Police said on X 

that no foul play-related trauma 

was observed, and an autopsy is 

pending. 

“This morning, around 7:28 

a.m., we received a call from a 

worker on 61st Avenue, at a company 

that adjoins the Cumberland 

River, that had been searching 

for anything that would pop 

up on the river, especially looking 

for Riley Strain,” Metro Nashville 

Police Department Chief 

John Drake said during a Friday 

morning press conference. “As 

they were removing an object 

from the river, they noticed what 

appeared to be Riley Strain.” 

The fire department retrieved 

Strain’s body from the river, and 

the medical examiner’s office 

reviewed his remains. Strain’s 

family has been contacted, Drake 

said. 

“There are no signs of foul play 

at this time, according to the examination 

here at the riverbank,” 

Drake said. “Mr. Strain still had 

the shirt on that he was wearing, 

had the watch and other identifying 

factors that helped us 

identify who he is.” 

The 22-year-old finance student 

was visiting Nashville for 

his fraternity’s spring formal trip 

when he vanished. He had been 

out on Broadway drinking with 

friends at Luke Bryan’s downtown 

bar, called Luke’s 32, when 

staff asked him to leave. 

Police say his phone pinged for 

the last time around Gay Street, 

part of which borders the Cumberland 

River. 

Nashville police released a 

video of Strain greeting a police 

officer on Gay Street while 

the officer was checking parked 

vehicles for signs of a reported 

vehicle burglary just before the 

college student disappeared. 

“Shown was Riley’s brief exchange 

of greetings w/ Officer 

Reginald Young on Gay St., south 

of the Woodland St. Bridge, on 

the night of 3/8. Riley did not

appear distressed. Officer Young 

was there on a vehicle burglary 

call & remained on that portion 

of Gay St. for 45 min,” police said 

on X. “No video has been discovered 

that shows Riley away from 

Gay St after the 9:52 p.m. timeframe.” 

Luke’s 32 said in a statement 

that bartenders served Strain 

one drink before staff asked him 

to leave. 

“At 9:35 p.m., our security team 

made a decision based on our 

conduct standards to escort 

him from the venue through our 

Broadway exit at the front of our 

building,” the bar said in a March 

15 statement. “He was followed 

down the stairs with one member 

of his party. The individual 

with Riley did not exit and returned 

upstairs.” 

TC Restaurant Group indicated 

that they were working closely 

with authorities in the search for 

the missing college student. 

After leaving the bar, Strain 

told his friends that he would 

head back to their accommodations 

at Tempo by Hilton, which 

is about five blocks away from 

Luke’s 32, as FOX 17 first reported. 

When his friends did not see 

him again at their hotel later 

that evening, they filed a missing 

persons report, Strain’s cousin, 

Chelsea Strain, previously told 

Fox News Digital. 

Police are still working to 

determine exactly how Strain 

ended up walking in the opposite 

direction of his hotel. It is 

possible that he could have entered 

the wrong destination into 

a map on his phone, according to 

family spokesperson Chris Dingman, 

but authorities continue to 

Arlington Texas Firefighter Brady Weaver 

investigate all possibilities. 

Strain’s family flew to Nashville 

and became involved in 

the search immediately after his 

friends reported him missing 

ARLINGTON TEXAS FIRE- 

FIGHTER SHOT IN THE CHEST 

WHILE ON A WELFARE CALL 

IDENTIFIED 

By Frank Heinz 

An Arlington Texas firefighter 

is in critical but stable condition 

after being shot in the chest 

while responding to a welfare 

call early Friday morning, Arlington 

Police say. 

Firefighters, police, and paramedics 

arrived at an apartment 

on the 400 block of Bardin 

Greene Drive at about 12:43 a.m., 

police said, after someone called 

911 reporting hearing children 

crying in a neighboring apartment 

and pleading with their 

mother to wake up. 

Police said officers knocked 

on the door and identified themselves 

but no one answered. 

Police said that they knocked on 

the door for more than five minutes 

and heard children inside 

continuing to call for their mother 

to wake up. 

“Concerned that someone 

inside the apartment could be 

injured or in need of emergency 

medical attention, the first responders 

made the decision to 

force entry into the apartment,” 

police said. 

While a firefighter used a tool 

to open the door, police continued 

to identify themselves 

outside. Assistant Police Chief 

Tarrick McGuire said police identified 

them 17 times before they 

tried to enter the apartment and 

before the shot was fired. A short 

time later, police said, someone 

inside the apartment fired a gun 

through the door and the bullet 

struck firefighter Brady Weaver 

who was at the door. 

Hearing the gunshot, all first 

responders backed away from 

the door including Weaver who 

was able to retreat on his own 

before being taken to a nearby 

hospital. 

Arlington Fire Chief Bret 

Stidham confirmed Friday afternoon 

that Weaver was critically 

injured but was stable and alert 

and that his recovery was trending 

the right way. Stidham said 

Weaver is a six-year veteran of 

the Arlington Fire Department. 


After the gunfire, police ordered 

everyone inside the apartment 

to come out and they said 

a man, a woman, and two children 

complied. McGuire said they 

surrendered without incident 

and were cooperative. 

The man, who police said is 

the person who fired the shot, is 

being questioned by detectives. 

Arlington Police said investigators 

will consult with the Tarrant 

County District Attorney’s Office 

to determine whether criminal 

charges should be filed against 

the man. 

No additional shots were fired 

and there were no other injuries 

reported. Police said the woman 

who exited the apartment was 

the woman being called by the 

children and that she needed no 

medical attention. 

Arlington Police said the investigation 

into the shooting is 

ongoing. 

FLA. DEPUTY SAVES K-9 

PARTNER AFTER HE JUMPED 

OVER BRIDGE RAILING 75 FEET 

OVER WATER 

By Mark Price 

The Charlotte Observer 

BREVARD COUNTY, FL. — The 

K-9 partner of a Florida sheriff’s 

deputy did something horrifying 

— and potentially deadly — at 

a crime scene when it jumped 

without warning from a highrise 

bridge over the Indian River. 

It happened on the 528 Causeway 

in Brevard County, and dash 

camera video shows the deputy 

ended up in a tug of war as the 

dog dangled from its leash. Brevard 

County is east of Orlando, 

along Florida’s Atlantic Coast. 

“K-9 Deputy Lauren Donaldson 

got the scare of her life when 

“K-9 Deputy Lauren Donaldson got the scare of her life when her partner, 

K-9 ‘Zeppelin,’ decided to leap over the bridge’s guard rail and off the 

bridge that is approximately 75 feet above the surface of the water,” the 

sheriff’s office wrote in a March 21 Facebook post. 

her partner, K-9 ‘Zeppelin,’ decided 

to leap over the bridge’s 

guard rail and off the bridge that 

is approximately 75 feet above 

the surface of the water,” the 

sheriff’s office wrote in a March 

21 Facebook post. 

“Thankfully, Lauren responded 

quickly to ‘Zeppelin’s’ actions 

by tightly holding on to his lead, 

immediately bracing her feet 

against the railing, and then 

somehow, reaching over the 

guard rail and pulling ‘Zeppelin’ 

back onto the bridge!” 

It happened as the partners 

were walking away from a felony 

arrest, and it appears the dog 

realized its mistake at the last 

second. Close inspection of the 

video shows Zeppelin desperately 

tried grabbing the top of the 

concrete wall before vanishing. 

Donaldson is heard saying only 

the word “No” as she holds the 

leash and pulls her partner from 

the abyss. 

The entire episode lasts just 

six seconds and the two are seen 

acting as if nothing happened as 

they walk away. 

“Lauren’s rescue of her beloved 

partner is even more amazing 

when you consider that ‘Zeppelin, 

a Belgian Malinois, weighs 

approximately 75 pounds and 

Lauren weighs 122 pounds when 

she is soaking wet and holding 

a bowling ball,” Brevard County 

Sheriff Sheriff Wayne Ivey said in 

the release. 

“Somehow she managed to not 

panic and pull ‘Zeppelin’ back 

to safety!! Without Lauren’s fast 

action there is no question that 

‘Zeppelin’ would have fallen ... 

most likely to his death!” 

Neither suffered injuries during 

the incident, officials said. 


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TOM RIZ 

“THE IVORY TOWER” 


ZO 


TOM RIZZO 

BY DR. TINA JAECKLE 

When I first connected with Thomas “Tom” Rizzo for this cover 

story, it felt as if we had known each other for years as we shared 

our experiences and goals in the policing field. His background and 

experience are impressive. However, what truly stands out is his 

genuine personality and desire to create positive change for law enforcement 

leaders and those with boots on the ground. There is no 

doubt he is making this happen. 

Rizzo is a proud father of four, currently serving as the Commander 

of the Investigations Division (Howell Township Police Department, 

New Jersey) and oversees both sworn officers and civilian 

staff. With over twenty-three years of law enforcement experience, 

he is currently responsible for the oversight and administration 

of advanced investigations, which incorporates many of the latest 

technological advantages, often exceeding the industry standard. 

Rizzo created the department’s first Criminal Suppression Unit, 

which has focused primarily on narcotics interdiction, substance 

abuse and prevention education, and the investigation of violent 

crimes. He has also instructed for intra/inter agency training in 

areas of leadership, public speaking, ethical dilemmas, case law 

application, and interdiction tactics. Rizzo received a B.S. from the 

University of Central Florida in Criminal Justice, and an M.A. from 

Seton Hall University in Human Resource Training & Development. 

