Through the Eyes of a Firefighter

In Honor of the Other 'Angels In Blue'

This piece was written by a friend who knows what it means to run towards danger as the rest of us run away.  If you've read anything I've written and taken it to heart, then you know that it takes someone special to be a police officer.  But, did you ever stop to think about the "other angels in blue", the ones who wear a different shield?  It takes a special quality to be a firefighter, too.  They too know that every call holds danger and face the unknown.  And they too give themselves to all of us without hesitation and without question because that's who they are.  No we cannot totally grasp the full impact of what they do without having done it ourselves.  But, this article will give you a look inside, a glimpse of their lives, and hopefully instill or grow the respect that these men and women deserve.  And, folks...the lights and sirens are there for a reason.  Move over.  Get out of the way.  Let them do their jobs.  Help them do their jobs.  It could be your family they're trying to save. 

Len, thank you for allowing me to share this.  And thank you for what you have done and what you continue to do.  I know that just as every police officer I have spoken to has done, you will say that firefighters are not heroes but just doing your job.  And my reply is the same one to you as I would say to them.  I disagree.  I believe it is all in the perspective.  And from where I'm standing, you're all heroes.

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Through the Eyes of a Firefighter

Imagine if you will, being in the shoes of a firefighter. For some of you this may be very hard, if not impossible, so here is a scenario to help you understand what the firefighters, both paid and volunteer, go through on a regular basis. This may also help you, help us! This story is a true story when I was a member of my local volunteer Fire Department, that keeps repeating itself to this day. It happened many years ago, however still burns very clear in my mind, as well as the firefighters on this particular call. 

It was a beautiful sunny day. Temperature was in the upper 90's on a Friday afternoon. Traffic was heavy with people waiting to get home for the weekend and to see their families.

Just sitting down to eat dinner, you hear the high pitch tone of your pager. The call is a structure fire with a possibility of people trapped inside. Your family looks at you knowing that they will eat another dinner alone without you, but understanding you are a firefighter and are needed to help another family in need. You kiss your spouse and kids and tell them that you "Love" them, as you get ready to go into the unknown.

As you get in your vehicle to drive to the Fire Station to pick up the trucks, the dispatcher comes back over the radio and says there are "Confirmed people trapped". At this point you know that time is critical if there is a chance to save their lives. Your mind has even more questions at this point and your heart is now starting to race.

The ride to the station seems to keep getting longer as each minute passes. The traffic is still very heavy and you know that the people in front of you only have one thing on their mind, that's getting home. Your emergency lights are flashing on your vehicle and you are blowing your horn to try and get their attention, but nothing seems to work. So you stay behind the person knowing that it is dangerous to pass, even though you know time is running short for the people that are trapped.

For the people that are at the fire, the minutes are now turning to hours in their minds. The question they keep asking themselves in their minds is "What's taking them so long"? "Where are they"?, I need them here now! All the time crying their eyes out, living their worst nightmare, wondering if they have seen their baby for the last time. 

After a frustrating ride to the station, you have so many questions running through your mind. You are putting on your gear, jump on the truck and are now on your way to help. Soon you realize that being in a big red fire truck has not made a lot of difference, as people are still having a hard time seeing what is behind them. As you come up to a red light, you realize that the intersection is blocked by vehicles sitting in the middle of it, waiting on the light to turn green again, you are stuck until the intersection is clear. You get through the jam and now on your way again. Having to slow down at times for cars stopping in the middle of the road so you can get by. Then a car makes a right turn on red as you are coming through the light with Siren and air horns blasting, but you make it through.

You finally get on scene and meet the parents on the street. They are crying out that their little boy is in there, but it is hard to understand what they are saying to you. Behind them, the house has a lot of gray and black smoke coming from it. You can see flames through the window. The window blows out and you are hoping that it is not the room with the child in it.

The fire hoses are pulled off the truck and dragged to the front door. Your crew is ready to enter the house. You can hear a voice from inside screaming out for help! At this point your adrenalin is making your heart feel like it is going to come out your chest. There is a glimmer of hope once again.

You make entry into the front door of a house you have never been in before. The little voice you heard a minute ago can no longer be heard. The only thing on your mind now is to find that child!

The room you are in is very hot. By the burning of your ears, you know the room is upwards of 800 degrees, the smoke so thick that you can't see your hand in front of your face. All the elements are starting to take a toll on the crew. The protective gear you are wearing is doing its job. The child is not so lucky!

After the 4th room you search, the child has finally been found under the bed, knowing that they were doing their best to get away from the smoke and heat. You pull the child out from under the bed and discover the child is no longer breathing. You pick the lifeless child up in your arms and start your way out of the house, knowing there could be many more obstacles, while doing your best to protect them further from the burning temperatures.

You can now see the front door and know help is just outside. As you come out the door, you are met by the other firefighters and medics. The child is pulled from your arms and CPR is started. You know the child is now in the fight of its life. Mom and Dad is right there wanting to see their child, praying that we found the child fast enough.

The child is loaded into the ambulance with CPR still being performed. The parents are crying uncontrollably at this point. The ambulance leaves being followed by a neighbor with the parents, on the way to the hospital.

