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I propose a toast to all the men and women patrolling a beat during the Christmas season.
With fourteen years of road experience and after having completed S.W.A.T school, I have come to realize that monumentally harder than the job itself or any module of training, is the time we sacrifice away from our family.
There are citizens that may be saying to themselves, that officers shouldn’t complain about this, or any other hardship related to the job and field because “that is what they signed up for.”
However, to those that may be thinking that, think of it in this cross analogy.
When a teacher stays up all hours of the night to think of better ways to reach their classroom, loses sleep and spends money (they don’t really have) to enhance your child’s educational experience, do we say that they shouldn’t complain because “that’s what they signed up for?”
Or when a service member misses their child’s first steps because they are off protecting your freedom, do we say, “don’t complain, that’s what they signed up for?” The answer, unless you are selfish or just don’t know any better, is no.
The underscore that I hope serves as a backdrop for this short article is that the reason that we should be grateful to our police is because, Police protection is not a right or a privilege that is owed to us. So we must stop acting like it. In fact, The US Supreme Court (in 2005) ruled that police officers do not have a constitutional obligation to protect people. That sets an amazing precedent for gratitude doesn’t it.
I am reminded of an article that I published on December 25, 2023 and would like to quote it if I may, as I believe it still applies today and provides helpful context.
It is titled: In remembrance of me.
“The leader that comes to mind during this season is Jesus of Nazareth.
Irrespective of whether you believe that He was a prophet or the son of God, I believe that at minimum we can all agree that He was a smart visionary and an awesome leader.
As all leaders before Him and after Him he led by example. He did what he did so that people would learn the way.
For the record I personally believe in Jesus Christ, but you don’t have to, to appreciate this message and wish.
The lesson that we will focus on in this article is His lesson of gratitude that was taught particularly well during the last supper.
Jesus raised his glass of what was believed to be wine, and said the following solemn words (paraphrase) “drink this in remembrance of me.”
What does that mean?
He was literally referring to the sacrifice that He was about to make for them and us. He was literally alluding to the different trials and tribulations that He went through so that they and we wouldn’t have to suffer. He was also, (through implied teaching) if we pay close attention to the intricacies of the lesson, reminding all generations to be grateful to those who sacrifice for them.
Everybody in this world owes their position in life to a predecessor who laid the foundation, groundwork and went the extra mile in hopes that their descendants wouldn’t suffer as they did.
Every time that you wake up in the morning and your car’s not on bricks; Every day that you and your family enjoy a picnic in the park, on the mountainside or at a theme park free from crime; Every time that you need somebody to bail you, your family or friends out of harms’ way; Every time that your car is stalled on a dark street in the middle of the night and the soothing sight of blue approaching lights makes you feel safe; Every time that you enjoy the peaceful freedoms that you enjoy, with the confidence that when you call we are there; do so “in remembrance of me.”
Who is me in this context?
Me, is every man and woman that puts on a uniform, badge and gun and provides for their family by protecting yours. Me is, every law enforcement officer that gets stabbed trying to protect your belongings. Me is every law enforcement officer that is left alone to their own devices when they go above and beyond to protect the public against perpetrators that play the system of technicalities.
Me is, every law enforcement officer that is commissioned with the responsibility of doing what is reasonable and necessary to defeat the community’s criminals and is left alone to fend for themselves and chastised when doing so. Me is, every law enforcement officer that gets ridiculed and insulted by the media for doing and criticized for not doing.
Me is, every law enforcement officer that takes a bullet for you, when you are under fire by an assailant. Me is, every law enforcement officer that detours the attacks against your integrity that you don’t see because they got to them before they could materialize.
Me is every law enforcement officer that chases the perpetrator that just stole your wedding ring into the dark eerie tree line to recuperate what you hold dear. Me is, every law enforcement officer that risks life and limb to get to you before you lose yours.
Every time that you enjoy safety on a city street, public place, private establishment or in your house do so, “in remembrance of me.”
As you are gathered around the table with family and friends this Christmas raise your glass and make three toasts: One for “me” that risks his/her life on a daily basis for your safety.
The second one is for my brother’s and sister’s that lost theirs that you may live on and enjoy yours. And the third (if you believe) for the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf.
A moment of silence for those officers who lost their lives in 2024 (whether health or duty related) it is no less of a loss to their family’s, friend’s, community’s and brother’s and sister’s in law enforcement (List from ODMP).