Rizzo has successfully blended his law enforcement career with 

that of a military beginning and the role of the college professor 

(for more than twelve years) to now serve as a motivational 

speaker. After attending and graduating from the New Jersey State 

Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Command & Leadership 

Program, he returned as an instructor, focusing on group leadership 

theories and resolution strategies. He is also an adjunct professor 

for New Jersey City University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, and 

Rutgers School of Public Affairs & Administration (Results Driven 

Strategic Management) and has taught in numerous areas including 

School of Management, Criminal Justice, and Professional Security 

Studies. Rizzo regularly guest lectures for the annual Mid-Atlantic 

Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (MALEEDS) held 

at Princeton University and focuses on areas of ethical dilemmas 

and transformational leadership. He has authored an article on 

community engagement for the International Association of Chiefs 

of Police (IACP). As requested, Rizzo is a keynote speaker throughout 

the The nation Blues for - conferences April ‘24 reaching global 90 audiences.


“The Ivory Tower” 

Rizzo has presented nationally 

in over forty states through 

his organization Walk the Talk 

Consultants. LLC. The course 

titled “The Ivory Tower” provides 

a comprehensive analysis of 

leadership theories (regardless 

of rank) and how to practically 

apply them, to serve a benefit to 

both the prospective leader(s) 

and the agency as a whole. 

Rizzo explained that he is most 

proud of the fact that while 

much younger, he served as a 

caretaker for his mother who 

suffered from terminal cancer. 

Since her untimely death, he then 

found himself caring for a wife, 

who also suffered from medical 

disabilities, to include parenting 

four children. Rizzo also shared 

that he now finds himself estranged 

from the very relationship 

he swore to uphold. He provides 

this personal background 

as a means of understanding 

why he instructs on this subject 

matter, “Traditional supervisory 

courses, while valuable, 

seemingly always offer similar 

content in the “management” of 

the position, but not the leadership 

tenets which focus on the 

human component of connection. 

With no ill intention, as we 

promote and gain more years of 

experience, we tend to become 

further separated from who we 

were or where we came from, 

the operational level, and more 

importantly - our loved ones, 

who we are tasked to lead and 

care for (Ivory Tower theory)”. 

To counteract this, Rizzo found 

by learning transformational 

leadership strategies and viewing 

officers as “human beings” 

can influence personnel in such 

a way that allows them to expand 

their potential to heights 

never thought possible; while 

simultaneously learning various 

methods on how to properly address 

our personal wellness; so 

that it aligns with the obligations 

of our profession, which serves 

to achieve a profound effect - 

multi-dimensional wellness. We 

become the best total version of 

ourselves, which in turn allows 

us to perform at our best, while 

productively influencing others. 

Simply stated, this course is 

about leadership perspective. By 

having others realize that they 

too, can be transformational 

leaders, despite their current 

rank or designation, serves them 

on a personal basis, in addition 

to improving their respective 

agencies as becoming more 

effective officers. The confidence 

that this course will not only 

equip the officer-student with a 

newfound leadership mentality, 

but a work-life balance methodology, 

built to support wellness 

on both fronts. 

Additionally, the “Ivory Tower” 

course was constructed with the 

purpose of developing leadership 

in those who attend as a perspective, 

not a position. Attendees 

are tasked with analyzing their 

own inner circles and how they 

can impact their effectiveness as 

leaders and human beings alike. 

The ability to receive, interpret, 

and utilize constructive criticism 

has become rare amongst those in 

leadership positions. If circles are 

formed with healthy components, 

it can extend our reach and effectiveness. 

The empathetic understanding 

of the current difficulties 

must be seriously internalized by 

the leader if they are to be genuine 

in their efforts. The contents 

of this seminar can easily be 

adjusted to fit a diverse audience; 

spanning generations; positions 

regardless of hierarchy; from military 

to public servants to private 

industry. 

Attendees of Rizzo’s training 

are regularly sharing their testimonials 

and confirmation of the 

positive influence of this information 

and approach. “This class 

transformed my career and gave 

one hell of a leader and mentor 

to look up to. I’m going to try and 

get in this class again because it’s 

just that powerful.” 



“Improvement Seekers” 

Rizzo furthered shared that 

life has consistently shown that 

the best teachers are those who 

help others in terms of where to 

look, yet not what to see. Many 

“improvement seekers” are only 

missing guidance with the vital 

navigational equipment required 

for success, however they misinterpret 

this with what is perceived 

as the inability to reach 

the intended destination. This is 

guided by the following foundational 

principles: discipline 

vs. motivation; leadership as 

perspective; foundational relationships; 

conflict resolution and 

solutions; wellness and work 

life balance; personal investment 

for compounded results; 

and effective communication, 

to include written, verbal, and 

non-verbal. Rizzo’s speaking 

engagements are formulated to 

increase wellness and alignment 

of personal and professional 

lives. With career enhancement, 

morale improvement, and personal 

fulfillment at the forefront, 

leadership perspective will shift, 

and self-assessment will expand 

and readily translate into action.. 

COPIKAZE: A CRUCIBLE TO 

MANAGE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 

Rizzo has been fortunate to 

consistently check off the goals 

on his bucket list and one included 

the writing and publishing of 

his book titled “Copikaze: A Crucible 

to Manage Mission Impossible 

(2021)”. The summary explains, 

“With constant evolution 

being experienced in the policing 

profession, the odds of successfully 

navigating a career from its 

onset to completion have become 

increasingly slim. Whether 

attributed to the complexities of 

modern directives, the frustrations 

of contradicting legislation, 

or the overwhelming pressures 

felt due to the concerted efforts 

of reformists, the nobility of the 

calling has certainly been called 

to center-stage. Who, in their 

sane mind, would want this job 

given the current climate? Fear 

not, for the noble ones still do 

exist as the overwhelming majority, 

however, their existence 

is being threatened by the advent 

of enhanced scrutiny, while 

lacking the adequate tools to 

avoid the inevitable spoils along 

the way. Leadership in the very 

essence of the term has never 

been more of a necessity, yet we 

commonly find it to be more of 

an anomaly. Is this because our 

supervisory ranks are plagued by 

demonic patrons or could it be 

simply an expected outcome as 

numbness of the soul has begun 

to steer the ship. This crucible 

is meant to provide a series of 

lessons as the cliché rings, “If I 

only knew then, what I’ve come 

to know now.” For officers, this 

book provides a candid analysis 

of policing trials and tribulations, 

while offering a guide to 

navigate the treacherous path 

which has been paved. For officers’ 

loved ones, it serves as a 

means to acceptance, forgiveness, 

and acknowledgment. For 

the oppositionist, it is offered 

as a path to understanding, not 

necessarily agreement. For all, a 

means to heal not hurt”. 

The reviews of the book have 

been consistently outstanding, 

“This is a great book for a 

newer officer to read so he or 

she knows how to best navigate 

this career, and how to be 

prepared for ups and downs no 

matter how skilled you think 

you are; Tom is a prime example 

of outstanding leadership. This 

book is a excellent road map to 

a successful career in law enforcement 

and how to navigate 

the pitfalls as well. This book 

is a must read from the bottom 

up, rookie to head of the department.” 




Rizzo’s Personal and Professional Philosophy 

Rizzo shared that he has been blessed to 

build a unique sense of empathy for the individual 

spirit of perseverance, which spans a 

myriad of cultures and diverse backgrounds. 

He found that by personally deploying this 

empathetic approach to human relations and 

interactions, one can foster a sense of disciplined 

morale which translates into high levels 

of achievement, while experiencing an internal 

motivation tending to be shared amongst others. 

While serving as a management consul- 

tant to a family-owned business for years and 

expanding that mentality to his current administrative 

position, he has established a standard 

of conduct, subject to self-assessment, to 

which he both abides by and strives to improve 

upon with daily goals. “Simply stated; I consistently 

focus on improving not just myself but 

also those around me. The philosophy rings 

true...you cannot see or realize the best in others 

until you are operating as the best version 

of yourself.” 

The Power of Mentorship 

“If only one had a mentor, free from ego and 

single dimension process...” Rizzo is a consummate 

proponent of the use of mentors 

to create sustainable health. This is key in his 

teaching philosophy, “The establishment of a 

mentorship program within any viable organization 

can be the key component to its survival 

and the internalization of the mission. With 

a unique approach, the individual mentor is 

equipped with the requisite skill set to then 

serve as the “train the trainers” for the rest of 

the organization. General operators then become 

skilled experts in a specific craft, only 

then pass the proverbial baton to the next in 

line, in a wholesome fashion, free from the 

temptation of false incentives, yet worthy of 

genuine emulation. This remains as a tenet of 

a healthy environment, capable of aiding the 

longevity of the system in which it exists.” 


Rizzo and “On Patrol: Live” 

Most recently Rizzo has appeared as a guest host on the 

show “On Patrol: Live” and has become quite popular with the 

fans. “On Patrol: Live” is an American reality television and docuseries 

that airs on the cable and satellite television network 

Reelz. It follows camera crews going on a ride-along with U.S. 

law enforcement agencies. When asked how he was selected 

for this role, Rizzo explained “On Patrol: Live has been literally 

a dream come true. I was part of a national group selected to 

interview and then chemistry test in studio. When selected and 

given the opportunity to “guest host”, I was in a state of disbelief. 

To share a studio with such professionals and have the 

chance to express my interpretations of policing in America, 

it is my hope to enhance our connection with those we serve, 

support those who I call brother or sister. I’m forever grateful! 