You sit on the ground and look back at the house you were just in. The fire is being brought under control by the other firefighters. Your body and mind is both mentally and physically exhausted. You rest and get some water, the whole time wondering if the child will make it. There is still a lot more to do at the fire before you can go home. So you get ready again, re-enter the house and salvage as much property as you can for a family that has just lost most everything.

You have done all you can do at the house and are now on your way back to the fire station. There is a lot to be cleaned up and the trucks need to get back in service. You hear over the radio that the ambulance has just cleared the hospital in route back to the station. As you are cleaning the hose and getting clean hose put back on the trucks, you know in your mind that you will learn the fate of that little child soon. The empty feeling you have is starting to eat at you, but the truck has to get back in service so you are ready for the next call.

The ambulance is backing into the station and you can tell by the sad faces on the crew, that the out come is not a good one. Now that all the crews are back at the station and the trucks are ready for the next call, all the crews come together in the day room. Talking in a choked up voice, one of the medics tells us that the little boy did not make it. He was 9 years old, an only child. As you look across the room, there was not a dry eye to be found. Some just crying openly, imagining that it could have been their son, thinking, how hard we tried to save that little boy.

You finally make it home and are met by your wife and kids. They can tell by the pain in your eyes and your voice, that the call did not go well. You hug and kiss them feeling so thankful they are safe. At the same time you are thinking about the family that just lost their only child.

Your sadness soon turns to anger as you play back all those scenes in your mind that lead up to this point. Knowing that it was only 5 minutes from the time you heard that cry for help until you found him. Knowing that you were caught up in traffic for a total of more than 10 minutes. The one that you cannot clear from your mind, is if I only got there a little sooner, the child may have still been living now!

Now for some, this is just a story. For others it may make you more aware while driving.  Many after reading this will not understand. To the firefighters, this is our life, our reality.

To help you understand, Close your eyes for one minute and picture your family, kids and house, imagine all the fun times you have with them, imagine how much you love them. Now imagine "It was your house and family" that we were responding to!

Many families are protected by Volunteer Fire Departments. Some may not even be aware their city has a Fire Dept. These Men and Women put in a tremendous amount of time not just in answering calls, but also training, fire prevention, maintenance, equipment upkeep, public education, fund raising and endless paperwork to submit for grants, state reports, city reports, insurance reports and the like.

Get involved with your firefighters, ask them questions, have your kids meet them, come see the training they are involved in, Make them part of your family! With support from the people we serve, helps us help you.

Written by and shared with the permission of:
Lenny Kendall
Lieutenant
Safety Officer/ Fire Prevention
Fate Fire Rescue

The Spirit Lives On: Trooper Michael W. Haynes

"One Year Later:  Montana Highway Patrol – End of Watch March 27, 2009

I suppose that we all have an impact on those around us, those whose lives brush up against ours through time. Whether it is through actions or reactions, words or deeds, we as friend, family, or foe can cause an action or reaction in those around us.  There are some in this world whose impact far surpasses the circle of family and friends; ones who have a message so strong and so profound that its reach is widespread and seeks out those outside their acquaintances.  These men and women have the ability by either chance or God's design to touch hearts and change lives.  Maybe it is by their example.  Or maybe it is by their direct interaction with those around them.  These special few are those who in some inexplicable way alter the path of another’s life, even those of complete strangers.  Michael Haynes was one of those men.

Trooper Michael Haynes was and is many things to many people.  He served his country with pride, courage, and honor.  He served the citizens of the great State of Montana as a proud member of the Montana Highway Patrol.  He was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, and a friend.  Today is the anniversary of the date that marked the end of Trooper Haynes' earthly watch and the beginning of a new tour of duty in a higher place.  On March 27, 2009, one year ago today, his body ceased to be all these things to those who knew and loved him.  There would be no more times to laugh and enjoy the company of his family while recalling old memories and making new ones playing video games, playing his bass, or out shooting with his dad.  There would be no more days that he would hug his children close to his chest as he marveled at the wonderful tiny people he was blessed to have in his life.  He wouldn’t have another chance to take his beloved wife in his arms and tell her just how much he loved her.  No longer would he patrol the highways of Montana in his quest to serve and protect the citizens that were entrusted to his care.  Never again would he be the one to lead the charge to curb the ever-growing numbers of those who feel that there is nothing wrong with putting the lives of every other man, woman, and child on the line when they drink then drive.  A generous, happy, loving, and honest man was taken away from his family and friends by one of those that he worked tirelessly to stop...a drunk driver.

But, while Trooper Haynes left this world in body, he did not leave it in spirit.  That spirit remains in the legacy he left behind.  His wife, Tawny, and their adorable children will forever carry him in their hearts.  The mother and father who brought him into this world as a gift from God will never be apart from the ever-lasting special love that only a child can give.  And the memories of growing up with that special bond that only exists between siblings will never fade for his brother and sister.  He did not get to complete his task here on earth, but his wife, his family, and his fellow officers will take up the battle for him.  They have and will continue to pick up and carry on that task in his absence.  His vision of a safe and better world can still be seen through the eyes of each of them as well as those of us who were lucky enough to learn and read about him through his friends and family.

