50 Years of Service to the Public Celebration at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum

The night of December 3, 2009 was a historic night in many respects. A celebration was held dedicating the night to the milestone that marked 50 years of service to the public by the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum. It was also a night that will be the first of many that displayed the dedication of those who work for and the members of both the Original Facebook Cause “A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield” and “Families of the Shield”. As important as those two facets of the celebration were, there was an honor that was given to our very own John Pasko, and at the same time given by him; a moment in time that will live in his memory forever, as it will in ours.

For those who do not know, John served on the local DEA CLET (Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team) for many years and was one of the original five in Brevard County, Florida who was DEA certified. At that time, Brevard County was rated among the highest in the state for production of Methamphetamine). Soon after being trained in Quantico, Virginia at the FBI/DEA Academy for the detection and investigation of the drug, Brevard County formulated their team and they became the #1 state for the detection and dismantling of these dangerous labs and operations. There were many accolades received during those operations for the continuing efforts of the Melbourne Police Department for a job well done and its strong bond with the community it is dedicated to serve.

On the night of this momentous celebration, John Pasko donated his uniform from those days to the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum where it will remain on permanent display as an example of those who devote their lives to the service of others as he has done.

The uniform and the accompanying photograph represent only a portion of his life of service, but are at the heart of what it means to be a peace officer and devote your life to serving those you swore to protect. It is a wonderful honor to have that photograph and uniform on permanent display for all to see and we are very proud of him. I’m quite sure that he would tell you that while being extremely moved, honored, and proud, he was also very humbled by it…because those of us who know John know that he’s about giving…not about recognition. We’re very proud of you, John. Many congratulations on this honor, and many thanks for donating the icon that represents a part of every officer.

There were many presentations during the night. Just to mention a few of those, members of the American Astronaut Hall of Fame were on hand to present an autographed replica shuttle piece. The item was signed by 9 different astronauts from various missions. A gift was also presented by one of the original founders of the Titusville location. The Walt Disney Company (Disney Radio) representative was there to honor the milestone as well.

And then there were two gifts that were very important to those of us with “The Shield” foundations. The first was this work of art. The caisson picture was first noticed in the Florida Memorial Gardens funeral home by John while he was attending the service of a friend.

He stated that the elegance of the picture drew his attention. After talking to the director of services, they put him in contact with the original artist, Michele Haro.

Ms. Haro is a renowned local artist, videographer, and photojournalist. After speaking with John, she gave authorization to have the item reproduced and donated her work. The photographic digital image was reproduced onto a piece of stretched canvas (24x36) and signed by Ms. Haro herself. It was then placed into a museum quality frame and during the event it was presented to the Hall of Fame for permanent display. Ms. Haro was on hand at the presentation, signifying the initiation of future collaborative efforts between all.

The donation of this piece was on the behalf of “A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield”, “Families of the Shield”, Artist – Michele Haro, Florida Memorial Garden (Dignity), Southern Photo, Steve Casanova Esq., and Eddies Sunrise Diner. The team effort that went into making the piece available for display is clearly evident.

The meaning of the caisson is not only the ride to the final call of a fellow officer, but the birthing of a new call for duty, on a much higher ground. May they always rest in peace.

As closure of the night drew near, our foundation (The Shield), in conjunction with the Wal-Mart Corporation presented a $1,000.00 check to the American Federation of Police & Concerned Citizens. The message was so well received, our foundations and agency, received a standing ovation. Chief Jack Rinchich (Chief of Police Charleston, WV) and President of the National Association of Chiefs of Police remarked, “Job well done. Great presentation and a hallmark of community oriented policing”. Deputy Dennis Wise, President of the American Federation of police & Concerned Citizens stated, “Outstanding, well organized and executed.” And, Barry Shepherd, Executive Director of the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum said, “Class act” and displayed overwhelming appreciation.

These are just some of the many great things to come from our efforts, where the fruits of our labor are palatable for many, not just a few. Just as these efforts are not the efforts of just a few. None of these things would be possible without each of you.

