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FEB. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.2

FEATURES/COVER 90 MR PHILANTHROPY, ALAN HELFMAN: RAISES OVER $2-MILLION FOR HOUSTON AREA OFFICERS 102 HELL ON EARTH: OUR OWN JESSICA JONES BARELY ESCAPES LA FIRES 112 TRUMP: GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA BEGINS DEPARTMENTS PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS LETTERS. READERS SOUND OFF GUEST COMMENTARY - MICHAEL BARRON GUEST COMMENTARY - BRIAN MCVEY GUEST COMMENTARY - DAVE SMITH GUEST COMMENTARY - TRAVIS YATES OFFICER INVOLVED - DANIEL CARR NEWS AROUND THE US MIGRANT CRIME BREAKING NEWS AIRBORNE AVIATION-BELL HELICOPTERS POLICE PRODUCTS - PEPPERBALL CALENDAR OF EVENTS REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES WAR STORIES AFTERMATH HEALING OUR HEROES DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR. LIGHT BULB AWARD ADS BACK IN THE DAY PARTING SHOTS ISD PD JOB LISTINGS NOW HIRING BACK PAGE

FEATURES/COVER
90 MR PHILANTHROPY, ALAN HELFMAN:
RAISES OVER $2-MILLION FOR
HOUSTON AREA OFFICERS

102 HELL ON EARTH: OUR OWN
JESSICA JONES BARELY ESCAPES
LA FIRES

112 TRUMP: GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA BEGINS
DEPARTMENTS
PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS
EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS
LETTERS. READERS SOUND OFF
GUEST COMMENTARY - MICHAEL BARRON
GUEST COMMENTARY - BRIAN MCVEY
GUEST COMMENTARY - DAVE SMITH
GUEST COMMENTARY - TRAVIS YATES
OFFICER INVOLVED - DANIEL CARR
NEWS AROUND THE US
MIGRANT CRIME
BREAKING NEWS
AIRBORNE AVIATION-BELL HELICOPTERS
POLICE PRODUCTS - PEPPERBALL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES
WAR STORIES
AFTERMATH
HEALING OUR HEROES
DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS
BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR.
LIGHT BULB AWARD
ADS BACK IN THE DAY
PARTING SHOTS
ISD PD JOB LISTINGS
NOW HIRING
BACK PAGE

SHOW MORE
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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 1


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VOL. 41 NO. 2 FEBRUARY 2025

FEATURES/COVER

DEPARTMENTS

90 MR PHILANTHROPY, ALAN HELFMAN:

RAISES OVER $2-MILLION FOR

HOUSTON AREA OFFICERS

102 HELL ON EARTH: OUR OWN

JESSICA JONES BARELY ESCAPES

LA FIRES

112 TRUMP: GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA BEGINS

PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS

EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS

LETTERS. READERS SOUND OFF

GUEST COMMENTARY - MICHAEL BARRON

GUEST COMMENTARY - BRIAN MCVEY

GUEST COMMENTARY - DAVE SMITH

GUEST COMMENTARY - TRAVIS YATES

OFFICER INVOLVED - DANIEL CARR

NEWS AROUND THE US

MIGRANT CRIME

BREAKING NEWS

AIRBORNE AVIATION-BELL HELICOPTERS

POLICE PRODUCTS - PEPPERBALL

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES

WAR STORIES

AFTERMATH

HEALING OUR HEROES

DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR.

LIGHT BULB AWARD

ADS BACK IN THE DAY

PARTING SHOTS

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS

NOW HIRING

BACK PAGE

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08

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16

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20

22

26

32

56

62

80

84

124

128

134

136

142

144

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240

134 136

146

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 3


4 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-N-CHIEF

MICHAEL BARRON

OUR TEAM

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Chief Rex Evans(Ret)

SENIOR EDITOR

Dr. Tina Jaeckle

CREATIVE EDITOR

Jessica "JJ" 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)

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Doug Griffith

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Art Woolery

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Daniel Carr

FEATURE STORY

Michael Barron

Jessica "JJ" Jones

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WARSTORY

Brian McVey

AFTERMATH

Sgt. Peterson

CONTRIBUTING COMMENTARY

Brian McVey, Travis Yates

Dave Smith, Michael Barron

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Joanna Putman

Matthew Hollaway

Jenna Curren

Steven Nelson

Diana Glenova

Ben myers

Greg Wehner

Kerry Breen

Kelley Kramer

David Spunt

Chris Pandolfo

Mike Stunson

Marth Bellisle

Andrea Klick

Thomas Tracy

Our Thanks to:

Fox News, Associated Press, Police Magazine

The Law Officer, Police 1.com

& Law Enforcement Today

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 publish-

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 5


FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

VOL.41 No.2

Our Most Significant Issue in 40 Years

This issue of The BLUES is without

a doubt, the most significant

issue we have ever produced

in the 40-year history of this

magazine. As I began to write

this column, it began snowing in

Houston. That hasn’t happened in

over 21 years – last time was December

2004. Even Mother Nature

knew something had dramatically

changed in America.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF

AMERICA BEGINS TODAY

For the past four years, our

country had lost its way. We

were no longer the greatest

country in the world, but rather a

laughingstock around the world.

Hell, our commander-in-chief

couldn’t walk up the stairs to Air

Force One, got lost walking from

the Marine One to the West Wing

and had the mental acuity of a

10-year-old. This inept administration

created a new gender,

allowed men in women’s locker

rooms and tried to convince us

it was OK to let our kids become

transgender and even offered to

pay for their surgeries.

But all that changed on a cold

morning in Washington DC when

Donald J. Trump became the

47th President and proclaimed,

“the Golden Age of America begins

today.” Monday, January 20,

2025, will be remembered as the

day that America became America

again. All the non-sense of

the past four years just seemed

to evaporate with every word

our new President spoke. And

actions are louder than words as

President Trump began signing

Executive Orders almost immediately.

Over 100 in his first day. Our

border is CLOSED. They are only

TWO Genders now recognized

in America, Male and Female.

No more “pronouns” and other

such BS, and ICE began rounding

up illegals on Day 2. America is

back in ways we could have never

imagined. It is truly a new Day

in America.

MR PHILANTHROPY HITS

$2-MILLION MARK

Also on our cover is an old

friend that just keeps on earning

the title, “Mr. Philanthropy,”

Alan Helfman. Day after day, year

after year, he continues to give

back to our First Responders.

As of December 2024, he has

raised over $2-million dollars

for officers in need in the Greater

Houston area. His generosity and

genuine concern for his brothers

and sisters in law enforcement is

never-ending.

In fact there isn't a day goes

by that someone in law enforcement,

a local politician or

a sports celebrity, doesn't stop

in to his River Oaks car dealership.

Some to wheel and deal

on a new vehicle, others to just

visit with the MAN himself. Alan

and I have been friends for over

40 years and his support of The

BLUES dates back to that first

issue in 1984. His commitment to

serving his fellow man is what

earned him the titles of "Mr. Humanitarian

and Mr. Philanthropy"

and it’s an honor to call Alan my

friend.

ONE COMMUNITY TRIES

TO DEFUND THE POLICE,

AND IT ENDS BADLY

Remember when “Defund the

Police” was a thing across the

country? Well one dumb ass

city council in a city that shall

remain nameless, decided they

were going to fire the entire police

department and hire civilians

instead. Well, this month’s

Aftermath is a follow-up to that

6 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Even Mother Nature knew it was a New Day in America, when for the first time in 21 Years,

“IT SNOWED IN HOUSTON”

failed experiment when one of

the town’s former officers decided

to record the first 12-hours

of the city’s new alternative to

policing. Follow along as the

former Sgt. takes us call-by-call

in the antics of these wanna be

cops. It would be hilarious if so

many innocent citizens hadn’t

been hurt and even killed that

first day. Just FYI, the entire city

council was replaced within a

year and all the former cops

have been rehired. Truly one of

the best Aftermath columns in

over 40 years.

BLUES EDITOR ALMOST

DIES IN CALIFORNIA

WILDFIRE

We almost lost one of our own

last month when our creative

editor Jessica “JJ” Jones barely

escaped death when her Palisades

home became a victim of

the raging LA wildfire. In the middle

of the night, she awoke to

someone beating on her door as

smoke alarms and alerts on her

phone were going off. Her neighbor

Mark, a true hero himself,

went door to door in the small

condo project located on Sunset

Blvd. in the Pacific Palisades

of LA, waking up his neighbors

and saving them all from certain

death. Today, that complex is

nothing more than a few concrete

walls and piles of ash. All

the residents survived but lost

everything they owned including

their vehicles. JJ recalls that

horrific night and the following

days in a heart-wrenching feature

story that took mountains

of courage to write. For the first

time in her life, JJ is now dealing

with PTSD and says she now

knows what First Responders

deal with their entire lives. Truly

saved by the Grace of God, we

thank our Heavenly Father for

wrapping his arms around JJ

and the other residents of lA that

barely survived the Hell on Earth.

I hope you enjoy this Special

Edition of The BLUES. It’s an

honor and a privilege to bring

you the Largest Police Magazine

in the World and more than

that, even better to do that as a

PROUD AMERICAN under President

Trump. GOD BLESS THE USA.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 7


FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Keeping the public safe

The FBI defines terrorism as:

“violent criminal acts committed

by individuals and/or groups

who are inspired by or associated

with designated foreign terrorist

organizations or nations.” I

have a more personal and simple

definition: “A Terrorist is a psychotic

POS who doesn’t have the

intestinal fortitude or skills to go

toe to toe with another person.”

Anyways…with several special

events coming to Galveston

Island in Texas, I cannot help

but think of all my friends in

Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS

there. And the extreme challenges

they will face in the wake of

the tragedy that just occurred in

New Orleans, on New Years Day.

Mardi Gras is fast approaching.

And for Galveston that is a huge

deal. Millions of people visit

the Island during the week long

celebration, with an economic

impact of 10-million dollars.

The challenge is keeping all

those visitors safe and secure

without breaking the bank accounts

of the city and the county.

Don’t kid yourselves. This will be

a daunting task given the world

we live in today. Especially since

the individual who perpetrated

the attack in New Orleans was

from the Houston/Harris County

area, local authorities have real

concerns about a copycat attack.

It is foolish for anyone to think

or say, “Oh that’ll never happen

here.” I can tell you anyone who

thinks or says that doesn’t belong

in the planning and logistic stages

of Safety and Security.

I have no doubt that the Elected

Officials of Galveston Island, as

well as local law enforcement,

along with their federal partners,

are working diligently to create a

safety and security plan not only

for Mardi Gras, but the dozens of

other events like the Lone Star

Rally and Dickens on the Strand.

Terrorism is nothing new. It

does however evolve and change

throughout cultures and various

geographic locations around the

world. And remember, with the

open borders we’ve had these

past four years, there are millions

of known and unknown

terrorists roaming the streets of

America. We must assume its

not if, but when they will strike

somewhere on American soil.

For those of us who work to

counter terrorism, it is incumbent

upon us to find these illegal

aliens and terrorists and remove

them from our country before

they have a chance to do us

harm. Don’t be dismissive of the

even the smallest of details. Every

tip or call from a concerned

citizen should be followed up.

In planning events like those

in Galveston, or anywhere else

in America, Law enforcement

needs to have a Plan A and B

and even a C and D. Along with

another Plan that has no letter

designation because that Plan is

your OS Plan. It’s so dynamic it

gets two letters! In other words,

you can not have too many contingency

plans.

Speaking of plans, I plan on

spending as much time as possible

in Galveston at many of those

events and enjoy all Galveston

County and Galveston Island

have to offer. The list of things

to do and see there is just about

endless. And the people…well

the people watching is off the

charts. The word eclectic doesn’t

even begin to cover it.

With a cup of coffee in hand

just sit and watch the crowds of

people in Galveston is an automatic

maker of hilarious and

sometimes endearing memories.

I will go there and feel safe because

I know those in charge are

working to ensure all goes well.

And I know they give everything

they have to keep everyone safe

all the while having a good ole

Galveston kind of time!!!

8 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


START SHOPPING

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 9


10 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 11


LETTERS

RISING FROM THE ASHES

It’s been one week to the day

that my life changed forever. For

the first time in my life, I am now a

victim of PTSD. I have relived that

horrible night in LA when I woke up

to find my condo surrounded by fire

and my neighbor banging on my

door. Only by the Grace of God did

we somehow make it out alive.

I cannot imagine what all the

firemen go through having to fight

fires in what was my hometown. I

said was, because my hometown

doesn’t exist anymore. The term

scorched earth is exactly what the

Palisades looks like today. Just lot

after lot of ash with a towering

fireplace here and there.

No, I haven’t been back, but

friends have sent me drone footage

of the entire community. At first it

was hard to watch. Now I watch

it over and over again to see if by

some miracle it would fly over my

condo and it would magically be

there untouched by this horrible

disaster. But nope, it’s ash just like

everything else.

As you read through this month’s

issue of The BLUES, you’ll read my

account of what it’s like to survive

a night in hell. I’m not the type

of person who shares a lot of my

personal life, especially with a

million strangers. But our publisher

Michael Barron encouraged me

to put my nightmare into words

so that people can understand

the pain and suffering that tens of

thousands are also experiencing. I

guess in a way, it was therapeutic

but nevertheless it was probably

the most difficult task I’ve ever

attempted.

The real reason I’m writing this

letter, is to vent over the stupid

politicians that were supposed

to protect the citizens that elected

them. Starting with our mayor

Karen Bass, who in my opinion is

a complete moron. How this bitch

got elected is beyond me. Why she

chose to leave the city with fire

warnings in the forecast is unbelievable,

to stand in a jet way and

refuse to say anything to a reporter

just doing his job just pissed me off

even more. She had a 14-hour flight

to prepare herself for that very

question the minute she stepped

off the plane and her decision was

to say nothing? How about you

could have said this:

“Yes, in hindsight, it was poor

judgment on my part to leave the

city with the possibility of wildfires

due to the extreme high winds that

were forecast. But the minute my

staff advised me of the situation

here at home and the wildfires that

were racing down the hillside, I

raced to the airport and caught the

first flight back. I can assure our

citizens that I have been in touch

with fire officials on the ground

and my first stop is the command

post to be briefed on the status of

the fire. I will also say that during

my extremely long flight, I used

the opportunity to contact President

Biden, and I’ve requested the

National Guard and all available

firefighting aircraft be deployed to

LA as quickly as possible. I’ve also

been in contact with governors in

all surrounding states and requested

their assistance as well. We will

throw everything we have at these

fires to bring them under control

as quickly as possible to minimize

the damage to our community.

For those citizens that have had to

evacuate their homes, I have set

up multiple temporary shelters

throughout the area to provide you

a safe place for your families while

we get this dangerous situation under

control. Now I see my luggage

has arrived, and I need to go, but

please join me again later this afternoon

at the command post and

I’ll provide our citizens with a complete

update on the containment of

the fires. Thank you for meeting me

here and giving me this chance to

brief our community.”

Fck, I should be mayor. I have

more common sense than this

stupid woman. And our ignorant

governor, he’s more worried about

the environment and his political

future than he is about our city.

And don’t get me started on the

Woke ass, DEI gay chicks that are

in charge of the fire department.

They are completely worthless and

should all be fired immediately And

what about the chick that’s paid

$750,000 a year to be in charge of

water and power. Where the hell is

the water you moron?

Yeah, my trauma has turned to

anger, and I’m pissed beyond belief.

My entire world had to change

overnight because these idiots

failed to do their job. Just unbelievable.

To end on a positive note,

I’d like to thank all my friends and

family for all their love and support

this past week. I could not have

survived without them. And speaking

of surviving, if it had not been

for my next-door neighbor Mark, I

would have died in that fire. I owe

him my life and I will be forever

indebted to him. And to our publisher

Michael, you are the kindest,

12 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


most loving person on this planet.

You gave me hope when I was

convinced my life was over. I’ll love

you forever for what you’ve done

for me. And as Michael would say,

stay relentless.

JJ

A TEACHER FROM PALISADES

HIGH SCHOOL WRITES

My Dear Students- It’s all too

much. It’s all too vast, too cruel.

The images flicker on our screens,

and though we see them—charred

ruins, smoldering skeletons of

what was—we can’t comprehend

them. Our minds refuse to stretch

that wide. We search for words,

but none fit, none hold the weight.

All we can seem to say is “Gone.”

Childhood homes…gone. Family

houses…gone. The sprawling mansions

and quaint bungalows, the

mid-century moderns, the Spanish

revivals, the Craftsman dreams…

gone, gone, gone.

But it’s not just the homes,

though their absence cuts the

deepest. It’s everything else, too—

the schools where we learned

and laughed, the stores where we

lingered, the churches where we

prayed. The market where we ran

into neighbors. The library. Oh, the

library. And the parks, the ballfields,

the trees—so many trees, their

branches once whispering secrets

into the Pacific breeze. All of it

burned, blackened, buckled. Even

the sidewalks—those steady, quiet

witnesses to a thousand strolls—

are broken.

We’re trying to wrap our hearts

around the absolute Goneness of

it all, but we can’t. We can’t fathom

it, can’t contain it. And so our

hearts keep shattering, over and

over again. Even if, like me, you

didn’t lose a house today, you’ve

still lost. We all have. Because we

love people who are homeless

tonight—people whose laughter

once rang through these streets,

whose memories are woven into

this town. And we’re powerless to

fix it. We want to pull them out of

this nightmare, to comfort them, to

rewrite this tragedy. But we can’t.

So we sit with them, hold them, or

simply cry alongside them, trying

desperately to find the right way to

love them through this devastation.

Yes, families and pets were

saved, and that’s everything. But it

doesn’t erase the ghosts. The objects

left behind—letters that once

whispered love, paintings alive

with color, books that held entire

worlds, necklaces that glimmered

against skin—all of them now lost,

transformed into fleeting phantoms

that will haunt their owners’ memories.

These things were more than

things; they were magic, fragments

of the soul made tangible. And

now, much of that magic is gone.

The truth, as I see it, is that this

Palisades life of ours has ended.

The destruction is too vast, the

losses too profound. Yes, one day

there will be shops again, and

houses, and even a library. But it

won’t be the same. It can’t be. The

soul of this town—the breezes that

carried eucalyptus whispers, the

feeling of safety, the deep-rooted

love—is altered forever.

This place we knew and cherished

is now a griefscape. And we

are mourning—not just the buildings,

but the stories they held, the

joy and love and everyday miracles

that happened within their walls.

We’re mourning for the lives built

here, for the people who loved so

fiercely, and for the version of ourselves

that lived in this haven.

I’m so, so sorry. So deeply heartbroken

for everyone who has lost

so much—for those whose homes

are now ashes and for the rest

of us, standing amidst the ruin,

clutching our grief and our memories

of this beautiful, irreplaceable

place. Our lovely town is gone, and

with it, a part of our hearts.

MAYOR KAREN BASS

Your plane ride home to California

from Ghana was 15+ hours

and after all that time, you had NO

RESPONSE to Reporter’s questions

upon arriving at Airport. Really!!

Was it too much for you to AT

LEAST show some compassion

for your Citizens who lost EVERY-

THING!!! As if your silence wasn’t

enough, what was truly sad was

when you FINALLY did speak, you

told Citizens if they needed help,

emergency resources, shelter, etc.,

it could be found via URL! As MAY-

OR, you should know the website

address for emergency services

with regards to City of Los Angeles.

URL is NOT IT!! Still trying to wrap

my head around that.

A Mayor is known as a LEADER.

Citizens should be able to count on

the Mayor no matter what. NEVER

should they feel abandoned, nor

should 911 responders receive pay

cuts!! Have you ever been on the

front lines of a massive fire, put

your life on the line for a stranger,

provided emergency medical

care to save lives? I would bet

my last dime the answer is NO!

911 responders are our Angels on

Earth and if there is anything they

deserve, its pay increases!!! There

are many stories as it relates to the

daily/hourly sacrifices 911 responders

make and never think twice

about it. To refresh your memory,

I suggest you watch videos of 9/11.

Responders ran into burning/collapsing

buildings without hesitation

to save others.

Isn’t a MAYOR the public face of

the City, much like a President is

face of the United States. During

natural and man-made disasters, is

it not the MAYOR’s responsibility to

provide updates to those impacted

by disasters as well as to local,

national and international press. Do

you feel as though you have done

so Karen?

DEBRA LARGENT. FACEBOOK

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 13


LETTERS

OLD SCHOOL COPS

You're out on day shift patrol.

Not too busy today. A few car

stops, a few citations "Sign here,

press hard, you're making five

copies." No AM/FM radio in the

dash of your Plymouth Fury Pursuit

so the only "music" you hear

is the loping of that 335 horsepower

camshaft inside of the

440 cubic inch Super-Commando

beneath its hood. It's banging

away like Gene Krupa on his

drum set. It leaves no question

to anyone in traffic alongside of

you who the boss is.

It's high noon and a rather

warm summer day. You are not

feeling too hungry but a frosty

beverage would be in order.

Luckily, your buddy operates a

Texaco filling station out on the

nearby dual highway so off you

go. Rolling down the asphalt

at 75mph right in your Plymouth's

cruising range. There is

his station just ahead. Their ad

says "You can trust your car to

the man who wears the star"

but you joke, you can trust your

safety to the man who wears

a star AND a .38! LOL. You roll

into the parking lot and gun the

440. Old Herbie looks out from

beneath a car in the bay lift and

gives you a nod. He knows he

can trust you alone in the station

office. You flip the toggle switch

to your PA system and walk

past the outside Coke machine.

Luckily, Herbie has a refrigerator

in the back of his office for his

"special" customers. You open

the door and gaze at the lower

shelf with its cool, frosty long

neck Lonestar and Schlitz beers.

However, it's no longer 1890 and

the division frowns upon on-duty

alcohol consumption. There on

the second shelf you see an array

of Dr. Pepper, Frostie, and there

it is! 7up. You drop 15 cents into

the old coffee can that serves

as an honor box. Then you push

your Stetson back on your head

and roll the cool, icy, can across

your forehead. Then you walk up

to the cigarette machine. There

are two things you left the service

with, your pair of "military

squares" and a hankering for

good tobacco. You reach into

14 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


your uniform pants and drop 50

cents into the machine and pull

the lever. A nice, fresh, pack of

Camels. You yell to Herbie.."I'm

off duty tomorrow! I'll bring my

ol' Road Runner by for a tune up!"

Just then an operator sees your

Fury idling in the lot. For reasons

known only to him, he gets the

"squirrel in the headlamps" look

and kicks his car in the ass. Off

he goes. You run to your Fury,

slide across the plain vinyl seat

and in a muscle memory series

of motions you activate your roof

rotators and flip the siren on, it

wails as it comes to life. A size

12 roper boot punches down

onto the throttle and the Sur-

Grip rear leaves a double rooster

tail of dirt and loose gravel

as you slide sideways onto the

highway. The 440 howling to

life like a Lion as its four barrel

goes to wide open throttle. You

reach for the Motorola mic to

notify Dispatch – "it's time to go

to work."

ALBERT PRÖPPER-WYSOCK

TUNNEL TO TOWERS

HONORS AMERICA’S HEROES

Have something you'd

like to share with our

readers?

Send your letters to:

Bluespdmag@gmail.com

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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 15


GUEST COMENTARY

Michael Barron

Hell on Earth

We almost lost one of our own.

The apocalyptic images of LA

are reminiscent of the wildfires

that consumed the Island of Maui.

Complete devastation of entire

communities. Neighborhoods

reduced to lot after lot of smoldering

ash and burnt-out hulks of

cars. If you ever wondered what

a city would look like after an

Atomic attack, this is it. Nothing

left but scorched earth with a

handful of houses that somehow

escaped unharmed.

All the news wants to talk

about are all the celebrities that

lost their homes. Regardless of

who you are, losing your home

is undeniably one of the worst

moments of your life. But for the

most part, celebrities that have

millions sitting in bank accounts

can rebuild anywhere they want.

Most have second and third houses

they can just relocate too. But

what about the non-celebrities?

Believe it or not, insurance companies

just recently canceled fire

coverage in California because of

all the recent wildfires, leaving

many of these residents with zero

coverage. These average everyday

citizens not only lost everything,

but they also still owe huge mortgages

on what is now just smoldering

ash.

This tragedy hit home when one

of our own editors lived in the

epicenter of the fires in the Palisades.

With only the clothes on

her back, she managed to escape

in the middle of the night only to

abandon her SUV and walk a couple

of miles through a fire-storm

of flaming embers. Her car was

eventually bulldozed out of the

street to make way for firetrucks.

Her condo was destroyed in the

fire. The law firm she worked at,

located only a few blocks away in

a bank building, was also destroyed.

With no home, no car and

no place to go, she managed to

Uber her way to LAX, buy a plane

ticket to Houston to stay with her

mom until she figures out what’s

next.

Wearing a “I love LA” sweatshirt,

I found her sitting on the curb

at IAH with a blank stare on her

face. She got in the car and started

crying. I parked at the Marriott

and listened to her recount her

horrible trip through what she

described as “Hell on Earth.”

Her life as she knew it, is no

more. She has nothing left to

return to and no money to rebuild

even if she wanted to. But she is

alive, she has family, and for that

she is thankful.

But what about the thousands of

others just like JJ that now have

nothing. Many with young children

and nothing left but the clothes on

their backs. Where are they today?

I suppose they are staying with

friends or relatives, just trying to

figure out what their next steps

are. And what about all the first

responders? They too lost their

homes. Many have been working

non-stop since the fires broke

out and haven’t even had time to

stop and think about their futures.

Where are they going to live?

I’m sure Mayor Bass and Governor

Newsom aren’t worried about

their homes. But they should be

worried about their jobs. Both

failed the citizens of California

and should both resign immediately.

Their Woke agenda and

climate polices aren’t working.

Taxpayers expect their government

to at least have water in fire

hydrants in front of their house

and when there isn’t, someone

needs to lose their jobs. Bass and

Newsom are complete idiots, and

both need to go.

So, I say to all the mainstream

media out there, how about focusing

on everyday working folks

and stop worrying about rich ass

celebrities. They will be just fine.

Read JJ’s story on Page 102.

16 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 17


GUEST COMENTARY

Brian T. McVey

The Power of Eight Minutes

How an Eight-Minute Call can make a difference for Law Enforcement Officers.

In an era dominated by smartphones,

the Internet, and text messaging,

we’ve lost many small joys

that once helped us unwind—from

the crazy and quiet moments during

a roll call, to the camaraderie of

the locker room. But for those of

us in law enforcement, there’s one

thing that stands out: the incredible

importance of checking in with our

colleagues and loved ones.

Now, you might be thinking, “I text

with my partner all the time!” But

research shows that it’s simply not

the same. In fact, a study conducted

in 2021, reported in The New

York Times, examined the effects

of brief, regular phone calls on 240

adults. The results were striking,

especially for those in high-stress

professions like ours. Those who

received calls a few times a week

experienced a significant reduction

in levels of depression, loneliness,

and anxiety—issues that law

enforcement officers are all too

familiar with.

This caught the attention of Dr.

Bob Waldinger, a professor of psychiatry

at Harvard Medical School,

who emphasizes the importance of

investing time in our most cherished

relationships. He argues that these

investments can yield tangible

effects on our overall well-being,

offering a hidden “gold mine of

vitality” that often goes unnoticed.

And this is where the “eight-minute

catch-up” comes into play. The

concept of the “eight-minute catchup”

is a practical application of this

research, and it’s something that

can be easily integrated into our

daily routines.

Whether you’re on a break between

calls or just finishing your

shift, dedicating short, focused periods

to connect with a colleague,

friend, or loved one can make all

the difference. This approach not

only cultivates a sense of closeness

and well-being but also addresses

the common issue of conversations

dragging on past their welcome or

abruptly ending—a problem identified

in another 2021 study.

By mutually agreeing to an

eight-minute time limit beforehand,

both parties can engage in a meaningful

exchange without overstaying

their welcome. This ensures that the

time spent together is both beneficial

and respected—crucial for

those of us who often work long

hours and irregular shifts.

In a recent discussion on “A Bit

of Optimism,” Simon Sinek delved

deep into this topic with his longtime

friend, chef, and author Christina

Tosi. They explored the significance

of asking for help and being

there for others—something that

resonates deeply within our line of

work. Their conversation highlighted

a simple yet powerful lesson: the

act of reaching out for support is

not only normal but also essential

for those in demanding roles like

ours.

Simon shared a moment of realization

when a friend revealed

they had been struggling with

depression. His immediate response

was, “WTF? Why didn’t you call

me?” This sparked an eye-opening

realization about the subtle ways

in which people, especially those

in tough professions, ask for help.

“There is no greater honor than to

send them a message that says, ‘Do

you have eight minutes?’” Christina

said.

This phrase has become a code

between them, symbolizing a

safe space where one can openly

express vulnerability and seek

comfort—a concept that could be

invaluable within our ranks. At the

end of the day, eight minutes of

a colleague’s or friend’s time can

make all the difference in the world.

Best of all, it’s only eight minutes.

“Eight minutes!

When somebody texts you ‘Do

you have eight minutes?’ Any of us

can pause for a moment, step out

of the squad car, or take a break

to talk to a friend in need for eight

minutes,” says Simon.

For those of us in law enforcement,

where the pressures of the

job can sometimes feel overwhelming,

this simple practice could be

a lifeline. So, the next time you’re

feeling the weight of the badge,

consider reaching out—because in

just eight minutes, you might find

the support you didn’t know you

needed. 8 minutes is 480 seconds,

as you read this, make that call!

Start sharing this phrase with family

and friends. I always have time

for you.

Brian T. Mc Vey, MAPP| Proud Dad,

Author, Former Chicago Police Officer.

Brian holds a Masters in Police

Psychology from Adler University in

Chicago IL. Reach me at btmcvey77@

gmail.com.

18 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 19


GUEST COMENTARY

Be More Than a Cop

Dave Smith

I am of the age where the vast

majority of my peers are now retired,

and many of my friends have

passed on. Those of us who are left,

sit and reminisce about life and our

careers, and there are some common

threads in our reflections. As

I enter the last quarter of my life, I

realize there are some things I want

you younger folks to think about and

act on.