The warm reception I’ve received is unbelievable and leaves me 

inspired beyond belief!” 

Future Goals 

Lastly, I asked Rizzo about his future goals. He graciously 

shared, “My future goals are certain, but my path is yet to be 

paved. I pray that if I’m “good” at my job it makes me “better” 

as a person, father, and friend. I genuinely feel that being 

“good” is just that…GOOD; yet being “successful” is by taking 

your “good” and using it to make OTHERS better. I firmly believe 

that if I continue to find the means to relay my passion into a 

purpose, I’ll be capable of achieving my ultimate goal, which is 

to leave not a thumbprint but a SOUL-PRINT on those who continue 

to serve. I believe the key to public safety is by connecting 

to those we intend to serve. The only way to truly connect is by 

showing up as the best version of ourselves, it’s the only way to 

see and realize the best in others”. 

Please visit https://www.thomasrizzo.com for contact information. 

His book, Copikaze: A Crucible to Manage Mission 

Impossible, is available on Amazon or his website. 



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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. 

Court Security Specialist Training 

When: April 8-12, 2024 

Where: Conroe, Tx 77301 

This course is designed for Texas Law Enforcement personnel 

who want to achieve TCOLE certification as a Court Security 

Specialist through the approved TCOLE curriculum. Officers will 

learn the various aspects and operations of court security. This 

certification will meet the court security training mandate. This 

course is also eligible for Oklahoma CLEET credit. 

MA Chiefs of Police Annual Trade Show 

When: APRIL 10, 2024 

Where: Marlborough, MA 

UT FBINAA Chapter Spring Conference 

When: APRIL 14 - 17, 2024 

Where: Moab, UT 

MN Chiefs of Police Association Executive Training Institute 

When: APRIL 15 - 18, 2024 

Where: St. Cloud, MN 

South Dakota Spring Sheriff and Police Chiefs Conference 

When: APRIL 16 - 18, 2024 

Where: Deadwood, SD 

International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence 

Analysts 


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. 

2024 National Cyber Crime Conference 


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 

IL Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Training Conference 

When: APRIL 24 - 26, 2024 

Where: Tinley Park, IL 

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. 

OH Chiefs’ In-Service and Annual Conference 

When: APRIL 28 - 30, 2024 

Where: Columbus, OH 

Police Tech Conference and Expo 

Canada’s Hub for Police Technology Innovation and Procurement 

When: April 30 - May 1, 2024 

Where: Toronto, Canada 

https://www.canadianinstitute.com/police-tech/ 

The Police Tech Conference and Expo is a leading Canadian 

event focused on police technology innovation. 

As an interactive two-day conference, it will enable in-depth 

discussions about real-world initiatives and strategies from 

leading law enforcement experts. The expo floor will showcase 

the latest technology solutions specifically designed for public 

safety applications. 

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. 

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. 



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. 

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. 

2024 Crimes Against Children Conference 

When: August 11-15, 2024 

Where: Dallas, TX2021 CACC 

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. 

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. 

Annual SMILE CONFERENCE 2024 

When: September 18-19, 2024 

Where: Palm Beach, FL. 

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. 

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. 

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 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. 

Ontario Gang Investigators Association 2024 Conference 

When: November 2024 

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. 

Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association 

46th Annual Symposium 

When: TBD IN 2025 

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. 

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. 

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. 


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 REGISTER, The Blues VISIT: - April ‘24 105 

txssc.txstate.edu/events/tss-conf

Cold Case/No-Body Homicide 

Investigation & Prosecution Course 

The IHIA, FBI and Kansas City Police Department will be 

holding our Cold Case/No-Body Homicide Investigation 

& Prosecution course in Kansas City, Missouri 

Topics Include: 

• Establishing a Cold Case 

Unit 

• Investigative First Steps 

• Complete Case Analysis 

• Case Strategy 

April 29-May 2, 2024 

Kansas City Police Training Academy 

6885 NE Pleasant Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64157 

$ 410 

Non Member 

Includes all training materials, IHIA membership, coffee each 

morning, and a networking event. 

REGISTER HERE 

$ 360 

IHIA Active Member 

BOOK HOTEL 

For questions, please contact: 

Lt. Steve Lewis (ret), (813) 299-9921, slewis@ihia.org 

Detective First Lieutenant Dave Eddy (ret), (517) 749-4167, deddy@ihia.org 

or visit IHIA.org 

Department credentials will be required at check-in. Individuals who do not have 

issued department credentials should contact us directly prior to arrival. 

• Laboratory Considerations 

• Evidence Considerations 

• Interview and Interrogation 

• False Confessions 

• Missing Persons 

• How to Build a No-Body 

Case 

• Case Presentation to 

Prosecution 

• Prosecution Considerations 

/Strategies 



Foundational Homicide 

Investigations Course 

The IHIA and the Tacoma Police Department 

will be holding our Foundational Homicide 

Investigations Course in Tacoma, Washington 

Topics Include: 

• Responsibilities of the 

Homicide Investigator 

• Investigative Considerations 

• Crime Scene Investigation 

• Evidence Processing 

• Lab Capabilities 

July 22-26, 2024 

Tacoma Police Department 

3701 S. Pine Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 

$ 435 

Non Member 

Includes all training materials, IHIA membership, coffee each 

morning, and a networking event. 

The Buy 3, Get 1 Free promotion is eligible for this course. 

(For further info, email us here.) 

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• Suspect Development & 

Elimination 

• Interview & Interrogation 

• Exploitation of Digital 

Evidence 

• Cellular Analysis 

• Media & Public Information 

Officer Relationship 

• Criminal Investigative 

Analysis 

• Role of the Medical 

Examiner/Coroner 

• Investigative Resources 

(FBI ViCAP) 

• Child Abductions/Death 

Investigations 

• Documentation/Report 

Writing 

• Defense Attorney/ 

Prosecutor Relationship 

• Legal Matters 

• Courtroom Testimony 


The Blues - April ‘24 109 17

HONORING OUR 

POLICE OFFICER WISBENS ANTOINE 

KNOXVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TENNESSEE 

END OF WATCH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2024 

AGE: 32 TOUR: 1 DAY BADGE: N/A 

Police Officer Wisbens Antoine passed away after collapsing at the completion of a 1.5-mile 

run during Basic Recruit Training at 1650 Huron Street in Knoxville on February 23, 2024. 

The training staff provided life-saving measures until he could be transported to UT Medical 

Center. His condition worsened, and he passed away on February 25, 2024. 

Officer Antoine had served with the Knoxville Police Department for one day. He was a 

member of the 2023-B Basic Recruit Class. He is survived by his wife and two children. 

110 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 

110 The Blues -- April ‘24 ‘24

FALLEN HEROES 

OFFICER CODY ALLEN 

INDEPENDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT, MISSOURI 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024 

AGE: 35 TOUR: 15 YEARS BADGE: 1598 

Officer Cody Allen was shot and killed at 1100 N Elsea Smith Road while responding to the 

shooting of Civil Process Server Drexel Mack, of the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson 

County, at about 1:00 pm. 

Officer Allen had served with the Independence Police Department for six years and had 

served in law enforcement for 15 years. He had previously served with the Grandview Police 

Department for six years and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office for seven years. He is 

survived by his wife and two children. 


HONORING OUR 

TROOPER CHRISTOPHER M. GADD 

Trooper Christopher Gadd was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle while he was parked 

on the shoulder of I-5, near 136th Street NE in Marysville, at about 3:00 am. He was conducting DUI enforcement 

patrols when the crash occurred. The vehicle that struck him was traveling at a high rate of speed 

when he drove into the back of his patrol car. Then, the vehicle ricocheted off his patrol vehicle and was hit by 

a van. 

Trooper Gadd had served with the Washington State Patrol for 2-1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, 2-yearold 

daughter, parents, and sister. His father also serves with the Washington State Patrol, and his sister serves 

with the Texas Highway Patrol. 

112 The Blues - - April ‘24 ‘24 

WASHINGTON STATE PATROL, WASHINGTON 

END OF WATCH SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2024 

AGE: 27 TOUR: 2 YEARS BADGE: 927

FALLEN HEROES 

BORDER PATROL AGENT CHRISTOPHER LUNA 

UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024 

AGE: 51 TOUR: N/A BADGE: N/A 

Border Patrol Agent Chris Luna was killed in a helicopter crash along with two members of the New York 

National Guard in Starr County, Texas. The New York National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter was supporting 

the Department of Homeland Security as part of Joint Task Force North. Agent Luna was onboard the military 

aircraft when it crashed just north of the Rio Grande River, approximately two miles southeast of La Grulla, 

Texas. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia were also killed in 

the crash, while a third service member was injured. 

Agent Luna was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and brother. 


HONORING OUR 

SERGEANT THOMAS A. SANFRATELLO 

GENESEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, NEW YORK 

END OF WATCH SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2024 

AGE: 54 TOUR: 32 YEARS BADGE: G509 

Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello died after being attacked after responding to a dispute between two patrons at 

one of the Batavia Downs Casino’s bars at 8315 Park Road in Batavia. One of the patrons was arrested at 

about 12:30 am and was being escorted from the establishment by Sergeant Sanfratello and security when 

the second patron attacked him. A violent struggle ensued, during which Sergeant Sanfratello attempted to 

use his taser on the subject. Sergeant Sanfratello became unresponsive and died despite security personnel 

and bystanders administering CPR. Sergeant Sanfratello had served with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office 

for 32 years and had twice been recognized as Officer of the Year. He is survived by his son, two daughters, 

mother, two sisters, nieces, and nephews. 