“The Shield” began as a dream. It is not about recognition or accolades; it never was. It’s about making a difference; a difference in lives, in hearts, and in minds. It’s about the smile on a child’s face when they receive that gift they might not have otherwise received and the eyes of that man or woman who holds in their hand a plate filled with food that was given to them in love. It’s about finding a way to tell the men and women who protect us all, putting their lives on the line without fail and without question, every day that we know they’re out there and we really do appreciate them, care for them, and pray for them. And it’s about reaching out to what is often an apathetic public and teaching them that those men and women are there because we need them and they are doing jobs that most of us could never hope to do ourselves…but that behind that shield is a heart; one that is not made of steel. We want to show them that what the law enforcement community does is not just what they see on the news in a two minute clip, but so much more. We can only do that with the help of a team that is dedicated to make all of these things happen. Every member of “The Shield”, each one of you, is a part of what makes this work. It is with your help that these things can and will be accomplished. We are a TEAM…Together Everyone Accomplishes More. Each of you is a part of that team and together we WILL accomplish even more. On behalf of the staff of “A Tribute to Those Who Wear the Shield” and the staff of “Families of the Shield”…we thank you.

Touching Hearts From Heaven: The Lieutenant Daryl Lee Mangrum Story

When I started thinking about making a video for ~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~, I thought for a long time about what it should say. We rightfully honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, those who have given their lives in service to us all. But, I wanted this video to say something different. It needed to pay tribute to those men and women who go out every day and put their lives on the line for us. Regardless of their personal circumstances, in spite of the treatment they so often receive from the general public, they still go every time, every day. And when the uniform comes off, they're not finished. They make time and put forth the effort to go above and beyond in helping others. They run for Special Olympics. They work for fundraisers and charity events to raise money for others in need. They spend time working with children to help educate and influence them in an effort to guide them down the right path. How often do you see pictures of them taking children shopping for back-to-school supplies or at Christmas to buy presents that they otherwise would not have? We don't see them enough. Not because they're not always there and always doing whatever can be done. They just don't receive the attention and praise that they deserve for doing those things. I wanted this video to include images of them doing all of those things because that is a part of their lives.

Days upon days were spent searching for just the right pictures to represent the many, many pieces of an officer's life. Of course they couldn't all be used and there is no way to accurately represent what it is like for them. But, the ones chosen were meant to represent as much of what they do and who they are as was possible.

One of those pictures is this one of an officer kneeling in front of a group of children. It was decided that this particular picture needed a caption, just something that might be along the lines of what I thought he might be saying to them.

Out of the hundreds of pictures that I found of officers with children, it has to be significant that this particular photograph was chosen. Let me explain why.

Our video is not just available on Facebook. It's posted on several Law Enforcement related sites as well as on YouTube™. That’s where the following comment was posted on Wednesday, August 19, 2009:

"I love this video. It has a picture of my dad. I would like to know the name of the person who put this together. My dad has passed away due to cancer, and this was really a tribute."

I was immediately moved and after contacting the author I learned that the picture she was speaking of was this same picture.

The officer’s name was Lt. Daryl Mangrum of the Prattville, Alabama Police Department. After speaking to his daughter, Joy Mangrum Knighton, I discovered that Lt. Mangrum started the Prattville Police Department's first school relations program 10 years before he lost his battle with kidney cancer. An officer who worked with him happened to see the video and recognized Lt. Mangrum. He contacted Mrs. Knighton and told her about it. Mrs. Knighton and Lt. Mangrum's wife, Sheila, viewed the video. There had to be a Higher Power at work that orchestrated the chain of events that started with the choice of that photograph. Part of the results of that choice is echoed in Mrs. Knighton’s closing words in one of her emails.

“This video really was a tribute, in me and my mom’s eyes. It filled our heart with pride. Thank you so much again for making the video. You are touching people’s hearts.”

Understanding that we truly touched someone else’s life with this project is beyond description. But I think there’s another reason that the succession of events that started with that choice led back to me again. I think the message might be that Lt. Mangrum's story and how his life held a connection to the beneficiary of our cause needs to be told.