All my friends who have retired

and living their best lives didn’t just

“retire.” A law enforcement life is a

life of adventure, service, and purpose.

Having a mission in life is a key

component of truly living and not

just existing.

In the early ‘80s, studies showed

the average police officer died

within five years of retirement. Holy

smokes! Living a life of service and

then dying shortly thereafter seemed

pretty unreasonable. Smoking, obesity,

poor nutrition, inactivity, and

stress were all culprits leading to

shortened lifespans of the average

crime fighter.

But there was another component,

a sense of loss and meaninglessness.

What had been a life of true

meaning, true service, with a sense

of mission, was suddenly gone. If

your whole identity is “I’m A Cop”

and suddenly you aren’t, but rather

are cut away from the camaraderie

and identity of policing, imagine the

sense of loss and loneliness. Often

divorced, with no hobbies or goals,

with no “mission,” these folks reported

a sense of feeling adrift.

During my career I saw efforts to

reinforce the concept of becoming a

whole person begin to take hold, led

by the likes of Kevin Gilmartin whose

historic book, “Emotional Survival

for Law Enforcement,” gained favor.

You are not just “a cop.” You are a

husband, wife, father, mother, son,

daughter, fisherman, skier, soccer

coach, football coach, softball

coach, and on and on.

This mindset shouldn’t start as

you get ready to retire, but rather it

needs to start today, whether you

have 20 in or are in your rookie year.

Trust me, I know of what I speak.

We used to kid about how every new

cop would suddenly find themselves

with a house, a spouse and a new

car, and debt up to their ears. Soon,

their hobby was an off-duty job.

They could relate only to other cops

and, like me, had been divorced a

couple of times. At one point, I was

stressed, divorced, overweight, had

high blood pressure, was in debt,

and wondered where I went wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe this

profession is fantastic, honorable,

and a wonderful way to use the life

given to you, but become a whole

person now. There will come a day

when you will no longer serve,

maybe through regular retirement,

or medical retirement, or some

other life circumstances beyond your

control. You need another mission,

another reason to get up in the

morning, another identity to give

you resilience and strength. Often,

my friends have continued to serve

as court officers, school officers,

private security, substitute teachers,

ministers, and one even earned a

doctorate.

The goal is to have a long and

happy life, and this includes stopping

destructive habits like smoking

or lack of exercise. Easier said than

done, right? Don’t I know it, dipping

snuff since I was seventeen, I found

myself extremely addicted to the

stuff. When my youngest daughter

was born, I had a talk with myself. I

was working out like a madman, but

still had this very dangerous habit. I

cold turkeyed my way out of it, but

I must confess, when we are out on

the range shooting, I will still have

a powerful urge for what I used to

call, “my group tightener.”

What I’m trying to say is, be open

to new adventures, new hobbies,

new ideas. One of my good friends

has become quite the brew master

at a local brewery. He talks hops

and malts, and sterilizing this and

that and generally is quite the beer

expert. Another has become the RV

king of the road, traveling all over,

exploring, learning, socializing,

fishing, and generally living large. I

guess that is the idea: live large and

long.

Policing seduces you with the adventure

and excitement and purpose,

but your career is limited by time

and age. Keep growing, learning,

living, doing, and always reflect on

the future you. The goal is not that

you won’t have setbacks and suffering,

but that you will be resilient and

recover or adapt quickly, rebounding

to your best self. Take it from

someone who has made just about

as many mistakes as you can; I have

to say my life has been a wonderful

adventure. Just ask my wife, the

Sarge. It continues to be so even at

my age because I learned the lessons

I’m trying to teach you. Stay safe.

Dave Smith is an internationally

recognized law enforcement trainer

and is the creator of “JD Buck Savage.”

You can follow Buck on Twitter

at @thebucksavage.

20 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 21


GUEST COMENTARY

Travis Yates

Profile in Courage: Daniel Carr

Welcome to a new series where

we profile courageous leaders

across the country. This series is

hosted by Dr. Travis Yates, author

of The Courageous Police Leader.

Today, we discuss Albuquerque

Police Officer (ret) Daniel Carr.

With two decades of law enforcement

experience, Daniel did

something while on the job that

should be impossible. He obtained

a master’s degree in criminal

justice, and a law degree,

while working full time. Daniel

now brings his knowledge and

expertise to the masses through

his wildly popular Police Law

Newsletter. The foundational trait

with courageous leadership is

telling the truth regardless of the

popularity of that truth. Daniel is

an icon in this area.

THE SHIFT TO RETIREMENT

AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES

After retiring from the Albuquerque

Police Department in

2024, Carr has embraced the

freedom to express his thoughts

on policing without the constraints

that often come with

active service. He notes that

the transition to retirement has

allowed him to focus more on

his content creation, particularly

through his platforms like TikTok

and the Police Law Newsletter on

Substack. This newfound freedom

has enabled him to engage

more deeply with the public on

issues he believes are crucial

for improving law enforcement

practices.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HON-

EST CONVERSATIONS

One of the core tenets of Carr’s

approach is the need for honest

conversations about policing.

He emphasizes that to improve

law enforcement, it is essential

to identify and discuss errors

made by police officers, whether

they stem from individual actions,

departmental policies, or

training gaps. Carr argues that

without a candid examination of

these issues, meaningful progress

in policing will remain elusive.

His commitment to neutrality

allows him to critique both

police actions and the narratives

surrounding them, creating a

balanced dialogue that is often

lacking in the media.

THE CHALLENGE OF NARRA-

TIVE CONTROL

In the current media landscape,

narratives can be shaped

quickly and often inaccurately.

Carr points out that police

leaders frequently fail to counter

false narratives, which can lead

to public mistrust and unrest.

He believes that police leaders

should take a proactive stance

in sharing accurate information,

especially when high-profile

incidents occur. For example,

Carr highlights the need for

police departments to present

data transparently, allowing the

public to engage with the facts

rather than relying solely on sensationalized

media portrayals.

ADDRESSING SYSTEMATIC

ISSUES IN POLICING

Throughout the conversation,

Carr raises significant points

regarding systematic issues

within policing, especially in

the context of police reform. He

argues that while reforms are

often proposed with the intent of

reducing police violence, many

22 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 23


fail to address the root causes of

such incidents. Carr asserts that

no amount of policy change will

eliminate the need for officers

to respond to violent situations

where their lives are at risk.

Thus, understanding the context

of police interactions with the

community is vital for assessing

the effectiveness of reforms.

THE IMPACT OF POLICE RE-

FORM ON CRIME RATES

Carr points to the statistics

surrounding police shootings

and crime rates, noting that

despite years of reform efforts,

the data remains relatively unchanged.

He suggests that the

narrative of systemic racism

within policing has not shifted

the reality of police interactions

with the community. Instead, he

emphasizes the importance of

looking at crime data alongside

police use of force statistics to

paint a more accurate picture of

the situation. Carr argues that

without addressing the underlying

causes of crime, reforms

may not achieve the intended

outcomes.

THE ROLE OF ACCOUNTABILI-

TY IN POLICING

Accountability is a central

theme in Carr’s discussion of

policing. He stresses the need for

police departments to investigate

use-of-force incidents thoroughly

and transparently. Carr’s

experience in internal affairs

has shown him the importance

of robust investigative processes

to uphold accountability. He

believes that when officers know

they will be held accountable for

their actions, it fosters a culture

of responsibility within the department.

CONSENT DECREES AND

THEIR IMPLICATIONS

Consent decrees, often imposed

by the Department of

Justice, are a controversial

aspect of police reform. Carr

reflects on his experiences with

the Albuquerque Police Department

during its consent decree,

questioning whether the intended

reforms have truly resulted

in meaningful improvements.

He highlights not only the lack

of significant changes in crime

rates and officer-involved shootings

during the decree period,

but the data got worse in those

areas.

LOOKING AHEAD: THE FU-

TURE OF POLICING

As Daniel continues to engage

with the public through his content,

he remains optimistic about

the potential for positive change

in policing. He believes that fostering

honest discussions about

the realities of law enforcement,

coupled with transparent data,

can help bridge the gap between

police and the communities they

serve. Carr advocates for a balanced

approach that recognizes

the complexities of policing

while striving for accountability

and improvement.

CONCLUSION

Daniel Carr’s insights into policing,

accountability, and reform

provide a valuable perspective

in today’s discourse surrounding

law enforcement. By advocating

for honest conversations, transparency,

and accountability, Carr

aims to contribute to a more nuanced

understanding of policing

in America. As we move forward,

it is imperative to engage in

these discussions, seeking to improve

the relationship between

law enforcement and the communities

they serve.

For more of Daniel Carr’s

insights, consider subscribing

to his Police Law Newsletter on

Substack and following him on

social media platforms.

Travis Yates is the author of

“The Courageous Police Leader:

A Survival Guide for Combating

Cowards, Chaos & Lies.” His

risk management and leadership

seminars have been taught

to thousands of professionals

across the world. He is a graduate

of the FBI National Academy

with a Doctorate Degree in Strategic

Leadership and the CEO of

the Courageous Police Leadership

Alliance.

We encourage you to join the

Courageous Leadership Movement.

“Now open for walk-ins

Wed-Sat 12pm - 8pm”

NEW # 832.627.3729

24 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 25


GUEST COMENTARY

police law news

Daniel Carr

Officer Involved: Elijah Hadley

Driver charged with First Degree murder.

A Deputy in Otero County, New

Mexico has been charged with

1st Degree Murder for the fatal

Officer-Involved-Shooting (OIS)

of a 17-year-old.

As we dive into this case - I

want to highlight the concept

that:

Law enforcement officers must

“justify” every round that leaves

their weapon.

Every shot fired is a separate,

distinct, and individual use of

deadly force.

Every pull of the trigger must

be in accordance with the law.

Also, that it is possible in a

fatal police shooting for some

fired rounds to be reasonable

and some to be unreasonable, in

violation of policy, and against

the law.

WHAT HAPPENED

On June 25, 2024 just before

11:00 p.m., Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin

(an Otero County NM

Sheriff's Deputy) responded to a

welfare check on a 17-year-old

named Elijah Hadley.

Deputy Diaz-Austin located

Elijah walking in the median

on U.S. Highway 70 near mile

marker 240 outside the town of

Mescalero.

Deputy Diaz-Austin stopped his

vehicle and made contact with

Elijah.

USE OF FORCE

During the initial contact Elijah

had a sweater draped over his

left arm and his right arm was

visible.

Deputy Diaz-Austin stated,

“Stop right there“ and “What are

you doing?” Elijah did not respond

and kept approaching.

Deputy Diaz-Austin then stated,

“Let me see your hand bro” and

“Let me see your other hand”.

At that point Elijah used his

right hand, reached under the

sweater and pulled out a handgun.

He moved the weapon

across his body and tossed it a

few feet away from him.

OIS #1

As Elijah was in possession of

the gun - Deputy Diaz-Austin

drew out his firearm and fired

four rounds - striking and injuring

Elijah.

The rounds landed just as the

gun had been tossed.

OIS #2 & #3

Deputy Diaz-Austin then went

to the passenger side of his vehicle

and began to collect medical

equipment - in order to render

aid. He then moved back to the

driver’s side of his police car and

positioned himself behind the

driver’s side door.

Deputy Diaz-Austin yelled at

Elijah to not move or reach for

the gun.

Elijah rolled to his stomach

and yelled that it was a “BB gun!”

Deputy Diaz-Austin observed

Elijah move towards the weapon

and fired more rounds at him.

The deputy did this in two separate

series of shots (OIS #2 &

#3).

The deputy informed dispatch

over the air, “I can’t render aid.

He is still moving and the gun is

underneath him.”

The deputy then asked dispatch

if he should “render aid” and he

was instructed to “stand by”.

Deputy Diaz-Austin fired twenty

rounds - fifteen of those were

26 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


as Elijah laid on the ground. Elijah

sustained fatal injuries.

The weapon ended up being an

air soft gun.

CHARGES

This case was transferred from

the Otero County DA’S Office to

the Bernalillo County DA’s Office

for review and decision to prosecute.

12th Judicial District in Alamogordo,

NM “conflicted out

this case” and asked the Bernalillo

County DA’s Office to accept

it and determine whether prosecution

was appropriate.

Last week The Bernalillo County

District Attorney’s Office led

by Sam Bregman submitted

first-degree murder charges

against Otero County Sheriff’s

Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin.

ANALYSIS

In New Mexico (§ 30-2-1)

First-degree murder consists of

killing another person under any

of the following circumstances:

• A willful, deliberate, and premeditated

killing

• During the actual or attempted

commission of any felony

• By an act which is greatly

dangerous to another's life

and evidences a depraved mind

which has no regard for human

life

Deputy Diaz-Austin is not guilty

of 1st degree murder.

Here’s why: There is no evidence

that the use of deadly

force was “premeditated” as the

deputy did not use any force until

Elijah produced a handgun.

By conducting a “welfare

check” on Elijah - the deputy

was not in the commission of a

felony.

After the initial OIS - the first

action the deputy took was to

run to the passenger side of his

vehicle and retrieve a first aid kit.

This is evidence that the deputy

did have a regard for human life.

In New Mexico (NM Stat § 30-

2-6 (2023)), “homicide is necessarily

committed when a public

officer or public employee has

probable cause to believe he or

another is threatened with serious

harm or deadly force while

performing those lawful duties

described in this section.”

So, as usual, the legally relevant

question goes like this,

“Was there probable cause for

Deputy Diaz-Austin to believe

that Elijah posed a threat of

death or serious harm at the time

of the OIS?”

THE FIRST

Elijah produced a gun and

Deputy Diaz-Austin responded

with deadly force and fired four

rounds. Those first four shots

fired by Deputy Diaz-Austin were

reasonable.

Elijah produced a gun and

moved it across his body - crossing

the plane of the deputy. Any

officer would perceive that as a

deadly threat.

THE SECOND & THIRD

The second and third series of

shots fired by Deputy Diaz-Austin

are more complex. Without the

full body/dash cam video - it

is difficult to reach a definite

conclusion. And, I have several

questions:

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 27


After he was shot and once on

the ground - where was the gun

in relation to Elijah?

Did Elijah ever gain possession

of the gun once he was on the

ground?

Why did Deputy Diaz-Austin

not stay behind his vehicle and

utilize cover - until backup arrived?

What was the deadly threat

posed by Elijah after he was shot

and on the ground?

I understand that the answer to

many of these questions could

be - the deputy did not have a

duty to retreat to the rear of his

vehicle - doing so would make

the view of Elijah (and the gun)

more restricted and therefore

more dangerous and the deputy

would be giving up any tactical

advantage that he had.

At most - Deputy Diaz-Austin

could be accused of making an

error in judgment - when he

believed that Elijah’s possession/

proximity to the handgun represented

a deadly threat.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We know that Deputy Diaz-Austin

did not possess any

negative intent. He was trying to

assist a teenager that was walking

alone, in the middle of the

night, on a highway.

We do not know Elijah’s intent.

Elijah had the gun (concealed

under a sweater on his left arm).

If his intent was to drop the gun

- why not just drop it from its

position under the sweater? Why

transfer it to the right hand moving

it across his body - exposing

it to the deputy?

Reasonable people should

agree that the transfer of the

gun to Elijah’s right hand would

cause any officer to perceive a

deadly threat.

Also, I do believe that a reasonable

argument could be

made that once on the ground

and injured - the fact that Elijah

happened to fall near the gun

while he winced and squirmed

in pain - was beyond his control.

If Elijah was injured he couldn’t

move away from where the gun

fell and if he had reached for it

(even if to throw it further away)

that would have been perceived

as a deadly threat. So, once on

the ground and injured - what

was Elijah supposed to do?

This is a complicated case and

exactly the type of scenario that

law enforcement leaders should

be preparing their officers for.

NEW # 832.627.3729

“Let us bring your art to life!”

28 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 29


GUEST COMENTARY

police law news

Daniel Carr

Officer Involved: Miss Daisy

There are no magic words.

This one is hard to watch. I got

no joy from covering this case.

But the goal here is to discuss

the real things that law enforcement

officers experience.

WHAT HAPPENED

This occurred on 11/23/24 in

Greenville, South Carolina and

began with a call to 911 from a

woman we will call “Miss Daisy.”

Miss Daisy provided the operator

with her location, clothing

description, and then threatened

to “do something stupid” and

requested the presence of deputies.

The operator asked Miss Daisy

if she would harm the deputies

who responded and she stated,

“Yes, I would.”

Deputies arrived on scene and

located Miss Daisy outside of

a business and began to speak

with her.

Deputies asked Miss Daisy why

she called 911 and asked how

they could assist her. During this

contact they also:

• Offered her a ride.

• Offered to call a family member

or friend.

• Offered to get her shelter for

the evening.

• Offered to get a her a meal.

• Offered to get her out of the

“cold.”

The deputies also utilized light

humor and the conversational

tone displaying humanity - as

opposed to robotic commands

and orders that we so often see

in these cases. These deputies

cared what happened to Miss

Daisy and it showed.

I should also mention that the

deputies maintained their distance,

stayed near their patrol

vehicles, did not approach - as

Miss Daisy was armed with a

knife that she was gripping in

her right hand.

Multiple times during this interaction,

Miss Daisy did a “bluff

charge” towards the deputies -

while holding the knife. Where

she took a few quick steps towards

them and then stopped.

The deputies took these threats

seriously and responded by:

Backing up and using their

vehicles as cover. Issuing commands

and force warnings.

Deployed a Taser that did not

achieve the desired result

USE OF FORCE

Eventually Miss Daisy charged

at the deputies and attacked for

real. The deputies responded

with deadly force.

ANALYSIS

Law

Section 23-2-70F states, “a law

enforcement officer is justified

in using deadly force if the

law enforcement officer has an

objectively reasonable belief

that a lesser degree of force is

inadequate and the officer has

objectively reasonable grounds

to believe, and does believe, that

he or another person is in imminent

danger of being killed or of

receiving serious bodily injury.”

30 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Miss Daisy was armed with a

deadly weapon (knife).

Miss Daisy threatened to harm

the deputies.

Miss Daisy was given instructions

and warnings to “drop the

knife” and not attack deputies.

Though not required to - the

deputies attempted deescalation

tactics.

Miss Daisy charged at the deputies

with the deadly weapon.

This use of deadly force was

objectively reasonable and within

South Carolina law.

Policy

The Greenville County Sheriff’s

Office completed an internal

review of this use of force. The

findings were that, “the deputies’

use of deadly force was justified

according to sheriff’s office use

of force policy.”

OTHER OPTIONS

Calls like this put law enforcement

officers in a terrible situation.

After a case like ends with an

Officer-Involved-Shooting (OIS)

- the inevitable criticism is that

the officers should have “just

left”.

If law enforcement officers, in

situations like this “just leave”

and the person walks into traffic,

freezes to death in the elements,

attacks a random citizen, or

commits su1c1de - the criticism

would be that officers knew that

she asked for help, knew that

she was unstable, and just left

because they did not care about

what happened to her.

The deputies in this case made

the correct decision to stay on

scene and attempt deescalation

tactics. Here’s why:

• Miss Daisy requested police

assistance.

• She was armed with a knife

and threatened to harm deputies

or “do something stupid.”

• By charging at the officers

- that resulted in a Taser deployment

- that was a criminal

offense.

The totality of the circumstances

would meet the criteria

for an involuntary mental health

evaluation - which would have

been the preferred resolution.

* If Miss Daisy was alone in her

home and did not want contact

with law enforcement - I agree

that deputies should not force

entry and use force to make her

get immediate mental health

assistance.

However, being in public,

armed with a knife, making

threats, and requesting the presence

of deputies is a completely

different situation. They made

the objectively correct decision

to remain on scene.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This one is going to sit with

these deputies long after they

leave this job.

Just remember. There are

no magic words. Sometimes

kindness and empathy are not

enough to overcome years of

anguish and mental illness.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 31


AROUND THE COUNTRY

IRONDALE, AL.

Lieutenant Mark Meadows was struck and killed by a motorist while

directing traffic at Grants Mill Road and Overton Road in Irondale.

IRONDALE, AL. – An Alabama

police lieutenant died on Monday

after he was hit by a car while

directing traffic at a church.

Irondale police Lt. Mark Meadows,

60, was setting out cones

at an intersection outside the

Church of the Highlands’ main

campus when he was hit by a

man driving a Chevrolet Colorado,

local outlet AL.com reported.

The driver immediately stopped.

The incident took place before

7 a.m. on Monday as the church’s

popular “21 Days of Prayer”

event, which runs from Jan. 5 to

Jan. 25, was preparing to end for

the day.

Meadows was taken to nearby

Grandview Medical Center,

where he died from his injuries,

according to Irondale police.

Irondale Mayor James Stewart

Jr., described Meadows as a

“treasured member” of the city’s

family for decades.

“He was a man of few words

but always led by example and

embodied the heart of a true

public servant,” Stewart said in

a statement. “Lt. Meadows will

be dearly missed by his brothers

and sisters at the Irondale Police

Department, as well as by all of

our City employees and citizens.

We are comforted in knowing

that he is with his heavenly

father, and we will continue to

cover his family in prayer as they

grieve this great loss.”

Meadows was an Army veteran

and had worked in law enforcement

for decades when he was

killed. (Irondale Police Department

/ Facebook)

Church of the Highlands lead

pastor Chris Hodges said Meadows

had worked with the church

since its main campus at Grants

Mill opened almost 18 years ago.

In a statement to AL.com,

Hodges said “our hearts are

heavy beyond measure,” adding

that Meadows was considered

family.

“All our thoughts and prayers

are with his wife, daughter, son,

family members, fellow officers

and the many who loved him,”

Hodges said. “Even in the most

difficult and trying times, we

know our God will provide comfort,

strength and reassurance

based on the promise of heaven.

We as a church will do all we

can to care for his family.”

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey expressed

condolences to Meadows’

loved ones and church

family following his death in a

LT. MARK MEADOWS

post on X on Monday.

“My heart is heavy as I have

learned of the tragic loss of

Irondale Police Lieutenant Mark

Meadows, a veteran and true

public servant. I join all Alabamians

in lifting up his family,

the Irondale Police Department

and the Church of the Highlands

community in prayer,” Ivey

wrote.

Irondale Lt. Mark Meadows

helped direct traffic at Church

of the Highlands since it opened

nearly 18 years ago, according to

lead pastor Chris Hodges. (Irondale

Police Department / Facebook)

32 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 33


AROUND THE COUNTRY

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA.

Deputy Sheriff Tim Corlew was killed in a motorcycle crash on

CA 91 east of La Sierra Avenue in Riverside.

RIVERSIDE, CA. – Deputy Sheriff

Timothy Corlew was killed in a

motorcycle crash at 5:30 a.m. on

CA 91 east of La Sierra Avenue.

While traveling westbound in

the HOV lane, Deputy Corlew’s

patrol motorcycle collided with

a vehicle, ejecting him from his

motorcycle. He was transported

to Riverside Community Hospital

where he was pronounced

deceased.

The incident occurred at approximately

5:35 a.m. on the

westbound 91 Freeway near La

Sierra Avenue in Riverside. Deputy

Corlew was operating his patrol

motorcycle in the HOV lane

DEPUTY TIMOTHY CORLEW

when he encountered stopped

traffic across all lanes. For reasons

still under investigation,

Corlew’s motorcycle collided

with the rear of a Toyota Lexus.

The impact ejected him from the

motorcycle, causing him to land

on a Hyundai sedan.

Paramedics arrived promptly

and transported Deputy Corlew

to Riverside Community Hospital,

where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the Lexus sustained

minor injuries, while the Hyundai’s

occupant was unharmed.

The California Highway Patrol

Deputy Corlew had served

with the Riverside County Sheriff’s

Department for nine years,

assigned to the Jurupa Valley

Sheriff’s Station.

34 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 35


AROUND THE COUNTRY

HOUSTON, TX.

Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas was shot and killed while serving a

warrant at Stella Link Road north of Interstate 610 in Houston.

BRAZORIA COUNTY, TX.— Brazoria

County Sheriff Bo Stallman

was interviewed by TV station

KHOU about the death of one of

his deputies a day prior.

Deputy Jesus “Jesse” Vargas

was working with the U.S. Marshal’s

Gulf Coast Violent Offenders

Task Force when he was shot

while trying to serve a warrant

for Sean Christopher Davis’ arrest.

The shooting marked the first

gunshot death of a law enforcement

officer nationwide in 2025.

“There’s certainly a hole left in

the department after yesterday,”

Stallman said.

Vargas was a 17-year veteran

with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s

Office. He leaves behind a wife

and three daughters.

The incident began around

11:30 a.m. in a strip center off

Stella Link Road just inside the

South Loop.

According to authorities, Davis

was a passenger in a truck

pulled over in the parking lot.

When Vargas and his partner

got out and told Davis to get out

of the car, Davis opened fire and

ran away from the scene. Vargas,

who was shot in the head,

was rushed to a Houston hospital

where he was later pronounced

dead.

Stallman described Vargas as

a hero who protected the community

by apprehending fugitive

offenders.

“Jesse was a member, on behalf

of our office, as part of the

Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task

Force. That’s what he did -- was

apprehending these violent offenders,”

Stallman said. “Deputy

Jesse Vargas was a hero serving

our community, keeping our

community safe, by apprehending

fugitive offenders.”

The initial shooting sparked a

manhunt that lasted nearly six

hours.

A Blue Alert was issued for

Davis around 2:20 p.m., and then

around 5 p.m., U.S. Marshal K-9

Rocky alerted investigators to a

dumpster near the original shooting

scene. The dog alerted to the

dumpster several times. A U.S.

Marshal then released Rocky into

the dumpster. That’s when HPD

said Davis shot the dog at least

twice.

Deputies with the Marshal Service

returned fire, shooting and

killing Davis in the dumpster. A

deputy was hit in the arm in the

shootout. He’s expected to be OK.

Investigators said the K-9 was

rushed to an awaiting helicopter

and taken to an area vet. The dog

is expected to recover from its

injuries.

DEPUTY JESUS VARGAS

Stallman said the department

has received an outpouring of

support from the community as

well as law enforcement agencies

across the state in the wake

of Vargas’ death.

“You know, we’ve had people

reach out to us from everywhere,”

Stallman said. “Sending

their condolences and offering

any kind of assistance or resources

that they can.”

Stallman urged the community

to keep the Vargas family and the

law enforcement community in

their thoughts and prayers as they

mourn the tragic loss.

36 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


U.S. Marshal K-9 Rocky shot by suspect

hiding in dumpster.

HOUSTON, TX. — The U.S. Marshal

K-9 shot by a wanted killer

on Wednesday narrowly escaped

death, according to a Houston

veterinarian who is treating K-9

Rocky at Westbury Animal Hospital.

Dr. Jeff Chalkley said the heroic

K-9 was shot twice, through the

nostril and the neck.

“Narrowly missed his spine,

which was pretty amazing,”

Chalkley said. “God was there and

directed that bullet away from his

vital organs.”

K-9 Rocky is credited with saving

lives when he hunted down

the suspect who shot and killed

Deputy Jesus Vargas and found

him hiding in a dumpster. He

alerted other officers and jumped

into the dumpster where Sean

Christopher Davis shot him twice.

Other officers then killed Davis

in a shootout behind the same

strip center where Deputy Vargas

was shot hours earlier.

K-9 Rocky was loaded onto a

Texas DPS helicopter and rushed

to the animal hospital. Chalkley

said the dog might not have

survived if they hadn’t gotten him

there so quickly.

K-9 Rocky might get to go home

in two or three days. He’s already

been up and walking, eating and

peeing and pooping, which are all

good signs.

“He’s the luckiest dog I’ve seen,”

Chalkley said. “I don’t you know if

you call that luck or the hand of

God, but that bullet, I mean could

have ended his life instantly.”

Rocky’s handler stayed by his

side all night and won’t leave the

hospital until Rocky is released.

Our KHOU 11 crew saw several

other officers stop by the hospital

to check on Rocky and his partner.

“Everybody’s been supporting

him here and making sure you

know that he’s OK and the family,

you know, he’s got a family with

children and so this dog’s a part

of the whole family, not just the

trainer,” Chief T. Michael O’Connor

with the U.S. Marshals Service

said. “You know, we’re, we’ve

CLICK TO WATCH

got the machoness in us, but yet.

When it comes to children, innocents

and to animals, dogs, there’s

a heartfelt feeling.”

The veterinarians believe Rocky

will make a full recovery and return

to duty and “catch more bad

guys and hopefully get rid of evil

in the world.”

“Just an athlete. He’s, he’s an

amazing dog,” Chalkley said.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 37


AROUND THE COUNTRY

NAVASOTA, TX.

Sergeant Mark Butler was killed in a head-on collision during a pursuit

on Highway 6 near Farm-to-Market 3090 in Navasota.

NAVASOTA, TX. – Navasota

Police Sergeant Mark Butler

was killed in a head-on collision

during a vehicle pursuit on

Wednesday January 15.

The Texas Department of Public

Safety (DPS), said the incident

began in College Station just

after 3 p.m., when police responded

to a report of forgery at

Prosperity Bank. Officers confronted

a woman who reportedly

was attempting to cash a

fraudulent check. Police said the

suspect took off in a black 2023

Jeep Wrangler, leading officers

southbound on Highway 6.

Under agency policy, College

Station Police Department

(CSPD) officers ended their

pursuit after the suspect exited

Highway 6 south at the FM 2154

ramp, then began driving south

SERGEANT MARK BUTLER

in the northbound lanes of Highway

6, KBTX reports.

Texas DPS Troopers continued

to follow the vehicle as it entered

Grimes County.

At 3:30 p.m., Sergeant Butler,

who was traveling northbound,

maneuvered his marked patrol

vehicle and collided with the

suspect, preventing her from

hitting other motorists on the

highway. He was transported to

CHI St. Joseph Hospital – Grimes

Hospital, where he succumbed

to his injuries.

The suspect was killed at the

scene.

Sergeant Butler was a United

States Army veteran and had

served with the Navasota Police

Department for almost four

years.