114 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 

114 The Blues - - April ‘24 ‘24

FALLEN HEROES 

PATROLMAN JUSTIN HARE 

NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE, NEW MEXICO 

END OF WATCH FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024 

AGE: 35 TOUR: 6 YEARS BADGE: N/A 

Patrolman Justin Hare was shot and killed at about 5:30 am while conducting a welfare check on a vehicle 

that was stopped near mile marker 320 on I-40, west of Tucumcari. 

A subject connected to the vehicle opened fire on him before fleeing on foot along a frontage road. The man 

remains at large. 

Officer Hernandez had served with the Las Cruces Police Department for two years. He was survived by his 

wife and two sons. 


HONORING OUR 

DETECTIVE FIRST GRADE JONATHAN DILLER 

116 The The BLUES Blues POLICE - April - MAGAZINE ‘24 ‘24 

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEW YORK 

END OF WATCH MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024 


Detective First Grade Jonathan Diller was shot and killed during a traffic stop near 19-19 Mott Avenue in the Far 

Rockaway area of New York City. At 5:50 p.m., Detective Diller and his partner approached a vehicle that was 

stopped in front of a bus stop. Despite being asked numerous times to exit the vehicle, the subject refused. He 

pulled out a gun and shot Detective Diller in the stomach, striking him under his vest. Detective Diller was able 

to get the gun away from the subject, and his partner wounded the suspect. Detective Diller was transported to 

Jamaica Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Detective Diller had served with the New York City Police 

Department for three years and was assigned to Patrol Borough Queens South Community Response Team. He 

is survived by his wife and one-year-old son. He was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade and given 

a new shield number, 110, which is his son’s birthday.

FALLEN HEROES 

DEPUTY CHRISTINA MUSIL 

DEKALB COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, ILLINOIS 

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 


Deputy Sheriff Christina Musil was killed when her patrol car was struck by a commercial vehicle on Illinois 23 

south of Perry Road at about 10:40 pm. 

She was parked on the shoulder of the roadway when the approaching vehicle struck the rear of the patrol 

car. She was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. 

Deputy Musil had served with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for five years and had served as a military 

police officer in the Illinois Army National Guard. 


BY MICHAEL BARRON 

100,000 words? Are you kidding me? 

Two years ago, I mentioned I 

was working on a book featuring 

over 40-years of war stories. 

Some of my own and over a 

hundred from nearly 40 years of 

publishing The BLUES and telling 

your war stories. 

So, when the editor says, “send 

me what you got, and we’ll go 

from there.” I just gathered them 

all together. Put breaks between 

each story, saved it and hit send. 

Easy peasy right? 

Nope. He calls me back and says, 

“did you realize that you send me 

over 100,000 words?” Ah, well no. 

Is that a problem? You need to go 

through and prioritize the stories. 

Put the most important or significant 

ones in the beginning and the 

less interesting ones towards the 

back. 

OK, I’m on it. 

So, as I began this process, I 

realized they were all significant 

because they were in fact a part 

of someone’s life. The officer that 

wrote it and the people involved in 

the actual event itself. To everyone 

involved, regardless of how insignificant 

or boring it may seem, it 

wasn’t. 

So, if it were you that had to 

118 The The Blues - March - April ‘24 

prioritize this forty years of storytelling, 

whose story would you 

send to the back? 

What would it be about? How 

a local woman fought with her 

boyfriend every weekend. Moved 

in and out of their apartment so 

many times that the officers responding 

to the disturbance calls 

knew all the players by first names 

until one night they arrived and 

found her dead on the sidewalk? 

Or the time I got into a chase 

that lasted so long, I had time to 

stop, get gas, go to the bathroom, 

get a coke and jump back on the 

freeway only to discover I was 

now the number one unit behind 

the suspect vehicle in a chase that 

had gone on for hours. 

Maybe the story about a young 

female that worked at an apartment 

complex that was harassed 

by a cop that refused to leave her 

alone. Who stalked her until one 

day she just disappeared? Vanished 

without a trace and to this 

day remains a missing person. 

Or the story about a girl who 

showed up at a Stop-n-Go at 6am 

in the morning, saw a cop drinking 

coffee and said she and her 

boyfriend had been kidnapped by 

drug dealers. She managed to escape 

but he was still tied to a bed 

frame and being tortured. 

Getting shot always makes a 

great story, and there are lots 

of them. Our editor Rex Evans 

recounts his brush with death – 

twice. My encounter with a truck 

driver that left me and the truck in 

the ER with gun shot wounds. My 

partners tragic death in the middle 

of I45. The minute-by-minute recollection 

of a cop’s efforts to save 

his partners life in the middle of a 

riot. There are literally four dozen 

or more just like these. 

Speaking of riots. The past few 

years, the streets of our cities 

have become war zones. One story, 

that actually became 4 stories, 

takes us along for the ride of a 

lifetime as officers get pinned 

down and manage to save their 

own lives as well as the citizens 

that relied on them to save them. 

Ordinary citizens, actually former 

marines, join the story to assist 

cops in the fight of their lives. 

And who can forget about 

the morons in city governments 

across the country that decided 

to “de-fund” their police departments. 

Several stories recount the

effects of such decisions, and the 

results are horrific and sometimes 

hilarious. A city council saved 

from a burning van by a cop that 

no idea these same individuals 

had just voted to end his job. 

Reading about a cop’s decision 

to take his own life is hard to read. 

But in a Christmas Eve story, a 

cop who lost his rookie partner 

to gunfire, ends up under a bridge 

with his gun in his hand. Suddenly 

a young family of three living 

under that same bridge, have an 

encounter with the officer that not 

only saves his life but changes the 

lives of hundreds more. 

Saving a life is the reward. When 

a mom flags you down to say 

her house is on fire and her kids 

are inside, what would you do? 

Of course, you call for Fire and 

tell the dispatcher you’re going in 

the house. Tell FD. In hindsight, I 

guess that’s stupid. After all we’re 

cops, and they are firemen trained 

to search for people in burning 

buildings. But try standing next to 

a mom while her kids are burning 

up in their house waiting on a fire 

truck that’s minutes away. Nope. 

You go in and get them. I coughed 

up black shit for days after that. 

Fire Chief said I was an idiot and 

NEVER do that again. Yes, I received 

a 100-club award. But the 

real reward was seeing those boys 

grow up and knowing that me 

being an ‘idiot’ made that happen. 

And my first time being on the 

front page of the local paper. 

MY second appearance on that 

local rag, was with an 18-month 

little girl named Rosa who had 

been sexually assaulted by her 

step uncle and thrown like a piece 

of garbage into a bayou. After 

hours of searching and some 

come to Jesus’ intervention by my 

lieutenant, the suspect gave up 

the location. My Lt. told me to go 

bring her home. I found her under 

a bridge and carried her lifeless 

body to a waiting life flight helicopter. 

I had no idea the news 

media were taking my picture and 

I didn’t care. I rode with her to the 

hospital and watched that flight 

crew bring her back to life. The 

second I felt her squeeze my hand 

and she opened her eyes; I knew 

God was on that helicopter with 

us. God choose to save Rosa and 

I was just his servant. That very 

event changed my life and hundreds 

more. It was heartbreaking 

and magical at the same time. I 

never knew what happened to 

that precious child. I heard she 

moved back to Mexico with her 

family. But one thing I do know is 

that God wanted her here on this 

earth and that for as long as she 

lived, He would be there watching 

over her. 

It’s these stories that move us 

and make us realize that being a 

cop, a fireman or first responder 

is more than a job, it’s a calling. 

It’s truly Gods work. Children of 

God & Peacemakers. So how can 

you rate one story over another. 

Every story is just as important 

and meaningful as the one before 

it and the one after it. There is no 

way to prioritize God’s work. 

The Blues -- March April ‘24 119 119

WORDS BY a SURVIVING WIDOW 

You’re gone! Now What? 

The pain for you is finally over. 

No more depression. No more 

night terrors. No more roll calls. 

No more blood on the sidewalks. 

No more innocent children dying 

in your arms. No more reports. 

No more “stupid” supervisors 

looking over your shoulder. No 

more fireworks twice a year 

taking you back to Iraq. No more 

family reunions you hate. No 

more family anything. No more 

kids’ baseball games to interrupt 

your never-ending naps. No 

more runs to the grocery store. 

No more shopping for furniture 

you say we don’t need. No need 

to ever cut the grass again or do 

any lawn work. No more clothes 

to wash or put away. You never 

have to wash my car or change 

the oil or take it to the shop 

when it’s broken. You won’t have 

to take time to teach our son 

how to drive, or hunt or anything. 

No more daddy-daughter dances 

you have to make excuses not to 

go to. And you’ll never have to 

worry about walking her down 

the aisle. NOPE. You’re all good 

now. 

But what about us. All of those 

things are still happening. Just 

without you. I know you were 

in pain, but did you or the thousands 

before you, ever stop and 

think about the pain you left 

behind. When your partner was 

shot and killed, Mary Beth was 

surrounded by her blue family. 

They never left her side, not even 

10 years later. They stood by her 

from the minute they woke her 

up at 2am to say her husband 

was a hero and wasn’t coming 

home, until this very day when a 

dozen officers from your squad 

showed up to take her two boys 

to school. They do that every 

year. 

