Blue: The Color of Honor

May 15, 2012 1 Comment

Not for money or thanks, fame or fanfare.  Our nation’s LEOs rise each day focused on a mission to serve and protect.  With a silent prayer for their safe return, their families see them off knowing that their loved ones were called to a profession and nothing could keep them from their sworn duties.

This week we honor all LEOs and remember those who brought to the fight everything they had to give. On that day, at the end of their watch, their commitment and dedication to their communities were not enough. Their training and experience were not enough. So, true to the heart of a warrior, they gave their lives.

Let us take time to pause this week and remember their sacrifices. May we never forget the honor they demonstrated in their last moments. This week and always, we must remember and care for the spouses and children they left behind.

Through our actions and our words, I hope we make them proud as we continue their work here on earth. Share those blue ribbons with friends as well as strangers.  Tell them about our fallen brothers and sisters and the sacrifices they made. Tell the stories of their devotion to their communities. Tell everyone you know how proud we are to be part of this profession and how blue is the color of honor.

Stay safe.

Filed under Education, FOP & POST, Law enforcement memorial, Media Relations, Officer Involved Shooting, Officer Safety, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking Tagged with , , , , , , ,

In The Heart Of A Hero

May 8, 2012 1 Comment

This weekend, Hunting For Heroes gathered five disabled LEOs in Missouri for a turkey hunt. The honorees came from Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Ohio. Some injuries were visible and some were not, but all were apparent. All were disabled due to injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Volunteers, some of whom are disabled LEOs, came from hundreds of miles away to bring to bear their efforts and resources to serve these fallen brothers. Some of the volunteers were active LEOs and some never served. Others were business owners and company representatives. This weekend, all were focused on a common mission: to serve and support our honorees.

This weekend, our heroes represented a broad age range. While one was recently injured in the line of duty, the others were injured three or more years earlier. Their lives, and the lives of those close to them, changed forever as a result of their injuries. They have endured physical and emotional hardships compounded by the financial hardships of the loss of a salary and benefits. In most cases, their stories have become far too familiar. Medical retirement from law enforcement leaves LEOs in dire financial straits. In addition, many feel abandoned by their departments and the governments they served, their final days of service long forgotten in a morass of rules, regulations and red tape. Benefits promised and outlined in policies serving as poor substitutes for the ability to work 40 hours per week and collect a paycheck and earn benefits. Finally, their spouses, standing strong in the face of adversity, bear the weight of unimaginable stress searching for programs and financial relief that seems to always be on the horizon. All the while, these LEOs move forward. Sometimes dependent upon others for even basic necessities of life.

This weekend, however, these broken heroes were taken away from the daily stress of their new lives and brought to an environment of healing, camaraderie and support to continue their life-long healing process. For one weekend, their needs were met, they shared stories, laughed and cried with fellow LEOs in an atmosphere of support befitting the sacrifices they made for their communities. In a beautiful setting in rural Missouri, we saw that while their bodies may be broken, their hearts are intact. Their drive to succeed is alive and well and their refusal to give up is as strong as ever. They are, simply put, still LEOs in every sense of the word.

They may no longer wear their uniforms, but we all know the uniform does not make a LEO. Being a LEO is a calling. It is a passion to serve and to answer the call of help from strangers.  It is that passion that carries these brave men through the surgeries and pain they have endured.

With handshakes, hugs, and tears, we parted from our new friends today. The heroes and their families thanked us for what we did for them. They said they appreciated our services and our sacrifices. However, through our service to them, we renew ourselves. We gave them a few days of time back in the fold of the law enforcement community. It is a strong community with arms broad enough to hold up and support the fallen and we must support them. We must do a better job of ensuring that no LEO injured in the line of duty ever wants for healthcare or groceries for themselves and their families. For if we are unable to focus our efforts on those among us who gave so much, then we will fail as public servants and our cities and counties cannot count themselves as communities. A community cares for those in need.

You can help Hunting For Heroes by letting us know about a disabled LEO in your community. You can also make a donation to the organization. Finally, you can serve as a volunteer at one of our events. Come see the smile on the face of a disabled LEO who meets the commander of the state patrol who arrived just to meet him. Watch a disabled LEO’s face as he receives gifts and spends time with people who gather just to honor him and his family. See the faces of family members who see their injured LEO smile and laugh for the first time in years. Watch as these heroes learn that they can be a part of the outdoors and fish and hunt like they did before their injuries took a toll. Support Hunting For Heroes and see what true passion, courage and determination resides in the heart of a hero.

