For fourteen years, Tom Selleck played New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in the popular television series Blue Bloods. The main characters portrayed a fictional family of law enforcement officers (LEOs). Although fictional, it’s not far from the truth. Like many other occupations, the law enforcement profession tends to run in families. Both my brother and I retired from the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) and our grandfather was a deputy with the Mesa County, CO, Sheriff’s Office. Last month my son-in-law graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Academy and began his career as a U.S. Forest Service LEO. While serving on the SAPD and the Bonneville County SO, I worked with several sets of siblings and LEO couples. But blue blood running in families isn’t a recent trend. Most Americans are familiar with the four Earp brothers who were lawmen in the 19th century American West. While researching for a recent radio show, I discovered a pair of cousins who were killed in the line-of-duty while serving as Texas Rangers back when Texas was a sovereign nation.
On Christmas Day in 1841, Private Wade Rattan was killed when he and another Ranger were attacked by Indians near Elm Fork, TX, approximately a mile and a half southwest of Carrolton. Carrolton is located a few miles north of Dallas. Today, the area is urban and part of the massive Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Both Rangers were attacked after they had gone out in search of a wagon that was expected to return to Carrolton with supplies. The other Ranger was able to escape and return to the fort but later died of exposure. His identity remains unknown. Private Rattan was an Illinois Militia veteran and had served with the Texas Rangers for approximately three months prior to his death. He was survived by his wife and son.[1]
Six years later, Private Wade Rattan’s cousin, Private Littleton Rattan, was also killed in the line of duty. On December 9, 1847, Indians raided a Texas Ranger camp and stole several horses. The Rangers gave chase, and after a 9-day pursuit, on Saturday, December 18, 1847, the Rangers found the Indians holed-up near the headwaters of the Nueces River, about 100 miles northwest of San Antonio, in Real County. The two forces engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat. During the mayhem, Private Rattan and two other Rangers were killed in the fight. No other information is available on Littleton Wade Rattan.[2]
Keep our law enforcement families in prayer.
On the Road
At the end of last year, I was privileged to offer the invocation at the retirement of a good friend, Sgt. Karl Casperson. Karl worked for the Bonneville County Sherriff Office for nearly four decades. Although he hung up his badge and gun, Karl isn’t finished working for the citizens of Bonneville County. In November, he was elected as a County Commissioner, the job began this year. In keeping with this letter’s theme, I must mention that Karl has a son who is a Bonneville County deputy.
Last month, Sherry and I departed Idaho Falls enroute to Arkansas. We stopped in the Denver area where the Thornton PD hosted a Winning a Gunfight seminar. It was a great seminar, and we had positive feedback from the LEOs who attended.
As mentioned above, my son-in-law Dylan Freeman began his career as a Federal LEO for the U.S. Forest Service. On January 22nd, Sherry and I had planned to attend his graduation in Glynco, GA. We made the trip and were staying at an AirBnB with our daughter, but a winter storm warning changed everything. Due to cold temperatures and the threat of freezing rain, the ceremony was rescheduled for the 24th and we couldn’t attend. We had other commitments, and our daughter had to fly back to Idaho Falls. However, the Strong Blue Line Foundation (SBLF) provided a copy of Winning a Gunfight to each of the graduating LEOs. This month, we have seminars scheduled in Arkansas and Louisiana.
Pray for your police.
[1] https://www.odmp.org/officer/23947-private-wade-hampton-rattan
[2] https://www.odmp.org/officer/24367-private-littleton-p-rattan