They didn’t have to tell me 

you were gone. Because I found 

you. Yeah, they came over when 

I made the call. To take a report 

and search our house. And yes, 

there was a military funeral, but 

I felt everyone staring at me, 

thinking OMG what’s she going 

to do now. There is a difference 

in dying in the line of duty and 

taking your own life. If you’re 

LOD you had no choice, you 

died a hero. Take your own life 

and you bear a stigma no one 

wants to share. Of course, they 

feel sorry for us and always say 

“anything we need.” But it’s not 

the same. 

Your brothers and sisters in 

Blue don’t understand. You never 

told them you were hurting. You 

refused to share with them your 

pain and suffering. You thought 

they wouldn’t understand. You 

didn’t trust them. But that’s what 

police work is all about. TRUST. 

You have to know your partner 

and your team has your back 

and you have theirs. But you hid 

it all from everyone. Everyone 

outside of our home anyway. 

One day you’re having a backyard 

cookout, being all buddy 

buddy and talking shop and the 

next day, they are gathered in 

our front yard waiting for the ME 

to come take your lifeless body 

away. Now what? 

What are they supposed to do 

with that? How are they supposed 

to process that? Live with 

that? The brother they trusted 

was suddenly gone and they had 

no idea why. But I guess that’s 

not your problem anymore. 

But I suppose it’s as much my 

120 120 The The Blues - March - April ‘24

fault as it is yours. I could have 

gotten you help. I could have 

gone to your supervisors and 

told them how bad it was. I 

could have forced you to get 

help. It would have destroyed 

your career, but maybe, just 

maybe you’d still be here for 

me and the kids. Who cares if 

you’re still a cop.? You’d still be 

an incredible dad and a wonderful 

husband. 

But I didn’t do that because 

you begged me not to. Said you 

would get help and get better. 

That it would be OK. Well, 

you lied. It didn’t get better for 

anyone but you. All of us are in 

more pain that you ever were. 

You can’t imagine what’s it 

been like for me and the kids. 

Your family. Your mom and 

dad. Your brothers and sisters. 

Your brothers and sisters in 

Blue. The whole damn city is 

suffering. You have NO idea 

how fucked up this is. 

But I know life must go on. 

My life must go on. Our kid’s 

life must go on. Your partner 

has to keep on saving lives and 

sometimes people will die in his 

arms and sometimes they are 

just kids. But GOD put us here 

to do our jobs and live our lives. 

You have to believe in his plan. 

You can’t change it. The minute 

you think you can, you start 

down a path that ends with you 

taking your own life and leaving 

the rest of us here to pick up the 

pieces. 

To everyone reading this, I 

want to speak to you now. No 

matter how bad things may 

seem, there is a better life for 

you and your family. You just 

have to ask for help. You have 

to believe in GOD and his plan 

for you and your life. Don’t for a 

minute think you can deal with 

this on your own. You can’t! If 

you’re the spouse, get your wife 

or husband help. Screw the job. 

This is your life. His life. His kid’s 

life that is hanging in the balance. 

There are people out there 

that truly care about you and 

your situation. You just have to 

ask for help. Confide in them. 

Trust them. Go to them. Do it 

NOW. 

It’s too late for me and my 

family, but it’s never too late 

for yours. Please call one of the 

numbers below and let me help 

you save your family. May God 

Bless You and Your Family. 

The Blues - - March April ‘24 121 121

A BADGE OF HONOR 

healing our heroes 

One More Move 

As First Responders, the physical 

and visual memories we 

store inside ourselves over our 

careers can lead to damaging 

impacts. These stored traumas 

below the surface can change 

the way we look and approach 

things. The way it changes our 

coping mechanisms can differ 

from person to person, but 

the dark road it leads us to is 

always the same. 

We have all come to the point 

where there is no hope, no escape, 

a place where we feel all 

is lost and the point of moving 

forward seems fruitless. Its 

Game Over…or CHECK MATE. 

Life is a like a game of Chess. 

We are placed into positions 

and roles, surrounded by 

Pawns, Knights, Bishops, Rooks 

and Kings. We have a strategy 

or outlook in life in which we 

hope takes us to a successful 

finish. Like Chess, one moment 

or movement in time can cause 

an extreme disruption in our 

path. 

When this occurs, we feel 

trapped, we can’t think logical, 

and all viable solution seems 

bleak. 

We are First Responders; we 

are never to be in a cornered 

position. It goes against all the 

training that has been ingrained 

into us. Our brains muscle 

memory begins or loses all 


hope. This is because we sometimes 

need to put the training 

aside and look at things from a 

different view. 

We are conditioned to make 

split second decisions and 

choices in a moment when we 

are under pressure. We need to 

learn to condition our minds to 

look at certain situations and 

objective in a more objective 

way. 

A painting in Paris depicting 

the Devil and a King playing 

Chess titled “Checkmate” has 

been the source of much controversy 

for over a century. 

The Stories surrounding the 

painting has been debated by 

some, but heartfelt by many. It 

pictures the Devil smiling in his 

triumph as the King holds his 

head in despair. He had lost to 

the demand. The moves he had 

made cost him his victory, or so 

he thought. 

It has been said, after much 

study of the pieces on the 

board, a chess scholar evaluated 

the painting, he took his 

time going over each move that 

was made, he looked at it from 

a different perspective then 

the King and found, there was 

ONE MORE MOVE. This move 

would release the King from his 

checkmate, and he would be 

able to continue the game and 

possibly onto a successful WIN. 

SAMANTHA HORWITZ & 

JOHN SALERNO 

The moral of the story when 

you break it down. Demons 

will always be the first to call 

checkmate to make you feel 

you have no other alternatives. 

Sometimes it takes outside 

forces to look at our situations 

from a different angle to show 

us there is always another path 

to a successful outcome. 

We spent most of our lives 

being the caregivers to others. 

Our strength displayed behind a 

suit of armor which is unbreakable. 

We do this to provide 

pain relief for those who have 

been impacted by trauma. We 

can’t forget to sometimes allow 

others to help relieve our pain 

which we have suffered. 

Accepting or asking for help 

is not a sign we have lost, but 

a sign that Checkmate has not 

been called. 

THERE IS ALWAYS ONE MORE 

MOVE 

John Salerno 

Ret. NYPD Detective 

A Badge of Honor


DARYL LOTT 

daryl’s deliberations 

Finding Honor Among 

Everyday People 

One of the things I like about 

cruises is that you meet new 

people. The last cruise I went on 

didn’t really have this option as 

everyone was kept in a bubble 

for social distancing purposes. 

However, some years ago, we 

met another couple with which 

we enjoyed spending a good 

deal of time. 

One evening I was walking on 

the deck of the cruise ship with 

a compass 

in my hand. I 

was conspicuously 

trying 

to figure out 

where we 

were and in 

what direction 

we were 

headed. I was 

imagining 

how people 

like the Vikings 

navigated 

themselves 

around 

using only a 

rudimentary 

compass and 

no charts. My 

new friend, 

Frank, saw me and asked what I 

was doing. I told him that I was 

trying to figure out the direction 

we were headed and exactly 


where we might be going. Frank 

said, “It doesn’t work like that.” 

Really? 

Frank told me that he was 

a retired navigator. He said he 

would be glad to show me how 

navigation works. Frank was a 

navigator before GPS satellites 

assumed those duties. He very 

patiently showed me how compasses, 

charts, and headings 

worked. He told me to meet him 

for lunch the next day and he’d 

show me something else. 

At noon the next day, a ship’s 

officer took a sextant reading 

DARYL LOTT 

to plot our location without the 

use of satellites. Frank told me 

that there 

was a noon 

position 

report done 

every day. 

The officers 

had to be 

able to find 

their way 

around in the 

old manner 

in case the 

electronics 

failed. They 

practiced 

“old school” 

navigation 

every day. 

The captain 

gave the 

“noon report” 

shortly thereafter. 

I asked Frank if he had been in 

the Navy. “No,” he said, “I was in 

the Air Force.” Interesting. I had

to hear more of his story. We sat 

down and Frank told me that he 

was a navigator in Vietnam. He 

was assigned to a squadron of 

F-4 Phantom jet fighters out of 

Udorn, Thailand. The Phantom 

is an old school fighter/bomber 

that has a crew of two officers. 

The Navy, Marines, and the Air 

Force used the versatile plane 

around the world years ago. Iran 

still uses the jets that were sold 

to the Shah back in the Seventies. 

The two-officer crew is situated 

in tandem seats. The pilot 

is in the front seat and, obviously, 

is responsible for flying the 

aircraft. The officer in the back 

seat is basically responsible for 

the radio, weapons, and navigation. 

Frank was a navigator on a 

Phantom. His partner was the pilot 

whom he referred to as Dick. 

Frank told me that he and Dick 

flew missions all over Southeast 

Asia constantly avoiding Surface 

to Air Missiles (SAM’s) and Russian 

MiG fighters that had shot 

down many of their colleagues. 

A Distinguished Flying Cross was 

awarded because of their aerial 

exploits against a determined 

enemy using the latest weapons 

from the Communist arsenal. 

Frank eventually retired from 

the Air Force and he and his wife, 

Lee, moved to Arizona. We kept 

in touch and Frank and Lee came 

to Houston to visit, but Becky 

wasn’t feeling well. I described 

her symptoms to Frank over 

the phone and he told me that I 

should take Becky to the ER and 

that he and Lee would catch their 

plane and wait until Becky felt 

better to visit. I took Becky to the 

ER where an emergency appendectomy 

was done. (Thanks for 

the advice, Frank!) 

