June 2026. Blues Vol 42 No.6

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VOL. 42 NO. 6 JUNE 2026

FEATURES/COVER

88 SGT. MICHAEL BARRON - LIFE BEHIND THE BADGE

108 TO PROTECT AND SERVE: THE SACRED ROLE

OF LE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC

114 TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT CHIEFS' ASSOC.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

DEPARTMENTS

PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS

EDITOR REX EVANS THOUGHTS

WEST COAST EDITOR - JESSICA

WORDS OF FAITH - JOHN KING

LETTERS FROM READERS

GUEST COMMENTARY - CHIEF TOM WEITZEL

GUEST COMMENTARY - DOUG GRIFFITH

NEWS AROUND THE US

BREAKING NEWS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN HEROES

WAR STORIES

AFTERMATH

BLUEPRINTS OF RESILIENCE

HEALING OUR HEROES

DARYL’S DELIBERATIONS

BLUE MENTAL HEALTH DR.

LIGHT BULB AWARD

ADS BACK IN THE DAY

PARTING SHOTS

NOW HIRING

BACK PAGE

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48

118

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FOUNDER, PUBLISHER, EDITOR-N-CHIEF

MICHAEL BARRON

OUR TEAM

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Chief Rex Evans(Ret)

SENIOR EDITOR

Dr. Tina Jaeckle

WEST COAST 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

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Emmanuel Gonzalez Sosa

FEATURE STORIES

Jessica 'JJ'Jones, Sgt. B.K. Cooper, Jr.

Richard Mathewson, Jr.

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

WAR STORY

Joesph Wambaugh

AFTERMATH

Unknown Author

GUEST COMMENTARY

Doug Griffith

Chief Tom Weitzel, Ret

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Joanna Putman, Police 1

Jenna Curren, Law Enforcement Today

Greg Hoyt, Law Enforcement Today

Sara Roebuck, Police1

Pat Droney, Law Enforcement Today

Jonathon Wheeler, Jordan Garttner

Tony Marrero, Thomas Tracy, Darian Stevenson

Sydney Barragan, R.J. Rico, Charlie McKenna

Joe Vince, Bryan Horwath, Sophia Cossette

John Rupulo, Roberto Acosta, Summer Lin

Darlene Superville, Paul Walsh, Josh Labella

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 publisher.


FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

By the Grace of God

Tragic accident nearly claims life of West

Coast Editor Jessica 'JJ' Jones.

Back in March of this year, a

couple of weeks before the release

of my book, JJ came to me

with the idea of featuring yours

truly on the cover of The BLUES.

My initial response was hell no.

I said “JJ, the cover has always

featured someone or something

that has made a significant

impact on the law enforcement

community and a feature story

on their life’s story….”

Before I could finish the

sentence she said, “Michael

for over 42 years

The BLUES has spotlighted

almost 500 newsworthy

individuals and businesses

that have made a difference

in the law enforcement

community and there

is no one that has made

a larger impact than the

man who founded The BLUES in

the first place.”

Anyone who knows JJ, knows

you can never win a fight with

her. Once she sets her mind on a

goal or project, she is relentless.

Eventually I agreed and while

this cover was slated for April,

then May, other priorities pushed

it to June.

But before work began on this

issue, tragedy struck our Blues

family. Just days before she was

to leave for Washington D.C. for


Police Week, JJ was struck by a

wrong-way drunk driver outside

LA on the Pacific Coast Highway.

The other driver, here illegally,

out on bond for his 3rd DWI, was

killed instantly. His BAC was .244.

JJ was flown to a LA Trauma

Center and underwent 2 surgeries

for internal injuries. Doctors

told me she coded twice before

they could operate. She spent 3

days in medically induced coma

and another week in ICU. Thankfully

and only by the Grace of

God is she out of ICU and on the

road to a full recovery.

Neither one of us made it to

Police Week. And to be honest,

as soon as she was out of the

woods, I started making calls to

find someone to feature on the

June Issue. Then JJ’s mom called

and said JJ wants to talk to you.

“Your cover and story are on

our server…don’t you dare find

someone else for June.”

I promised her I wouldn’t and

began the search for her handiwork.

Low and behold,

what you see on this

cover and the feature

articles inside, are what

I found stashed away in

a hidden folder. I admit

I was misty eyed when

I saw what she and her

significant other had created

on my behalf. The

fact that we almost lost

her and this might have

been her last contribution to The

BLUES and it was about me…was

just too much.

From the bottom of my heart,

I thank our Heavenly Father for

sparing JJ’s life and for the gracious

coverage of my life’s work.

I never set out to do anything but

honor my grandfather’s memory

by following in his footsteps as

a deputy for the Harris County

Sheriff’s Office. And in some

small way, I hope I’ve made him

proud of what I’ve accomplished.

• • •

I wanted to close this month’s

editorial with congratulations to

the fine organizations that made

Police Week 2026 possible. Even

though JJ and I couldn’t be there,

several of our editorial staff

were in attendance and said it

was as beautiful as ever.

At the heart of Police Week

is the National Law Enforcement

Officers Memorial Fund

(NLEOMF) led by their amazing

director Bill Alexander and his

dedicated board of directors and

hard-working staff. Every year,

they host hundreds of thousands

of law enforcement officers

from around the world along

with the surviving families, gather

for a week of ceremonies and

traditions to honor those we've

lost. Even more importantly, the

NLEOMF is responsible for maintaining

and adding names of the

fallen to the National Memorial

Wall. Thanks, Bill, for all you and

your amazing staff and board do

each year to make Police Week a

huge success.

Another amazing group is the

Concerned Organization of Police

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

year hundreds of volunteers from

C.O.P.S. groups around the country

come to Washington for Police

Week to honor the brave men

and women we’ve lost as well as

honor and comfort their families.

Police Week would not be what

it is today without the dedication

and hard work of the C.O.P.S.

board, staff and volunteers.

Thank you for all you do.

And finally, I want to thank

the hard-working staff at the

Officer Down Memorial Pages

(ODMP) for assisting us throughout

the year by providing information

and photos of our fallen

brothers and sisters. The BLUES

honors these individuals every

month and once a year in our

Special Memorial Edition. Without

ODMP’s assistance, these

pages and the Special Memorial

Edition just wouldn’t be possible.

So, thank you ODMP for all

your hard work and dedication

to these families each and every

day.

God Bless Everyone and Thank

You for Your Continued Support.


FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGE

Trip Back in Time

Legendary Fire Chief Jay Evans visits HCSO Academy

There are days when you must

stop and reflect on the past and

remember how we all got here.

Today was one of those days when

I picked up my dad and paid a visit

to the Harris County Sheriff’s Academy.

It would probably be the last

time for my dad as his health is in

rapid decline. (His dad of course is

the legendary Jay Evans - Editor)

As we turned onto the long

drive leading up to the Academy,

I recalled a time when my

dad began his career back in the

1960’s, this was all really in the

middle of nowhere and the rural

grounds here in Atascocita was

home to the infamous “REHAB”

and the original Sheriff’s Academy.

(Where John Wayne filmed in

part the movie “The Hellfighters”)

As we made our way inside, the

Academy staff was there to meet

dad, and they were beyond courteous

and professional. They took

time out of their busy day, to walk

my dad back through time, as they

looked at the display cases filled

with history. You could tell he was

remembering a simpler time, and

the staff was kind and compassionate

as my dad told one ‘war story’

after another.

As we walked into the hallways

leading to the various classrooms,

before us stood over 120 cadets

sharply dressed in their Class A

uniforms, standing at attention,

as if they were there to honor this

legendary man. It was their morning

inspection, but for all dad knew

they were lined up to greet him. It


was a moment that nearly brought

the old man to tears.

As we walked the long hallway,

he recalled people and stories of

times long since gone by. He told of

his time as an instructor at this very

institution, within the walls of the

old Academy Building.

The museum, the old uniforms,

badges, firearms and gear brought

back a flood of memories for dad

and me both, including our own

family’s three generations of HCSO

badges and identification cards. My

dad and his dads IDs there for all to

see. All donated to the Academy and

the efforts of Corporal Mike Faas, a

longtime friend of my dad.

Corporal Faas played an integral

role in the creation, design and implementation

of the Harris County

Sheriff’s Office Museum, at the

Academy before his retirement.

As we made our way down the

hallway nearly the length of a football

field, all along the way are

class photos dating back to the

1960s. Hundreds of them actually

including Class #2 with

Jay Evans proudly standing in

row #2.

After some recent research,

we believe dad is one of, if not

the last Graduate of his Academy

Class from December 1970.

(One of the very first HCSO

Academy Classes held after the

formation of TCOLE mandated

such classes were to begin.)

As we made our way back

to the library, each of us found

our own class photo, bringing

back our own memories of much

younger years.

As some of you might know, over

the past few years my dad has

fought and won battles against

cancer. Unfortunately, his cancer

has aggressively returned, and he

now faces some really tough decisions

in the near future. It’s really

unknown how much time he really

has left.

And as my dad’s time here on

this earth winds down, many of his

best friends have already left us for

greener pastures. Just last month,

my dad along with hundreds of oth-

ers, said “Farewell and see you later” to one of his last,

lifelong friends dating back to the early 1970’s, Captain

Clifford Reed.

Our visit to the Museum was made possible with the

help of some of incredible people like Brad Sternberg,

Don Savell, John Martin, Loftin Harrison, Ed Gonzalez

and Alan Rosen and Jose Lopez.

I intentionally left aside everyone’s title because,

today wasn’t about any of those things. It was about

something much greater than any rank or title could

ever be.

Today was about a group of people who out of respect

and compassion, took the time to coordinate and

approve a trip back in time for my dad, all the while

remembering the Department’s rich and incredible

history.

As we were leaving dad quietly said:

“Well, I may not have much time left. My time at the

Sheriff’s Office has long been over. But it’s good to

know the Sheriff’s Office is gonna keep on going.” “That

was a sharp looking group of Cadets. I’m sure they’ll do

the job just fine.” “It’ll all be fine.”

It is with deep sincerity, I want to thank Sheriff Gonzalez,

Constable Rosen, Chief Harrison, Lt. Sternberg,

Lt. Martin, Don Savell, the entire HCSO Academy Staff,

Sgt. Jose Lopez (HCSO Academy) and the current class

of Cadets who were present and honored my dad. And

finally, I want to thank Sgt. Michael Barron (also a Retiree)

of The Blues“Police Magazine for joining us on this

trip back in time. It’s impossible to relay the thankfulness

I have in my heart for each and every one of you.

While it may seem like just another day to everyone

else, today was so much more to my dad, thanks to all

of you. His days are fewer than ever before. And thanks

to all of you, he got to pause for a few moments and

just simply have, one helluva day.

One for which, we are grateful for.

START SHOPPING




FROM THE WEST COAST

Sgt. Michael Barron

Riding the Roller Coaster of Life

Four years ago, I attended

the IACP conference in Dallas.

It was the first IACP meeting

held after a 2-year hiatus due

to COVID and the first police

conference I had ever attended.

My new boyfriend was a

sergeant with LAPD, and he invited

me to come along to the

world’s largest police gathering

with over 35,000 police

chiefs from around the world

and nearly 2000 vendors on

the trade floor.

On day 3 of walking through

this enormous show, my boyfriend

Brad and I met Sgt. Barron

at the Glock booth. During

a lengthy conversation, Barron

mentioned his police magazine

was looking for an editor

and since I was looking for

extra work, I signed on. The

rest as they say is history.

In the three and half years I

have worked with Barron and

The BLUES, I’ve had the opportunity

to learn all about

The BLUES history as well as

Sgt. Barron’s law enforcement

career. Truth be told, I’ve heard

some of the stories multiple

times until I finally said, “for

the love of God, just write

a book already.” And I’ll be

damned if he didn’t do just

that. That book, entitled THIN

BLUE LINE: LIFE BEHIND THE

BADGE, is more than a collection

of Michael Barron’s ‘war

stories,’ it’s a look into a world

that most civilians never have

the opportunity to experience.

As the book came together,

I had the unique opportunity

to read each story as they

were completed. One by one,

they became more intense and

in some cases heartbreaking.

It was truly a roller coaster

of emotions as the book

progressed. And when the

last word was typed and the

manuscript saved, the look

on Michael’s face was priceless.

It was a 42-year-old

dream come true that started

with a chance meeting with

a famous police author in an

elevator in New Orleans.

That author was Joseph

Wambaugh (google him),

and his advice was to follow

your dreams no matter what

the cost. His words of wisdom

went something like this: “I always

thought my destiny was

to be a cop in LA, but the truth

was, being a cop was just the

path to obtaining the material

I needed to become a police

novelist. Sometimes the path

to success isn’t always clear,

but one day you’ll realize what

the correct path is and that’s

when everything will change

for the better.”

As Sgt. Barron drove back

to Houston, he thought about

what Wambaugh had said

and decided he was going to

take his advice and find his

own path to success.

But long before there was a

book, Barron’s plan to success

took a new path. In 1984, nearly

ten years before I was born,

Barron came up with the idea

to create a newspaper for

cops. News stories and commentary

for cops written by

cops. It was an instant hit and

before long it was in every

roll call room in Texas. The

original name was The County

Blues, named after the popular

80’s TV show Hill Street Blues

(again Google it) but was

later named The Blues Police

Newspaper.

Barron published The Blues

Police Newspaper until the

mid 90’s when he sold the

newspaper operation to retired

HPD officer Buddy Wil-


liams. Williams and his family

continued the Blues tradition

until August of 2018 when

they printed and distributed

their final copy.

A year later, Barron discovered

The Blues Police Newspaper,

like many other printed

newspapers around the country,

had run its course and

faded into the history of once

popular mainstream news

journals. But never one to let

an opportunity pass, Barron

created an all-new digital

version and named it THE

BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE.

The first issue appeared in

December of 2019 and ultimately

10,000 police officers

around the country read it.

Today The BLUES is read in

24-countries and has an average

readership of 7.5 million

views per issue. Those statistics

make it the largest police

magazine in the world.

It was a true honor to have

Sgt. B.K. Cooper, Jr. join me

in writing this month’s feature

article about my amazing

boss Sgt. Michael Barron.

Even though his journey and

path to success may have

been fraught with setbacks

and emotional roller coasters,

Michael Barron never once

gave up. No matter how hard

he fell, he always got back up

continued to fight.

Michael you’ve finally found

your path to success and are

now an accomplished author.

To the dozens of people, you

have saved in the course of

your career, you will always

be remembered as their hero.

To those impacted by the millions

of words you’ve written

in The BLUES, you are inspiration

to all that hold the Thin

Blue Line.

Finally, I’ll leave you with this

famous quote: "The purpose

of life is not to be happy. It is

to be useful, to be honorable,

to be compassionate, to have

it make some difference that

you have lived and lived well."

– Ralph Waldo Emerson


WORDS OF FAITH

Chaplain's Corner

Hey, have you got the time?

Sunday, June 21, 2026, will be

the Summer Solstice in the Northern

Hemisphere. So what, you

might ask? Well, it’s the day of the

year that many people, me included,

mistakenly refer to as the

“longest” day of the year. In reality,

that particular day is no longer or

shorter than the other 364 days of

the year, but it is the day in which

we experience the longest period

of time between sunrise and sunset;

the longest period of daylight.

Since the “longest” day of the year

occurs in June (in the Northern

Hemisphere) I wanted us to look a

little more closely at “time.”

Many of you know or may remember

the 1970 song by the rock

group, Chicago, “Does Anybody

Really Know What Time It Is?” One

of the lyrics in the song asks the

question that is the namesake of

the song, “does anybody really

know what time it is?” It goes on

to ask a second question, “does

anybody really care about time?”

I submit that time is indeed worthy

of our care. Let’s start with the

origin of time. That’s right, time, as

we know it, has not always existed.

Time is part of God’s creation

just as everything around us is,

including ourselves! The first book

and chapter of the Bible, Genesis

1, gives the account of the creation

of the sun, moon, and stars, all

of which were, and still are the

original timepieces. That’s right,

people could tell time before there

were clocks, or watches, or even

smartphones!

“And God said, ‘Let there be

lights in the expanse of the heavens

to separate the day from the

night. And let them be for signs

and for seasons, and for days and

years, and let them be lights in

the expanse of the heavens to give

light upon the earth.’ And it was

so. And God made the two great

lights—the greater light to rule

the day and the lesser light to rule

the night—and the stars. And God

set them in the expanse of the

heavens to give light on the earth,

to rule over the day and over the

night, and to separate the light

from the darkness. And God saw

that it was good.” (Genesis 1:14-18

ESV)

In the New Testament of the King

James Bible there are multiple

Greek words that are translated as

“time” in English. However, there

are two of the Greek words that

stand in stark contrast to each

other and the English word “time”

doesn’t make that clear. The first

word is chronos. You may recognize

it as the root of the English

word, chronometer, which is a

very accurate watch. It is designed

and built to keep track of time

over a prolonged and ongoing

period of time, seconds, minutes,

hours, etc. The second word is

kairos, which essentially means

NOW! This instant, not a period

of time, just this present moment.

Chronos is where we, human

beings and all the rest of God’s

creation, live and exist. Kairos is

where God exists. God is timeless,

ageless and He is not constrained

by chronos time as we know it.

God can and has inhabited time

(chronos), such as when the God

Man, Jesus Christ lived on earth

for 33 years. He was willingly constrained

by time just as we are,

but that was only for that period

of time. Again, God the Father

exists in kairos which means He is

here, right now, right this second,

right this nanosecond, and you

may continue to divide chronos

time to infinity and God is there!

So, you are probably wondering,

where is this going? Just this, use

the time that God gives you wisely.

Remember, it is a gift from Him to

you! Scripture says it this way:

“Therefore, pay careful attention

to how you conduct your life—live

wisely, not unwisely. Use your time

well, for these are evil days. So

don't be foolish, but try to understand

what the will of the Lord is.”

(Ephesians 5:15-17 CJB)

If you are a Chaplain for your department,

or know a Chaplain who

would like to contribute an article

for The Chaplain’s Corner please

contact our office at: bluespdmag@gmail.com



READERS SPEAK OUT Y

We Hear You

THIN BLUE LINE - REVIEWS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

I found Sgt. Barron’s telling

of Officers actually on Patrol to

be very interesting and in most

cases very eye opening. We as

the general public, have no idea

what keeping the peace really

entails. As many of these officers

come from a family of dedicated

law enforcement already know

the risk involved when they

receive the badge. Great job Sgt.

Barron in sharing your experiences

and the experiences of

others with the same passion for

protection and safety of others,

such as I. I realize even more

when I say “Thank You For Your

Service” that is not near enough.

SALLY ENGELKING

How about thank you for your

service and sacrifice?! You've got

a badge, but you've earned so

much more - our respect!

Ps. 91 DPD Police Chaplain and

Commander, IFOC/Galveston Bay

Area Chaplains Corp.

BLESSINGS, CHAPLAIN KELLEY

LIFE LONG FRIENDS

Sergeant Barron and I have

been friends since we were in

elementary school. That was

about sixty years ago, give or

take. I guess you could say we

are lifelong friends. Also, I had

the honor of editing his first

book, Thin Blue Line. All that said,

it’s reasonable to believe that my


review of his book may contain

bias. Nevertheless, Michael has

written and complied a fastpaced

and accurate anthology of

life as a law enforcement officer

and first responder in general. As

a retired officer myself I can relate

to what happens in many of

the stories in the book, but I was

also surprised by what occurred

in others. As one of my academy

classmates who had previously

been an officer told me, “Welcome

to the greatest show on

earth!” If you’re current or former

law enforcement the stories in

Thin Blue Line may stir some of

the same or similar thoughts and

feelings you’ve had many times

before, and that’s ok. But be

prepared, (spoiler alert) the last

chapter of the book will have

you looking for your hanky!

JOHN K.

RAW & UNFLINCHING

Raw, unflinching powerhouse

with comedy mixed in that

brought me back to my career.

Drawing from his own career

and fellow officers’ real stories,

it takes you straight into the

chaos: split-second life-or-death

decisions, brutal shootings, child

rescues, fallen brothers, and the

crushing weight officers carry

home every night. Gripping, often

heartbreaking, and impossible to

put down, this book reveals the

true cost of wearing the badge

and why the Thin Blue Line matters

more than ever.

S. HORWITZ

I CAN RELATE

A gritty and sometimes humorous

view of being a law enforcement

officer in a major city. The

writing style kept the book fresh.

As a current Texas Peace Officer,

I was able to relate to so much

of this.

DOUG.

Great book! It reminds me of

some of the things I encountered

in my 32 years of law enforcement.

KERMIT DEVILLIER

READ IT TWICE

I read Thin Blue Line not once

but twice. I wanted to see if I had

the same emotional experience

in the second reading as I did

the first time. The answer was a

resounding yes. Two of the chapters

brought tears to my eyes and

all throughout the book I felt the

camaraderie of those of us that

wore the badge. Sgt. Barron takes

us behind the scenes of everyday

police work where the line

between life and death is razer

thin. As the subject of one of Sgt.

Barron's stories, I nearly died on

a stretch of road not more than a

mile from his parent’s house. If it

weren’t for Barron and the hundreds

of officers that searched

for me that foggy night, I surely

wouldn’t be here now. Thank you

all for saving me and including

me in the Thin Blue Line.

DETECTIVE HENRY ALVARADO,

RETIRED HPD


GUEST COMMENTARY Y

Chief Tom Weitzel, Ret.

Open Letter to Illinois Law

Enforcement Leaders

To my Illinois law enforcement colleagues.

This is our moment. It is time

for us to lead with the clarity,

courage, and conviction that our

communities desperately need

— and that we were born to

deliver. For years, we had elected

officials who stood shoulder-to-shoulder

with us, fought

for our training, equipment,

staffing, and the laws that empowered

us to protect the public.

That era has passed. The silence

from those who once backed

us is deafening. But silence only

strengthens our resolve.

I write this during National

Police Week, as we honor the

fallen heroes who made the ultimate

sacrifice. Their courage demands

more than remembrance

— it demands action. Illinois law

enforcement, the victims we

serve, and their families deserve

leaders who refuse to yield. We

will push back — hard — against

the anti-police activists, the legislators

who actively undermine

our work, and the media that

attacks us daily.

Enough is enough.

I am calling on every chief,

sheriff, command officer, union

leader, and frontline officer to

stand with me. This is the moment

we unite, speak with one


powerful voice, and take back

the narrative.

Now that I am retired, I have

the freedom to say what many

of you feel you cannot. I will

continue to expose the recruiting

and retention crisis, the dangerous

legislation designed to

handcuff our agencies, the false

narratives that erode public

trust, and the urgent need for

bold, pro-police laws that restore

our ability to keep Illinois

safe. You, the current leaders on

the front lines, have the power

and the duty to push back with

me. I know you feel it in your gut

every single day — now is the

time to act on it.

We must confront, head-on,

the coordinated campaign to

dismantle our profession. Some

will call this harsh. I call it

necessary. What is happening

across much of Illinois is not

reform — it is a deliberate effort

to weaken, divide, and discredit

the men and women who stand

between chaos and safety.

I have said it many times and

I stand by it without apology:

Illinois is the most anti-police

legislative state in America. I

saw it up close during my years

on the Illinois Chiefs legislative

committee. We scored real

wins for public safety, but there

were times we should have held

the line more firmly. I opposed

cannabis legalization because I

knew it would endanger officers

and citizens alike. Too often, we

were pressured to support bad

bills just to “keep relationships”

— and those relationships rarely

delivered when it mattered most.

Those days are over.

During this Police Week, I

challenge every leader in Illinois

law enforcement to rise up

with renewed fire. Stand shoulder-to-shoulder

with your officers.

Recruit and retain the very

best. Back your people publicly

when they are right — and do it

loudly. When misconduct occurs,

handle it swiftly and decisively

through proper procedures. True

accountability is not weakness

— it is the steel that strengthens


tack anyone who refuses to stay

silent. I have faced smear campaigns

and attempts to shut me

down. Many of you have faced

the same. That noise is proof we

are effective. Let it fuel us. We

will speak louder, stand taller,

and fight harder.

Law enforcement is the most

honorable profession on earth.

Every one of my children wears

the badge in suburban Chicago.

I would never have encouraged

them to follow this path if I

didn’t believe — with every fiber

of my being — in the integrity,

courage, and vital importance of

this calling.

I am ready to work with every

police chief, sheriff, superintendent,

union leader, and

street-level officer across Illinois.

The men and women on

the beat already know the truth

about what is happening in our

cities and towns. We all do. Now

we say it publicly, boldly, and

without hesitation.

You can count on me — today,

tomorrow, and every day after.

My support for every police

officer in Illinois and across this

nation will never waver.

Let’s do this. Together we are

unstoppable.

Respectfully,

Chief Tom Weitzel (Ret.)

Email: tqweitzel@outlook.com

@chiefweitzel on X

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GUEST COMMENTARY

Doug Griffith

Elections Have Consequences!

“The Houston Police Department plays an indispensable role”

“The Houston Police Department

plays an indispensable

role”. We hear this a lot as it

is written on every retirement

proclamation given upon retirement.

We would all like to

believe that the citizens of Houston

agree with the sentiment of

these words. Sadly, it appears

that several of our current city

council members do not agree.

In fact, they disregarded the

Chief of Police, the command

staff, and many others when

they voted to pass an ordinance

disregarding state and federal

laws. I understand that this is

a hot button issue for national

politics, but we do not get involved

in national issues like this.

In fact, we have done everything

possible to stay out of the fray

until we were forced to address

it. Several members of council

decided to bring an ordinance

forward that would force HPD

to treat immigration warrants

differently than other warrants.

Unfortunately, none of the council

members reached out to us or

the department before voting for

the ordinance. This ordinance

put our officers in a bad position.

If we do not act on one of

these warrants, (at least calling

immigration) then release them,

we could be held accountable

should that individual harm any-


one in the future. If Immigration

tells us to release them, then we

would be covered. This is nothing

more than local politicians trying

to fight national issues.

This quickly escalated when

council member Shabazz said

in open session that we (HPD)

were stopping black and brown

people for no reason, and some

were being “disappeared”. I

took offense to that and made

it known that we would not

stand for that type of rhetoric.

Our officers work hard every

day to do their job and to have

someone disparage them this

way really got to me. Obviously,

I addressed this issue in the

next council meeting, and it got

heated. I stand by every word I

said at council, though I could

have said it a little calmer than I

did, but I will not allow anyone

to disparage our officers or tell

us they know better than we do

when it comes to policing. And

make no mistake about it, Council

member Salinas, Pollard, and

Kamin are coming at us again regarding

traffic stops. I have seen

a proposal that would limit the

reasons for a stop to only “moving

violations”. This is a clear

attempt to circumvent state law

which we cannot allow.

We must start paying attention

to our local politics as we are

moving into a new era. We are

getting some very progressive

candidates running for office

and winning. This has been seen

across the state in all big cities

like Austin, Dallis, and Fort

Worth. In a debate yesterday

for Houston City Council District

C, they were asked, “what

group would you never seek

endorsement from?” Candidate

Joe Panzarella quickly stated,

the HPOU. Nick Hellyar, whom

we endorsed, stated he would

not accept an endorsement from

any hate group. The difference

in these two candidates is very

clear, but it will be a very close

race. There will be more battles

as we see more law and order

hating individuals running for

office. I encourage everyone to

pay attention to our local politics

and make sure you vote and encourage

others to vote for public

safety over politics.

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY

A Proven Leader Who Stands with

Our Law Enforcement Heroes.

Orlando Sanchez gets results.