Lt. Daryl Lee Mangrum, Sr. (USAF, MSgt., Ret’d) was a police officer for 36 years. There were only 17 years of his life not wearing a uniform. His military service was in the United State Air Force where he served as a security policeman for 23 years. He served his country proudly and he served it well. After a faithful and dedicated life of service, he retired from the Air Force, but he wasn’t through yet. Following his retirement, he joined the Prattville, Alamaba Police Department. For 13 years, he served the Community of Prattville with the same level of dedication that he had given to his country. And he served them just as proudly and just as well.

During those thirteen years, he demonstrated his avid love for youth by developing and implementing the School/Community Relations Division at the Prattville Police Department of which he was the Supervising Lieutenant. He fought a battle every day to help children make decisions that would keep them from a life of crime. He may have never said the words aloud, but his dedication demonstrated his belief that it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. Even as he fought his own personal battle with his disease daily, the kids that he helped were the reason he made it out of bed each day. His impact on their lives was made clearly evident on February 16, 2007 when Prattville High School presented him with a certificate and award, citing February 16th to be thereafter and forevermore “Daryl Mangrum Day” in honor of his being an indispensable part of their distinguished organization. This happened two years after he was diagnosed with cancer.

In his own words during an interview that was conducted in January 2008: "Three years ago, I was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma. My doctor told me that there is only a 4 percent survival rate, worldwide. He said I should go home, take medical retirement, and get ready to die."

Lt. Mangrum did not take that advice. Even at this difficult time in his life, he chose to keep serving others.

"When you're diagnosed with a terminal disease, you've got to have a reason to get up, and you've got to have some place to go. You can't sit home and feel sorry for yourself. When I get up in the morning and put my uniform on, I'm enjoying myself."

Lt. Mangrum, who was told he would not live to see his 50th birthday, said that it was often difficult to ignore the pain he suffered daily as he carried out his duties while taking 800 milligrams of oral chemotherapy. But, he continued to move forward and make a difference. His daughter told me that “he loved working, mentoring, and guiding the kids he came in contact with. He was a staple in his community and he always put his job first, no matter how sick he was or how bad he felt. He was working no matter what.” She further stated that his goal the last couple months of his life were to be able to get in his patrol car again. The police chief allowed him to come in every day to work making phone calls to people who had warrants on them because he knew what was in Lt. Mangrum's heart, and would not say that he could not work.

On July 3, 2008 Lt. Daryl Lee Mangrum donned his uniform for the last time. Seventeen days later, on July 20, 2008, the 53 year old native of North Carolina died peacefully at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama in the Palliative Care Unit where their mission is it to serve patients and families experiencing life-threatening, life-limiting, or advanced illness. Lt. Mangrum’s family praised the care that he received there in his last days. To the end, his words were “I’m so blessed.” As he departed this world, he left behind a devoted wife, three children, six grandchildren, his parents, two sisters, a host of other relatives, countless friends, and a grieving city. There were many stories told of the lives he touched, the children that he reached, the difference that he made in their lives. Friends and co-workers told of the man they knew. There were three eulogies delivered at his service, each speaking to who this man was.

Autauga County District Court Judge Phillip Wood spoke of his life of selfless service to both our country and the City of Prattville. "Daryl Mangrum loved his country, he loved his community, he loved his God, and he loved his family. He was truly an officer our youth could look up to, an officer they could respect."

The Rev. Larry Burke, former pastor of Wesleyan Church of Prattville, spoke of his dedication to his career as a keeper of the peace.

"He loved his job, and he touched and encouraged so many lives," Burke said before directly addressing PPD Chief Alfred Wadsworth. "He was always so thankful for the freedom you gave him to come to work when he was able to, and that you let him park his patrol car in front of his house, even though he could no longer drive it."

And First Baptist Church pastor Dr. Travis Coleman captured the spirit of Lt. Mangrum in once sentence. "He was a cop, from the top of his head, to the bottom of his feet, there's no doubt about that.”