We received a letter in the 

mail recently from Lee in which 

she relayed the sad news of 

Frank’s death. She said Frank 

was exposed to COVID and died 

in the first phases of the pandemic. 

Frank was a kind, patient, 

and humble man. 

Lee filled me in on Frank’s 

pilot/partner a couple of years 

ago. Dick is now the president of 

Kansas State University where 

he earned a bachelor’s degree in 

mechanical engineering before 

he was commissioned into the 

Air Force. His last posting in the 

Air Force before his military retirement 

was in the Pentagon as 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of 

Staff. He was the highest-ranking 

officer in our military while 

serving President George W. 

Bush in the War on Terror. 

People like Frank that have a 

quiet kindly manner never go out 

of style. They are full of wisdom 

and should never be overlooked: 

it is too easy to ignore the unassuming 

older man in the corner. 

They are treasures that we so 

often take for granted and then 

they are gone. The next time you 

lift your glass to absent friends, 

could I ask you to remember 

Frank Brooks? He taught me a 

lot about finding my way through 

life’s dark oceans and I will miss 

him. 

Comments: DarylLott.Texas@ 

gmail.com or faithfultexasfootprints.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 

journey 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 is the fifth story 

in the series. Kirk Dinkheller, 

the father of Deputy Sheriff 

Kyle Dinkheller, graciously 

agreed to offer his insight and 

road to recovery in his own 

words below. 

“January 12th, 1998, started 

like any other day. By the end 

of that day my world would 

have been turned upside down 

when my son, Deputy Sheriff 

Kyle Dinkheller, was killed 

in the line of duty in Laurens 

County, Georgia, in what started 

as a routine traffic stop. I 

will never forget that day, 

because that was the day that 

everything changed forever, for 

me, my family, Kyle’s coworkers, 

and the entire community. 

I had lunch with Kyle that 

day, and later participated in 

a company bowling league. I 

received a phone call while at 

the bowling center from someone 

that had heard on a police 

scanner that Kyle had been 

shot. To this day I have no idea 

who called me. 

I rushed to the hospital 

where it was confirmed that 

Kyle had been shot. No other 

information was immediately 

provided until the Sheriff, 

DR. TINA JAECKLE 

the Major, and the Chaplain 

showed up. The news no father 

should ever have to hear: 

Kyle had passed away from his 

gunshot wounds, he had been 

brutally shot 10 times, the last 

shot through his right eye. The 

news no father should ever 

have to share: To notify Kyle’s 

mother and his brother and 

sister of the passing of our 

first born and of their brother. 

Kyle and his wife had a oneand-a-half-year-old 

daughter 

and his wife had just found out 

that she was pregnant with his 

son. 

That entire following week 

was spent with a lot of people 

from Kyle’s department and 

of course family and friends. 

I requested to see the dashcam 

video of the traffic stop. 

At first, they were reluctant 

to show me but eventually 

agreed, first with no sound, 


then later with sound. The 

video is horrific and disturbing 

for most people to see, but 

I needed to see it. These are 

sights and sounds I will never 

forget. To this day people ask 

me how I can show this video, 

but it plays in my head 24 

hours a day. In the months to 

come, as we ALL mourned the 

loss of Kyle, the community 

rallied around our family and 

the Sheriff’s Department with 

great respect, assistance, and 

appreciation. They went out 

of their way to ensure Kyle’s 

family and especially Kyle’s 

wife and children were looked 

after. To this day, 26 years 

later, the community and local 

law enforcement agencies still 

honor Kyle each year on January 

12th with a prayer vigil 

at his memorial. It’s amazing 

the people that still visit Kyle’s 

memorial to reflect and often 

leave coins, badges, or other 

mementos in Kyle’s memory. 

This means the world to our 

family. The memorial has also 

become a place where I go to 

reflect and talk to Kyle if I am 

having a bad day or if I just 

need to spend some time. 

A training video was developed 

using Kyle’s dash cam 

video as a training tool. For 

the last 25 years I have traveled 

around the country as a law 

enforcement advocate, utilizing 

this video while speaking 

to law enforcement agencies, 

academy classes, and anyone 

who will listen to my message. 

As the father of an officer 

killed in the line of duty, my 

message in showing the video 

where my son was killed and 

talking about it to help bring 

home the importance of safety, 

well-being, and going home at 

the end of the shift. I usually 

show the video before I introduce 

myself. This puts the 

video in perspective. I believe 

this helps show the other side, 

the family, the agency side of 

an unthinkable tragedy by seeing 

my face. They are hearing 

from someone that lives it and 

deals with it daily. It makes it 

real. 

So, I will keep doing this, 

keeping Kyle’s memory alive 

until I’m no longer here to do 

it. Hopefully somebody will 

pick up the torch and keep 

running with it when I’m gone. 

I know talking about Kyle and 

showing this video helps. The 

video has been shown all over 

the world and I still hear from 

people who tell me it helped 

them or even saved their lives. 

It’s all about law enforcement 

officers going home at the end 

of each shift. 

I have heard and I believe 

this: I believe you die twice, 

the day that you take your last 

breath and the day that someone 

says your name for the 

last time. My mission remains 

keeping Kyle’s name alive and 

his sacrifice, our sacrifice, saving 

lives”. 

For more information on the 

services and resources offered 

by Concerns of Police Survivors, 

please visit Concerns of 

Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) 


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD 

Light Bulb Award 

CANADA’S WORST MASS 

SHOOTING .. WITH A KNIFE! 

Ottawa police admitted they screwed up last month when they claimed 

the worst mass shooting in the city was actually committed with a knife. 

Ottawa police admit they 

screwed up last month when 

communicating key information 

about the city’s worst mass killing 

in recent history. 

Six people including a mother, 

her four young children and a 

family acquaintance were found 

dead inside a townhouse in the 

south Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven 

on March 6. The woman’s 

husband and father of the children 

remains in hospital. 

A 19-year-old man who was 

living with the family is in custody 

facing six counts of first-degree 

murder and one count of 

attempted murder. 

A horrible crime for sure, but 

the suspect didn’t shoot anyone. 

He stabbed all the victims, yet 

the Ottawa police said it was the 

worst mass shooting in the city’s 

history. 

How do you confuse a knife 

with a gun shot? 

The day after the tragedy, the 

Ottawa Police Service (OPS) 

called the killings a “mass 

shooting” when no guns were 

involved, repeatedly misspelled 

the victims’ names and misiden- 

KNIFE VS GUN, 

SEE THE DIFFERENCE 

CHIEF STUBBS? 

CLICK TO TAP TO WATCH 


“You know you’re fired right?” 

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe looks on as Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs responds to a question 

during a news conference the day after six people, including a mother and her four children, 

were killed in Barrhaven. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press - image credit) 

tified the accused. 

Chief referred to ‘mass shooting’ 

on Thursday morning during 

a live, nationally broadcast 

interview on CBC, OPS Chief Eric 

Stubbs mistakenly called the 

killings a “mass shooting.” 

During a news conference that 

afternoon, Stubbs misidentified 

the man in custody as “Frank 

D’Souza. (Francisco “Frank” 

D’Souza is actually an Indian-American 

entrepreneur and 

business and CEO of Cognizant, 

a fortune 200 company. Sorry 

Frank! 

Later that day Febrio De-Zoysa, 

a 19-year-old Sri Lankan 

national who had come to Canada 

as a student, was officially 

charged. 

After the news conference 

on Thursday, OPS issued five 

separate emails to correct the 

victims’ names they’d provided 

earlier that day. 

Their first attempt contained 

errors in three of the six names. 

The second email contained 

different errors in the same 

three names. 

A third email corrected two 

names and the age of a victim. 

After CBC flagged more errors, 

OPS replied with yet another 

correction. Then, at 3 p.m., they 

issued a final version. 

In a statement to CBC, OPS 

admitted the mistakes and said 

homicides are “very complex 

files to investigate and quickly 

evolving.” 

Yeah, it’s difficult to tell the 

difference between a gunshot 

victim and a stabbing victim 

what with no blood splatter 

and the knife found at the scene. 

Morons! 


THE OPEN ROAD 

Dodge sees no future for V-8 and 

Hellcat engines. 

BY LUCAS BELL 

We’ve known for years at this 

point that the V-8-powered 

performance car was not long 

for this world. With the death of 

both the Dodge Challenger and 

Chevrolet Camaro nameplates 

last model year, choices for 

American buyers only continue 

to disappear. And while Dodge 

has announced that it hasn’t 

entirely given up on the internal 

combustion muscle car, it’s made 

it clear that the V-8 engine is not 

a part of its future aspirations. 

As rumors initially suggested, 

Dodge hasn’t let go of gasoline 

power with the introduction of 

the 2025 Charger lineup. While 

the Daytona-branded models 

are pure electric performance 

machines, the car’s STLA Large 

platform was designed with traditional 

power trains in mind. As 

such, a gasoline-powered variant 

of the model will arrive for 

2025 wearing just the Charger 

nameplate. This model is slated 

to come equipped with the 

automaker’s twin-turbocharged 

3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six engine, 

which currently does duty 

The Dodge Hemi is DOA 

in Jeep and Ram products. There 

are no V-8s on the menu, nor 

does it seem like they will come 

down the line. 

