Quote of the Quarter
“Jesus was more concerned about bringing everyone in than shutting certain people out.” ~ Max Lucado
Suicides
Being called out to help families or police officers with suicide is one of the toughest assignments. Whether serving as chaplain or crisis responder, there is no easy entry into the deep water of this type of death. Families and loved ones are devastated believing they could or should have done more or seen it coming. Usually you can’t.
An attempted or completed suicide speaks loudly of hopelessness, feeling trapped, or unbearable pain. My heart goes out to the families who have endured such tragedy.
Suicide is not the answer for your pain. There is help and hope. There are people who are willing and ready to support and encourage because YOUR LIFE MATTERS. Although you may not be able to see it at this moment.
“There are far, far better things ahead than anything we leave behind.” – CS Lewis
People have dedicated their lives to providing caring assistance and listening to the needs of others contemplating suicide. Here are some resources for you or others you care about:
- Text or call 988 and you can talk to someone 24/7
- vets4warriors.com 855-838-8255 has a great confidential peer support
- 1-800-COPLINE will put you in touch with retired police officers who can relate to your experiences and offer the support you need.
It may just be my exposure to these situations, but I believe you feel it too, the world is radiating the perspective of hopelessness. Hope is available – keep searching for it.
You Just Never Know
Every police call is different. It’s kind of like a bag of M&Ms – you never know exactly what you’re going to get. Calls may be similar in category but unique with every individual they encounter. This is what makes policing so exciting, interesting, and volatile.
Cops get into law enforcement with the premise that they’re going to help people in need, deter crime, and be a protector.
Sometimes they have a suspicion of the call they are dispatched to because the address or situation sounds familiar. They need to get a few extra people on board to make sure things have the best possible outcome.
When this group assembled for a call, the one with the most information and familiarity with the person in need was the best candidate for resolution and de-escalation steps, so they did most of the talking. The other officers were observing the potential dangers at the scene and listening to see if they might help keep everyone safe.
It was good to have a small group of police presence at the house that day because there had been multiple calls to the address in the past, and this was the second call that day.
Cops know there are endless variables to every interaction. This is why they are hypervigilant while on duty. They understand someone’s life may pay the ultimate price if they are not.
Silver Lining
Sometimes there is a silver lining after a tough or stressful day. Today it was a sunset.
I snapped this photo as we were driving an arrestee to their “time out” spot. They were having a not so good day and needed some extra care both by the officers involved on the call and by some mental health professionals.
Police officers learning to be aware of their stresses is a difficult task, so I often take it upon myself to remind my partners to take a nice deep breath and reflect on the good while they’re on shift. Ten or more hours dealing with the problems of others in the community can quickly take a toll unless a plan of self-care is part of the routine.
We were blessed with a gorgeous sunset and paused for a moment of thankfulness for all the beauty God has created for our enjoyment. Find the positive in all of life’s challenges.
BANG, BOOM, OOH, AHH
The sound of Fourth of July fireworks filled the sky and people filled the streets. It was my opportunity to do my very first “bike-along” this summer. I was on a police bicycle patrol with some pretty cool people cruising around a local park before, during, and after the City fireworks show. I had a fun time rolling around on two wheels on a beautiful afternoon with my partners.
In Conclusion
I am honored to serve our local police departments. Code 7 provides opportunities for me to be present and offer hope and encouragement to our officers. Your support helps this happen as it sponsors both me and the resources I provide to our cops. Thank you for your interest in this ministry and for being part of the positive impact on the individual lives of the officers and their loved ones. This is accomplished together through your financial support. Thank YOU!
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. (NLT) Proverbs 11:25