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PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST: End the revolving door for criminals. Prioritize

mandatory sentencing for repeat offenders and keep dangerous criminals

behind bars. Restore accountability in our criminal justice system.

LOWER PROPERTY TAXES: Harris County families and businesses need

relief. Orlando will cut wasteful spending and deliver real tax reductions.

FLOOD PROTECTION & INFRASTRUCTURE: Smart, responsible action

to protect our neighborhoods from future flooding and fix crumbling

infrastructure.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Decades of proven experience balancing

budgets, earning transparency awards, and managing taxpayer dollars

responsibly.

Orlando knows the value of freedom and the American Dream. A U.S. Air Force and Texas National

Guard veteran, first responder with North Channel EMS, and dedicated public servant, he brings battletested

leadership and integrity to the office of Harris County Judge.

“Orlando Sanchez has consistently shown genuine support for law enforcement

officers, first responders, and the rule of law. He recognizes the sacrifices made daily

by those who serve and understands the importance of keeping our communities safe.”

— Sgt. Michael Barron, Publisher, The BLUES Police Magazine

It’s Time for Conservative, Competent Leadership in Harris County.

Vote Orlando Sanchez for Harris County Judge November 3, 2026

Paid Political Ad by Orlando Sanchez Campaign, Penny Butler, Treasurer The BLUES - JUNE ‘26 25

AROUND THE COUNTRY

ALEXANDRA BAY, NY.

Border Patrol Agent Sean McDonough suffered a medical emergency while

performing marine unit water training in Alexandra Bay, NY.

By Jonathon Wheeler

Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.

ALEXANDRIA BAY — A U.S.

Border Patrol agent died in the

line of duty while participating

in water training Friday in Alexandria

Bay.

A line of duty announcement

from Customs and Border

Protection states that Sean M.

McDonough, 48, was participating

in water training with the

marine unit and started to feel

chest pain before going into

cardiac arrest. Medical teams

then attempted CPR on Mc-

Donough.

McDonough was taken to a

hospital, but on Friday, he “succumbed

to a medical emergency,”

CBP said in a statement.

In a social media post on X,

formerly Twitter, CBP Commissioner

Rodney Scott said that

McDonough began his career in

2007, serving most recently at

the Wellesley Island Border Patrol

Station. He had also served

in the Army, Army National

Guard and as a military police

officer.

“He is a true hero who selflessly

served to protect America,”

the post reads.

McDonough lived in Depauville,

according to his obituary.

He and his wife, Samantha, have

two daughters.

BORDER PATROL AGENT

SEAN M. MCDONOUGH



AROUND THE COUNTRY

LYNNFIELD, MA.

Trooper Kevin Trainor was killed in a vehicle crash in Lynnfield,MA.

The Massachusetts State Police

announce the line-of-duty death

of Trooper Kevin Trainor, 30, who

was senselessly killed this morning

by a wrong-way driver.

At the conclusion of his public

safety detail shortly before 2

a.m., Trooper Trainor began his

commute home. Minutes later,

911 received a call reporting

a wrong-way driver traveling

South on Route 1 North in Lynnfield.

Several dedicated Troopers

converged on the area and

located the vehicle traveling the

wrong way at 2:03 a.m. One minute

later, at 2:04 a.m., the vehicle

collided with Trooper Trainor’s cruiser.

While nothing will ever repair

the pain we feel today, we make

a solemn promise to never forget

Trooper Trainor and his service

to the Commonwealth. Kevin

served as a Corrections Officer in

Essex County before joining the

State Police as a member of the

88th Recruit Training Troop. In his


decorated career, he mentored

new Troopers as a Field Training

Officer or “Trooper Coach,”

earned a place on the prestigious

Troop Community Action Team,

set the standard for professionalism,

and patrolled our roads

with a singular focus: keeping

the people of this Commonwealth

safe.

Beyond his professional

accomplishments, Trooper

Trainor’s classmates have shared

stories of his genuine care and

concern for others. As one person

put it, “he was the guy you

wanted as your backup." Colonel

Noble said in his remarks this

afternoon, “Make no mistake:

Trooper Trainor saved lives this

morning. His courage – his commitment

to serve the citizens of

the Commonwealth and put his

life on the line – prevented an

even greater tragedy. He will be

remembered as a hero.”

We deeply appreciate the

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that changed his life forever. What began as a routine

disturbance call in Selma, Alabama, turned into a violent

struggle for survival, forcing Packy to make a life-or-death

decision in mere moments. Luckily, his K-9, Princess, who

he bought as a puppy and trained on his own, was there to

intervene, giving Packy enough time to defend himself.

TROOPER KEVIN TRAINOR

outpouring of support from our

Governor, the Secretary of Public

Safety, and friends in Massachusetts

and across the country. We

will remember and honor this

extraordinary man, son, fiancée,

and friend who gave his life for

others.

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

GREENWOOD, S.C.

Police Officer DJ Keller was killed in a head-on collision during the

pursuit of a driver who sped away from a traffic stop.

By Jordan Gartner

GREENWOOD, S.C. - A community

is mourning the loss of

an officer who died following

a crash while in a police

pursuit.

According to the Greenwood

Police Department, Officer

Don “DJ” Keller, 31, was hit and

killed during a high-speed

chase on Monday night.

Greenwood Police Chief

T.J. Chaudoin said a traffic

stop was initiated on a blue

Jeep that police believe had

been involved in several prior

shootings, but the driver took

off at a high rate of speed.

Officials said the Jeep ended

up crossing into oncoming

traffic and collided with

Keller’s patrol vehicle. He died

at the scene. His K-9, Vice, was

also in the car but not injured.

The department said the

driver of the Jeep was a

15-year-old, and the passengers

were 17 and 18. All three

were taken to the hospital,

where two remain. One was

arrested after being released.


“South Carolina mourns the

tragic loss of Greenwood Police

Department Officer Don

‘DJ’ Keller, who was killed in

the line of duty yesterday,”

South Carolina Governor Henry

McMaster said. ”Peggy and I

ask South Carolinians to join

us in praying for his loved ones

and the Greenwood community.

In honor of his sacrifice,

I will order the flags above

the Statehouse to be lowered

to half-staff on the day of his

funeral.”

Neighbors stood along the

street trying to process what

had happened. The crash

occurred in a residential area

where families and children

are often outside.

“This is every day, you know,

either police chase or somebody’s

been shooting, but

right now life has been taken,

not just any life, a police officer’s

life,” a neighbor shared.

According to the Greenwood

mayor, this was the first officer

to die in the line of duty in the

city since 1956.

Sen. Tim Scott said his heart

POLICE OFFICER DON "DJ" KELLER

goes out to the officer and his

loved ones.

“South Carolinians mourn the

loss of an Upstate officer who

dedicated their life to keeping

our community safe and made

the ultimate sacrifice doing so.

To their loved ones and fellow

officers, our hearts are with

you in this time of grief. My

deepest condolences,” Scott

shared in a statement.

A nonprofit has launched a

fundraiser to support Keller’s

family.

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

AVON, ME.

Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts was killed when his Maine Warden

Service Cessna 185F plane crashed in Avon, Maine.

A plane crash in Maine on

Tuesday morning left a longtime

Maine game warden dead, officials

said.

Few details were immediately

available about the crash near a

pond in Avon. The Department of

Inland Fisheries & Wildlife said it

took place about 11 a.m.

"This is a devastating loss for

the Maine Warden Service, our

Department, and the people of

Maine. Our thoughts are with the

family, loved ones, colleagues,

and all those impacted by this

tragedy," the agency said in a

statement.

The pilot was identified as

Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts,

who'd been with the agency

for 18 years. For the last three

years, he "supported search and

rescue, law enforcement, fisheries

and wildlife conservation,

and public safety" as a pilot, the

Department of Inland Fisheries &

Wildlife said.

NBC affiliate News Center

Maine reported that the FAA and

National Transportation Safety

Board would investigate what

led the Cessna 185F, with no one

else besides the pilot on board.

Gov. Janet Mills said she'd been

briefed on the crash.

"My heart is with the warden’s

family and loved ones, their

colleagues at the Maine Warden

Service, and all affected by this

tragedy," Mills said in a statement.

Warden Pilot Tibbetts had

served with the Maine Department

of Inland Fisheries and

Wildlife - Warden Service for 18

years and previously served with

the Penobscot County Sheriff's

Office for almost 12 years. In

2025, he received the Warden

Service’s Exemplary Service











GAME WARDEN PILOT

JOSHUA T. TIBBETTS

Award. Survivors include his two

daughters, partner, stepdaughter,

parents, sister, nephew, two

nieces, and former spouse. His

father also served with the Maine

Department of Inland Fisheries

and Wildlife - Warden Service.

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The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is dedicated to honoring the

fallen, telling the story of American Law Enforcement and making it safer for those

who serve. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Memorial Fund built and

maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the National Law

Enforcement Museum, and life-saving officer safety and wellness programs.

Memorial

Museum

Officer Safety

and Wellness

The National Law Enforcement

Officers Memorial, located in

Washington DC, honors federal, tribal,

state, and local law enforcement

officers who have made the ultimate

sacrifice for the safety and protection

of our nation and its people.

The National Law Enforcement

Museum, across the street from the

Memorial, expands and enriches

the relationship shared by law

enforcement and the communities

they serve through educational

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organization. Although both the Memorial and Museum are on federal land by acts of Congress,

we do not receive taxpayer dollars but rely on your charitable, tax-deductible contributions.

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Visit NLEOMF.org for more information and to purchase museum tickets. The BLUES - JUNE ‘26 33

AROUND THE COUNTRY

CITRONELLE, AL.

Police Officer Dylan Owen was killed in a single-vehicle crash on

North Mobile Street near Laird Drive in Citronelle.

CITRONELLE, AL. - A Citronelle

police officer died in a single-vehicle

crash while on duty,

prompting an outpouring of grief

from the community.

Police and firefighters responded

to a call near Mobile Street

and Laird Drive on Thursday.

Investigators say 26-year-old

Dylan Chase Owen was killed in

the crash.

The Alabama Law Enforcement

Agency is investigating what led

to the crash.

Chavell Parker, owner of Migh-

Tree Design, said the officer’s

death has affected the entire

community. While she didn’t

know Owen personally, she said

people have been sharing stories

about his impact.

“Someone came in today and

she said I just bought him a

drink yesterday and he was

playful arguing back and forth

with her but it was stories that

we can remember of just how

good of an officer he was and

how much he cared for the community,”

Parker said.

Parker said it’s hard to make

sense of what happened.

“It’s one of those things where

it’s a tragic event. All we can do

is learn to see each other and to

hold close of what we have that

links us together. To be there for

one another,” Parker said.

Owen had been with the Citronelle

Police Department for two

POLICE OFFICER DYLAN CHASE OWEN

years. In 2025, he received the

department's Rookie of the Year

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

TAOS COUNTY, NM.

Sergeant Joseph Apodaca was killed pursuing a wreckless driver on

NM-518 between Ranchos de Taos and Talpa.

A Taos County sheriff’s sergeant

was killed Friday night

after crashing into another

deputy’s pickup when they

were both looking for a suspected

reckless driver.

Sgt. Joseph Apodaca, 36, suffered

fatal injuries in the crash

a little south of Ranchos de

Taos and was pronounced dead

at 11:44 p.m. by the Office of the

Medical Investigator, according

to a news release from New

Mexico State Police, who are

investigating the incident.

“Sgt. Joseph Apodaca was

the kind of leader who did not

seek recognition but earned

the respect of everyone around

him through his actions,” Taos

County Sheriff Steve Miera said

in a news release sent out by

County Manager Brent Jaramillo

on Saturday morning. “He led

with humility, professionalism,

and quiet strength. His commitment

to this community and to

his fellow deputies never wavered.”

Apodaca started his career

with the county working at the

county jail in February 2014,

joining the sheriff’s department

in January 2018. He was also a


member of the department’s

Swift Water Rescue Team.

“His death is a painful reminder

of the risks law enforcement

officers face each

day in service to their communities,”state

Public Safety Cabinet

Secretary Jason Bowie said

in a statement. “On behalf of

the Department of Public Safety,

I extend my deepest condolences

to Sergeant Apodaca’s

family, his fellow deputies, the

Taos County Sheriff’s Office,

and all who knew and served

alongside him.

According to state police,

deputies were trying to find a

suspected reckless driver on

N.M. 518, the High Road to Taos,

between Ranchos de Taos and

Talpa around 10:25 p.m. They

believed the driver had turned

onto a dirt driveway near the

7200 block of the road.

A deputy driving a marked

police pickup started to make a

left turn into the driveway, and

Apodaca, who was driving a

department-issued motorcycle,

collided with the driver’s side

of the pickup.

“The New Mexico State Police

is committed to supporting the

SERGEANT JOSEPH APODACA

Taos County Sheriff’s Office in

any way we can as they grieve

the loss of their brother,” Matthew

Broom, chief of the New

Mexico State Police, said in a

statement. “We ask all New

Mexicans to keep his loved

ones, friends, and fellow deputies

in their thoughts as they

navigate the days ahead.”

The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s

Office and Santa Fe police

also expressed condolences in

social media posts.

“We honor Sgt. Joseph Apodaca’s

service, sacrifice and

dedication to protecting others,”

the sheriff’s office post

stated.

There really is no way to put into

words the devastation left behind

by the floods in the Texas Hill

County. The loss of life, especially

those lost from the camps along

what was the peaceful Guadalupe

River, is just incomprehensible. If

you’re the sheriff or police chief

of the town in the center of the

disaster, you are obligated to hold

daily press conferences. You share

what you know and when you

knew it. That’s what Kerr County

Sheriff Larry L. Leitha tried to do.

But each time he stood in front of

the cameras, the idiots from the

mainstream media, launched into

their blame-game questions.

Owning a police magazine

means you must wear two hats,

one of a First Responder and

another as a representative of the

media. While I am proud to be a

member of the first, I am embarrassed

to admit I have anything

to do with the latter. The outright

disrespect I witnessed from the

media towards the officials in Kerrville,

just trying to do their jobs

in unimaginable circumstances,

was unbelievable.

Sheriff Leitha showed great

restraint in dealing with these

lowlife reporters. Most I assume

were not from Texas. His job was

hard enough without Monday

Morning Quarterbacks criticizing

him for his every move. I wish my

good friend Sheriff Grady Judd

from Florida could spend a day

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

TAMPA, FL.

Tampa PD changes pursuit policy, takes back city radios from

Florida Highway Patrol.

By Tony Marrero,

Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA, FL. — In the wake of

November’s catastrophic car

crash in Ybor City that occurred

after a Florida Highway Patrol

pursuit, the Tampa Police Department

has updated its pursuit

policy and taken back city police

radios that had been issued to

the highway patrol.

The actions are outlined in an

internal memo to police Chief

Lee Bercaw summarizing the

agency’s internal review of the

Nov. 8 pursuit that ended when

the fleeing driver veered onto

the sidewalk and crashed into a

nightclub’s outdoor seating area,

killing four people and injuring

13. Bercaw signed the memo

Tuesday and the department released

it to the Tampa Bay Times

in response to a prior public

records request.

The review found that Tampa

police officers did not ask the

highway patrol to begin the Nov.

8 pursuit and did not participate

in it, District III Capt. Usilia Emilione

wrote in the memo.

The department also reviewed

all “fleeing to elude” incidents in

the city since February 2024 and

found that Tampa police did not


make such a request in any of

those incidents.

But the updated pursuit policy

now “clearly states that TPD officers

are prohibited from requesting

another agency to initiate a

pursuit when TPD policy would

not allow us to do so,” Emilione

wrote.

A Tampa police spokesperson

Tuesday provided the previous

and revised policy to the Times .

The new language states that

“under no circumstances shall

an officer request a law enforcement

officer from any other

agency to engage or pursue a

vehicle that fled from a traffic

stop or attempted traffic stop

when a pursuit is not authorized

under this policy.”

“Officers shall not ask other

law enforcement officers to do

for them what they are prohibited

from doing,” the policy states.

“A request to engage or pursue

will not be made directly or indirectly

in any form (cell phone,

text, radio, via Communications,

Aviation Unit or otherwise).”

While the review was still underway,

the police department

“as a proactive measure” took

back eight portable radios that

had been issued to the highway

patrol, Emilione’s memo says.

The department also updated

its policy to say that Tampa

police personnel are not allowed

to provide a portable police

AUTOGRAPHED COPIES- CLICK The BLUES HERE-

JUNE ‘26 39

radio to an officer from another

agency “without express authorization

from a captain or higher

authority” unless there is “exigent

operational need.”

The Florida Department of

Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,

which includes the highway

patrol, did not respond to a

requests for comment.

The crash cast a spotlight on

how Tampa police and the highway

patrol may have engaged

within the city’s jurisdiction

before the Ybor crash, especially

given that the agencies have

dramatically different pursuit

policies. The highway patrol,

which has jurisdiction to enforce

state law on virtually every public

road in Florida , encourages

its officers to pursue. The city of

Tampa has stricter guidelines.

The Times reported in December

that, as part of the internal

review, the police department

was looking at whether a prior

decision by a division commander

to share department radios

with state troopers played a role

in the crash.

State law enforcement agencies

already use a shared digital

network called the Statewide

Law Enforcement Radio System.

Local police departments

can patch into that system so

troopers and police officers can

talk directly. Police department

radios, however, allowed troopers

to communicate directly with

police officers and monitor radio

traffic on a citywide channel

used by Tampa police without

needing to be patched in.

The memo reiterates what

Tampa police and Mayor Jane

Castor, a former police chief,

told the Times last year: that

the radios were provided to the

highway patrol to allow for efficient

communication between

agencies in various situations

including “major events such as

Gasparilla, the 2017 (Seminole

Heights) serial killer investigation,

addressing street racing

takeovers and other special

operations, as well as routine

deployments in Ybor City.”

Castor previously said through

a spokesperson that state troopers

had the Tampa police radios

in their cars “so they have situational

awareness of what’s

going on in the areas they are

patrolling.”

The Times asked if the mayor

had concerns that sharing police

radios, whether intended or not,

may have resulted in troopers

starting pursuits in Tampa that

would be forbidden by the city’s

policy.

Now, Emilione’s memo states,

“future communication with FHP

will be coordinated with our

communications division with

the main radio frequencies to

ensure transparency and accountability

for all involved.”
































was unbelievable.










NEW RELEASE





AROUND THE COUNTRY

FORT SMITH,AR.

Officer Kyle Newman remains in critical condition after a suspect

opened fire during a roadside encounter, striking him in the neck.


FORT SMITH, AR. — A Fort

Smith Police officer was able to

return fire after being severely

wounded in a suspect attack,

40/29 News reported.

Officer Kyle Newman underwent

emergency surgery and is

in critical condition after being

shot in the neck by a suspect.

The May 17 incident unfolded

when Newman approached the

suspect’s crashed vehicle.

As Newman began to investigate

the suspect for possible

DUI, the suspect became argumentative,

eventually attempting

to flee in his truck, 40/29

reported. As Newman worked

to remove him from the vehicle

and detain him, the suspect

shot Newman in the neck.

Newman was able to fire his

gun as he fell to the ground.

Another officer heard the gunfire

and responded, reporting

the shots fired to dispatch,

shooting at the suspect inside

the vehicle and rendering aid to

Newman.

The suspect went on to lead

officers on a pursuit before

crashing the vehicle again, 40/29

reported. An officer-involved

shooting occurred, which left the











suspect dead. Officers located a

handgun in the vehicle.

“Officer Kyle Newman is fighting

for his life today because he

responded to protect this community

and was confronted with

an armed individual who chose

violence,” Fort Smith Police

Chief Danny Baker stated.

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AROUND THE COUNTRY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

New National Law Enforcement Museum exhibit revisits

D.C. snipers case.

By American Police Beat

WASHINGTON, DC – Barely

a year after the September 11

attacks, citizens in Washington,

D.C., and neighboring communities

in Maryland and Virginia

once again found themselves living

under a shroud of fear from

a deadly unknown. For 23 days in

October 2002, unknown assailants

stalked communities in the

region, shooting and killing individuals

randomly at truck stops,

gas stations and even a middle

school. Law enforcement professionals

from five federal and 14

local and state agencies combined

resources, manpower and

intelligence to track down the

D.C. snipers, turning their efforts

into one of the largest manhunts

conducted in the U.S.

By the end of those harrowing

three weeks, 10 people had been

killed and three more injured

in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

What’s more, after John Muhammad

and Lee Malvo were

captured and arrested, ongoing

investigations revealed the

pair had committed additional

crimes in other states, as well as

Muhammad’s history of domestic

violence and custody disputes,

which apparently served as


motives behind their terroristic

activities.

Now, nearly 25 years later, the

National Law Enforcement Museum

in D.C. has curated numerous

artifacts of this infamous case,

multimedia displays and historical

documentation for Without

Warning: Ending the Terror of

the D.C. Snipers, a new exhibit

that opened May 7, just prior to

Police Week, in the museum’s

DuPont Gallery. It will remain

open to visitors until December

2027.

APB spoke with Lauren Sydney,

deputy museum director and

director of exhibits and collections,

for a preview of what visitors

can expect and the broader

impact the case has had on law

enforcement over the past twoplus

decades.

What was the impetus behind

creating an exhibit of the D.C.

snipers’ crimes?

We’ve had the original evidence

from this case on loan

to us from the Prince William

County Police Department for

many years, so we have wanted

to tell this story for a very long

time. This exhibit is designed to

really highlight a small but powerful

number of artifacts that

allows visitors to get as close

as possible to the center of the

sniper case.

What are some of the artifacts

on display?

The modified Chevy Caprice

will be the central artifact. The

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car has only ever been on display

once before and never in the

D.C. area, so this is just a really

great opportunity to see such

an important piece of local and

national history. But we are also

displaying the Bushmaster rifle,

which was used in all of the

D.C.-area attacks. We’re displaying

some of the notes the snipers

left behind at crime scenes,

and we’ll be playing some of the

real 9-1-1 calls and police radio

recordings in the gallery to really

immerse visitors in the tension

of the case. Also, we have a

large map featured on one of the

walls with all of the victims —

their names and photos, and the

time of the shooting — we want

to make sure the human toll of

the exhibit is on display.

One of the things we gleaned

from speaking to law enforcement

officers working the case

is that everyone in the region

was a potential victim, and that

was one of the things hanging

over their heads the entire time

they were working this case. For

example, there’s one officer who

told a particularly poignant story

about driving past a pumpkin

field on the way to the headquarters

for the case investigation

team. It was October, and the

field was completely filled with

pumpkins because no one wanted

to be out picking where people

could potentially see them on

the side of the road.

Did you incur any challenges

while curating the exhibit?

One of the biggest challenges

of putting this exhibit together

was not to simply retell the

same story that has been told

many times before. There have

been a lot of documentaries,


podcasts, articles, and we even

put on an online exhibit for the

20th anniversary of the case.

So we really wanted to make

sure we weren’t just rehashing

stuff that someone could find if

they just turned on their favorite

streaming service. For us, that

came down to giving voice to

the law enforcement perspective

and really [using] that as a

touchstone, so visitors are getting

a different experience.

Because of our focus as a law

enforcement museum, we really

wanted to talk to the law enforcement

officers who worked

on this case, who were in the

trenches in October 2002, the

ones who were responding to

crime scenes and who were

coordinating the immense collaborative

effort that this case

required.

Has the museum planned any

additional educational programs

to coincide with the

exhibit?

We’ve already conducted a

program back in October that

was about domestic violence

and the relationship between

domestic violence and mass-casualty

attacks. Also, we want to

talk about the collective trauma

of a case, which affects a huge

number of agencies. We are also

interested in discussing the role

of the media in this case, because

that was a very important

aspect of how it unfolded, [as

well as] how the relationship between

law enforcement and the

media has evolved in the meantime.

We also will discuss the

technology used in the case and

how much it has changed since

2002, such as facial recognition,

drones or license plate readers,

all of which would have made a

very big impact on this case.

“This exhibit is a way to remind

the visiting survivors and law

enforcement officers … of the

incredible effort and courage it

took to solve this case.”

What was it like for you personally

to build this exhibit?

I grew up in this area, so I

remember this case. For me, the

most powerful objects are the

handwritten notes left by the

snipers at a couple of different

crime scenes. [They] created

them so they could speak directly

to the police; they were sort

of a warning, but also taunting

police about what else they

might do. Also, law enforcement

was very focused on trying to

help people feel safe, and I think

the community and law enforcement

working together is definitely

an important takeaway.

What are you hoping the

exhibit will convey to law enforcement

professionals and

other visitors who come to see

it?

We’re hoping our law enforcement

visitors are able to

take back with them the role

of collaboration in this case. It

became very clear, very quickly

that everyone was going to need

to be involved. We want visitors

to understand just how tense,

how difficult and how harrowing

it was to be doing police work

while all around you there were

more and more victims and the

snipers were sending in notes

and phone calls. It took a Herculean

effort under very difficult

circumstances. For more information

about the exhibit and to

plan your visit to the museum,

visit NLEOMF.org/museum.


AROUND THE COUNTRY

ACROSS THE US

The Latest Breaking News as we go LIVE.

TRUMP PRAISES POLICE,

HIGHLIGHTS CRIME AND IM-

MIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

DURING POLICE WEEK

Sarah Roebuck

WASHINGTON — President

Donald Trump marked Police

Week at the White House by

praising law enforcement officers,

honoring fallen officers and

highlighting his administration’s

public safety priorities.

Speaking during a Rose Garden

event on May 11, Trump said Police

Week is a time to recognize

“the heroes who keep America

safe” and remember officers

who died in the line of duty.

“This week especially, our

thoughts turn to the officers who

gave their lives in the line of

duty,” Trump said. “To all of the

incredible police officers, sheriffs,

deputies, law enforcement

officers — all law enforcement

— we want to thank you.”

Trump issued a proclamation

designating May 15, 2026, as

Peace Officers Memorial Day and

May 10-16 as Police Week. The

observance dates back to 1962,

when President John F. Kennedy

signed a proclamation designating

May 15 as Peace Officers

Memorial Day.


In the proclamation, Trump

said the nation “stands resolutely

beside the families” of officers

killed in the line of duty and

recognized officers injured while

serving their communities.

During the event, Trump recognized

leaders from several federal

law enforcement agencies,

including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S.

Marshals Service, Secret Service,

U.S. Park Police and Department

of Homeland Security. He also

recognized leaders from the Fraternal

Order of Police, National

Sheriffs’ Association, National

Border Patrol Council and Federal

Law Enforcement Officers

Association.

Trump said his administration

has focused on reducing crime

in Washington, D.C., crediting the

National Guard, federal law enforcement

and local partners for

public safety efforts in the city.

“We took Washington, D.C.,

which was a very, very dangerous

place ... into one of the

safest cities anywhere in our

country,” Trump said.

Trump also said his administration

has made “nearly 200,000

criminal arrests nationwide” and

removed “nearly 615,000 illegal

alien criminals” from the country.

The president also referenced

an executive order he said directed

the attorney general to

pursue the death penalty for any-

NEW RELEASE




one convicted of killing a police

officer.

“From day one, my administration

has made public safety and

the support of our law enforcement

our absolute highest priority,”

Trump said.

The event also included recognition

of NYPD Assistant Chief

Aaron Edwards, whom Trump

praised for helping apprehend a

suspect during a violent protest

outside Gracie Mansion. Trump

said Edwards was inspired to

join the NYPD after seeing officers

respond to the Sept. 11

attacks.

“This Police Week, we pray for

the families of our fallen officers,”

Trump said. “And we thank

the heroes who wear the badge

and risk their lives every day on

behalf of our nation.”

