News — back the blue

Shocked, Sad, Scared-all emotions that quickly went through our minds after hearing 2 officers were killed last Saturday night and that gut punch, heart sick feeling has continued throughout this week with 2 more officers being killed. 

Every time we hear that awful news it reminds us that another family will forever be changed...another department lost an officer...a city lost a protector.  It is inspiring to see the outreach after a police officer is killed in the line of duty, but it all boils down to the individuals and their willingness to sacrifice.   

Around 5:45 last Saturday Officer Christoper Brewster (above) responded to a domestic disturbance call in east Houston. A lady called because her boyfriend was assaulting her and he had weapons. A few minutes later Officer Brewster arrived and was fired upon as he exited his vehicle! He was hit multiple times and still drew his weapon and radioed in a description of the suspect to other officers. He showed up to help someone...got out of his car without his gun drawn likely hoping to diffuse the situation and because someone with a long criminal history didn’t want to be arrested he was shot and killed. His wife, parents, and sister will now be forever changed. Officer Brewster signed up to serve and protect the citizens of Houston and gave his life.

A few hours later in Arkansas a Fayetteville PD Officer - Officer Stephen Carr-was waiting in his patrol car for his partner and was shot execution style! The shooter had waited in an alley to kill this officer who, like Officer Brewster, had signed on for a life of service and sacrifice and paid dearly. The shooter was killed as other officers responded, chased down the suspect and engaged. This all happened right next to the city’s packed Christmas light event.  People thought the shooter was at the event and were hiding in restaurants or running away, but it was right next door. The most amazing thing is that no matter who is in danger first responders would have come...running toward the active shooter while the rest of us try to get away. 

That scenario is exactly was happened on Tuesday night.  Shooters opened fire on a Jewish deli.   Officers who were stationed only a block away responded immediately...heroically putting themselves in danger.  These two officers were both shot-one fatally-and two other officers were also shot throughout the incident.  Tuesday morning Detective Joe Seals said goodbye to his wife and 5 kids like all officers do at the beginning of a shift...expecting to come home at the end, but tragically he won't be coming home.  This decorated officer had removed hundreds of illegal guns from the streets, climbed through a fire escape to stop a sexual assault on a 41 year old woman and countless other acts of heroism serving the people of Jersey City.  His mom said he wanted to be a cop since he was young.  She said "He followed his dreams. He wanted to be a police officer. It was all he's ever wanted to do and he accomplished it.  Everyone loved him. He was a fair cop. He helped people."  But even more than a loved cop, he was a beloved husband and father...who did everything with his 5 kids.  Our hearts break for every family who has to go through what they are going through.  His kids now have to grow up without him.  

The sadness of this week doesn't end there...and officers didn't stop doing their jobs because their comrades had been killed in the line of duty.  Thursday night in Nassau Bay Texas officers at a traffic stop were arresting a man on a warrant for assaulting a family member.  The man fought the officers to get away, got back in his car and hit and killed veteran police officer Kaila Sullivan while he drove away.  She was celebrating 16 years as an officer with the small department this month and is remembered for being a natural leader, a wonderful mother to her son, and someone who will be sorely missed every day.  She'd conducted countless traffic stops, but every single call and every single stop is dangerous and could take a life.  

This week has shown that no matter where you live-big city or small town officers are putting their lives at risk to protect each of us.  We are so grateful-beyond what we can express-for those who literally put their lives on the line wearing the uniform. We will do whatever we can to let them know we see them and we appreciate them.  We see your families who can never fully relax while their Officer is on shift. We see you giving your best efforts despite the lack of support. We see the struggles you face because of calls you’ve responded to.   We will keep wearing our gear and delivering giveback shirts because that is what we can do and we will keep sharing your stories to remind others of the sacrifices being made every single day to keep our cities safe.

Rasheen McClain, a 16 year veteran cop with Detroit PD was killed last week when he and his partner entered a home responding to a domestic violence situation.  Officers knew the suspect was armed, but they made the conscious choice to enter the home.  

Mayor Mike Duggan said McClain "was an officer that everyone looked up to, was a natural leader in every situation. And, in fact in this case, first one in the door, first one down the stairs to confront an armed suspect.  His courage resulted in tragedy."

McClain and his partner responded to the call that an armed gunman had entered a home.  Once officers arrived the occupants came running out and told them the suspect was in the home with an armed rifle.  This same suspect (who had quite the long rap sheet and was paroled only months ago) had fired at the house only 2 weeks before after a fight with his girlfriend when a relative wouldn't let him enter.  Officers called for backup and once they arrived the 4 officers entered the home and cleared the upper levels with flashlights.  Can you imagine? Knowing there is an armed gunman somewhere in the home, but you don't know when or where you'll find him.  

As the officers went down the stairs to the basement, the gunman came out and shot twice - hitting McClain who was coming down the stairs first in the neck and his partner in the leg.  The other officers took cover and the gunman ran up the stairs past the officers he shot.  As he left the home the other officers shot at him and he was hit in the arm.  He was arrested a block away and taken to the hospital.

Tragedies like this keep happening, we keep losing officers who are doing good work protecting their cities and fellow officers.  Officer McClain was married and was the father of 2 stepchildren.  He will be greatly missed by his wife, stepkids, his family, his fellow officers, and all who knew him.  

His sergeant says he brought joy to his work...and integrity.  She recalls being pulled over by him and at first keeping her head down so he wouldn't recognize her. He said they'd pulled her over because her tags weren't on...and then proceeded to put them on for her just like he would have for any other citizen.  She said he will miss his jokes and dancing between the rush of calls.  

I can only imagine the situation and I am so grateful for people like Officer McClain who willingly put their safety aside to protect others. Who knowingly choose to enter situations like a dark house where a gunman is hiding. A place where everyone has run out, but now you are going in? I am grateful for all the spouses of police officers who know when their officer is headed out the door they may not come home, but they support them anyway.  They also choose the protection of their city and people they don't even know.  They are also heroes, they will carry the burden of his death the rest of their lives...long after the news has moved on.  

We wear our gear-especially the blue line shirt-to honor all of them-those serving, and those standing with our officers.  To let them know we see them and we appreciate them. 

 Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/21/us/detroit-police-shooting/index.html

https://www.wxyz.com/news/region/detroit/vigil-held-for-detroit-police-officer-rasheen-mcclain