BADGE 149 NEWSLETTER
JULY 2019
Captain Gary P. Jones [retired]
FORT LAUDERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
1967 - 1993

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE , DIVISION OF INSURANCE FRAUD
1993 - 2003

Author of:
Badge 149 - "Shots Fired!"
and
"Saints, Sinners, Survivors"





IN MY OPINION
When former ICE Director Thomas Homan testified before the House Oversight Committee on Friday (July 12th), he made some very true and bold statements. I believe he should be congratulated for having the determination and the courage to speak up and say what is the truth.

He said that if they (the members of Congress) don't like the laws that ICE is enforcing then they should "...do your job. Fix it."

Director Homan also stated, "A s a 34-year veteran of law enforcement, it is shocking, shocking to see constant attacks against those that leave the safety and security of their homes every day, put on a Kevlar vest and put a gun on their hip and risk their own safety to defend this nation."

"Th ose that attack the professional integrity of those that serve and blatantly throw unsubstantiated allegations against these men and women with zero evidence of guilt are wrong and should be ashamed."

Director Homan also blasted them for what he called " political grandstanding."

"Don't blame the men and women wearing the uniform doing the best they can, it's outrageous," he said. "This is political theater at its best."
I would like to say "Thank you!" to all of our brave and dedicated men and women who work in ICE, the Border Patrol and the entire Department of Homeland Security.

Your efforts are indeed recognized and appreciated!
In one of my previous Newsletters I mentioned that I am a proud member of the Southeastern Writers Association.
I also mentioned that, for the first time, I would be sponsoring a "True Crime" writing contest. Although called the "True Crime Award," works of fiction were also accepted. Yes, I know this is a bit confusing.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dana Ridenour (Endorf) for finishing in 1st Place. Her entry a "Well Loved Man" was excellent and I really did enjoy reading it. Dana, Congratulations!


Dana Ridenour is a retired Special Agent with the FBI, and now an award-winning author. During her twenty-year career she was assigned to four different FBI Field Divisions and had the opportunity to work a wide variety of cases to include multi-faceted narcotics investi- gations, domestic sex trafficking of minors, and violent crime. She spent most of her career as an FBI undercover operative.

Dana’s first novel, Behind the Mask , won numerous literary awards and was named one of the Best Indie Books of 2016. Her second novel, Beyond The Cabin received the 2018 Royal Palm Literary Award for Best Thriller or Suspense Novel. Ridenour's latest book, Below The Radar is scheduled for release in August 2019. 


For Third Straight Year,
Police Suicides Outnumber
Line-Of-Duty Deaths

It is a fact that suicides involving retired military personnel, and law enforcement professionals, occur at a much higher rate than that of the general population.
2nd book
In my book I discuss suicide and the law enforcement profession.
2nd book
In my book I described my volunteer work with my local 2-1-1 crisis hotline, which also handled the Suicide Prevention Lifeline calls for the Tallahassee area. If you would like to help and make a difference you might want to volunteer with your local 2-1-1.
The 2-1-1 crisis hotlines, and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, are both wonderful resources for the average American to use. But, there are other resources that are intended for only first responders and/or their families. Here are some of the good ones I was able to find:

1st Help
1st Help matches first responders with appropriate services based on a brief questionnaire, which determines what specific assistance you need (emotional, financial, religious, etc.).
CONTACT:  www.1sthelp.net/

Safe Call Now
Safe Call Now is a 24-hour crisis referral service for those in public safety and their family members.
CONTACT:  www.safecallnow.org/  
or call 206-459-3020

First Responder Support Network
FRSN provides educational treatment programs for first responders and their families.
CONTACT:  www.frsn.org/  
or call 415-721-9789

Serve and Protect
Serve & Protect helps connect public safety professionals with trauma services.
CONTACT:  www. serveprotect.org/  
or call 615-373-8000 for the crisis line.

Cops Alive
Cops Alive provides resources and strategies to help cops live happy and successful lives.
CONTACT:  www.copsalive.com/

CopLine
CopLine is a 24/7 service that will connect you to a peer support counselor.
CONTACT:  www.copline.org/  
or call 800-267-5463

Treatment Placement Specialists
This program offers treatment guidance based on the individual needs of officers.
or call 877-540-3935

VALOR
The Valor Officer Safety and Wellness program is a Bureau of Justice Assistance funded initiative that provides a ton of resources and online training focused on improving officer health and resilience.
On July 22nd my lovely wife Pat and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary.

Pat is an amazing woman and a wonderful human being too. She had to be to have had to been able to tolerate me and my many different mood all these years.
I know that I have been truly blessed to have had her as my partner these past 50 years. She is, without question, the best thing that ever happened to me.

 If you have already purchased one of my two books, thank you! If you enjoyed the book(s) I would ask you to consider writing a short review of the book, either on Amazon or at my publisher's online bookstore. My publisher's online bookstore is at:
www.buybooksontheweb.com
(You can also just click on the "Book Review" Logo above)

Go to the "True Crime" section to read the book reviews already there, or to make a new one.


A link has been added to my web site so you can go back and read all of my Newsletters that I have sent out.



Book signing in Michigan
This is a picture of me doing a book signing in Alpena, Michigan at the 7th Annual Deputy Ryan Seguin Memorial Golf Scramble , in September of 2013.

thankyou_charity_box_hdr.jpg
Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired] | Jones313@aol.com | www.badge149.com