Trump closed by telling officers

in attendance that they are

“restoring the foundation of law

and order” in the country.

“You don’t know how much

respect people respect you. They

love you,” Trump said. “I know it.

And they tell me about it all the

time.”

MAN THREATENS OFFICERS

WITH MACHETE, ATTACKS K-9

BEFORE OIS

Police1 Staff

OXNARD, CA. — The Oxnard

Police Department released

body camera video showing an

officer-involved shooting of a

machete-wielding man inside a

restaurant.

Officers responded around

12:10 p.m. on April 20 to multiple

reports of a man swinging a

machete near Saviers Road and

Pleasant Valley Road, according

to the department. The man was


later identified as 41-year-old

Oxnard resident Anastacio Meneses.

When officers arrived, they

found Meneses inside a restaurant

in the 5000 block of Saviers

Road. Officers evacuated several

patrons, but two restaurant employees

were unable to get out,

police said.

Officers gave Meneses repeated

commands to stand up,

move away from the machete

and leave the restaurant. Police

said Meneses stood up, quickly

lowered his hands, grabbed the

machete, flipped over a table

and raised the weapon.

An officer fired three rounds,

striking Meneses and causing

him to fall. Police said Meneses

then got back up and charged at

officers with the machete raised.

The fired three additional rounds,

striking Meneses again.

Meneses remained armed,

video released on May 7 shows.

Officers continued speaking with

him for more than two minutes,

telling him to drop the machete

and crawl toward them so they

could provide first aid.

When Meneses did not comply,

K-9 Officer James Kitka deployed

CLICK TO WATCH

Police Service Dog Al. Police said

Meneses attacked the K-9 with

the machete, cutting the dog’s

upper lip. Officers then disarmed

Meneses and placed him in

handcuffs.

Officers immediately began

rendering medical aid. Meneses

was taken to Ventura County

Medical Center, where he was

treated for gunshot wounds.

No officers were injured. K-9 Al

was treated at a veterinary clinic

for minor injuries and has since

returned to duty.

Meneses remains hospitalized

in Ventura County, according to

police. Upon his release, he faces

charges including assault with a

deadly weapon, felony assault of

a police service dog and exhibiting

a deadly weapon with intent

to resist arrest by a police officer.

WATCH NYPD’S DARING

RESCUE OF WOMAN ON SKY-

SCRAPER LEDGE

By Thomas Tracy

New York Daily News

Members of the NYPD’s elite

Emergency Services Unit rescued

a distraught woman seated on

the edge of a Brooklyn skyscrap-































was unbelievable.














er 30 stories above the sidewalk,

harrowing body-worn camera

footage released Saturday

shows.

“Don’t do it, please. Don’t do it,

ma’am,” one cop implored the

crying woman, grabbing hold of

her hand as she sat at a windy

corner of the Avalon Willoughby

Square on Duffield St. near Willoughby

St. in downtown Brooklyn

at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The crying 41-year-old woman,

wearing a black dress with no

shoes, made it more than halfway

up the 58-story skyscraper

before she stepped out onto a

corner sun deck and climbed

over a plexiglass partition along

the building’s edge.

When cops found her, she had

one leg over the side and was

holding onto an opening in the

plexiglass. Responding officers

reached out and grabbed her

hand as they tried to calm her

down and called ESU.

“Tell my mom and dad that I

love them,” the sobbing woman

said. A strong wind could be

heard on the camera’s microphone,

and the woman’s skirt

could be seen flapping in the

breeze.

“Please don’t do it, we care

about you,” the cop said, begging

the woman not to jump.

“We don’t want you to hurt

yourself.”

ESU members raced up to the

sun deck where two cops tethered

themselves to a chest-high

wall on the roof and vaulted over

the plexiglass partition to join he

woman.

Through it all, the cops tried to

calm the woman down as they

asked her to join them back on

the sun deck.


“I’m here now, OK,” one ESU

cop is heard assuring the woman.

“I told you I was going to

come and help you. Listen to me,

we’re going to do this together.

We can sit here for 10 minutes.

We can sit here for a half hour.

I want to make sure you’re safe

and you’re OK.”

“Whatever you are going

through I will personally help

you,” he said.

“No…not yet,” the frightened

woman said.

The cop assured her that she

didn’t have to move right away.

“I have you,” he said. “Trust me

and believe me I have you. We’ll

get through this together.”

The cops offered the woman

a phone so she could call

her mother as she built up the

courage to climb back over the

partition.

“Look where we’re at,” the ESU

officer said as he looked out

onto downtown Brooklyn, trying

to lighten the mood. “We have

the best view in the city.”

After a few moments, the

woman agreed to go back over.

The ESU cops assisted her back

over the partition onto the sundeck.

CLICK TO WATCH

Medics rushed the woman to

an area hospital for an observation,

an NYPD spokesman said.

“Heroism and heart from NY’s

Finest,” the NYPD said on X as

they posted the body-camera

footage Saturday. “When a

woman was seated on the ledge

of a high-rise building in Brooklyn,

our officers quickly responded,

using their training to save

her life.”

STANDOFF LEAVES TWO N.Y.

POLICE OFFICERS SHOT AFTER

MACHETE ATTACK

By Darian Stevenson

SYRACUSE, NY—Two dogs

were injured in a machete attack

that sparked a police shooting

and a six-hour standoff at

Pioneer Homes in Syracuse on

Saturday, police said.

One of the dogs, a male, was

stabbed in the head with the machete,

according to Sgt. Thomas

Blake, a spokesperson for the

Syracuse Police Department. The

dog had to be taken for emergency

care at a veterinary hospital,

he said.

Rodney Vanderpool, 55, of

Syracuse, repeatedly swung a

machete at a man walking two




dogs on leashes Saturday morning

at Tyler Court in Syracuse,

according to a criminal complaint

filed in Syracuse city court.

Police said in the documents that

Vanderpool missed the man but

hit both dogs because they were

standing close to him, causing

severe cuts.

The dogs, pit bull mixes, a

male and a female, are in stable

condition Sunday and expected

to survive, Blake said.

The machete incident was

part of a larger confrontation

Saturday that escalated into a

six-hour standoff with Syracuse

police at the housing complex

near downtown Syracuse.

Around 6 a.m. Saturday, officers

responded to reports of a

man menacing people with a

machete, Police Chief Mark Rusin

said Saturday.

Vanderpool confronted a man

with a machete and swung at

him but hit the dogs, according

to an accusatory document filed

in Syracuse City Court. He then

retreated into his apartment at

120 Tyler Court.

Rusin said officers returned

around 9:30 a.m. with a search

warrant. As they tried to execute

it, Vanderpool pointed the shotgun

directly at officers before he

opened fire, hitting two officers

and injuring a third by a ricochet

that hit his hand, police and

court documents said.

The shooting was captured on

body-worn camera, according to

court documents.

All three were taken to Upstate

University Hospital. They have all

since been released, Blake said

Sunday. All of the officers are OK,

he added.

During the standoff, police


said Vanderpool continued firing

shots from inside his apartment.

Gunfire could be heard throughout

the late morning and early

afternoon.

More than 100 officers responded

from roughly a dozen

agencies, including Syracuse

Police, Syracuse SWAT, the Onondaga

County Sheriff’s Office,

State Police, the FBI, and the ATF.

Drones and a sheriff’s helicopter

were also used as authorities

worked to locate Vanderpool

inside the building, Rusin said.

Rusin said officers tried to

communicate with Vanderpool

using cell phones and a longrange

acoustic device, but those

efforts were unsuccessful.

Around 3:15 p.m., Vanderpool

walked out of the apartment

with his hands up and was taken

into custody, police said.

Vanderpool was charged with:

• Attempted murder, first degree,

three counts

• Attempted assault, second

degree

• Criminal use of a firearm, first

degree.

• Menacing, second-degree

• Criminal possession of a

weapon, fourth degree

• Aggravated cruelty to animals

under the Agriculture and Markets

Law

FLEEING MAN SHOOTS CALIF.

OFFICER BEFORE FATAL OIS

By Sydney Barragan

Pasadena Star-News, Calif.

PASADENA, CA. — A Pasadena

man fatally shot by police in

March after wounding an officer

had allegedly first shot a man

who tried to intervene in a sexual

assault, according to a critical

incident report and video released

by the police department

on Friday, May 15.

The man, Malcolm Buchanan,

32, was later captured on

a witness’s video committing a

second assault against the same

woman before opening fire on

officers during a foot pursuit, the

video released by police shows.

The report and video provide

new details about the March 2

shooting near the Sierra Madre

Villa Metro station, where Officer

Bryan Vasquez was wounded

during an exchange of gunfire

with Buchanan.

According to the department’s

video narration, officers were

dispatched around 7:30 p.m. to


the Metro station after reports of

a shooting.

Body camera footage showed

officers making contact with a

wounded man while someone

applied pressure to his injury.

Police said the victim described

the suspect as a man in his 30s

wearing a white shirt and black

shorts, with a “P” tattoo on his

face.

A woman then approached officers

and said the man had been

shot while trying to stop her

from being sexually assaulted,

according to police.


the woman speaking with officers

near the Metro station.

“He grabbed me. He held me.

Then he shoots at him,” the

woman said in the footage, referring

to Buchanan and the man

she said he shot.

Police said witness video captured

a second sexual assault

involving the same woman near

the 3300 block of East Foothill

Boulevard before Buchanan fled

the area.

Officers located a man matching

Buchanan’s description near

the 600 block of Sierra Madre

Villa Avenue, police said.


officers chasing a man wearing

a white shirt and black shorts

while repeatedly ordering him to

stop and drop his backpack.

According to police, Buchanan

stopped, turned toward an

officer and fired multiple rounds

from a handgun, prompting officers

to return fire.

The footage captured the

sound of multiple gunshots. One

officer’s body camera showed

Buchanan falling to the ground

before additional gunfire erupted


moments later.

Text shown in the department’s

video states Buchanan “sits up

and re-engages officer in gunfire”

after initially falling to the

ground.

The wounded officer can then

be heard saying, “My leg, my

leg.”

Additional footage showed

officers rendering aid while another

officer warned colleagues

to “keep an eye on that gun,”

referring to a firearm near the

suspect.

Police later recovered what investigators

described as a stolen

Glock handgun from the scene.

The firearm had been reported

stolen out of Los Angeles, according

to the video narration.

Police said Buchanan was on

active parole for armed robbery

at the time of the shooting.

Vasquez, a five-year veteran

of the department, underwent

surgery following the shooting

and was hospitalized in guarded

condition, according to previous

statements from Pasadena

police.

The shooting remains under

investigation by the Pasadena

Police Department and the Los

CLICK TO WATCH

Angeles County District Attorney’s

Office.

RETIRED COP AGREES TO

$850K SETTLEMENT WITH

TENN. SHERIFF WHO ARREST-

ED HIM OVER CHARLIE KIRK

POSTS

By R.J. Rico

Associated Press

PERRY COUNTY, TN. — Tennessee

officials will pay $835,000

to settle a lawsuit filed by a man

who was jailed for more than a

month over a Facebook post he

made about the assassination of

conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Larry Bushart, a 61-year-old

retired police officer, spent 37

days behind bars before authorities

dropped the felony charge

against him in October.

During his time in jail, Bushart

lost his postretirement job and

missed his wedding anniversary

and the birth of his granddaughter,

according to a federal lawsuit

Bushart filed in December

against Perry County, its sheriff

and the investigator who obtained

the arrest warrant.

“I am pleased my First Amendment

rights have been vindicated,”

Bushart said in a statement

NEW RELEASE



announcing the settlement

Wednesday. “The people’s freedom

to participate in civil discourse

is crucial to a healthy

democracy. I am looking forward

to moving on and spending time

with my family.”

Perry County Mayor John Carroll

did not immediately respond

to a Wednesday message left

with his office seeking an interview.

Bushart was arrested in September

after he refused to take

down Facebook memes that

joked about Kirk’s killing, which

had prompted an outpouring of

grief, including in Perry County,

which is near Bushart’s home

and which held a candlelight

vigil.

The meme Bushart posted that

prompted his arrest read: “This

seems relevant today...” and

featured President Donald Trump

and the words, “We have to get

over it.” That quote, the meme

explained, was said by Trump in

2024 after a school shooting at

Iowa’s Perry High School.

Perry County Sheriff Nick

Weems told news outlets that

most of Bushart’s “hate memes”

were lawful free speech,

but residents were alarmed by

the school shooting post, fearing

Bushart was threatening a

local school, also called Perry

County High School, even though

Weems said he knew the meme

referred to a school in Iowa.

“Investigators believe Bushart

was fully aware of the fear his

post would cause and intentionally

sought to create hysteria

within the community,” Weems

said in a statement to The Tennessean

last year.

Bushart’s bail was set at $2


million before he was released

as the case drew national attention.

“It’s in times of turmoil and

heightened tensions that our

national commitment to free

speech is tested the most,” said

Cary Davis, an attorney for the

Foundation for Individual Rights

and Expression, which helped

represent Bushart. “When government

officials fail that test,

the Constitution exists to hold

them accountable. Our hope is

that Larry’s settlement sends a

message to law enforcement

across the country: Respect the

First Amendment today, or be

prepared to pay the price tomorrow.”

BOSTON OFFICER INDICTED

ON MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

IN FATAL OIS

By Charlie McKenna

masslive.com

BOSTON, MA. — A Boston Police

officer was indicted on a manslaughter

charge on Wednesday

in the fatal shooting of a man

while responding to a call for

a carjacking in March, Suffolk

County District Attorney Kevin

Hayden’s office announced.

The indictment handed up by a

grand jury on Wednesday came

a day before Officer Nicholas

O’Malley was set to appear in

the Roxbury division of Boston

Municipal Court. After his indictment,

prosecutors formally

closed the municipal court case.

O’Malley will be arraigned in

Suffolk Superior Court before a

clerk magistrate on June 4.

O’Malley fatally shot 39-yearold

Stephenson King Jr. in Roxbury

on March 11 — he was arrested

on a manslaughter charge

eight days later. The indictment

was the expected next step and

formally moved the case to Suffolk

Superior Court.

O’Malley has said he believed

he and his partner were in imminent

danger from King, who

prosecutors say had just carjacked

a woman.

But prosecutors have said

body-camera footage contradicts

O’Malley’s account of what

happened and shows there was

no legal justification for the use

of deadly force. The footage has

not been released publicly.

In a statement, O’Malley’s defense

lawyers — David Yannetti

and Christina Pujals Ronan —

said the indictment was a “foregone

conclusion” after Hayden’s


office made the “ill-advised

decision” to charge O’Malley with

a crime.

The lawyers also criticized

prosecutors’ decision to close the

pending case ahead of a hearing,

saying it represented a break

from the way cases traditionally

play out. They claimed that prosecutors

closed the case to prevent

several motions they filed

from being heard in court.

Last week, O’Malley’s defense

filed a series of motions seeking

information about King’s criminal

history, indicating in court

papers that he had at least 17

criminal cases.

“The D.A.’s office has provided

minimal discovery to the defense,

despite the fact that the

case has been pending in court

for over two months,” the lawyers

wrote in a statement posted

to X hours after the indictment

on Wednesday. “Our firm has

contacted the prosecution today

to demand basic, mandatory

discovery immediately.”

“We will fully investigate this

case and get to the truth, despite

the roadblocks they attempt to

put in front of us,” the statement

reads.

Prosecutors met with King’s

family on Wednesday to show

them the footage, Hayden’s office

said.

In a statement, attorney Ben

Crump, who is representing

the family, said the indictment

“sends a powerful message

about the seriousness of this

case.”

“This family knows that accountability

cannot stop here,”

he said. “For months, Stephenson

King Jr .’s loved ones have been

grieving the devastating loss of


a son, a family member and a

man whose life mattered deeply,

while also fighting for the transparency

and accountability they

deserve.”

Crump didn’t respond to a

request for comment on what is

shown in the body-camera footage,

which he and the family had

repeatedly asked Hayden’s office

to release.

AUSTIN MAYOR, TOP COP:

ALPR SYSTEM COULD HAVE

LED TO QUICKER ARRESTS IN

SHOOTING SPREE

AUSTIN, Texas — Public officials

in Austin are reconsidering

their ALPR camera network

contract after a string of twelve

shootings unfolded over a few

days, KXAN reported.

Four people were injured in

the shootings, which took place

across multiple locations.

The three suspects, all juveniles,

were eventually nabbed

by the neighboring Manor Police

Department, which used its own

Flock Safety ALPR network to

identify the suspects’ vehicles,

according to the company. Austin

turned off its network in 2025,

Flock Safety noted.

“Manor is a city of roughly

20,000 residents with a fraction

of Austin’s resources. What

Manor has is an active license

plate recognition network and

the community support to keep

it running. Manor PD located the

suspects almost immediately.

The spree ended. Residents

stayed safe,” Flock said in a

statement.

Mayor Kirk Watson called on

the city to reconsider its contract

in light of the shootings.

“What I will say is this, probably

having license plate readers

would have been helpful under

these circumstances,” Watson

said during a joint conference

with Police Chief Lisa Davis. “So,

we need to make sure when we

are trying to reach balance and

perspective, we take all of that

into account.”

Watson also issued a written

statement, saying that newly

enacted city policy will help to

govern the technology in a way

that would prevent unapproved

uses.

“The Council has passed the

TRUST Act, which gives us the

framework and clarity needed to

move forward on the use of LPRs

in Austin ... Now that we have the

framework in place, it is time we

AUTOGRAPHED COPIES- The BLUES CLICK - JUNE HERE‘26

61

move forward. We need to give

our law enforcement professionals

the tools they need to make

sure people are safe.”

Councilmember Mike Siegel,

who has been a prominent figure

in opposition to the technology,

responded by citing cases of the

network being used for enforcement

actions related to immigration,

abortion and protests.

“I understand why we are asking

the question of which tools

should APD acquire to keep us as

safe as possible,” Siegel said. “I

want to balance our response to

make sure that we aren’t adopting

new technologies that make

us less safe, overall.”

The system was turned off in

June 2025 following an audit of

the Austin Police Department’s

ALPR data, KXAN reported.

Before the contract ended, APD

Assistant Chief Sheldon Askew

told the city council that the

technology made the department

“more successful” due to a

staff shortage.

“Currently, we do not have

enough officers to [perform] the

job that we would prefer to do

without the use of technology to

supplement [our] work,” Askew

said. “We’re just better [and]

more successful when we have

technology such as ALPR.”

GUNMAN SHOOTS AT HALL

MONITORS, POINTS GUN AT

OFFICER ON SCHOOL CAMPUS

By Bryan Horwath

Las Vegas Review-Journal

Video footage shows the

situation that unfolded when

an armed man who police have

said shot at hall monitors on the

Legacy High School campus was

fired upon by a North Las Vegas


officer.

The gunman then shot himself

in the head, police have said.

Body camera and aerial video

clips of the May 14 incident that

were released Thursday by the

North Las Vegas Police Department

showed the man in the video,

identified by police as Jallel

Jenkins-Harris, 21, falling to the

ground, a handgun flying out of

his hand, after the self-inflicted

shooting. Police blurred out

the portion of the footage that

appears to show Jenkins-Harris

shooting himself on the campus

between a baseball field and a

set of tennis courts.

The videos were part of what

the Police Department refers to

as a Critical Incident Briefing,

which was released Thursday.

Instead of a news briefing held

in front of reporters, as is the

case with the Metropolitan Police

Department after shootings

involving police officers, police

in North Las Vegas typically

release such briefings in a video

sent by email. Thursday’s briefing

featured a pre-recorded video

with police spokesperson officer

Roberto Vaquera describing

the incident, as well as police

body camera footage and photographs.

“This information reflects what

we know at this stage of the investigation,”

Vaquera said in the

CLICK TO WATCH

video.

According to Vaquera, Jenkins-Harris,

21, had fired a shot

in the direction of two hall

monitors who were outside the

school, which is on Deer Springs

Way, near North Fifth Street and

the northern 215 Beltway.

Vaquera said North Las Vegas

officer Manuel Vital saw Jenkins-Harris

approaching one of

the main school buildings and

fired two shots from his rifle at

him. Jenkins-Harris was not hit.

Seconds later, Vaquera said,

Jenkins-Harris turned the Glock

9 mm handgun he was holding

on himself.

He was taken to University

Medical Center, where he was

later listed in stable condition,

Vaquera said. Jenkins-Harris

was charged with multiple felonies.

An arrest report said the incident

began after North Las Vegas

police were first called to a

Target store, at 7090 N. Fifth St.,

for a report of a man concealing

items in a black backpack.

According to the arrest report

and Vaquera’s video account,

Jenkins-Harris fled through the

store’s rear doors and pointed

a handgun at a police sergeant

who was sitting in his patrol

vehicle.

“The officer repeatedly told

Jenkins-Harris to stop and drop

the firearm, however, he ignored

those commands and continued

westbound,” Vaquera said.

Vaquera said Jenkins-Harris

fled to a nearby neighborhood,

where he “entered multiple residential

properties,” according to

Vaquera. He was then spotted by

a Metro police helicopter pilot at

the high school, according to the

arrest report.

Jenkins-Harris, police said,

had been released from jail the

morning of the shooting. Vaquera

said Jenkins-Harris has

been arrested by North Las Vegas

or Metro police over 20 times.

Vital, who was hired by the

North Las Vegas Police Department

in 2006, has been placed

on paid administrative leave

while the investigation into the

incident continues.

FLA. CONFERENCE ATTEND-

EES DENIED ENTRY AT DISNEY

SPRINGS COMPLEX OVER LAW

ENFORCEMENT APPAREL

By Joe Vince

A Disney resort complex

in Florida is apologizing for

wrongly turning away attendees

at a traffic safety conference this

week for sporting apparel with

law enforcement logos.

Police officers and law enforcement

members at the Institute

of Police

Technology and Management

Symposium on Traffic Safety in

Orlando were told by security

that they couldn't enter the Disney

Springs shopping and entertainment

complex if they were

wearing shirts and other clothing

with agency logos, WKMG-TV

reports. Attendees were told to

wear plain attire if they wanted

to enter Disney Springs.

"We were not allowed to enter

wearing law enforcement related

clothing," an officer who

requested to be anonymous told

WKMG. "They said we could turn

it inside out."

On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Jay

Collins went to the conference

to try to resolve the matter. He

spoke to security officials, and a

solution was reached Thursday.

"They will be able to wear a

polo shirt appropriately when

they walk in," Collins told

WKMG. They won’t be rolled

back."

Disney called the situation a

misunderstanding with security,

which thought law enforcement

apparel would confuse guests.

That policy interpretation was

too conservative, and the company

has apologized for the

mix-up, representatives told

WKMG.

MINN. OFFICER ARRESTS COP

ACCUSED OF DRIVING WITH

BAC OVER 3X THE LEGAL LIMIT

BY Joanna Putman

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Dash

camera footage released by the

Bloomington Police Department

shows the arrest of a part-time

CLICK TO WATCH

Minnesota police officer accused

of driving drunk.

Bloomington Chief Booker

Hodges announced the arrest of

a 61-year-old officer with the

Chatfield Police Department on

May 21 after he crashed his unmarked

vehicle while exceeding

the speed limit.

Dash camera video shows the

man exiting the vehicle with the

assistance of a Bloomington

Police officer, dressed in full

uniform, along with a badge and

gun.

The Bloomington officer appears

to be supporting the man

as he stumbled toward the cruiser.

The man had a blood alcohol

level over three times the legal

limit, at .28. He had been working

a shift at the state fair only

an hour prior, Hodges said.

“I don’t care who you are, you

come to our city and break the

law, we’re going to lock you up.

I’m glad no member of the public

was hurt,” said Hodges. “Hopefully,

you get the help you need,

but don’t come to my city with

3x the legal limit.”


MD. OFFICER CONVICTED OF

ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR 2024

SHOOTING AT UNARMED MAN

ON ROADSIDE

BY Joanna Putman

BOWIE, Md. — A Bowie Police

officer was convicted of attempted

murder for shooting at

a man in 2024, NBC 4 Washington

reported.

The Sept. 12, 2024 incident unfolded

when Sgt. Robert Warrington

stopped to check on an

SUV parked on the inside shoulder

of a busy roadway. A man

had exited the vehicle, while a

woman remained in the driver’s

seat. Their children were also in

the vehicle, the man told NBC 4.

The man stated he was going

to retrieve his hat that had blown

away and was returning to the

vehicle when he encountered the

officer.

Dash camera footage shows

the man walking past Warrington

toward the passenger’s

seat, holding what appears to

be an article of clothing. As he

adjusts the object in his hand,

Warrington draws his gun and

fires a shot at the man from behind.

Body camera footage reveals

what was said during the

incident. The victim informs

Warrington that the woman is

driving him to the hospital. As

Warrington draws his gun, he

apparently begins to tell the victim

to put his hands up, but does

not finish the instruction before

firing the shot.

“He had a gun. He had a gun,”

Warrington said.

“I don’t have a gun,” the man

said.

The woman screamed, “What

did you do?”


“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.

I’m sorry,” Warrington said.

Warrington was convicted of

felony attempted second-degree

murder, first-degree assault,

reckless endangerment

and misconduct in office, NBC 4

reported. The Bowie PD stated

it is required to fire any officers

convicted of felonies.

BWC SHOWS ARREST OF

ORE. MAN WHOSE KIDNAP-

PING ATTEMPT WAS THWART-

ED BY 85-YEAR-OLD BYSTAND-

ER

By Sophia Cossette

oregonlive.com

CENTRAL POINT, OR. — A

Central Point man tried to kidnap

a 25-year-old woman after

stalking and tasing her at a

mobile-home park in Medford

last week, prosecutors allege in

court documents.

Matthew Hokulii Aranda, 42,

faces charges of assault, attempted

kidnapping, stalking,

unlawful use of a global positioning

system device, unlawful

use of a weapon and menacing.

On the morning of May 8, Aranda

posed as a utility worker and

CLICK TO WATCH

waited for the victim for several

hours at a mobile-home park in

the 3900 block of South Stage

Road in Medford, according to

the Jackson County Sheriff’s

Office. Aranda allegedly used

a Taser, a conducted-energy

device, on the woman and then

physically attacked her.

An 85-year-old resident of the

mobile-home park heard the

woman’s screams and confronted

Aranda, investigators said.

Aranda tased the resident who

intervened and then chased his

initial victim with a large hunting

knife, officials said. The woman

was able to get in her car, and

Aranda jumped onto the hood,

but fell off as she drove away.

Officers using a police dog

found Aranda injured and hiding

in a nearby bush, pulled him out

and arrested him.

Police said the woman Aranda

tried to kidnap works as a caregiver

at the mobile-home park.

Officials have not released her

name or said whether she knows

Aranda.

Court records show that Aranda

was convicted in 2016 of

charges including stalking, using































was unbelievable.










NEW RELEASE





a child in display of sexually explicit

conduct and delivery of a

controlled substance to a minor.

FIRST RESPONDERS EX-

POSED TO FENTANYL IN DEAD-

LY NEW MEXICO INCIDENT,

OFFICIALS SAY

By John Rupolo

New Mexico State Police have

identified the unknown substance

that caused three deaths

and hospitalized several others,

including first responders.

State police say 25 people

were exposed to fentanyl, methamphetamine,

and para-fluorofentanyl

in powdered form.

Of the 25 people who were

exposed, 20 were treated at the

University of New Mexico Hospital

and released, two remain

hospitalized, and three died.

First responders who arrived

at the home were exposed to the

substance and began experiencing

symptoms, including nausea

and dizziness, authorities said.

Investigators haven't yet determined

how the substance was

transmitted to first responders,

whether by skin contact or some

other means.