The first time I learned of Trooper Haynes was in a breaking news alert from a station in Montana.  It was March 23, 2009.  I really just scanned the title and then closed the email. I was almost ready to delete it when I changed my mind and went back to it again.  For some reason, I clicked on the link and went to the station’s website.  I read the article and it upset me.  His name wasn’t even listed at first.  That came later.  I was little surprised that I felt so unsettled after reading about the crash.  I mean I didn't know this man.  But it bothered me.  At first there was no information about his condition.  I believe it might have been the next day that I checked again and it said "critical but stable".  I kept waiting for more information but it never came.  I checked the site several times that day but found nothing new.  I remember thinking that this was good.  We all know that good news doesn't typically sell.  And at that point I did not understand that the Montana stations were different from most in that they appear to go out of their way to present as many good news stories as bad ones.  So I thought, "Okay. No news. So he must be doing better. Probably won't hear anything else about him."  But, it just kept bothering me so the next day I checked again but really found nothing more.  I let a couple of more days go by.  I thought about it several times but decided I needed to stop checking on it so often.  And then I went back to check one more time.  The date was March 27th.  There was still nothing new there.  That confirmed it.  He was okay.  He would be fine and they wouldn't bother to report that.

I remember exactly what I was doing.  I was sitting at the desk and had closed the station’s website.  I opened Facebook and was there for maybe an hour at the most when I heard an email come in.  It was another breaking news alert.  I opened it without thinking about it.  And as soon as I did, I couldn't even move.  I couldn't open the site.  I couldn't close the email.  I just couldn't do anything...except cry.  I sat in that chair and cried for...I don't even know how long.  I cried for this man I did not know.  I cried for a family and friends I had never met.  I cannot tell you to this day, not even after a year of trying to figure it out, why the loss of one officer that I did not know, had never met and never even heard of before affected me in the way that it did.  It just broke my heart.  I will never forget it.  I will never forget him or the things I've learned about him as a Trooper and as a man from his family and friends.  And I will never forget his death telling me that I have a job to do.   I have to make people see.  I have to make them understand that there are men and women all across this nation who walk out the doors of their homes every single day to protect all of us.  They kiss their loved ones and they go do jobs that few in this world can do.  Every minute of their day is filled with danger.  The most routine call can turn deadly in the blink of an eye.  And a drunk driver behind the wheel can be traveling the wrong way on the wrong side of the highway heading straight into a deadly collision.

There are many things about the life of a peace officer that I somehow knew in that one minute of time.  I won't pretend to know what it's like to be an officer or be the wife or husband, son or daughter, brother or sister, father or mother of an officer.  My sister was a deputy.  My nephew is an officer.  But, I didn't get it.  I didn't understand before and sadly it is not through my love for them that I understand now.  It took the death of a good man I never got to meet to somehow make me understand at least a part of what they face in terms of a public that usually doesn't want them around unless they are the one that needs help.  And I know that the majority of those who do not spend their waking hours spewing hate and contempt for the very person who would be there to help them day or night are at best apathetic and stand idly by like it doesn't concern them.  It's my job, my place to do whatever I can do to change that.  One person, two...whether the number is small or the number is large...it is my task to try to make that happen.  The loss of Trooper Haynes somehow showed me that.  His death changed my life.

I know that there is not one second in time that he is not walking every step that Tawny walks as she carries on his fight in trying to raise awareness and gain support for toughening the laws for DUI offenders.  I know that he was standing at her side supporting her when she accepted the award on his behalf as he was recognized along with Trooper Glen Barcus for leading the Highway Patrol in DUI arrests the year before he was killed.  And I know that he has a special smile for her, his family, and his fellow officers who took over the watch for him and are fighting those battles today.  I sincerely hope with all my heart that when the day comes that I can stand in front of him, face to face, and finally get to shake his hand...I hope he smiles and I hope he says "Good job. You did well."


Trooper Haynes, you are missed terribly by those who love you and those who had the privilege to know you.  Thanks to Tawny and your dad I have had a very blessed opportunity to learn many things about you, how you lived your life and the man you became.  It is truly an honor.  And if I may say just one more thing… “Good job, sir. You did well.”

Written By: Peggy Milligan - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those who Wear The Shield~

Not On My Watch: Cpl. Jackson Brackett

University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department

There are little boys and girls born into this world destined to grow into the men and women whose purpose in life is to give themselves to the service and protection of others. And a day will come that a shield is pinned on their chests. It takes someone special to fulfill the promises that they make on that day, someone with that unique quality inside of them that most of us do not have. They put their lives on the line every time they walk out the door to begin their shift. There is nothing routine about what they do, not one second of it. As they make unbelievable sacrifices, see unspeakable things, deal with stress that would break a lesser person, they are also searching. They're looking for that place, that spot. They're seeking "THE" niche they fit into. Every minute spent in their career is spent protecting those who cannot protect themselves. But for each one there is a specific place they belong, a particular job, area or specialty that they were meant to do. The men and women behind those shields are looking for that slot where their individual abilities give them the opportunity and the chance to make a difference, to make things better. Cpl. Jackson Brackett of the University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department is one of those men. And he just may have found his spot.

