OCT 2021 Blues Vol 37 No. 10.1

world.” But for me,

world.” But for me, it’s the staggering amount of people dying each and every day. It’s overwhelming. Our Blue family is shrinking in numbers at a very rapid pace. Just last week, we laid to rest Senior HPD Officer William “Bill” Jeffery who was shot and killed by a man who should have been locked up. His partner, Sgt. Michael Vance was also shot and only for the grace of God is still here fighting for his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families today. Then there are literally hundreds of police officers that have died from COVID, 198 in 2021 alone. And another 300- 400 first responders in 2020. This is horrifying and truly unbelievable. I was told in a special task-force meeting in January of 2020, that statistically speaking, out of the forty-two people in the room that day, over half would be dead within a year. Of course, I didn’t believe it. Who the hell believes anything this government says? I also didn’t believe that schools would close, businesses would fail, or that our friends and family would be locked inside their houses for almost a year. But all that did in fact come true. So, compared to 2019, 2020 and 2021 are true shit shows. But it’s not just the loss of police or first responders. Citizens are being shot and killed across this country every single day in ever growing numbers. Maybe because of the instant news world we live in, it sure seems like it’s out of hand. Houston is becoming another Chicago. There are shootings several times a day all over the city and the county. A police officer’s 14-year-old son shot and killed in a park in one of the nicest neighborhoods in Kingwood, by a classmate from his school. It used to be that if you stayed out of the “bad side” of town you’d be OK. Well, that “bad side” is everywhere. When a NOLO officer is gunned down in broad daylight at one of Landry’s most expensive restaurants in the Galleria, you know “it’s a different world.” The fact is, you can’t even drive on freeways in the greater Houston area without getting shot and killed. Carry all the guns you want; you can’t protect you or your family from a threat you can’t see. Bullets out of nowhere. The truth is the violence in the Houston Metro area is exploding at an incredible rate. And the man who is truly more stressed than me, is HPD Chief Troy Finner. You can hear it in his voice and see it on his face behind that mask. He is a man of true compassion, and he treats every single gunshot victim as if it where his own family. A man who was raised in this city and rose through the ranks to become probably the finest police chief in the history of the department. But one man can’t stop an army. So, what is the answer? Honest to God, I don’t know. But one thing is for sure. The world is going to keep changing and I don’t think there’s a damn thing we can do about it. PART III Final Word Any finally I can’t help but comment on Biden’s attempt to control every aspect of our lives, starting with mandatory vaccine shots. Personally, I do not believe the conspiracy theorist that the vaccine will eventually kill everyone who got the shot, nor do I believe that the government is embedding chips in everyone. For me personally, it was the better choice to risk long term effects vs getting COVID and possibly ending up on our “Officer’s we lost this year due to COVID” segment in my own magazine. But if you feel like it’s the opposite for you, then you should have the right to say no. Since when does the government have the power to tell you what medicines you HAVE to take? Doesn’t HIPPA afford you the right to make your own personal heath choices and ensure that those decisions remain private? And tell me this, according to the CDC, once you’re vaccinated, the virus won’t be as severe if you are a “breakthrough case” and there’s a 90% you won’t die. So basically, you’re protected. So why in the hell should Biden care if you don’t get vaccinated? You’re only hurting yourself and other unvaccinated Americans. If that 20% want to take a chance on dying, that’s certainly their right. If you haven’t realized this, our rights as Americans are evaporating. It’s time we unite as a people and take a stand to protect our rights. If your employer demands you get vaccinated or be fired, hire an attorney, and sue the crap out of them. If the companies had any balls at all, they would be united and suing the government. I hope everyone remembers all of this come midterms next year. Attention Recruiters Run your Recruiting Ad in The BLUES for a One Time Fee of ONLY 0. 10 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 11 POLICE OFFICER Bryan, Texas The Bryan Police Department, a Civil Service Department, is currently accepting applications for Police Officer (Non- Certified or Certified). We are seeking individuals with integrity who are committed to public service, dedicated and professional, with a willingness and compassion to work together with the citizens of Bryan to maintain a healthy and safe community. Starting Salary: ,000 (as non-certified Cadet) up to ,762 (depending on certification) *Range pending approval 10/4/21 Application Deadline: Friday, October 8, 2021 Written Exam Date: Friday, October 15, 2021 (For those who successfully pass the written exam, the physical fitness assessment will be immediately following.) Minimum Qualifications: • U.S. Citizen; • High School Diploma or have a high school equivalency certificate/GED; • At least 21 years of age and not more than 44 years of age at the time of hire; • Valid Texas driver’s license with good driving record at the time of hire; • Good moral character, stable employment record and no history of any conduct which may affect suitability for law enforcement work; • If applicable, military service discharge must be under honorable conditions as stipulated on DD-214 form; • No felony or Class A misdemeanor convictions; no Class B misdemeanor convictions within the past (10) years. Application Instructions: To apply and/or to view more information regarding the application and testing process click here and follow the instructions provided. You will receive an online confirmation number upon successfully submitting your application. You will also receive a confirmation email from Human Resources within a week of submitting your application. The City of Bryan is an Equal Opportunity Employer