A Night in Blue 2017

Below is the transcript of the words I spoke before the first annual Policeman's Ball. What an incredible night and the potential that this event has is amazing. Keep up the great work ladies...

It is truly an honor to be here this evening. As a matter of fact, I feel honored anytime I have the opportunity to be a part of anything in law enforcement. This is a very special night. It’s special for so many reasons. It’s special because this is you. This wasn’t put on by the community. This wasn’t put on by a church. This was put on by the people that know you most… the people that love you most. This may be the first time that I know that something like this has happened. And to those, we say, “thank you”.

There are advantages and disadvantages to having access to your professional lives. I can never, ever watch another law enforcement television show or movie without rolling my eyes and throwing my hands up on a regular basis. I tend to stare a little too long in public at the guy acting fidgety and not dressed appropriately for whatever establishment I am in. I now own several weapons that I didn’t own before. I tend to play out scenarios in my mind when the action of what I may be doing at the time lulls or I get bored. Get my wife out that door. This looks like good cover. You know what I mean.

But in my brief comments tonight I don’t want to talk about your professional lives. When you are on duty, you are the best of society. The sheepdogs. You do whatever is necessary to ensure that everyone goes home safe and then, and only then, you make sure you do as well. You cry with the broken. Hunt those that hurt others. You stand the line. That thin blue line that you love so much. That blue line whose glory never fades; whose honor you’ll not compromise. That blue line that makes your heart swell with pride and causes you to do the unimaginable because of the calling. 

But not all who walk the line where a vest or a badge. There are many wives and husbands who haven’t been called to stand that are standing anyway. There are sons and daughters whose lives are much different than their friends because they are part of that line. He gets questioned, not because he did anything wrong but because you saw horror on your shift and you have to check on your son. She didn’t get to sit on Santa’s lap because Santa’s a pervert and you would have to kill Santa if she sat on his lap. There are moms and dads that stay up late praying, hoping, waiting for the call or text that says, “I’m home”. They, also, are walking the line.

I want you to remember those walking with you. In my access to our Sheriff’s Office Swat team I get the privilege of being at training. I know that when our team enters a structure, the success of what happens inside that structure is determined by the preparation that took place before arriving there. And whoever is inside that structure should fear because we/they come with one objective and that is to win. Their goal is to never be on defense but constantly engaging. If there is a mission that takes longer than expected they stay, they fight, and they win. That is in the heart of every one of you here tonight. Stay, fight and win.

I want you to think of those three words in regard to those walking the line with you. They don’t see dead babies and car crashes and overdoses and the pain and carnage that you see but they see you. They see in your eyes a reflection of what you experience and they want to fight with you. They want to be that protection when you take off your vest. They want to have your back when you’re not on shift. They want to cover you when you don’t have your gun…wait, scratch that last one. 

Professionally, you are tight with your team. You are together, you are well trained and you are relentless. Privately, are you tight with your team? Are you getting the training necessary? Ladies and gentlemen, are you relentless? I can think of no better time to challenge you than on the night when those standing on the blue line with you have chosen to honor you. Stay as long as it takes. Fight till the battle is won. And after you have done that… You. Will. Win. And you will not just be the hero in public but you will once again be hero where it matters most. In your home.