Several witnesses to the incident

told KBTX how Sgt. Butler

prevented the Jeep from hitting

their vehicles and labeled him as

a hero who sacrificed his life to

save the lives of others.

38 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 39


AROUND THE COUNTRY

COVENTRY, VT.

Border Patrol Agent David Maland was shot and killed during a traffic

stop on Interstate 91 in Vermont near the Canadian Border.

A United States border agent

was gunned down during a

traffic stop in Vermont near the

Canadian border, officials have

confirmed.

It happened around 3:15 p.m.

Monday on Interstate 91 in Coventry,

20 miles from the Northern

border, according to the Department

of Homeland Security.

The agent was identified as

David C. Maland, a 13-year veteran

who was assigned to the

Newport Vermont Border Patrol

Station, federal law enforcement

sources tell The New York Post.

The FBI said in a statement

that one of the suspects was

killed and a second suspect was

injured and taken into custody.

There was no immediate information

on what prompted the

shooting.

Acting Secretary of Homeland

Security Benjamine Huffman issued

a statement saying that the

“incident is being swiftly investigated.”

“Today, January 20, a Border

Patrol agent assigned to the US

Border Patrol’s Swanton Sector

was fatally shot in the line of

duty,” he wrote. “Every single

day, our Border Patrol agents put

themselves in harm’s way so that

Americans and our homeland

are safe and secure. My prayers

and deepest condolences are

with our Department, the Agent’s

family, loved ones, and colleagues.”

The FBI announced the arrest

of a suspect Friday in the killing

of U.S. Border Patrol Agent David

"Chris" Maland near the Vermont-Canada

border.

Washington state resident

Teresa Youngblut, 21, was taken

into custody following the fatal

shooting on Monday, according

to the FBI’s office in Albany, N.Y.

"The United States Attorney’s

Office District of Vermont has

charged Youngblut with assault

on a federal law enforcement

officer," it said. "Our hearts remain

with our partners at U.S.

Border Patrol Swanton Sector

as they mourn this tremendous

loss."

BORDER PATROL AGENT

In a joint statement, Vermont’s

Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Peter

Welch and Rep. Becca Balint

sent condolences to the agent’s

family and said Border Patrol

agents “deserve our full support

in terms of staffing, pay and

working conditions.”

Coventry is close to the U.S.

Customs and Border Protection’s

Newport Station, part of the

Swanton Sector. The area includes

295 miles of international

boundary with Canada.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR

FREE SUBSCRIPTION

40 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 41


AROUND THE COUNTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The CROOKS have left the building, but not before

Biden pardoned the entire crime family.

By Steven Nelson and

Diana Glebova

WASHINGTON — President Biden

issued a pardon Monday for his

brother James Biden, effectively

burying the final details of a more

than five-year probe into the first

family’s influence-peddling to save

them from possible repercussions

under the incoming Trump administration.

Congressional Republicans subpoenaed

James Biden, 75, along

with first son Hunter Biden, 54, in

2023 to investigate their involvement

in the family’s domestic and

foreign business dealings — after

evidence emerged that both men

repeatedly involved Joe Biden in

their lucrative relationships.

Republicans accused James of

lying to Congress and requested

criminal charges. They also

suggested his dealings may have

amounted to unregistered foreign

lobbying, another crime.

“My family has been subjected

to unrelenting attacks and threats,

motivated solely by a desire to hurt

me — the worst kind of partisan

politics. Unfortunately, I have no

reason to believe these attacks will

end,” the outgoing president said in

a statement minutes before leaving

office.

“I believe in the rule of law, and

I am optimistic that the strength

of our legal institutions will ultimately

prevail over politics. But

baseless and politically motivated

investigations wreak havoc on the

lives, safety, and financial security

of targeted individuals and their

families. Even when individuals

have done nothing wrong and will

ultimately be exonerated, the mere

fact of being investigated or prosecuted

can irreparably damage their

reputations and finances.”

Biden added: “That is why I am

exercising my power under the

Constitution to pardon James B.

Biden, [his wife] Sara Jones Biden,

[first sister] Valerie Biden Owens,

[her husband] John T. Owens, and

[first brother] Francis W. Biden. The

issuance of these pardons should

not be mistaken as an acknowledgment

that they engaged in any

wrongdoing, nor should acceptance

be misconstrued as an admission of

guilt for any offense.”

It’s unclear why Biden pardoned

some of his relatives, though Sara

Biden was involved with some of

her husband’s business relationships,

and Biden’s brother Frank

allegedly used his brother’s name in

business dealings. The time frame

covered by the clemency grants

also was not immediately clear.

Biden previously issued an unprecedented

pardon on Dec. 1 spanning

11 years of his son’s conduct

— stretching back to 2014, when

42 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Hunter Biden joined the board of

Ukrainian gas giant Burisma Holdings

— heading off sentencing on

gun and tax evasion convictions and

potential additional charges.

James Biden, unlike his nephew,

was not charged with committing

any federal crimes, though his conduct

was actively investigated by

House Republicans and the press.

The pardon of James Biden, who

struggled to manage his own finances

despite earning large sums,

indicates the president likely feared

the incoming Trump Justice Department

would further investigate

his family’s dealings, as James was

involved in many key initiatives that

included the president and Hunter.

The first brother for decades

monetized his proximity to power

— dating to Joe Biden’s 36-year

Senate tenure — and House Republicans

turned up records that

he sent $240,000 to Joe Biden in

2017 and 2018 from funds linked to

alleged influence peddling, which

James said were personal loan

repayments.

In one of the earliest known

instances of his dealings that

garnered scrutiny, James in 2006

allegedly crowed, “Don’t worry

about investors, we’ve got people

all around the world who want to

invest in Joe Biden” when he and

Hunter Biden were in the process of

taking over a New York City hedge

fund.

“We’ve got investors lined up in a

line of 747s filled with cash,” Politico

reporter Ben Schreckinger wrote

in a 2021 book.

Joe Biden was the top Democrat

on the Senate Foreign Relations

Committee at the time.

Law firm SimmonsCooper — associated

with wealthy asbestos

lawyer Jeff Cooper — invested $1

million in 2006 in that hedge fund.

The same year, Congress considered

asbestos reform legislation,

in which then-Sen. Biden (D-Del.)

played a pivotal role in blocking

a change that could have limited

funding for payouts after lobbying

by Cooper’s firm.

A Biden spokesman claimed in

2008 that the money was unrelated

to the bill and that the investment

was later returned.

Cooper subsequently partnered

with the Biden family on business

pursuits in Mexico during the

Obama-Biden administration — and

posed for a 2015 group photo with

Mexican guests and Joe Biden at the

official vice president’s residence

and riding aboard Air Force Two for

an official 2016 trip to Mexico.

James Biden was wiretapped by

the FBI in 2007 — when his brother

was still a senator — as part of a

bribery investigation of Mississippi

lawyer Dickie Scruggs, the Washington

Post reported in 2023.

James Biden, who was not

charged in the case, was in talks

with Scruggs and conspirator Tim

Balducci about setting up a law firm

that would have employed himself,

his nephew Hunter Biden, and

James’ wife.

Scruggs at one point flew Joe

Biden to a fundraiser on his private

plane, the Washington Post reported.

Then-Sen. Biden went from opposing

federal legislation to punish

tobacco companies for lying about

the addictiveness of cigarettes to

a supporter after Scruggs — the

architect of a multi billion-dollar

litigation plan — paid James Biden’s

lobbying firm $100,000 in 1998, the

Washington Post also reported.

“I probably wouldn’t have hired

him if he wasn’t the senator’s brother,”

Scruggs told the paper.

Another disbarred Mississippi

attorney, Joey Langston, who was

convicted in a different bribery

case, told House impeachment

inquiry investigators that he loaned

James Biden $800,000 in 2016 and

2017 during Joe Biden’s final term in

office, but only got $400,000 back.

The troubled attorney, who had

hosted fundraisers for Joe Biden,

ProPublica reported, was unsuccessfully

trying to overturn a bribery

conviction in court in 2016 —

raising questions about whether he

was also seeking a federal pardon

from Obama while Biden was his

No. 2.

James Biden was involved in an

armload of controversial foreign

ventures.

Corporate bankruptcy documents

say James Biden received $600,000

in loans in 2018 from rural hospital

provider Americore, including an

initial $400,000 that January and a

later $200,000 on March 1, 2018, by

pledging to “obtain a large investment

from the Middle East based

on his political connections.”

Politico reported that “one person

on the receiving end of Jim Biden’s

health care pitch recalled a phone

call in which Jim Biden said he was

sitting in a car next to his brother

Joe.”

James Biden in 2018 apparently

made a pitch to Qatar to invest $30

million into a troubled rural hospital

provider and directly mentioned

that he was the “brother” of

then-former Vice President Biden in

2018 in a presentation, according to

documents obtained by Politico.

James told impeachment inquiry

investigators that investor Amer

Rustom, whose corporate biography

describes him as having “strong ties

with many of the Middle East and

North African leaders and country

officials,” referred him to another

businessman, Michael Lewitt, for a

potential $20 million investment in

Americore, but that it didn’t materialize

in time to save the company

financially.

The Securities and Exchange

Commission in 2023 charged Lewitt,

a Florida resident, with stealing

$4.7 million from investors of his

own fund.

James Biden wrote his brother a

$200,000 check shortly after receiving

his final installment from

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 43


RY

Americore.

The first brother insisted the payment

was a legitimate loan reimbursement.

Democrats said bank

records showed that Joe Biden had

transferred that amount to James

previously; Republicans said no loan

paperwork existed and questioned

whether Joe Biden had actually

transferred the initial funds, which

flowed from a law firm associated

with the family.

James Biden also sent $40,000

to Joe Biden on Sept. 3, 2017, which

House Republicans said came from

“laundered” funds from CEFC China

Energy, a Chinese state-linked firm

that paid Hunter and James Biden

millions of dollars in a venture in

which one Biden family associate

infamously penciled in a 10% cut for

Joe Biden, whom they referred to as

the “big guy.”

The source of that $40,000 sent

to Joe was traceable due to the

near-empty balance of James’ account,

investigators pointed out.

James defended his work with

CEFC in his impeachment inquiry

testimony, though his description of

his duties drew questions about his

possible liability under the Foreign

Agents Registration Act, which requires

Americans to register before

lobbying for certain foreign clients.

“Relying on the extensive network

of contacts I had developed over

many decades, I quickly identified

a number of promising opportunities.

For example, I reached out to

a number of investors who were

friends and who expressed serious

interest in working with us,” James

said.

“In addition, I connected with

Richard Leyoub, an old friend and

the former long-term Attorney

General of Louisiana, who by 2017

was the state Commissioner of

Conservation. Mr. Leyoub directed

me to a number of projects, including

Monkey Island LNH, a property

off the coast of Louisiana with

opportunities for the on loading and

offloading of liquid natural gas.

“Of all the projects, this was the

one that proved most attractive

to CEFC, whose representatives

presented the opportunity to the

Chairman [Ye] and gave an informal

go-ahead for the project. We even

marked the occasion with a celebratory

lunch.”

Joe Biden allegedly met in early

2017 in Washington with CEFC

Chairman Ye Jianming shortly before

the company opened the spigot

of funds flowing to the family,

former Biden family associate Rob

Walker testified.

James said in his own testimony

that his brother “had no information

at all about the source of the funds

I used to repay him.”

“I never asked my brother to take

any official action on behalf of me,

my business associates, or anyone

else. In every business venture in

which I have been involved, I have

relied on my own talent, judgment,

skill, and personal relationships

— and never my status as

Joe Biden’s brother,” he said in the

testimony in February.

He insisted that the money he

transferred to the president was

all short-term loans that were for

tuition payments for his children,

unforeseen medical expenses and

storm damage to his house.

“The Committees have asked

about those loans from my brother.

They were short-term loans

that I received from Joe when he

was a private citizen, and I repaid

them within weeks … The complete

explanation is that Joe lent

me money, and I repaid him as

soon as I had the funds to do so.”

“What I can say is not that I’m

aware of,” White House press secretary

Karine Jean-Pierre said Dec.

12 about a James Biden pardon.

“But I just don’t have anything else

beyond that, and the president

certainly is going to as it more

broadly speaking, as we move forward

to the next couple of weeks,

he obviously is going to review

with his team about other clemency

decisions, and they’re taking additional

steps, and so that’s what I

can speak to at this time.”

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44 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 45


AROUND THE COUNTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Biden sparks outrage with last-minute commutation of Leonard

Peltier who was convicted of killing two FBI agents in 1975.

WASHINGTON – President Joe

Biden has sparked outrage after

commuting the sentence of Leonard

Peltier in a last-minute move

before leaving office Monday.

Peltier, 80, has spent nearly 50

years in prison after being convicted

of the murder of two FBI

agents on South Dakota’s Pine

Ridge Reservation in 1975. He also

escaped from federal prison in

1979 while serving his sentence

for the two murders and had five

years tacked onto his sentence.

Peltier, a prominent Native

American activist before his arrest,

has always proclaimed his

innocence in the crime.

“This commutation will enable

Mr. Peltier to spend his remaining

days in home confinement

but will not pardon him for his

underlying crimes,” Biden wrote

in a statement announcing the

move.

The commutation came in

the same release, issued while

now-President Donald Trump’s

inauguration ceremony was getting

underway at the U.S. Capitol

Rotunda, that granted preemptive

pardons to five of Biden’s

family members, including his

brother James Biden, a target of

congressional Republicans.

Former FBI Director Christopher

Wray recently penned

a letter to Biden, warning him

against commuting Peltier’s

sentence. The letter was written

on Jan. 10, just days before Wray

and Biden left office.

“Mr. President, I urge you in the

strongest terms possible: Do not

pardon Leonard Peltier or cut his

sentence short,” Wray wrote. “It

would be shattering to the victims’

loved ones and undermine

the principles of justice and accountability

that our government

should represent.”

On June 26, 1975, FBI agents

Jack Coler and Ronald Williams

were killed by Peltier in a

shootout while they were on the

Pine Ridge Reservation.

“Peliter is a remorseless killer,

who brutally murdered two of

our own–Special Agents Jack

Coler and Ronald Williams,”

Wray wrote. “Granting Peltier

any relief from his conviction or

sentence is wholly unjustified

and would be an affront to the

rule of law.”

Wray said Peliter fled to Canada

after he “executed” the two

agents “at close range.” Peltier

was arrested in Alberta in 1976,

before standing trial for the

murders.

46 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 47


AROUND THE COUNTRY

LOS ANGELES, CA.

LAPD taking on additional roles of fire duty as Los

Angeles continues to burn.

By Jenna Curren,

Law Enforcement Today

LOS ANGELES, CA.- With fires

raging in various parts of Los

Angeles county over the last few

weeks, officers with the Los Angeles

Police Department (LAPD)

find themselves taking on a new

role to help keep their community

safe: fire duty.

According to NCJA, the Los Angeles

Times published an article

where experts discussed their

predictions for law enforcement

taking on a greater role with

new climate-related challenges.

Since the outbreak of the devastating

fires, officers have found

themselves in unfamiliar yet pivotal

roles in helping firefighters

save their neighborhoods.

For decades, police across

the country have been thrown

into crisis response duty during

wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes,

and tornadoes. Now,

some experts are saying that

officers will be faced with more

of those challenges. For the last

few weeks, the LAPD has been

grappling with how and when

to enforce evacuation orders,

and how to do their regular

work investigating crimes and

responding to 911 calls while

48 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

being short-staffed.

The department has deployed

about 750 officers to the fire

zones while still facing its own

staffing shortage with leaders

saying the department is

operating well below its optimum

staffing levels due to

long-standing issues with turnover

and recruitment.

Each of the LAPD’s 21 patrol

divisions has been expected to

send extra bodies, including patrol

officers, supervisors, and detectives

to the front lines of the

fires. As a result, most low-level

calls such as burglaries or other

incidents where a suspect has

already fled the scene are not

receiving immediate attention.

LAPD officials instead are being

pressured to focus on opportunistic

thieves suspected of

using the chaos of the fires to

burglarize the homes of people

who have fled the area. Within

one week, prosecutors charged

nine people with looting in areas

devastated by two major fires,

including a trio suspected of

stealing $200,000 worth of valuables

from a home.

Officers in Pacific Palisades

enforcing the evacuation zone

perimeter have faced criticism

from frustrated homeowners

who just want to return to their

homes. LAPD is part of a new

state and federal task force to

help combat wildfire-related


crimes, including home breakins,

arson and flying drones over

restricted airspace.

Chuck Wexter of the Police Executive

Research Forum said law

enforcement agencies across

the country are taking notice of

the LAPD’s performance. He said,

“Whether you believe it’s climate

change or not, Los Angeles will

be a wake-up call for everybody.”

NBC4 reported that on

Wednesday, January 15th, LAPD

announced that two more people

were arrested for allegedly

setting small fires in Los Angeles.

Police responded to Glenoaks

and Van Nuys boulevards around

5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January

14th and found a suspect detained

by a resident for allegedly

setting a tree on fire. LAPD Chief

Jim McDonnell said the resident

was able to douse the fire and

call the police. He said when officers

arrived, the suspect admitted

to setting the fire, saying, “he

liked the smell of burning leaves.”

At 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, officers

responded to Santa Monica

Boulevard and Vermont Avenue,

where a suspect was setting fire

to piles of rubbish and trash. Mc-

Donnell said officers were able

to douse the fire and arrest the

suspect who told officers that

she “enjoyed causing chaos and

destruction.” McDonnell said,

“There are people out there who,

this is what they do.”

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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 49


AROUND THE COUNTRY

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

Did the New Orleans police chief say ‘this was a tragic

event but there is a lot to enjoy...’? WTF is wrong with her?

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The New

Orleans police chief and the FBI

agent who held a press conference

after a vehicle rammed into

a New Year crowd killing at least

10, came under massive fire over

their lack of clarity about what

happened.

Giving an overview of what

happened, New Orleans police

chief Anne Kirkpatrick said the

event started at about 3.15 AM

and it involved a man driving

a pickup truck down Bourbon

Street at a very fast pace and it

was very intentional behavior.

“This man was trying to run over

as many people as he possibly

could. It was not a DUI situation.

This is a more complex and more

serious based on the information

we have right now,” the police

chief said as she confirmed that

26 people were injured and 10

people killed. “That is why we

do not want anyone on Bourbon

Street today,” she added.

The perpetrator also fired on

police officers from the vehicle

and those two are in stable condition.

“Last night, we had over

300 officers here and because of

the mindset of this perpetrator,

he went around our barricades

in order to conduct this. He was

hellbent on creating the carnage

and the damage that he did.

Because of the nature and the indices

that we have on the scene,

the FBI will be taking over this

investigation,” the police chief

said.

Then the police chief said she

wanted the community and the

visitors to enjoy the city. “There is

so much to enjoy about New Orleans

and we are going to make

sure that our routes in the Superdome

are safe today for the game

and yet we had this tragic event

and we’re sorry again to everyone

in our community but we do

want you to go about the day, as

we say, just stay away from Bourbon,”

the police chief said adding

that she would not take further

questions.

X users were shocked that the

police chief wanted people to go

on about their day after 10 people

were killed. “Yeah, this was a

tragic event but the there is a lot

to enjoy in New Orleans and we

want you to go about enjoying

your day,” said the New Orleans

police chief. WTF kind of thing is

that to say right after 10 people

are massacred.” one user wrote.

“What a clown show of leadership

in New Orleans. Who in

the world says go have a good

time after a tragic event like this,”

another wrote.

50 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 51


AROUND THE COUNTRY

NEW ORLEANS, LA.

New barriers coming to Bourbon Street not designed to stop truck

attacks like on New Year’s Day. Where are the barriers from 2017?

By Ben Myers

The new bollards being installed

along Bourbon Street in the French

Quarter are not designed to stop the

type of truck attacks that have hit

cities around the world and claimed

the lives of 14 people on New Year’s

Day in New Orleans, according to

city design documents, meeting

minutes and people familiar with

bollard system design.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s administration

is replacing the protective

poles known as bollards that in 2017

were placed along Bourbon to help

prevent against acts of terrorism

involving large trucks. The project

got underway in November and

is not yet complete, which is why

bollards were not in place when

Shamsud-Din Jabbar turned onto

Bourbon from Canal Street to begin

his deadly rampage.

The 2017 bollards, manufactured

by U.K.-based Heald, are rated

to withstand a collision with a

15,000-pound vehicle moving at 40

miles per hour, according to Heald’s

website. That is roughly the weight

of a medium-size delivery truck.

When announcing the project, city

leaders referenced the 2016 attack

in Nice, France, where a cargo truck

was driven into crowds, killing 86

people.

To replace those bollards, the

Cantrell administration is installing

a system rated to withstand col-

lisions with 5,000-pound vehicles

moving at approximately 10 miles

per hour. The rating of the new

system, S-10, is at the lowest end

of the rating scale for protective

bollards. Jabbar’s F-150 Lightning

weighed approximately 6,000

pounds and appeared in videos to

be moving far faster than 10mph after

making it on to Bourbon Street.

S-10 rated bollards are typically

used to protect storefronts from

slow-moving vehicles or to guard

against miscues when drivers are

exiting parking lots, according to

Scott Rosenbloom, who has owned

bollard manufacturing companies

and worked in bollard sales for 40

years.

The rating of the new system “is

exponentially, far less than what

they currently have,” said Rosenbloom.

“The only time I see these products

used at this rating is for what

we call storefront safety, which is

pedal misapplication, not terrorism,”

Rosenbloom said. “You want

to protect the front of the store because

some guy hit the gas instead

of the brake.”

Why did New Orleans choose

this type of bollard?

The Cantrell administration did

not respond to questions on why

the S-10 bollards were chosen, or if

it is considering changes to its new

system after the New Year’s Day

attack. Explaining why the current

bollards were not in place before

the attack, Cantrell said during a

news conference on Wednesday

that the new bollard installation

was timed to be complete ahead of

the Super Bowl on Feb. 9.

“Because the city of New Orleans

was hosting the Super Bowl this

year, it gave (the city) an oppor-

52 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


CLICK TO WATCH

tunity to go further and deeper

with infrastructure improvements,”

Cantrell said.

Project details on the city’s website

say that the new system will

provide several benefits, including

“eliminating pedestrian tripping

hazards,” improving sidewalks,

improving pedestrian safety “by

extending pedestrian mall closure

intersection to intersection,” and

making the bollards easier to move

into place.

The project details don’t include

any mention of potential terrorist

attacks.

Construction of the new bollards

followed a study of the existing

system and meetings with French

Quarter residents and business

owners, according to a press release

on Wednesday to address

questions about why there weren’t

permanent barriers in place ahead

of the attack. The previous bollards,

which moved on tracks, were

difficult to maintain because they

frequently filled with gunk, and at

some point they became inoperable.

French Quarter residents and

business owners complained to the

city for years about the need for a

new system. Interfor International,

a security consulting firm, strongly

recommended immediate repairs to

the system in a 2020 report commissioned

by the French Quarter

Management District.

A crash rating scale for bollards

based on 5,000-pound vehicles was

deemed the best choice “based off

the worst-case scenario,” according

to December 2023 meeting minutes

for workshops at City Hall conducted

by Mott MacDonald, the project

engineering firm. The minutes do

not say who determined that rating

should be used.

Are other lines of defense coming

to Bourbon Street?

In addition to going with bollards

which offered protection on that

lesser weight scale, known as the

ASFM F3016, officials chose bollards

with the lowest designation on that

scale.

“It’s the lowest of the low,” said

Jeff Halaut, a security consultant

who advises governmental clients.

“I don’t know any consultant or

any engineering or design firm that

knows anything about crash ratings

that would put an S-10 in a target-rich

environment.”

Mott MacDonald meeting minutes

suggest the city was considering an

S-10 rating because bollards would

not be the only line of defense in

trying to secure Bourbon Street.

It’s not clear what other barriers

the Cantrell administration might

be considering for the Super Bowl.

A wedge barrier in the 100 block of

Bourbon Street was not deployed

on New Year’s Eve but has been

deployed in the aftermath of the

attack. In past years, the city has

also deployed archer barriers and

temporarily blocked Bourbon Street

with a large truck.

Rosenbloom said he was baffled

at the city’s decision to install a

bollard system with significantly

less protection, even if it is easier to

use.

“Why did they feel the need for a

lesser rating?” Rosenbloom asked.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 53


AROUND THE COUNTRY

SAN ANTONIO, TX.

Seven San Antonio Police Officers were shot while responding to a "suicide in

progress call." The suspect was later found deceased after a stand-off with SWAT.

SAN ANTONIO, TX. – San Antonio

police have identified a man

accused of shooting seven police

officers in Stone Oak during a

response to a suicide in progress

call.

The suspect, identified as

Brandon Scott Poulos, 46, was

found dead after the standoff on

Wednesday night, police said.

Poulos was out on bond for an

arrest the previous weekend.

The shooting happened at

around 8:30 p.m., when officers

responded to a report of a

suicide in progress. SAPD Chief

William McManus said a total of

seven officers were shot by the

suspect as they responded.

As of 12:25 p.m. Thursday, six

of those officers were released

from the hospital. The seventh

officer who is still in the hospital

is expected to make a full recovery,

according to a SAPD page.

The officers were dispatched

to a suicide in progress call

at an apartment complex in

the 18700 block of Stone Oak

Parkway just before 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday.

When they arrived, a woman

exited the apartment and said

Poulos was shooting inside and

he was coming out of the apartment.

Poulos exited the apartment

and opened fire, police said.

During a news conference just

after 10 p.m. Wednesday, SAPD

Chief William McManus said the

first officer arrived at the scene

and was shot in the leg.

At some point, Poulos went

back inside the apartment and

began shooting at officers, the

report states.

A second officer arrived and

was also shot, according to Mc-

Manus. A third and fourth officer

later arrived and were shot as

well.

The fourth officer suffered a

gunshot wound to their upper

body, SAPD said.

During an update at 2 a.m.

Thursday, McManus confirmed

that an additional three SAPD

officers had been shot.

As we went live, all but one

of the seven officers had been

released from the hospital.

McManus said that the suspect

barricaded himself inside the

apartment complex for several

hours.

McManus said Thursday that

officers found the suspect dead

in the apartment. It is unclear if

he died of self-inflicted gunshot

wounds or if he died by SAPD

gunfire.

The officers each have between

four and eight years of service

with the department. They will

be placed on administrative duty

until further notice.

54 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 55


AROUND THE COUNTRY

ROMA, TX.

US Border Patrol reportedly captured Russian mercenary

carrying drone, 2 passports and $4K.

By Greg Wehner,

Fox News

ROMA, TX. – A Russian mercenary

was arrested by U.S. Border

Patrol agents in January after

he illegally entered the U.S. near

Roma, Texas, according to reports.

ValleyCentral.com in Harlingen,

Texas reported that agents

encountered Timur Praliev after

he crossed the Rio Grande into

Texas, carrying two passports

and $4,000 on Jan. 4, 2025. He

was ultimately arrested.

A criminal complaint acquired

by the station shows that Praliev

was questioned about his

citizenship during the encounter

and stated he was a citizen of

Kazakhstan.

Another court document shows

Praliev appeared in court with

counsel and entered a guilty plea

of knowingly and unlawfully

entering the U.S. at a place other

than as designated by immigration

officers.

During the court hearing, Assistant

U.S. Attorney Amanda Mc-

Colgan reportedly told the judge

Praliev was also in possession of

a drone in his backpack when he

crossed into the U.S.

She added that when questioned,

Praliev admitted to being

a member of the Wagner Group.

The judge presiding over the

case ruled Praliev was guilty

as charged and ordered a term

of imprisonment plus a special

assessment of $10.

The station reported that when

Praliev was asked if he had anything

to say, he said “Nyet.”

In 2023, the U.S. Department

of Treasury designated the

Wagner group as a significant

transnational criminal organization,

which resulted in sanctions

against the group and its supported

network across multiple

continents.

The Wagner Group has operated

across several regions,

including the Middle East, Africa

and Venezuela, and has long

caused “no end of problems for

U.S. policymakers.”

Since its inception in 2014, the

group has been considered a

proxy group of the Russian state

abroad, according to the Center

for Strategic and International

Studies (CSIS). The group rose to

prominence during the Russian

invasion of Ukraine.

The group currently has approximately

50,000 personnel

deployed to Ukraine, including

10,000 contractors and 40,000

convicts, according to U.S. officials.

56 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 57


AROUND THE COUNTRY

REVERE, MA.

Dominican illegal immigrant arrested in ‘emergency shelter’ with fentanyl worth

over $1 million and carrying an AR-15.

By Matthew Holloway,

Law Enforcement Today

REVERE, MA. - An illegal

immigrant from the Dominican

Republic was arrested for possession

of over $1 million worth

of fentanyl and an AR-15 rifle

on December 27 in a state taxpayer-subsidized

hotel room of

Massachusetts’ emergency housing

program.

Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28,

as reported by Fox News, was

arrested by the Revere Police

Department and was arrested

on firearm charges, including an

alien in possession of a firearm,

and for possession of about 10

pounds of the lethal synthetic

drug.

According to a press release

from Immigration and Customs

Enforcement (ICE) Andujar Sanchez

is currently in state custody

and is under an immigration

detainer.

Enforcement and Removal

Operations Boston acting Field

Office Director Patricia H. Hyde

told reporters, “Mr. Andujar

has been accused of serious

crimes, and ERO Boston takes

its public safety mission very

seriously — which is why we’ve

lodged an immigration detainer

against him with Revere police.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

has charged him with

possessing dangerous weapons

and drug trafficking, and with

the Revere Police Department’s

cooperation, we intend to take

him into ICE custody upon his

release.”

The release noted that in a

Spanish language interview officers

with the ERO found that he

entered the United States illegally

in the past year, but were

unable to determine his point

of entry. In total, Andujar Sanchez

was arraigned on charges

for “possessing a firearm and a

large capacity feeding device,

possessing a firearm in a felony,

being an alien in possession of

a firearm, the unlicensed sale or

possession of an assault weapon,

and trafficking in 200 grams

or more of heroin, morphine,

opium or fentanyl.”

