You might have noticed a new logo on our website, newsletter, and other places— “Make It Clear.” Make It Clear Ministries was founded in the 1970’s by a good friend and mentor, Dr. Stan Ponz. Since then, MIC has grown from print and radio to other endeavors including filmmaking and a Christian college. Through this […]
The Most Important Thing LEOs Need
January 3rd, 1791 is an important date in American law enforcement history. It was on that cold Monday when New York Constable Darius Quimby was murdered. He was bludgeoned to death while attempting to serve an arrest warrant. Constable Quimby is American’s first recorded law enforcement officer (LEO) line-of-duty death. It was just the beginning. […]
“A Bit of Compassion”
In the last few newsletters, I addressed three things former LAPD sergeant and author Joseph Wambaugh said an officer needs: courage, common sense, and a sense of humor. There’s one more thing—compassion. In 2016, Fred Dickey, from the San Diego Union-Tribune, interviewed Mr. Wambaugh and quoted him as saying, “I say there are three qualities—I’ve always said this—that a good […]
Lighten Up!
Laughter is important in life. To have a long and happy police career there are somethings law enforcement officers should know. Former LAPD Sergeant Joseph Wambaugh has written several police novels. In one was a quote that stayed with me throughout my policing career. One of his characters said, “A police officer needs three things […]
Remaining Sane
“How does someone stay in policing for so many years and remain sane?” To have a successful and long police career there are somethings law enforcement officers should know. Former LAPD Sergeant Joseph Wambaugh has written several police novels. In one of them was a quote that stayed with me throughout my policing career. One […]
Forty-five Years on the Beat!
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer Jeffrey Stagg has been on the job since 1977. The 67-year-old officer still works the same beat on the west-southwest part of Indianapolis he started patrolling 45 years ago. After high school, Officer Stagg joined the Air Force and served four years as a Security Police Officer. Following his discharge, he […]
Five SAPD Officers Die by Suicide this Year
In 1984, I was a rookie officer on the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD). It was a tough year for the SAPD. That year, four SAPD officers took their own lives. One was from my cadet class. I didn’t get it. And like many of my fellow officers, I asked why. Oh, we really didn’t […]
No Greater Love
Ethan Miller showed up at a grocery store in Bend, OR to kill. On Sunday evening, August 29, the 20-year-old Miller, armed with a rifle and shotgun, randomly shot in a nearby apartment complex where he lived. He made his way to the Safeway store and continued to shoot. One witness said Miller laughed as […]
Four-year-old by shoots at Police
In February, Sadaat Johnson, 27, took his children for a treat. But Johnson didn’t receive the service he believed he deserved from employees at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Midvale, UT. Any reasonable person disappointed with customer service would request to speak with a manager. Johnson was not a reasonable person, and threatened employees by brandishing a pistol. […]
“Pure hell”
Recently, violence against law enforcement officers has escalated. According to ABC News, the number of officers killed by gunfire has increased 20% over last year.[1] Not only are the attacks more lethal, but many are premeditated. The surge in violence is not limited to the large metropolitan areas. Violence has reared its ugly head in small […]