Fentanyl is a potent opioid

that's mainly used for pain relief.

According to the Drug Enforcement

Administration, the drug

is 100 times more potent than

morphine and 50 times stronger

than heroin as an analgesic.

Antonette Alguire, a volunteer

firefighter in Mountainair, helped

perform CPR on a woman outside

the home and watched as

EMTs and firefighters started

coughing, vomiting and becoming

dizzy at the heliport, she

said. Alguire said the experience


was scary, even though she

didn't go inside and didn't experience

any symptoms.

She wondered if first responders

might have to do more to

protect themselves in the future.

“It’s getting to that point where

we just have to live in fear, even

saving lives," she said.

Nearly two dozen patients

were assessed and decontaminated

after being exposed to the

substance, the University of New

Mexico Hospital said. Most of

those were first responders who

were showing no symptoms and

later were discharged, hospital

officials said.

Residents voiced frustration on

CLICK TO WATCH

social media about drug use in

the community and elsewhere.

New Mexico had the fourth-highest

rate of drug overdose deaths

of any U.S. state in 2024, with 775

deaths, according to the most

recent data available by the

Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.

Nieto said on social media that

the town's law enforcement officers

and first responders work

daily to protect the community

and respond to difficult situations.

“But the reality is that addiction

and substance abuse are issues

affecting communities all across

our state and nation,” Nieto said.

“There is no simple or immediate

solution. Lasting change requires

family support, accountability,

education, and most importantly,

individuals who are willing to

accept help.”

CALIF. DEPUTIES RUN BEAR-

CAT OVER MAN WHO KILLED

OFFICER, FIRED SHOTS AT

THEM

By Joanna Putman

PORTERVILLE, Calif. — Kern

County Sheriff’s Office determined

that deputies acted within

policy during a deadly standoff

in Porterville that began after

a Tulare County sheriff’s deputy

was fatally shot during an

eviction attempt, according to a

critical incident briefing.

According to the Kern County

Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County

deputies responded around 1 p.m.

on April 9 to contact a suspect

during an eviction when the suspect

opened fire, killing Tulare

County Detective Randy Hoppert.

Kern County’s SWAT team

arrived about 90 minutes later

to assist with the active incident

alongside other law enforcement

agencies. Deputies evacuated

nearby residents while the suspect

continued firing from inside

the home.

Negotiators and tactical teams

attempted to secure a peaceful

surrender while using armored

vehicles and specialized equipment

to contain the suspect, the

Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Around 5:30 p.m., officials said

the suspect fired multiple rounds

at a Kern County armored Rook

vehicle from inside the residence.

Later, as SWAT operators

searched the backyard using a

BearCat armored vehicle, drone

video shows the suspect firing at

the vehicle’s front window while

armed with a rifle and handgun.

Authorities said deputies then

used the BearCat as a means of

deadly force to stop the threat

posed by the suspect.

Video shows the vehicle twice

approaching the suspect’s location,

which the sheriff’s office

labeled as uses of force. The

drone was then repositioned,

showing the suspect lying prone

while continuing to manipulate a

firearm. The vehicle then ran over

the suspect, killing him.

The Visalia Police Department

is leading the investigation into

the fatal shooting of Detective

Hoppert, while Kern County investigators

conducted a separate

review of the SWAT team’s use

of force.

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office

said an internal Incident Review

Board convened on May 12 and

determined the deputies’ actions

were within department policy.

CLICK TO WATCH

MICH. OFFICER DRAWS GUN

AFTER HIGH SCHOOLER LUNG-

ES FROM BEHIND CAR, SHOOTS

WATER GUN AT HIM

By Roberto Acosta

mlive.com

DAVISON TWP, Mich. — Students

are being cautioned after

a water gun prank led police to

a neighborhood to investigate a

report of suspicious activity and

resulted in an officer drawing his

gun.

The officer was called out at

10:22 p.m. Friday, May 8, to the

Townline East subdivision in Davison

Township.

Davison Township police Chief

Jay Rendon said an 18-year-old

was hiding behind a car in the

neighborhood.

The responding officer approached

from a fence and

“thought he saw some movement

or a shadow,” Rendon said.

Body-cam footage of the incident

provided by the department

shows the officer approaching

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a vehicle in the driveway of a

home.

As the officer rounded the front

of the vehicle on the driver’s

side, with his gun drawn, Rendon

said, “The kid lunged out and

shot him with a water gun.”

“Once he was able to determine

this was a kid with a

squirt gun, he ordered him to the

ground,” the chief said.

In the video, the teen can be

seen getting on a knee and is

heard apologizing multiple times

to the officer.

“You just scared the absolute

dog (expletive) out of me,” the

officer says.

“I’m a very lucky guy,” the teen

says, to which the officer replied

he is.

The officer then can be heard

on his radio, stating “I’m all set.

It’s some kid doing water wars.”

Rendon said the prank involves

high school students being

assigned a “target” to try and

squirt with a water gun.

In light of the recent police

involvement, Davison Community

Schools Superintendent Matt

Lobban issued a letter to parents

and students.

“We are reaching out today

because we are very concerned

that someone is going to get

seriously hurt - or worse - as

seniors engage in the game of

‘water wars’ following an incident

that occurred last night,”

reads the superintendent’s letter

dated May 9.

It further states police were

called out for a car parked with

no one in it that an officer found

out didn’t belong to anyone in

the neighborhood.

The officer also checked with

neighbors, none of whom recognized

the vehicle, Lobban’s letter

reads.

“The officer noticed an opened

fence at a nearby residence and

proceeded to the yard to investigate,”

the letter reads. “That

is when a student jumped out

at the officer, whose gun was

drawn, and shot his squirt gun,

getting the officer wet.

“We are so very thankful that

the officer, in spite of it being

dark out, was able to determine

that the student was not a threat

and no one was hurt.

We are also aware that police

have also responded to other

calls regarding the water wars,

such as speeding, trespassing

and disruption to local businesses.”

The superintendent’s letter

further reads students have been

cautioned through daily announcements

and newscasts by

the district’s TV station, DTV, that

“these behaviors can be reported

to police and lead to more serious

consequences but after last

night’s incident we are strongly

encouraging students to simply

stop playing this game before a

seemingly harmless senior prank

CLICK TO WATCH

ends up with tragic results.”

Lobban asked parents to speak

with their students “about the

dangers and consequences

involved in continuing to play

water wars.”

Rendon said the teen involved

in this incident is a Kearsley student.

No charges will be filed.

While the chief isn’t aware of

any other calls revolving around

the prank this year, he said there

was a disturbance last year at

the Dairy Queen off Lapeer Road.

“The kid that was the target

ran through the kitchen and

jumped out the drive-thru window,”

Rendon said. “That’s disorderly

conduct all day long.”

He pointed out the owner

didn’t pursue charges.

“Please be smart about this,”

Rendon said. “Do not do anything

on roadways, do not do anything

in the dark. If you are going to

use a water gun, make sure it

is a highly visible unmistakable

water gun.”

He noted homeowners who

may be armed could feel they

are under threat.

“This was an incident that

fortunately ended up the way it

did, the best possible outcome,”

Rendon said. “There are real

serious consequences if it goes

sideways.

“We’re not saying you can’t do

this. We’re not the fun police…

We just want you to go home in

one piece.”

SECRET SERVICE FATAL-

LY SHOOTS SUSPECT WHO

OPENED FIRE AT WHITE

HOUSE CHECKPOINT

By Darlene Superville and Alanna

Durkin Richer

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.

Secret Service shot a person

near the White House on Saturday,

and a bystander also was

shot, a law enforcement official

said.

Both individuals were said to

be in critical condition, according

to the official, who spoke on the

condition of anonymity because

they were not authorized to discuss

the investigation.

Journalists working at the

White House on Saturday reported

hearing a series of gunshots

and were told to seek shelter

inside the press briefing room.

On X, the Secret Service said it

was “aware of reports of shots

fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania

Avenue NW” — one

block from the White House —

and was “working to corroborate

the information with personnel

on the ground.” It said it will

have an update shortly.

In a social media post, FBI

Director Kash Patel said officers

were responding to shots fired

and said he would “update the

public as we’re able.”

President Donald Trump was

inside the White House at the

time.

Evidence of the shooting was

visible on a sidewalk just outside

the White House complex,

where yellow crime scene tape

snaked across the pavement

and officers with the U.S. Secret

Service placed dozens of orange

evidence markers on the ground.

Medical material, including what

appeared to be purple surgical

gloves and kits typically used by

emergency medical personnel,

were also seen.

In a post shared on X, ABC

News senior White House correspondent

Selina Wang shared

dramatic video of the moment

she said she heard what “sounded

like dozens of gunshots”

and ducked for cover. Writing

that she had been performing a

routine task that White House

reporters do daily — filming

themselves on a cellphone for a

social media post — Wang’s video

shows her speaking for a few

seconds about Trump’s statements

earlier Saturday about a

potential Iran deal.

As the sounds of gunfire are

heard in the background, Wang’s

eyes grow wider, and she ducks

down in the media tent, which

is among those situated in a line

along the White House driveway

where broadcasters film their

reports. On X, Wang’s video had

been shared thousands of times

as of Saturday evening, and

viewed at least 3 million times.

The Metropolitan Police Department

said on its X Account

that the Secret Service was

working the scene and cautioned

people to avoid the area. The

scene is near where a gunman

ambushed two members of the

West Virginia National Guard last

November.

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BURGLARY SUSPECT

TRAPPED IN A WALL RESCUED

AFTER CALIF. COPS ON COFFEE

BREAK HEAR HIS CRIES FOR

HELP

By Summer Lin

Los Angeles Times

SALINAS, CA. — A group of Salinas

police officers were enjoying

a break from fighting crime

at a local coffee roaster when

they heard faint cries coming

from the walls.

The sounds were coming from

a burglary suspect who had

fallen off an adjacent movie

theater roof and landed in a wall

space, where he was trapped for

10 hours before being rescued,

according to authorities.

Salinas police officers were inside

Brewjee, a Main Street coffee

shop, on Sunday getting their

morning coffee when they heard

calls for help nearby, according

to a Police Department social

media post.

The officers looked around the

area, including inside the nearby

Mayas Cinemas, and realized the

yelling was coming from inside

the wall between the coffee

shop and the theater, police said.

After they knocked on the wall

and heard knocking back, officers

cut into Brewjee’s wall and

uncovered only cinder block and

cement, according to police. To

get to the trapped man, firefighters

cut open another section of

an adjoining wall along Main

Street and rescued Isaac Valencia

, who had been trapped there

for 10 hours, according to officials.

Valencia was booked into

Monterey County jail on suspicion

of burglary after he was

medically evaluated, police said.


Authorities did not say how far

Valencia fell, but local news

outlets reported a fall of about

22 feet.

Video of the rescue posted by

the Police Department shows the

Salinas Fire Department breaking

down the wall.

“We’re glad this ended with

everyone safely going home,”

the Police Department said in its

online post. “Great work by our

graveyard Officers, even when

tired, for trusting their instincts,

staying persistent, and quite literally

listening to the walls.”

NYC’S ELECTRIC VEHICLE

FLEET FOR LE PASSES MILE-

STONE

Law enforcement professionals

within New York City’s Department

of Citywide Administrative

Services (DCAS), NYC Department

of Sanitation (DSNY) and

NYC Parks, along with their New

York Police Department counterparts,

have access to more

than 1,000 electric vehicles (EVs)

as of April. What’s more, the

departments are on track for

curating an entire fleet of EVs

by 2030, an estimated five years

ahead of schedule.

“By investing in clean, modern

fleet technology, we are

improving efficiency, reducing

emissions and ensuring that city

agencies have the tools they

need to serve New Yorkers safely

and effectively,” said DCAS Commissioner

Yume Kitasei, per NYC.

gov.

“These new electric vehicles

significantly bolster our agency’s

expanding EV fleet for Parks

Enforcement Patrol, helping us

keep New Yorkers safe while

improving air quality and reducing

fuel costs,” added NYC Parks

Commissioner Tricia Shimamura.

Of course, the EVs must meet

the rigorous standards required

of police cars, such as bulletproof

shielding, lights and sirens,

radio and computer outfitting

and interior partitions. Among

the 1,000-plus EVs being driven

today by city law enforcement —

500 of which are commanded by

the NYPD — 781 are fully electric

battery-electric vehicles and 231

are plug-in hybrid models. The

agencies also have access to

more than 85 off-road solar and

electric units.

“NYC is leading the state in

fleet electrification with the larg-


DHS BEGS GOVERNOR NEW-

SOM NOT TO RELEASE ILLEGAL

ALIEN RESPONSIBLE FOR FATAL

TRUCK CRASH

By Pat Droney

LODI, CA - The Department of

Homeland Security is begging

California leaders not to release

an illegal alien killer who

caused a fatal multi-vehicle

crash near Lodi, California, earlier

this month. On May 19, 2026,

the California Highway Patrol

arrested Manvir Singh, a criminal

illegal alien from India, after he

caused the crash while operating

a semi-truck. The truck he was

operating veered off the road

and struck a guardrail, triggering

a crash that involved three

other vehicles. Two people were

killed instantly. Singh tried to

flee on foot before being apprehended

by CHP officers.

Singh is facing charges of vehicular

manslaughter with gross

negligence, hit and run resulting

in death or injury, and obstructing/resisting

a police officer.

“This criminal illegal alien

from India should never have

been behind the wheel of a

semi-truck and allowed to

kill two innocent people in a

multi-vehicle crash in California,”

said Acting Assistant Secretary

Lauren Bis. “He is now

charged with vehicular manslaughter,

hit and run resulting

in death or injury, and resisting a

police officer. This is yet another

example of why illegal aliens

should not be operating trucks

on American highways. We need

Congress to pass Dalilah’s Law to

prohibit states from granting illegal

aliens commercial licenses.”

That proposed law (HR 7793;

S. 4381) would strictly regulate

who is eligible to obtain a commercial

driver’s license (CDL)



MAN SHOOTS MINNESOTA

OFFICER IN HAND BEFORE

FATAL OIS

By Paul Walsh

Star Tribune

RICHFIELD, MN. — Newly released

video from officers’ bodyworn

cameras shows the rapidly

unfolding moments when a

suspected car prowler shot one

Richfield officer before police

responded with fatal gunfire.

The gunfire erupted shortly after

3:35 a.m. on April 29 near an

apartment building at 76th and

Penn avenues S. and ended with

the death of 27-year-old Desaver

Brian Hollis, of Plymouth.

Police Sgt. Mario Leon was

wounded. Police bodycam video

revealed a gunshot wound to his

right hand.

Also at the scene was fellow

Sgt. Kristian Schultz. Investigators

said both shot Hollis and are on

leave, which is standard for critical

incidents.

The video spans nearly 10

minutes and comes from the

two sergeants’ body cameras.

The video is presented in three

parts: unedited videos from the

sergeants and then what the

Richfield Police Department calls

“enhanced” footage that stops

and slows down at times to

“highlight key moments.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune is

not linking to the City of Richfield’s

video on YouTube because

of its graphic nature.

Leon is heard on the video

checking on a vehicle with an

open door and soon spotting

the suspect, who starts running.

Leon runs after him.

“Police! You’re under arrest!”

Leon says to Hollis. “Stop right

there.”


Leon catches up to Hollis, and

both fall to the pavement.

Hollis draws a gun and shoots

Leon in the right hand.

Schultz comes upon the scene

and shouts “stop!” with his Taser

drawn. He then switches to his

firearm as Hollis and Leon struggle

in the parking lot, shouts that

the suspect has a gun and fires

one long volley, followed by a

shorter round of gunfire.

Leon repeatedly shouts “I’m

shot” while Schultz alerts emergency

dispatch that medics are

needed. Leon calls out for a

tourniquet.

“Shots fired! Officer down. Start

medics,” Schultz reports to dispatch.

Schultz applies the tourniquet

to Leon as sirens blare.

In the edited compilation of

the sergeants’ video, the footage

from Leon’s camera pauses to

point out that Hollis has a handgun

while Leon is ordering him

to show his hands.

The video is paused again to

reveal that Leon has no gun in

either hand as he braces himself

while falling with Hollis to the

CLICK TO WATCH

pavement.

Another pause shows Hollis

looking up and pointing a handgun

at Leon. The video resumes

in slow motion as a caption says

that Leon was shot in his right

hand. Schultz then comes up to

Hollis and Leon and opens fire.

State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

(BCA) personnel

found a handgun and spent casings

at the scene.

The BCA will present its investigation

findings to the Hennepin

County Attorney’s Office for

review.

Family members set up an

online fundraiser to help cover

funeral expenses.

“This devastating loss has left

our family in deep grief, and

we are struggling to cope with

the pain and shock of what has

happened,” the family wrote.

“We live in Las Vegas, and the

distance makes it even harder

for us to be together and honor

Desaver’s memory during this

incredibly difficult time.”

Hollis, of Plymouth, according

to court records, appeared to

have recently been released from


the Wright County jail. He had

been sentenced to 24 days on

March 13 on a probation violation

stemming from threats of violence

and disorderly conduct, jail

logs show.

Hollis received five years’ probation

for a felony conviction of

threats of violence in 2022, court

records show.

FORMER CONN. OFFICER

CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGH-

TER FOR FATALLY SHOOTING

MAN WHO APPROACHED HIM

WITH KNIFE

By Josh LaBella

New Haven Register, Conn.

HARTFORD, Conn. — A former

city police officer has been

charged for fatally shooting Ste-

ven Jones on Blue Hills Avenue

in February after an investigation

found it not to be legally justified,

officials say.

In a release, state Inspector

General Eliot Prescott said Joseph

Magnano was charged with

CLICK TO WATCH

first-degree manslaughter. He

said Magnano was released on a

$50,000 bond pending arraignment

in the state Superior Court

in Hartford on June 5.

In an arrest warrant, Prescott

said the shooting was not jus-



tified and that Magnano acted

recklessly and caused the death

of Jones.

Magnano was widely criticized

for not following the lead of the

other officers who, for the most

part, kept their guns down and

calmly tried to get Jones to drop

his knife, body camera videos

show.

When Magnano got to the

scene five minutes after the first

officer’s arrival, he yelled for

Jones to drop the knife while

walking toward Jones, with his

gun pointed at the man, who appeared

to say nothing the entire

time, according to a preliminary

report by the inspector general

and body-camera video.

Jones then turned and took

about 24 steps toward Magnano,

who walked backward to put

space between them before firing

nine times, the video showed.

In his termination letter, Mayor

Arunan Arulampalam said the

firing “is expressly not for disciplinary

purposes or for misconduct

and I offer no opinion in

that regard.”

Rather, the letter said, it’s

because “PPO Magnano did not

demonstrate the requisite skills

to effectively operation within a

team, which is necessary for City

of Hartford employees.”

Hartford Police Union President

James Rutkauski, who has previously

defended Magnano, said in

a brief interview Monday that he

was disappointed by the decision

to make an arrest in the fatal

shooting.


Rutkauski argued that Jones

presented an imminent threat

to Magnano by walking toward

him with a knife, making the use

of force justified. He predicted

the officer will be ultimately be

cleared of any wrongdoing.

“People look at the warrant

and they see it as a verdict,” Rutkauski

said. “But it’s not a verdict.

An arrest doesn’t make the

officer guilty.”

In March, Rutkauski said that

the union “fully supports” Magnano

and that officers shouldn’t

be at the forefront of incidents

that require the response of

mental health professionals. In

April, the union filed more than

a half-dozen grievances against

the city for his firing and requested

his reinstatement.

In the arrest warrant, Prescott

noted that Magnano never tried

to deescalate the confrontation

with Jones, nor did he try to use

the pepper spray he carried.

“Just prior to Magnano’s arrival,

Jones had been acting less

aggressively, was swaying back

and forth and, at times, was only

loosely gripping the knife,” the

warrant said.

Magnano was only at the scene

for 34 seconds before firing his

gun at Jones nine times, the

warrant said, adding he was only

engaged with Jones for 26 seconds

before shooting. The other

officers had been on the scene

for between five minutes and five

seconds and two minutes and 36

seconds and had not concluded

that they needed to shoot Jones,

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Prescott wrote in the warrant.

“Magnano did not seek cover

from any threat posed by Jones

even though there were two

police vehicles behind which he

could have sought protection,”

the warrant said. “Magnano did

not attempt to use any non-lethal

force against Jones.”

The warrant also said Magnano

made no attempt to move

bystanders out of the way, and

he himself had ample space

to walk backwards and maintain

distance from Jones. It said

Jones was shot at least six times

and had seven penetrating gunshot

wounds, but at least four of

the shots were fired after he had

already fallen onto the ground.

Several of the gunshot entrance

wounds were located on Jones’

buttocks and back, it said.

“Based on the totality of the

circumstances. Officer Magnano’s

actions were not objectively

reasonable because, among

other things, he did not engage

in de-escalation measures, he

failed to make reasonable attempts

to use non-lethal force,

and his conduct increased the

risk of the occurrence of the situation

that precipitated the need

to use deadly physical force,” it

said.

Even if Magnano believed use

of deadly force was reasonable

to prevent him or others from the

imminent use of deadly physical

force by Jones, the warrant said,

that belief was not objectively

reasonable.

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BOOK SHELF

NEW POLICE BOOKS

THIN BLUE LINE:

LIFE BEHIND THE BADGE

AUTHOR:

Michael E. Barron,

Retired Sergeant


cer-involved shootings, volatile domestic

disturbances, close calls, and the

devastating loss of fellow officers killed

in the line of duty.

Barron writes not only as a journalist

and editor, but as a survivor. A veteran

officer who himself was involved

in not one, but two officer-involved

shootings, he brings a raw authenticity

to every page. His voice captures the

fear, adrenaline, guilt, camaraderie,

and resilience that define the profession-along

with the dark, often misunderstood

humor cops use to cope with

the job's relentless stress.

At times intense, at times heartbreaking,

and at times unexpectedly funny,

Thin Blue Line: Life Behind the Badge is

more than a collection of stories-it is a

testament to the men and women who

hold the line between society and chaos

- in their world it's called the Thin

Blue Line. And the cost to hold that line

is personal and many times deadly.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michael Barron began his law enforcement

career shortly after high

school as a deputy with the Harris

County Sheriff's Department, following

in the footsteps of his grandfather,

John Meleski-a Harris County deputy in

the 1950s and 1960s whose career became

the subject of published accounts

and departmental lore. Honoring that

legacy, Barron even wore the same

badge number once carried by his

grandfather. During his career, Barron

was twice recognized by the 100 Club

of Houston-once for rescuing two children

from a raging house fire, and later

for his role in locating a four-year-old

child who had been sexually assaulted

and left for dead beneath a bridge in a

bayou. He was also involved in two officer-involved

shootings, the second of

which left both Barron and the suspect

hospitalized. Doctors later told him that

had the bullet fired at him not deflected

off his belt buckle, it would have severed

his femoral artery, causing him to

bleed out within minutes. Barron later

ABOUT THE BOOK:

What does it truly mean to wear the

badge in America?

In Thin Blue Line: Life Behind the

Badge, retired Sergeant Michael Barron

pulls back the curtain on a profession

few truly understand and even fewer

survive unchanged. Drawing from his

own career and the firsthand accounts

of dozens of officers, Barron delivers

an unfiltered look at life on the streetwhere

split-second decisions carry

life-or-death consequences and the line

between order and chaos is razor thin.

For more than 42 years, The BLUES

published monthly "war stories" from

law enforcement officers across the

country.

Now, Barron-founder and editor-in-chief

of The BLUES-has assembled

the most powerful, haunting, and

unforgettable of those stories into one

riveting volume. Thin Blue Line takes

readers behind the scenes of real officontinued

his career with the Galveston

County Sheriff's Department, where he

earned the rank of Sergeant and obtained

his pilot's license. He commanded

AIR ONE, flying search-and-rescue

missions for the Galveston County

Beach Patrol, and ultimately accumulated

more than 3,500 flight hours while

flying for multiple law enforcement

agencies. Yet Barron's most enduring

contribution to law enforcement did

not come from behind a badge or in a

cockpit, but through the written word.

In 1984, he founded The BLUES Police

Newspaper. Forty-two years later, its

digital successor-The BLUES Police

Magazine-is the largest police magazine

in the world.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

As West Coast Editor of the BLUES

Police Magazine, I have had the pleasure

to work side by side with Michael

Barron for the past 4-years. His devolution

to the men and women of law

enforcement is unwavering and his

new book, THIN BLUE LINE is dedicated

to those that serve and pay tribute

to those lost in the line of duty. THIN

BLUE LINE takes us into a world that

most will never see or experience. The

sense of accomplishment when a life

is saved, to the torment and agony of

defeat when a fellow officer is lost in

the line of duty. Barron relives the moments

is his career when split second

decisions meant saving lives to nearly

losing his own. THIN BLUE LINE takes

readers on a roller-coaster of emotions

from one story to the next in a what is

destined to become a Best Seller. Jump

on board and take the ride with Sgt.

Barron today.

AVAILABLE IN:

Hardcover, eBook, Kindle and Autographed

Hardcover.

WHERE TO BUY IT:

Available at Amazon, Apple Books,

Kindle, Barnes & Noble. Autographed

copies can be purchased online at the

authors website: THIN BLUE BOOKS

SCARS OF THE BADGE

AUTHOR:

Tom Lee

ABOUT THE BOOK:

What does wearing the badge really

cost?

Scars of the Badge is a gripping true

crime memoir that pulls back the curtain

on life behind the uniform, where

split-second decisions, violence, and

human suffering leave marks that don’t

fade when the shift ends.

Drawn from real experiences, this

powerful narrative follows a young

officer’s journey from ambition to disillusionment,

as he confronts everything

from near-fatal encounters to the quiet,

compounding weight of trauma.

What sets this apart from other true

crime books is its unflinching honesty.

It doesn’t just document the calls, the

chases, or the danger. It reveals the

psychological toll of policing and the

reality of PTSD in law enforcement.

Each moment of crisis lingers, shaping

not only the officer on duty, but the

person beneath the badge.

For readers of real crime stories and

recovery memoirs, this is a rare and

compelling account of resilience, faith,

and redemption. It speaks to the hidden

cost of service, the struggle to reconcile

identity with experience, and the

search for healing after years of exposure

to trauma.

This is not simply a story about surviving

the job. It is about confronting

what the job leaves behind and finding

a path forward.

Experience the cost of duty for yourself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tom Lee is a Texas law enforcement

officer with a career spanning patrol,

investigations, and crisis response.

Over the years, he has answered calls

involving suicides, child deaths, violent

encounters, and the everyday realities

most people never see but first responders

carry with them long after a

shift ends.

His experiences in uniform, including

surviving a crossbow attack in the line

of duty, shaped not only his career, but

his faith, identity, and understanding

of resilience. Through those trials, he

learned that survival and healing are

not the same, and that strength often

looks quieter than people expect.

Scars of the Badge is his first book,

written to give an honest look at the

human cost of the profession and to

encourage open conversations about

mental health, faith, and support for

first responders.

When he’s not working or writing,

Tom enjoys time with family, cooking,

and mentoring others in law enforcement.

He remains committed to serving

his community and supporting those

who wear the badge.


I don’t usually read memoirs, but this

one pulled me in more than I expected.

What stood out most wasn’t just the

stories, it was the weight behind them.

This book gives a real look at what

law enforcement carries, especially the

parts that don’t get talked about. The

stress doesn’t end when the call is over,

and that comes through clearly.

Some moments hit harder than others,

especially the incident where he

was shot and everything that followed.

Not just the event itself, but the aftermath

and pressure of having your actions

judged later. It’s written in a way

that feels real without over dramatizing

it.

