BADGE 149 NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2018

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"

REMEMBERING 9/11

On September 11, 2001,  2,996 people were  killed  in the  terrorist attacks  at the World Trade Center in NYC, the Pentagon building in Virginia, and in a plane crash in Pennsylvania.

343 New York City firefighters died that day. 72 law enforcement officers died, too.

Those 72 law enforcement officers included: * 23 members of the New York Police Department (NYPD). * 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD). * 5 members of the New York State Office of Tax Enforcement (OTE). * 3 officers of the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). * 1 member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). * 1 member of the United States Secret Service (USSS). * There was also 1 fire marshal of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and because he had sworn law enforcement powers he was also listed among the 343 FDNY members who were killed. When passengers apparently attempted to re-take control of a third hijacked plane it crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania. 1 law enforcement officer, who was a passenger on that plane, was killed in that crash. When a fourth hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon almost 200 military and civilian personnel were killed. No law enforcement officers were killed at the Pentagon. ______________________________________ After that first hijacked plane hit the World Trade Center's North Tower hundreds of New York City's finest rushed in to aid victims and lead them to safety. This included law enforcement officers, fire and EMS personnel, and many others, too. We'll never know for sure, of course, but it has been estimated that over 25,000 lives were saved by the heroic actions of these brave men and women, many of who eventually perished themselves.

In last month's newsletter (August 2018) I mentioned the final report from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), reference the Mass Casualty Shooting on October 1, 2017. During this brutal attack  58 people were murdered and  more than 850 others were injured. LVMPD Police Officer Charleston Hartfield was one of those 58 people who were slain. He was off-duty and attending the music festival with his wife, Veronica. Officer Hartfield apparently sprang into action, as he had been trained to do, and he reportedly died while trying to protect others from the shots being fired. Officer Hartfield joined LVMPD in January of 2006, but he was also a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran. He joined the Army in July of 2000 and he eventually became a paratrooper with the famed 82nd Airborne Division . In 2003 he went to Iraq as part of the 82nd Division's 2nd Brigade Combat Team . Hartfield was the recipient of two Army Commendation Medals and five Achievement Medals. He also achieved the rank of sergeant first class. In January of 2014 he transferred to the Nevada National Guard . He was still serving with the Guard when he was killed in October, 2017. All total he had accumulated 17 years of military service. Brig. Gen. Zachary Dozier, of the Nevada National Guard , said this about Hartfield. "He epitomizes everything good about being an American, a soldier, a police officer and a father. His loss is devastating." Gen. Dozier also granted Hartfield a posthumous promotion to first sergeant. The funeral was conducted by both the military and the LVMPD and more than 3,000 people filled the church. About a year before he died Officer Hartfield created a computer file titled "Charleston Hartfield Memorial Service." In it, he told his wife, "Veronica, if you're reading this, I've been called home. Please do not allow anyone to wear black; black is totally depressing." In the computer file he also stated, "I would like everyone to enjoy themselves. And remember me for who I was." Officer Hartfield even wrote a book entitled, "Memoirs of a Public Servant." It was published in July of 2017, several months before he was killed. I read many of the book reviews that were done by people who bought the book. One in particular struck me, and the reviewer wrote, "This everyday hero made it through Iraq and the streets of Las Vegas only to die by a coward from 32 floors up. That alone drew me to want to read his memoir." I couldn't agree more, and I've also purchased a copy of the book, too. I want to read about this exceptional individual who served his country in both war, and in peace. Officer Hartfield is survived by his wife Veronica and two children, 15-year old Ayzayah and 9-year old Savannah.

One final note: By telling Officer Hartfield's story it is not my intention to minimize the deaths of the other 57 individuals who were murdered, or the many others who suffered wounds, too. All of these people were important and each has their own story to tell, but because this newsletter is primarily about law enforcement professionals and/or issues, I felt it appropriate to focus on Officer Charleston Hartfield. He was an outstanding human being and he will be missed.

October 13, 2018

Congratulations to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund ! After years of planning, and now construction, the new National Law Enforcement Museum will have its grand opening this coming October 13, 2018. 

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. In my book I discuss suicide and the law enforcement profession.

In my book I also 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.

QUOTES WORTH REMEMBERING

“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”  George Orwell (English author and Journalist) Note: Some scholars question whether or nor Orwell really originated this famous quote

I started doing these Badge 149 Newsletters in January, but not everyone began receiving them right away. I've added new people to my e-mail list each month, so some of you may have missed one, two or more of my first few Newsletters. A link has now been added to my web site so you can go back and read all of my original Newsletters that I have mailed out. So far, and including this one in September, there have been seven (7).

Click to visit my website

 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. 

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