As The Boston Herald reports,

a Republican State Senator of

Massachusetts has demanded

that the court records in Andujar

Sanchez’s case be made public.

“If there’s anything I can do to

effectuate change it’s demanding

that the documents in this case

be made public,” Sen. Ryan Fattman,

told reporters Friday.“The

public has a right to know what

they’re funding.”

The outlet reported that the

Dominican illegal immigrant

was arrested at a Quality Inn

used by the state to shelter migrants

where he and his family

had reportedly stayed since

October 15th citing information

from the Executive Office of

Housing & Livable Communities

(EOHLC).

EOHLC spokesman Noah Bombard

told the Herald that the

suspect was evicted from the

shelter following his arrest. “We

took immediate action to terminate

this individual from the EA

system, and we confirmed with

federal immigration officials that

they have lodged a detainer.”

58 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 59


AROUND THE COUNTRY

CITIES ACROSS AMERICA

"Border Czar" Tom Homan says over 3000 Illegal Aliens have been arrested so

far in raids all across America.

CITIES ACROSS AMERICA — Federal

authorities have arrested more

than 3000 migrants, according to

President Donald Trump’s “border

czar” Tom Homan, who has carried

out deportation operations in nearly

10 major cities across the U.S.

Homan told The BLUES that as of

Thursday January 30th that of the

3000 arrested, at least 2,000 have

criminal records.

“The other ones are either fugitives

who’ve been through immigration

court, that became a fugitive,

or collaterals … in sanctuary cities

because they forced us in the community,”

Homan said.

The number of arrests in the first

three days of Trump’s presidency

represents about 10% of total arrests

made by Immigration and Customs

Enforcement (ICE) in FY2024.

Homan said the Biden administration

did not allow ICE to arrest migrants

unless they were convicted

of a serious crime, but that policy

no longer binds agents.

“There’s nothing in the Immigration

Nationality Act that says you

got to be convicted of a crime. If

you’re here illegally, you could be

removed,” he said. “Our focus is on

arresting public safety threats and

national security threats. That’s exactly

what we’re doing now.”

Raids have taken place in major

cities such as Boston, Denver, New

York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle,

Miami, Washington, D.C., and

Newark, N.J., according to media

reports.

Several of those, such as Newark,

are sanctuary cities, which are areas

that have refused to cooperate

with federal immigration authorities

in deportation proceedings.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said

in a statement Thursday that ICE

agents detained multiple people —

including U.S. citizens, a U.S. military

veteran and undocumented

individuals — without a warrant.

“Newark will not stand by idly

while people are being unlawfully

terrorized,” the statement read.

In Chicago, another sanctuary city,

Mayor Brandon Johnson launched

a campaign in conjunction with

the public transportation system

in which digital monitors at train

stations provide “know your rights”

information to migrants, reported

WLS-TV.

“Any of the measures that the

president is looking to execute

against working people in the city

of Chicago … ” Johnson said, according

to the outlet, “We will defend

our city. It’s just that simple.”

But Homan pushed back on sanctuary

cities, saying if they cooper-

60 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


ated by allowing ICE into local jails,

then federal agents wouldn’t have

to go into communities to arrest

people.

“They’re not letting us in the

county jail because of their sanctuary

laws, but if we can arrest the

bad guy in the safety and security

of a jail — which is safer for the

officer, safer for the aliens, safer for

the community — then it’d be a lot

less of the type of low-level offenders,

and be a lot less arrested,”

Homan said.

When agents are forced into the

community, “sanctuary cities will

get exactly what they don’t want:

more agents in neighborhoods and

more collateral arrests while we’re

doing this criminal operation,” he

said.

“I hope the sanctuary cities come

around,” he said.

Migrant deportation flights with military aircraft have begun.

WASHINGTON – The Trump

administration has started flying

immigrants who entered the

U.S. illegally out of the country

using military aircraft, a White

House spokesperson said Friday.

White House press secretary

Karoline Leavitt shared photos

on the social platform X of individuals

in handcuffs boarding a

military plane.

“Deportation flights have

begun,” Leavitt said. “President

Trump is sending a strong and

clear message to the entire

world: if you illegally enter the

United States of America, you

will face severe consequences.”

Trump made cracking down

on immigration his top issue in

the 2024 campaign, and administration

officials have sought

to aggressively tout any action

taken on that front in his first

few days in office.

The president took a slew of

executive actions on his first

day in office to limit the flow of

migrants in the United States.

Trump paused refugee admissions,

declared an emergency at

the southern border and increased

the U.S. military presence

at the border.

Trump’s Department of Homeland

Security also authorized

agents to carry out arrests at

sensitive locations including

schools, churches and businesses,

reversing a Biden administration

rule to not make arrests

in what was deemed as “sensitive

areas.”

“I said from Day 1, no one’s off

the table. If you’re in the United

States illegally, you got a problem,

but we’re focusing on public

safety threats first,” Trump’s

border czar, Tom Homan, told

NewsNation on Thursday.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 61


AROUND THE COUNTRY

ACROSS THE US

The Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE.

FLORIDA OFFICER FIRED AF-

TER SHE ACCIDENTALLY SHOT

A DRIVER WITH HIS OWN GUN

DURING A TRAFFIC STOp

By Kerry Breen

A Florida police officer has

been fired after she accidentally

shot a driver with his own gun

during a traffic stop.

Officer Shaun Lowry, of the

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office,

stopped driver Jason Arrington

for running a red light around

5:10 p.m. on December 13, 2024,

according to an internal affairs

report shared by the sheriff's

office. Officers Mindy Cardwell

and Austin Weippert assisted in

the stop.

Arrington, who police described

as "cooperative" during

the stop, informed Lowry that he

had a legal firearm on his body.

He complied with instructions

to step out of the vehicle, police

said on social media.

Cardwell then went to remove

the weapon, identified in the internal

affairs reported as a Glock

.45 semi-automatic pistol, from

a holster on Arrington's waistband.

According to the internal

affairs report, Cardwell "put

pressure on the trigger of the

firearm, causing the weapon to

fire a round into Arrington's right

leg."

Arrington told investigators

that Cardwell "jerked" the weapon

several times, causing the discharge,

according to the report.

Cardwell told investigators that

the holster was tight and "would

not come off" Arrington's waistband,

and said she had been

using her non-dominant hand to

remove the weapon.

Police released body camera

footage of the incident from all

three officers. After the gun goes

off, Lowry can be heard yelling

"Holy s---!" and Weippert can

be heard asking Arrington if he

is OK. Weippert and Lowry instructed

Cardwell to put the gun

down, and the pair then radioed

for help. Weippert can be

seen helping Arrington over to

the side of the road, and began

applying a tourniquet. Blood can

be seen on Arrington's pants leg.

Cardwell also helped provide

first aid.

Arrington was transported to

an area hospital in stable condition,

the internal affairs report

said. He told investigators that

the injury had made it harder to

do his job, which he said involved

operating equipment like

cranes and forklifts.

An internal affairs investigation

into Cardwell's behavior was

launched. A charge of incompetence

was filed against Cardwell,

and she has been fired, police

said.

Cardwell had been "working in

an off-duty capacity" under the

62 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


office's Group Violence Intervention

initiative, according to the

report. The initiative is meant

to reduce crime while fostering

relationships between law enforcement

and the public, local

media reported.

The incident resulted in new

policy from the sheriff's office

about how to deal with encounters

where someone is legally

armed, according to the internal

affairs report. Now, officers

should not seize a firearm if a

person is lawfully carrying it,

according to the report.

BIDEN COMMUTES 2,500

MORE SENTENCES IN FINAL

DAYS OF PRESIDENCY

WASHINGTON D.C. – President

Joe Biden commuted the

sentences of nearly 2,500 more

inmates in the final days of his

presidency. He previously completed

the largest single day

grant of clemency on December

12th when he commuted

sentences for 1,500 people and

pardoned 39 others according to

Fox News.

“Today’s clemency action

provides relief for individuals

who received lengthy sentences

based on discredited distinctions

between crack and powder

cocaine, as well as outdated

sentencing enhancements for

drug crimes,” Biden said in a

statement.

The president said now is the

time to “equalize these sentencing

disparities” as recognized

through the Fair Sentencing Act

of 2010 and the First Step Act of

2018.

The decision puts Biden thousands

of cases ahead of all other

presidents who have issued acts

of clemency during their terms.

“With this action, I have now

issued more individual pardons

and commutations than any

president in U.S. history,” Biden

said.

Biden has always looked to be

a legacy president, often comparing

himself to Eisenhower or

Lincoln but sadly, the commuter

in chief will be one of the few so

called “accomplishments” he can

boast about actually doing.

The problem is that the story

also began with Joe Biden. He

was the architect of the 1994

Crime Bill that launched the

“three strikes” mantra, throwing

thousands of black men in prison

for life for drug offenses.

He has never apologized or

acknowledged his role and that

lack of responsibility is the true

legacy of a failed president.

OKLAHOMA SENATOR REFUS-

ES TO PROVIDE ID AFTER AL-

LEGEDLY RUNNING STOP SIGNS

TULSA, OK. – Oklahoma State

Senator Regina Goodwin has

been a vocal critique of law

enforcement through the years

but a recent interaction with

CLICK TO WATCH

a deputy doesn’t exactly show

model behavior from a community

leader. Goodwin was pulled

over after a Tulsa County Deputy

allegedly observed her failing to

stop at two stop signs.

The deputy said that he intended

to give her a quick verbal

warning but that all changed

when Goodwin came out of her

car, began arguing, and refused

to give her drivers license to the

deputy.

The deputy asked for her license

over a dozen times and

finally places her in handcuffs to

take her to jail for the violation.

Once in the car, Goodwin’s

attorney and even the Mayor of

Tulsa showed up.

After finally obtaining her license,

Goodwin was written the

citation and released.

FBI ASSISTANT SPECIAL

AGENT IN CHARGE WHO SAID

NEW ORLEANS ATTACK 'NOT

A TERRORIST EVENT' REAS-

SIGNED

By Kelley Kramer, David Spunt,

Chris Pandolfo, Fox News

The FBI assistant special agent

in charge who told the media

and the public the New Orleans

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 63


attack was "not a terrorist event"

has been reassigned, Fox News

has learned.

Multiple sources tell Fox News

that FBI Assistant Special Agent

in Charge Alethea Duncan has

been temporarily reassigned following

her initial press conference

in which she stated: "This is

not a terrorist event."

It was terrorism. After the

original presser, the FBI put out a

statement using the word "terrorism."

Attorney General Merrick

Garland and President Biden

also used the word "terrorism" in

their statements.

No other details were offered

about Duncan’s position change,

but she is still with the FBI.

HOUSE PASSES LAKEN RILEY

ACT IN BIPARTISAN VOTE, BILL

HEADS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S

DESK

WASHINGTON, DC - In what is

a small measure of closure for

the family of Laken Riley, Jocelyn

Nungary, and other victims

of illegal aliens, the House on

Wednesday passed the Laken Riley

Act, and it will head to President

Trump’s desk to be signed

into law, Fox News reports.

The House passed the bill, with

all Republicans voting in favor

and 48 Democrats supporting it.

Earlier in the week, the Senate–

also controlled by Republicans–

passed the bill 64-35;

however, it added measures to

deport illegal aliens who assault

a police officer or who cause

death or “serious bodily injury”

of another person.

Most Democrats were against

the bill, claiming that by shipping

those accused but not

convicted of a crime out of the

country it would amount to a

“slippery slope.” However, supporters

of the bill said that people

here illegally have already

broken the law.

It should be noted that in 2024,

the bill garnered less Democrat

support than it did this month.

Last year, then-Senate Majority

Leader Chuck Schumer refused

to even put the bill up for a

vote. Now, with a “new sheriff

in town” in the form of a Republican

majority, the bill easily

skated through the House and

Senate.

“Nothing ever happens in this

town up here until the American

people demand it,” Rep. Mike

Collins (R-GA), the bill’s lead

sponsor, told Fox News Digital

about the shift in support from

Democrats.

“And they have been screaming

at the top of their lungs for

something to happen to fix the

border problem.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Feenstra

(R-IA) led Sarah’s Law, an

amendment adopted within the

bill. He told Fox News Digital,

“Nearly a decade ago, 21-yearold

Sarah Root’s life was tragically

cut short when she was

killed by an illegal immigrant

who was driving while drunk.

Sarah’s Law not only delivered

justice for the Root family but

also ensures that any illegal

immigrant who harms or kills an

American citizen is swiftly detained

and prosecuted.”

Laken Riley was a nursing

student who was killed in broad

daylight by an illegal alien while

jogging on the University of

Georgia’s campus. The illegal,

Jose Ibarra, was sentenced to

life in prison for Laken Riley’s

murder. He had been previously

arrested but was never detained

by ICE.

Jocelyn Nungaray was a

12-year-old who was raped and

killed by two illegal aliens from

Venezuela in Houston. The two

illegals, Franklin Pena and Johan

Martinez-Rangel, are facing the

death penalty in connection with

Jocelyn’s death.

Laken and Jocelyn are but two

victims of the previous administration’s

open border policies,

which allowed over an estimated

twelve million illegal alien

invaders into the country.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR

FREE SUBSCRIPTION

64 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 65


TRUMP PARDONS TWO DC

METRO POLICE OFFICERS CON-

VICTED IN DEATH OF MOPED

RIDER DURING PURSUIT

WASHINGTON, DC - In October

2020, a DC Metro Police officer

pursued a moped operated by

Karon Hylton-Brown, 20, according

to a release by the Department

of Justice from September

12, 2024. According to the release,

the pursuit was “unauthorized.”

During the pursuit,

Hylton-Brown was struck by an

uninvolved vehicle as he drove

out of an alley and died from his

injuries.

As a result, Officer Terrence D.

Sutton, 40, and Lieutenant Andrew

Zabavsky, 56, were charged

with his death and sentenced to

jail. Now, after former President

Joe Biden established a precedent

for unmitigated pardons,

President Trump has agreed to

pardon the two officers, NBC

Washington reports.

During a signing ceremony in

the Oval Office, President Trump

said he was working on pardons

for Sutton and Zabavsky, who

were sentenced to 66 and 48

months respectively.

“We are looking at two police

officers, actually, Washington

police officers, that went after

an illegal, and things happened,

and they ended up putting them

in jail,” Trump said. “They got

five-year jail sentences. You

know the case. And we’re looking

at that in order to give them, uh,

we gotta give them a break.”

The incident began when

Hylton-Brown was operating

a moped on a sidewalk in the

Brightwood Park area of Northwest

DC. Sutton attempted to

stop him, and according to the

DOJ release, the suspect refused.

Sutton then began chasing

the suspect “on neighborhood

streets for minutes, over more

than 10 blocks,” at what was

referred to as “unreasonable

speed,” including the wrong

way on a one-way street. The

suspect drove out of the alley,

where he was hit by the vehicle.

Prosecutors allege that Sutton

and Zavavsky, who supervised

the Fourth Police District’s Crime

Suppression team, conspired to

cover up the details of the pursuit

and subsequent crash.

The officers were accused of

not preserving the crash site and

allowing the driver of the vehicle

that struck Hylton-Brown to

leave the scene 20 minutes after

the crash. Both officers allegedly

turned off their body-worn cameras,

conferred privately, and

left, the release said.

Once at the station, the DOJ

alleges the two officers “continued

the cover-up,” claiming

they misled their commanding

officer about what happened

by “substantially downplaying

its seriousness, denying that a

police chase had even occurred,

and omitting any mention of Mr.

Hylton-Brown’s critical injuries.”

They wrote that Zabavsky also

claimed that the suspect was a

drunk driver.

The DOJ further claimed that

both officers “hid their direct involvement

in the incident” while

saying, "Sutton drafted a police

report that memorialized a false

narrative of the incident.”

Hylton-Brown died from his

injuries two days later.

The officers were arrested,

and following a nine-week

trial, Sutton was found guilty of

second-degree murder, conspiracy

to obstruct, and obstruction

of justice. The same jury found

Zabavsky guilty of conspiracy

to obstruct and obstruction of

justice. In addition to the prison

terms, both officers were

ordered to serve three years of

supervised release.

President Trump granted full

pardons to Sutton and Zabavsky.

Although sentenced to prison

last year, the two officers had

remained free on bond. Now,

their sentences have been expunged.

66 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 67


OHIO OFFICER SHOT IN

HEAD, SUSPECT, 4-YEAR-

OLD BYSTANDER KILLED IN

SHOOTOUT

By Mike Stunson,

The Bradenton Herald

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP, OH. — A

4-year-old girl died after being

struck by a stray bullet during a

shootout involving police, Ohio

authorities say.

The incident began just after

2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22,

when officers in St. Clair Township

responded to a report about

a possible suicidal man, police

said. Within moments, the man

opened fire on the officers.

Officers returned fire, striking

and killing the 30-year-old

armed suspect, according to the

St. Clair Township Police Department.

But an officer and 4-yearold

girl were also struck during

the exchanging of gunfire.

Police said Detective Dakota

Wetzel was shot in the head,

and he was taken to a Pittsburgh

hospital in critical condition. In a

Thursday morning update, police

said he was upgraded to stable

condition.

“Detective Wetzel was able to

open his eyes and give family

members a thumbs up overnight,”

police said. “He remains

in intensive care at the hospital

but we are optimistic.”

The 4-year-old girl, however,

did not survive her injuries, the

department said. She was shot

when a bullet came through

a neighboring business, which

WTAE and WEWS reported was

a dentist office, and she died

after being taken to a separate

hospital.

Police identified the girl as Rosalie

Martin. She was shot in the

head, her grandmother said in a

Facebook post.

“This tragedy has left this family

in shambles,” loved ones said

in a GoFundMe.

St. Clair Township is in Columbiana

County, about a 45-mile

drive northwest from Pittsburgh.

FORMER ARK. OFFICER AR-

RESTED, CHARGED IN ASSAULT

OF HANDCUFFED INMATE

Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, AK. — A former

Arkansas police officer who

was caught on video beating a

handcuffed inmate in the back

of his patrol car last year has

been arrested and charged with

aggravated assault.

Former Jonesboro Police Officer

Joseph Tucker Harris, 29, was

arrested on Tuesday on charges

of felony charges of aggravated

assault, filing a false report, and

misdemeanor third-degree battery.

Harris was released from

a county detention center on

$15,000 bond.

Harris was fired in August after

he was caught on his patrol car

camera punching, elbowing and

slamming a car door against the

head of detainee Billy Lee Coram,

who was being transferred

from a local hospital back to

jail in Craighead County.

The federal lawsuit Coram

filed against Harris, the city

of Jonesboro and Jonesboro’s

police chief over the beating is

scheduled to go to trial in May

2026. Coram’s lawsuit claims

his constitutional rights were

violated.

In a roughly 12-minute video,

Coram is wearing a hospital

gown and choking himself with

a seatbelt wrapped around his

neck as the car is moving. After

the car pulls over, Harris opens

the door and punches and elbows

Coram several times in the

face as he unwinds the belt.

Harris later slams the car door

against Coram’s head. According

to the federal lawsuit, Coram

had been taken to the hospital

after ingesting a baggie of

fentanyl and had run away from

the hospital when he panicked.

He had wrapped the seatbelt

around his neck to try and gag

himself to dislodge the fentanyl

he believed was still in his system,

the lawsuit said.

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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 69


WASH. OFFICER SENTENCED

TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON IN FA-

TAL SHOOTING

By Martha Bellisle

Associated Press

SEATTLE — A suburban Seattle

police officer was sentenced

Thursday to over 16 years in prison

for the 2019 shooting death of

a homeless man he was trying

to arrest for disorderly conduct,

marking the first conviction

under a Washington state law

that made it easier to prosecute

officers for on-duty killings.

A jury found Auburn police

Officer Jeffrey Nelson guilty June

27 of second-degree murder and

first-degree assault in the death

of Jesse Sarey.

King County Superior Court

Judge Nicole Gaines Phelps sentenced

Nelson to just over 16 1/2

years for the murder conviction

and 6 1/2 years for assault, to be

served concurrently.

Before sentencing Nelson at

the high end of the standard

range, Phelps chastised the

46-year-old officer for his violent

behavior in uniform.

“Respect for the law, here, goes

more beyond you, Officer Nelson,”

Phelps said. “This is the first

case in which a police officer

was charged and it in some ways

serves as a telescope for others

to view police conduct and for

police to remember to abide by

their training when engaging in

situations so that they do not become

lethal to them or to others

they are sworn to protect and

serve.”

Nelson, seated in a packed

courtroom in a red short-sleeve

jail uniform, his arms covered

in tattoos and his hair cut short,

showed no emotion as the judge

spoke. His wife and other Auburn

police officers sat behind him in

his support, while Sarey’s friends

and family filled the other side of

the courtroom.

Prosecutors had said at trial in

June that Nelson punched Sarey

several times before shooting

him in the abdomen. Seconds

later, Nelson shot Sarey in the

forehead. Nelson had claimed

Sarey tried to grab his gun and a

knife, so he shot him in self-defense,

but video showed Sarey

was on his back with his head

positioned away from Nelson

after the first shot.

King County Special Prosecutor

Patty Eakes, citing Nelson’s long

history of violence and disregard

for his training, asked the judge

to sentence him at the higher

end of the standard range: 18

years for murder and 10 for the

assault conviction.

FATHER, SON SAVE NORTH

CAROLINA DEPUTY AND K-9

AFTER PURSUIT CRASH

The Cleveland County (North

Carolina) Sheriff’s Office is

thanking a father and son for

helping save a deputy and

sheriff’s dog after a fiery crash

Wednesday night.

Sheriff Alan Norman said Deputy

Robert Taylor was pursuing

four armed robbery suspects in

a high-speed chase when his

patrol car hit a tree head-on.

Taylor was badly injured, and his

patrol vehicle quickly went up in

flames, WBTV reports.

Not far from the crash, Curtis

Blanton and his 17-year-old son,

Pete, were home listening to a

police scanner. They drove to the

scene, and found Deputy Taylor

on the ground outside his vehicle,

unable to move.

The Blanton’s pulled Taylor

away from the burning vehicle,

and rescued K-9 Thanos, as well.

Captain Justin Etters, patrol

commander with the sheriff’s

office said Deputy Taylor had

surgery on Thursday, is in good

spirits, and in stable condition.

WOUNDED RALEIGH OFFICER

IDENTIFIED, REMAINS CRITICAL

RALEIGH, NC. – The Raleigh

(North Carolina) Police Department

has released the identity

of the officer who was critically

wounded during a shootout in a

residential area on Tuesday.

Police said First Class Officer

Max Gillick is in critical con-

70 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


First Class Officer Max Gillick

dition after he was shot while

responding to a house where a

person started shooting at officers.

An officer called for backup

and the person continued shooting.

During the gunfire exchange,

Gillick was wounded and the

suspect was killed.

RPD said Gillick has worked

with the department since June

2022 and served in the Army as a

Captain in Field Artillery with the

82nd Airborne. He was honorably

discharged from the Army before

joining RPD, ABC11 reports.

HOUSTON RECRUITS TO RE-

CEIVE $1K STIPENDS TO HELP

WITH PURCHASE OF DUTY

WEAPONS

HOUSTON, TX. — Beginning in

2025, Houston Police Academy

graduates will receive a $1,000

stipend to help cover the cost of

firearms, a policy change aimed

at easing financial burdens for

new recruits, the Houston Chronicle

reported.

The Houston Police Foundation

is providing funding for the program,

which will benefit 64 cadets

in the upcoming graduating

class, according to the report.

Doug Griffith, president of the

Houston Police Officers Union,

said the stipend is a significant

step forward. He noted that a

new firearm typically costs between

$800 and $900 plus tax.

Despite the stipend, cadets

will still need to purchase their

firearms before qualifying for

reimbursement upon graduation,

according to the report.

Currently, cadets are required

to buy their own firearms at the

start of training, and officers

receive a $2,000 annual equipment

allowance after their first

year of service. This stipend can

also cover firearm expenses, but

it is not immediately available,

according to the report.

Cadets entering the academy

also receive a $10,000 hiring

bonus, paid in installments, with

$2,500 available upon joining,

which can be used for firearm

purchases or other personal expenses.

Houston’s approach to firearm

acquisition differs from many

other large police departments,

some of which issue weapons

directly or allow recruits to

make their own purchases without

specific requirements. In

Houston, officers must buy

their own firearms and adhere

to departmental guidelines on

acceptable models.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 71


‘I’M TOO OLD FOR THIS SHIT’:

BWC VIDEO SHOWS MAN

SHOOTING N.Y. OFFICER IN

BULLET-RESISTANT VEST

Joanna Putman, Police1

ROCHESTER, N.Y.— The East

Rochester Police Department

has released body worn camera

footage showing the incident

that led to an officer and a

suspect being injured by gunfire,

WHAM reported.

Raymond Noel, 52, was sentenced

on Jan. 15 to 35 years

to life in prison for the Jan. 14,

2024, shooting of East Rochester

Police Officer Brad Steve, according

to the report.

The incident began when

officers Steve and Walsh had

responded to a 911 call at an

apartment when they encountered

Noel in the driveway, according

to the report. The video

shows Noel refusing commands

to remove his hands from his

pockets and attempting to enter

a home.

When Steve ordered Noel

to come back outside, gunfire

erupted. Steve shot Noel in the

upper torso, while Noel returned

fire, hitting Steve in his bulletproof

vest.

“I’m hit…I don’t know if it’s in

my vest,” Steve can be heard

saying into his radio.

Both Steve and Noel sustained

non-life-threatening injuries.

“I’m too old for this shit,” Steve

can be heard saying as he walks

away from the incident scene.

“I commend [the officers] for

their courage and professionalism

under extraordinarily dangerous

circumstances,” East

Rochester Police Chief Michael

Brandenburg said in a statement.

“It’s not anything that anybody

ever wants to deal with…" Steve

said. “At the end of the day,

there’s really no good outcome

in this.”

Noel’s sentencing follows a

jury conviction on charges including

attempted aggravated

murder, attempted aggravated

assault on a police officer and

two counts of criminal possession

of a weapon.

FBI RELEASES INVESTIGA-

TIVE UPDATE IN BOURBON

STREET ATTACK

NEW ORLEANS – The FBI,

along with our partners, continue

to work around the clock

to determine what motivated

Shamsud-Din Jabbar to drive his

truck into a crowd of people on

Bourbon Street. Thanks to the

overwhelming response from

the public, the FBI is closer to

getting answers for those families

who lost loved ones and the

other victims of the New Year’s

Day attack.

FBI Victim Services has identified

at least 57 individuals who

were physically injured, in addition

to the 14 deceased victims,

during the New Year’s Day attack.

A total of 136 victims have been

CLICK TO WATCH

identified, including two businesses

that suffered damages.

Evidence obtained in the ongoing

investigation indicates Jabbar

became a more devout Muslim

in 2022. During this time, Jabbar

began isolating himself from society.

Around the spring of 2024,

Jabbar began following extremist

views.

On November 10, 2024, Jabbar

took a train from Houston,

Texas to New Orleans and returned

to Texas that evening on

a bus. While in the city, Jabbar

looked at an apartment for rent

on Orleans Street. Just days after

his travel he applied to rent the

apartment but later told the

landlord he changed his mind.

An initial review of his electronics

shows Jabbar conducted

many online searches. They included

how to access a balcony

on Bourbon Street, information

about Mardi Gras, and he researched

several shootings in the

city, as late as mid-November.

Just hours before the attack on

Bourbon Street, he also searched

for information about the car

that rammed into innocent victims

in a Christmas market in

Germany just ten days before.

72 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 73


To date, the FBI has reviewed

thousands of videos and photos

associated with this case. Many

of those images have come into

the FBI’s digital tip line. As the

investigation continues, we are

still asking anyone with information

or video of the incident

to reach out to www.fbi.gov/

bourbonstreetattack or call

1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI will

not be providing any on-camera

interviews at this time.

MAN WHO TOLD DISPATCH-

ERS HE WOULD ‘SHOOT SOME-

BODY’ APPROACHES LEOS

WITH SCREWDRIVER BEFORE

OIS

By Andrea Klick Daily Breeze,

TORRANCE, CA. — Four officers

shot a man to death last

month in Torrance after he

refused to stop walking toward

them holding what they thought

was a knife, according to bodyworn

camera footage released

Wednesday, Jan. 15.

The video revealed the man

was actually armed with a

screwdriver, and that, prior to

the police encounter, he appeared

to be bleeding from

self-inflicted wounds. Audio

released by police also recorded

the man — for unknown reasons

— summoning police to his

location.

The man, later identified as

34-year-old Leonardo Diaz of

Los Angeles, called police dispatch

around 4:40 p.m. on Dec. 2

and reported a man was armed

with a gun in the 2900 block of

Oregon Court, south of Del Amo

Boulevard and east of Maple

Avenue, the Torrance Police Department

said in a Critical Incident

Community Briefing Video.

When a dispatcher asked

where the suspect was, the

caller said he was the one with a

gun, according to a recording of

the 911 call.

“I’m gonna shoot somebody,”

the caller said. “I’m gonna stab

somebody.”

The dispatcher asked the

caller why he wanted to shoot

someone, but the call dropped

or hung up, according to the

recording. A dispatcher tried to

call the man back, but the call

hung up again, police said.

Officers responded to the area,

and police used technology to

locate and identify the caller as

Diaz.

Police found Diaz in the driver’s

seat of a green Dodge Charger

on Oregon and planned to approach

him.

An officer told Diaz, who had

his driver’s side door ajar, to roll

down all of his windows, open

his door all the way and make

his hands visible multiple times,

body-worn camera footage

showed.

At one point, Diaz appears to

open the door further and look

back at officers before pulling

the door back again. Officers

said they believe he has a knife

CLICK TO WATCH

and is bleeding, according to the

body-worn camera footage.

Dispatch audio released by police

recorded someone summoning

less-lethal resources to the

scene, but it wasn’t clear if any

officer with a less-lethal weapon

was on scene or used such a

weapon.

An officer tells Diaz repeatedly

to open the door, show his hands

and drop the item. Diaz then exits

the car and continues to walk

towards officers while they tell

him to turn around and get on

the ground, which he fails to do,

the footage shows.