The sections on working in mental

health were especially impactful. You

see both sides, the people who accept

help and the ones who don’t. That balance

makes it feel honest.

This isn’t a polished or glorified version

of law enforcement. It includes the

setbacks too, which makes it stand out

from other books in this space.

The writing is straightforward and

easy to follow. Short chapters and a

conversational tone make it an easy

read, even if you don’t usually pick up

nonfiction.

Faith is woven into the story in

a natural way. It’s present, but not

overwhelming. It adds depth without

taking over, so even readers who aren’t

faith-based can still fully connect with

the story.

This book offers a raw and deeply

personal look into the real life experiences

of a police officer. What

stood out most was how genuine the

storytelling felt. There was no sugarcoating,

just honest emotion on every

page. From intense moments on the

job to quieter reflections on life, faith,

and purpose, the author brings readers

right into their world. One of the most

powerful elements of the book is how

faith in God is woven throughout the

story. It adds a deeper layer to the story

and makes the whole experience feel

more meaningful. This book truly took

me on an emotional ride. I laughed, I

cried, and I felt completely connected

to the experiences being shared.

It is also an easy read with a natural

flow that makes it hard to put down. I

found myself reading five chapters in

my first sitting and finished the entire

book in just three days. Overall, this

is more than just a story about police

work. It is about resilience, humanity,

and faith. It is heartfelt, honest, and

incredibly moving. I would recommend

it to anyone looking for a powerful and

inspiring read.

AVAILABLE IN:

Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback

WHERE TO BUY IT:

Available at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes

& Noble.

What's your favorite

police book?


ISOBEL'S SOUND

AUTHOR:

Daryl Lott

ABOUT THE BOOK:

ONE WOMAN. ONE SONG. ONE REVO-

LUTION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING.

In the turbulent years of the Texas

Revolution, young Isobel MacDonald

hears a melody no one else can—the

haunting tune of a divine Fiddler calling

her toward courage, mercy, and a

destiny she cannot yet see. From the

hills of Tennessee to the war-torn

plains of Texas, her journey intertwines

with heroes and outcasts, soldiers and

saints. When faith is tested and blood

is spilled, Isobel learns that freedom’s

song demands more than bravery—it

demands grace.

Rich with history and spiritual depth,

Isobel’s Song reveals how God’s unseen

hand weaves redemption through war

and loss, guiding one woman to discover

that the faintest tune of hope can

endure beyond the bitter heartbreak of

Goliad and the Alamo.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Daryl Lott is a history geek. He studied

Texas history at Texas Tech and

received his B.A. from the Univ of Houston.

He earned his M.A. at California

State Univ. He is certified by the State

of Texas to teach History. He served


as a teacher in Pasadena, Texas. He

is honorably retired from the Houston

Police Department. Daryl is a graduate

of Liberty University’s Bible Institute and

teaches Bible study at his local church.

The Christian worldview presented

in this work is exceptional, but it’s

hoped that you see your own spiritual

struggles and rewards in it. The author

makes no claim to speak for God.

It is difficult to document a spiritual

struggle like Isobel experiences without

presenting some form of the Holy

Trinity’s representation. Angels, visions,

dreams, and the like are mysterious. In

the final analysis, all traditional Christians

believe in the supernatural forces

of God at work in the world and in our

souls. Daryl is also a proud member of

the Sons of the Republic of Texas.


Isobel's Song engaged me totally and

gave me a new appreciation for Texas

history. I am a 4th generation Texan and

took Texas History, and yet this book

made a real difference. It me feel like I

was actually with the characters going

through early Texas history. I discovered

the people behind named streets

in Houston, Texas, nearby towns. Sadly,

I had no idea what happened beneath

my feet right here near my home. It

was exciting, well researched and well

written and made my heart race with

anticipation in certain battles. I cannot

wait to read the sequels. It truly

revealed grace and mercy and the fortitude

of the early settlers in the Texas

frontier. I am very proud to be a Texan,

and now even more so. Well Done Daryl

Lott!—Amazon Reviewer

I absolutely loved Isobel's Song. The

characters felt so real and Isobel's

strength, faith, and resilience especially

stood out to me. I was deeply moved

by the portrayal of the men who fought

for Texas and the sacrifices they made. I

enjoyed how the historical details were

woven beautiful into the story, helping

me to learn more about Teas history

while staying completely engaged I the

plot. Isobel's Song is heartfelt, inspiring,

and hard to put down. I highly recommend

it. I'm already excited to start the

next book in the series to see where

the journey continues.

Amazon Reviewer

A wonderful and inspiring, historical

novel, capturing the historic events,

places, and familiar names of great

American leaders and true Patriots. Become

captivated while traveling back in

time with Isobel and Kelvin MacDonald,

through God's leading, they faithfully

follow Him, from Tennessee, New York,

Ohio to Texas, meeting Great American

Patriots and brave leaders, along the

adventurous journey. "Remember the

Alamo, and Goliad," as the dramatic

images and colorful descriptions of the

people and places will draw the reader

in, keeping them intrigued until the very

last page.

Amazon Reviewer

e historical novels, especially when

they are historically accurate and the

fictional characters are believable and

seamlessly lead you through the story.

Isobel’s Song by Darryl Lott does just

that. You find yourself immersed in

1820-30s as a young couple, Isobel

and Kelvin MacDonald, leave Tennessee

to head west toward Tejas (Texas)

in pursuit of the promise of land they

would be able to build their dreamed

future. The reader becomes entrenched

with their struggles: both physically

navigating the swamps and geographical

hurtles across the rough terrain

along with the political, moral & ethical

questions and battles of the era. You’ll

meet legendary characters and the

author brings the very human side of

these hero’s through the interactions of

our beloved Belle. You won’t be able to

put the book down.

Format: Paperback

Verified Purchase

Following Isobel MacDonald from

Tennessee to New York and all the way

to Texas, this book has everything: a

strong unforgettable heroine, a cause

worth fighting for, Sam Houston (yes,

that Sam Houston), and a thread of

genuine faith that just fits the story

naturally.

Daryl Lott put a lot of love into this

one. If you're into historical fiction or

stories with strong women at the center,

do yourself a favor and pick this up!

AVAILABLE IN:

Hardcover, Paperback, Audio, Kindle

WHERE TO BUY IT:

Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, Audible,

Kindle, Barnes & Noble


AUTHOR:

by Jay "Packy" Dempsey,

A H Paul

ABOUT THE BOOK:

In The Fastest 4 Seconds, retired

Sergeant Jay "Packy" Dempsey tells the

true story of a split-second encounter

that changed his life forever. What

began as a routine disturbance call in

Selma, Alabama, turned into a violent

struggle for survival, forcing Packy to

make a life-or-death decision in mere

moments. Luckily, his K-9, Princess,

who he bought as a puppy and trained

on his own, was there to intervene,

giving Packy enough time to defend

himself.

More than a police story, this memoir

traces the road that led Packy to

the badge, the bond with his K-9 that

helped save his life, and the unseen

emotional cost of employing deadly

force in the line of duty. Raw, honest,

and deeply human, The Fastest 4

Seconds is a story of miracles, duty,

survival, trauma, and healing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I’m Jay “Packy” Dempsey, a retired

K-9 Sergeant and law enforcement

instructor currently working with the

Alabama State Troopers, regional police

academies, and faith-based men’s

groups.

I teach officers and first responders

how to move beyond survival — to decisively

win in critical incidents.

My signature program, The Fastest 4

Seconds, is built around a real-world

encounter I experienced — a one-minute

struggle that escalated into a

life-altering four-second event involving

my K-9, captured on dash camera.

That incident now drives my mission:

helping others prepare for the moment

that changes everything — and how to

handle what comes after.

In addition to tactical and mental

readiness, I speak candidly about recovery

from PTSD, addiction, and the role

faith played in rebuilding my life after

nearly losing everything. That perspective

tends to resonate well across law

enforcement, military, and first responder

community audiences.


This book honestly hit harder than I

expected. The story is intense, but what

really got me was how real and human

Jay Packy Dempsey feels throughout

the whole thing. You can feel the fear,

pressure, and emotion behind everything

he went through, and it makes

you appreciate how fast life can change

in just a few seconds. It’s not just about

survival, it’s also about recovery, mindset,

and pushing forward afterward.

Definitely one of those books that sticks

with you after you finish it!!!

Charles

The Fastest 4 Seconds cover to cover,

excellent read! This is a beautiful tribute

to Princess. I loved every K-9 story,

they are heroic and amazing. The glaring

reality of the consequences of PTSD

are hard to stomach. My hat is off to the

author for sharing the crushing effects

PTSD had on Packy. My two favorite elements

of this amazing book are all the

times God showed up and the amazing

love story with Sandy.

Missy T.

Jay's story is a reminder of the sacrifice

that so many amazing men and

women make for our society. Police

officers show acts of bravery every

day, that largely go unnoticed, and

these selfless acts follow them for a

lifetime. All too often police officers

are underappreciated and even blamed

for outcomes that could not have been

reasonably avoided. Jay's story is a

reminder to us all of the great sacrifice,

service, and dedication it takes to wear

the badge.

I read The Fastest 4 Seconds cover to

cover, excellent read! This is a beautiful

tribute to Princess. I loved every K-9

story, they are heroic and amazing. The

glaring reality of the consequences of

PTSD are hard to stomach. My hat is

off to the author for sharing the crushing

effects PTSD had on Packy. My two

favorite elements of this amazing book

are all the times God showed up and

the amazing love story with Sandy

AVAILABLE IN:

Paperback, Kindle

WHERE TO BUY IT:

Amazon, Kindle Unlimited

COMING

NEXT MONTH


BEST COP SHOWS

HILL STREET BLUES

Hill Street Blues — 1981-1987

Widely considered not just the best cop show of

its era, but one of the greatest television series of

all time, Hill Street Blues revolutionized television.

Premiering on NBC in 1981, it established the blueprint

for modern, character-driven prestige drama

Basic premise: The officers of Hill Street Station,

part of a large police department in a struggling

city, deal with crime, public disorder and the personal

problems that follow them home. They are

known as “the blues” because of their blue uniforms.

What made it distinctive: This was Steven

Bochco’s first major ensemble police drama, built

around a large cast of regular characters with

their own story lines, flaws and private struggles.

The captain was a recovering alcoholic. One patrol

officer had a gambling problem. A female officer,

later promoted to sergeant, worked with a partner

who was loyal and capable but often crossed

personal boundaries. Episodes often opened with

a chaotic morning briefing and ended late at night,

sometimes with the precinct captain and the

public defender with whom he had a complicated

relationship.

How it portrayed policing: The show felt realistic

to many officers. Its characters, conflicts

and workplace frustrations reflected the kinds of

people and problems cops recognized from their

own agencies. The officers were flawed, funny,

difficult and human, which made the department

feel lived-in rather than staged.

What it got wrong: Not much. The show regularly

explored the role of politics inside a police

department, something real officers could easily

recognize. Officers from better-funded agencies

may not have seen their own departments in Hill

Street’s worn-out facilities and unreliable equipment,

but those from under-resourced cities likely

did. Fittingly, in the series finale, Hill Street Station

burns down.

Why it mattered: Hill Street Blues is often regarded

as one of the best police dramas ever

made. Not everyone would rank it at the top, but

few 1980s cops ignored it. The characters were

memorable because they were imperfect, burdened

and believable, and few police shows since

have matched its depth.


SEASON 1 EPISODE 1, THE BEGINNING

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SEASON 7 EPISODE22 THE FINALE

CLICK TO WATCH

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Sgt. Michael

Barron

Life Behind

the Badge

BY JESSICA "JJ" JONES

& SGT. B.K. COOPER, JR.

88 The The BLUES BLUES JUNE ‘26

- FEBRUARY MARCH MAY ‘25 ‘25 ‘25

The The BLUES The BLUES - The FEBRUARY - MARCH BLUES - MAY - JUNE ‘25 ‘25‘2689

89 89

Sgt. Michael Barron’s life and career represent

the spirit of dedication, courage, and sacrifice

that define American law enforcement. A 25-

year veteran police officer, accomplished pilot,

author of Thin Blue Line: Life Behind the Badge,

and founder of The BLUES Police Magazine, Barron

has spent much of his life serving others

while documenting the realities faced by police

officers across America.

His story is more than the biography of a police

sergeant. It is the story of a man shaped

by family, service, survival, and an unwavering

commitment to the law enforcement profession.

Through his police work, aviation service,

publishing career, and writing, Barron became a

respected voice within the policing community

and an advocate for the officers who put their

lives on the line every day.

90 90 The BLUES JUNE MAY ‘26 ‘26

The The BLUES BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 ‘26 91

Sgt. Michael Barron

Early Life in Oak Forest

Michael Barron grew up in Oak Forest, a

northwest suburb of Houston, Texas. The

oldest of four boys, Barron experienced a

childhood rooted in family, friendship, and

adventure. Much of his youth was spent

riding and racing motorcycles alongside his

lifelong friend John King. Those early years

helped shape the competitive spirit, independence,

and fearlessness that would later

define his career.

Barron attended Waltrip High School in

Houston, a school known for producing

several notable alumni, including actor Patrick

Swayze, actress Shelley Duvall, former

Miss America Debra Maffett, and WWE

legend Mark Calaway, better known as “The

Undertaker.” While many students dreamed

of entertainment or sports careers, Barron’s

interests leaned toward public service and

law enforcement.

That interest came largely from the influence

of his maternal grandfather, John

Meleski, who served as a deputy with

the Harris County Sheriff’s Department

during the rough-and-tumble years of

the 1950s and 1960s under Sheriff Buster

Kern. Known throughout the department

as “Big John Meleski,” Barron’s grandfather

earned a reputation as a respected

and fearless lawman working some of

Houston’s toughest streets.

The stories of his grandfather’s experiences

left a lasting impression on Barron.

Law enforcement, in his eyes, was not

merely employment—it was a calling.

Years later, Barron would realize just

how respected his grandfather had been

within the department, and that legacy

helped inspire his own commitment to

policing.

92 The BLUES JUNE MAY ‘26


Sgt. Michael Barron

Entering Law Enforcement

Barron eventually followed in his grandfather’s

footsteps by entering law enforcement,

beginning what would become a

25-year career filled with danger, sacrifice,

and service. Like many officers, he entered

policing motivated by the desire to protect

others and make a difference in his community.

But the reality of the job became

apparent early on.

Police work quickly exposed Barron to

the harsh realities of life on the streets. He

and his fellow officers routinely faced situations

most citizens never encounter—fatal

accidents, abuse cases involving children,

domestic violence, armed suspects,

and human tragedy. A normal person may

experience 4-5 traumatic events in their

entire life. Barron would eventually experience

four to five hundred over the course

of his career.

Barron worked during a period when

policing in America was evolving rapidly.

Officers faced rising violence, increased

scrutiny, and changing public attitudes

toward law enforcement. Yet despite those

pressures, Barron found a way to not only

survive the streets but discover a new career

path that would ultimately lead him to

becoming an accomplished author.

Throughout his career, Barron encountered

incidents that demonstrated both

the dangers and heroism associated with

policing. Among the most notable was his

rescue of two children trapped inside a

burning home. Barron’s actions during the

fire earned recognition from the prestigious

100 Club of Houston, and the Medal of Valor

from a local fire department.

Another major case involved the search

for a four-year-old child reportedly sexually

assaulted and

abandoned under

a bridge on Greens

Bayou. Barron located

the child and

performed lifesaving

CPR until medics arrived

to transport her

on a LifeFlight helicopter

to a trauma

hospital in downtown

Houston. His efforts

saved the child’s life

and earned him Officer

of the Year from

the 100 Club.

94 94 The BLUES JUNE MAY ‘26 ‘26

1997 Officer of the Year

Deputy

MICHAEL E. BARRON

Harris County Sheriff's Office


Sgt. Michael Barron

Surviving Two Officer-Involved Shootings

Like many officers who spend decades

in policing, Barron also experienced

life-threatening violence firsthand. During

his career, he was involved in two officer-involved

shootings. In one incident,

both Barron and the suspect were hospitalized

after exchanging gunfire.

Doctors later informed Barron that his

belt buckle likely saved his life by deflecting

a bullet away from his femoral artery.

Had the bullet traveled an inch in either

direction, he would have bled out in a

matter of minutes. Experiences like these

permanently alter officers. Split-second decisions

become the difference between life

and death, and surviving such encounters

leaves both physical and emotional scars

that result in episodes of PTSD.

Barron’s willingness to discuss those moments

became public when he published

his first book detailing not only his brush

with death, but those of his partners as

well. Rather than portraying police officers

as invincible heroes, he emphasized their

humanity and vulnerability.

Aviation and Air One Missions

In addition to his accomplishments as a

police officer, Michael Barron became an

accomplished pilot with over 3,500 hours

of flight time. Aviation became another

important chapter in his career and further

demonstrated his versatility and commitment

to helping others.

Barron piloted Air One for the Galveston

County Sheriff’s Department, flying countless

search-and-rescue missions over

Galveston Island and the surrounding Gulf

Coast region. Search-and-rescue aviation

requires extraordinary skill, calmness under

pressure, and precise decision making,

particularly in dangerous weather conditions

or nighttime operations over water.

Galveston Island’s environment presented

unique challenges for rescue pilots like

Barron. Search-and-rescue operations are

among the most demanding responsibilities

in public safety aviation. Pilots must coordinate

with ground officers, marine units,

emergency responders, and dispatchers

while navigating through hazardous conditions

and sudden changes in weather. Barron’s

thousands of flight hours reflect years

of dedication in the aviation field.

For Barron, flying was more than a job –

it was a passion shared with his lifelong

friend John King, a retired lieutenant from

Houston Police’s Aviation unit and an accomplished

helicopter pilot. It was King

who gave Barron his first ride in a helicopter

and ignited a desire to become a pilot

and follow in his friend’s footsteps. Barron

credits King, not only for his early training

as a police observer, but for a lifetime of

fellowship and brotherly love.


Royal Robbins


Sgt. Michael Barron

Founding The BLUES Police Magazine

Perhaps Barron’s greatest influence beyond

active policing came through the creation

of The COUNTY BLUES Newspaper, in

December of 1984. Over the course of 35+

years, The BLUES became somewhat of an

institution in roll call rooms across Texas.

Roll call sergeants could forget having

anyone’s attention on the day copies of The

BLUES would arrive. Every cop who served

in the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s remembers

reading The BLUES - that is, until August

of 2018 when the subsequent owner

decided that 25 years was

enough and said goodbye

with a final issue. It seemed

that the legend founded by

Sgt. Barron had finally met

its demise.

In 2019 Barron learned of

the closure and created a

new, all-digital magazine

called, The BLUES Police

Magazine. It was the beginning

of a new tradition for

a new generation of cops

to enjoy. But the celebration

was short-lived as COVID

raced across the country, killing millions of

civilians and thousands of first responders

and cops.

Barron used the new BLUES to honor all

the fallen officers as well as keep the remainder

informed of this new epidemic

racing across America. It was also a time

when the death of George Floyd was the

flash point for riots and unrest in America.

The BLUES provided law enforcement officers

with a voice during a time when many

felt misunderstood or unfairly portrayed in

mainstream media coverage. While news

coverage often focused on controversy,

Barron wanted to highlight the courage,

sacrifice, and humanity of officers nationwide.

The BLUES became more than a magazine.

It evolved into a national platform for law

enforcement culture, stories, memorials,

and advocacy. The publication featured

line-of-duty deaths, officer

survival stories, departmental

news, and issues

affecting police officers and

their families.

For many officers, the

magazine became a symbol

of solidarity within the law

enforcement community.

Police work can be isolating,

and Barron understood

that few people outside the

profession truly comprehend

the emotional realities

officers face daily. Through

The BLUES, he created a publication written

from the perspective of those who lived the

job firsthand.

Barron’s work helped preserve stories

that might otherwise have been forgotten.

He documented acts of bravery, sacrifice,

and service while giving officers a place

where their experiences were respected

and understood.


The The BLUES BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 99

Sgt. Michael Barron

Thin Blue Line: Life Behind the Badge

Barron eventually transitioned many of

his experiences, as well as those of his

fellow officers into his book, Thin Blue Line:

Life Behind the Badge. The book offers readers

an unfiltered look into the emotional

and psychological realities of law enforcement.

Unlike fictional television portrayals of

police work, Barron’s writing focuses on

what officers truly experience behind the

badge—the fear, stress, trauma, humor,

loyalty, and survival instincts that define the

profession.

The phrase “Thin Blue Line” symbolizes

the role police officers play as the barrier

between order and chaos in our society.

Barron’s book explores the deeper meaning

behind that concept by examining the

emotional toll carried by officers and their

families.

Police officers routinely witness tragedy

that most civilians never encounter firsthand.

Over years of service, those experiences

can reshape how officers view danger,

trust, relationships, and society itself.

Barron’s writing captures those experiences

honestly and without exaggeration.

His work also addresses the hidden struggles

officers face after traumatic incidents.

Long before conversations about officer

wellness and mental health became common

within policing, Barron openly discussed

the emotional scars carried by

many officers.

By sharing those experiences, he helped

contribute to broader conversations surrounding

post-traumatic stress, officer suicide

prevention, peer support, and mental

health awareness within law enforcement.


100 The BLUES - MAY ‘25

The The BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 101 101

The BLUES - MAY ‘25 101

Sgt. Michael Barron

Legacy and Impact

Michael Barron’s legacy extends far beyond

arrests, awards, or years of service.

His impact lies in the lives he protected, the

officers he supported, and the stories he

preserved.

As a police officer, he faced violence,

tragedy, and danger while remaining committed

to serving the public. As a pilot, he

flew countless search-and-rescue missions

that helped save lives along the Texas Gulf

Coast. As founder of The BLUES, he created

a powerful voice for law enforcement

officers nationwide. And as an author, he

offered readers an honest and deeply personal

look at the realities of policing in

America.

Barron’s life reflects the complexity of

modern law enforcement. Officers are expected

to be protectors, problem-solvers,

warriors, counselors, and public servants

all at once. They witness humanity at its

best and worst while carrying emotional

burdens few outsiders fully understand.

Through his writing and publishing

work, Barron sought to ensure that the

sacrifices of police officers would not be

forgotten. He dedicated much of his life

to honoring the profession and preserving

the stories of those who wear the badge.

For many within law enforcement, Sgt.

Michael Barron represents resilience, loyalty,

courage, and dedication—a man who

not only survived life behind the badge

but spent his life telling the story of those

who live it every day.

In His Words

Recently I sat down with Michael, and we

talked about his career, the early days of

The Blues, the new BLUES Magazine and his

new book: THIN BLUE LINE-LIFE BEHIND THE

BADGE. Here is what he had to say:

1. Tell our readers about your grandfather

and what inspired you to become a deputy

in the same department where he served.

I think I was probably about 6 or 7 years old

when I first saw my grandfather in his sheriff’s

uniform. We didn’t have any police officers in

our family, and I didn’t really know my grandfather

was a deputy until that day. When he

passed away, it was the first police funeral I

had ever been too and the 21-gun salute stayed

with me all through my younger years and

when I graduated high school, I knew I wanted

to follow in his footsteps.

2. Not long after you graduated from the

academy and began working as a patrol

deputy, you had the opportunity to meet the

famous Joseph Wambaugh. Tell us about

that encounter and how it influenced your

life afterwards.

It was the IACP Annual Conference and the

first police convention I had ever attended. I

was totally overwhelmed by it all and on the

first day, as I was making my way down to the

lobby of the Hilton, I walked into the elevator,

and as the door started to close, I heard a


102 The BLUES - MAY ‘25

voice say, “Hey, can you hold the door for me?”

That voice belonged to the legendary LAPD

police detective, Joseph Wambaugh. He looked

at my name badge and asked, ‘So what brings

you to New Orleans, Deputy Barron?’ It was a

chance meeting of a lifetime. That conversation

and those that followed in the days to come,

would convince me that being an author was

my destiny.

What did he say that drove you to that conclusion?

Wambaugh said, “I always thought my destiny

was to be a cop in LA, but the truth was,

being a cop was just the path to obtaining the

material I needed to become a police novelist.

Sometimes the path to success isn’t always

clear, but one day you’ll realize what the correct

path is and that’s when everything will

change for the better.” On the long drive back to

Houston, I thought about what he had said, and

I decided I was going to take his advice and find

my path to success.

3. So ultimately you wanted to be an author,

but that seemed to take a backseat to

publishing and writing for The BLUES. Tell us

about the early days of The BLUES and how it

became so popular.

I believe it was late in October of 1984, when

Deputy Nat Guiterrez came to me with a proposal

to write a newsletter for the newly

formed Sheriff’s Deputies Union. We met later

that week at the Humble City Café, just a block

down from the Sheriff’s substation, with the

president of the Union. Their proposal was for

me to create a newsletter for the Union, sell

ads, and keep 10% of the ad sales. I looked

them like they were both crazy, and I remember

to this date exactly what I said.

“Hey, I have a better idea. How about I create

a newsletter/newspaper, I’ll sell ads, and I’ll

keep 100% of the money, and the Union can submit

articles for me to publish.”

It was at that moment that I realized the

path I had been searching for was right in front

of me and The BLUES Police Newspaper was

born. For the first few years, we named it The

County Blues after the popular COP TV Show

Hill Street Blues, and since it was “county”

news, the name County Blues seemed appropriate.

I’m sure all the younger readers will

have to Google Hill Street Blues, but trust me

when I say it was the hottest cop show on TV

The The BLUES BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 103 103

The BLUES - MAY ‘25 103

Sgt. Michael Barron

back in the 80’s. So on December 24, 1984, the

first issue was distributed to deputies and staff

at the Harris County Sheriff’s Dept.

For the next few years, the popularity of The

County Blues grew as did its readership. In the

80’s and 90’s we printed 30,000 copies every

month and distributed them to every police department

in the state. I would guess that nearly

every cop in Texas has read a copy of The

County Blues at one time or another. As they

say, it was a household name back then.

4. Over the course of your career, you were

involved in two separate officer-involved

shootings, one of which landed you in the

hospital with a near fatal bullet wound. Tell

us about that incident.

For the longest time, I never really talked

about the shooting because I felt like I screwed

up and got shot because I was careless. I was

working a DWI STEP assignment on midnights,

on I-45 north of Houston. The day before, a

BOLO had been issued for 18-wheelers moving

stolen construction equipment at night. And

here in front of me was a big rig with a brand

new Caterpillar on a trailer. I lit him up, pulled

him over, and approached the cab on the passenger

side. I climbed up on the steps, opened

the door, and asked the driver for his manifest,

driver’s license, and insurance. As he was

reaching for a clipboard on the center console,

I saw the barrel of a hand gun, and before I

could say a word, he had the gun pointed at

me. We both fired at the exact same moment. I

fired twice, and he fired once. My rounds hit him

in the arm and shoulder, and his round hit the

bottom half of my vest, then my Sam Browne

belt buckle, and then traveled down my leg. The

force of his round and the recoil from me firing

my weapon sent me flying backwards onto the

shoulder of the road. When I looked down, all I

could see was blood streaming down my pant

leg. I managed to call for help and crawl to the

back of my car, and a couple of minutes later a

state trooper showed up and loaded me into his

Crown Vic and transported me to the hospital,

which just happened to be a couple miles away.

According to the surgeon that worked on me,

had the bullet been an inch over, I would have

bled out within minutes. So, I guess God had

other plans for me that night.

5. Not a week after you returned to work,

you rescued two young boys from a raging

house fire. How did that happen?