Stay safe.

Filed under disabled LEOs, Education, LEO Litigation, Media Relations, Officer Involved Shooting, Officer Safety, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Glass Houses and the United States Secret Service

May 1, 2012 1 Comment

The United States Secret Service is under the microscope. Agents are accused of wrongdoing. Like every other law enforcement agency in the United States, there is a process for investigating allegations of misconduct. The agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility will interview witnesses, gather evidence and investigate the allegations like the internal affairs division of any other law enforcement agency would under the circumstances. The investigation will identify violations of agency policy and the law and will conclude with recommendations, discipline and potentially criminal charges. Such is the case with allegations of misconduct, whether unfounded or not, around the United States.

The allegations in this case are troubling and serious. If found to be true, the agents will face discipline including termination and families will likely be torn apart. There is no doubt that the agency is taking the allegations seriously and by all accounts, the investigation is in full swing.

I believe these allegations should be investigated fully and the agency should sanction inappropriate conduct. As long as the LEOs involved are treated professionally and provided with due process, you will not hear any complaints from me about the outcome. However, I am about tired of the raging hypocrisy in the news and the United States Congress about these allegations. Perhaps a history lesson is in order.

Name another person who was in a better position to influence a government official and have access to government secrets than Monica Lewinsky. Yet the media covered for Bill Clinton arguing that sex with a White House intern in the Oval Office was “personal conduct” and said nothing about his character. Congressman William Jefferson was caught with $90,000 cash in his freezer. NBC just fired staff for creating controversy in a racially charged shooting by manipulating a 911 recording. The company apologized and acted like this was the first time something like this happened. Have they forgotten the 1993 scandal with GM? Do you remember the 1983 Congressional page scandal? How about members of the United States Congress arrested for DUI? Congressman Charlie Rangel cannot even get paying his taxes or having tags on his car straight. Who could forget thankfully former United States Representative Cynthia McKinney striking a LEO in 2006! I could go on….and on….and on.

Perhaps to clear this up, we should allow United States Representative Hank Johnson to investigate these allegations as soon as he figures out how to keep Guam from tipping over. Maybe we should allow former United States Senator John Edwards to investigate these allegations. He may soon have a great deal of time on his hands…as soon as his trial is over. Perhaps Anthony Weiner could lend a hand with interviews. I hear he has some free time and is pretty handy with electronic media.

Here’s an idea. Follow me because it is way outside the box. Perhaps we should allow the investigation to continue and wait for the results. Perhaps the president should consider spending at least one holiday and vacation in Washington DC to give his security detail some time with their families. Perhaps the agency credited with safeguarding our monetary system and protecting presidents and heads of state since 1901 should be given the benefit of the doubt. Maybe, just maybe, the critics of the United Secret Service should let the established procedure for investigating such allegations proceed without trying to grab every sound bite opportunity.

I have been fortunate to take classes from, know and work with several LEOs from this agency. The thousands of agents, uniformed officers and support personnel of the United States Secret Service deserve better treatment. Faced with overwhelming media scrutiny and public condemnation, the agency still continues with its mission. The LEOs continue to put themselves in danger and remain committed to upholding their oaths. One part of that oath is to uphold and defend the United States Constitution. The LEOs accused of wrongdoing and those completely unconnected with the investigation deserve the protection of the constitution they uphold and defend.

Given the choice, I would trust a randomly selected member of the United States Secret Service over any one of their critics. It is not even a close call.

There are a lot of stories, commentaries, statements and opinions out there about the United States Secret Service. I hear criticism from all over. Is it just me or do you hear a lot of glass breaking?

Stay safe.

Filed under Constitutional Law, Due Process, LEO Litigation, Media Relations, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Responding To The “Good Shoot”: Do I really need a lawyer?

April 10, 2012 1 Comment

It happens more often than not. A LEO is forced to use deadly force and the facts of the events leading to the shooting and the shooting itself clearly support a lawful, appropriate application of force. The criminal investigators interview witnesses who support the use of deadly force and the administrative investigation reveals no violation of departmental policy or state or federal law. This should not surprise anyone as LEOs in the United States are exposed to a tremendous number of training opportunities after they complete training academies. Judgmental use of deadly force classes and simulators as well as role play training leads to this result.