Lt. Mangrum spent his life taking care of others and making a difference. In his death, he is still touching hearts. Our cause benefits the American Federation of Police and Concerned Citizens, Inc. Among the many things their mission encompasses, one is to provide Christmas & birthday gifts for the children of fallen officers until age 18 at which time they are eligible for college scholarships - up to four years. There is nothing more important than our children. Lt. Mangrum understood this. He lived this. And it is our privilege and honor to know that a moment of time from his life was included in this tribute to "Those Who Wear The Shield". His memory lives on and his commitment to guiding children down the right path is evident in the one split second in time that the picture represents. The photograph was made in the blink of an eye, but the story it tells is a life of dedication and devotion. His legacy spans the distance between Heaven and Earth. And, across that bridge…he is still touching hearts. He is still making a difference. Thank you, Lt. Mangrum.

Click here to view the official video.

Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
September 14, 2009

New baseball field honors Sacramento County Sheriff Deputy Jeff Mitchell

The date was October 27, 2006, a Friday. The hour was early and Deputy Jeff Mitchell was patrolling a rural area of Sacramento County when he conducted a vehicle stop on a white van with no rear license plate. Approximately seven minutes later, the Sheriff’s Communications Center conducted a welfare check on the officer. With no response, units were dispatched to his location. The Deputy was found with a gunshot wound to his head from his own service weapon, a shot that evidence at the scene indicated followed a violent struggle for his life. At 4:45 AM, Deputy Jeffrey Vaughn Mitchell was pronounced deceased as a result of injuries inflicted by a murderer who is still at large. His watch was over, but not his story.


Deputy Mitchell began his career with the Sheriff's Department in 1997 at Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove, where he was a recreation technician who helped lead the jail's physical education program. He became a deputy three years later and went on patrol in 2002. When he was killed, his wife and young son, friends, co-workers, and the citizens of Sacramento County were left behind to cope with his loss.

His wife, Crystal, was approached with an idea to honor Deputy Mitchell. Since he had a passion for baseball and kids, it was suggested that a baseball field would be a fitting memorial of his ultimate sacrifice for others and inspire the area youth with positive role models.

“When they first came to me it was so soon after Jeff had been killed that it didn’t really hit me what they were doing,” Mrs. Mitchell said. “It’s been three years now, and I think it’s a wonderful idea. It has so much meaning.”

She also added, “A Little League field is perfect. That was his passion.”

But she didn’t stop there. She felt that they needed to recognize all public service personnel who gave their lives in the line of duty. On August 29, 2009 that became a reality with the dedication of the Jeff Mitchell Field and Public Service Memorial.

After raising more than one million dollars for the project, an existing ball field, located at 831 Redwood Lane in El Dorado Hills near Bertelsen Park, was renovated and redesigned as a state-of-the art Little League field with a memorial wall that will honor local public service heroes. The project was a community undertaking and had the support and participation of numerous local individuals, businesses and organizations. The park now has a public services memorial with sites for the three public service agencies in the area that include the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, Sacramento County and El Dorado County Sheriff’s. About $300,000 more will be needed to complete the renovations planned.

His wife’s words sums up why the Little League field was the right choice. “I stopped by the other day by myself and I cried,” she said. “I could feel Jeff there. He motivated so many people and he’s still motivating people in his death. That’s a true reflection of who he is.”

Deputy Mitchell is no longer here in body. But his spirit will always remain as an inspiration and motivation for those who follow him. He had a passion for baseball and he had a passion for kids. How could anything be more fitting than to honor him with a site that embodies that passion and keeps not only his memory alive but honors all of those who put their lives on the line for their communities every day.

When you visit that field, and you see a special light shining down on those young children as they play the game he loved so well, take a second to look up. Maybe you could give him a little wave to let him know that you know he’s there. Say a silent thank you to him for still being there to watch as those who share his passion for baseball and life enjoy both. He gave his all in life. He’s still giving today. Thank you, Deputy Mitchell. Your death was tragic. It was far too soon. But your memory and your legacy will live forever.

Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
September 9, 2009

American Police Hall of Fame awards: Christopher Dewey - Purple Heart

Deputy Christopher Dewey is awarded the Purple Heart from the American Police Hall of Fame and Medal of Honor from the Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office and the Community of Mahnomen County, MN


On February 18, 2009 lives were changed forever. Deputy Christopher Dewey of the Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office was shot in the head and abdomen while on duty and began a journey that has taught all who have witnessed it lessons in what it means to never give up. His life since that day has been a series of monumental highs and desperate lows that far exceed that which most will ever have to face. But, Deputy Dewey continues to face those challenges daily. On July 23, 2009 Deputy Dewey was nationally honored, like many could only dream of; a hero in a hometown war. From the perspective of one who has watched his struggle from afar, this is a thumbnail view of the story of this remarkable young deputy, his wife, his friends, and his supporters.

Lessons in Courage

Several months ago I found a post on a Facebook page about a deputy from Minnesota who had been shot but was miraculously still alive and was even making remarkable progress. There was a link there to his CaringBridge website (CaringBridge - Chris Dewey). I thought I would go there and post a short message of encouragement and that would be that. I was wrong.

I did go there, and what I found drew me back day after day. I found the story of Deputy Christopher Dewey, how the incident occurred, when, and where. I also found one of the most courageous, strong, and determined young men I had ever had the privilege to meet. I've been posting on his site for so long now that he and his family have become like my own. Chris' young wife is named Emily. There's nothing that I could say about Emily that would be too much or over the top. She has stayed by his side since the first day. The support across the country for Chris is nothing short of phenomenal. Part of that is due to Sheriff Doug Krier and the deputies of Mahnomen County. Part of it is due to the citizenry of their area. A very large part of it is due to Emily Dewey. Her daily posts to Chris' website keep all of the visitors apprised of his daily struggles as well as her own. She tells us the story of Chris, the man. While weaving his life into ours, she has also allowed us to get to know their families. There are days that other members write the journal entry and we have all come to know them just as if they are our own family. The love and support that they continually provide to both Emily and Chris is an amazing thing to watch and my life has been blessed to be a witness to it.

Chris is not my son and Emily is not my daughter. But I feel like they are. When I was set to take a vacation to Montana in June, I inquired about the possibility of going through Denver to visit with them. At first it didn't look like that was going to happen as Chris had suffered several serious set-backs over the previous weeks and I did not want to impose on them in any way. But, Emily, in her graciousness, asked me to make the stop. I cannot tell you what an inspiring moment it was to meet her and her sister, Hannah. This young lady, who is really just a slip of a girl, has a strength that just literally shines from her eyes. I found the same candid, open, and friendly woman in person that I knew from her journal entries. I desperately wanted to express to her how much I admired her and how proud I was of the fight that Chris continued to display. I'm sure I did it poorly, but I hope she knows. And, I hope someday that Chris knows.

There was a day during all of this that my good friend, Officer John Pasko, left me speechless. He asked me to help him gather info on the incident because he wanted to nominate Chris for the Purple Heart and induction into the American Police Hall of Fame. Speechless partly because I didn't know there was such a thing. But, mostly it was because I felt a huge swell of pride that Chris was going to be nominated for such a prestigious honor. Naturally, I had no idea if it would be awarded, and I quickly realized that awarded or not, just to be nominated was something of which he could always be proud. True to my nature, I wanted to run right out and tell everybody, shout it from the rooftops even, but of course I couldn't do that. The days rocked on and the closer it came to time for the decision to be made, the more nervous I was for him. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was so very deserving, but it was never my decision to make.

As the time waiting passed slowly, Chris continued to have good days and bad days. I so often asked why he continued to get knocked back down every time he struggled back to his feet. Once again, I found myself drawing my strength from both Emily and Chris. Emily’s faith has remained steadfast throughout. Of course she has her days of frustration. How could she possibly not? But, she never lets that faith and positive outlook waver. And, who can read Emily's words each day and "watch” Chris fight back time and time again and not be amazed, inspired, and awed by what he has accomplished and continues to accomplish? I can't. There have been nights that I've gone to bed with my heart aching for what he's going through. But there has not been a single night that my heart was not just filled to over-flowing with pride in him and how hard he works.