Four officers then shoot at Diaz

with lethal weapons. As he falls

to the ground, officers continue

to command him to drop what

they believed was a knife, according

to the body-worn footage.

After the shooting, police rendered

medical aid to Diaz and

contacted paramedics with the

Torrance Fire Department, who

pronounced Diaz dead at the

scene.

Diaz appeared to have multiple

wounds to his wrists and body

that police believe were there

before the shooting.

74 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 75


NYPD OFFICERS NOT AL-

LOWED TO PURSUE SUSPECTED

TRAFFIC VIOLATORS WHO FLEE

STOPS UNDER NEW POLICY

By Thomas Tracy,

New York Daily News

NEW YORK — NYPD officers

will no longer be allowed to

chase after vehicles fleeing

car stops under a new department-wide

policy that only

allows pursuits when a felony

crime or a violent misdemeanor

is committed.

The new guidelines, effective

Feb. 1, come amid rampant criticism

over the last few years that

the department routinely engages

in unnecessary police pursuits

that lead to crashes and injure

other motorists and pedestrians.

Instead of following fleeing

drivers responsible for traffic

violations, the department will

rely on “advanced tools of modern-day

policing” to track down

and apprehend the suspects, Police

Commissioner Jessica Tisch

said, although she didn’t say

what kind of tools will be used.

Police already utilize varying

tracking techniques, including

the use of drones and GPS trackers

that can be fired and affixed

to a fleeing vehicle.

“The NYPD’s enforcement

efforts must never put the public

or the police at undue risk,

and pursuits for violations and

low-level crimes can be both

potentially dangerous and unnecessary,”

Tisch said Wednesday,

claiming that with these

advanced tools, many pursuits

will be “unnecessary.”

COUPLE WITH FAKE FIRE

TRUCK BUSTED FOR IMPER-

SONATING FIREFIGHTERS

NEAR PALISADES FIRE IN LOS

ANGELES

Los Angeles authorities said a

couple was arrested for impersonating

firefighters after they

attempted to enter an evacuation

zone with a fake firetruck near

the Palisades Fire area.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's

Office confirmed to Fox

News Digital that Dustin Nehl,

31, and Jennifer Nehl, 44, were

arrested for Impersonating a

Firefighter and entering an evacuation

zone.

Officials said an LAPD patrol

unit was driving through the Palisades

Fire area with fire personnel

and noticed a fire truck that

did not appear to be legitimate.

The officers reached out to

deputies and shared that the

individuals in the phony fire truck

attempted to enter an evacuation

zone.

Upon approaching the truck,

officials said deputies noticed

that both suspects were wearing

turnout gear.

The occupants claimed to

be from the "Roaring River Fire

Department" in Oregon. However,

deputies learned that the

department was not legitimate,

and the truck was purchased at

an auction. The fire truck was

impounded by authorities.

Officials said the two occupants

were also wearing CAL-

Fire T-shirts under the turnout

gear, and had helmets and

radios.

The couple admitted to deputies

that they had entered the

evacuation zone.

Authorities uncovered that

Dustin Nehl has a criminal history

in Oregon, including criminal

mischief and arson.

They have been charged with

fraudulent impersonation of specific

fire personnel, unauthorized

activities with respect to badges

or related matters, and false

representation, LA County District

Attorney Nathan Hochman said,

according to FOX 11.

76 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


SPONSORSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES

ODMP

SUPPORTERS

2,900+

RUNNERS

600K+

SOCIAL MEDIA

FOLLOWERS

90K+

EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS

3.8M

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92K

MOBILE APP USERS

JOIN US IN HONORING

FALLEN HEROES

Each year in the week surrounding National Peace Officers Memorial Day, over 26,000

law enforcement officers and their families visit Washington, D.C. to honor fallen law

enforcement heroes. In 2025, the 18th annual National Police Week 5K (NPW5K) will be

held in Arlington, Virginia during Police Week. The NPW5K not only raises awareness

of law enforcement line of duty deaths and pays tribute to those who have made the

ultimate sacrifice, it also generates funds for the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)

and Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), two organizations that honor fallen officers

and provide support to their survivors. Last year's event raised more than $200,000 for

these organizations.

Statistics over the last decade show that on average 168* officers are killed in the line of

duty each year. The Officer Down Memorial Page pays tribute to each of those heroes and

is ranked as one of the top law enforcement websites in the United States. ODMP also

partners with organizations that provide free bulletproof vests to officers, honors the

hundreds of police canines who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, and works

with initiatives like Below 100 that aim to improve officer safety and awareness.

The National Police Week 5K is attended by nearly 3000 runners annually from all over

the U.S. and around the world. The virtual NPW5K option, which allows participants to

run their own race wherever they are in support of those who gave their lives in the line

of duty, adds hundreds of additional participants to this event each year.

PO Box 1047

Fairfax, Virginia 22038

www.ODMP.org

information@odmp.org

Sponsorship of the National Police Week 5K is an ideal way to demonstrate your support

for the law enforcement community and to promote your organization to a wide

audience of like-minded supporters. Sponsors and donors are recognized on the NPW5K

event website, and are also featured in specific email and social media communications,

potentially reaching millions of our combined audience of LEOS and supporters. The

following page outlines the possible 2025 sponsorship opportunities. Thank you for your

consideration — we hope that we can count on your support.

* This average does not include the extraordinary number of deaths caused by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021

Contact: Amy Herrera | 5K@odmp.org

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 77


FLORIDA DEPUTY USES VEHI-

CLE TO TAKE DOWN SUSPECT

ON BIKE

FLAGLER COUNTY, FL. – A

Flagler County Sheriff's deputy

used his patrol vehicle to take

down a suspect on a bike who

reportedly brandished a handgun

that was observed by the deputy.

Late on the night of January 4,

a Flagler County (Florida) Sheriff’s

Deputy encountered a man

on a bicycle in Palm Coast who

refused to stop and speak, fled

from the deputy, and brandished

a handgun, the sheriff’s office

said on Facebook.

Deputy Christopher Murphy

nudged the suspect with the

fender of his patrol vehicle and

knocked him off the bike. Murphy

then took the suspect into custody

with the assistance of Deputy

Michael Anderson.

The suspect has been identified

by law enforcement as

Michael McDermott. A 9mm

Ruger firearm was recovered

near McDermott, who was found

wearing a holster for the weapon,

the sheriff’s office said.

McDermott was arrested for

Assault or Battery on a Law Enforcement

Officer, Fleeing and

Eluding, Resisting an Officer with

Violence, and Possession of a

Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He

was transported to AdventHealth

Palm Coast Parkway due to a

minor injury to his right ankle.

After being treated and released,

he was taken to the Sheriff Perry

Hall Inmate Detention Facility.

McDermott has an extensive

arrest history in Flagler County

since 2013 and prior to his

arrest had been released from

the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate

Detention Facility on December

17, 2024, after serving a 90-day

sentence for Possession of Fentanyl.

DETROIT OFFICER KILLED IN

CRASH DRIVING HOME FROM

SHIFT

Detroit Police Officer Cameron

Richardson was killed in a

vehicle crash shortly after midnight

Sunday while driving home

from his shift. The other driver

reportedly fled the scene. Richardson,

was driving home in a

Jeep Wrangler after working a

shift when a motorist allegedly

attempted to make a turn into

an intersection and hit the Jeep,

causing it to roll, CBS reports.

The vehicle that hit the Jeep,

described by witnesses as a

white van, left the scene, but

was found a short distance from

the intersection, the Michigan

State Police say. A firearm was

reportedly found in the van.

The driver of the van, identified

CLICK TO WATCH

Officer Cameron Richardson

by authorities as a 28-year-old

man, is not in custody. Police are

in close contact with the man's

family, and asking that he turn

himself in.

Officer Richardson is survived

by two daughters, ages 12 and

14, and his parents John and

Mona.

CLICK HERE

FOR YOUR

FREE

SUBSCRIPTION

Delivered to your inbox every month.

78 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


VETERAN COLORADO DEP-

UTY RESIGNS OVER WORK IN

ADULT VIDEOS

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO – An

Arapahoe County, Colorado,

Sheriff’s deputy resigned last

week in the midst of a department

internal investigation into

her performing in adult videos,

jobs she says she took out of

economic “desperation."

Shannon Lofland, a 21-year

veteran of the sheriff’s office,

told CBS News Colorado she

started performing in adult videos

because "I was desperate, I

was drowning. I found a legal,

lucrative means for providing

that support for my family that

I needed at that time to save

my home for them and feed my

family."

The 44-year-old wife and

mother had been the sheriff's office

driver training instructor for

years, a job she said she loved

up until she submitted

her resignation on Tuesday

Dec. 3.

The sheriff's office

launched an internal

investigation into the

deputy after learning

she had been appearing

in online sex videos.

The department did not

say how they learned

of her online videos.

Lofland admitted she

had likely violated department

policies by

not obtaining advance

authorization from the

department for outside

employment, which she

says would probably

not have been granted.

She said her husband supported

her decision and she didn't

tell family members or friends

what she was doing to make

ends meet.

Former Deputy Shannon Lofland

ED-I'm sure you guys googled

her before you even finished

reading this. Videos are available

when you normally search for

XXXX. LOL

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 79


AIRBORNE

AVIATION

AROUND THE COUNTRY

BELL HELICOPTERS

Bell introduces the new "Police Aviation Unit Start-

Up Consulting" for police agencies.

In 1948, the world’s first police

helicopter, the Bell Helicopter

Model 47D, arrived at the New

York City Police Department. It

would change policing. Fast forward

to today, and public safety

helicopters are widely known as

one of policing’s greatest force

multipliers. It’s not about adding

more people – it’s about empowering

the existing force with

innovative technology to maximize

their impact.

When matched with innovative

helicopter technology and

specialized mission equipment,

today’s police helicopter crews

can respond quicker, establish

perimeters faster, search larger

areas, and work with all parts of

the force – more than perhaps

any other function in policing.

The result is more lives saved,

more apprehensions, and greater

overall officer safety. The question

is – where do you start?

Through listening to our customers,

Bell noted that there

were various police units interested

in launching an aviation

unit, but didn’t know where to

start. Because of this, Bell officially

launched the ‘New Police

Aviation Unit Start-Up Consulting’

option, which is a unique offering

that is focused not on just the

technology innovation side of police

aviation, but the operational

developmental side as well.

As the only American-made

company that offers a range of

five police helicopters options in

total - from single engine patrol

focused helicopters to twin

engine helicopters capable of

carrying 14 fully equipped tactical

police officers, Bell has emerged

as a global leader in the pursuit

of high-intensity airborne public

safety aviation.

Our New Police Aviation Unit

Start-Up Consulting option includes

two distinct focuses. First

is the potential “new start-up”

police aviation unit. Bell utilizes

a specialized cadre of segment

managers that come from the police

and police aviation industry.

Former police aviation operators,

managers and technicians that

are in place to directly assist the

operational development of the

new start-up or existing operating

alike. This consultant-based

service is free of charge to any

police agency. The second point

uniquely centers around the

world’s newest police helicopter,

the Bell 505, where we can physically

demonstrate the new startup

potential in the jurisdiction

itself. Collectively this product

and development stems directly

from customer demand and

direct referral.

SO WHY HELICOPTERS?

At the time of this interview,

Bell is working with no less than

17 agencies globally that are

in process of establishing new

police aviation units. This level of

new start-ups is perhaps unprecedented

as the number of existing

police aviation units has typically

been finite for the last 20+

years. We attribute this in part

to the introduction of the world’s

newest police helicopter, the

Bell 505, and the commitment to

supporting the new operational

startups with our Key Segment

Mangers.

Not only is airborne public

safety now expanding again, but

public safety is also enhanced.

Helicopters might seem complicated,

but they offer big advantages.

Perhaps most obvious:

the aerial perspective they provide.

On the ground, an officer

might see only a couple of sides

of a building. But from the air,

the crew can see every side, the

roof, and even behind fences or

around corners. One study found

80 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NYPD'S FIRST HELICOPTER IN 1948 WAS A BELL 47D-1

that from a helicopter, an officer

can see 30 times more than they

can on the ground. Another study

showed helicopters can effectively

cover 7.6 miles, while an officer

walking around can only cover

0.2 square miles.

The view from the air most

directly contributes to the force

multiplier effect. Helicopters also

cover many law enforcement

missions: How does this aerial

advantage lead to better policing?

Here are some important

factors:

RESPONSE TIME – Helicopters

not only provide a birds-eye view,

but also the ability to respond,

“as the bird flies.” Generally, it’s

a straight-line direct response

versus a more complex groundbased

approach. In many cases,

the comparison is drastic. The

police air crew is often first on

the scene. This offers enhanced

situational awareness for all

responders and helps decrease

response time averages.

PATROL PRESENCE – While an

officer’s presence on the ground

is effective within a limited area,

typically just a couple of streets,

the helicopter can oversee a

much larger radius, often several

miles. Additionally, with its

distinctive noise and illuminating

searchlight, the show of force

presence is again multiplied. Live

images of ground-based activity

seen from the air can be downlinked

to ground commanders

and command centers.

PURSUITS –Departments that

use police helicopters report a

reduction in both the duration

and total number of pursuits.

One study found when subjects

realized they were under aerial

surveillance, they stopped

and surrendered. Even when the

subject does not stop, the police

helicopter has the advantage of

closely monitoring and reporting

pursuit activity and can better

direct ground units. Often, this

leads to a halt of ground-based

pursuits while the helicopter

stays overhead, later directing

ground units to final destinations.

Police helicopters not only make

pursuits safer, but they also lead

to a higher percentage of potential

arrests.

SPECIAL TEAMS – The effectiveness

of any specialty team

within policing is force multiplied

when rapidly deployed. For SWAT

and K-9 handlers, this typically

involves tactical insertion, such

as FAST roping or rappelling from

helicopters to areas inaccessible

by ground, like rooftops or

confined spaces. Sometimes, it’s

rapid egress from the landed helicopter

that expedites point-topoint

movement. For the HAZMAT

team, bomb tech, crime scene

investigator, or other special

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 81


team, it’s the rapidness of pointto-point

movement that becomes

the force multiplier. A diver is

more effective and has longer

station time when inserted overhead

an incident from a hovering

helicopter. A dignitary protection

team is less exposed when

transporting by helicopter versus

ground, not to mention time

saved. Regardless of the specialty

team, air support allows for rapid

extraction and relocation on

the fly as needed.

SPECIAL MISSIONS – The

force multiplier effect of policing

with helicopters also benefits

other public safety special

missions like search and rescue,

firefighting and casualty evacuation.

When the aircraft carries

specialty equipment, like hoists

or short-haul lines, the odds of

a timely rescue are further enhanced.

For the fire mission, it’s typically

a helicopter payload of water

that is used to rapidly suppress

flames that are threatening lives

and property. Even the smallest

of police helicopters have a measured

ability to provide initial attack

firefighting efforts. The same

eye-in-the-sky that provides

police command and control can

easily provide fire command and

control. And the same police helicopter

that is used to extract the

specialty team can also be used

for the critical casualty evacuation

mission.

OFFICER SAFETY –Hundreds

and hundreds of documented

cases illustrate how the presence

of a police helicopter has prevented

officer death or serious

harm. The same aerial perspective

used to locate criminals also

plays a crucial role in safeguarding

officers. For instance, a helicopter

crew spotting an armed

individual around a blind corner

can alert approaching officers,

potentially preventing an ambush.

The examples are numerous.

Police helicopters save lives,

including at times the lives of law

enforcement.

IS IT WORTH THE COST?

Enhancing public safety through

active policing is justified the

world over every day. Any aspect

that force-multiplies the public

safety effort is also justified.

Maybe a better question to ask is

whether the agency is willing to

invest in it? The force-multiplier

aspects of police aviation ensure

high levels of public safety. Helicopters

significantly amplify the

ability to protect and safeguard

communities. That’s why airborne

public safety is an incredible

force multiplier.

To learn more about police

aviation solutions, visit bell.co/

publicsafety.

82 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Starting Police Aviation?

We can help every step of the way.

Starting a new police aviation unit can be daunting. With the right partner it doesn’t have to be.

Bell has been a proud partner for over 75 years with hundreds of police aviation units around the

world, including new police aviation units yearly. Bell understands that the road to policing’s

greatest force multiplier resource includes a strong focus that goes well beyond the acquisition

of a helicopter. Bell provides full SME consultation to assist agencies in their new start-up

endeavors and ultimately deliver higher apprehension rates, greater officer safety and greater

public safety as a whole. From reduced cost strategies, to safety concerns, to operational

integration, Bell stands alone in its unwavering commitment to airborne policing partnerships.

Visit bell.co/publicsafety to download our law enforcement aviation case study and to hear

from our customers.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 83


84 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 85


PRODUCTS &

SERVICES

AROUND THE COUNTRY

PEPPERBALL LAUNCHES BURST

A game-changing non-lethal tool for crowd control.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Pepper-

Ball, a leader in non-lethal

solutions for law enforcement

and security, is excited to introduce

the PepperBall BURST.

The BURST is a non-lethal area

saturation and diversion device

that combines advanced payload

dispersal with a powerful

130-decibel auditory deterrent

for maximum effectiveness. This

powerful tool offers a large,

fast-spreading powder cloud

and reliable performance, making

it perfect for crowd control

and tactical situations.

BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD

CHALLENGES

The BURST is designed to handle

tough situations, giving officers

an edge in crowd control

and tactical operations. More

than just a device—it’s a critical

advancement in non-lethal technology

that empowers officers

to do their jobs safely and effectively.

Once activated, it releases

a thick cloud of exclusive payload,

covering large areas quickly.

With four variants—officers

can choose the best fit for any

mission:

BURST STUN: Designed to

overwhelm and disorient threats

with a powerful auditory and

visual impact, ideal for immediate

area denial and distraction

in volatile situations.

BURST INERT: Contains a

harmless, non-irritant powder

for training exercises and crowd

management where minimal

force is necessary.

BURST LIVE-X: Features a

potent PAVA-based irritant that

causes temporary discomfort,

effectively dispersing crowds

and controlling aggressive behavior.

BURST LIVE-MAXX: Offers the

highest concentration of PAVA

irritant for maximum stopping

power in high-threat environments,

delivering rapid compliance

when it matters most.

WHY THE PEPPERBALL

BURST STANDS OUT:

• Wide-Area Coverage: Creates

a big cloud for maximum impact.

• Exclusive Payload: Designed

for consistent and effective results.

• Loud Deterrent: Emits a

130-decibel sound to distract

and deter.

• Mission-Ready Options: Available

in STUN, INERT, LIVE-X, and

LIVE-MAXX variants.

• Reliable Deployment: Consis-

86 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


tent fuse timing ensures dependable

use.

• Durable Design: Tough polymer

construction stands up to

tough environments.

• No ATF Restrictions: Simple to

use with no extra regulations.

RELIABLE IN HIGH-PRESSURE

SITUATIONS

The BURST reflects the PepperBall

dedication to giving law

enforcement safe and effective

tools. Its tough design and

consistent performance make it

ideal for managing crowds, protecting

perimeters, and handling

tense situations.

“The BURST changes the game

for non-lethal tactical control,”

said Carl Sims, PepperBall Senior

Director of Training. “In today’s

unpredictable environment,

officers need tools they can rely

on to manage high-stress situations

effectively. The BURST

provides law enforcement with

a safe, reliable option to gain

control of volatile conditions

without resorting to lethal force.

Its combination of a high-impact

visual cloud and a powerful auditory

blast helps officers quickly

de-escalate threats, protect

communities, and reduce the

risk of harm to both officers and

civilians.”

Learn more about the Pepper-

Ball® BURST at www.pepperball.com/burst

or reach out to

Katherine Riley at kriley@pepperball.com

for media inquiries and

product demo information.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 87


PRODUCTS &

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88 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 89


Mr. Philanthropy,

ALAN HELFMAN

HITS THE $2 MILLION MARK IN FUND RAISING

WORDS BY MICHAEL E. BARRON

They say, third times a charm.

The charm is of course Alan

Helfman’s third time on the cover

of The BLUES.

Helfman, president of River Oaks

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram in

Houston, was recently promoted

to Assistant Chief of Harris County

Constable Precinct 7 led by

newly elected Constable James

‘Smokie’ Phillips. Helfman has in

fact, been a certified peace officer

in Texas for over 37 years.

But Alan reached another milestone

this past year by surpassing

the $2-million mark for funds

raised for fallen and injured officers

and their families in the

Houston area.

90 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 91 91


If you’ve been in law enforcement in

Houston for any length of time you know or

have heard of Alan. He’s donated and raised

literally millions of dollars to help the

families of fallen officers and those injured

in the line of duty. He’s earned the title Mr.

Philanthropy by numerous groups in Houston

for his generosity and support over the

years. If you’ve toured the upstairs hallway

at the dealership off Kirby Drive, you’ve

witnessed his efforts displayed in dozens

of photos and awards from various groups

throughout the years including the Lifetime

Achievement Award from The BLUES in

2021.

Then of course, there’s the Board Room

that’s more of a collection point for all the

memorabilia Alan gives away to customers,

as well as donations to organizations of all

kinds who use the priceless pieces to raise

money for their events and fundraisers.

And one of those groups he has given so

generously to over the years is the Astros

Foundation and therefore afforded him the

opportunity to throw out the ceremonial

first pitch at several games including the

one on the ‘back’ cover of this month’s issue

that earned him the award for the highest

kick ever in a pre-game pitchout when the

Astros played the Rangers in April of ‘24.

And while the rest of world might call

him Mr. Philanthropy, I simply know him as

a friend and a fellow law enforcement officer.

Fact is, I’ve known Alan since we were

both teenagers. My uncle “Flo” worked for

his dad for over 25 years at the dealership

as did my mom.

Soon after I graduated high school, I applied

for the Harris County Sheriff’s Department

and went to work for Sheriff

Jack Heard, while Alan went to college. A

few years later, Alan enrolled in the Houston

Community College Police Academy to

become a Reserve Peace Officer. (Much to

the dismay of his father if I remember correctly.

He said I was a bad influence on his

son.) I don’t recall the reason, but he had

to complete his training at the University of

Houston Downtown, and has been a Peace

92 92 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25


Officer ever since. In fact, Helfman is one of

only 36 individuals that continues to hold

a SPECIAL RESERVE peace officers license

today and as I mentioned, is now the Assistant

Chief Deputy for the Harris County

Constables Precinct 7 office.

Back in November of 2023, our Senior Editor

Dr. Tina Jaeckle had the opportunity to

meet Alan in person and here’s just some of

that Tribute article about Alan:

Like so many before me, I met Alan Helman

and was immediately drawn to his

kindness and unquestionable dedication to

helping others, especially law enforcement

The The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 93 93


and first responders. As a long-term member

of the Houston community, Alan has

raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for

those who dedicate their lives to protecting

others and for some, made the ultimate

sacrifice. When I asked him about his own

law enforcement service, he shared he

has always felt a calling to give back. That

pretty much sums up who Alan Helfman is.

For the better part of his life, Helfman has

dedicated himself to serving others, earning

the nickname “Mr. Philanthropy.”

On most days you’ll find him making deals

at his dealership on Kirby Drive, just off the

Southwest Freeway – River Oaks Chrysler,

Dodge, Jeep & Ram. But what you may

not know is that many of those ‘deals’ have

nothing to do with cars. The big deals going

on in that second-floor office of this

full-time salesman and part time cop, are

the deals that will raise hundreds of thousands

of dollars for charities, police and

fire departments, schools, parks and hospitals

and long-term care facilities. Truth

is, I don’t think there is a person or cause

that Alan hasn’t raised money for. It’s in

his blood and DNA to help others and he’s

damn good at it. So, when The BLUES staff

gathered in January of 2021 to decide who

might be the recipient of their first ever

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Alan

Helfman was the first name everyone selected.

And here’s how it all got started.

94 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 95


THE HISTORY OF HELFMAN AUTO

The legacy of Helman’s entry into the

auto business dates back to 1959 when Alan’s

grandfather Samuel Helfman opened

a used car lot on Washington Avenue just

south of I-10 (The car lot was there for

the longest time under a variety of different

owners from W&R Auto Sales to Buddy’s

Used Cars). Alan’s dad, Jack Helfman,

worked alongside his father Samuel honing

his sales skills while at the same time

helping to build a successful used car

dealership. That experience gained over

13 years working with his dad laid the

foundation to what would become a successful

39-year relationship with Chrysler.

Fueled by the success of Helfman Motors,

Jack began looking into the possibility of

selling new cars. He had his eyes set on a

small dealership, inside the loop, owned

by a local businessman named Bob Ring.

Soon the papers were signed, and in 1972

the Helfman’s took control of River Oaks

Chrysler Plymouth. Unfortunately, Samuel

Helfman would pass away shortly after the

Helfman’s acquired the new dealership.

During Jack Helfman’s years of success

as a dealer, he had been very involved in

the community. For more than 30+ years he

had been a major contributor to the Seven

Acres Jewish Senior Care Services, a nursing

home in the Houston area. Contributing

not only money, but his time as well.

Throughout his years of service to Seven

Acres, he donated wheelchairs, walkers,

and other supplies as they were needed. He

also encouraged his children into the service

of the elderly, and on many occasions,

they would spend their time reading to the

residents. When it came time for the annual

Seven Acres Jewish Senior Care Services

Gala, he would donate a car or truck for

raffle, and personally make the calls necessary

to sell the raffle tickets. In 2001 Jack

Helfman and his wife Elaine were presented

with the 2001 Sprit of Life Award at that

year’s annual Seven Acres Gala. But this is

only one of many charities he had given

to. He annually, contributed to: The United

Jewish Federation, Muscular Dystrophy,

March of Dimes, United Way, and many others.

Seven Acres is simply the one believed

to have been closest to his heart.

Jack Helfman had been honored over the

years for many achievements. In 2004 he

was the recipient of the 2004 Time Magazine

Quality Award. That award was given

96 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


to new car dealers for their exceptional

performance in their dealership, and distinguished

community service. This award

was given to only 63 dealers out of nearly

20,000. It was the highest honor achievable

by a dealer. Jack was honored that

his son Alan decided at an early age to

follow in his footsteps into the auto business.

Alan earned his business degree at UT

and quickly adopted the strong work ethic

his dad lived his entire work life. “Dad was

very austere but fair,” Alan said. “He taught

you a hard work ethic – work morning ‘til

night, six days a week. Work hard and play

hard. He didn’t have a lot of outside interests.

We (the car industry) went through

some tumultuous times in 2007 but he was

grateful that we had something. He wasn’t

the kind of man to spend money on expensive

hobbies or pastimes.” Jack Helfman

also taught his son to give generously to

worthy causes “as long as they were legitimate.”

The Helfman family made a large

contribution toward the construction of the

Helfman Football Field at Emery-Weiner

School, where Alan and Renee Helfman’s

three children attended school – Blake, Eric

and Caitlin. Today, Jack Helfman would be

extremely proud of his son’s generosity and

his unending desire to help others.

Tom Kennedy, a longtime editor of the

HPOU’s Badge & Gun Newspaper, wrote a

great article about Alan a few years ago.

Here is just some of that article on how

Alan came to be known as “Mr. Humanitarian

and Mr. Philanthropy.”

Alan Helfman is the car dealer with a

TCLEOSE (TCOLE now) Certification who

constantly goes the proverbial extra mile

for HPD Officers and other Law Enforcement

causes, using his sales ability on

the auction circuit to raise funds for Officers

in need. The company chieftain in the

well-tailored suit always seems to have

a phone in his ear. He crisply moves from

one call to another, juggling conversations

about his car business or his extra-curricular

passion – auctioning sports memorabilia

to raise funds for injured or ailing Houston

police officers. When soliciting auction

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 97


items or the bidders for same, he repeats

once, twice, three times the purpose and

the beneficiary, consistently underscoring

all the reasons for a generous donation –

say an autographed J. J. Watt jersey – or an

extraordinarily high bid on it. No potential

beneficiary is off-limits to Helfman, whose

fundraising talents almost always benefit

officers in predicaments encountered both

and on and off-duty. Ask him and he will

tell you that the men and women in blue

routinely perform dangerous, life-threatening

tasks safely and soundly, only to meet

problems beyond their control when they’re

not on Houston streets.

Quite simply, this unconditional money-raising

spirit throbs throughout the

bloodstream inside Alan Helfman. He admits

that he’s a salesman who uses his

talent making pitches to help officers in

need. Selling cars also is in his blood. His

showroom office is easy to find, off in the

corner on the north side, his desk positioned

under a large photograph of Babe

Ruth and Ted Williams (Williams signed it).

That and his University of Texas Bachelor

of Business Administration diploma (1979)

decorate the walls alongside framed declarations

of appreciation from, among others,

former HPOU President Ray Hunt. “He goes

above and beyond on every single fundraiser

we do,” Hunt said. “There has never been

98 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


a time that I’ve called Alan Helfman that he

hasn’t delivered. He forms the perfect picture

of a person who delivers invaluable

service to every police officer.”

Now after some 20 years of endless fundraisers,

Helfman has raised over 2-million

dollars for the Houston based ATO-Assist

the Officer Foundation as well hundreds

more local officers.

Just last year, he donated ten wheelchairs

to the foundation.

“Alan Helfman has been a dedicated supporter

of Law Enforcement for many years.

He continues daily to provide resources

and do anything possible to help law enforcement

organizations from providing

vehicles, to helping purchase other tools to

help officers safely do the job. But this pales

in comparison to what he does to help individual

officers. Alan has not only shown

up to help with over 100 benefits for injured

or fallen officers but has also donated hundreds

of thousands of dollars of his own

memorabilia to raise money. His selfless

acts of kindness go far beyond the Houston

Police Department. Anytime an officer is

injured, no matter the agency, Alan is there

doing whatever he can to help. It is truly

an honor to call him a friend!” said Douglas

Griffith, President of the Houston Police

Officers Union

One might wonder: Why does he do this?

The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 99 99


WHY DOES HE DO IT?

