Do you remember September 10th? Let me refresh your memory. On that day, a 31-year-old husband and father of two young children died of a gunshot wound to his neck. The suspect was soon arrested and charged with the horrific crime that left behind a grieving widow and two fatherless children. Perhaps you’re thinking, “Yes, of course I remember the shooting. I’ll never forget.” You recall where you were when you heard the news about the life of a young man dedicated to the service of others came to a senseless and tragic end. You remember that for days, it was the lead story in the news media, and it was all over social media. You recall that thousands came to pay tribute, and millions more across the globe mourned the loss. Although tragic, I’m not referring to September 10, 2025; I’m asking about September 10, 2024, when Philadelphia Police Officer Jaime Roman died in a hospital room after being shot in the neck.[1] Officer Roman’s death, as are most line-of-duty deaths of America’s law enforcement officers (LEOs), went unnoticed by the majority of Americans. I don’t suppose I’ll ever forget when I heard the news about Charlie Kirk being gunned down. His assassination was a tragedy. So too are the deaths of police officers killed in the line of duty—let’s not forget their sacrifice.
Three months before Officer Roman died, he and another officer initiated a routine traffic stop. The vehicle was unregistered and was going to be impounded. The driver was permitted to get his personal possessions before the car was towed. As he was retrieving his belongings, the officers noticed an empty holster. They asked about it and the driver fled on foot and the officers pursued. The suspect turned and shot at the officers, striking Roman in the neck. He was transported to the hospital and was on life support until he succumbed to his wounds on September 10th.
There have been over twenty-seven thousand officers killed in the line of duty. The second week of May is National Police Week, a week set aside to remember and honor America’s LEOs who have died in the line of duty. Thousands of officers and family members will gather in Washington DC for a week of remembrance. The Strong Blue Line Foundation also honors the fallen, but we’re also committed to do more.
Our goal is to make stronger officers with stronger relationships by providing resources that include on-call chaplains, books, and retreats. The new Adopt a Cop initiative provides an avenue for those who support our officers to partner with us. Please join with us by giving $19 a month to make the thin blue line a strong blue line by bringing real hope to LEOs and their families.
Bringing Hope to Law Enforcement
The Strong Blue Line Foundation—at no cost to officers or their agencies—brings hope to LEOs with training seminars that help them navigate a myriad of issues they deal with. One issue is suicide. Statistics show that officers are much more likely to die by suicide than being murdered in the line of duty. In the “Suicide is Not an Option” seminar and book, officers learn not only why people who claim to be Christian opt for suicide, but where they can find real hope. Please partner with us to make strong officers with strong relationships by giving them real hope for complete victory! To help, go to TheStrongBlueLine.org and click on the “Donate” button.
On the Road
After being on the road for the first quarter of this year, Sherry and I are happy to be at home for a while. We continue to work on getting the Adopt a Cop initiative fully funded and up and running.
Pray for your police.
[1] https://www.odmp.org/officer/27139-police-officer-jaime-junior-roman