Without Emily, I fear that a lot of people would forget about how hard he's working and how long he's been struggling. The public as a rule has a short memory. But we haven't forgotten Chris. And I can honestly say for myself, and probably thousands of others who visit the site daily, we never will. Chris has left a huge imprint on my life. But, it's not just Chris. Emily, both of their families, Sheriff Krier, Deputy Peterson, the entire Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office, the officers in Colorado who have continued to stand by them and help them, the faithful posters to his site...all of these people and so many more have touched lives and hearts throughout the country, and especially mine.

Then the big day came. My chat window popped open and I had a message from John. The decision was in. I literally held my breath as I waited. I got one word...YES!!! I remember laughing even though there were tears of joy and pride in my eyes. I honestly felt like one of my children was being honored in such a manner. The few days after that were ones of biting nails and checking through Sheriff Krier's daughter to see if the award got there. Sheriff Krier had traveled to Colorado for the week before it arrived. It was a concerted effort by all to get the award to Colorado on time. But, thanks to a team effort it made it. And now we have a picture of that event. How fitting to see Chris surrounded by those who were there to witness him receive those honors. There is Emily, forever at his side as well as Sheriff Krier, who would always be at his side physically if he could, but is always there in spirit. And the others are officers from both the Denver and Englewood Police Departments. In the presence of these people he was awarded the Purple Heart he deserved, but he was also honored with the Medal of Honor on behalf of the Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office and the community of Mahnomen County. Sheriff Krier told Chris in essence that he was being given that award for his strength, courage, and determination...something that anyone who knows him and all of us visiting his website have had the distinct privilege of witnessing for ourselves as told through Emily's words. There is no way that I could have felt more pride in him receiving those awards than if they had been awarded to either of my own sons.

The Dewey's have allowed many of us into their lives to share in the ups and downs, the setbacks and the triumphs. They will forever be a part of my family and no amount of words could say more than the ones below.

Emily, thank you. Chris, my most sincere congratulations!

Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
August 15, 2009

Are Our Peace Officers Heros?

It is common knowledge that none of those who are heroes ever think they are. They may never see themselves in that light, but they are heroes to others so it's all in the perspective. One of my favorite quotes is this:
The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper. - Aristotle

To me that is the definition of a hero. Our peace officers go out there every day and put their lives on the line for us. They get little respect if any, work for minimal pay, and face an apathetic if not hostile public day in and day out. There are few days that go by that they're not cursed, ridiculed, and slandered. The media for the most part will forever report only the bad stories, when an officer makes a mistake or takes a misstep, and then slant that story in such a way to put him or her and his or her department in the worst possible light. They seek out and find the one officer in thousands who misfits the badge and makes them a headline story that tarnishes the image of every officer in the country. And yet...they get up every day, they pick up that badge, they go out the door, and they do their job if not with a smile at least with professionalism and the dignity that their profession embodies. If that's not the very definition of bearing "with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper" then I don't know what is.

They go through doors when they don't know who is on the other side, they go around corners when they don't know what's waiting for them, they make those routine traffic stops that they know could be anything but routine. They stand between us and those who would do us harm. They see the worst of the worst of what we as a public do to each other day in and day out. And yet they still go on. They still have the compassion to take a small child's hand in theirs and comfort them when they're lost or afraid. They still risk their own lives to save ours. They stand in front of us, beside us, and behind us. It's a shame that most of us aren’t standing in front of, beside, and behind them.

They say they're not heroes. They say they’re just doing their job. I have to respectfully disagree. They look into a mirror and see a cop. I'm looking in that mirror from a different angle. I see a hero.