Helfman laughed and said he first knew

he had an inclination toward becoming an

officer while in elementary school when

he was selected to be a student crossing

guard. “I loved sticking that badge on,” he

remembered. “You put the stick down – it

had an orange flag at the end. You put it

down and the younger kids could cross the

street. I kept trying to make good grades to

keep the badge.” That badge-and-orangeflag

experience happened at Bendwood

Elementary School in the Spring Branch

Independent School District. Later, while a

senior at Memorial High School, Helfman

was visiting a neighbor whose dad had

just passed away. It was late at night when

Helfman and another friend said goodbye.

When they left, thieves accosted the grieving

family members, taking money from

them. Houston police arrived minutes later.

Although the officers didn’t immediately

encounter the robbers and throw them

in jail, Helfman experienced the impression

that has proven to be lasting. “Officers

come help you in the middle of the

night when someone is breaking into your

house,” he said. “They do this all the time

even if it might be extremely dangerous.”

Early on, Helfman wanted to become

active in charity work with an emphasis

on the law enforcement community. “I had

to ask a billionaire to help me early in life

on fundraisers for different charities,” he

recalled. “I told him I’d put a statue of him

on every corner. He turned me down.” So,

he figured out a way to get the job done

by himself. The answer: autographed balls

and bats that bring a lot of money in benefit

auctions. He found that he could easily

acquire these sports memorabilia items

with the right sources and auction them to

Houston’s proliferation of sports fans who

regularly demanded autograph material

from the Astros, Texans and Rockets. It can

easily be said that Helfman acquires more

pieces of sports memorabilia than he has

new and used cars at River Oaks on any

given day. Back in the day, Helfman acquired

most of his memorabilia from Kent

Sessions, a wholesale dealer in Houston.

“I’d sell him memorabilia. He auctioned it

off and donated the proceeds to officers,

depending on their particular problem,”

Sessions said. “He tries to be hands-on

with every single one of the people who

need help and are associated with the

police department. “He has a strong work

ethic. One of the things he takes away from

work is the help he gives police officers. To

him it’s like his duty. He’s part of the city

and he knows the importance of police in a

city like this.

“People are struck down that don’t have

the help that some other people have. He

wants to help – it’s a part of the philanthropic

attitude that he has. He wants to

feel the needs of that individual person.

That’s unique to a philanthropist.”

“He’s a promoter extraordinaire,” former

100 Club executive director Rick Hartley

said. “He’s done a lot of wonderful things to

help law enforcement off and on during the

years. He’s a life member of the 100 Club.”

100 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 101


HELL

Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and everything you knew to be true,

suddenly wasn’t. Your home, clothes, car, personal stuff, all gone, nothing

left but a pile of ashes up. Sure, fires happen all the time and people

do lose everything, but rarely does that fire consume your workplace,

your community and virtually everything around you. Imagine a world

where your school, your church, your grocery store, the local corner market,

the gas station you filled up yesterday, all were suddenly incinerated

and turned to ash. Sounds like the movie Homestead, right? Ironically

this and more did happen and in the very city that movies like Homestead

are made…Los Angeles. The wildfires in LA have virtually destroyed entire

communities and dozens of people died trying to escape. Thankfully one

of our own editors was one of those that did make it out, but lost everything

in the process. The following is her story. She was hesitant to put it

on paper but reluctantly she did.

102 The BLUES -- JANUARY FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25


ON EARTH

WORDS BY JESSICA "JJ" JONES

The The BLUES - - FEBRUARY JANUARY ‘25 ‘25 103 103


It was Friday evening when a group of

us who work in the film industry gathered

in LA for private screening of the movie

Homestead. If you haven’t seen the movie, a

nuke is dropped just outside LA and apocalyptic

nightmares come true and the city

is leveled. The following day, I kept hearing

about fire warnings and Santa Anna winds

reaching hurricane strength and the possibility

of wildfires.

If you live anywhere close to LA, you live

with the constant threat of wildfires, earthquakes

and mud slides. It’s just something

you deal with. Why would anyone live in a

place that is one minute away from disaster,

you ask? The same reason people live

in Oklahoma and Kansas where tornadoes

are a regular occurrence. I had a job in LA,

a boyfriend that lives and works in LA and

it’s just where life took me.

That Saturday, I felt compelled to pack a

go bag. It wasn’t something I normally did,

in fact I don’t think I’ve ever done it before.

But this time seemed different, so I gathered

up my wallet, credit cards, passport,

important papers I kept in my safe, my

Glock, a box of ammo, a change of clothes,

my makeup and set the bag on the couch.

Like I said, fires are just taken for granted

in LA. Hell, there was a fire on New Years

Day in Topanga State Park near the Palisades.

So, Saturday and Sunday were pretty

much normal days for me. I met my girlfriends

for coffee at the Starbucks around

the corner Saturday morning, ate dinner at

Vittorio’s Saturday night and just chilled all

day Sunday.

Monday morning on the short drive to

work, the local radio station was again

warning that the Santa Annas were expected

to be severe, and the fire threat was

extreme. Yada, yada, yada. Enough already.

104 The BLUES - - FEBRUARY JANUARY ‘25 ‘25


The The BLUES - - FEBRUARY - JANUARY ‘25 ‘25 105


On Tuesday I heard that a brush fire had

started in almost the exact same spot as

the New Year’s fire and was spreading down

the canyon. But no worries, that was miles

away.

Tuesday evening my sinuses were killing

me and I took some Benadryl and fell

asleep on the couch. At 2am, I woke up to

my fire alarm going off, my cell phone alert

blaring and someone pounding on my door.

Instinctively, I reached in my bag, grabbed

my gun and opened the door. It was my

neighbor Mark. “JJ, we gotta go, the fire

is only a mile away and the neighborhood

behind us in on fire. Get your shit, we got to

get out of here.”

I grabbed my keys, my bag I had packed

and ran to my car. As I turned the corner

to the parking lot, I couldn’t believe what I

was seeing. It was if I had suddenly woke

up in hell. The sky was on fire. Burning

pieces of whatever were falling all around

me. I could hear things exploding and people

screaming. As I threw my bag in the

back seat, Mark pulled up behind me and

said to follow him to the PCH and we’d try

and make it to I-10.

There is just no way to describe what I

was seeing. The fire was consuming everything.

As we inched along Sunset, the building

my office was in was a totally engulfed

in fire. It was above a Chase Bank and the

first thing that came to my mind, was all

that money was just burning up. And the

heat, the heat was so bad, I could see the

paint on my car melting away. Actually, it

was the clear bra that Mark’s friend Eric

had just put on my new Range Rover that

was melting. God, I loved that car. All my

life I had dreamed of owning a Range Rover

and when I got my Christmas bonus in December,

I finally had money enough to buy

it. Now it was melting. WTF.

The next hour was a blur. At some point

the road was completely blocked by cars,

and people were getting out of their cars

and running down the highway. Mark was

several cars ahead and I could see him

getting out of his car and waving at me

to do the same. I grabbed my bag and as

I opened the door, the rush of hot air reminded

me of the time I worked at Pizza

Hut in college when the oven door was

open. The air burned my face and my eyes,

and I could barely see. Pieces of burning

shit were falling everywhere as I ran to

catch up to Mark. I just remember running

and running.

We wound up in a parking lot with dozens

of others and a man in a minivan offered

us a ride. We ended up at a coffee

shop on I-10 and it was at that point it suddenly

dawned on me that I was now homeless.

For years, I have cussed and MF’d the

homeless living in camps all over LA and

now for all practical purposes I was one of

them. I was sure that my condo and everything

I owned was gone. My brand-new car

was probably burnt up too. Suddenly I just

broke down in tears and cried uncontrollably

on Mark’s shoulder.

“What now Mark. What do we do now?”

He turned me around to look at the TV on

the wall behind us and they were showing

live coverage of the fire. The street we were

on less than an hour ago was totally consumed

by fire. Had we not run when we did,

we would have been burned alive. It was at

that moment that I realized I was just like

those people in the Homestead movie. My

home, my city, my work, all destroyed. My

existence as I knew it was no more. Just

like the Nuke that destroyed LA in the movie,

my life was forever changed.

106 The BLUES -- JANUARY FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25


CLICK TO WATCH

"What our drive down the Pacific Coast Highway was like. As it turns out,

the person that took this cell phone video was just ahead of Mark and I.

The heat was so hot, it melted the protective coating on my SUV. I still

have nightmares, reliving this terrifying drive over and over again." JJ

The BLUES - FEBRUARY JANUARY ‘25 ‘25 107


Just yesterday I was at work thinking

I needed to go buy groceries in case the

winds knocked out the power. I needed to

buy water and shit I could eat that didn’t

need cooking. Now all that shit was burnt

up.

As we watched the horror unfold on TV,

Mark said his brother lived in San Diego and

I should come with him. But in the middle

of watching Homestead, I thought to myself,

what would I do if a Nuke really did hit

LA. If my city was destroyed, where would

I go and what would I do. The only family

I have is in Texas, so somehow, I guess I

would find a way to get to Texas.

I told Mark I wanted to go to LAX and fly

home to my mom in Texas. We sat there for

another hour, watching house after house

burn to the ground live on TV. Finally, I had

seen enough, and it was almost 6am and

the sun was coming up and it was time to

go. We logged on to UBER and within a

minute, a young man walked up and said

“are you Mark? Did you call for an UBER?”

Seems he was doing the same thing we

were. Watching his city burn and in shock.

Yes sir, that’s us. We need to go to LAX. On

the way, Mark logged on to his company’s

travel app and booked us a couple of

rooms at the Holiday Inn Express on Airport

Blvd., just down the road from the airport.

As we checked in, the clerk asked if we

needed any help with luggage. I looked

down at my little go-bag and realized

everything I had was in that bag. I started

crying again.

I slept for awhile Wednesday. Mark

brought me food and we watched Fox

News all day. I called my mom and told

her I was safe and probably coming to stay

with her for a while. She cried and I cried

again. I texted Michael at the BLUES and

told him I was OK and headed to Texas, but

the earliest flight wasn’t until Saturday, and

he said he would pick me up.

Mark’s brother showed up Thursday afternoon

and asked if I wanted to go eat with

them, but I wasn’t really in the mood to be

with anyone. I went back to my room and

cried myself to sleep. I was so exhausted

that I slept until noon on Friday. I showered

and rode the shuttle bus to the airport

where I bought some funky “I love LA

sweatshirt” and t-shirts, ate chick-fil-A,

grabbed a Starbucks and sat and watched

people coming and going. I wondered how

many others were like me. Homeless from

the fires. Wondered where they were going

to start their new lives. I hung out at the

airport for a couple hours before I went

back to the room and started checking on

all my friends. All were safe and headed

somewhere.

The next morning, I boarded my flight to

Houston. Michael met me at the airport,

and I broke down in tears again the minute I

saw him. For the next two hours, I told him

everything I just typed here. Mike convinced

me that I should tell my story in the magazine

I helped build. (His words not mine.)

You see every month, I’m the one who edits

every word he and others write for The

BLUES. And believe me when I tell you,

these cops can’t spell for shit. They suck.

But I love them. For the past four years, I’ve

read every word that’s been published, and

I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. Hell,

for the time being, it’s the only job I have.

When the shock of losing everything

starts to wear off, you get angry. Pissed

off that our stupid governor is more worried

about climate change and homeless

than he is about preventing wildfires. And

don’t get me started on the Woke piece of

108 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

108 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 109

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 109


shit mayor Karen Bass. Didn’t vote for her

worthless ass and I can only hope she and

Newsome both resign. They won’t, but we

can only hope. And the Woke fire chief, she

is fucking clueless as well. I hope they all

burn in hell.

As for me, I know that only by the Grace

of God am I still here. I know that God sent

Mark to rescue me for I surely would have

died that night. I don’t know what my future

holds. All my memories are in California.

All my friends were in LA, now I have

no idea where they are. Everything I built

for myself over the past 15 years is gone. My

bosses’ business is gone and I’m heartbroken

for him and his family. Just everything

is gone and turned to ash.

But know this. Nothing is guaranteed.

Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Life is not

guaranteed. Life as you know it can change

in an instant and you’d better have a plan.

Know what and where you are going if your

world suddenly ends tomorrow. You can be

a victim, or you can be a survivor.

I ask that you please pray for all of those

that did not make it out alive and pray for

those that did. Pray that they too can find

a way to survive in a new world. Pray that

God takes them in his arms and protects

them in that new world, be it here on earth

or in heaven.

God Bless you all. JJ

110 The BLUES Blues -- December - FEBRUARY ‘24 ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 111

The Blues - December ‘24 111

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 111


TRUMP

"THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA

112 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


BEGINS TODAY"

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 113


WORDS BY MICHAEL E. BARRON

Monday, January 20, 2025 will go down

in history as the day America turned the

page on stupid DEI ideologies and began

what our 47th President Donald J. Trump

proclaimed, as the dawn of the Golden

Age of America.

114 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 115


WASHINGTON — The Inauguration of

Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of

the United States of America, made some

dramatic changes at the last minute due

to the extremely cold weather that moved

into Washington D.C. The Inaugural Committee

moved the swearing-in and inaugural

address indoors to the Capitol Rotunda.

Which meant several hundred Trump supporters

that had tickets to attend the Inauguration,

gathered inside the Capital One

Arena, in downtown Washington D.C., not

far from the National Mall.

The indoor ceremony went off without a

hitch and Trump made it a point to visit the

remote viewing areas setup in the Capitol.

Later during a celebration inside the Capital

One Arena, Trump began signing a slew of

executive orders that included withdrawing

the United States from the Paris Climate

Agreement.

Trump went on to declare a national

emergency on the Southern Border while

designating criminal cartels as terror

groups. He also signed an executive order

to bring an end to birthright citizenship for

children born to undocumented parents.

Afterwards, in true Trump rally fashion, he

tossed the pens he used into the audience.

Later that afternoon, when Trump

stepped back into the Oval Office, the 47th

president pardoned more than 1,500 people

who were charged with storming the US

Capitol on January 6, 2021. That included

commuting the sentences of those convicted

of crimes that involved violence against

police officers. That move angered the

FOP and other police organizations across

the country after Vice-President JD Vance

stated less than a week ago that wouldn’t

happen. It’s hard to say why the President

changed his mind and either pardoned or

commuted the sentences, but he told the

press that had gathered inside the Oval Office

during the signing, that liberal DA’s across the

country have failed to even prosecute suspects

that committed violet crimes including

murder. And he felt that all these individuals

had served more than enough time for their

actions and deserved to be released.

116 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Perhaps the fact that Joe Biden pardoned

all the J6 Committee Members AND

his entire family during Trump’s Inaugural

speech had something to do with it.

A tit for tat. And while journalists (if you

want to call them that) from ABC accused

Trump of not supporting the police, he

fired back that he was an adamant supporter

of all First Responders which he in

fact is.

Among the other orders Trump signed on

Monday included renaming of the Gulf of

Mexico to the Gulf of America and he also

signed an executive order to delay the ban

on TikTok for 75 days.

The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 117


On Day one of his first full day as the 47th

President, Trump and the First Family attended

a prayer service and was, for lack

of a better word, ambushed by the Right

Rev. Mariann Budde, the Episcopal bishop

of Washington, who used her sermon to

send a message to Trump, urging compassion

for LGBTQ+ people and undocumented

migrant workers.

“You have felt the providential hand of a

loving God. In the name of our God, I ask

you to have mercy on the people in our

country who are scared now,” said Budde,

who has criticized Trump before.

Asked afterward by a reporter what he

thought of the service, Trump said: “Not too

exciting was it. I didn’t think it was a good

service. They could do much better.”

(The BLUES believes the church knew full

well what this psycho was going to do and

it was totally inappropriate. In our opinion,

she should be fired )

Afterwards, President Trump met with

congressional leaders, announcing an investment

in artificial intelligence infrastructure

and demonstrating one of his

favored expressions of power: firing people.

The president posted on his Truth social

media network early Tuesday morning that

he would fire more than 1,000 presidential

appointees “who are not aligned with our

vision,” including some high-profile names.

Trump fired chef and humanitarian José

Andrés from the President’s Council on

Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, retired Gen.

Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure

Advisory Council, former State Department

official Brian Hook from the board

of the Wilson Center and former Atlanta

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s

Export Council.

118 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

118 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 119

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 119


“YOU’RE FIRED!” Trump said in his post —

his catchphrase from his reality TV show,

“The Apprentice.”

Later in the day, Trump held his first official

press conference where he announced

to the public, a new partnership to invest

in artificial intelligence. Three major

business leaders — SoftBank Group CEO

Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

and Oracle Corp. Chairman Larry Ellison

—joined Trump to announce the creation

of a new company called Stargate, which

would invest up to $500 billion over the

next four years in AI infrastructure, according

to the White House. Stargate intends

to start building the project here in Texas.

(Does anyone else get the feeling we just

witnessed the birth of Skynet? Skynet was

the AI in the Terminator movies that turned

on humans and took over Earth.)

From this writer’s perspective I would

say Trump had a kick-ass first two days in

office and accomplished damn near everything

he promised he would do on day one.

In fact, I would say he did more in one day

that Joe Biden did in all four years as president.

The good news is: The Border is Closed

and ICE has begun the process of ridding

our country of dangerous illegals; DEI and

the Woke BS agenda is dead and all Federal

Employees assigned to DEIA agendas

have been dismissed and their offices

closed; all of Biden’s Executive Orders have

been canceled and EV mandates are DOA.

(wanna bet that Dodge brings back the

HEMI?); and once again there are only TWO

genders in America – Male and Female and

only God chooses which one you are.

Trump says The Golden Age of America

has begun. I totally agree.

120 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

120 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 121

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 121


As we went to press, here are all the Executive Or

- Reinstating the name Mount McKinley

- Renaming Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America

- Designating Cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

- Ending diversity, inclusion, and equity hiring in the federal government

- Temporary withdrawal of all areas on the Outer Continental Shelf from Offshore Wind Leasing

- Revocation of any active or current security clearances held by the former intelligence officials

involved with “inappropriate political coordination with the 2020 Biden presidential campaign”

and John R. Bolton

- Granting pardons for January 6 rioters

- Reevaluating United States foreign aid

- Declaring a national energy emergency

- Restoring accountability for career senior executives

- Promoting beautiful federal civic architecture

- Restoring the death penalty in the US

- Routing more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of California

- Securing the United State’s borders

- United States citizenship does not automatically extend to those born in the United States

- Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program

- Unleashing America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources

- Clarifying the military’s role in protecting the US borders

- ‘America First’ trade policy that benefits American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers,

entrepreneurs, and businesses

- Resolving the backlog of security clearances for Executive Office of the President

- Restoring accountability to policy-influence positions within the federal workforce

- Withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization

- Delaying TikTok ban for 75 days

- Putting America First in international environmental agreements

- Deliver emergency price relief to the American people

- Hiring freeze for federal civilian employees (does not apply to military personnel of the

armed forces or to positions related to immigration enforcement, national security, or public safety)

- Regulatory freeze pending review

- Restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship

- Recisions of dozens of executive orders and actions from Biden administration

- Ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government

- Only two sexes, male and female, to be recognized by the federal government

- Department of Government Efficiency to implement the president’s DOGE Agenda

- Putting America and its interests first in foreign policy

- Protecting US citizens from terrorist attacks and threats

122 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

122 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


ders signed thus far by President Trump:

- Tapping into the vast natural resources, energy, and seafood in Alaska

- Ensuring the federal government carries out United State’s immigration laws

- Withdrawing from the US from the Paris Agreement

- Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United States

- Pulling the US out of the global corporate tax deal secured by Biden

- Organization of the National Security Council and subcommittees

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 123

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 123


FEBRUARY 2025

3-5 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training

for the Real Police

Beaumont, TX

4-6 Officer Involved Shootings - by LLRMI Pharr, TX

10-11 Lock Picking and Specialized Entry Techniques Sugar Land, TX

10-11 Managing Missing Persons Events *BY PATC Liberty , TX

10-11 Pedophiles, Child Molesters, and their Cross-

Associated Sexual Dev *BY PATC

Texas City, TX

10-12 Meeting the Leadership Challenges of Law Enforcement -

by LLRMI

New Braunfels, TX

10-14 Criminal Investigations Using Cellular Technologies

Basic Course

Plano, TX

11-13 Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction *BY PATC La Porte, TX

25-28 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing &

Advanced Interrogation

Coppell, TX

MARCH 2025

3 Advanced Search & Seizure by Blue to Gold Irving, TX

4 Advanced Traffic Stops by Blue to Gold Irving, TX

4-6 WZ Level I Non-Confrontational Investigative

Interviewing Techniques

Denton, TX

5 Advanced Criminal Investigations by Blue to Gold Irving, TX

6-7 Advanced Criminal Investigations by Blue to Gold Irving, TX

10 Constitutional Use of Force by Calibre Press Denton, TX

10-11 Cryptocurrency and the Dark Web Investigations *BY PATC Liberty , TX

10-13 Force Science Certification Course Dallas, TX

10-13 Mobile Phone Investigations & Cellular Record

Analysis *BY PATC

San Antonio, TX

11-13 Homicide Investigation: Crime Scene to Courtroom *BY PATC Texas City, TX

13-14 Community Engaged Policing *BY PATC Texas City, TX

14 Narco 101 For Patrol by Blue to Gold Pecos, TX

24-25 Social Media and OSINT Investigative Techniques *BY PATC Hondo, TX

24-28 5-Day New Detective and New Criminal Investigator - by LLRMI Pharr, TX

25-27 Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction *BY PATC Texas City, TX

25-27 Meeting the Leadership Challenges of

Law Enforcement - by LLRMI

Denton, TX

28 21st Century Narcotics Investigations by Blue to Gold Denton, TX

APRIL 2025

1-2 Killers and Their Victims *BY PATC Texas City, TX

7-8 Social Media and Community Outreach *BY PATC Texas City, TX

7-11 Field Training Officer Certification *BY PATC Pharr, TX

9-10 Leadership Strategy for the Modern Police Agency *BY PATC Texas City, TX

14-16 Pat McCarthy’s Street Crimes - Real World Training for the

Real Police

Corpus Christi

14-17 Mobile Phone Investigations & Cellular Record Analysis Liberty , TX

17 21st Century Narcotics Investigations by Blue to Gold Liberty, TX

22 Emerging Legal Trends by Blue to Gold Denton, TX

22-24 Internal Affairs Administrative Investigation - by LLRMI Pharr, TX

23 Duty to Intervene by Blue to Gold Denton, TX

23 Real World De-Escalation by Blue to Gold Denton, TX

29-2 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing &

Advanced Interrogation

Fort Worth, TX

MAY 2025

5-9 5 Day Homicide and Death Investigation - by LLRMI Pharr, TX

6-8 Reid PEACE Method of Investigative Interviewing Angleton, TX

19-22 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing Austin , TX

19-23 New Detective and Criminal Investigator (Villaverde) *BY PATC Texas City, TX

28-30 Domestic Violence and Homicide Investigations *BY PATC Texas City, TX

JUNE 2025

2-3 Cold Case: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Unsolved Cases Texas City, TX

3 Advanced Search & Seizure Law by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

4 Bulletproof Report Writing by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

5 Advanced Search Warrants by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

6 Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol by Blue to Gold Denton, TX

9-10 Advanced Internal Investigations: Legal and Practical Issues Texas City, TX

23-25 Crisis Communications: Managing a Critical Incident Texas City, TX

24-26 Criminal/Drug Interdiction Techniques and Concealment Angleton, TX

JULY 2025

7-8 Tactical Street Enforcement & Violent Force Encounters Texas City, TX

14-16 The Mind Behind Abnormal and Deviant Behaviors *BY PATC Texas City, TX

15 Advanced Search & Seizure by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

15-16 Pedophiles, Child Molesters, & Cross-Associated Sexual Dev La Porte, TX

16 Bulletproof Report Writing by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

17 Advanced Search Warrants by Blue to Gold Fort Worth, TX

29-30 Hidden Compartments and Other areas of Concealment Texas City, TX

AUGUST 2025

5-8 Investigative Interviewing & Advanced Interrogation Dallas, TX

8 Retail Recon – Mastering Retail Crime Investigations Denton, TX

11-13 Officer- Involved Shooting *BY PATC Angleton, TX

SEPTEMBER 2025

4 21st Century Narcotics Investigations by Blue to Gold Irving, TX

8-9 Cold Case: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Unsolved Cases Angleton, TX

15-18 Force Science Certification Course Kyle, TX

30-3 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing

& Advanced Interrogation

Denton, TX

OCTOBER 2025

6 Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol by Blue to Gold Texas City, TX

7-10 Reid Technique of Investigative Interviewing

& Advanced Interrogation

Fort Worth, TX

NOVEMBER 2025

3 Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol by Blue to Gold Universal City, TX

DECEMBER 2025

5 Mastering Proactive Policing for Patrol by Blue to Gold Universal City, TX

124 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Lock and Load Your Spot at

IALEFI’s 2025

Annual Training Conference

Preregister now with a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to lock in the

2024 tuition rate and give you first choice on class selections!

Offer expires January 1, 2025

Secure your place at the most anticipated firearms training event of the year before

January 1, 2025, and reap exclusive benefits!

• Early access to course selection

– choose your desired sessions 5 days before they open to the public.

We are currently accepting Requests. To share your knowledge and skills, go to IALEFI.com

and submit your course proposals. Proposals will be accepted through March 30th, 2025.

Learn. Teach. Repeat.

PHONE: 603-524-8787 • VISIT IALEFI.COM The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 125


THREE WAYS

THREE WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE OFFICER DOWN MEMORIAL PAGE THIS FALL

RUN WITH US

SHOP WITH US

PLEDGE WITH US

A brand new, fun, global event

to get ready for the National

Police Week 5K – happening

November 16th, 2024

Coming soon to the ODMP

store* – our 2024 Official

ODMP Annual Holiday

Ornament

Pledge to support ODMP

(charity # 62937) via the 2024

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

REGISTER FOR THE HALFWAY 2.5K

*JOIN OUR LIST TO GET THE ALERT

WHEN THESE ARE AVAILABLE

PLEDGE TO SUPPORT ODMP

(CHARITY # 62937) VIA THE CFC

AND REMEMBER – YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED

126 VISIT WWW.ODMP.ORG The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Don't miss out on securing your spot in high-demand courses!

2025 Annual Training Conference (ATC)

Date: September 14-19, 2025

Location: Houston, TX

Hosted By: The Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department

Get Ahead: Submit Your Course Proposals Now!

Head to www.ialefi.com to send in your ATC proposals. Share your expertise with fellow professionals!

Check the IALEFI Training Calendar for Scheduled Courses!

Join Our Leadership Team:

Nominations will open January 1, 2025, watch for the announcement,

in the meantime, check out the goals and mission statement

of IALEFI and be a part of the future.

Eligibility: Active members with a minimum of three

consecutive years in good standing.

Contribute Your Knowledge:

We're looking for insightful articles for our newsletter and blog.

Share your training experiences, ideas, or questions.

Help us enrich our community's knowledge.

Learn. Teach. Repeat.

Your expertise is invaluable – let’s shape the future of law enforcement firearms training together.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 127

PHONE: 603-524-8787 • VISIT IALEFI.COM


HONORING OUR

POLICE OFFICER II COLTON DALE PULSIPHER

LAS VEGAS METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEVADA

END OF WATCH THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2024

AGE: 29 TOUR: 7 YEARS BADGE: 16658

Police Officer Colton Pulsipher was killed in a vehicle crash on Interstate 15 while on his way home after completing

his shift at 12:25 a.m. While traveling northbound on I-15 near the Valley of Fire/Tribal Plaza Exit, Officer

Pulsipher was struck head-on by a motorist driving a truck the wrong way. Officer Pulsipher was killed instantly.

Another driver crashed into the wreck and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The wrong-way driver died in

the crash. Officer Pulsipher had served with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. He

is survived by his wife, three children, parents, brother, and sister.

128 128 128 The The The BLUES BLUES POLICE - - JANUARY MAGAZINE FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25


FALLEN HEROES

LIEUTENANT MARK MEADOWS

IRONDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALABAMA

END OF WATCH MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025

AGE: 60 TOUR: 33 YEARS BADGE: N/A

Lieutenant Mark Meadows was struck and killed by a motorist while directing traffic at Grants Mill Road and Overton

Road in Irondale. Shortly before 7:00 a.m., Lieutenant Meadows was putting out cones when he was hit. He was

transported to Grandview Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

Lieutenant Meadows was a United States Army veteran. He had served with the Irondale Police Department for 30

years and previously served with the Mountain Brook Police Department. He is survived by his wife, children, and two

grandchildren.

The BLUES - JANUARY FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 129 129


HONORING OUR

DEPUTY SHERIFF JESUS VARGAS

AGE: N/A TOUR: 17 YEARS BADGE: N/A

Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas was shot and killed while serving a warrant at Stella Link Road north of

Interstate 610 in Houston at 11:30 a.m. When Deputy Vargas and his partner approached the subject,

the suspect fired at deputies from his vehicle. Deputy Vargas was transported to the Ben Taub Hospital

where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect, who was a repeat violent offender, fled the scene.

When a U.S. Marshal K9 located the suspect hiding in a dumpster, the suspect fired multiple shots at the

K9. A responding officer returned fire, killing the suspect. The K9 suffered two bullet wounds to the neck

and nose and is in stable condition. Deputy Vargas had served with the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office

for 17 years. He also served with the United States Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

130 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE

130 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

130 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

BRAZORIA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, TEXAS

END OF WATCH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025


FALLEN HEROES

SERGEANT MARK BUTLER

NAVASOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT, TEXAS

END OF WATCH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025

AGE: N/A TOUR: 4 YEARS BADGE: N/A

Sergeant Mark Butler was killed in a head-on collision during a pursuit on Highway 6 near Farm-to-Market

3090 in Navasota. When College Station officers confronted a female suspect attempting to cash fraudulent

checks at a bank, the suspect fled southbound on Highway 6. At the FM 2154 ramp, the suspect exited

Highway 6 and reentered the highway, traveling south in the northbound lanes. At 3:30 p.m., Sergeant

Butler, who was traveling northbound, maneuvered his marked patrol vehicle and collided with the suspect,

preventing her from hitting other motorists on the highway. He was transported to CHI St. Joseph Hospital –

Grimes Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was killed at the scene. Sergeant Butler

was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Navasota Police Department for almost four

years.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 131

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 131


HONORING OUR

BORDER PATROL AGENT DAVID C. MALAND

UNITED STATES BORDER

END OF WATCH MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2025

AGE: 44 TOUR: 9 YEARS BADGE: N/A

Border Patrol Agent David Maland was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 91 in Vermont near

the Canadian Border at 3:15 p.m. One suspect was shot and killed and the second suspect was injured.

