JAN. 2025. Blues Vol 41 No. 1

FROM THE

FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGEKeep it simple(r) in ‘25Time is only a means of measurement.Every minute that passes isjust a moment in time. What happensin those minutes not only definesthe moment, but it also definesthe people in that moment. We haveall had moments in our lifetimethat come to define us. As one yearpasses and we enter the year of2025 A.D. one cannot help but keepa watchful eye to the future.No one will question that 2024was a tumultuous year. Outsideour profession, we saw battlesand wars being fought all overthe globe. Our armed forces wereengaged in some sort of actionjust about everywhere. And hereat home we witnessed numerousproblems in our communities onlybecome more intense and severe.Homelessness. Mental Illness.Economics. Inflation. Politicalcorruption. The corruption of humanity.All prompting many in ourprofession to take early retirement.Recruiting and retention of officersbecame just one of the many prioritiesLaw Enforcement Leaders faceddaily. In some cases, departmentsfaced critical shortages affectingthe safety of their citizens.One might even suggest as thenew year begins, why would anyonewant to be involved in this rodeowe call “Law Enforcement.” I cannotoffer an all-inclusive answer. Noone can. I can only offer my take onwhy we do what we do, and whywe should continue our efforts tobring on those who have not alreadydone so, into the fold.It’s short and simple really. Thereisn’t a need for lengthy dissertation,studies or analytical analysis.There’s always been and always willbe, a need for a very special few toserve, protect and defend the manyfrom those that would do themharm.Too simple? I don’t think so. Iseem to remember academy instructors,Field Training Officers andOle Timers in general, telling thisvery young and naive deputy sheriff,“Just keep it simple. If you thinkyou should write a report, write thedamn thing.” And “If you think whatyou’re doing is wrong, it probably is.So, stop doing it.” Perhaps it wouldbe smart to look back at how suchinstruction and guidance, althoughnot written in any book, was instrumentalin the progression ofprofession. Maybe like how societyitself has become entangled in andof itself because of complexity, sohave we. And maybe, just maybe,we only simply need to hit the proverbial“Reset” button and just keepit simple.Now before you start sending me“Hate Mail” (lol) I understand andacknowledge that not every problemwe face is simple. Wheneverit can be made simple, I gotta ask,why the hell aren’t we doing it thesimple way. Stop with all the innuendosand complications. As CharlieBrown would say “Good grief…”As the new year cranks up, Iwould encourage law enforcementleaders across the country to stop amoment, analyze your problems orchallenges, look for simpler solutions.Then prioritize the list for thebetterment of everyone in the departmentand community. Whateverthe complexities are, just correctthem. You are the Sheriff, Constable,Director or Chief, so make ithappen. I would encourage you towish your Command Staff a HappyNew Year and explain to them themission for 2025 is to keep thingssimple. Stop with all the nonsense.This job we do, especially ourNight Shift Officers, is dangerous,arduous and taxing enough. Every24 hours in this country a cop isshot in the Line of Duty. Why in thehell are we (Law Enforcement Leadership)adding stress to an alreadystressful situation? Because wecan, is NOT the answer. The solutionis, we are going to fix that in 2025.Because that is what we as Law EnforcementLeadership are supposedto do.So, my friends Happy New Year!!!May everything you need be yours.May the dreams and aspirations youhave come true. May all of you andyour personnel come home safe atthe end of their shift. And finally,may the Dispatcher never give you abarking cow call. (Yep. It happened.You just can’t make this stuff up.)God bless you all.Your Friend, Chief Rex Evans (Ret.)8 The BLUES - JANUARY ‘25

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