“We don’t have a V-8 in the 

plan,” Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis 


Dodge’s answer to muscle is its new 500hp High-Output in-linesix 

cylinder engine called the “Hurricane SixPack” 

told reporters during the debut 

of the Charger Daytona. “We love 

performance. We love to go fast. 

We just don’t have a V-8 in the 

plan.” 

What Dodge now has is it’s 

variant of the inline-six engine 

is known as the SixPack, a nod 

to the 440 SixPack engine option 

found on the original 1969 Dodge 

Charger R/T. Despite lacking a 

trio of Holley 2300 carbs, the 

inline-six engine compares quite 

favorably to the outgoing V-8s. 

In SixPack standard output 

trim, the engine provides the 

Charger with 420 hp. The outgoing 

5.7-liter Hemi V-8 was rated 

at 370 hp and 395 lb-ft of torque. 

Step up to the SixPack High Output 

and that figure jumps to 550 

hp, which dwarfs the 6.4-liter 

Apache V-8’s 485 hp and 475 lbft 

rating. 

“We looked at many different 

power trains,” said Kuniskis. “But 

I think you’ve probably driven 

many times the Hurricane, and it 

is a fantastic power train. If you 

want to count cylinders, sure, it’s 

different. But if you want to put 

a 550-horsepower Hurricane up 

against a 5.7 or even a 6.4 V-8, 

the numbers tell the story. It’s a 

pretty amazing package.” 

Kuniskis went on to ask the 

crowd how much horsepower 

Ford’s new Mustang Dark Horse 

makes with its 5.0-liter V-8. The 

answer is a healthy 500 hp, a 

figure that notably falls short of 

the SixPack High Output variant 

of the Hurricane. The Coyote V-8 

makes that power without the 

help of turbos, however. 

While the Hurricane will be 

able to bring the performance 

we’ve come to expect from our 

muscle cars, the attitude of the 

inline-six is inherently different 

from a V-8. Add to the fact 

that every Charger will come 

equipped with all-wheel drive, 

and it’s clear we’ll need to look 

at these models a bit differently 

than their predecessors. That 

doesn’t have to be a bad thing 

though. Especially if the alternative 

was a solely electric. 



132 The Blues -- January April ‘24 ‘24

The The Blues Blues - January - April ‘24 133


134 The Blues - January April ‘24 ‘24

The The Blues Blues - January - April ‘24 135 135

THERE ARE 

parting shots... 


NO WORDS 


THERE ARE 

parting shots... 

SCUM OF THE EARTH NEWS ANCHORS 

Hate the police and support defund the police. Avoid at all cost. 

CNN 

MSNBC.NBC 

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140 140 The The Blues - January - April ‘24

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officer of 10 years, he prides himself 

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The The Blues Blues - January - April ‘24 143

NOW HIRING 

Training Opportunities 

Harris County Constable to Sponsor Cadets 

Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen has launched a new program to recruit younger 

non-sworn personnel and pay for their TCOLE training to become certified deputies. 

The profession of law enforcement 

is going through a difficult 

time, especially in the areas 

of recruiting and retention. A 

growing and alarming number 

of experienced law enforcement 

officers are leaving or retiring 

from the profession. And to 

say the numbers and quality of 

recruits has significantly diminished 

would be an understatement. 

Law enforcement agencies 

across the nation are struggling 

with this significant issue. Collectively, 

these problems are 

causing real fears for law enforcement 

agencies and community 

leaders who are worried 

about public safety and the risks 

officers face. And, fewer recruits 

and rising numbers of officers 

leaving translates into fewer 

officers on the streets. That also 

means more danger and complexity 

for officers who haven’t 

left our profession who are 

serving in communities that are 

growing more perilous. 

With all that said, there are 

some law enforcement leaders 

tackling the challenge methodically 

and strategically. 

Harris County Precinct One 

Constable Alan Rosen is one of 

those leaders. He, along with his 

seasoned Command Staff, have 


thought “outside” 

of the proverbial 

“box.” They have 

focused recruiting 

efforts on our 

younger community 

members, specifically 

those who 

already work for 

the office in a nonsworn 

capacity. For 

example, employees 

like telecommunications 

specialists, clerks, 

and screeners for our Downtown 

Courthouse Complex security 

division. 

While many of these great 

employees are younger, they 

offer a great asset to the department 

and the community. 

How so? Longevity. The Constable 

reasoned we can actively recruit 

some of our best and brightest 

non-sworn personnel, offer them 

an opportunity to be “sponsored” 

in a local law enforcement 

academy, and, upon graduation, 

commission them as an officer in 

one of our divisions. 

By “sponsoring” the Constable 

means “GETTING PAID!” It works 

like this: The employee transfers 

from their current position, 

while maintaining a salary and 

benefits, to their new position 

within the department. They are 

a police academy cadet. Upon 

graduation, with no loss in salary 

or benefits, the newly-minted 

Deputy Constables would begin 

their journey on a new career 

with one of the largest constable’s 

offices in the nation. 

Is this the fix for this problem? 

Time will tell. 

Constable Rosen has already 

initiated this program for a small 

number of non-sworn employees 

who have a great work record 

and high evaluations. Would 

such a program work for all law 

enforcement agencies? Probably 

not. There are no silver bullets 

in our profession that work for 

everyone or fit every agency. 

However, this is innovation and a 

positive step. 

The Blues received exclusive 

permission to visit with Natalie 

Spellman aptly considered as

Cadet No. 1 of Constable Rosen’s 

program. Here’s what she had to 

say: 

1. Natalie, what prompted you to 

become interested in a career in 

law enforcement? 

Previously working closely with 

Precinct One in a field I am passionate 

about put me in a position to 

see the difference being made daily 

due to the actions and involvement 

of Precinct One Deputies. Witnessing 

this made it hard to not want to 

be a part of it too. 

2. So, why Precinct One? 

I have previously worked 

closely with the Precinct 

One Animal Cruelty Unit 

and been impressed with 

their dedication to providing 

meaningful, professional, 

and efficient resources 

and enforcement 

to the community they 

serve. I have witnessed 

Precinct One take part in 

pet food and vaccination 

drives along with other 

events that filled a need in 

the community they serve. 

Being a resource to the 

people means a lot to me 

and made choosing Precinct 

One an easy choice. 

3. What are some of 

the things you like most 

about Precinct One? 

I respect Precinct One’s passion 

for both people and animals. This is 

shown through the various divisions, 

events, and opportunities 

that Precinct One. The potential for 

growth as I learn more about myself 

and law enforcement was a large 

factor in picking Precinct One. 

4. The program you’re in is new. 

Constable Rosen created this program 

especially for young adults, 

like you. What does that mean to 

you and how has this impacted 

your life? 

When considering a career shift, 

details such as family and other 

responsibilities are major factors in 

the decision. This program assisted 

me to make the decision based 

more on my personal goals and 

assisted with the management of 

stress as I made the transition. The 

program has made me feel like a 

part of Precinct One even as I am 

still enrolled in the police academy 

and has provided me with support 

and a resource to reach out to with 

any questions I have. 

5. What are some of your goals 

as you look ahead to a career in 

law enforcement? 

My current goal in law enforcement 

is to take this opportunity 

head on and learn as much as I can 

ensure I am the best officer I can be. 

As well as continuing the drive that 

others have started before me that 

have led Precinct One to be a great 

community driven law enforcement 

agency. 

6. So far, what would you think 

has been your biggest challenge? 

Your biggest success? 

My biggest challenge yet has 

been making the decision to make 

the shift into a new career. I am 

a strong believer that if you are 

comfortable, you are not challenging 

yourself. Making the shift was a 

choice with a lot of different factors 

but has been well worth. My 

biggest success is pushing myself 

mentally, emotionally, and physically 

throughout my time in the police 

academy and seeing what I am 

capable of. 

7. To everyone out there who 

might see this story, what would 

you like to tell them? Especially, 

any young lady such as yourself 

who, might be seriously thinking 

of such a career move as the one 

you’ve chosen? 

I would tell them that 

making the jump is scary, 

but rewarding. Put yourself 

in situations where you can 

surprise yourself and be 

proud of what you accomplish. 

If you are considering 

a career in law enforcement, 

educate yourself on 

what a career in this field 

means. The balance of 

what you can do for both 

yourself and others is a 

rewarding opportunity that 

is worth exploring. 

We will continue to 

monitor the success of this 

new program with excitement. 

It is with a hopeful 

mindset that we look 

for these initial cadets to 

successfully complete the academy, 

return to the office and start working 

productively. 

We’d like to applaud Constable 

Rosen on his dedication to trying to 

solve a serious problem. The fact 

that he and his Command Staff are 

trying new ideas is a huge step 

forward. Great idea and way to go, 

Constable Rosen! 

If you would like more information 

on this program or becoming a 

deputy with Harris County Constable’s 

Pct. 1, email them at: Pct1Recruiting@cn1.hctx.net 

or call their 

Recruiting office at 832-927-1533. 


NOW HIRING 

PRIORITY BOLO 


IS YOUR ISD PD 

HIRING? 