When I speak with and train LEOs, especially about the use of deadly force, I often hear this question, “Why would I need a lawyer if the use of deadly force was clearly justified?” This question strikes at the heart of the use of deadly force in our society. A shooting is a seizure. Every use of force by a LEO is an application of government authority. Therefore, every use of force and every shooting raises issues of constitutional import and courts justifiably take the LEO’s actions seriously.

Let’s look at the United States Supreme Court’s (USSC) opinion in Graham v. Connor, 490 US 386 (1989). This case sets out the standards applied to the use of force to control, arrest, and seize a person. In short, the USSC stated that the use of force by a LEO will be evaluated objectively according to the reasonableness test of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. However, the USSC also discussed the perceptions of the LEO in a use of force case. This analysis is critical to this blog post.

“The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments—in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving—about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.
As in other Fourth Amendment contexts, however, the “reasonableness” inquiry in an excessive force case is an objective one: the question is whether the officers’ actions are “objectively reasonable” in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their underlying intent or motivation. []. An officer’s evil intentions will not make a Fourth Amendment violation out of an objectively reasonable use of force; nor will an officer’s good intentions make an objectively unreasonable use of force constitutional.” 490 at 396-397. (emphasis added)
So, in this quote we see that courts will apply an objective test when evaluating the application of force. Courts are also instructed to take into account the “tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving” circumstances facing the LEO before, during and after the application of force. Finally, the USSC states clearly that the LEO’s intentions will not factor into the use of force analysis. In this quote we see, in my opinion, why it is critical for every LEO to consult an attorney after every OIS.
First, the facts that make up the analysis of “objective reasonableness” are gathered from many sources including the statements of the LEO who used deadly force. This means your statement to investigators is critical. You should have adequate time to rest, time to decompress and time to speak with an attorney to make certain that you can adequately relate the facts of the incident. Too often, LEOs I meet with after an OIS were ready to relate the “bare bones” facts just to get through the interview as quickly as possible if for no other reason, because they were nervous or had decided that the justification for the use of deadly force was obvious. It is critical that the LEO articulate exactly what happened before, during and after the use of deadly force. It is also critical for the LEO to relate any subjective perceptions that may not be available to the investigators. It is critical to interject into the investigation “the facts and circumstances confronting them” mentioned in Graham. The use of force is always a discretionary decision. You must make certain the investigators understand your perceptions as well as the facts.
Second, we have seen many times that the statements of the LEO are questioned and treated as suspect. In the case of Officer Rankin, he relayed the facts of what happened after a fatal OIS. Therefore, the only version of details available about the use of force were those provided by Officer Rankin. The problem in that case, as with so many others, is that the critics chose to disregard his statement as untrue. A grand jury, a civil trial and intense media scrutiny followed and he was cleared. However, there are those who will never believe his statements.
Third, the media, both formal and informal, will judge the use of force. Recently, for the second time in recent memory, a major news entity has admitted falsifying and altering the facts of an incident for the sake of manufacturing a better news story. There is no longer any comfort in believing that the work of reporters will eventually bring out the truth. While this was hopefully an isolated incident, LEOs are on their own to make certain that the investigations done by sworn investigators will gather and accurately document all facts after an OIS.

Put simply, it is important to protect yourself after an OIS. The opportunity to retain and involve counsel is often presented through a narrow window because the effectiveness of the attorney will be limited after some point. I have been involved in many situations representing LEOs where I was limited in the options available and some options were foreclosed completely due to the actions of the LEO before I was involved. In more than one situation, the LEO lost all rights to pursue justice and remedies in the courts. I discussed these situations in a previous post.

Finally, the attorney is able to objectively evaluate the facts of the incident and confirm the appropriateness of your actions. It seems obvious that you will likely believe that every use of deadly force was objectively reasonable because you made the decision. The role of the lawyer is to determine if facts outside your knowledge may create an alternative version of events. For instance, when you focused upon the suspect’s chest after looking at the gun in his hand, do you miss the fact that the suspect dropped the gun after the second of your five shots? Due to auditory exclusion, were you unable to hear the neighbors of a 15-year-old screaming that the gun in his hand was a toy? Due to low light conditions, were you unable to see that the object in the suspect’s hand was a cellphone and not a firearm? While these and other facts may not change the fact that the shooting was justified, an attorney is able to monitor these facts to ensure that your statement of your perceptions are accurate and support your decision to use deadly force.