Yes, that’s correct. I was dispatched to a

disturbance call in Spring, and when I pulled

into the subdivision, I could see black smoke

billowing into the air a couple blocks away

and notified the dispatcher to send the fire

department. When I arrived at the location


of the disturbance, I realized the fire and the

disturbance were one and the same, and in

the driveway was a woman jumping up and

down screaming. Before I could get out of my

unit, she had jerked open my door and grabbed

me, saying her kids were in the house… “My

kids, please save my boys, please, please Dear

God go save my kids.” I asked her where in the

house the kids were, and she said upstairs in

the game room. The front of the house had

smoke and flames coming out the windows,

so I ran to the back of the house, while asking

for an ETA on Fire. The dispatcher said they

were enroute and 5 minutes out. I knew damn

well those kids didn’t have 5 minutes. The mom

told me how to get to the stairs, and while she

was talking, I saw a blanket hanging on a line

outside the back door. I grabbed it, ran to a

nearby water faucet, and soaked the blanket,

wrapped it around my chest and face and told

the dispatcher I was entering the residence and

let the firemen know I was headed upstairs.

I’m pretty sure I heard my sergeant say, “DON’T

GO IN THE DAMN HOUSE!” …of course I never

had followed orders. I entered the house, and

the smoke was so thick, I had to crawl on the

floor until I could feel the stairs. I crawled up

the stairs, and there, by the grace of God, were

the two boys at the top of the stairs. I grabbed

them both, wrapped the blanket around them,

and crawled back down the stairs. At the bottom

of the stairs was the front door, and just

as I made it to the first step, the door opened

and two firemen grabbed the kids and me and

carried us to ambulances parked at the curb.

The fire chief chewed my ass out, my sergeant

showed up and chewed my ass out, and then

the kid’s mom hugged and kissed me. I never

went into a burning anything after that. I

coughed up black shit for 2 weeks. But two kids

were alive because of me, and that’s all that

mattered.

6. That heroic rescue earned you the Medal

of Valor and as well as 100 Club of Houston’s

“Officer of the Year,” did it not?

Yes. I did receive both. The fire chief that

chewed me out and called me a dumb ass on

the scene presented me with the Medal and

said I was still a dumb ass, but I was a Hero

Dumb ass…. “Whatever, Chief.”

7. I’ve heard you talk about having issues

with PTSD in the past and again after finishing

the book. Tell us more about that.

For years after the shooting and the fire, I had

the same two dreams – night after night for

months at a time. This went on for years. In one

of the dreams, I was chasing an armed felon

down an alley, he turned and started shooting

at me, and when I tried to return fire, the gun

just clicked. I kept pulling the trigger and all it

did was click…like there were no bullets in the

clip. The dream finally went away, and I’ll be

damned if it didn’t come back the night I finished

the book. Luckily, it stopped after a few

nights. While I somehow learned to deal with

PTSD, I know many officers had it much worse

and couldn’t face their demons and ended up

taking their own lives. We must do better to

help these officers and our veterans get the

help they need.

The The BLUES BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 105

8. Finally, your new book THIN BLUE LINE:

LIFE BEHIND THE BADGE is a huge success,

and I know you’re starting a nationwide book

tour this summer. Tell us about the book and

the tour.

Anyone who knows me, will tell you I have

more stories than you have time to listen to.

In the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity

to spend time with a group of retirees that

meet for breakfast at a local Kelley’s Restaurant,

and these guys have more stories to tell

than I do. Once of the best story tellers was a

“young woman” in her late 80’s who we just

called “Miss Sally.” Miss Sally had retired from

the Houston Police Department many, many

years ago, and every time I saw her, she would

say, “Michael you need to get off your butt and

write the damn book you’ve been talking about

for years.” And she was right. Ever since I met

Joesph Wambaugh, it’s been my dream to write

a book and after some 40 years, it’s finally a

reality. But writing a book isn’t an easy task by

any means. Even after taking Miss Sally’s advice

and “getting my butt in gear,” the entire process

took over a year to complete.

My goal in writing the THIN BLUE LINE was

to assemble the best war stories sent to The

BLUES in the past few years, as well as my own

experiences as a cop, in a book that captured

the best and worst of policing. Not to make

light of those suffering from PTSD, because I

can attest to the fact it’s part of every first

responder’s life whether they want to admit

it or not, but not every police book has to be

about PTSD or survival of cops on a beat. THIN

BLUE LINE takes the reader on a journey that

most ordinary citizens never experience. Sure,

there are reality shows that take viewers for

a “ride along” with cops, and they are great.

But even the best of these shows, On Patrol

Live, for example, where my good friend Tom

Rizzo is a host, will cut away when a victim

has been shot and is bleeding out in the street.

Which, out of respect for the victim, is appropriate.

But cops on the streets don’t have that

luxury. They can’t just cut to the next scene and

ignore the pain and suffering inflicted on innocent

civilians or, in worst cases, a fellow LEO.

It’s called a Thin Blue Line because someone has

to stand between right and wrong and hold

the line against those that would do us harm.

Every second of every day, someone is hurt or

dying on the streets of America, and the only

one coming to their rescue is a First Responder.

Their only chance of survival lies in the hands

of these brave men and women. Some make it,

and some don’t. It’s the world we live in, and

THIN BLUE LINE gives its readers a front row

seat.

This summer I’ll be touring Texas, as well as

other states, visiting police conventions and

holding book signing events. I invite all our

readers to come visit me at one of the many

shows and pick up an autographed copy of my

book.

9. Final Thoughts?

This is the 494th issue of some version of The

BLUES and the first that an article has been

written about me personally. And in all those

42+ years, I only appeared on the cover once.

The BLUES was never about me. It was created

to inform officers, first in Texas and then across

the US, as to what was happening in other departments

and share information on crime and

catching crooks. It also served as a sounding

board for the rank and file to get their grievances

out in the open in a manner that didn’t

paint a target on their back with their brass.

Now I will admit, as readership grew into the

millions, I used that audience to promote causes

that were close to my heart. And it certainly

helped with the release of my new book. But

in the end, The BLUES was always a gift from

GOD, and we must thank our Heavenly Father

for allowing us to continue this mission. Having

served alongside some of the bravest men and

women in law enforcement, our PEACEMAKERS,

truly are "The CHILDREN OF GOD."


The The BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 107 107


BY RICHARD MATHEWSON, JD


Humanity has always struggled to raise itself

beyond the confines of the mundane to a higher state

of freedom and evolution. For this, humans historically

relied upon laws that directed their conduct and

determined what was acceptable and what was prohibited.

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution reflects

this collective trajectory toward improving the human

condition:

We the People of the United States, in order to

form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure

domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense,

promote the general welfare, and secure the

blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do

ordain and establish this Constitution for the United

States of America.

Laws are critical to these noble humanitarian aspirations

that make the American experiment special.

Laws give effect to these principles and provide a

means for their protection and preservation in society.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines law as:

The regime that orders human activities and relations

through systematic application of the force

of politically organized society, or through social

pressure, backed by force, in such a society; the legal

system.

Thus, without laws—a “mode of rule or management”—by

which to “establish justice, insure domestic

tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote

the general welfare, and secure the blessings

of liberty to ourselves and our posterity” (also called

the “humanitarian principles of the Constitution” for

simplicity), the goal of forming a more perfect Union

will be greatly diminished. For as it was said, the

Republic is a government of laws not of men.

Laws have been an organizing force for civilization

throughout history. From the Code of Hammurabi,

from the 2nd millennium B.C.E., to the law of ancient

Rome, from its founding in 753 B.C.E. until the fall

of the Western Empire in the 5th century C.E., laws

played a central role in protecting and serving society.

Laws are fundamental to ordering human activities

and organizing society. It is not that laws follow

civilization but rather civilization is built upon laws

because laws provide the blueprint that determines

and guides human conduct and interaction within

civilization.

But a law without a mechanism with which to

enforce it is simply an empty vessel with no effect.

It follows that where there is a law, there must be

an instrument whereby the law can be carried into

effect. There must be a means by which to establish

justice, to ensure domestic tranquility, to provide for

the common defense, to promote the general welfare,

and to secure liberty, otherwise these humanitarian

ideals are reduced to a quixotic wish.

THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

The government of a society is tasked with both

making and enforcing its laws. In the Federalist No. 2,

the founding father John Jay argued for the preservation

of the Union through the adoption of the Constitution.

He emphasized the importance of government

when he wrote that “nothing is more certain than

the indispensable necessity of government.” Another

founding father, Alexander Hamilton, likewise realized

the necessity of government to preserve the Union. In

The Federalist No. 15, Hamilton wrote:

Government implies the power of making laws. It is

essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with

a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment

for disobedience. If there be no penalty annexed

to disobedience, the resolutions or commands

which pretend to be laws will, in fact, amount to

nothing more than advice or recommendation. This

penalty, whatever it may be, can only be inflicted in

two ways: by the agency of the courts and ministers

of justice, or by military force.

Thus, laws are essential to preserve the Union and

“ministers of justice” are necessary to enforce the

laws. Law enforcement, then, is essential to the Constitutional

order of the American way.

The anachronistic title of ministers of justice is now

referred to in a general sense as law enforcement.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines law enforcement as

“the detection and punishment of violations of the

law.” This is consistent with Hamilton’s ministers of

justice that enforce the penalties of law. But this is

a general definition that covers the entire criminal

justice process starting at detection of crimes (investigatory

phase), prosecution (prosecutory phase),

courts (adjudicatory phase), and punishment (correctional

phase). Because this paper focuses on

the investigatory phase (law enforcement), a more

specific definition is more relevant to this purpose,

i.e., “police officers and other members of the executive

branch of government charged with carrying

out and enforcing the criminal law.” America has as

a federalist system of government: there is a central

Federal government with its executive and individual

States with their executives. For simplicity, law

enforcement, whether federal or state, is part of the

executive (with few exceptions).


Thus, law enforcement are ministers of justice

that uphold the laws that preserve the Union. This is

reflected in the definition of law enforcement officer

from Black’s Law Dictionary: “A person whose duty

is to enforce the laws and preserve the peace.” The

key word here is “preserve,” the inference being that

without law enforcement to enforce the laws, peace

would not be possible. Taken to its logical conclusion,

law enforcement is critical to a more perfect

Union because it preserves the Constitution—the

supreme law of the land—that enables the people to

form this more perfect Union by living out the humanitarian

principles of the Constitution.

TO PROTECT IS NOBLE, TO SERVE IS DIVINE

Law enforcement has a responsibility to protect

and a moral obligation to serve. The role of law

enforcement in enforcing laws and preserving the

peace is sacred to the American experiment because

it is historically rooted in the foundations of this

nation. But the ideal of those with power over the citizens

using this position to serve the citizens instead

of dominating them reflects a deeper moral principle.

To protect and preserve justice, domestic tranquility,

common defense, general welfare, and liberty, law

enforcement must serve the citizenry in a way that

upholds these humanitarian principles. The police

slogan “To Protect and Serve” appears noble on its

face but without active implementation, it’s just another

feel-good cliché. Here, a distinction must be

made: To protect is a duty but to serve is a calling.

Law enforcement should recognize the power

imbalance inherent in its role

Those who work in law enforcement must realize

they not only carry the weight of this responsibility,

but they also possess great power over the people

that few in society do. To those whom much is given,

much will be required. In a case involving unreasonable

search and seizure by federal agents, the Supreme

Court described the power disparity between

law enforcement and the public:

Respondents seek to treat the relationship between

a citizen and a federal agent unconstitutionally exercising

his authority as no different from the relationship

between two private citizens. In so doing,

they ignore the fact that power, once granted, does

not disappear like a magic gift when it is wrongfully

used. An agent acting—albeit unconstitutionally—in

the name of the United States possesses a far greater

capacity for harm than an individual trespasser exercising

no authority other than his own.

Although this case involved federal law enforcement,

the truth remains the same for state law

enforcement: there is a significant power disparity

between the police and the people. If law enforcement

fails to recognize how this power imbalance

affects interaction with the public, it will be more

likely to abuse that power and violate the dignity of

the people it encounters.

Law enforcement should enforce the spirit of

the law, not just the letter

Law enforcement should learn to not only recognize

violations of the laws they are tasked with

enforcing but to understand why they are enforcing

these constitutional rights in the first place. This is

a profession that involves a large amount of routine.

Although every encounter may differ in degree and

facts, the procedures and protocols implemented by

law enforcement are generally standard. Because of

this, law enforcement can become desensitized to the

very real challenges and lived experiences of the citizens

it encounters. To the police officer responding

to a domestic violence call, it is business as usual.

To the individuals involved, it can be life-changing

and traumatic. The police officer does their job, then

goes home. The “subjects,” “suspects,” and “victims”—all

sanitized labels used to classify parties to

a case—are actual people with regular lives that will

be affected in ways that leave permanent imprints on

their bodies, minds, and souls. For these people, the

effects will carry far beyond the end of duty of the

police officer working the case. Such routine-based

work can cause one to forget the dignity of the

human at the core of this work. Consequently, law

enforcement should never forget why they do what

they do.

This does not presume law enforcement is easily

dissociated from the horrors it encounters, untouched

by the darkness it protects the citizens against. This

is not a clean profession. Every call police respond

to, each situation in which police are involved leaves

an imprint on the officers. This has a lasting effect.

But those who work in law enforcement must understand

their responsibility to those they serve is

great and cannot be neglected just because they may

be struggling with challenges. With this position

of power over others comes accountability to those

others and a recognition of their dignity as a human

regardless of their conduct under the law.

To enforce the spirit of the law and not only the let-


ter, law enforcement must remember that the United

States of America is based as much on natural law

as it is ordered and organized by positive law. The

Declaration of Independence, which preceded the U.S.

Constitution, explicitly emphasized natural law, using

the terms “Laws of Nature,” “Nature’s God,” “truths

[that are] self-evident,” and “unalienable rights.”

Importantly, the natural law it “declared” related to

the right of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness (i.e.,

opportunity).

When in the Course of human events, it becomes

necessary for one people to dissolve the political

bands which have connected them with another, and

to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate

and equal station to which the Laws of Nature

and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to

the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare

the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men

are created equal, that they are endowed by their

Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among

these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The Roman philosopher and statesman, Marcus

Tullius Cicero, described natural law as a body of

standards that are, universal, unchangeable, eternal,

whose commands urge us to duty, and whose prohibitions

restrain us from evil...This law cannot be

contradicted by any other law, and is not liable either

to derogation or abrogation. Neither the senate nor

the people can give us any dispensation for not obeying

this universal law of justice. It needs no other

expositor and interpreter than our own conscience. It

is not one thing at Rome, and another at Athens; one

thing today, and another tomorrow; but in all times

and nations this universal law must forever reign,

eternal and imperishable.

In other words, the standards for what is right and

wrong are universal and never change, regardless of

what the laws of society may say at any given time or

place. And the “rights” enumerated in the Constitution

reflect this universal standard of morality. These

are, in the words of Supreme Court Justice Miller,

“inalienable rights which are the gift of the Creator,

which the law does not confer, but only recognizes.”

The universal recognition of natural law related to

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is reflected

in the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations

as “fundamental human rights,” “dignity and worth

of the human person,” and “equal rights”:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS

DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from

the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has

brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm

faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity

and worth of the human person, in the equal rights

of men and women and of nations large and small,

and to establish conditions under which justice and

respect for the obligations arising from treaties and

other sources of international law can be maintained,

and to promote social progress and better standards

of life in larger freedom.

This humanitarian theme must become the guiding

light when enforcing the laws that are made to

protect and preserve justice, domestic tranquility,

common defense, general welfare, and liberty for the

American public. Law enforcement must be as concerned

about fundamental human rights, the dignity

and worth of the human person, and the equal rights

of men and women as it is focused on enforcing the

laws that order society. For, as Cicero said, these

standards are “universal, unchangeable, eternal,

whose commands urge us to duty, and whose prohibitions

restrain us from evil.”

Law enforcement must enforce the letter of the law

without losing sight of the spirit of the law. Police

officers must be conscious of their sacred role as

ministers of justice upholding the laws that preserve

the Union. Positive law determines acceptable conduct

with which citizens must comply or risk penalties—the

letter of the law. Natural law is the moral

standard that should inform every encounter law

enforcement has with the people—the spirit of the

law. The two are not mutually exclusive but complimentary.

Law enforcement must internalize the

distinction.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT

TO ABUSE ITS POWER

Because law enforcement is tasked with enforcing

the laws that preserve the American way of life, it

must not abuse these laws in that process. Nothing

shakes the confidence and invokes the anger of a

community more than its police abusing their authority.

If the purpose of law enforcement is to enforce

laws that order and organize that community, the

expectation is that law enforcement holds itself to

a higher standard. And indeed, it must, otherwise it

becomes the monster it fights. For as the philosopher

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “He who fights with

monsters should be careful lest he thereby become

a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the

abyss will also gaze into thee.” The abyss that law


enforcement encounters in its work is vast, dark, and

deep, and the monsters are many. But here, if the

hero becomes the villain, all hope for the people is

lost.

Thus, it is important that law enforcement uphold

the rights of the citizens, not only by protection of

those rights in its enforcement duties but also in its

own compliance with those rights. Supreme Court

Justice Black wrote of the indispensable nature of

these rights to liberty:

I cannot consider the Bill of Rights to be an outworn

18th Century “strait jacket.” Its provisions may

be thought outdated abstractions by some. And it is

true that they were designed to meet ancient evils.

But they are the same kind of human evils that have

emerged from century to century wherever excessive

power is sought by the few at the expense of the

many. In my judgment the people of no nation can

lose their liberty so long as a Bill of Rights like ours

survives and its basic purposes are conscientiously

interpreted, enforced and respected so as to afford

continuous protection against old, as well as new,

devices and practices which might thwart those purposes.

These rights collectively enable fulfillment of the

humanitarian principles in the Preamble to the Constitution.

Importantly, as Justice Black said, without

conscientious enforcement of and respect for the

basic purposes of these rights, liberty itself is at risk.

To take this reasoning further, if law enforcement

does not respect the very rights it enforces, it becomes

the few who seek excessive power at the expense

of the many who wish to preserve their liberty.

If this happens, law enforcement becomes the human

evil it is sworn to protect the people against. Thus,

law enforcement must take great care to uphold the

rights of citizens without abusing its power.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS MORE THAN A JOB—IT’S

A SACRED CALLING

Law enforcement is more than interdicting crime

and apprehending those who violate the law. This

role involves as much serving as it does protecting

the citizens. Yet, it is often the case that the routine

nature of police work creates a focus on protection

to the exclusion of serving. This focus is reductionist

because it diminishes the sacred role of law enforcement

in serving its community.

To fulfill its sacred mandate as ministers of justice,

law enforcement must understand not only what

it is, but why it is. This isn’t an indictment of law

enforcement. To the contrary. It’s a call to action for

the better angels of justice. Many law enforcement

officers have good intentions. Many chose this profession

because they saw a need and they wanted to

improve society. But with great power comes great

responsibility. The expectation of this profession

requires greater discipline and accountability to those

being protected and served.

Nor is this an acquittal of the guilty who commit

crime. Justice requires accountability. The law defines

criminal conduct which requires enforcement

of its dictates. Those who violate societal standards

and harm others must be held to account. Importantly,

the conduct of those who enforce the law does

not per se exonerate those who violate it—lawbreakers

are held to the penalties of their conduct even if

law enforcement erred in their role.

Law enforcement has a great responsibility in the

social order of America. Whether federal or state,

law enforcement not only enforces the law, but it

also upholds the very Constitutional Republic that

makes the American way of life possible. This is sacred

duty that must be honored.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RICHARD MATHEWSON has a diverse collection

of experiences and education with an integrated

understanding of power, law, human behavior,

belief frameworks, and institutional mechanics. He

entered the U.S. Army young, trained as a military

police officer, learning order, force, and discipline

inside a structured authority. After military service,

his work as a private investigator and psychological

profiler involved refining surveillance, behavioral

analysis, and evidentiary precision. He pursued formal

study in religion, grounding in moral architecture

and belief systems. He completed a master's

degree in psychology, deepening his understanding

of trauma, radicalization, and human behavior

under stress. He earned a Juris Doctor, equipping

himself with the language of law, institutional limits,

and lawful force. Now he leads The Kincade Society,

operating at the intersection of governance,

advocacy, and public responsibility. He can be

contacted at thekincadesociety@protonmail.com or

(860) 374-8759 for further information on this topic

and how The Kincade Society can offer practical

solutions related to these real-world problems.


POLICE CH

Annual T

Marga

L

TEXAS


SCHOOL DISTRICT

IEFS' ASSOCIATION

raining Conference

June 7-11

ritaville Resort

ake Conroe


TSDPCA CONFERENCE AGENDA

JUNE 7 - JUNE 11, 2026

MARGARITAVILLE RESORT

LAKE CONROE - MONTGOMERY

Updated: 05/20/2026

3:00 pm - 5:30 pm

7:00 pm - ??

Executive Board Meeting

Board of Directors Dinner (location TBD)

Sunday, June 7th

10:00 am to 5:00 pm Vendor Set Up

Monday, June 8th

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Registration

4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

School Safety Round Table -information session open to all members.

Attendees will have the opportunity discuss school safety related topics & issues that

impact School Based Law Enforcement.

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Vendor Social Event - Beverages and light hord'oeuvres

7:00 am to 8:00 am Registration

Coffee & Pastry

Tuesday, June 9th

8:00 am to 8:30 am

8:30 am to 9:00 am

9:00 am to 10:00 am

10:00 am to 10:30 am

10:30 am to 11:30 am

11:30 am to 1:00 pm

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

7:00pm to 11:00 pm

Call to Order – Chief Kirby Warnke, President

Welcome -Mongtomery ISD Chief Rickey Doerre

Posting of the Colors: Aldine ISD PD Honor Guard

National Anthem and Pledges: Student

Greetings - Opening Remarks

Dr. Kimberley James, Willis ISD Superintendent

TEA Safety and Security Briefing

Chief John Scott, TEA Safety & Security

Break with Vendors

Texas School Safety Center

Dr. Kathy Martinez-Prather. Director

Lunch & Break with Vendors

Grayson County ISD Reunification

Collaboration – Heath Wester

Paige Arnone

Firstgevity – Officer Wellness

Break with Vendors

Maggie Walker

Texas DPS NIBR

Conference Entertainment

Groove Knight


Wednesday, June 10th

7:00 am to 8:00 am Coffee & Pastry

8:15 am to 10:00 am

10:00 am to 10:30 am

10:30 am to 11:30 am

Keynote Speaker –

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

Break with Vendors

Lt Col. Grossman (session 2)

11:30 am to 1:00 pm

1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Lunch & Break with Vendors

Lt. Col. Grossman (session 3)

1:30 pm to 2:00 pm

2:00 pm – 3:45 pm

3::50 pm – 5:00 pm

Break with Vendors

Ayaan Moledina

Student Mental Health Advocate

John M. Ray, Lemit Executive Director

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Karaoke Contest

Chief Kirby Warnke, emcee

Thursday, June 11th

7:00 am to 8:00 am Coffee

7:00 am to 8:00 am Executive Board Meeting

8:00 am to 09:00 am

9:00 am 10:00 am

10:00 am to 10:30 am

10:30 am to 11:30 am

Kevin Lundsford – TPCA .

TPCA Accreditation for ISD PD’s

Janina Flores

TASB – Risk Management

TCOLE Update

Cullen Grissom, Deputy Director

General Business, Giveaways & Recognitions

Introductions of Regional Directors

11:30 am to 12:00 pm Closing remarks by Chief Warnke, President

12 noon

Adjournment

See you at the Omni in Corpus Christi+!

June 20 – June 24, 2027


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July 20-23, 2026

Omni Corpus Christi

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Registration:

Early Bird (Ends 3/1/26)

Membership: $350

Non-Membership: $400

After 3/1/26:

Membership: $425

Non-Membership: $475

Meals Provided:

Annual Meeting Luncheon

Awards Luncheon

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T M P A / T X F O P J O I N T C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 2 6

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T M P A / T X F O P J O I N T C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 2 6

S P O N S O R S H I P P A C K A G E S

D i a m o n d L e v e l S p o n s o r - $ 2 0 , 0 0 0

P a c k a g e i n c l u d e s :

O n e t a b l e f o r 1 0 a t C o n f e r e n c e B a n q u e t a n d a d m i s s i o n f o r y o u r p a r t y

t o C a s i n o N i g h t

T w o c o m p l i m e n t a r y h o t e l r o o m s f o r S u n d a y n i g h t

F i v e - m i n u t e a d d r e s s t o C o n f e r e n c e a t t e n d e e s

S p e c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g C a s i n o N i g h t l i v e a u c t i o n

R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g t h r e e e p i s o d e s o f t h e B l u e G r i t P o d c a s t

R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g t h e o p e n i n g a n d c l o s i n g o f C o n f e r e n c e

R e c o g n i t i o n a s S a t u r d a y “ l u n c h s p o n s o r ”

P o w e r P o i n t s l i d e r e c o g n i t i o n t h r o u g h o u t C o n f e r e n c e

O p t i o n t o p l a c e c o m p a n y b r o c h u r e i n a t t e n d e e s ’ r e g i s t r a t i o n p a c k e t

O n e C o n f e r e n c e r e l a t e d s o c i a l m e d i a p o s t

V e n d o r t a b l e o r d i s p l a y b o o t h i n t h e v e n d o r h a l l

S a p p h i r e L e v e l S p o n s o r - $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 0


O n e t a b l e f o r 1 0 a t C o n f e r e n c e B a n q u e t a n d a d m i s s i o n f o r y o u r p a r t y

t o C a s i n o N i g h t

T w o c o m p l i m e n t a r y h o t e l r o o m s f o r S u n d a y n i g h t

T h r e e - m i n u t e a d d r e s s t o C o n f e r e n c e a t t e n d e e s


R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g t w o e p i s o d e s o f t h e B l u e G r i t P o d c a s t

R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g t h e o p e n i n g a n d c l o s i n g o f C o n f e r e n c e

R e c o g n i t i o n a s S u n d a y “ l u n c h s p o n s o r ”





R u b y L e v e l S p o n s o r - $ 1 0 , 0 0 0


S i x t i c k e t s t o t h e C o n f e r e n c e B a n q u e t a n d a d m i s s i o n f o r f i v e t o C a s i n o

N i g h t

O n e c o m p l i m e n t a r y h o t e l r o o m f o r S u n d a y n i g h t


R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g o n e e p i s o d e o f t h e B l u e G r i t P o d c a s t

R e c o g n i t i o n d u r i n g t h e o p e n i n g o f C o n f e r e n c e

R e c o g n i t i o n a s S u n d a y “ l u n c h s p o n s o r ”





P l a t i n u m S p o n s o r s - $ 5 0 0 0


L o g o d i s p l a y e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a n n e l s : c o n f e r e n c e w e b s i t e ,

c o n f e r e n c e p r o g r a m , s l i d e s h o w s o n t h e b i g s c r e e n s d u r i n g m e a l s a n d

m e e t i n g s , I n S e r v i c e m a g a z i n e a d ( p o s t - c o n f e r e n c e i s s u e ) , a n d T M P A

s o c i a l m e d i a c h a n n e l s .

O n e c o m p l i m e n t a r y v e n d o r t a b l e

O n e h o t e l r o o m f o r a l l t h r e e n i g h t s o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e

S i x t i c k e t s f o r t h e e n t i r e C o n f e r e n c e , i n c l u d i n g t h e h o s p i t a l i t y r o o m

a n d a l l o f t h e t r a i n i n g e v e n t s . T i c k e t s a l s o i n c l u d e a l l o f t h e m e a l s

( F r i d a y n i g h t d i n n e r , S a t u r d a y l u n c h , S u n d a y l u n c h a n d b a n q u e t

d i n n e r ) .