He is in federal custody.

Agent Maland had served with the United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border

Protection - United States Border Patrol for over nine years. He was assigned to the Swanton Sector. He is

survived by his wife and two children.

132 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE

132 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

132 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


FALLEN HEROES

“When a police officer is killed,

it’s not an agency that loses an

officer, it’s an entire nation.”

Chris Cosgriff, ODMP Founder

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 133

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 133


BY BRIAN MCVEY,

RETIRED CHICAGO PD

Learning Humility through Humiliation

Officers are human. Humans

make mistakes. Officers must

remember to work on themselves.

Unfortunately, sometimes

we learn the hard way through

humiliation. The good news is

through humiliation we learn

humility. Something I know very

well.

My story plays out as a Chicago

Police Officer working on a

South Side Gang Unit on Christmas

Eve 2010. Working a threeman

car, my mind-set was elsewhere.

I was relaxed, believing

the cold weather would make

for a slow Christmas Eve night.

My mind-set was not focused

on work that evening. Midnight

Mass was my focus and avoiding

overtime was my goal. We

parked our car in a high crime

area and saw a man duck inside

a restaurant, come out and

seemingly hide; strange enough

behavior to draw our attention.

He went to the alley and stood

by a dumpster. On approaching

we discovered he was relieving

himself.

We conducted a field interview,

a *pat down and a name

check that revealed he had an

outstanding warrant, and further

he was waiting for food he’d

ordered while in the restaurant.

We made the arrest on a very

cold, slow night.

In the Christmas spirit, I returned

to the restaurant to get

our arrestee his food and would

allow him to eat while we processed

his paperwork. Entering

the Police station, we notified

our supervisor of the arrest, and

we processed our arrestee.

I checked on our arrestee

because he had not yet touched

his food and felt a bit wary and

somewhat offended because I

went out of my way to get his

food. At first, I thought, maybe

he lost his appetite because we

ruined his night. Later, I looked

into the holding cell, where he

had this “look” that seasoned

officers recognize as a warning.

Sometimes you can’t explain

why someone’s behavior makes

you uncomfortable, it just does.

We showed him respect, yet

things didn’t seem right. Again, I

looked at the bag of food untouched.

I walked into the room

and decided to do a more thorough

custodial search, meticulously

parsing his three jackets

and two hooded sweatshirts.

Grabbing the numerous layers,

I surmised he had drugs in a hidden

pocket or compartment. Boy

was I wrong. I grabbed another

jacket, felt something heavy

and figured it was a glass coke

bottle that went with his meal. I

wish; it was a loaded handgun.

I thought, “OH MY GOD. I MISSED

IT.” I literally started to shake.

He could’ve murdered all of us!

An officer watching this began

telling EVERYONE in the office.

Like a fire, our incident spread

throughout the station. I felt like

a complete fool. I looked at my

two partners and wondered,

“How did we miss it?” How

could we miss a gun? Ashamed,

I avoided eye contact with anyone

the rest of the night. This

arrest for public urination and

warrant was now a FELONY Gun

arrest. Humiliation flowed over

me instantly.

134 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


Reflecting, I know I was not

mentally prepared when I arrived

at work. Complacent, I

was thinking, it was Christmas

Eve, cold and going to be a slow

night. NOT SO!!

After finding the loaded weapon

I had to make the embarrassing

call to my supervisor and

felt like crying. The shame I had

towards myself was enormous.

My only thought that night was

trying to make midnight Mass

and had “blinders” on. This

small error could’ve been fatal.

The humiliation didn’t end

that night for the three of us.

The following day we came to

work and found numerous signs

posted that read, “The Three

Blind Mice”: more humiliation.

We learned an enormous lesson

that night and because of

this incident, I became an expert

at searching arrestees. It was

a great learning experience on

complacency.

Put distractions away when

you are at work. Everyone brings

stress from home and for officers

it can be fatal. Luckily for

my partners and i we survived.

Days later a few courageous

officers heard about our Christmas

Eve “miss” and went out

of their way to inform me, “this

happened to me too!” One told

me, “Unfortunately you will have

to carry this burden for awhile,

but this will make you a better

officer!” It did. Because of this

incident I was reminded of the

proper mindset at work while

becoming an expert at patting

offenders down for hidden contra

band.

A few reminders:

• En-route to work prepare

yourself mentally for the day.

• DO NOT take phone calls or

text while transporting arrestees.

• When transporting prisoners

ALWAYS perform another pat

down of subject.

• Be cautious and slow and methodical

so as to not get poked

by needles or crack pipes.

• Be aware of the many concealed/

compartments on a

subject wearing layers.

Brian Mc Vey, MAP, Proud Dad.

Brian is a former Chicago Police

Officer injured in the line of

duty in 2012. You can reach Brian

at btmcvey77@gmail.com

The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 135


WORDS BY SGT. PETERSON

Blue City Fires its Cops in Defund Movement

Five years ago, a certain city council fired its entire police force and hired

civilians. Here’s what happened on the first day.

Five years ago, cities across

the country were in the midst of

‘defunding’ the police. Most just

suggested it. Some were stupid

enough to do it. One such unnamed

city, replaced the entire

police department with civilians.

One of the town former officers,

who chose to take early retirement,

wrote us back in 2021 describing

the towns first 12-hours

of this insane experiment. Some

five years later I’m happy to report

that said city has all new

elected officials and once again

has a fully operational police

department. But we can’t help

but rewind to 2020 and visit this

all over again.

In 2020, I wrote a story for The

BLUES about the first day our

city elected to defund our police

department and replace what

would have been two academy

classes with civilian replacements.

If you read my first story

recounting that first 12 hours,

then you already know this city

was headed for deep shit. Well,

136 The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25

it’s became one giant cesspool

for a period of time, before the

citizens realized they f-up big

time and recalled all the idiots

that were in charge. But before

that here’s what transpired.

If you’ll recall, last September

our city decided that a non-violent

social alternative to law

enforcement was the right thing

to do in 2020. So, they voted

and succeeded in defunding the

police department and replaced

officers with civilians who supposedly

were better suited to

policing than the actual police.

These replacements were known

as “Crime Prevention Specialists.”

If you call 911 and say you need

the police, a Crime Prevention

Specialists or CPS Team Member

would be dispatched. (I swear

that’s what they call each other,

Team Members) CPS reports

to the Civilian Crime Bureau or

CCB. Now I’m sure you’re asking,

“what about crimes in progress?”

Who is going to respond

to a man with a gun or a robbery

in progress? Why COP’s of

course – that’s “CIVILIANS ON

PATROL.” They are supposedly

trained to intervene in a non-violent,

non-lethal interaction

with citizens to maintain peace

within the community. I swear

that’s what they train their “Team

Members” to do. I have no damn

idea what that even means.

What I can tell you is what

happens when you try that crap

with a man robbing a convenience

store at 2am. The “COPs”

and the “CPS Team Members”

attempted to “interact” with the

suspect, excuse me the “troubled

individual” and he shot all three

of them plus the store manager

and made off with the cash

and scratch off lottery tickets.

Luckily, the “troubled individual”

was a terrible shot and all three

CCB employees lived as did the

store manager. The “troubled

individual” was arrested a short

time later by the REAL COPS one

town over and charged with four


counts of attempted murder

and aggravated robbery. A CCB

spokesman said if they would

have had more time to reason

with the “troubled individual” a

different outcome might have

been possible. I swear you cannot

make this shit up.

Another interesting side effect

of hiring civilians to do police

work, is accidents. I don’t mean

the slip and fall kind; I’m referring

to traffic accidents. I witnessed

first-hand how a minor

traffic collision turned into 10-

car pileup with multiple injuries

and a huge fire. Seems that when

the CCB was formed, the mayor

and city council just assumed

that State Troopers or the Sheriff’s

Department would work all

the accidents. Well, the troopers

did work accidents on the state

highways but stayed out of the

city. The local sheriff, who now

referred to the city as “Whoville”

declared the city off limits

and told his deputies to stay the

hell out of the town and let the

“Town Clowns” handle all traffic

accidents.

So, when the first minor accident

occurred on CCB’s first day,

a two-car minor accident on

Main Street became the talk of

the town. You see, CCBs Team

Members didn’t receive any

training in accident investigation

much less directing traffic. So,

when the CPS and COPs arrived

on the scene, they just flipped

on the ole Blues Lights on them

Prius’ and blocked all traffic.

What they didn’t count on was

the accident was just beyond a

curve in the road and oncoming

traffic couldn’t see those Prius’

until it was too late. So, within

minutes of blocking the road, an

18-wheeler rounded the bend

and slammed into two of the

Prius’, pushing those into the two

cars involved in the fender bender.

While a Prius won’t normally

catch fire, when you destroy

the car with a semi, expose

the battery pack which causes

sparks, which ignites gasoline

now leaking from one of the cars

involved in the original accident,

you have one hell of a fire. And

because this is all on a hill and

the gasoline is flowing down

hill, on fire, and ignites another

CPS Prius as well as a couple of

other cars that had been stopped

by the accident. When it was all

said and done, 10 cars plus an

18-wheeler were destroyed by

fire. All on their FIRST accident

scene. Eventually the State was

called in to work the accident

The The BLUES - FEBRUARY - ‘25 ‘25 137 137


since it involved city vehicles.

I could go on, but I think you

get the idea. Privatizing a police

force with inexperienced civilians

is a recipe for disaster. It

would be hilarious if it wasn’t so

tragic. So, we said ay goodbye to

Whoville and moved to Texas.

EDITOR: We decided to reprint

Jake’s first recollection of the

CCB’s first 12 hours back in October

of 2020. We think you’ll get a

kick out of it as much as we did.

On September 4, 2020, our

city council voted to defund the

police department I just retired

from. Effective October 1, 2020,

the start of the city’s fiscal year,

the police department and its

officers were replaced by what

the city called ‘a non-violent social

alternative to law enforcement’

What you’re about to read

is what happened in just ONE

PATROL DISTRICT in the first 12

hours without a police force.

October 1, 2020

012:01 am – Just after midnight,

I stepped outside to see if

anything was happening, and it

seemed like a quiet night. I expected

the worse but didn’t hear

any sirens. No screams for help.

So, I walked back inside and

went to sleep. All was well.

02:20 am – I woke up to the

sound of my neighbor’s car

alarm going off next to our bedroom

window. I looked outside

and saw several people standing

by his new black BMW. I grabbed

my new conceal-carry Glock and

ran outside and started yelling

at the men to get out of the car.

My neighbor was already on the

front lawn with a golf club (he

despises guns and says he is a

non-violent person) and he too

was yelling at the men to get

out of his car. One of the men,

teenagers actually, pointed a gun

out of the driver’s side and fired

a shot at my neighbor. Luckily,

he missed, but my neighbor

ran inside to get his phone. The

three boys smoked the tires and

left the cul-de-sac in a cloud of

smoke. By this time my wife was

outside with me.

“I called 911” she said.

What did they say? We don’t

have police, who are they sending?

“No one, they advised me to try

and reason with the young men.”

“Do what? Reason with them?”

My neighbor re-emerged from

his house screaming into the

phone, saying they took his car

and tried to kill him. The 911

operator said a Crime Prevention

Specialist would come out after

8am to speak with him if he

liked. He threw the phone across

the driveway.

I did my best to calm my

neighbor and went back inside

and turned on the citywide scanner.

For the next 10 hours I was

glued to the computer and could

not believe what was happening

in my city.

02:50 am – Two blocks away,

three men in a black BMW

walked into the corner convenience

store, pointed a gun at

the clerk and demanded all the

money. On the way out the door

with $45 in cash, an armful of

beer and cigarettes, they fired

two shots at the clerk. One hit

him in the upper arm. A customer

saw what happened and

called 911. 911 dispatched an

ambulance but they waited two

blocks away for the scene to be

cleared by police. There were no

local police, so they had to wait

30 minutes for a State Trooper

to arrive. The clerk lost so much

blood they didn’t know if he

would survive.

03:55am – A major accident

on the Interstate with people

trapped in a car that was on fire

was dispatched on the intercity

radio channel. That’s what the

911 operators were told to do

given the local agency was now

defunct. The trooper handling

the robbery was the closest unit

to the accident, so he left the

crime scene and headed to the

accident. Since there were no

detectives or crime scene units

to be called, he turned the scene

over to a manager the alarm

company had dispatched.

04:11am – The trooper arrived

on the scene of the accident and

immediately called for backup

for traffic control. The dispatcher

said all the units were tied up

on other city calls. No one was

coming. The trooper asked one

of the witnesses what happened,

and she said the white car that

was on fire was run off the road

by a black car that looked like a

BMW (wait is that my neighbor’s

car?) The white car struck the

bridge support and burst into

flames, while the black car with

the 3 males inside took off at a

high rate of speed.

04:20am – Two more cars

slammed into the burning vehicle

on the Freeway. The trooper

was lucky to be alive. He jumped

over the guardrail, just before

the first car slammed into the

burning hulk of a car. When the

accident was all said and done.

One person was dead, and three

more went to the hospital.

05:01am - According to 911

138 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


call records, sixty-five calls for

police service were now holding.

Twenty-five were in progress

calls.

05:16am – A citizen called 911

to say that he saw a wrecker

driving at a high rate of speed

down Main Street. And he was

dragging what appeared to be

an ATM machine with sparks

flying everywhere. Make that 26

in-progress calls.

05:25am – A report of a minor

accident, Main and 33rd Avenue.

A UPS truck reports his van was

struck by an object being towed

behind a wrecker - an ATM I

assume.

05:26am – A man walking his

dog in the 2500 block of 33rd,

reports a wrecker has struck a

fire hydrant and water is flooding

the street. While 911 is talking

to the gentlemen, the operator

hears tires squealing and

the man says a car spun out of

control on the flooded street

and has struck his dog. Please,

please send help. The 911 operator

calls animal control and the

wastewater department. Both

departments are closed and

don’t open until 8am.

05:55am Reports come into

911 that a man is sitting on the

overpass on the Interstate threatening

to jump. Troopers are still

tied up and the 911 operator calls

the emergency number for the

county health dept for a social

worker. Sorry they don’t get in

until 8am. The Health Dept transfers

the call to a Suicide Help

Line. “Can you pass the phone

to the gentlemen in distress

please.” What?

06:10am - Another major accident

was reported on the feeder

of the Interstate and Barker Rd.

The reportee says a black BMW

ran the red light and slammed

into a green Honda Civic. Two,

possible three men crawled out

of the BMW and car jacked a

red Toyota that was stopped at

the light. The lady of the Toyota

needs an ambulance, she is

bleeding from the head. The Toyota

was last seen southbound

on Barker from the freeway. (I

called my neighbor. “Hey Fred,

I think your car is at Barker Rd.

and the Interstate. It’s been in an

accident.”)

06:17am – Reports of shots

fired at a 24-hr check cashing

store at the 24000 Block of

Interstate 55. Subjects left West

bound on the feeder headed

towards Barker driving a black

4-door car.

06:35am – A silent alarm at the

North Side Bank & Trust on 45th

Avenue.

06:45am – Citizen reports

hearing glass breaking in the

2600 Block of 45th Avenue.

06:50am – Reports of a wrecker

driving at a high rate of speed

on 45th pulling a square piece of

metal making lots of sparks. And

The The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 139


same reportee says there is glass

all over the road and someone

should get it cleaned up before

cars get flats.

07:01am – Alarm company

calls back says there is glass

breakage and movement inside

the bank. A bank representative

has been notified.

07:10am – Several motorists

have called 911 to report flat tires

caused by what appears to be

broken glass and metal on 45th

Street.

07:35am – 911 receives a call

from the manager of the North

Side Bank & Trust asking for a

police unit. The front of the bank

has been smashed in and the

front door is missing. 911 advised

that a Crime Prevention Specialist

will be dispatched to his

location, but they don’t come in

until 8:00am. The bank manager

wasn’t happy.

07:44am – The manager of

the Corner Convenience Store

called 911 to ask when a police

unit was coming to his store to

take a report. Yes sir, we have

dispatched a Crime Prevention

Specialist to your location, they

should arrive sometime after

8am. “But I don’t need a Crime

PREVENTION specialist, the

crime has already been committed.

We know sir, but all crime

reports are now handled by

the Civilian Crime Bureau.” The

manager, now beside himself

says, “what the hell is the Civilian

Crime Bureau?” They are the

ones dispatched to your location

sir.

8:01am – County Health Dept.,

Mental Health Division & Suicide

Help Line, opens for business.

“You have 33 new calls for

service – Press 1 to hear the first

call.”

08:05am - Civilian Crime

Bureau is now open for business.

“You have 115 new calls for

service – Press 1 to hear the first

call.”

08:35am – MHD-SU is dispatched

to a call of a man on a

bridge threatening suicide. When

MHD-SU arrives, they advise

there is no one on the bridge.

They do report a large backup

on the Interstate just north of

the bridge where the jumper

was supposed to be. They hear

reports of debris on the roadway

below. (By the way, MHD-SU

stands for Mental Health Department

– Suicide Unit.)

09:00am – CPS (Crime Prevention

Specialist) Unit 33 is

dispatched to a report of a car

burglary in progress at 2409

Walker Street. The vehicle is a

2019 Black BMW. The reportee

will meet you in the driveway.

Hey that’s next door. Fred CPS are

on the way...LOL)

09:05am – CPS Unit 143 can

you check for a man reported to

be bleeding from an unknown

type of injury at the Corner Con-

140 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


venience store at Walker and

Elm.

09:15am – Any CPS unit clear

to take a call. We have 85 calls

holding.

09:35am – CPS Unit 143 arrives

at the Corner Convenience and

is met by the manger. “Yes sir,

we received a report about a

man bleeding from an unknown

injury.”

“My employee was shot by a

robber. Are you here to investigate?”

“Aw no sir, that’s handled by a

CPSS unit.”

“What the hell is that?” asks

the manager.

“That a Crime Prevention Specialist

Supervisory unit sir.”

09:44am – 911 Dispatch to CPS

Unit 143. Can you check by with

CPS33 about two blocks from

you? He’s requesting backup on

a reported car break-in and an

angry man threatening him with

a golf club.

09:46am – CPS Unit 143 advises

the store manager a CPSS unit

will be dispatched to his location

within the next 24-48 hours.

Please don’t touch anything sir

until they arrive. I must leave sir,

there is a situation a couple of

blocks from here.

09:50am – CPS Unit 143 to

dispatch. I’ve arrived with CPS

Unit 33 and ma’am there’s a man

beating CPS Unit 33’s Prius with

a golf club. Is there a CPSS unit

in the area? Or can you dispatch

a POLICE unit from a neighboring

city to assist us?

09:55am – Dispatch to CPS Unit

143, CPSS Unit 02 advises that he

is unavailable to assist but has

requested a Mental Health Advisory

Unit to head your way, ETA

is 45 minutes.

10:44am – MHA Unit 22 show

me arrived with CPS Unit 143 and

CPS Unit 33. Can you dispatch a

wrecker to our scene for a disabled

CPS Prius Unit please?

11:05am – MHA Unit 22 to dispatch,

we have a CODE 12 at our

location, can you please dispatch

an MHA Supervisor to my location?

11:08am - MHA Unit 22, be

advised MHA Supervisor Unit 11 is

in enroute to your location with

an ETA of 55 minutes. Also, can

you advise CPS Units 143 and 33

I need them back in service? We

are now holding over 200 calls

for service in the district.

12:01pm – MHA Unit 11 is on the

scene with MHA Unit 22, CPS 143,

and CPS 33. Dispatch, it would

appear that there has been some

type of accident at this location.

I have two damaged CPS Prius

units and one damaged MHA

minivan. Can you please dispatch

a city wrecker and a Municipal

Damage Assessment Supervisor

to this location.

12:30pm. – Well, I’ve heard

enough, and I need a nap. This

night shift is kicking my butt.

I’d better get some rest before

tonight’s shift starts. I don’t want

to miss anything. And they said

retirement was going to be boring.

* * *

If you don’t think stupidity can’t

happen in your city, just defund

your PD and sit back and watch.

By the way, MHA, CPS, MDAA and

MHD are all hiring in our city.

The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 141


A BADGE OF HONOR

healing our heroes

First Responder Health Knowledge

There are many factors which

determine and play a vital role in

Post Traumatic Stress. The way

we handle stress is individualized.

Everyone reacts to and responds

different to each situation. We have

all been through some kind of PT

stress management class, we have

chatted with our Peer support and

can recognize the trigger points as

we learn to work through them.

The hidden aspect of PTS is

where are we medically? When we

truly look at the chemical makeup

of our bodies and what is going

on inside, are we really in balance?

When we go to the doctor for a

checkup, they may run the typical

blood panel, which may not include

vital information regarding what is

happening inside us.

We just assume all is ok when

the levels come back within the

normal ranges. Our bodies go

through many different chemical

releases through-out the day, continually

changing our chemistry.

Chemical dumps as we call them

happen to everyone. It is what protects

us in Fight, Flight and Flee situations.

First responders experience

these dumps more frequently than

most, sometimes back- to-back.

These sudden bursts of Adrenalin,

Cortisol, and Norepinephrine can

have long and lasting effects on the

body.

Understanding these chemicals

can help you reduce your stress

levels and get your body healthy

again. Cortisol is the primary stress

hormone which when released,

will increase sugar into the blood

stream. In normal dosages its safe,

but when levels are increased it

can cause weight gain, high blood

pressure, mood swings, weakness,

impaired cognitive functions, and

more. And that’s just one chemical.

High levels of Norepinephrine over

time can cause damage to your

heart, blood vessels as well as kidney

damage.

Adrenaline at continued high

levels can also cause high blood

pressure, increased chances of a

stroke, headaches, restlessness and

sleep interruptions.

Dopamine, also known as the

feel-good drug, at increased levels

over time can cause impulse control

issues, aggression, sleep issues and

anxiety.

These 4-chemicals are released

daily, sometimes multiple times a

day, in a first responders career.

When we really dive deep into the

impact of these dumps and the

effects they have on our health

over time, we must ask the proper

questions when we visit our health

adviser.

This is one of the reasons the life

expectancy of a first responder is

shorter and heart attacks and vascular

issues are more prevalent.

When we look at the chemicals

which are released into our body

every day and the long-term issues

they cause, it’s no different than

working at a toxic waste dump.

First responders have no OSHA

representative looking out for their

health effects. There is no (TWA)

Time weighted average of (PEL)

Permissible exposure limit set by

OSHA protecting us from the harm

of these chemical dumps. It’s up to

us to protect ourselves. Without the

proper knowledge of what is going

on in our bodies or why we are

feeling or reacting to situations in a

SAMANTHA HORWITZ &

JOHN SALERNO

manner that may not be normal for

us, is like running into a fire without

gear or going into a gunfight

without a gun. Would you walk into

a chemical enhanced atmosphere

without a mask or proper respiratory

protection? Of course not. During

the Covid crisis, we were told to

wear masks and gloves to protect

ourselves. Blah blah blah. A smoke

and mirrors show by the politicians

so we can’t come back and sue

them for over exposure.

Let’s look at September 11th and

the First Responders who suffered

and continue to suffer major health

effects and early deaths caused by

the lack of information and knowledge

of the chemicals they were

breathing from the toxic dust.

There is a upside to this. As First

Responders we can mitigate the

impact by taking proper care of our

bodies through-out our carer. Some

basic changes in our daily routine

can help us live a longer and more

fulfilling life, which we all deserve.

A proper diet, exercise regiment,

decompressing techniques, regular

doctor visits with proper testing,

and most important, knowledge.

What we don’t know can end up

killing us early. Get educated on

how the job impacts you.

142 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 143


DARYL LOTT

daryl’s deliberations

Centennial Survivor & the Sanctity of Life

Today (Jan 19) is the “Sanctity

of Life” lesson at my church.

I taught the lesson to our Bible

study class. Of course, the object

of the lesson is to value human

life, but God also values the lives

of his nonhuman creatures. He

saw that man was lonely as a

species and created other life

forms to give us companionship.

We could list all the times animals

provide valuable assistance

and fellowship to us, but the list

would be endless. I want to bring

the life of one animal to

the readers’ attention. His

name was Comanche.

On our country’s Centennial

Celebration of 1876,

bad news came from the

west. The Battle of Little

Big Horn marked the defeat

of General Custer and

the Seventh Cavalry. The

U.S. Army lost every man.

Any living cavalry horse

was taken by the Sioux.

Except one. Of all the men

and horses, one survivor

was left when General

Alfred Terry arrived to

relieve the Seventh. The

Sioux and Cheyenne presumably

left Comanche

because the gelding was

in too bad of shape to take

away.

Comanche stood among the

ruins of the battlefield with

numerous bullet and arrow

wounds. It was, of course, a grim

scene. The ferocity of the battle

was evident to anyone looking

upon the bodies of the combatants.

Comanche was the only

living being on the field. He was

the personal mount of Captain

Myles Keogh, who purchased the

horse from the army. This was

not Comanche’s first battle. He

was wounded in previous action,

and he emitted a sound like

a Comanche war cry. Captain

Keogh re-named his horse to fit

the sound.

General Terry’s men wanted

to take the horse back to Fort

Abraham Lincoln, North Dakota

despite the animal’s wounds. The

DARYL LOTT

general approved it and

telegraphed the sad news

to President Grant. As one

can imagine, the loss of the

Seventh put a damper on

the centennial festivities in

Washington.

The U.S. Army declared

Comanche to be a “protected

horse” in 1879. He

would never carry a human

being again. He is

the only horse to receive

such an honor. He became

the symbol of hope and

endurance, and the Army

recruited new soldiers to

fill their ranks. Comanche’s

loyalty appealed to

the southern soldiers who

desired reconciliation.

Comanche lived to 1891 –

another fifteen years after

the battle. The University of Kansas

offered to preserve Comanche

through taxidermy and honor

the gallant soldier as an exhibit

144 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


in its Natural History Museum.

The Army accepted the offer and

visitors to KU can visit the “Sole

U.S. Army Survivor of the Little

Big Horn” at the museum today.

If you visit there, say a prayer of

thanksgiving to God for giving us

loyal and brave companions like

Comanche.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 145


DR. TINA JAECKLE

blue mental health

Tragedy in the Sky:

Supporting Our First Responders

The nation is shocked and

deeply saddened at the deadly

American Airlines jet and

military helicopter crash that

occurred at Reagan National

Airport in Washington DC on

January 29, 2025. As the sun

rose this morning the images

on the news confirmed what

many feared. There are no expected

survivors. Sixty-seven

souls lost. Between the in-air

collision and the frigid waters

of the Potomac River, I could

only imagine that this came as

no surprise to the law enforcement

officers and first responders

initially tasked with rescue,

then, recovery. It can serve as a

crushing psychological blow to

this group who clearly possess

the strong mission-oriented

goal to save lives.

I remember watching in

horror as Air Florida Flight 90

crashed into the frozen Potomac

River, just miles from the

White House. This accident,

which occurred on January 13,

1982, resulted in the deaths of

seventy-eight people, including

passengers, crew, and motorists

on the 14th Street Bridge.

The Boeing 737 was en route

from Washington National

Airport (now Reagan National)

to Florida when it failed to gain

altitude after takeoff, striking

the heavily trafficked bridge before

plunging into the icy river.

The crash occurred during a

severe winter storm that had

blanketed Washington in snow,

creating treacherous conditions

for travelers. Survivors clung

to pieces of the wreckage as

a U.S. Park Police helicopter

hovered overhead, dropping

lifelines into the freezing water.

Among those fighting for

their lives was Priscilla Tirado,

whose husband and 2-monthold

child perished in the crash.

Cold, disoriented, and covered

in jet fuel, she struggled to

hold onto a dangling life preserver

before slipping beneath

the surface. That is when government

worker Lenny Skutnik,

witnessing the scene from the

shore, dove into the water and

pulled her to safety. Skutnik

was hailed as a national hero.

As I author this article, it is

estimated that over 300 first

responders are currently working

in and around the Potomac

River to recover victims. While

my thoughts and prayers are

first with the families of loved

DR. TINA JAECKLE

ones lost, I am also concerned

about the provision of support

services for law enforcement

and first responders on scene.

Plane crashes are unique in the

type(s) of trauma they produce.

However, I do have some

comfort in knowing how far

we have advanced in the recognition

of the impact for first

responders. In 1982, there were

little to no services or support

available. Peer support teams

were a rarity. Responders were

simply expected to move forward

as part of the job and the

humanistic side ignored. I have

no doubt they carried this experience

and horror with them

for life.

Even during this tragedy,

there is hope for the mental

health of our first responders.

In a news conference held at

Reagan National this morning,

Chief John Donnelly of the

146 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Washington Fire and Emergency

Medical Services Department

was asked by a journalist

what support is provided to

the responders. He confirmed

that the peer support team has

been activated and recognizes

the need. I also have no question

that several trauma trained

mental health professionals are

available. From my perspective

and experience, this is a great

sign of how far we have come

in this field.

There are various strategies

and treatments available to

help first responders cope with

post-traumatic stress disorder

(PTSD) and the psychological

aftermath of traumatic experiences

such as major plane

crashes. Here are some of the

most common ones:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

(CBT): CBT is a widely

used therapeutic approach

that focuses on identifying and

changing negative thought patterns

and behaviors. It can help

first responders reframe their

thoughts about the traumatic

event and develop healthier

coping mechanisms.

2. CBT as Exposure Therapy:

Exposure therapy is a form of

CBT often used to treat PTSD. It

involves gradually and repeatedly

exposing the individual to

the traumatic memory, helping

to reduce the emotional impact

over time.

