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MAY 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 5 Houston Cover

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MAY 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 5 Houston Cover • National Police Week • Memorial Services in Austin, Houston & Harris County • Are You Prepared to Stay Alive: A Officer Survival Guide • DC Cops race, crash, and get beat up by one officer's momma • Warstory/Aftermath - White cop shoots black teenager in the back

It’s been a rough

It’s been a rough 14-16 months, duty. Look, if that alone doesn’t 0,000 right? COVID. Large scale ..what demon- get it your won’t attention, get I don’t you. know strations, a serious series of critical reviews in the National Media and Social Media, and an overall sense of “Anti-Law Enforcement” in the air. Then, our own personal issues. For example, in my family my son and dad both are battling cancer. Thankfully, both are winning their respective fight, at the time of print. Others I know are battling financial problems, relationship problems, kid problems and well, just problems. No matter who you are, whether you’re a Cadet in the Academy or you’re the Chief, guess what? We’ve all got problems. Yes, we do. Some are different than others. Some are less than or greater than. But one thing is for sure, we’ve all got them, and they can compound into what amounts to a bit of a breakdown or disillusionment (college word for WTH just happened). Look, no matter what the problem(s) are, no matter who you are, if you’re wearing a badge and a gun, it doesn’t mean you’re still not a “HUMAN BEING”. For God’s sake, take a deep breath. Slow everything down. Even if, for only a moment or two. That doesn’t mean you’re weak, bro. It means you’ve got the where with all to at least understand, I’ve gotta stop here for a moment, and there’s no shame in that. Over the last few years, the number of Law Enforcement Officer Suicides has doubled and more and doubled is the number of Law Enforcement Officers killed / lost in the line of what else to say. Life is tough. It’s tougher if you’re a cop. If for some reason any of us have felt we “had to be” Superman or Superwoman, well that may be applicable at a certain point in time when at work. (and for all the mothers who wear a badge, I understand that is an everyday, all day function…there! I said it!!!) But no matter how strong we are, how much we exercise, eat right, live right and do right…there are moments in life where everything will just go wrong. It just does. I believe it is fair to say, time are tough for everyone in Law Enforcement. The job was always hard. Now though, it’s even harder. The pressures of life, people, the world moreover and of course, the ever-present pressure of not screwing anything up by taking action. Such pressure can wear a person down. Mentally, emotionally and physically. It doesn’t mean that this job has become “impossible”. It remains highly possible to be a good cop and do a good job. If you’re feeling the pressures of this job, this life right now, please know you are not alone. Of the thousands of Law Enforcement Officers in Harris County alone, I can assure you, we are all feeling the heat right about now. That being said, lean on someone if you need to. Don’t be afraid or ashamed. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with telling someone “I’m tired” or “I’m really down right now”. Hell, odds are REX EVANS the response may be “What? You? Hell bro, me too! I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t think you’d understand.” Well, I am here to tell you, more and more of us are completely understanding now. Should you be considering giving up this profession, I beg of you, don’t. Please, don’t. We need to stay strong and stay together now, more than ever. Our line has always been then. Now we find where the Thin Blue Line is thinner than ever before. Now is not the time to walk away. If it’s more than that, if you’re down and hurting, PLEASE, for God’s sake, talk to someone. Anyone. Hell, reach out to me. I would rather listen to you than listen to TAPS at your funeral because the hardships you were facing dragged you down. It has always been and continues to always be imperative that we all do this one thing; take care of ourselves and each other. In today’s world, it is perhaps paramount above everything else. For how can we save the world if, we refuse to save ourselves and one another? full page ad 6 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 7

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