Cpl. Brackett began his career in law enforcement in 2003 as a Deputy Sheriff working in Corrections for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office. You have to wonder if anyone realized when he set a new record for the mile and a half run in the time of 9 minutes and 13 seconds at the Police Academy that it was just the first of many times that he would excel at the tasks put before him in the years to come. He spent the next several years working in Corrections, but his desire was to be on patrol. That desire was realized on the day he was hired by the Richwood Police Department. That was to prove to be a test both physically and mentally that would strengthen him and prepare him for what was to come later. He was the only officer on the night shift. Any of you who work the rural areas or have worked single-man patrols know that it requires you to be creative and think outside the normal parameters in terms of your own safety, how to handle those calls, and how to make the right decisions because you never know where your closest back-up is or if you have any back-up at all. It was during this time that Cpl. Brackett became extremely interested in drug interdiction. When he mentioned this interest, he immediately had our attention.

There are probably few among us whose lives have not been affected by the rampant drug use in today’s world. Whether it is someone in our family, a friend, or a co-worker whose life was directly or indirectly changed by the epidemic of illicit drug use, most of us have seen or felt the effects. Drugs can and most often do destroy lives physically, emotionally, and financially. Both humanity and morality die a slow agonizing death at the hand of this cancer that is eating away our very society.

Cpl. Brackett was ready to take the next step in his career and become one of those who work tirelessly to turn the tide of the ever-flowing river of drugs. He received a call one day from an individual who had attended the Police Academy with him and later became the Chief of another department. The call was offering him a position on their drug enforcement team. Cpl. Brackett accepted that offer and joined the Sterlington Police Department and their Highway Enforcement Apprehension Team (H.E.A.T - Drug Enforcement Team).

When speaking of this new direction in his career, Cpl. Brackett stated, "That was probably one of the greatest experiences of my life. I later was asked to join their S.W.A.T. team. While there I was also fortunate to be given the opportunity to be a part of their Mounted Horse Patrol. There were several influential friends there who really helped me hone my skills as a police officer and as an individual, especially Assistant Chief Dennis Sims."

After being a part of the narcotics team for a while, Cpl. Brackett’s desire grew to become a more well-rounded officer so he stepped into working DWI's.

"That is a very challenging task to go from finding drugs to finding drunk drivers. The procedures in dealing with an intoxicated driver is much more in depth and precise. It’s not like finding the person's drugs, putting them in cuffs and taking them to jail. I wish it were that simple, but it’s not."

He began thinking that to further his career as a DWI enforcement officer he needed to find a law enforcement home that was well known for their DWI abilities and could give him the needed tools to further refine his skills. He wanted to find a state agency to work for because he knew that no one was better at putting drunk drivers in jail than the State Police. He found that agency...The University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department. When he was given what he considers to be yet another grand opportunity, he started out focusing mainly on drug enforcement because that was what he knew best. During his first six months there, he got one of the first cases known to the department that resulted in both heroine and DWI on the same stop. (He pointed out that he wanted to make certain that we clarified that the arrestee was not a student but someone passing through.) His excellent work did not go unnoticed.

Cpl. Brackett, Lt. Chason

Cpl. Brackett's supervisor, Sgt. Chason (who is now his Lieutenant), approached him one night and posed a question. "Jackson, what is it that you really want to do? I know you like to find drugs, but I kind of get the feeling that you want to try something new."

The answer came immediately. "I want to work more DWI's."

Sgt. Chason told him that he would do whatever it took to help him succeed in making that possible. ULM started the Crime Reduction Unit (C.R.U. - DWI and Drug Enforcement Unit) soon after that conversation. Cpl. Brackett credits Sgt. Chason with being kind enough to give him a slot on the C.R.U. It is possible that he does not realize that although Sgt. Chason is undoubtedly a fine man and a great officer...kindness probably had nothing to do with it. Cpl. Brackett earned that spot.

Chief Ellerman, Cpl. Brackett

It didn't take long for the knowledge to sink in that he had found his calling. As a member of the C.R.U. he was not only able to still rid the streets of drugs, but he could also focus on DWI's. The first year that C.R.U. was created (2007) Sgt. Chason and Cpl. Brackett made nearly 100 arrests each which included both DWI and drug arrests. Once again, his hard work and successes captured the attention of fellow officers. In late March of 2009 he was approached by their Chief. Chief Larry Ellerman informed him that he had entered Cpl. Brackett into a statewide program that was put on by the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission to help make the roads of Louisiana safer from drunk driving. Cpl. Brackett accepted that challenge and took it to heart.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 11,773 alcohol related auto accident fatalities in 2008. That count does not include the number of those whose lives were destroyed by the loss of a loved one or life-altering injuries. For that same year, there were 912 fatality accidents in the State of Louisiana alone. Of those, 338 were alcohol related. That's 37% of the total. Only 8 states had a higher percentage. If you look at those numbers you can see why Cpl. Brackett knows that of the many tasks his job entails, getting intoxicated drivers off the roads is one of utmost importance. In 2009, the University of Louisiana at Monroe Police Department made 78 DWI arrests. Cpl. Brackett was instrumental in 52 of them.