Does the media carry a portion of the blame for the way our officers are treated? My personal opinion is yes, they do. The loss of an officer barely gets a shrug of the shoulders with maybe the exception of their local station like 'it's their job' or 'well he must have made a mistake'. Why does it take something like what happened in Oakland or 9/11 before anybody starts paying attention? And why aren't we, the general public, taking the media to task for not making sure their viewers know and understand who the real heroes are and that somebody obviously has declared open season on our officers? If you stopped a hundred people on the street on any given day and asked them if they know that a specific celebrity died...you would get one hundred who said yes. If you asked those same one hundred people if they know that as of July 26, 2009 that we have already lost 73 officers in the line of duty this year alone...I bet you wouldn't get one who knew that. And that's not right. Shame on the media, shame on us, and shame on those who have the power to influence public opinion and are letting their views be distorted by publicity and often undeserved fame. And a final "shame" on those who are allowing themselves to be led around like sheep to a slaughter instead of thinking for themselves. There are exceptions to the biased media coverage that is the norm with specific stations that go out of their way to shed a well-deserved positive light on what our peace officers do for us and report those rare instances of bad news about them fairly. When we find one of those, we, the viewers, should be commending them for their actions and letting them know that they are appreciated and give them our support just as we should be voicing our protests to those who don’t.

The perceptions of our officers by the general public may never change. But that will never stop me from trying to make it change. I came to this late. I spent a lot of years being one of those who wasn't paying attention. Well, I'm paying attention now and I may not change everybody's mind, but maybe I can change ONE person's mind. That's one more than we had yesterday. And maybe we can both change one mind tomorrow...now we've doubled again. I'm not saying it will be an easy task, and I'm not saying it will be a truly achievable task. But, I'm trying. And I'm not alone. There are a lot of us. The ~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~ cause is more than 15,000 strong now with a mix of officers and supporters, which is not bad considering we were at 500 members in February. Okay, that's a drop in the bucket compared to the general population at large, but it's 15,000 people who at least took the time to take an action that says "I care". So there are people who care and there are people who know and understand what our officers do for us.

Will these officers ever see themselves as heroes? My guess would be probably not. But to those of us standing on the outside looking in, those of us who don't have the courage to do what they do...they are heroes to us and we thank them.

Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
August 15, 2009

Police Officer Thank You

The uniform's as varied
As the badges on their chests.
They do their job, they give it all,
They give to it their best.

They know there is no fortune.
They know there'll be no fame.
They know you may dislike them.
But they do it just the same.

Underneath those badges
Their hearts beat all as one.
They don't give up because they know
Then evil would have won.

Courage is engraved there
Upon each brave one's chest.
Valor, honor, dignity
Are words that join the rest.

The words are not for us to see
Inscribed there just the same.
And when one fails to pass the test
Somehow they all get blamed.

The hearts beneath those badges
Aren't made of hardened steel.
Did you think a badge was armor?
Did you think they couldn't feel?

They stand so tall in front of us
These valiant souls so few.
I thank them now for all they do.
I thank them now, won't you?
 
Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
May 11, 2009

Angels Among Us

As each day passes on this winding road

Angels walk among us with a heavy load.

They never ask you remember their names
They don't expect fortune or fame.

They deserve but seldom get in return
The respect that they so silently earn.

Too often we'll hear the familiar call
'All gave some, some gave all.'

Tragedy has to befall their ranks
Before we remember to give them our thanks.

We pray for those taken, so suddenly gone,
And forget about those who carry on.

We forget that they grieve the loss of a brother
They do their jobs, pray there won't be another.

Blood-stained and spattered, it still holds strong,
That thin blue line that they travel along.

A friendly smile, a nod, a wave,
Seldom seen by these men so brave.

Anniversaries and birthdays are often missed,
With those they left with a hug and a kiss.

They knock on that door; they answer that call.
Will this be the last one? Will this one be all?

Did you have a chance to say 'thank you' today?
Will your next chance be only at the angel's grave?

They give of themselves to us every day.
Why shouldn't we go out of our way?

Tell them you thank them. Tell them today.
Don't turn your head, look the other way.

They stand to protect us, home and afield
They wear a gun and they wear a shield.

There are angels among us. To you I say,
"God bless you, sir. And have a safe day."