The presence of an attorney at the scene of an OIS can benefit the LEO in many ways. While some LEOs are concerned about how this will appear to their chain of command, through proper education, this fear should be rendered moot. I know from experience. I have been with many agency heads who have told me I would be among the first people called to the scene if they were involved in an OIS. The lawful application of deadly force is never easy to watch on a video or listen to when the LEO relates what occurred. Remember that the use of deadly force is often subjected to scrutiny by individuals who are untrained and others who are suspicious of every OIS at the outset. An attorney is the only person on the scene of and during the investigation of an OIS who is focused solely on protecting the LEO. You are entitled to counsel. Protect yourself. Stay safe.

Filed under Active Shooters, Constitutional Law, Due Process, FOP & POST, LEO Litigation, Media Relations, Officer Involved Shooting, Officer Safety, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking, Use of Force, Use of Tasers

Lance LoRusso Becomes a Regular Contributing Author to lawenforcementtoday.com!

March 12, 2012 Leave a comment

I just submitted an article and am honored to become a regular contributing author to http://lawenforcementtoday.com. The website reaches over 160,000 people and LEOs from around the world! You can also follow the site on Twitter @LawEnforceToday and find them on Facebook! Stay safe.

Filed under Case Law, Constitutional Law, Education, Legal Update, LEO Litigation, Media Relations, Officer Safety, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking, Use of Force, Use of Tasers Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

From Hero To Bad Guy In One Budget Vote: The Demonization of Public Safety

February 29, 2012 3 Comments

In my house, we have a budget. Everything down to the food for the pups, we plan ahead. Now some of those plans involve the unexpected. Boo and Scout love their bones, but occasionally, they drop one in the yard. Of course, we need to replace it. We also think about our lives down the road. I love practicing law, but I might actually retire one day and spend all my time with the redhead. That is my dream anyway. We put money away to reach our plan to retire. We work each day keeping our plans for the future in mind.

During those days of working and planning for the future as well as when we retire, we plan to be protected by public safety personnel. While we save to buy groceries when we are 80, we are not saving to pay for police protection, EMS response or firefighters to put out a fire at our home. That is something we expect to be provided by our government. I must brag that our public safety folks in Cobb County are some of the best in the country! Just as my wife and I have plans, each of those public safety employees has a goal, plan and a dream for retirement.

In public safety, as in any other endeavor, there is a quid pro quo with regard to retirement. If you work for low wages, accept the conditions of a job that 99% of the public could not and would not do and accept the fact that you may not come home at the end of your shift, the public that you serve will provide a safety net when it comes time for you to retire. Your retirement will be paid every year for the rest of your life. The amount of that you will receive can be calculated to the penny based upon your years of service as a percentage of your annual salary. The annual amount of a public safety retirement is no surprise to the personnel or the government that employs them.

So, I have been amazed lately that public safety retirements have come under attack. Suddenly, the “reason” that governments around the United States cannot survive in tough economic times is because public safety employees” make too much money” and their “retirements cost too much!” Some governments have gone so far as to seek bankruptcy as a way to avoid the obligation to pay these retirements, even for those public safety personnel who retired long ago!

Now it seems simple to me that if a government entity knows what obligations it has with regard to the amount of money necessary to fulfill the promises made to public safety personnel retirements, those funds should have been budgeted, planned for and expected every year. Budgets are not destroyed based upon long anticipated expenses. Budgets should only be threatened by unexpected expenses. This is the same as in our home budget.

Some will disagree. “Lance, the reason the budgets are threatened is because the economy crashed and there is less income to pay the government’s obligations.” This is nonsense. Like our home, the government should have a reserve fund to ensure all obligations are met, including the retirement obligations to public safety employees. This is not a difficult concept. If circumstances change, cut the budget elsewhere. The first obligation of any government is to protect the citizens. This means living up to the promises made to those who fulfill that obligation.

So, why have public safety pensions come under fire? If there is truly not enough money in a government budget how is that the fault of the brave public safety workers who did everything we asked of them and more? Why do we allow elected officials to demonize the people who did nothing to place the government in this position? We must point the finger back at these elected officials and tell them that mismanagement is the demon; pure and simple.