The dedication that Cpl. Brackett puts into his job has now been recognized state-wide. Along with his Chief and Lt. Chason, he was invited to Baton Rouge to be honored for his successes where he received an award from the Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, and Governor Bobby Jindal for having the most DWI's in the State of Louisiana for a population 10,000 and under.

He does what he does because he cares. He does what he does because that's his spot, his place where he makes a difference. The day may come that his spot will move. He may take another step that will lead him to a new spot. But for today, he's where he belongs. What he does matters. It's important. And he knows that. How does he feel about the award and wide-spread recognition?

"I count it a great honor and a privilege to have served my community and state in assisting to make the roads of Louisiana safer for the residents of this wonderful state."

Does everyone appreciate what he does? No, probably not. I can think of about 52 specific individuals off the top of my head that probably don't. But they should! Those 52 lives and perhaps countless more were very possibly saved because during one moment in time a guardian angel in blue, wearing a shield and a name tag that reads "J. BRACKETT" pulled in behind them and turned on his lights.

Like drugs, there are not many whose lives are not touched by the effects of drunk driving at some point. And, there is not a single officer who has not seen or will see what happens when one chooses to exercise a careless disregard for themselves and others. Some must stand strong as they pull the body of a child from the mangled wreckage caused by one who was so sure they were the one who could drive responsibly after having all those drinks. How many have had to look in the eyes of a sobbing mother or father who is just beginning to understand through their drunken stupor that they just killed their own child with their negligence? And many of them know only too well what it feels like to be one of the victims of just such a driver. Cpl. Brackett is one who does. We came very close to not having the opportunity to honor his work while he is still here with us. You see, on November 20, 2009, Cpl. Brackett was off-duty when he stopped at that red light. And like most, he had no idea that a vehicle with an intoxicated driver would plow into him at 70 miles an hour. For four days, he lay unresponsive in a hospital. He came away from that experience with an even deeper conviction to do everything he could to not let that happen to others.

“That really made me understand how important it is to take drunk drivers off the road. It also opened my eyes to the horrible impact that drinking and driving has on the victim and their families.”

Now I know that a lot of you reading this have at some point had a few drinks then crawled behind the wheel. And I'm sure you thought that was no big deal. Others might not be able to drive after a few drinks, but you can...right? Wrong. Hopefully, Cpl. Brackett won't mind us using him as the officer in this little scenario.

You're driving along as you glance at your watch. You're very late. Your son and daughter will be waiting. You promised you'd be home in time for dinner. But, hey...how were you supposed to know that the staff would decide to go out for a few after work? I mean you haven't been there long. They would think it was rude if you didn't go with them. You're rummaging around in the center console. You know there are some breath mints in there somewhere. Oh, man. Cops. He can't be stopping you though, can he? You only had a few and you're already late. Yes, he is.

Okay maybe that's a little over the top and a tad simplistic, but not necessarily unrelated to scenarios that are played out across the country day after day, night after night. Now Cpl. Brackett takes his job very seriously. The need to make sure that the roadways are safe for all of us is paramount. The slogan "Drunk Driving - Over The Limit - Under Arrest" is not just a catch phrase for him. It's life and death. Now let's continue our story.

You're sitting on the side of the road with Cpl. Brackett at your window. And given that you're "just a little buzzed" you're giving him grief about stopping you when there are real criminals out there that he should be out chasing. Now let's just suppose that as you are protesting and complaining about how absurd it is that he stopped you, another car passes by. What you don't know are two things. One, your children have become concerned about you being so late and have set out in search of you. They're headed your way. Two, you know that car that just passed...the one that Cpl. Brackett might have stopped had you not been drinking and driving and he needed to stop you? Well that driver is intoxicated too. And, he's headed straight at your kids.

Can you see it now? Do you understand that just a few minutes before that YOU were headed straight at somebody's kids, somebody's brother or sister, somebody's mother or father? When you drink and drive you don't just take your life in your hands. You have the power to destroy entire families, both yours and others. That is why Cpl. Brackett does what he does. He and every other officer out there are not "out to get you". They're not out to harass you. They're out there to save you. They're out there to save all of the others who are on the roads with you. They're out there to stop you from causing an officer somewhere to have to walk up to one or more doors and tell the family inside that their world just came crashing down. Thank God that the Cpl. Brackett's of this world are there.

Chief Ellerman, Cpl. Brackett, Lt. Chason

His humility is evident in the way that he sees every step along the way in his career as a blessed opportunity, a gift given to him by his superiors when they gave him a chance. And he expressed his gratitude for those who helped him and allowed him to benefit from their experience along the way. He credits those around him for his success and abilities. And he knows the value of those intangible things that we so often take for granted like friendship, support, and family.

“I would like to give a special thank you to Chief Ellerman and Lt. Chason for all their support and believing in me. They have been very much instrumental in my success as a law enforcement officer. They are not only my Chief and Lieutenant, but they have grown to be my best friends also.”