Written By: Peggy Parker - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~
April 25, 2009

What Does The Term Police Officer Mean To You

I believe this was my first public statement regarding my feeling about our police officers.  It was in response to the title question posed on the discussion boards of our cause on Facebook, ~A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield~.  I had just recently joined the cause and this was posted on April 10, 2009.

~~~~~

What does "Police Officer" mean to me? How long do you have?

First, I have to start by saying that I sort of got here late. I've always respected and admired all law enforcement officers, but it has only been lately that I began to fully understand what they mean to me. That's a shameful thing to admit since I have an ex-brother-in-law who was an officer, a sister who was the first female Deputy for the county where we were raised, and a nephew who is an officer now for the town I live in. When I first got on Facebook, I started joining some of the causes and groups that represented the law enforcement community just out of respect for who they are. I still didn't really get it. So what caused it?

Well, I was born in raised in Texas and still reside there. I'm proud to be a Texan. But, I have sort of adopted Montana in my heart as where I was supposed to have been born and raised. I've only been there twice, but like I said, I sort of adopted it. I get news feeds from several Montana news stations, and a few weeks back one of those emails contained a report of a traffic accident that involved a Montana State Trooper that was hit by a drunk driver. I read it and it upset me, but the report was that he was critical but stable. I checked the next day and there was no update. A few more days passed before I decided to check again and see if I could find out anything about how he was doing but I couldn't find anything new. The very next day, I got another email. One that said Trooper Mike Haynes was gone. That email hit me so hard. It was the last thing I expected and I find it difficult to even write this without tears. I can't explain why I felt the loss so deeply, but I did and still do. The more it weighed on my mind, the more I started thinking. I went to the ODMP page and started reading. So many...how can there be so many?

Every new name that appeared began to hit me just as hard as it did to read about Trooper Haynes. Then I found out about Tim Davis in Cedar Rapids and Chris Dewey out of Minnesota and signed up for both of their care pages. And every day, I spent more and more time thinking about what they give up every day for us. So after that protracted, rambling explanation of how I got here, let me tell you what "Police Officer" means to me.

It means that special breed of man or woman who pins on a badge each day and goes out the door to protect and serve the public. I've often heard it called a shield, and in one sense I think that's true in that it represents the person wearing it who tries to shield us. If only it were a shield for them. They spend their days and nights being cursed, ridiculed, slandered, and worse. And yet tomorrow, when the person who cursed them today calls for help, they will go. The next day, when the person who once swore he would 'kill the first cop' he saw is in trouble, they will go. The day after that, when the city that was up in arms about a drunk driver being treated "too harshly" comes under attack, they will go.

These people endure what the publich dishes out, day in and day out but they still get up every day and pin on that badge and go out the door. They see the worst in this world of what we do to each other. If they show no reaction, the public doesn't understand and ask if they don't have any feelings. If they do, the public doesn't understand and look down their noses at them like they thought they should be stronger. How can they be stronger?

It's a special few who put their lives on the line every day just to keep us safe and they ask their families to make the same committment because that's who they are inside and they don't know how to be anything else. And yet in spite of what they endure, in spite of what they see, in spite of what they have to do every day, there's room for a spot inside of them that makes them go out of their way to take a kid shopping at Christmas for toys they might not otherwise have. They still make time to participate in marathons for Special Olympics and all of those other fundraisers for worthy causes that most of us try to ignore because we're "too busy". They don't look the other way. They always come when we call. No matter what the circumstance, no matter who we are...they always come.

So knowing all of this, when did it get to be okay to have open season on these heroes? What makes someone pick up a gun and point it at the very person who would hold out their hand to help them if they just gave them the chance? I don't understand.

If I had to pick just one word to define "Police Officer", it would be a word that is much overused and misused these days, but in this case it is appropriate. Hero.
 
I used to be like most everybody, I guess. You pass a patrol car on the street and you glance at the speedometer as you wonder if he'll give you a ticket. I don't do that anymore. Now, when I pass that patrol car, or I see an officer on the street, in a restaurant, or any other setting...it's with one thought. Each incident results in a whispered prayer. 'God bless you and I pray He'll keep you safe.'