However, do not be naive. Public safety pensions are under attack for another reason. There are people who believe that public safety personnel are overpaid….yes, overpaid. They portray public safety personnel as employees who work for a short period of time and then live off the government for the rest of their lives. Listen carefully to their arguments. They make it sound like your pensions are not earned! A pension is earned every shift, every day, every call. Every child taken into protective custody, every body pulled out of a fire and every felon apprehended entitles public safety personnel to that pension. There is something more to this pension. Public safety personnel could work in the private sector and make more money throughout their careers. If they made more, they could save more for their own retirements. They choose to accept less money for 20 years in exchange for a promise from the people they serve. It is that simple.

In every society, there are people willing to step up to perform the undesirable tasks that are critical to the success and safety of that society. Without these individuals, our society would be a different place. In the case of public safety personnel, we would have no one to call when faced with a medical emergency, our property would be in jeopardy and we would be left to protect ourselves when faced with criminals. We make a promise to those who step forward to protect our society; make it thorough a career and we will provide for your retirement. That is the nature of a pubic safety pension. It is not a give away, it is not entitlement spending.

Watch out for those who demonize what you worked so hard to achieve, or worse, those who support allowing a government to avoid its obligations with regard to public safety pensions. They are not conservative, they are not fiscally responsible and they are no friends of public safety. Supporting public safety means more than making speeches and promising to be tough on crime. The true measure of a politician is a commitment to the obligations of government including public safety and the promises made to public safety personnel. Nothing short of living up to those obligations is acceptable.

Speak out, get involved and VOTE! You earned the right to do all three. Stand up for yourselves and each other and do not allow anyone to turn our heroes into demons.

Stay safe.

Filed under LEO Litigation, Media Relations, Officer Safety, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Government Email For Private Use: “We have no secrets”

February 4, 2012 Leave a comment

I’m dating myself here, but in 1972, Carly Simon released a song entitled, “We have no secrets.” The song and the album were very successful and the lyrics were quite timely. “We have no secrets. We tell each other everything.” Later in the song Ms. Simon sings the very powerful and wise line, “Sometimes I wish, often I wish that I never knew some of those secrets of yours.” While we all agree that email is an amazing way to communicate, many think that email is private like a letter placed into an envelope. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is especially true with email provided to you through a government entity.

Here is the scenario that I see most often. A LEO has an email address provided by her employer. She uses the email address often at work and becomes familiar with it. She gives this address out  to friends and family members as freely as she does with co-workers and other LEOs. Eventually, she begins using the government email address in association with Facebook, Twitter, a personal blog or as contact information for a private group such as the Fraternal Order of Police. Eventually, this email address is used constantly for non-LE business. One day, the agency confronts the LEO with an email she sent to a friend. Her chain of command reminds her of the agency’s policy regarding private use of government resources and making disparaging remarks that undermine the effectiveness of the agency. Suddenly, a complaint is born, a LEO is facing discipline and a rush of fear comes over the LEO with an aching thought, “Can they look at all of the email I sent?” Short answer: Yes.

Email is hosted or maintained by the entity that owns the domain name. This is the part of the email after the “@” symbol. With very few exceptions, you should expect that you have no expectation of privacy in any email you send or receive through your agency email. That’s right. No subpoena necessary. You can also bet that the attorney suing you or your department will want any email relevant to the case and he will get it.

However, privacy is not your only concern. Many agency policies consider personal use of email the same as using any other government resource for personal use. Would you take your patrol car on a family trip to Wally World? Would you think it is acceptable use stamps and envelopes from your agency to send out payments to your cable and power company? If the answer if “no” then your understand why you should not use your agency email for private purposes.

Have you heard enough yet? Well, there’s more. While you may be able to control the emails you send, you have no control over the email sent to you! Imagine the sheer joy of explaining to your chain of command how your friend from high school through it was cool to send you an email with a nude photo attached. That would truly be a memorable experience. In truth, you have no control over the email people send to you. Including attachments that contain destructive viruses.

Finally, any correspondence with your attorney is protected by privilege. This privilege can be placed in jeopardy if you correspond through your agency email. I routinely call people who send me legal questions over their agency email and tell them to provide a private email address.

Fortunately, there are a number of simple and cheap solutions. You can get a gmail account here, a Yahoo account here, or get an email account from your cable company. Many organizations will allow you to get an email account through them. For example, any FOP member can get an email account with “fop.net” as a domain name. My FOP email is lance@fop.net. You can get an FOP email address here. If you are not a member, you can take care of that as well!