The Brackett Family

He added an emotional thank you to his parents as well for guiding him through life and giving him the foundation on which the man and the officer is built today. We would like to add our thank you to them for that as well. It is doubtful that as they held that small bundle in their arms for the first time that they knew that they were holding one that would grow into a guardian angel who would give so much of himself to serve and protect others. But with their help, that little boy is today that man.

Each of us have people in our lives that inspire us to be better, go farther, work harder, and fly higher. If we're lucky we will have many such people in our lives. It's easy to see that Cpl. Brackett has always watched for those people and never failed to learn from them. But typically we all have very specific people who inspire us to be the very best that we can be. For Cpl. Brackett that inspiration comes from his sons. Children see the world through different eyes. They see it through a veil of innocence. Regardless of the stark contrast between what they see and what experience teaches us, those wise enough to let themselves view those things as they do will find inspiration in those young spirits. Being able to see what they see can and should inspire us all to make the world a better place. It does for Cpl. Brackett. What he learns from his sons inspires him to make the world better and safer, not just for them but for us all.

"Not On My Watch"

Accolades and praise are nice and always appreciated and accepted with pride in a job well done. But the real payback is in knowing he was in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing just because it is the right thing. The fulfillment of making the world more like what his children and our children see is the highest award he can earn and his most satisfying accomplishment.

There was one statement that Cpl. Brackett made that really stuck with us and tells in a few simple words the heart of this guardian of the Louisiana highways. "I am grateful to God for blessing me with the abilities he has given me and entrusted to me."

On behalf of those you serve and protect, let us just say that we are grateful as well, Cpl. Brackett. We extend our heartfelt congratulations and thanks for being one of those who won’t let the drugs and drunks go by unchecked, for being one of those whose credo has been and remains “Not On My Watch”.



Written By: Peggy Milligan- Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those who Wear The Shield~

Journey of Courage: Deputy Christopher Dewey

It was February 18, 2009, one year ago today. In Mahnomen County, Minnesota a call came in. It was 4:00 A.M. and Deputy Christopher Dewey was ready to answer that call as Deputy Chad Peterson was ending his shift. But they answered that call together with Deputy Peterson postponing the end of a long night to back-up his partner and his friend; brothers in blue wearing brown. It was a decision that saved a life. And the events that followed changed many more.

During the course of that call, Chris was viciously shot in the head and the abdomen then left for dead. But he didn't die. Deputy Peterson heard the shots and could not contact Chris on the radio. He found him and made the call for help. He kept his head, he stayed calm, and he saved Chris' life. Those events and the ones that followed sent shockwaves through the Mahnomen County Sheriff's Office and the surrounding agencies and communities. The department is a family and Sheriff Doug Krier is the head of that household. In the months that have followed he has remained devoted to making sure Chris and Emily have anything they need that is in his power. The fellow deputies and dispatchers continue to make sure that Chris and Emily know that they haven't forgotten them. They, along with countless family and community members have worked tirelessly at various fundraisers to provide any assistance they can. The family gathered around the Dewey’s, virtually and literally. Not all of those family members have the same red blood running through their veins. Some of them have the blue blood of those who wear a shield, the brotherhood of the badge; a family nonetheless.

There are no words that I can offer that would tell what it was like for Emily to hear the call on their scanner of an officer down. She later stated in an interview that she knew immediately that it was Chris. I would not attempt to explain how that was for her. It isn't something that anyone could possibly understand or explain who has not experienced what she did. It takes someone very special to be a police spouse. Their role is a role like none others. They deal with and manage a life that most of us can try our best to comprehend, but if we have any real understanding...then what we understand the most, is that we can't truly realize what it's like if we haven't lived it. Every officer knows the risks. They all know what each day could bring and so do their families. That doesn't make it right that someone with evil in their heart can steal those minutes, hours, days, and months.

In the days that followed those shots being fired, miracles began to happen. Chris was alive. He was airlifted from the Mahnomen Hospital to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D. He spent a mere 5 days in intensive care and was then moved to acute care until March 5. From there he was sent to Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado for intense rehabilitative physical therapy. An already incredible story continued to be written with unbelievable progress.

The daily chronicles of the life Chris and Emily were forced into let their family and friends know the details of each day but also began to draw others. Each day brought more and more visitors from all across the country to his CaringBridge site. We learned that Chris likes Spaghetti-O's and they make Emily go "Ewwww". His unique humor and way of looking at life came through Emily's words. His MacGyver-esque tendencies were in full evidence when he began trying to devise a way to unlock the belt that kept him in his wheelchair because he was sure he was ready to walk on his own. His response to one of the staff members that told him he was funny was classic. “I’ll be here all week. Try the veal.” Through it all we "watched" him grow stronger day by day. I don't mean to make light of those days. They were filled with hard work, a dogged determination and the steadfast faith and loyalty of Emily standing at his side. Then it happened. The complications began.