G o l d S p o n s o r s - $ 3 5 0 0






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

r o o m a n d a l l o f t h e t r a i n i n g e v e n t s . T i c k e t s a l s o i n c l u d e a l l o f

S i l v e r S p o n s o r s - $ 1 5 0 0






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

a n d a l l o f t h e t r a i n i n g e v e n t s . T i c k e t s a l s o i n c l u d e a l l o f t h e m e a l s

( F r i d a y n i g h t d i n n e r , S a t u r d a y l u n c h , S u n d a y l u n c h a n d f o r m a l

b a n q u e t d i n n e r ) .

V e n d o r B o o t h - $ 1 0 0 0


L o g o d i s p l a y e d o n t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a n n e l s :

c o n f e r e n c e w e b s i t e , s l i d e s h o w s o n t h e b i g s c r e e n s d u r i n g m e a l s a n d



T w o t i c k e t s f o r t h e F r i d a y n i g h t d i n n e r a n d S a t u r d a y l u n c h .

B E C O M E A S P O N S O R

T O D A Y





THE LA MARQUE POLICE DEPT. PRESENTS

THE WARRIOR WITHIN!

MENTAL HEALTH AND

WELLNESS SUMMIT 2026

SEPTEMBER 23RD AND 24TH, 2026

DOYLE CONVENTION CENTER

2010 5TH AVE. N, TEXAS CITY, TEXAS 77590

FIRST RESPONDERS ARE IN CRISIS!

Law enforcement, fireman, and EMS are more likely to die

by Suicide than in the line of duty.

Between 17% and 24% of Dispatchers have symptoms of

PTSD and 24% have symptoms of depression.

60-75% of first responder marriages end in divorce.

The La Marque Police Department is hosting a free 2-day

summit geared towards helping our Police, Fire, EMS, and

Dispatch focus on their own mental health, relationships,

and physical wellness.

This FREE event will feature industry experts, experienced

first responders, and clinicians providing tools and resources

to first responders and their families.




HONORING OUR

BORDER PATROL AGENT SEAN M. MCDONOUGH

UNITED STATES BORDER PATROL, U.S. GOVERNMENT

END OF WATCH: FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026

AGE: 48 TOUR: 19 YEARS BADGE: W-25

Border Patrol Agent Sean McDonough suffered a medical emergency while performing marine unit water training in

Alexandra Bay, NY.

Agent McDonough was a United States Army and National Guard veteran and served with the United States Department

of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol for over 19 years. Survivors

include his wife, two daughters, parents, two sisters, grandmother, two nieces, and a nephew.


FALLEN HEROES

TROOPER KEVIN TRAINOR

MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE, MASSACHUSETTS

END OF WATCH: WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026

AGE: 30 TOUR: 3 YEARS BADGE N/A

Trooper Kevin Trainor was killed in a vehicle crash on Route 1 in Lynnfield.

Around 2:00 a.m., 911 calls reported a wrong-way driver on Route 1. When Trooper Trainor responded, he collided

with the driver. Trooper Trainor was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he succumbed to

his injuries. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Trooper Trainor had served with the Massachusetts State Police for three years, assigned to the Danvers Barracks.

Survivors include his mother, fiancée, and four siblings.

The BLUES JUNE - ‘26 ‘26 129 129

HONORING OUR

POLICE OFFICER DON "DJ" KELLER

GREENWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT, SOUTH CAROLINA

END OF WATCH: MONDAY, MAY 11, 2026

AGE: 31 TOUR: 3 YEARS BADGE:1204

Police Officer DJ Keller was killed in a head-on collision during the pursuit of a driver who sped away from a

traffic stop. Around 4:56 p.m., when an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle suspected to be involved in

several shooting-related incidents, the three suspects in the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. While traveling

westbound on East Cambridge Avenue, the driver crashed into Officer Keller, who was traveling eastbound

while responding to assist. Officer Keller died at the scene. His K9 survived the collision. The driver, age 15,

and the two passengers, ages 17 and 18, were transported to the hospital. One suspect was taken into custody

after being released from the hospital.

Officer Keller was a United States Army and National Guard veteran who served with the Greenwood Police

Department for three years. Survivors include his wife and daughter.


FALLEN HEROES

GAME WARDEN PILOT JOSHUA T. TIBBETTS

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

END OF WATCH: TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026

AGE: 50 TOUR: 29 YEARS BADGE: 2203

Game Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts was killed when his Maine Warden Service Cessna 185F plane crashed near

Schooolhouse Pond in Avon shortly before 11:00 a.m. Warden Pilot Tibbets was en route to assist the Department of

Inland Fish and Wildlife in fish stocking when his plane crashed. He was the only person aboard the plane.

Warden Pilot Tibbetts had served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife - Warden Service for 18

years and previously served with the Penobscot County Sheriff's Office for almost 12 years. In 2025, he received the

Warden Service’s Exemplary Service Award. Survivors include his two daughters, partner, stepdaughter, parents, sister,

nephew, two nieces, and former spouse. His father also served wth the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

- Warden Service.

The BLUES JUNE - ‘26 131 131

HONORING OUR

POLICE OFFICER DYLAN CHASE OWEN

CITRONELLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALABAMA

END OF WATCH: THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026

AGE: 26 TOUR: 2 YEARS BADGE: N/A

Police Officer Dylan Owen was killed in a single-vehicle crash on North Mobile Street near Laird Drive in

Citronelle.

Around 3:30 p.m., while driving southbound on North Mobile Street, Officer Owen's patrol vehicle left the

roadway and crashed into a tree. Despite immediate lifesaving measures, Officer Owen died at the scene.

Officer Owen had served with the Citronelle Police Department for two years. In 2025, he received the

department's Rookie of the Year Award.


FALLEN HEROES

SERGEANT JOSEPH APODACA

TAOS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, NEW MEXICO

END OF WATCH: FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2026

AGE: 36 TOUR: 8 YEAR BADGE: N/A

Sergeant Joseph Apodaca was killed pursuing a wreckless driver at approximately 11:44 pm on NM-518 near a

driveway at the 7200 block, between Ranchos de Taos and Talpa. Around 10:25 pm that evening, Taos County Sheriff's

deputies were searching for a suspected reckless driver and were alerted that the suspect had used a driveway near the

7200 block. As Sergeant Apodaca was turning into the drive, his motorcycle collided with a sheriff's deputy pickup truck

turning left into the drive. Sergeant Apodaca suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced at the scene

Sergeant Apodaca had served with the Taos County Sheriff's Office for 8 years, had previously served with the county

jail, and was a member of the Swift Water Rescue Team.

The BLUES - JUNE ‘26 133 133

WORDS BY JOESPH WAMBAUGH

Midnight in South Central:

What LAPD Patrol Officers Faced After

Dark in the 90's

134 The BLUES JUNE ‘26 ‘26

In this month’s feature article,

our founder Sgt. Michael Barron

shared with West Coast Editor JJ

Jones, his inspiration came from a

LAPD Officer turned author Joesph

Wambaugh. When asked to describe

a night on patrol in South

Central LA in the 90’s, this is what

he had to say:

By 11:30 p.m., South Central Los

Angeles belonged to the night

watch.

The heat from the day still hovered

above the cracked pavement

as LAPD black-and-whites rolled

slowly through neighborhoods lit

by liquor store neon and flickering

streetlights. Helicopter blades

thumped overhead somewhere in

the distance while police radios

crackled nonstop inside patrol

cars moving through Newton,

77th Street, and Southeast Division.

For the officers working graveyard

shift, the city after dark was

a completely different world.

“Unit 12A45, possible domestic

violence… screaming heard in

the background.”

The dispatcher’s voice cut

through the radio like a knife.

Officer Mike Ramirez glanced

at his partner, Officer Dave Holloway,

as they pulled away from

a curbside taco stand where

dinner had just been interrupted

for the third time that night. Cold

coffee sloshed inside a Styrofoam

cup sitting between shotgun

shells and citation books.

“Another family reunion,” Holloway

muttered.

The call sounded routine. Most

did.

That was the danger.

In South Central during the

late 1980s and early 1990s, officers

learned quickly that ordinary

calls could become deadly

in seconds. A domestic dispute

might turn into a barricaded

gunman. A simple traffic stop

could uncover gang members

carrying MAC-10s under the

seat. Every alleyway, every dark

apartment complex, every suspicious

movement carried risk.

The black-and-white rolled

through intersections stained

with graffiti and memories of

violence. Gang territory changed

block by block. Officers knew

where not to stop at red lights

for too long. They knew which

apartment buildings housed narcotics

dealers and which liquor

stores got robbed every Friday

night.

Mostly, they learned to trust

instinct.

The domestic violence call

exploded before officers even

reached the front door.

A woman came running from

the apartment screaming while

a shirtless man burst outside

behind her holding a revolver.

Officers hit the pavement behind

the patrol car as the first shot

echoed through the courtyard.

“Shots fired! Shots fired!”

The radio instantly came alive.

Neighbors scattered into

apartments. Children cried

somewhere in the darkness.

Holloway drew his shotgun

while Ramirez returned fire from

behind the engine block of the

cruiser. Within seconds, backup

units screamed into the complex

from every direction.

The suspect disappeared into

the maze of buildings.

For twenty tense minutes officers

searched stairwells, laundry

rooms, and narrow walkways littered

with broken glass and beer

bottles. Every shadow looked

armed. Every doorway felt like

an ambush waiting to happen.

Finally, a K-9 unit cornered

the suspect hiding beneath an

apartment staircase.

One call down.

The shift was just beginning.

By midnight, the radio became

a nonstop soundtrack of chaos.

Drive-by shooting near Florence

Avenue.

Armed robbery in progress.

Officer requesting backup.

Possible overdose.

Pursuit heading northbound.

The city never slept. It simply

changed personalities after dark.

At a gas station near Vermont

Avenue, officers stopped briefly

to complete reports while keeping

one eye on the crowd gathering

nearby. Gang members often

watched police movements from

corners and parking lots. Officers

learned to read body language

the way hunters study movement

in the brush.

“See the guy in the Raiders

jacket?” Holloway asked quietly.

Ramirez nodded.

“Waistband check every three

seconds. He’s carrying.”

Before officers could make

contact, the suspect vanished

into the crowd.

That was another reality of

South-Central nights — predators

blending into the darkness

before police could close in.

Around 1:45 a.m., the call every

patrol officer dreaded came

across the air.

“Officer needs help.”

No other words were necessary.

Adrenaline hit like electricity.

Every available black-andwhite

in the division accelerated

toward the location. Tires

screamed through intersections

as overhead lights painted



buildings red and blue. Officers

stopped thinking about fatigue,

paperwork, or politics. One of

their own needed helps.

When Ramirez and Holloway

arrived, they found two officers

struggling with a parolee

high on PCP in the middle of the

street. The suspect fought like

a man possessed, seemingly

immune to pain as six officers

wrestled to gain control.

By the time the cuffs clicked

shut, uniforms were soaked in

sweat.

No one complained.

There wasn’t time.

At 3:00 a.m., exhaustion began

creeping into the shift. Officers

leaned against patrol cars

writing reports beneath dim

streetlights while helicopters

continued circling overhead like

mechanical vultures.

The city looked eerily calm for

a moment.

But veterans knew better.

The hours between 2 a.m. and

dawn were often the most dangerous.

Drunks left bars angry.

Gang members settled scores

under cover of darkness. Desperate

people made desperate

decisions.

Then came the gunfire.

Multiple shots rang out several

blocks away, followed instantly

by frantic 911 calls flooding dispatch.

Officers raced toward the

sound, turning down a narrow

residential street where terrified

residents pointed toward an

alley.

Inside, they found a young man

bleeding beside a chain-link

fence while shell casings glittered

beneath flashing patrol

lights.

Another gang shooting.

Another victim.

Another family about to get a

knock on the door before sunrise.

As detectives arrived and crime

scene tape stretched across the

alley, Ramirez stared silently

down the block. He had worked

South Central long enough to

know tomorrow night would

look exactly the same.

Violence. Fear.

Chaos.

And cops running toward it

while everyone else ran away.

By sunrise, the city would

wake to commuters pouring

onto freeways, parents walking

children to school, and business

owners unlocking storefronts.

Most would never know what

happened while they slept.

But the night watch knew.

The graveyard shift officers

of South Central carried those

memories home every morning

— the screams, the gunfire,

the blood, the faces of victims,

and the knowledge that survival

often came down to instinct,

courage, and the officer standing

beside you in the dark.

For the LAPD patrol officers

who worked those streets after

midnight, policing wasn’t just a

job.

It was urban warfare wearing

a badge.


In 1997, the LAPD faced one of the most intense

urban gun battles in U.S. history during

the infamous North Hollywood shootout.

On the morning of February 28,

1997, the streets of North Hollywood

erupted into a battlefield

that looked more like a war zone

than suburban Los Angeles. What

began as a bank robbery at a Bank

of America branch quickly escalated

into one of the most violent

and heavily televised gun battles in

American law enforcement history.

For the men and women of the

Los Angeles Police Department, it

became a desperate fight for survival

against two body-armored

gunmen armed with military-style

firepower.

At approximately 9:17 a.m., Larry

Phillips Jr. and Emil Mătăsăreanu

entered the bank wearing homemade

ballistic armor that covered

nearly their entire bodies. Armed

with illegally modified automatic

rifles, thousands of rounds of

ammunition, and a willingness to

die, the pair intended to carry out

a robbery unlike anything the city

had ever seen.

But things went wrong almost

immediately.


The robbers failed to access

the bank vault and ended up with

far less cash than expected. Outside,

responding LAPD patrol officers

were already converging

on the scene after receiving silent

alarm notifications. As Phillips and

Mătăsăreanu exited the bank, they

walked directly into a perimeter of

officers armed mostly with 9mm

Berettas and 12-gauge shotguns.

Then the shooting started.

The sound of fully automatic

gunfire echoed through the neighborhood

like machine guns on a

battlefield. Officers’ dove behind patrol

cars that offered little protection

against armor-piercing rounds

ripping through doors and windshields.

Television helicopters overhead

captured the entire nightmare

live as stunned Americans watched

officers pinned down in the open

against two gunmen who appeared

almost unstoppable.

The suspects fired more than 1,100

rounds during the confrontation.

Patrol officers, many outgunned

and outranged, displayed extraordinary

courage under fire. Officers

repeatedly exposed themselves

to rescue wounded civilians and

fellow cops trapped in kill zones.

Some used parked vehicles, concrete

planters, and even trees as

cover while trying to contain the

advancing gunmen.

Several officers later recalled

the terrifying realization that their

handgun rounds were bouncing

harmlessly off the suspects’ body

armor.

One officer described the scene as

“combat in the streets.”

As Phillips advanced down the

sidewalk firing continuously, officers

scrambled to adapt. Some retrieved

AR-15 rifles from a nearby gun

store after realizing their standard

issue weapons were ineffective

against the heavily armored suspects.

It was a pivotal moment that

exposed a dangerous gap between

patrol equipment and the increasing

firepower criminals were bringing

to the streets.

Phillips eventually suffered a

self-inflicted gunshot wound after

being hit multiple times by officers.

But the fight was far from over.

Mătăsăreanu commandeered a

getaway vehicle and continued

exchanging fire with police during

a rolling gun battle through residential

streets. Patrol units pursued

him while SWAT teams mobilized

to intercept. Even after his vehicle

became disabled, the suspect continued

firing from behind cover until

officers finally shot him multiple

times in the legs — one of the few

areas not protected by armor.

When the smoke cleared, the

scale of the violence stunned the

nation.

More than a dozen officers were

wounded along with several civilians.

Miraculously, no innocent civilians

were killed despite the massive

volume of gunfire unleashed

in broad daylight across a crowded

urban neighborhood.

The North Hollywood shootout

became a defining moment in modern

policing.

For law enforcement agencies

nationwide, the incident triggered

sweeping changes in tactics, training,

and equipment. Patrol rifles

became more common in police

vehicles. Agencies upgraded body

armor, active shooter protocols,

and response strategies for heavily

armed suspects. The gun battle also

accelerated the militarization debate

surrounding American policing

— a discussion that continues nearly

three decades later.

But beyond policy changes and

tactical lessons, the shootout revealed

something deeper about the

men and women behind the badge.

Faced with overwhelming firepower,

LAPD officers did not retreat.

They held the line.

Many responding officers that day

were ordinary patrol cops who suddenly

found themselves in a combat

situation few could have imagined.

They fought not because they were

better armed, but because civilians

were trapped behind them. They

moved toward gunfire knowing

they could be killed at any moment.

Some dragged wounded citizens to

safety while bullets shattered glass

and ricocheted around them.

The North Hollywood shootout

remains one of the clearest examples

of raw courage ever displayed

by American law enforcement in

modern times.

For younger officers today, it

serves as both a tactical case study

and a reminder of the unpredictable

violence police may face without

warning. For veterans who remember

watching it unfold live, the images

remain unforgettable: officers

crouched behind black-and-white

cruisers, rifles cracking through

smoke-filled streets, and a city under

siege in broad daylight.

It was more than a robbery.

It was urban warfare.

And for the LAPD officers who

stood their ground that day, it was

a battle they would carry with them

for the rest of their lives.

The BLUES - JUNE ‘26 139 139

BLUEPRINTS OF RESILIENCE

Emmanual Gonzalez Sosa

Fitness Is Officer Safety:

Why Physical Health Matters in Modern Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is one of the

most physically and mentally

demanding professions in the

United States. Police officers and

sheriff deputies are expected to

respond to emergencies, chase

suspects, control dangerous situations

and make critical decisions

under pressure. At any moment,

a routine patrol shift can turn

into a physically exhausting or

life-threatening event.

Despite these demands, physical

health is often overlooked in modern

policing. Many officers struggle

with stress, fatigue, obesity,

poor nutrition, lack of sleep and

chronic injuries caused by years

of wearing heavy gear, sitting in

patrol vehicles and working long

shifts. According to recent wellness

research conducted between

2024 and 2026, law enforcement

officers continue to experience

higher rates of cardiovascular

disease, stress-related illnesses

and musculoskeletal injuries compared

to many other professions.

As a Sheriff Deputy and personal

trainer with experience in running

5K races, 10K races, half marathons

and sports conditioning, I

have seen firsthand how fitness

improves not only physical performance,

but also confidence,

discipline, resilience and mental

health. Exercise is not simply

about appearance or passing a

yearly fitness test. In law enforcement,

fitness is directly connected

to officer safety, career longevity


and quality of life.

The Physical Demands of Police

Work

Police work places enormous

stress on the body. Officers wear

duty belts, body armor, radios,

firearms and other equipment

that add significant strain to the

back, knees, hips and shoulders.

Long shifts often involve sitting

for extended periods, followed by

sudden bursts of intense physical

activity such as foot pursuits,

defensive tactics or emergency

responses.

A 2025 study published in BMJ

Open Sport & Exercise Medicine

found that police recruits with

higher fitness levels performed

better operationally and experienced

fewer injuries during their

first year of service. The findings

reinforce what many officers

already understand from experience:

fitness directly impacts job

performance.

Physical conditioning improves

an officer’s ability to:

• Sustain foot pursuits

• Recover faster from stress and

exertion

• Reduce injury risk

• Perform defensive tactics more

effectively

• Maintain awareness under

fatigue

• Improve reaction time and endurance

In dangerous situations, officers

do not have time to “get in shape

later.” The body either performs or

it does not.

Cardiovascular Health and

Endurance Training

Cardiovascular disease remains

one of the leading health concerns

among law enforcement officers.

Several factors contribute to this

issue, including shift work, sleep

disruption, poor nutrition, stress

and sedentary periods during

patrol.

Running and endurance training

are some of the most effective

ways to improve cardiovascular

health and stress management.

Activities such as running, cycling,

rowing, swimming and interval

training strengthen the heart,

improve endurance and increase

overall energy levels.

Personally, distance running

became one of the most valuable

tools in my life. Training for 5K

races, 10K races and half marathons

taught me discipline, consistency

and mental toughness.

Running also became an effective

outlet for stress management.

Law enforcement officers regularly

face trauma, emotional

exhaustion and high-pressure

situations. Exercise helps officers

release stress in a healthy and

productive way while improving

both physical and mental resilience.

Strength Training and Injury

Prevention

While cardio is essential,

strength training is equally important

for police officers. The

profession requires functional

strength, durability and joint stability.

Strength training helps officers:

• Improve posture and mobility

• Protect the knees and lower

back

• Increase muscular endurance

• Reduce injury risk

• Improve defensive tactics performance

Exercises such as squats, lunges,

deadlifts, push-ups, pull-ups,

kettlebell carries and core training

help officers build practical

strength for real-world situations.

The goal is not bodybuilding.

The goal is longevity.

Many officers develop chronic

pain over time due to repetitive

stress and poor recovery habits.

Smart training programs that

include mobility work, stretching,

recovery days and gradual progression

are critical for long-term

health.

Fitness and Mental Health

Exercise is one of the most powerful

mental health tools available

to officers.

Police work exposes officers

to violence, accidents, death,

family crises and chronic stress.

Over time, these experiences can

contribute to anxiety, depression,

burnout, sleep problems and emotional

fatigue.

Research consistently shows that

regular physical activity improves

mood, reduces stress hormones,

increases energy levels and promotes

better sleep quality. Many

officers report that workouts

become their personal form of

therapy.

Whether it is running before

shift, lifting weights after work,

cycling, swimming or participating

in sports, physical activity

provides a healthy outlet from the

pressures of policing.

Unfortunately, many officers

still neglect mental health due to

stigma within the profession. Exercise

can help bridge that gap by

providing a positive coping mechanism

that supports both physical

and emotional wellness.

Nutrition and Recovery

Fitness is not only about workouts.

Nutrition and recovery are

equally important.

Law enforcement schedules

often make healthy eating difficult.

Officers frequently rely on fast

food, energy drinks and convenience

meals during long shifts.

Over time, poor nutrition contributes

to weight gain, inflammation,

fatigue and reduced performance.

Simple improvements can make

a major difference:

• Drinking more water

• Increasing protein intake

• Preparing meals before shifts

• Eating more fruits and vegetables

• Reducing excessive sugar and

processed foods

Recovery is also critical. Sleep

deprivation is common in policing

and significantly affects performance,

mood and health. Officers

should prioritize quality sleep,

stretching, hydration and proper

recovery practices whenever

possible.

Creating a Culture of Wellness

One of the biggest challenges in

law enforcement fitness is organizational

culture. Many agencies

only focus on fitness during academy

training and fail to maintain

wellness standards throughout an

officer’s career.

Departments that invest in officer

wellness often experience:

• Lower injury rates

• Improved morale

• Reduced absenteeism

• Better performance

• Increased career longevity

Agencies should support wellness

through fitness programs,

peer fitness instructors, gym access,

mental health resources and

wellness education.

Fitness should not be viewed as

punishment. It should be viewed

as professional readiness.

Conclusion

Physical fitness is not optional

in law enforcement. It directly

affects officer safety, job performance,

resilience and long-term

health.

As officers, we spend our careers

protecting others, but we

must also protect ourselves. Every

workout, every healthy habit and

every mile run contributes to a

stronger body and mind.

As a Sheriff Deputy, personal

trainer, and endurance athlete, I

firmly believe that active officers

become better prepared officers.

Fitness builds confidence,

improves resilience and helps

officers manage the physical and

emotional demands of policing.

Modern law enforcement requires

more than tactical training

and equipment. It requires healthy,

capable and resilient officers who

are physically and mentally prepared

for the realities of the job.


A BADGE OF HONOR

Healing Our Heroes

Who is being held accountable?

In Law Enforcement everyone is

accountable for their actions. We

hold an officer accountable for a

missing item on their uniform or

for improper memo entries. We

will hold them accountable for

conduct, procedure or just being

late. Just about anything you can

think of, officers are held accountable.

So when a Department has

an officer or multiple officers who

take their own lives in a short

period of time, WHO IS ACCOUNT-

ABLE?

One suicide is one too many,

two suicides within a department

deserve a deep look into policy,

three or more deserves answers.

I’m not going to call out Departments,

but we all know the ones

who are reaching 10 or more just

in 2025. How is this acceptable.

If a Department had an officer

who was taking bribes, they

would fire that officer. If the investigation

turned out to have multiple

officers taking bribes or shaking

down businesses, there would

be a public investigation. The

commander would be transferred,

and many others would be demoted

or fired themselves. So how are

multiple suicides within a department

not viewed with the same

standard. The families of these

officers deserve answers. Not just

the cookie cutter answers as this

job takes a toll, but how about the

truth on how the commander has

failed. Yes, I said FAILED. A commander

will call out an officer on

everything under the sun, but why

not speak to the officer when they


see the signs of distress.

We have all have taken workshops,

learned about Peer Support

and how to reach out. We

know when an officer’s attitude,

his workload or his performance,

begins to slip.

Why are we not taking steps

to help? If an Officer stops 30

speeders a month and writes zero

tickets for the month, you can bet

your ass the commander or some

raking boss will ask why!! So

when an officer who is so proactive,

punctual and well-groomed,

suddenly has a change in work

ethics, why don’t we ask why?

What’s up? How are you doing?

We teach our Officers to recognize

the red flags and to reach

out. So why are the Commanders

of these departments not held to

that same standard.

It’s a tough question but one

that needs to be addressed. Someone

is dropping the ball on Mental

Health. Who is it? We are not

talking about a loss of revenue on

speeding tickets; we are talking

about saving an officer’s life.

We all know that Law Enforcement

is one of the most difficult

professions when it comes

to Stress. But crime is crime no

matter what department you are

from. So why do certain departments

have such a higher rate of

suicide. The stress levels are the

same, The job for the most part is

the same, but many policies and

the commanders are different.

I have spoken with lots of commanders

and leaders; I’ve noticed

SAMANTHA HORWITZ &

JOHN SALERNO

the ones with the REAL opendoor

policy have less issues with

their officers. Yes, the stress of

the streets can take a toll and the

visual aspects our officers see

every day weigh heavy on us. But

when the stress of a “Suck it up”

Commander or a “Just deal with

it” Sergeant comes along, officers

have no safety net to land on. Yes,

peer support is amazing, but they

can’t be everywhere. Our Peer

Support Teams are also Front-line

Officers who are dealing with the

same issues.

It’s the Bosses who have a good

360 vision and evaluation of our

Officers. If they can spot corruption,

they can spot High Stress

Levels… TAKE ACTION PEOPLE.

I’m not placing blame on any of

the Command Staff, but we are

our Brothers and Sisters Keepers,

in the Streets and in the House. It’s

up to all who Ride, Walk or sit at

a desk, it’s up to those who push

paper or place on the cuffs, to

step up when they feel that feeling

that something is just no OK.

We are a Family and It takes an

open and caring conversation, and

you never know, you may be just

saving a Life.

John Salerno Ret. NYPD


DARYL'S DELIBERATIONS

America’s 250th

Honors a “Beloved Woman”

In the violent and uncertain

world of eighteenth century

frontier America, very few women

held political power recognized

by both Native nations and

European settlers. One did. Her

name was Nanyehi, though history

remembers her more often

as Nancy Ward, the Cherokee

“Beloved Woman.”

She lived during one of the

most turbulent periods in

Cherokee history. Empires

clashed across the southern

frontier. British agents, French

traders, American settlers, and

tribal nations competed for

land and influence. Villages

burned. Alliances shifted. Disease

and war swept through

the mountains and river valleys

of what is now eastern

Tennessee and North Carolina.