So, no more excuses! Get a personal email and use it for personal matters. Whether you are a” technogeek” or a dinosaur, you cannot wait any longer to take care of this. After all, Carly Simon was right about one thing. There are few secrets any more especially in our age of technology. Preserve the privacy you have.

Stay safe.

Filed under Education, Social Networking, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

The Political Process: Get Involved & Get Results!

January 21, 2012 Leave a comment

We all remember the song from Schoolhouse Rock, “I’m just a bill, just a lonely old bill…” (It’s OK to sing…quietly to yourself!) The song was remarkably accurate! Tis the season for legislators to gather under gold domes all over the United States to consider new laws and amendments to existing statutes. So as the lobbyists, special interest groups and everyone else puts in their two cents, I have to ask, “Are you involved in the process?”

There are many ways to get involved. You can suggest legislation to a legislator, speak for or against legislation or simply contact your state legislator asking her to vote for or against a piece of legislation. While this sounds simple, I am amazed at how many LEOs believe their views are ignored. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth! Legislators want to hear from all constituents. This is especially true of LEOs! Here are some tips to getting involved to maximize your efforts.

First, learn about the process.Type “legislative process in my state” into Google or Yahoo and you will see websites for nearly every state that describes how the process works from start to finish. Like anything else in life, the more you know about the process the more effective you will be!

Second, learn about your legislators! Type “how to find your state legislature” into Google or Yahoo and you will get a list of websites for nearly every state. You can find contact information for your representatives and senators and learn about them as well. It is always helpful to read the bio of a legislator prior to making contact. Remember, they are public servants. Many have served in other capacities. I’ve met several former service members and LEOs at the Georgia Capitol.

Third, find out what legislation is being considered. Every state has a procedure and it is important to track the legislation as it moves from “a lonely old bill” until it becomes a law! Type “bills pending in my state legislature” into a search engine and you will get websites that will allow you to track bills as they pass through the legislative process. This is important information. Each bill will be considered by a committee. The committees have hearings that are open to the public. This is a perfect time for you to go to the legislature to attend the meeting. You can sign up to speak or just show your support by appearing at the meeting. You can also speak directly to the legislators before and after the meeting. Make certain that you appear in civilian clothes, speak in your capacity as a citizen and make statements that are protected by the First Amendment. I will post more about this in the future.

Finally, get your friends, family and fellow LEOs involved! Use Facebook, email, LinkedIn and Twitter to ask them to speak for or against legislation that is important to you. Make no mistake about  the degree to which legislators search social media looking for comments.

Before HR218, I asked a legislator to sponsor a bill to allow LEOs form other states and retired LEOs to carry firearms in Georgia. The law passed without opposition. I am currently following a bill that I asked a legislator to sponsor that would prevent a person who assaults a LEO from receiving First Offender status. Not only is it exciting to watch the process, this is an opportunity for you to make your voice heard!

It is so easy to sit by and get discouraged at the events that occur in your state legislature. However, you can make a difference. Remember that every law, for better or worse, started with an idea put into the form of a bill and introduced by a legislator. Lend your experience, ideas and influence to the process and next year you will see a statute with your fingerprints all over it!

Stay safe.

Filed under Constitutional Law, Due Process, Legal Update, LEO Litigation, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking, Uncategorized Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Support Comes In All Forms…

December 11, 2011 1 Comment

It is easy as LEOs to focus on the bad moments in a day. For some reason, those moments are more memorable for LEOs including bad wrecks, domestic disputes and simple nonsense that makes you wonder sometimes if Darwin was completely wrong! However, there are moments that also give us faith and strength as well as support. A kind word from a stranger, a thank you note sent to the chief or some other small gesture that reaffirms our commitment and confirms that the time spent in the cold and rain is appreciated.

This past weekend, I was honored to enjoy another pheasant hunt with friends and clients from six states at the Mountain View Plantation in Delta, Alabama. This marks the eleventh year we gathered to exchange stories, catch up and form new friendships. The hunters represented many professions. We had lawyers, bankers, accountants, pharmacists, financial advisors, retired LEOs, professors, students, vehicle restorers, physicians, IT professionals and others. Many attendees were retired military and most served our country in the armed forces or law enforcement. We all have many things in common including our love for the outdoors and hunting and a commitment to service before self.