Stone County Sheriff’s Office, AR
EOW: Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff Eric Anthony Minix
Coweta County Sheriff’s Office, GA
EOW: Thursday, January 4, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
George County Sheriff’s Office, MS
EOW: Thursday, January 4, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: Monday, January 15, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
New York State Environmental Conservation Police, NY
EOW: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Michigan State Police, MI
EOW: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Sergeant Michael “Zini” Kurinzi
Elizabeth Police Department, NJ
EOW: Saturday, January 27, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Georgia State Patrol, GA
EOW: Sunday, January 28, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Florida Highway Patrol, FL
EOW: Friday, February 2, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Chief Deputy Sheriff Ken Prorok
Moody County Sheriff’s Office, SD
EOW: Friday, February 2, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Sheriff Timothy Tavarus Rivers
Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, GA
EOW: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Johnson
Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, NC
EOW: Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Blount County Sheriff’s Office, TN
EOW: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Patrol Officer Jonah Hernandez
Las Cruces Police Department, NM
EOW: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Cause: Stabbed
Sheridan Police Department, WY
EOW: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff Robert John Leonard
Meigs County Sheriff’s Office, TN
EOW: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Cause: Drowned
Burnsville Police Department, MN
EOW: Sunday, February 18, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Matthew Henke Ruge
Burnsville Police Department, MN
EOW: Sunday, February 18, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Trooper First Class Chase Winston Redner
Georgia State Patrol, GA
EOW: Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Sheriff Charles Rivette
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Police Officer Wisbens Antoine
Knoxville Police Department, TN
EOW: Sunday, February 25, 2024
Cause: Duty related illness
Deputy Sheriff John Randall McCrary
Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, AL
EOW: Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Independence Police Department, MO
EOW: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Washington State Patrol, WA
EOW: Saturday, March 2, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff Bryan “Brad” Sweetman
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Monday, March 4, 2024
Cause: Duty related illness
Border Patrol Agent Christopher Luna
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: Friday, March 8, 2024
Cause: Aircraft accident
Chief of Police William Anthony Anderson, Sr.
Northeast Mississippi Community College Police Department, MS
EOW: Saturday, March 9, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, NY
EOW: Sunday, March 10, 2024
Cause: Assault
New Mexico State Police, NM
EOW: Friday, March 15, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: Monday, March 25, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff Christina Musil
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, IL
EOW: Friday, March 29, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Puerto Rico Police Department, PR
EOW: Friday, March 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Lead Police Officer Adam Buckner
Tucson Police Department, AZ
EOW: Sunday, March 31, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff Jermyius O’Marian-D’Nazhray Young
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, AL
EOW: Friday, April 5, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Correctional Sergeant Andrew John Faught
Illinois Department of Corrections, IL
EOW: Monday, April 8, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Chief of Police Steven Allen Singer
Lake Lafayette Police Department, MO
EOW: Monday, April 8, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, US
EOW: Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Ceresco Police Department, NE
EOW: Friday, April 12, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Police Officer Joseph Russell McKinney
Memphis Police Department, TN
EOW: Friday, April 12, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Sergeant William Marty Jackson, II
Winchester Police Department, KY
EOW: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, NY
EOW: Sunday, April 14, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office, IN
EOW: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Cause: Electrocuted
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo “Freddy” Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, CA
EOW: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Cause: Fire
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Ada County Sheriff’s Office, ID
EOW: Sunday, April 21, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: Sunday, April 21, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: Friday, April 26, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Master-at-Arms Lyndon Joel Cosgriff-Flax
United States Navy Security Forces, US
EOW: Sunday, April 28, 2024
Cause: Boating accident
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: Monday, April 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: Monday, April 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Investigator William “Alden” Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: Monday, April 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice – United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: Monday, April 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Trooper II Marcellus E. Bethea
New Jersey State Police, NJ
EOW: Sunday, May 5, 2024
Cause: Duty related illness
Sergeant William E. McLean, III
Town of Newburgh Police Department, NY
EOW: Sunday, May 5, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Santaquin Police Department, UT
EOW: Sunday, May 5, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Euclid Police Department, OH
EOW: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Corporal Pricilla Soell Pierson
Ponchatoula Police Department, LA
EOW: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier
Connecticut State Police, CT
EOW: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Minneapolis Police Department, MN
EOW: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services – Division of Parole and Probation, MD
EOW: Friday, May 31, 2024
Cause: Stabbed
Gila River Police Department, TR
EOW: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Senior Police Officer Vicente Ortiz, Jr.