Yet amid that storm stood a

woman whose voice carried

extraordinary authority.

The title “Beloved Woman”

was not ceremonial alone.

Among the Cherokee, it represented

one of the highest

positions a woman could attain.

A Beloved Woman could sit in

council. She could speak publicly

to chiefs and warriors. In some

cases, she possessed the authority

to spare captives condemned

to death. The role reflected the


Cherokee understanding that

wisdom and leadership were not

reserved exclusively for men.

Nanyehi earned that distinction

through courage.

According to Cherokee tradition,

she was born around 1738

and married a warrior named

Kingfisher. During a battle

against the Creek, her husband

was killed. Rather than flee,

DARYL LOTT

Nanyehi reportedly took up his

rifle and continued fighting beside

the Cherokee warriors. Her

bravery under fire became legendary.

In recognition, she was

later named Ghigau, or Beloved

Woman.

What makes her story especially

compelling is not

merely her courage in war,

but her struggle to preserve

peace afterward.

As white settlement

pushed deeper into Cherokee

lands during the mid and

late 1700s, conflict intensified

across the frontier. Raids and

reprisals became tragically

common. Families on both

sides lived with constant

fear. It was an age when

rumors traveled faster than

truth and vengeance often

outran mercy.

Nanyehi emerged as a

voice urging restraint.

She developed relationships

with traders and settlers and

became convinced that endless

war would destroy her people.

Again and again, she warned

Cherokee leaders about the

growing strength and numbers

of the colonists pressing into

the region. She advocated negotiation

when many demanded

retaliation.

One of the most famous stories

associated with her concerns the

rescue of a white woman named

Lydia Bean. Captured during

frontier violence and reportedly

sentenced to death, Bean was

spared through Nanyehi’s intervention.

The Cherokee woman

took her into her own home and

cared for her. During her stay,

Lydia Bean taught Nanyehi new

methods of dairy farming and

butter making, skills that later

spread among the Cherokee.

Whether every detail of the

story survives exactly as it

happened is difficult to know.

Frontier history often mingles

memory and legend. Yet the

heart of the account rings true

to the reputation Nanyehi earned

throughout her life: a woman

who consistently chose preservation

over destruction whenever

she could.

Her warnings, however, went

largely unheeded.

The American Revolution

placed the Cherokee in an impossible

position. Many Cherokee

leaders sided with the British,

believing the Crown might

restrain colonial expansion

more effectively than the settlers

pouring westward across

the mountains. The result was

devastating. Campaigns against

Cherokee towns intensified.

Villages were destroyed. Crops

burned. Entire communities were

uprooted.

Nanyehi continued urging

peace even as the world around

her hardened.

At one point, she reportedly

addressed Cherokee warriors

directly, warning them not to

fight the Americans because

their numbers were overwhelming.

Her words proved tragically

prophetic. Within decades,

enormous portions of Cherokee

land were lost through treaties,

coercion, and encroachment.

What makes Nanyehi especially

fascinating to modern

readers is that she resists easy

categorization. Some later critics

viewed her efforts toward peace

and accommodation as naïve or

even harmful. Others see profound

wisdom in her attempts to

preserve her people from an-


nihilation. History rarely grants

us simple heroes untouched by

contradiction, especially in times

of cultural collapse and national

upheaval.

Perhaps that complexity is

precisely why she remains so

compelling.

She stood between worlds.

She understood Cherokee

traditions deeply, yet recognized

that the frontier was changing

irreversibly. She witnessed the

collision of civilizations from the

inside rather than from the safe


distance of hindsight. Like many

leaders in impossible times, she

faced choices between terrible

outcomes rather than clear victories.

Even today, her legacy remains

visible across Tennessee. Nancy

Ward’s grave is located near

Benton, Tennessee, not far from

the Ocoee River. Historical markers

preserve her memory. Stories

about her continue to circulate

through Appalachian and Cherokee

history alike.

Yet perhaps the most remarkable

aspect of her

life is not her title,

nor even her

bravery. It is the

fact that in an age

drenched in bloodshed,

she repeatedly

used her influence

to save lives

instead of taking

them.

That choice deserves

remembering.

Modern Americans

often imagine

the frontier only

through the lens of

conflict. We picture

rifles, forts, raids,

and battlefields.

Those things were

certainly real. But

the frontier was

also shaped by

diplomacy, cultural

exchange, difficult

compromise, and

individuals who

attempted, however

imperfectly, to prevent

violence from

consuming everything

around them.

Nanyehi was one

of those individuals.

The Cherokee Beloved Woman

reminds us that leadership does

not always roar like a battlefield

speech. Sometimes it speaks

quietly in council fires, warns

against hatred when others demand

revenge, or reaches across

cultural lines in hopes of preserving

a future no one else can

yet see.

History remembers many

warriors. It remembers far fewer

peacemakers.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY


BLUE METAL HEALTH

Toxicity in the Law Enforcement

“Wellness” Field

Many years ago, I chose to become

a clinical social worker and

focused on giving a voice to those

who have little to none. Somewhere

along the way, God called

me to work with law enforcement

officers and their families.

25 years of having the hard conversations

behind closed doors,

taking the 2 am calls, leaving my

home and family in the middle

of the night to check on you and

yours after a shooting, countless

days teaching officers at the academy

and nationwide, and advocating

for fairness where I could. I’m

grateful for every single day and

opportunity. It’s been my honor to

do it and share the journey with

you. I have met so many amazing,

dedicated folks along the way.

I can honestly say that while

officers are certainly affected

by trauma and stress, most who

came for counseling did so because

of the destructive culture

and lack of support from their

agency and leadership. It has put

many on their knees and made

them decide to quit an occupation

they thought was their true calling

or purpose. They were not able to

speak on their own behalf, mostly

out of fear of retaliation. I hated

watching a good officer leave. It

was heartbreaking but certainly

understandable. They were making

a difference in their community,

and we desperately needed


them.

Don’t get me wrong, there are

some solid agencies out there and

you can see it in the holistic health

of their officers. I truly appreciate

you and your excellent leadership.

When I first started in this field,

there were only a few of us in the

nation leading the call for wellness

and change. It was hard and

often rejected due to stigma. We

worked tirelessly to lay the foundation

for the ability to have open

conversations about the importance

of mental health. However,

the first responder “wellness” field

now, sadly, is frequently driven

by glory, ego, politics, unprofessionalism,

and yes, money. A law

enforcement psychologist and

colleague recently shared that the

LEO wellness field” is replete

with self-interested, self-enriching,

self-aggrandizing, territorial,

pompous, narcissistic sell-outs,

and entrepreneurs; those working

sincerely do so quietly from the

wings, not center stage. Well said

sir.

Many have lost sight of the true

mission. I am so thankful for those

in this career who have chosen

to maintain their integrity, professionalism,

and ethics. And, of

course, passion, even on difficult

days. Please keep up the good

fight, the officers need you more

now than ever.

I am starting a new chapter in

DR. TINA JAECKLE

my life that will require moving

away from working with traditional

law enforcement agencies.

I too want and need to feel safe,

appreciated, and know that the

change that I am trying to implement

is not seen as a threat,

and in some cases, destroyed

for someone else’s gain. While

I might be the lightning rod, it

only serves to crush the trust and

morale of countless officers who

truly needed an effective and

trusted program. Ah, the irony of

the first responder “wellness” field.

For the first time, I can truly empathize

with the hurt that you, as

officers, have felt. I have several

colleagues who have experienced

similar outcomes in other parts of

the nation, and I am glad to raise

awareness on an increasing problem

in the wellness field. God is

now showing me that it is time to

write the book from the perspective

of a long term LE clinician and

to begin to address the successes

and failures in this field at not as

numerous levels.


NOT SO BRIGHT AWARD

Light Bulb

VIRGINA GOV. ABIGAIL SPANBERGER

Worst governor in America, signs new bill in Va banning

the future sale of 'assault weapons'.

This month our LB Award

goes to Virginia Democratic

Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Spanberger, who has been

slipping in the polls amid

criticisms of her progressive

policy agenda, signed a new

bill last month banning the

future sale and manufacture

of "assault weapons," including

many semiautomatic rifles,

pistols and shotguns. The law

also bans the future sale of

magazines with a capacity of

more than 15 rounds.

The move caused immediate

backlash from many Virginians

and raised new Second

Amendment violation concerns.

Ryan Mehaffey, a Marine

veteran and Virginia prosecutor,

is taking a hardline stance

against what he believes the

new bill gun ban is "unconstitutional"

and rather than

protest, Mehaffey, who serves

as the commonwealth attorney

for Spotsylvania County, is

drawing a line in the sand and

flatly refusing to enforce the

ban.


With the bill set to take effect

this July ahead of America’s

250th anniversary of

independence, Mehaffey sent

a letter to Spotsylvania Sheriff

Roger Harris, instructing him

that the ban is "unconstitutional

and cannot be lawfully

enforced."

A statement released by

Spanberger’s office called the

assault weapons ban a "critical

step toward protecting

families, communities, and the

law enforcement officers who

serve them."

Spanberger remarked she

signed the bill into law "because

firearms designed to

inflict maximum casualties do

not belong on our streets."

She added that "while the

General Assembly chose not

to adopt my amendment that

specifically carves out certain

firearms frequently used for

hunting, I will work with the

patrons to clarify this language."

In response, Mehaffey said

in an interview with Fox News

Digital that the law "is striking

at the core of the militia system

that existed in Virginia."

According to Mehaffey, the

Second Amendment is not

just an assurance of personal

freedoms, but also a

safeguard for a community’s

ability to defend itself through

a "well-regulated militia."

"Our founders were careful

to make sure when they

drafted our founding document,

that the ultimate right

of the people was preserved

to defend themselves and to

defend their community," he

explained. "So, the linchpin of

CLICK TO WATCH

the constitutional analysis is on."

going to be does this instrument

have some reasonable core of what's protected by

"That sort of weapon is the

relationship to the preservation

or efficiency of a regulat-

necessarily a nuclear war-

the Second Amendment. Not

ed militia."

head, but a rifle that you can

Mehaffey argues that in Virginia,

historical tradition and fire team or a company to

take out and form either a

case law precedent not only defend yourself and to defend

your community."

allow citizens to own firearms

but even require them to arm Mehaffey is not alone in

themselves with the weapons

of a basic infantryman what he characterized as the

his stance. In addition to

for common defense. In the "overwhelmingly positive"

Founding Fathers’ time, Mehaffey

said the standard issue nity, Smyth County Com-

response from his commu-

was a musket and 20 rounds. monwealth’s Attorney Phillip

Today, the basic infantry Blevins, an Air Force veteran,

weapon in the U.S. military is has also refused to enforce

the M4A1 carbine equipped the bill, arguing it is unconstitutional.

The ban is also

with a 30-round magazine.

"The second amendment facing lawsuits from gunrights

groups, including the

may not mean that you are

allowed to have a nuclear NRA, Firearms Policy Coalition

and Second Amendment

weapon," he laughed. "But

what

My

it

eyebrows?

does allow

I paid

you

a

to

lot of money

Foundation.

for them.

have is a basic infantry weap-

"My position is not based

on politics. It is based on constitutional

fidelity," he continued,

adding, "The Bill of Rights

either means something, or it

does not."

"As Commonwealth’s Attorney,

I took an oath to support

and defend the Constitution of

the United States and the Constitution

of Virginia. That oath

is not situational, and it does

not change based on politics,

headlines, or pressure from

either side of an issue."

Mehaffey believes he and

those standing beside him on

this issue will ultimately prevail.

"The Second Amendment is

the supreme law of the land,

both in the U.S. Constitution

and the analog in the Virginia

Constitution," he explained. "So,

whatever law is passed by the

General Assembly is not going

to have the ability to supersede

the Constitution."


ADS BACK IN THE DAY


The The BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 153

ADS BACK IN THE DAY


The The BLUES - JUNE MAY ‘26 155

THERE ARE

parting shots...


NO WORDS


THERE ARE

parting shots...


NO WORDS


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WELCOME OUR NEWEST DEPARTMENT

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Pass Background Investigation

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WELCOME ABOARD PASADENA PD




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and drug screening

Physically fit and ready for action





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


HEALTH COVERAGE

Medical, Dental and Vision covered 100% for

employees and 90% for dependents




WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO

Make a DIFFERENCE

Provide SERVICE to YOUR community!

MEANINGFUL careers

Growing Organization

Career DEVELOPMENT

*Our agency is a certified OJT training agency for qualified Veterans


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




NOW

HIRING

BIG SPRING PD IS NOW HIRING POLICE OFFICERS

• 100% PAID ACADEMY TRAINING FOR NON-

CERTIFIED CADETS

• LATERAL POLICE OFFICER RECRUIT PROGRAM

• EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ARE PROVIDED

• TAKE HOME VEHICLES WITH A ONE HOUR

RESPONSE TIME

• TMRS RETIREMENT (2:1 CITY MATCH)

• 100% EMPLOYEE MEDICAL AND LIFE INSURANCE

PREMIUM PAID BY THE CITY

• PAID VACATION AND HOLIDAYS

• PAID SICK LEAVE

• LONGEVITY PAY FOR YEARS OF SERVICE

• EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM

• TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM

• PROGRESSIVE ANNUAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND

EXTERNAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.

• DIVERSE ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS SWAT, NARCOTICS,

TRAFFIC, AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

• $5,000 ACADEMY REIMBURSEMENT AND

$4,500 RELOCATION PAY FOR CERTIFIED OFFICERS

• CERTIFIED OFFICERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR $800

MONTHLY HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR ONE YEAR

• FREE DORMITORY HOUSING FOR NON-CERTIFIED

CADETS IN THE ACADEMY

• LATERAL RECRUIT PROGRAM FOR EXPERIENCED

OFFICERS

Cadet Pay: $54,109/year ~ Certified Officer Pay: $65,538/year

ENTRY LEVEL TESTING ON MARCH 5, 2026

The application deadline is March 2, 2026

Testing for Certified Police Officers is scheduled as needed. Certified

Police Officers are strongly encouraged to apply at anytime.

APPLY TODAY AT WWW.MYBIGSPRING.COM


BIG SPRING POLICE DEPARTMENT

JOIN OUR TEAM!

LATERAL ENTRY POLICE OFFICER

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

BENEFITS

• Health/Vision/Dental Insurance

• Paid Life and AD&D Insurance

• TMRS (2 to 1 match)

• Deferred Compensation with a

6.7% match

• Vacation Buy Back (up to 68

hours annually)

• 12-hour shift schedule, every

other Friday, Saturday, and

Sunday off

• Longevity Service Pay

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Uniforms & Equipment Supplied

• Upfront vacation leave:

• 5yrs—80 hours

• 5 to 10 yrs—120 hours

• 10+yrs—160 hours

3 YEARS EXPERIENCE

$70,578

5 YEARS EXPERIENCE

$72,989

7 YEARS EXPERIENCE

$75,479

10+ YEARS EXPERIENCE

$81,282

• Take home patrol car within one hour response radius

INCENTIVE PAYS

Relocation Pay $4,500

1 yr. Housing Allowance $800/mo

Academy Reimbursement $5,000

Firearm Allowance $800

Associate Degree

Bachelor Degree

Shift Differential

FTO Pay

$1,200/yr.

$2,400/yr.

5% Increase

$50 daily

*The BSPD lateral pay scale pays

for 2 to 10+ years of experience.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Subject to the same hiring process as all other police officer applicants.

• Must have 12 months certified, full-time, law enforcement experience from a comparable size agency.

• Must not have pending disciplinary actions or investigations for misconduct.

APPLY TODAY

www.mybigspring.com

BIG SPRING POLICE DEPARTMENT

3613 West Highway 80, Big Spring, TX 79720

432-264-2347 ▪ sking@mybigspring.com


BROWNSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

answer

the call.

serve

Brownsville.

Service From the Heart.

Excellence Through Action.

competitive

pay

modern

technology

career

advancement

Exceptional

benefits

start a career

that matters

become part of something

bigger than yourself.

Minimum age 21

Must be a U.S. Citizen

High School Diploma or GED

Possess a valid Driver’s License

Pass Background Investigation

why brownsville pd?

Modern Technology & Equipment

Drone First Responder Program

Specialized Units


Career Advancement Opportunities

New Public Safety Complex

Proudly Serving a DiverseCommunity

on the Texas Border

starting pay

$ 40,902

TO

$ 79,295

Annually

Plus specialty pay, certification pay,

overtime opportunities and benefits.

earn more through

Specialty assignments

SWAT-650 Annually

FTO-2 overtime hours per trainee shift

Investigators-1 hourly & clothing

allowance 200 quarterly

Incentive certicate pay(TCOLE)

Intermediate-1,440 Annually

Advanced-2,100 Annually

Master-2,700 Annually

your future

starts here.

scan for more info!

What you’ll receive

Assignment Pay

2,080 Annually

Seniority Steps

1,200-6,120 Annually

Night Differential

1 Hourly

Vacation-Up to

21 days annually

Holiday Pay :

10 Holidays at 1.5 rate

15 days of sick leave

annually

Healthcare Insurance

Texas Municipal Retirement

System 7% gross earnings

withheld and matched 2:1


www.brownsvillepd.com

(956)548-7150

600 E. Jackson St,

Brownsville, Texas 78520


protect. serve. lead. building the future of policing in south texas.

Your Department's

Recruiting Ad

could be right here!

email us today at

bluespdmag@gmail.com


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

Cuero Police Department

Now Hiring for Patrol Officer Position

Department Benefits

14 Paid Holidays

2 Weeks Paid Vacation

Certification Pay

100% Insurance Paid for Employees

Retirement 2 to 1 match (20yr Retirement)

FSA for Employees

Longevity Pay

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

Take Home Vehicle Within Surrounding Counties

10 Hour Work Shifts

Membership Paid to Local Gym

Department Provided Training

Off-duty Security Opportunities

Starting Pay Depends on Qualifications (Academy Graduates start at $53,400)

Police Academy Tuition Reimbursement opportunity

Now offering a $6000 sign on bonus for experienced officers

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

Police Academy and pass a background investigation.

Email TCOLE Personal History Statement to sellis@cityofcuero.com




$

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








Place your department’s recruiting ad

in The BLUES for only $250 for an

entire year, only $20 a month.



LATERAL DEPUTY


WE ARE

HIRING!

LATERAL DEPUTY

REQUIREMENTS

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

Law Enforcement (TCOLE) in good standing

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

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

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

Peace Office at any one agency

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

• Meet HCSO firearms qualification standard

• Must pass a thorough background investigation (criminal

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

required by TCOLE

• Must pass a physical and psychological evaluation as required by

TCOLE

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

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

peripheral vision

• Correctable normal audible range in both ears

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

eligible to transfer to other Bureaus

For additional information contact

Harris County Sheriff’s Office

Recruitment Unit

(713) 877-5250


TO APPLY

www.harriscountyso.org | www.hcsojobs.com

SCAN

THIS CODE Harris County

@HCSOTexas

Sheriff’s Office

HCSOTexas HCSOTexas @HCSOTexas







NOW HIRING

ositions


LEAGUE CITY POLICE

D E P A R T M E N T

RECRUITING

LATERAL OFFICERS

LATERAL INCENTIVES:

Salary Equal to Years of Service (3 - 7 yrs)

$5,000 Hiring Bonus

REQUIREMENTS:

To be Considered as a Lateral Applicant, You Must Meet the Following Qualifications:

Lateral Pay Credit Will be Granted Only for Whole Years of Qualified Experience.

Cannot Have a Break of Service More Than 180 Days to Qualify for Experience Credit.

Must Have at Least Three Years of Qualified Law Enforcement Experience (Commissioned,

Full-time, Paid).

TCOLE Licensed Peace Officer or Equivalent Out-of-State Certification Accepted by TCOLE

will Qualify.

3 YEAR PAY --

4 YEAR PAY --

5 YEAR PAY --

WATCH HERE FOR NEW DATES

6 YEAR PAY --

7 YEAR PAY --

VISIT LCPDJOBS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION!






SALARY RANGE

$79,201 - $105,716

ADDITIONAL PAY

(MONTHLY)

ASSOCIATES DEGREE

$99-$250

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

$180-$400

MASTER’S DEGREE

$230-$500

TCOLE CERTIFICATES

$60-$150

OTHER INCENTIVES

FIELD TRAINING OFFICER

$700

FIELD TRAINING SERGEANT

$600

TACTICAL UNIT ASSIGNMENT

$200

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

$200

HONOR GUARD

$200

W W W . M I D L A N D T E X A S . G O V / 1 3 1 7 / L A T E R A L - O F F I C E R S


Patrol Officer

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

division.

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

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

corridor approximately 4 miles South of the City of Houston.

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

on experience and certification levels.

Requirements:

High school diploma or GED

Valid Texas Driver’s License

with good driving record

TCOLE certified OR currently

enrolled in Academy

program

Preference for LE experience

Hiring Process Includes :

Written test

Oral board interview

Physical agility test

Thorough background

investigation

Accelerated Field Training

Program for experienced officers

One year probationary period

Pay and Benefits:

Competitive pay with an employment

improvement step program

TMRS retirement up to 7% with 2:1 match

by city

Retirement vested after 5 years of service

Medical Insurance covered 100% for

employees and 100% paid for employees

and dependent by the city after 3 years

12 hour shifts (DuPont Schedule)

Personal time off - Vacation and Holiday

accruals

Paid sick time

Lateral transfers

For more information you can contact

The City of Manvel Police Department at

281-489-1212

208 Rochelle The BLUES Carr-Lacy JUNE ‘26

rcarrlacy@manvelpd.org

Serving Bunker Hill, Piney Point, and Hunters Creek Villages

Opportunity for Experienced Police

Officers

Starting Pay $87,118 Plus Incentives

Incentives:

Certifications: Intermediate $3600, Advanced

$4800, Master $7200 annually

Hiring Bonus $1500

Night Shift Differential $12,000

Bi-Lingual Pay $2400 annually

LCC/FBINA $1800 annually

Education: AD $1200, BA/BS $3600 MD $6000

Health care Insurance 100% for Employee, 75%

for Spouse/Dependents

Requirements:

5 Years Patrol Experience

TCOLE Certified

Valid TX Driver’s License

US Citizen

Positive Attitude

Strong Work Ethic

Problem Solver

Desire to Succeed

TMRS Retirement 7% 2:1 match, 20-year

retirement. COLA 50% of retirement

Department Funded 457 Deferred Compensation

Plan with employer contribution of 2.5% annual

salary


Work life balance with 12 Hour shifts every other

weekend off

EOE/M/F/D

11981 Memorial Dr.

Houston, Tx 77024

713.365.3700



NEW APPLICANT TESTING AUG. 7-10

NEW APPLICANT TESTING AUG. 7-10


NOW HIRING

ositions



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



WE’RE

HIRING

Join Our Growing College

Police Department!

POLICE OFFICER

Benefits Include:

Uniforms & equipment provided

Modified take-home vehicle program

$1 meal plan

12 hour shifts, every other weekend off

Paid overtime and training

Vacation and sick leave

TRS retirement and great insurance

Modern tattoo and facial hair policies

Employee educational benefits

Location:

Mount Pleasant, TX

Starting Salary:

$54,288

Apply Now at

NTCC.EDU/HR

Key Requirements:

U.S. resident with a high school

diploma or equivalent

TCOLE certified or

enrolled in an academy

Pass background checks

and drug screening

Physically fit and ready for action




MAKE A

DIFFERENCE

IN YOUR

COMMUNITY

We are looking for outstanding individuals to

join our team! As a Pearland Police Officer your

mission will be to prevent crime and disorder, build

partnerships within the community, and positively

impact the quality of life for all our residents.

CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS

• Competitive Salary • Outstanding Training

• Career Advancement • Exceptional Benefits

The City of Pearland is one of the fastest growing

communities within the region. Pearland is located

approximately 20 minutes south of Downtown Houston

and the current population is approximately 130,000

residents.

JOIN OUR TEAM

HIRING POLICE OFFICERS AND CADETS

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

Officers who qualify with at least 2 years of experience.

TEST DATE:

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

Register by: April 12.

Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium

4141 Bailey Road, Pearland, TX 77584.

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

Candidates must park in the north parking lot.

SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES WILL APPLY

• Attendance limited to first 150 arrivals

• Mandatory temperature checks

• Masks required, hand sanitizer available

• Candidates seated 6 feet apart

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

pearlandtx.gov/PDCareers



PORT HOUSTON

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Thinking of retiring?

Want a change but still want to serve?

Put on a NEW uniform and JOIN US!

YOUR CAREER

OUR PORT

ONE MISSION

NEW!

• No BMI Requirements

• No Polygraph Required

• No Physical Agility

STARTING PAY*

$71,000 up to $81,000

* Salary depends on experience

EMPLOYMENT

TESTING

Employment is contingent on pass

any post-offer pre-employment

screening as listed below:

• Criminal background check

• Motor vehicle record check

• Drug screening

• Physical exam

• Psychological exam


BENEFITS:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

eligible first day of employment

• Vacation & Sick Leave, PLUS Paid Holidays.

(12 days/year).

• 401a & 457 Plans

• Tuition Reimbursement

(Up to the IRS annual limit and a maximum lifetime

reimbursement $25,000)

REQUIREMENTS

• Must be 21 years old

• Must have 2+ years of police officer

experience

• Must have valid Texas Driver’s

• License & be a U.S. Citizen

• Must have an honorable discharge from the

military (if applicable)

• Must never have been convicted of a

• Class A Misdemeanor or above

• Not been convicted of a Class B

misdemeanor within the last 10 years

• Must have a GED or high school diploma

ing

SIGN UP TODAY!

www.porthouston.com/careers-2



SEGUIN PD

NOW

HIRING

POLICE OFFICER

STARTING PAY IS $67,012

LATERAL: UP TO $73,968

UP TO $3,000 SIGN ON BONUS

INCENTIVE PAY FOR TCOLE CERTIFICATION,

BILINGUAL SPEAKERS, & EDUCATIONAL PAY.

100% EMPLOYEE MEDICAL/DENTAL PREMIUM

COVERED BY CITY

EQUIPMENT AND UNIFORMS ARE PROVIDED

INCLUDING TAKE HOME VEHICLES, HANDGUN

WITH RED DOT SIGHT & SUPPRESSED PATROL

RIFLE

TMRS RETIREMENT (2:1 CITY MATCH)

PROGRESSIVE IN-SERVICE AND EXTERNAL

TRAINING EXCEEDING NATIONAL TRAINING

AVERAGES

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE EXPERIENCE IN

SPECIALIZED UNITS AND ASSIGNMENTS

SUCH AS SWAT, K9, NARCOTICS, SPECIAL

CRIMES, MENTAL HEALTH, TRAFFIC, AND

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION

APPLY NOW AT:

WWW.APPLITRACK.COM/SEGUINTEXAS/ONLINEAPP



SANTA FE ISD POLICE DEPARTMENT

IS NOW HIRING

187 Day Contract

Salary: $31.11 to $43.84 Hourly

(Commensurate with experience)

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

Full Time Employment

Full Medical Insurance Options

Teacher Retirement System

Summers off

Paid Holidays: Thanksgiving,

Christmas, Spring Break

INCENTIVES

Certificate Pay

Intermediate - $100.00 mo.

Advanced - $150.00 mo.

Master - $200.00 mo.

Degree Pay

Associate’s - $100.00 mo.

Bachelor’s - $150.00 mo.

Master’s - $200.00 mo.

Take home vehicle after 3 yrs. Service

Uniforms, equipment and duty weapons

provided

https://santafe.schoolspring.com/







June 2026. Blues Vol 42 No.6

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