YOUR DEPARTMENT’S RECRUITING AD 

CAN BE LISTED HERE FOR ONLY $250 

bluespdmag@gmail.com 

146 The Blues - March April ‘24

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 

 

The The Blues Blues - March - April ‘24 ‘24 147

NOW HIRING 

PRIORITY BOLO 


FIND YOUR ISD 

POSITION HERE 

148 The The Blues - March April ‘24 ‘24

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 The Blues Blues - March - April ‘24 ‘24 149

NOW HIRING 

LE job positions 

Dallas County Constable Precinct 2 Get Info Peace Officer 04/05/2024 

Harris County Constable’s Office Get Info Deputy 04/06/2024 

Alamo Colleges District Police Get Info Police Officer 04/06/2024 

Richardson Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 06/01/2024 

Port Aransas Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 04/08/2024 

Longview Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/06/2024 

Fannin County Sheriff’s Department Get Info Sheriff’s Deputy 04/05/2024 

Whitehouse Texas Police Depty. Get Info Patrol Officer 04/07/2024 

Lakeway Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/14/2024 

Kirby Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 04/08/2024 

Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 04/14/2024 

University of Texas at Austin Police Get Info Police Officer(Cadet and Lateral) 04/01/2024 

Abilene Police Department Get Info Lateral Officer 04/14/2024 

Abilene Police Department Get Info Entry Level Cadet 04/21/2024 

Goose Creek CISD Police Department Get Info Campus Police Officer 04/01/2024 

Bandera County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 04/15/2024 

Briscoe County Sheriff Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 04/16/2024 

Frio County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy | S.R.O 04/30/2024 

Travis County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Law Enforcement Deputy 04/14/2024 

Travis County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Facilities Court House Deputy 04/14/2024 

Travis County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Corrections Officer 04/14/2024 

Dallas Police Department Get Info Police Officer Trainee 04/20/2024 

Dallas Police Department Get Info Peace Officer (Lateral Transfer) 04/20/2024 

Wylie Police Department Get Info Lateral Police Officer 04/21/2024 

Saginaw Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/15/2024 

Sanger ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/21/2024 

Baytown Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 04/30/2024 

Lewisville Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/22/2024 

Forney ISD Get Info Chief of Police 04/23/2024 

Fort Worth City Marshals Office Get Info Deputy Marshals 04/22/2024 

Westover Hills Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/23/2024 

Sour Lake Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 04/15/2024 

Dallas College Police Department Get Info Police Lieutenant- Training Coordinator 03/22/2024 

Meridian Police Department Get Info Certified Police Officer-Patrol/Code Enforcement 04/24/2024 

City of Selma Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/27/2024 

Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 04/15/2024 

Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Criminal Investigator 04/15/2024 

City of Bastrop Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 04/28/2024 

Pflugerville Police Department Get Info Police Office 04/28/2024 

Marble Falls Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/29/2024 

Burleson Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/29/2024 

Rollingwood Police Department Get Info Police Officer0 4/30/2024 

Hays County Constable Precinct 4 Get Info Deputy Constable 05/01/2024 


NOW HIRING 

LE job positions 

Ballinger Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 04/30/2024 

Frisco Police Department Get Info Police Officers - Certified | Out of State Lateral | Recruits 04/29/2024 

Jones County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 05/05/2024 

Mesquite Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/03/2024 

Groesbeck Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/04/2024 

Hollywood Park Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 05/05/2024 

Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 04/30/2024 

Stanton Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 05/06/2024 

Tye Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 05/03/2024 

Tarrant Regional Water District Get Info Patrol Officer 04/08/2024 

Tahoka Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 05/11/2024 

Jones County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 05/13/2024 

Mathis Police Department Get Info Police Patrol Officer 05/13/2024 

Hays County Sheriff Office Get Info Deputy Law Enforcement 05/14/2024 

Missouri City Police Department Get Info Police Officer (Certified/Lateral) | Apply Here! 04/07/2024 

West University Place Police Dept Get Info Assistant Police Chief 04/12/2024 

Texas City Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 05/15/2024 

Pampa Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/11/2024 

Corpus Christi Police Department Get Info Police Cadets 04/12/2024 

Mineola ISD Police Department Get Info District Police Officer 05/18/2024 

Hemphill Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/18/2024 

West Lake Hills Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/18/2024 

Bandera County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 05/17/2024 

Highland Park DPS Get Info Police Officer/Firefighter 03/31/2024 

Lake Jackson Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/18/2024 

Kaufman ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officers (Certified) 05/20/2024 

Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Bailiff Deputy 04/03/2024 

Panola College Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 05/20/2024 

Stratford Police Department Get Info Patrol/Interdiction Office 05/20/2024 

City of Harker Heights Get Info Police Officer Trainee 04/01/2024 

Colorado County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Jailer 05/21/2024 

Grimes County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 05/21/2024 

Floydada Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 05/20/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Criminal Investigator 05/21/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff (Transport) 05/21/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff (Mental Health) 05/21/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff (Livestock) 05/21/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Bailiff (Deputy Sheriff) 05/21/2024 

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy 05/21/2024 

Stagecoach Police Department Get Info Reserve Police Officer 04/22/2024 

Stagecoach Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/22/2024 

San Marcos Police Department Get Info Lateral (certified) Police Officer 05/03/2024 

Lexington Police Department Get Info Police Officer 05/15/2024 

Lockhart Police Department Get Info Police Officer 04/17/2024 


ADCRR is Hiring 

Correctional Officers 

1-888-545-RUSH 


This Is How We Serve 

Serve With Us 

Idaho State Police 

Apply now through 

March 3rd 

To Serve and protect 

the citizens 

of Idaho 

K9 Teams 

Commerical Vehicle Safety 

Investigations 

www.isp.idaho.gov 

Capitol Protective Services 

SWAT 

Crash Reconstruction 





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 

Crisis Intervention Team 

DEA Task Force 

Field Training Officer 

Gang/Narcotics Investigations 

Criminal Investigations Div. 

Marine Patrol & Dive Team 


School Resource Officer 

TCOLE Training Instructor 

Salary 

Annual Salary: 

$44,200.00 Base 

$6,600 Retention Stipend 

Hourly Incentives: 

$1.50 Max for College Degree 

$0.50 Per TCOLE License Step 

$0.50 Bi-Lingual 

$0.50 Special Assignment 

Benefits 

Paid Bereavement Leave 

Cell Phone 

Holiday Pay/Leave 

Longevity Pay 

Paid Personal Leave 

Sick Leave 

TMRS Retirement (2:1 at 6%) 

Tuition Reimbursement 

Vacation Leave 

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 


JOIN OUR TEAMAPPLY AT 

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS 


• 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 

158 • Psychological The Blues Evaluation - April ‘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.


DALLAS POLICE department 

WE aRE HIRING 

Lateral Entry Police officers 

INCENTIVE PAYS 

Education Pay Up to $2,880/yearly 

Bachelor’s Degree $3,600/yearly 

Intermediate Cert. $600/yearly 

Advanced Cert. $4,800/yearly 

Master Peace Officer $7,200/yearly 

Shift Differential 3.5% - 6.5% 

FTO Pay 

$1,200/yearly 

Language Pay Up to $1,800/yearly 

3 years experience 

$80,431 


$82,736 


$85,109 

BENEFITS 

Assistance with state licensing 

endorsement 

15 paid vacation days/year (does 

not expire) 

Relocation assistance 

No residency requirement 

Wellness Unit and Peer Support 

6 Weeks maternity/paternity leave 

Health/Vision/Dental/Life 

Insurance 

Load Bearing Vests 

All Equipment provided at no cost 

Minimum Qualifications: 

Subject to same hiring process as all other police officer applicants 

Will have college credit hours substituted 

Must have 36 months certified, full-time, law enforcement experience 

Must not have any pending disciplinary actions or investigations 

Out of state applicants will complete state licensing process prior to entry into the lateral 

academy 

Apply now at 

172 www.dallaspolice.gov 

The Blues - April ‘24 

DALLAS POLICE RECRUITING 

1400 Botham Jean Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215 

(214) 671-4409






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 


WELCOME ABOARD 



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 



WELCOME ABOARD PASADENA PD




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 

196 

Equal 

The Blues 

Opportunity 

- April ‘24 

Employer

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 further The Blues - details 

April ‘24 197



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 



BENEFITS: 

- 10 Paid Holidays a year 

- 15 Paid Sick Days a year 

- Paid Vacation 

- Take-Home Car Program 

- Duty Equipment and Weapon Provided 

- Tuition Reimbursement for College 

- Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) 

PATROL OFFICER 

ENTRANCE EXAM: 

MAY 18, 2024 

ADDITIONAL 

INCENTIVE PAY: 

RECRUITING 

- Associate's Degree - $100 monthly 

- Bachelor's Degree - $150 monthly 

- Master's Degree - $200 monthly 

- Bilingual Pay - $50 to $100 monthly 

NOW 


VISIT LCPDJOBS.COM 

FOR MORE INFO

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 

• 4 YEARS $93,677 

• 5 YEARS $97,679 

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 


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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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$75, master’s $100 per 

 

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The Blues - April ‘24


Start a career with 

Longview PD 

LongviewTexas.gov/LPDJOBS 

Providing 

Professional 

Policing 

We accept lateral transfers! 

Starting Salary 

$63,090-$71,070 

Two-Tier Hiring Incentive 

$3000 


Longview Police Department


Patrol Officer 

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

division. 

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

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

corridor approximately 4 miles South of the City of Houston. 

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

on experience and certification levels. 

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 

208 Rochelle The Blues Carr-Lacy - April ‘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 - April ‘24 209

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 GROW Blues - WITH April US! ‘24 221


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 

Master Peace Officer 

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 



POS 

TAKE YOUR PICK 


HUNTER BIDEN

April 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 4

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