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: Saturday, June 1, 2024
Cause: Motorcycle crash
Pennsylvania State Constable – Fayette County, PA
EOW: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Charles City County Sheriff’s Office, VA
EOW: Sunday, June 9, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Scottsdale Police Department, AZ
EOW: Thursday, June 13, 2024
Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Deputy Sheriff Bradley J. Reckling
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, MI
EOW: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Puerto Rico Police Department, PR
EOW: Monday, June 24, 2024
Cause: Motorcycle crash
Wisconsin Department of Corrections, WI
EOW: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Cause: Assault
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office, MI
EOW: Thursday, June 27, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Nassau County Police Department, NY
EOW: Sunday, June 30, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: Thursday, July 4, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Cause: Heatstroke
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: Sunday, July 14, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: Sunday, July 21, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Correctional Officer Hunter Scott Miller
Kentucky Department of Corrections, KY
EOW: Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: Thursday, July 25, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Cook County Sheriff’s Office – Department of Corrections, IL
EOW: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Demetrice Lavelle Johnson
Memphis Police Department, TN
EOW: Friday, August 2, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Master Deputy Sheriff Bradley Michael Link
Lake County Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Summit Police Department, MS
EOW: Thursday, August 8, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Smyth County Sheriff’s Office, VA
EOW: Friday, August 9, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Fort Worth Police Department, TX
EOW: Monday, August 12, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Sheriff Brandon Tyler Cunningham
Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, GA
EOW: Saturday, August 17, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: Thursday, August 22, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Investigator Taylor Jaimeson Bristow
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, GA
EOW: Friday, August 23, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Austin Machitar
San Diego Police Department, CA
EOW: Monday, August 26, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Investigator Wayne Ellis David
Metropolitan Police Department, DC
EOW: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Cause: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Police Officer Darron Lee Burks
Dallas Police Department, TX
EOW: Thursday, August 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Osage Beach Police Department, MO
EOW: Saturday, August 31, 2024
Cause: Vehicle pursuit
Vienna Town Constable’s Office, NY
EOW: Sunday, September 1, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, US
EOW: Monday, September 2, 2024
Cause: Heart attack
Police Officer Zane Tristan Coolidge
Phoenix Police Department, AZ
EOW: Friday, September 6, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Jaime Junior Roman
Philadelphia Police Department, PA
EOW: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Newton County Sheriff’s Department, IN
EOW: Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Trooper Enrique Delgado-Garcia
Massachusetts State Police, MA
EOW: Friday, September 13, 2024
Cause: Duty related illness
Motor Carrier Officer Daniel Kerstetter
Michigan State Police, MI
EOW: Sunday, September 15, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Deputy Sheriff Joshua C. Phipps
Russell County Sheriff’s Office, KY
EOW: Monday, September 16, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, MO
EOW: Sunday, September 22, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Deputy Sheriff Cailee Campbell
Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, NY
EOW: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Madison County Sheriff’s Office, NC
EOW: Friday, September 27, 2024
Cause: Weather/Natural disaster
Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez-Vasquez
Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Highway Patrol, TX
EOW: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Cameron County Constable’s Office – Precinct 1, TX
EOW: Monday, September 30, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Detective Clarence E. Word, III
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Wise County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Park Ranger Kevin Melvin Grossheim
United States Department of the Interior – National Park Service, US
EOW: Sunday, October 6, 2024
Cause: Drowned
Norfolk Police Department, VA
EOW: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Corrections Officer Bradford D. McNew
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Saturday, October 12, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: Friday, October 18, 2024
Cause: Motorcycle crash
Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Love
United States Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, US
EOW: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Cause: 9/11 related illness
Police Officer Enrique Martinez
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: Monday, November 4, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Golden Police Department, CO
EOW: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assaul
Deputy Sheriff Ralph “Butch” Waller, Jr.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Deputy Constable Katherine Hutson
Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, TX
EOW: Friday, November 22, 2024
Cause: Vehicular assault
Deputy Sheriff Ignacio “Dan” Diaz
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Monday, November 25, 2024
Cause: Struck by vehicle
Greenville Police Department, TX
EOW: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Red Lake Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Cause: Automobile crash
Oak Park Police Department, IL
EOW: Friday, November 29, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Police Officer Jacob Candanoza
Terrell Police Department, TX
EOW: Sunday, December 8, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, TN
EOW: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, FL
EOW: Sunday, December 15, 2024
Cause: Gunfire
Air Interdiction Agent Jeffrey Kanas
United States Department of Homeland Security – Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations, US
EOW: Monday, December 16, 2024
Cause: Aircraft accident
Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, TX
EOW: Monday, December 16, 2024
Cause: Assault
From my family to the families of those brothers and sisters that have fallen, we raise our glass now and always in appreciation and remembrance of you.
An officer is only as strong as the family that stands beside them.
Merry Christmas
Romans 12:9–18
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
Eric Anthony Aguiar LLB
Share and speak up for justice, law & order…
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