I don’t know what to say…I hear this all of the time in reference to communicating with people that are hurting. People frequently tell me that they are hesitant to go see someone that is seriously ill, or an individual that is grieving a loss. I have been reminded this past week that only one question is needed. No other communication is necessary. All that you need to say is: How are you? That is all. There is no need…
The telling of The Parable of the Good Samaritan is prompted by the question: Who is my neighbor? That is a good question. Who is my neighbor? Serving as a law enforcement chaplain for the past 22 years has taught me that in some cases the answer to that question is…nobody. I do mean nobody. I have gone with police officers to deliver death notifications on more than one occasion when the person receiving that unexpected and awful news has…
Several years ago I was picking one of my boys up at the high school after an out of town school event very late on a Saturday night. On the way home that night I had to take extreme evasive action to avoid a collision with a vehicle that was involved in some kind of road rage incident with another car at a high rate of speed. About the time that I got my wits about me enough to dial…
Who Says Cops don’t cry…. I would like to say that the title to this piece is original, but it is not. Curtis Harrelson was the first police chief I served under. He composed an article by the same title for a professional journal over twenty years ago. It was excellent. Of course I can’t find the article anywhere! I officiated at Chief Harrelson’s funeral almost three years ago. I can’t pretend to replicate his thoughts, but the title fits…
Domestic violence is far more prevalent than what you would ever think. As a law enforcement chaplain, I can say that most of the homicides I have assisted with over a 22 year period have been the result of some form of domestic violence. Several years ago I was with an officer the night he raced to a woman’s home, because an offender pulled the phone out of the wall, as she frantically gave the 911 dispatcher needed information. It…
I am reprinting three blogs this weekend that I have writtten over the past few years. Each of them focus on on the events of September 11th, 2001. I do believe last night’s after dinner speech was the most inspiring presentation of that nature that I have ever heard. Retired Lt .Col. Brian Birdwell was the guest speaker at a Granbury Police Dept. banquet. I was privileged to sit next to him at the head table last night since part of…
Today I am attending a luncheon that is being held in honor of the Granbury Police Department investigators, The Texas Rangers, and members of the District Attorney’s office in Hood County. They are being honored for their dedicated service in investigating and ultimately prosecuting the murders of Shawna Farris and Robyn Richter. Carrying out justice in this case took nearly three years. To say that everyone involved was tenacious is an understatement. I am privileged to serve with all of…
You have no doubt seen the show: Walker: Texas Ranger. Chuck Norris fit the role ideally. He of course was portrayed as a cult hero of sorts. One article describes the show as being appealing because of its improbable combination of martial arts and modern Western genres, and its wildly unrealistic depiction of police work. That is pretty accurate. Most recently Texas Governor Rick Perry honored Norris by making him an “Honorary Texas Ranger” at the Garland office of the Texas Department of Public…
I posted this blog in February of 2010. I am sharing it again as a tribute to my dispatchers here in Hood County. This week is: National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. I recently heard an audio recording of a little 5 year old girl who called 911, because her father was experiencing shortness of breath and other tell-tale signs of a heart attack. The conversation the dispatcher had with the little girl is priceless. She was very responsible and did…
Today marks the four year anniversary of the death of Alyssa Dix. I am reposting this piece that was originally published on May 30th, 2010 out of respect for her good family. The Dix’s are fine people. I have great respect for each of them. My confidence in the basic decency of people was renewed at Granbury High School’s Commencement Friday night. I was of course the proud father of a son graduating. But my mind has been on another…