Nov 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.11

WORDS OF FAITHGUEST

WORDS OF FAITHGUEST COMENTARYMichael BarronConsidering Retirement?Consider what your future looks like or it may be shorter than you think.I recently read a great articlein Police1 from Sergeant SeanFuerstenberg who’s in his 28thof service at his department andconsidering retiring. But Fuerstenbergknows once he walksout that door, they will barelyremember his name.“I’m staring down retirement,and I’m not expecting a parade.I’ll likely get the popular cakeand coffee send-off, and thenit’s done. And that’s OK. Cakeand coffee are how it shouldbe, because not every departmentor municipality can giveextravagant goodbyes due toever-tightening budgets. What Iam expecting, because I’ve seenit repeatedly, is to be forgotten.Quickly.”“I’ve watched it happen togood people, respected people,officers who gave everything,who bled for their agency, whomentored generations of cops.Not one of them got the longmemory they expected. Sixmonths out, their names rarelycome up. A year later, it’s likethey were never there. That’sthe truth no one tells you whenyou’re gearing up to walk away.The silence is real, and no one isimmune to it.”“There’s a common saying thatgets passed around: ‘Forty-fiveminutes out the door and youdon’t matter anymore.’ I don’tknow who created that quote,but whoever it was really nailedit.”Sgt. Fuerstenberg is correct,‘Forty-five minutes out the doorand you won't matter anymore.’You may have been the greatestcop of all time at your department,but to all the young copswalking in the door, you are yesterday’snews.Retirement for most people inthe civilian world, is the rainbowat the end of long road of 40+hour work weeks, endless overtimehours, and the daily grindthat just wears you down.But when you retire, you get tosleep in, go fishing, take a cruise,spend time with your spouseand your grandkids. All the greatthings that retired people do,right?But for first responders andeven more so for veterans thathave served multiple tours,retirement takes on an entirelynew direction of your life.From day one, your numberone job is to protect & serve.The old saying ‘you’re runninginto danger while others arerunning away’ is ingrained intoyour everyday way of life. Youare always ‘on-duty’ even whenyou’re not. If you see someone introuble, you aren’t standing therefilming it on your phone, you'rethe one saving their life.Shots ring out in a crowdedshopping mall, and while everyoneheads for the exits, you arerunning towards the suspect totake him out.Firemen see a fire; it’s theirinstinct is rescue anyone trappedinside. It’s what we do and forsome it’s an adrenaline high. Welive for it. It’s what keeps us aliveand ready for the whatever Godthrows at us next.But when you retire, all thatgoes away – instantly. No longerare you the one running intothe fire or towards gunfire, youare running with everyone elsetowards the exits. Suddenly everythingyou’ve learned as a firstresponder is supposed to justchange and now, you’re just aneveryday citizen.Maybe for some that’s OK.You’ve done your part and nowyou’re ready to just be an averageJoe while someone elsedoes the heavy lifting. But forothers, it’s not that easy. Whatis supposed to be their rainbow,turns into a life seemly withoutpurpose and an overwhelmingsince of failure.After years of missing birthdays,anniversaries, holidays, andball games with your kids, allfor the sake of your all-import-14 The BLUES NOVEMBER ‘25

ant job that had to come first.Now that you’re retired, it will allbe different. Except now you’redivorced, the kids are all grownand moved away, and it’s justyou. Plenty of time now and noone to spend it with.But it doesn’t have to end thatway. Yes, your job is importantand giving 110% is what’s expectedof you. But picking up extrashifts, working one extra job afteranother while your kids growup without you, will come backto haunt you.If you are just getting startedin your law enforcement career,starting a family with your newbride, take a moment to look30 years down the road and askyourself – do I want to retirewith the love of my live cruisingaround the world, or end up allalone at the old folks home, tellingwar stories to anyone whowill listen.Pick the future you want tohave and work towards thosegoals, not being the top coptoday that will be forgotten45-minutes after you retire.For those of you with dozensof years on the job and about toretire, consider this. You aren’tgoing to live long after retirementif you stop being who youare – the one helping others andrunning towards danger.Police officers have a life expectancythat is as much as 22years shorter than their civiliancounterparts.Some reports suggest the averagepolice officer dies within fiveyears of retirement.You don’t have to start a newcareer at another department orbecome a security cop at a mall.There are dozens of ways to stayinvolved and remain active inlaw enforcement.• Consider a career as an SRO– Schools in Texas are severallyunderstaffed and our kids areour future, and they need yourprotection.• Volunteer with police groupslike TMPA, CLEAT to mentoryoung officers as they begin theirLE careers• Sponsor a group of retiredofficers at the old-folks hometo a monthly breakfast. I dothis occasionally, and not onlydoes it brighten the lives ofthose that feel forgotten, butit makes you feel young to seeofficers that retired when youwere in grade school.• If you are firearms instructor,local gun ranges wouldlove to have you on staff toshare your skills with fellowgun owners.• Every law enforcement supplierwe work with here at theBLUES has retired officers ontheir staff. If travel and meetingnew people is your thing, askto work the trade show circuit,There are literally hundredsof ways to stay active andrelevant in the law enforcementworld. Being active andinvolved in something thatmakes you happy and needed,will ensure you live a long andprosperous life after you makethat last radio call.The BLUES - NOVEMBER ‘25 15