This year, I added a mission to our hunt. This summer, I met the founders of Hunting For Heroes at the Biennial Conference for the Fraternal Order of Police in Salt Lake City. This non-profit takes disabled LEOs hunting. They support the LEOs and their families as they transition to a life they never imagined. H4H, as they are also known, is committed to using any method necessary from specialized wheelchairs to modified weapons in order to get these LEOs into the woods to fish and hunt. From dove to turkey to trophy bucks, the game may change, but the mission is the same. They make certain these LEOs never feel alone or confined to their homes. Many of these LEOs have never hunted before and H4H opens up a new world of recreation and enjoyment for them and their families.

This year, I told the  hunters about H4H. We held a raffle for a shotgun and brought the president of H4H to our hunt. Through the raffle tickets and the donations we raised over $3000.00 for H4H! Perhaps in a bit of mojo, the winner of the raffle is a retired Leo.

For all the hunters who attended, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all your support in all forms.

 

 

 

 

 

As you go through this 2011 holiday season, remember that you have the support of so many citizens who understand and appreciate what you do every day for all of us. Remember that there are groups out there like H4H who stand with you when you and your family need support. Sometimes a “thank you” to a LEO when they walk by in uniform is enough. When it is not enough, there are people like the hunters I was honored to see this weekend and the folks at H4H who will take “thank you” to a whole new level.

Stay safe.

Filed under Keeping it light, Media Relations, Politics & Current Affairs, Social Networking Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Public Safety Appreciation Week: A moment to pause and reflect

October 10, 2011 Leave a comment

This week in Cobb County, Georgia, the Chamber of Commerce kicked off the 13th Annual Public Safety Appreciation Week. I stood as a proud sponsor for that event. I was also asked to speak at the 3rd Annual Paulding County Public Safety and Family Appreciation Festival on Saturday October 8, 2011. These events are amazing opportunities for the public to meet the people who protect them day and night. I would like to share the text of the speech I gave on Saturday. The words are from the heart and apply to all of our public safety heroes in every city, county and state in our country. Stay safe.

         I want to thank everyone for giving me the honor of speaking to you today. It is truly comforting to be in the presence of so many public safety professionals. We are here today for you just as you are all here for us, every day. Day and night, bitter cold or August heat, you answer the call of duty for strangers.

         In January 2008, I started a law firm dedicated to helping public safety personnel. My team looks out for you when you need protection, we advocate for you when your rights are threatened and we help you when you are injured on and off duty. We are committed to you because of who you are and what you do.

         Public safety. That is quite an interesting choice of words to describe EMS, fire and law enforcement officers. What are we to expect of “public safety” officials? Are they expected to prevent crime? Are they expected to eradicate fire risks? Are they expected to prevent anyone from choking? The United States Supreme Court in Deshaney v. Winnebago held that government officials are not insurers of public safety. However, public safety officials make the effort to educate and train the public to prevent the tragedies that are so devastating to our “public safety.”

         So if the law does not require these efforts, why do it? Why exert resources reaching out to the public you serve? If the law allows the fire department to stay in the station and wait for the next fire why teach fire prevention to school children? If the law allows EMS to wait to respond to the next person down, why teach CPR and first aid? If the law allows law enforcement officers to show up as soon as possible and investigate crime scenes, why work with businesses and schools to develop plans to keep adults and children safe? The answer is simple: you work to protect the public any way you can because you are driven to do so. Driven by a deep-seated belief that this is your community and the citizens of Paulding County deserve the best you have. You believe they deserve your “A game”; every shift, every day. For that, your community is truly grateful.  

         As certain as the sun comes up tomorrow, the people of Paulding County will live their lives and go about their business. They will go to church, school and work. They will return each evening and rest comfortably in their beds secure in their belief that when their lives turn upside down, when their children are in danger, when their safety is threatened by those who wish them harm, you will respond. You will respond quickly and bring to bear the skills and dedication you carry with you. We are here today because we understand that skill and dedication is only part of the equation. For in the heart of every one of you is a commitment to service above self that drives you to perform your assigned duties with honor and courage, even when in doing so you put your life on the line.

        Enjoy your day. Accept the well wishes of those in attendance today. Take a deep breath and take in the gratitude and community support you see all around you. Know that each and every day, as you fulfill your sworn duties, you are not alone. Behind you are the men, women and children of Paulding County. Look around you and you will know, without hesitation, that while you have their backs, they have yours.

         Thank you for inviting me here today. May God embrace each of you in His protective arms and keep you safe today and every day.

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