Chris was only supposed to stay two months at Craig Hospital. But surgery to repair a leak in his sinus was required on March 31st at nearby Swedish Hospital. He began to recover well and returned to rehab at Craig. One week after his sinus surgery, he had emergency surgery to repair a "bleed" that had developed. Shortly thereafter, he had two status seizures, and another surgery to repair a CSF leak. On June 19th he had a VP shunt placed. This failed on the 27th and was fixed surgically, but then failed the next day, leading to another surgery on the 28th. On July 29th Chris had a second shunt placed, and that was functioning well. Among other complications, Chris has had sepsis and meningitis. There have been other issues and additional surgeries as well. After each one, we witnessed a profound strength and ever-growing, steadfast faith in the young wife at his side. No one could read their journal entries and not be inspired by this young woman who had been thrust into the unknown without a road map. It wasn't long before Chris was dubbed "Superman Deputy Dewey" after a shirt emblazoned with that was given to him during one of the visits to Colorado by Sheriff Krier and Deputy Peterson. It was the most apt title they could have possibly bestowed upon him because everyone was continually amazed to watch Chris courageously battle back after each one of those bumps in the road. As would be expected, with each procedure, each set-back, it seemed to become more and more difficult to work his way back to his previous levels of accomplishments. But he has never stopped working. He has never given up. He had at last begun talking again before the last surgery to place a new shunt. This one has once again proved to be another blow to his struggle to regain the progress he had made before. He has to date not found his voice again. But there's no doubt that he will. His is a determination seldom if ever witnessed before, most especially in one so young. The circumstances with which they have been forced to deal highlight a strength and belief in themselves, their family, and their God. Their faith has grown as the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months. Their journal became a place of inspiration for all who visited. There have been instances of those who weren't exactly "police-friendly" before but found themselves returning over and over again, in time finding a better understanding of what our officers do for us and a new-found respect for one of those men in specific and the law enforcement community as a whole. Others found their own faith being renewed and restored as they began a prayer chain that crisscrossed this country and circled the globe. The witnessing of the strong bond of their families, many of them putting their own lives and responsibilities on hold for days and weeks at a time to be in Colorado to offer their support, added another dimension to what "family" means.

And it continues today. Chris is still working and fighting. Emily is still loyal and faithfully at his side, working to be his advocate and make the best choices for him. The family is still standing strong around them. And no one has forgotten. His progress since the last surgery has been slow, but the grace of God, his own inner strength, and the power of prayer has brought him this far. He has a long way to go. His life was not taken that day, but the life he knew was taken away from him. They say, that when the Lord taketh away, he is not punishing us but merely making room and preparing us for much bigger and better things. There is a reason that Chris is still with us. God has a purpose for those two young people. None of us knows what that is. Maybe a part of it is what they have already given to those whose lives they have touched over the last year. That is not for us to know. It's not our place. Ours is to continue that prayer chain for strength, guidance, healing, and patience. Ours is to trust that there is a higher power that carries both Chris and Emily through these times. And ours is to continue to give them the support that they need and to never forget, never let others forget that "A Brother In Brown Is Never Down".

Written By: Peggy Milligan - Administrator of the Facebook Cause
~A Tribute To Those who Wear The Shield~
February 18, 2010

The Thin Blue Line - Heartbeat of the World

Listen. Can you hear it? A heartbeat…it sounds like a single one, doesn't it? It isn’t. If that heartbeat was the heartbeat of one man or one woman, someday it would stop beating. But, it's not a single heartbeat. It is many hearts beating as one. That steady rhythm continues, always constant and never-ending. It knows no borders. It spans oceans and crosses mountains and deserts. It circles the globe in every direction...all those hearts beating as one. If one stops, the others keep beating, steady and strong. All those hearts that beat as one may be burdened and often are. The eyes that go with them often see many things that most of us never have to see. The ears hear an overabundance of things that most of us never have to hear. The brains have to process and register things, often under dangerous and horrific conditions, that would make most of us run in fear or cower in terror. The ones who carry those hearts inside of them all too often find themselves amidst chaos, violence, and death. They face circumstances that wound those hearts to the point that they’re bleeding inside and nobody knows because we can’t see the blood. And then they have to put those things away because they must go on; the heartbeat must go on. Those hearts often break, but that heartbeat that is made of many keeps beating.

That heartbeat is the heartbeat of the thin blue line, the men and women who stand ready to protect us every day and never hesitate to lay down their lives for ours. That single heartbeat that is made up of many is a heartbeat as strong as the steely resolve of the men and women who form that line. It is a line that is constantly tested, even more so today in a time when violence against them is on the rise. There are those who try to break that line by acts of outright murder of its members. Others try to undermine its strength by standing in front of TV cameras and pounding on podiums with their fists as they shout in supposed dismay and outrage terms like 'brutality' and 'racism'. And, if that line were made up of lesser men and women, there are circumstances that would weaken it by things like massive cut-backs, lay-offs, and lack of proper equipment. But that line is not made up of lesser men and women. That line does not break, it is not undermined, and it does not weaken. It can't. If it ever broke, we would be hostages in our own homes, afraid to venture out into a world ruled by chaos, crime, thieves, child molesters, and murderers. It cannot break. It will not break. And those who stand in that line know that. The men and women who rise each day and don a shield won't let it break. Even at a time when the ranks that make up that line are thinned and stretched to the breaking point by either a lack of funds or government mismanagement, those who remain along that line will not allow it to break. It stands strong and it stands true, fortified by the strength of men and women who fight for what is right and what is good around the world. Sometimes they have to fight the very ones they're trying to protect, but they keep fighting and that heartbeat stays strong.

