JulAug 2016

20 / 28

J U LY 2 0 1 6 A U G
18
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPLAIN
to remind us of our sworn duty to protect the innocent and those on
whom the evildoer preys.
Many of us have visited the National Law Enforcement Officer
Memorial Fund wall in Washington, DC. No doubt, most if not all,
have sought out the name of an officer who may have been a friend,
partner, mentor, or all of those and more. As the tears welled up in our
eyes, did we not recommit to honor their memory and redouble our
efforts to serve and protect with greater fervor? I submit to you, at that
point, those fallen officers have become milestones in our journey.
The influence of those brothers and sisters taken from us still af-
fects today. Whether a passing thought, a poignant reminder, or some
soft memory of that officer comes into our mind, we may pause, re-
flect, and confirm our dedication to the honorable and worthy task at
hand: law enforcement.
The same feelings may have transpired in the first century follow-
ing the death of Jesus. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared before
two disciples who did not discern Him as the risen Christ and thought
He was still dead. When Jesus left the two, one said to the other, “Were
not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and
opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
Likewise, upon reflection of our fallen officers, perhaps we may
have a variation but similar reaction to the thought of our former friend
and colleague: were not our hearts burning (with re-commitment) to
serve and protect even more so based on the sacred memory of those
who have given their all?
Let us continue to honor those men and women who have worn
the badge so honorably and who “gave their last full measure of devo-
tion”. Their commitment to duty, their lives, and their families be-
come.
Peace and blessings,
Dan Bateman, Chaplain
| 586.484.3164
The Milestones: Honoring the Fallen
by Dan Bateman
As your Chaplain, I send out FBI National Academy Associates
sympathy cards on your behalf to agencies who have lost officers
in the line of duty. It is important your Association express our col-
lective sorrow in the loss of an officer or, as in recent events, multiple
officers... I have written too many cards.
These are dark and dangerous days in our profession. Over the last
months, we have tragically witnessed public displays of disrespect for
those of us who wear the badge so honorably. Our profession is under
attack and, in that battle, we have lost lives taken too soon by criminals
who, with premeditation, sought out police officers and targeted them
with devastating results.
Dallas, Baton Rouge, Kansas and in cities around the nation, of-
ficers are changing how they police the public, many who have turned
their backs on them. Questions in officers’ minds: Is the next traffic
stop going to be on the news or social media? Is the person I’m contact-
ing planning an ambush to do me harm or worse? These are questions
that plague our officers and distract them from being able to effectively
interdict criminal activity and perform their jobs with optimal results.
What does this mean for us today in our various responsibilities?
Whether we serve on the front line, supervise and lead our officers, or
develop guidelines and policy from a command perspective, how does
the impact of our fallen officers shape how we serve the public?
In our theme of Milestones this year, perhaps we can honor the
sacred memory of our fallen comrades by having them become those
life markers, milestones as it were, that shine like beacons on our life
journey to show us the way.
As we read the stories of those officers taken from us too soon, one
trait stands out in their lives – they were committed to serving others
even in the face of danger. Our natural tendency, in the unprecedented
negative view some have of law enforcement, would be to disengage
or find a safer calling. But we must never forget nor tarnish the sacred
memory of our fallen officers who gave their all in the line of duty.
Their life and, yes, even their tragic death, requires us to become ever
more so resolved not to shrink back.
I remember the immediate aftermath of the on-duty loss of one of
our Michigan State Police Troopers. The post was in shock and mourn-
ing and I needed to speak to those assembled troopers who had lost
their friend, partner, and an integral part of the thin blue line. What
words could adequately express that overwhelming sense of grief?
It was at that time I asked the group of state troopers, what would
our fallen officer say to us? What would he want us to do? In response
those questions, I stated he would want us to carry on his legacy of ser-
vice by redoubling our efforts in serving those we are sworn to protect.
He would not want us to relax our enforcement efforts but press on
even more so with a renewed sense of caution as we become the shield
protecting the public from those who would harm them.
And that, in itself, becomes another milestone: the silver or gold
badge we wear on our uniform. It is, indeed, the “shield”, as it were,