3. Prolonged Exposure Therapy

(PE): PE is another CBTbased

approach that helps first

responders confront and process

traumatic memories. This

therapy can include recounting

the traumatic event and discussing

it in detail with a therapist.

4. Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy

(BEP): BEP combines different

therapeutic techniques to

address trauma effectively. It is

a flexible approach tailored to

an individual's specific needs

and experiences.

5. Eye Movement Desensitization

and Reprocessing (EMDR):

EMDR is a unique therapy that

involves bilateral stimulation,

such as eye movements or

tapping. This helps individuals

process traumatic memories

and reduce their emotional

impact.

6. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

(CISD): CISD is a structured

group discussion aimed

at helping first responders

process traumatic events shortly

after they occur. It provides

a safe space for individuals to

share their experiences and

emotions.

Our staff at the BLUES Police

Magazine are keeping all

involved in our thoughts and

prayers.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 147


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD

Light Bulb Award

WORST of the WORST

No words are needed for this collection of the nation’s worst

politicians and so called leaders!!

WORST PRESIDENT EVER - AT LEAST SINCE NIXON

That’s Joe signing the Pardon of his son Hunter...which he said over a

hundred times he wouldn’t do. Not to mention the thousands of other

pardons he granted to some of the worst convicts ever tried and convicted

in the US.

148 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


WORST VICE PRESIDENT

& PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

WORST HOMELAND

SECRETARY

I give up..I’m so unburdened by what could have been.

I swear I just what the President handlers told me to do.

WORST PRESS

SECRETARY

WORST ASST. SECRETARY

FOR HEALTH & HUMANS

I just repeat the lies I’m given by the President’s handlers.

My pronouns are “was a guy, now I’m a she/her/them”

WORST EX-SPEAKER

OF THE HOUSE

WORST EX-ASSISTANT

LUGGAGE THIEF

My eyebrows? I paid a lot of money for them.

Rachel with no hair and wearing stolen dress!

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 149


WORST SENATE

MINORITY LEADER

WORST HOUSE

MINORITY LEADER

Dude, take the glasses off. You look ridiculous.

Look up. I’m still the leader of something.

WORST SENATOR

WORST DRESSED

CONGRESS “PERSON”

I'm the only Native American to serve in Congress. Wait I'm not?

‘Cause we can’t say “woman” anymore

WORST BUT ‘HOT’

CONGRESSWOMAN

WORST ANTI-AMERICAN

REPRESENTATIVE

Horrible in Congress...but damn she’s HOT!

Who in the hell voted for this woman?

150 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


WORST MAYOR

EVER IN LA

WORST MAYOR

EVER IN ILLINOIS

“Let me just get my dam bag and get the F*ck out of here”

Least I won something. Do I get an award to frame?

WORST POLICE

CHIEF IN NOLA

WORST FIRE

CHIEF IN LA

I’ve just been told we “do have barriers.” WTF

More worried about DEI than fighting fires.

WORST DEI

HIRE AT LA FIRE DEPT.

WORST PAID LA EXEC

$750,000 TO OVERSEE WATER

“Well your husband shouldn’t be in a fire in the first place”

“There’s no damn water in the hydrants” WTF.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 151


ADS BACK IN THE DAY

152 The Blues BLUES - January -- FEBRUARY ‘24 ‘25


The BLUES Blues -- January - FEBRUARY ‘24‘25 ‘25 153


ADS BACK IN THE DAY

154 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 155


THERE ARE

parting shots...

156 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NO WORDS

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 157


THERE ARE

parting shots...

158 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NO WORDS

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 159


PRIORITY BOLO

NOW HIRING

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS

IS YOUR ISD PD

HIRING?

YOUR DEPARTMENT’S RECRUITING AD

CAN BE LISTED HERE FOR ONLY $250

bluespdmag@gmail.com

160 The BLUES - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25


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

Want to make a difference?

225 work days

$28 -$37.02 Hourly

(Commensurate with experience)

5 years experience preferred

Benefits including:

Family Time/Leave

Most weekends off

Thanksgiving break

Christmas break

Spring and Summer breaks

Teacher Retirement System

Apply at

www.alvinisd.net/careers

Certification Pay:

Master $4,000 annually

Advanced $3,000 annually

Intermediate $2,000 annually

Insurance & Benefits

Many Overtime Opportunities

Generous Training Opportunities

Take home vehicle program

The The BLUES - FEBRUARY - ‘25 ‘25 161 161


PRIORITY BOLO

NOW HIRING

ISD PD JOB LISTINGS

FIND YOUR ISD

POSITION HERE

162 The BLUES -- FEBRUARY ‘25


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 - - FEBRUARY ‘25 ‘25 163 163


NOW HIRING

LE job positions

Katy ISD Police Department Get Info Police Chief 02/10/2025

Whitney Police Department Get Info Police Officers - Multiple Positions 02/10/2025

Austin Police Department Get Info Police Cadets 02/01/2025

Saginaw Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/15/2025

El Paso Police Department Get Info Police Trainee 02/28/2025

Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 02/15/2025

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Law Enforcement Deputy 03/01/2025

San Saba County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy 02/28/2025

Abilene Police Department Get Info Entry Level Police Cadets 02/01/2025

Manvel Police Department Get Info Patrol Officers (Multiple Positions) 02/02/2025

Pleasanton Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer (Multiple Positions) 02/03/2025

Hutto Police Department Get Info Lateral Police Officer - Multiple Positions 02/01/2025

Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy Sheriff 02/03/2025

Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Detention Officer 02/03/2025

Bandera County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 02/03/2025

St. Edwards University Police Department Police Officer 02/03/2025

Lakeway Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/07/2025

Anderson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Police Deputy 02/08/2025

Katy ISD Police Department Get Info Police Chief 02/10/2025

Whitney Police Department Get Info Police Officers - Multiple Positions 02/10/2025

Austin Police Department Get Info Police Cadets 02/01/2025

Saginaw Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/15/2025

El Paso Police Department Get Info Police Trainee 02/28/2025

Giddings Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 03/06/2025

Dallas Police Department Get Info Police Officer Trainee 03/06/2025

Texas State Technical College Get Info Police Officer 03/11/2025

Santa Fe ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/11/2025

Hemphill Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/08/2025

South San Antonio ISD Get Info Peace Officer 03/07/2025

Kingsville Police Department Get Info Entry Level Police Officer 03/13/2025

Beaumont Police Department Get Info Peace Officer (Certified) 03/14/2025

Beaumont Police Department Get Info Police Cadet 03/14/2025

Euless Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/14/2025

Euless Police Department Get Info Police Officer (Lateral) 03/14/2025

Euless Police Department Get Info Elementary School Resource Officer 03/14/2025

Belton Police Department Get Info Police Department 02/06/2025

Lewisville PD Get Info Police Officer 03/14/2025

Harker Heights PD Get Info Police Officer Trainee 02/10/2025

Waxahachie Police Department Get Info Police Patrol Officer 02/03/2025

Colleyville Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/13/2025

Beverly Hills Police Department Get Info Patrol Sergeant 03/07/2025

Oak Ridge North Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/13/2025

Aransas County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 03/14/2025

Burleson County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Patrol Deputy 03/10/2025

Bruceville-Eddy Police Department Get Info School Resource Officer 03/14/2025

Burleson Police Department Get Info Police Officers 03/15/2025

Crowley ISD Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/02/2025

San Saba County Sheriff’s Office Get Info Deputy 02/28/2025

Stanton Police Department Get Info Patrol Officer 02/26/2025

Floydada Police Department Get Info Police Officer 02/28/2025

Everman Police Department Get Info Police Officer 03/07/2025

Crosbyton Police Department Get Info Chief of Police 03/02/2025

Westover Hills Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 03/08/2025

Giddings Police Department Get Info Peace Officer 03/03/2025

Bexar County Constable’s Precinct 3 Get Info Deputy Constable 03/06/2025

164 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NOW HIRING

WELCOME OUR NEWEST DEPARTMENT

LE job positions

WELCOME ABOARD PASADENA PD

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 165


JOIN MPD

TEXT "JOINMPD" TO

TO APPLY OR SPEAK

WITH A RECRUITER

SALARY

Up to $20,000 lateral officer signing bonus

Police officer entry-level: $6,883 monthly

Custody officer salary range: $5,970–$7,132 monthly

EDUCATION INCENTIVE

90 quarter credits/ 60 semester credits/ AA: 6%

BA/ BS: 8%

RETIREMENT PENSION

Police officers: LEOFF 2

Custody officers: PERS 2

VACATION

Police officer range: 200 hours annually, up to 320

hours annually depending on years of service

Custody officer range: 192 hours annually, up to 312

hours annually depending on years of service

SPECIALIZED UNITS

Police officer: Investigations, Traffic, Pro-Act

(N.I.T.E.) and K9

Custody Officer: Court Security Unit

166 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

HEALTH COVERAGE

Medical, Dental and Vision covered 100% for

employees and 90% for dependents


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 167


Ready for a career change?

Join our team at

Spring Creek Correctional Center

in Seward today!

Located in the stunning city of Seward,

surrounded by glaciers and forests in

southern Alaska, Spring Creek

Correctional Center spans 328 acres.

This facility houses up to 535 sentenced

male inmates and serves communities

across Alaska. Join us in making a

difference!

168 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

WE ARE

Hiring!

Scan the QR code

to join the DOC

team today!


ADCRR is Hiring

Correctional Officers

1-888-545-RUSH

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 169


170 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 171


Want to make a difference?

225 work days

$28 -$37.02 Hourly

(Commensurate with experience)

5 years experience preferred

Certification Pay:

Master $4,000 annually

Advanced $3,000 annually

Intermediate $2,000 annually

Benefits including:

Family Time/Leave

Most weekends off

Thanksgiving break

Christmas break

Spring and Summer breaks

Teacher Retirement System

Insurance & Benefits

Many Overtime Opportunities

Generous Training Opportunities

Take home vehicle program

Apply at

www.alvinisd.net/careers

172 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


ALDINE ISD

POLICE DEPARTMENT

JOIN OUR TEAMAPPLY AT

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

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

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 173


174 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 175


176 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


BUDA POLICE DEPARTMENT

NOW HIRING - POLICE OFFICER

Starting Salary

$64.5K to $74.8K

*TCOLE Licensed Only

We are proud to be one of the safest cities in the State of Texas

and have tremendous support from our community.

Benefits

Retirement

2-1 City Match with TMRS

Medical/Dental/Vision

100% Medical Coverage

Offsetting Copays

Educational Pay

$50- $150 Per Month

Incentive Pay

$75-$150(max) per Month for

assignments such as:

FTO, Bike Patrol, SWAT

Annual Leave Accruals

15 Paid Holidays

80 Hours Vacation

120 Hours Sick Leave

Bilingual Pay

Shift Differential Pay

Lateral Entry Program

On-site Gym

Officer Wellness Program

www.budatx.gov/92/Employment

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 177


178 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 179


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

180 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

• 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


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 181


182 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


Hiring

Police Officers

Annual Salary $57,592 - $62,899 range + Benefits | Certification Pay | Longevity Pay | Bilingual

Certification by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)

Pay 12 Hour Shift Schedule - Alternating weekends off and good life/work balance

All equipment/uniform provided | Take home patrol car program | Visible tattoo & beard policy

Benefits at NO COST TO EMPLOYEE:

• Education Reimbursement Program

• 80 hours of Vacation (accrued annually)

• 96 hours of sick leave annually (accrued annually)

• 14 Paid Holidays

• Life Insurance 2x annual base salary

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Training Opportunities

Additional Benefits

• TMRS retirement system - 5% employee

contribution - City matches 2:1 at retirement

• Medical Insurance: - United Health Care

† Ask about our Lateral Transfer Program

requirements

Questions? Contact Lt. Kelvin Raven at kraven@cityofbrenham.org | 979-337-7363

jobs.cityofbrenham.org

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 183


184 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NOW HIRING

WELCOME OUR NEWEST DEPARTMENT

job positions

WELCOME ABOARD PASADENA PD

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 185


186 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NOW HIRING

WELCOME OUR NEWEST DEPARTMENT

job positions

WELCOME ABOARD PASADENA PD

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 187


$

U

T

S

v

e

b

o

w

FRIENDSWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

PRIDE DEDICATION PROFESSIONALISM

UP

TO

$ 15,000

* FOR QUALIFIED TCOLE-CERTIFIED OFFICERS

HIRING

INCENTIVE

C

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

• Special Weapons & Tactics Team

• Crisis Negotiation Team

• K-9 Program

• Drone Pilot Program

• D.O.T. & Traffic Safety Unit

• School Resource Officers

• Bicycle Patrol

• Marine Patrol

• Honor Guard

188 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


AMENITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

• State Of The Art Training Rooms

• Extensive In House Training

• Progressive Technology

• 24/7 Gym Access

• Updated Equipment And Fleet Vehicles

OMPENSATION

67,370 to $87,320 (Police Officer)

p to $15,000 Hiring Incentive for Qualified

COLE Certified Officers

tarting salary for an entry-level Police Officer will

ary within the range given. Depending upon prior law

nforcement experience, the starting salary will or can

e above the minimum. Friendswood patrol operates

n 12 hour shifts, Panama schedule with every other

eekend off.

• Intermediate Peace Officer Certification $2,100/Year

• Advanced Peace Officer Certification $2,700/Year

• Masters Peace Officer Certification $3,300/Year

• Associates Degree $1,200/Year

• Bachelors Degree $1,800/Year

• Masters Degree $3,300/Year

• Merit increase Each Year Until Retirement

• Lateral officers receive 1 to 1 for experience

• 6 Weeks Paid Paternity/Maternity Leave

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Longevity Pay

• Shift Differential

• 15 Paid Holidays/Year

• 96 Hours of Sick Time

• 24 Hours of Personal Time Plus Vacation

• Wellness Incentive Offering up to 36 Hours

of Vacation Per Year

• TMRS Retirement 2:1 Match @ 7%

SCAN TO APPLY

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 189


GARDEN RIDGE

POLICE DEPARTMENT

NOW HIRING!

Garden Ridge Police Department

9400 Municipal Parkway · Garden Ridge · Texas · 78266

Office: 210-651-6441· Fax: 210-651-1639

190 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


NOW HIRING

Lateral Police Officers

QUALIFICATIONS

• MUST BE A CERTIFIED TEXAS PEACE

OFFICER

• MUST PASS DRUG SCREEN AND PHYSICAL

• MUST POSSESS A VALID TEXAS DRIVER

LICENSE WITH A GOOD DRIVING RECORD

• MUST PASS ALL INTERVIEWS

• MUST PASS CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

CHECK

SALARY AND BENEFITS

• PATROL OFFICER ANNUAL SALARY

5,000

HIRING PROCESS

• PHYSICAL FITNESS TESTING

• SCENARIO TESTING

• CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION

• FORMAL ORAL BOARD

• CHIEF’S INTERVIEW

$67,045

• STEP/LATERAL PAY

• HIRING INCENTIVE LUMP SUM PAY $________________

• INSURANCE: COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL, DENTAL, VISION PAID BY CITY

• SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE PAID BY CITY

• OVERTIME & COMPTIME OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

• RETIREMENT: TMRS 2:1 CONTRIBUTIONS, WITH 20-YEAR RETIREMENT

• LONGEVITY: $120 ANNUALLY FOR EACH FULL YEAR OF SERVICE

• PAID TIME OFF (PTO) ACCRUAL BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AT 4.50 HRS. PER PAY PERIOD

• 15 CITY HOLDAYS PER YEAR

• LICENSE PAY (MONTHLY): INTERMEDIATE - $25, ADVANCED - $50, MASTER - $100

• WEAPONS: DEPARTMENT FURNISHES ALL OFFICERS WITH A GLOCK HANDGUN & AR-15

RIFLE W/SUPPRESSOR, WEAPON LIGHTS, TASER AND LESS-LETHAL IMPACT WEAPON

• UNIFORMS: DEPARTMENT FURNISHES ALL OFFICERS WITH CLASS B, CLASS A AND

TRAINING UNIFORMS, RAIN GEAR, BOOTS AND WINTER APPAREL

• EQUIPMENT: DEPARTMENT FURNISHES ALL OFFICERS WITH BALLISTIC HELMET & SHIELD,

SOFT ARMOR, RIFLE PLATE ARMOR, DUTY BELTS, AND BODY CAMERAS

• PATROL VEHICLES: THE DEPARTMENT SUPPLIES OFFICERS WITH SUV PATROL UNITS

EQUIPPED WITH LAPTOP, IN-CAR VIDEO, AND RADARS

• SHIFT SCHEDULE: PATROL OFFICERS WORK A PANAMA STYLE 12-HOUR SHIFT

• EXTENSIVE ANNUAL TRAINING BUDGET ALLOWS THE DEPARTMENT TO SUPPLY ADVANCED

TRAINING CLASSES TO OFFICERS INCLUDING A POLICEONE ONLINE TRAINING ACCOUNT

• BEARD AND VISIBLE TATTOOS ARE ALLOWED

• ENVIRONMENT WITH STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL, GROWTH-

MINDED COMMAND STAFF

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 191


Seeking Individuals Who are interested in a Rewarding Career in Law Enforcement

Begin Your Career Today!

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

POSITION: Telecommunicator/Entry Level Deputy - Communications

Bureau/Division: Support Svc/Communications

Title/Rank: Telecommunicator/Entry Level Deputy

Reports to: Sergeant - Communications

Starting Salary: $52,788.00

Top out Salary: $69,799.00

JOB SUMMARY

• This position receives emergency calls from the public and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel.

• Receives, evaluates, prioritizes and initiates responses to requests for information and services, including emergency

services.

• Accesses, retrieves, disseminate, and protect confidential law enforcement related data from a variety of protected

local, state and federal databases.

• Enters critical and confidential law enforcement data into TCIC and NCIC databases as well as perform related duties.

• Assists in the maintenance of the communications center and report regularly for work and be on time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to work under adverse conditions and during unusual hours including nights, weekends, holidays and

scheduled/unscheduled overtime.

Possession of or ability to readily obtain TCOLE Basic Telecommunicator License, TCIC and NCIC certifications.

Speak, read, and write the English language in a clear and understandable fashion

Possess a valid Texas driver’s license

Knowledge of computers and job related software programs and minimum intermediate data entry typing skills

Pass a background review and interviews

Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work.

Minimum high school graduate or equivalent.

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!

192 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

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

CONTACT US

409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV

409.766.2331


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 193


Seeking Individuals Who are interested in a Rewarding Career in Law Enforcement

Begin Your Career Today!

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

POSITION: Patrol Deputy

Bureau/Division: Criminal Law Enforcement/Patrol Division

Title/Rank: Patrol Deputy

Reports to: Sergeant - Patrol

Starting Salary: $58,195.00

Top out Salary: $73,645.00

JOB SUMMARY

• This position receives emergency calls from the public and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel.

• Receives, evaluates, prioritizes and initiates responses to requests for information and services, including emergency

services.

• Accesses, retrieves, disseminate, and protect confidential law enforcement related data from a variety of protected

local, state and federal databases.

• Enters critical and confidential law enforcement data into TCIC and NCIC databases as well as perform related duties.

• Assists in the maintenance of the communications center and report regularly for work and be on time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to work under adverse conditions and during unusual hours including nights, weekends, holidays and

scheduled/unscheduled overtime.

Possession of or ability to readily obtain TCOLE Basic Telecommunicator License, TCIC and NCIC certifications.

Speak, read, and write the English language in a clear and understandable fashion

Possess a valid Texas driver’s license

Knowledge of computers and job related software programs and minimum intermediate data entry typing skills

Pass a background review and interviews

Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work.

Minimum high school graduate or equivalent.

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!

194 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

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

CONTACT US

409.763.7585 : SO.EMPLOYMENT@GALVESTONCOUNTYTX.GOV

409.766.2331


GALVESTON COUNTY

Seeking Individuals Who are interested in Rewarding Career in Law Enforcement

Seeking Individuals Who Are Interested in a Rewarding Career in Law Enforcement

Begin Your Career Today!

Begin Your Career Today!

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

POSITION: Position: School Patrol Liaison Deputy Deputy

Bureau/Division: Bureau/Division: Criminal Support Law Services/School Enforcement/Patrol Liaison Division Division

Title/Rank: Title/Rank: Patrol School Deputy Liaison Officer/Deputy

Reports Assignment: to: Sergeant School - Liaison PatrolDivision (Location TBA)

Starting Starting Salary: Salary: $58,195.00 $47,715.20

Top out Salary: $73,645.00

If you were previously removed from the School Liaison Program, you may not reapply for two (2) years from

JOB the SUMMARY

removal date.

• JOB This SUMMARY

position receives emergency calls from the public and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel.

• Receives, This position evaluates, is responsible prioritizes for and proactive initiates security responses and to school-based requests for law information enforcement and in services, and around including schools emergency within a

services. school district and other duties as required.

• Accesses, retrieves, disseminate, and protect confidential law enforcement related data from a variety of protected

MINIMUM local, state and REQUIREMENTS

federal databases.

Enters Be able critical to work and under confidential adverse law conditions enforcement and during data into unusual TCIC and hours NCIC including databases nights, as well weekends, as perform holidays, related and duties. overtime;

Assists Speak, in read, the maintenance and write the of English the communications language in a clear center and and understandable report regularly fashion; for work and be on time.

MINIMUM Possess a valid REQUIREMENTS

Texas driver’s license;

Successfully hold a Basic Peace Officer’s Certification for the last 6 months through TCOLE;

Must be able to work under adverse conditions and during unusual hours including nights, weekends, holidays and

Have worked for the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office for the past 24 consecutive months or Commissioned as a Texas

scheduled/unscheduled

Peace Officer for at least

overtime.

the past 24 consecutive months.

Possession of or ability to readily obtain TCOLE Basic Telecommunicator License, TCIC and NCIC certifications.

Currently and successfully qualified with a duty firearm;

Speak, read, and write the English language in a clear and understandable fashion

Knowledge of the OSSI (RMS) program and other related systems.

Possess a valid Texas driver’s license

Pass a background review and interview board.

Knowledge of computers and job related software programs and minimum intermediate data entry typing skills

Pass a physical agility test.

Pass a background review and interviews

Successfully complete the Field Training Program and Probation period.

Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work.

Be able to have a response time of 45 minutes when on call.

Minimum high school graduate or equivalent.

TO TO APPLY

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

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

The The Application Packet can can be be found at 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

409.766.2331 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 195


196 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 197


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

198 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

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

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 199


200 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


LATERAL DEPUTY

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 201


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

202 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25

TO APPLY

www.harriscountyso.org | www.hcsojobs.com

SCAN

THIS CODE Harris County

@HCSOTexas

Sheriff’s Office

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 203


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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

206 Equal The Opportunity BLUES - FEBRUARY Employer ‘25


Starting pay - $57,889

Paid: Vacation, Holiday & Sick Leave

$15K Sign-on incentive for TCOLE

certified Peace Officers

College Degree pay incentive

7% retirement plan through TMRS

with a 2:1 match ratio

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Opportunity to work in various

specialized units

The Killeen Police

epartment is dedicated to

uilding a partnership with

e community to fight crime

nd improve every citizen's

quality of life.

Follow us at:

KilleenPD

KilleenPolice

JoinKilleenPD

Visit www.KilleenPD.com for The further BLUES - FEBRUARY details‘25 207


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210 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


WE’RE HIRING POLICE OFFICERS!

Lockhart has always been a favorite in Central Texas. With the steady planned growth of our region we stand ready to welcome

more families looking for an escape from the hassles and fast pace of the big city. With a small town quality of life (population

17,146) and a charming historical downtown square, many public parks connected with walking paths, a State Park, golf course,

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

events and festivals throughout the year Chisholm Trail Roundup, Al Hopkins Tolbert Texas State Chili Championship, 4th of July

Extravaganza, Texas Monthly BBQ Fest, Taste of Lockhart Cultures and A Dickens Christmas in Lockhart, just to name a few.

Lockhart is a great community to live and work!

The Lockhart Police Department is seeking qualified applicants to meet the needs of our growing and diverse community. The City

of Lockhart administers a Civil Service Exam in order to establish an eligibility list for hiring Police Officers. This eligibility list

remains in effect for a period of one year from test date or until the list has been exhausted, whichever comes first. The Lockhart

Police Officer Entrance Exam is governed by the Local Government Code, Chapter 143 (Civil Service Law).

$10,000 Hiring Incentive for TCOLE Certified Officers*

• Competitive Salary ($30.60/hr.—

$37.17/hr.)

• Lateral Transfer Pay

• Certification Pay

• Cadet Pay

• Education Pay

• Civil Service Benefits

• Assignment Pay for Detectives

• Field Training Officer

• Bailiff/Warrant Officer

• K9 Officer

• Shift Differential Pay

• Uniforms, Equipment and Firearm

Provided

• Uniform Allowance for Detectives

• 3 Weeks Vacation Leave Annually

• 3 Weeks Sick Leave Annually

• 12 Paid Holidays Annually

• 1 Personal Holiday Annually

• TMRS Retirement

• Life Insurance

• Health Insurance

• 12Hour Shifts

• Beards & Tattoos Allowed

* Certain conditions apply to be eligible for the hiring incentive. Please refer to the Application Packet or the Civil Service Director

for further information.

PLEASE CONTACT Cpt. WILLIAMS, dwilliams@ps.lockharttx.org OR 5123984401, FOR MORE

INFORMATION.

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 211


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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

214 Rochelle The BLUES Carr-Lacy - FEBRUARY ‘25

rcarrlacy@manvelpd.org


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 215


MEMORIAL VILLAGES POLICE DEPARTMENT

Serving Bunker Hill, Piney Point, and Hunters Creek Villages

Hiring

Communications/Dispatcher

(2+ Years Experience)

Starting Pay:

$52,440 - $73,100 DOQ

Hiring Bonus $1,500

Night Shift Differential $3,600

Bi-Lingual Pay

Education Pay

Intermediate, Advanced, and Master

Telecommunicator Pay

Health Care, Dental and Vision Insurance: 100%

Employee, 75% 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 $2,400 annually

TMRS Retirement 7%

Updated Service Credits/Colas 50%

457 Deferred Compensation Plan with Employer

Contribution of 2.5% Annual Salary

Tuition Reimbursement for Continuing Education

Longevity Pay up to a maximum of $2,400

annually at 10 years of service

New Modern Communications Center

EOE/M/F/D

Memorial Villages Police Department – Houston, Texas 77024

216 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


MEMORIAL VILLAGES POLICE DEPARTMENT

Serving Bunker Hill, Piney Point, and Hunters Creek Villages

Hiring

Police Officers

(5+ Years Patrol Experience Required)

Starting Pay:

$90,178 - $96,461 DOQ

Top Officer Pay: $120,331

$1,500 Hiring Bonus

$3,600 Night Shift Differential

$1,300 Emergency Care Attendant Certification (we train)

Bi-Lingual Pay

Education Pay

Peace Officer Certification Pay up to 7.5%

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance – 100% employee and

75% 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

$2,400 yr

7% TMRS with 2:1 and 20-year Retirement

Updated Service Credits / 50% COLA

457 Deferred with 2.5% Employer Contributions

Tuition Reimbursement for Continuing Education

Longevity Pay up to a maximum of $2,400 yr at 10 years of

service

12 Hour Shifts with Every Other Fri/Sat/Sun Off

EOE/M/F/D

Memorial Villages Police Department – Houston, Texas 77024

The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 217


STARTING SALARY $66,497.60 WITH NO EXPERIENCE

BENEFITS

• Competitive pay with scheduled increases every 2 years

• Friday/Saturday or Sunday/Monday days off

• Flexible work schedules

• Overtime available

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement - $5000/yr

• Paid vacation, employee days, well day, sick days, and holidays

• Uniforms and Equipment

• Department Provided Training

TCOLE CERTIFIED POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS

FULL TIME

INCENTIVE PAY

• Bilingual

• TCOLE Certificate

Intermediate $1,560

Advanced $3,420

Master $6,000

• Education

Associate $1,320

Bachelor $3,180

Master $4,500

$8,000.00 HIRING INCENTIVE*

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

21 YEARS OF AGE

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED

MUST HOLD AN ACTIVE TCOLE PEACE OFFICER LICENSE

VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE

MUST PASS BACKGROUND CHECK, PSYCHOLOGICAL,

DRUG AND MEDICAL SCREENING

*$2000.00 after 3 months, $2000.00 after 6 months, $4000.00 after 1 year

218 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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220 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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222 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 223


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

224 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25 225


PORT HOUSTON

POLICE DEPARTMENT

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

misdemeanor within the

• Must have a GED or high

226 The BLUES - FEBRUARY ‘25


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

• Sick Leave

• 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

Class B

last 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

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WELCOME OUR NEWEST DEPARTMENT

Seeking Individuals Who are interested in a Rewarding Career in Law Enforcement

Begin Your Career Today!

GALVESTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

POSITION: Patrol Deputy

Bureau/Division: Criminal Law Enforcement/Patrol Division

Title/Rank: Patrol Deputy

Reports to: Sergeant - Patrol

Starting Salary: $58,195.00

Top out Salary: $73,645.00

JOB SUMMARY

• This position receives emergency calls from the public and dispatches appropriate emergency personnel.

• Receives, evaluates, prioritizes and initiates responses to requests for information and services, including emergency

services.

• Accesses, retrieves, disseminate, and protect confidential law enforcement related data from a variety of protected

local, state and federal databases.

• Enters critical and confidential law enforcement data into TCIC and NCIC databases as well as perform related duties.

• Assists in the maintenance of the communications center and report regularly for work and be on time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to work under adverse conditions and during unusual hours including nights, weekends, holidays and

scheduled/unscheduled overtime.

Possession of or ability to readily obtain TCOLE Basic Telecommunicator License, TCIC and NCIC certifications.

Speak, read, and write the English language in a clear and understandable fashion

Possess a valid Texas driver’s license

Knowledge of computers and job related software programs and minimum intermediate data entry typing skills

Pass a background review and interviews

Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work.

Minimum high school graduate or equivalent.

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

409.766.2331

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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

Mental Health Officers

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

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