They are the thin blue line. They are brothers and sisters. Their hearts beat as one. They are the heartbeat of the world.

Written By: Peggy Gunn Milligan 
January 25, 2010

Drinking and Driving - We should adopt some of the penalties utilized in other countries

Drunk driving is the leading cause of death of young people ages 15-24. An alcohol related motor vehicle crash kills someone every 31 minutes and non-fatally injures someone every 2 minutes (NHTSA 2004)

On Friday and Saturday nights, 1 out of every 10 drivers are drunk.

Drunk driving is the #1 traffic safety problem across the nation.

There are more that 25,000 Americans that die yearly as a result of drunk driving.

Drugs other than alcohol (e.g.: marijuana and cocaine) are involved in about 18% of motor vehicle driver deaths. These other drugs are generally used in combination with alcohol. (NHTSA 1993)

Each year, alcohol-related crashes in the United States cost about $51 billion.

Drunk Driving Penalties

Let's consider the penalties of some of these countries to adopt here. Personally, I'm leaning towards the one for San Salvador & Bulgaria.

Australia: The names of the drunk drivers are sent to the local newspapers. It is printed under the heading "He's Drunk and in Jail."

Malaysia: The drunk driver is jailed. If he is married, his wife goes to jail with him.

South Africa: The drunk driver is given a 10 year sentence, a fine of $10,000 or both.

Norway: The penalty is 3 weeks in jail at hard labor and 1 year loss of license. The second offense within 5 years, the license is revoked.

England: 1 year supervision and a $250.00 fine and 1 year in jail.

France: 3 year loss of license, 1 year in jail and a $1,000.00 fine.

Poland: Jail, fine and enforced attendance at political lectures.

Finland & Sweden: Drunk drivers serve 1 year in jail.

Turkey: Drunk drivers have a long journey ahead of them. Police take them 20 miles from town and force them to walk back.

San Salvador & Bulgaria: The drunk driver is given another chance. He isn't executed until his second offense.

Courtesy of the Lebanon, Ohio PD @ City of Lebanon, Ohio, U.S.A.

And A Little Child Shall Lead Them

I guess at some time in our lives, we all reach the point where we must go through that rite of passage, that pivotal point that signifies once you take one more step you become the "older" generation. When you do, that moment in time is invariably characterized by looking at the members of generations to follow with a healthy dose of trepidation and some despair when you realize that these are the people who will take over for us. These are the boys and girls who will become the men and women who will walk our streets with shields and guns. They will occupy the halls and offices that comprise our political system. They will be our doctors, our nurses, our firemen, our police officers, our lawyers, our judges, our teachers....our leaders.


I know for a fact that the parents of those in my own generation shook their heads in dismay and alarm at the teenagers who were either swooning or trying to emulate the likes of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Elvis, the Beatles, and...yes, even The Monkees. But as I look around me today, we didn't do so badly. There are certainly things that we could have done better had we known then what we know now, but that is the way of life. It is true that hindsight is twenty-twenty. But all in all, not as bad as our parents surely suspected.

So now it's my turn and I look out at the world today and see the violence, the drugs, the apathy, and the nightly dose of kids killing kids and I'm sure that the dismay and alarm I feel are very much akin to that of our parents.

But...then along comes stories like the two here. You read things like this and you see the good that's out there, the children with caring hearts and open minds, and then you start to figure it out. In today's world, the media as a whole jumps on any story related to a police officer or even a politician that has the slightest hint of impropriety or the smallest of missteps and it becomes headline news for days on end with complete and utter destruction of the "offending" person's character, often without real proof. There are exceptions. There are specific stations that seem to make it a point to not slant stories for sensationalism and take care not to slander the parties involved with unfounded allegations. These are the same outlets that take care to tell just as many good stories as bad ones. KRTV is one such station.

So as I read these, it began to dawn on me that the sensationalistic approach of reporting is not limited to the stories surrounding law enforcement officers or politicians. It goes across the board. Yes there are kids killing kids. Yes, gangs and drugs are rampant in our society today. That's the "big news". But there is so much more. For every kid struggling and taking the wrong path, there are a lot more who aren't. There are a lot more who are like the ones in these articles. In understanding that, I came to peace with the fact that these kids will be our nation's leaders one day. We could all learn a lesson from them to say the least.

Will I still worry about them taking over? Well...maybe a little. Any parent who has ever handed the car keys to a teenager will understand why.

Please take the time to view these two stories. If they don't give you some level of optimism about the coming generations, maybe they will at least touch your heart a little.

Belt students work hard, go shopping to help other kids - KRTV
Foothills students donate to Great Falls Rescue Mission - KRTV
 
Written: December 17, 2009