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Captain Gary P. Jones
[retired]
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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"
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The attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda, on September 11, 2001, were the deadliest terrorist attacks in world history. These attacks killed about 500 more people than the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. That attack, which was an act of war, prompted the United States to enter World War II.
The 9/11 attacks caused the deaths of almost 3,000 people. Most of these innocent victims who perished were civilians and more than 90 countries lost citizens in these 9/11 attacks.
Included in the dead were
72 law enforcement officers
,
343 firefighters
and
55 military personnel
.
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Even today, eighteen long years after these horrific attacks, America's first responders, and civilians too, who helped out at ground zero after these brutal attacks, continue to suffer, and even die.
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The 200th New York City firefighter has now died from ailments stemming from working at the toxic World Trade Center site after the 9/11 attacks.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro stated,
"It is almost incomprehensible that after losing 343 members on September 11, we have now had 200 more FDNY members die due to World Trade Center illness."
"These heroes gave their lives bravely fighting to rescue and recover others. We will never forget them."
The law enforcement profession has also suffered greatly during the 18 years since the 9/11 attacks, and hundreds of our members have died due to the World Trade Center illness.
To date, 241 members of the NYPD have died because of 9/11 related illnesses. This is 10 times the number (23) of the officers originally killed during the 9/11 attacks.
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REMEMBERING AN AMERICAN HERO
Officer Moira Smith
New York Police Department (NYPD)
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Officer Moira Sm
it
h, a 13-year NYPD veteran,
was the first officer to report the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when she saw the first plane strike the first tower of the World Trade Center. Officer Smith, a brave and dedicated law enforcement professional, immediately ran into the towers and began assisting in the evacuation.
Officer Smith was last seen heading back into the South Tower to help evacuate more people. After the collapse of that tower there was a very brief radio transmission from a female officer who called for help. Later, it was determined that this female officer had been Moira Smith.
Officer Smith's remains were eventually recovered in March of 2002. Her shield and 13th Precinct collar brass were also recovered and are now on display in the 9/11 Museum, in New York City.
Officer Moira Smith was the only NYPD female officer to perish in the 9/11 attacks at ground zero. She was survived by her 2-year old daughter and her husband.
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REMEMBERING
FATHER MYCHAL JUDGE
New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
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Father Mychal Judge
was the Chaplain of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). When he learned that a plane had hit the World Trade Center he rushed to that site. He was met there by the mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani. Mayor Giuliani apparently asked him to pray for the city and its victims. Father Judge prayed over some bodies that were lying there in the street and then he entered the lobby of the World Trade Center North Tower.
At 9:59 a.m. the South Tower collapsed. Debris from the collapsed South Tower went flying through the North Tower lobby and many individuals there were killed, including Father Judge. At the moment when Father Judge was hit in the head and killed, he was reportedly praying out loud and asking Jesus to put an end to the horrific events that were happening.
Before Father Judge's body was taken to the medical examiner it was laid before the altar of St. Peter's Catholic Church. This church was near the World Trade Center site, and in fact, a portion of the landing gear from one of the planes struck and damaged the roof of the church during the 9/11 attacks.
Father Judge was
not
the first individual to die as a result of the 9/11 attacks. The passengers and crews of the first three planes and the occupants of the towers and the Pentagon all died before he did, but he was still designated as "Victim 0001" and recognized as the first official victim of the attacks. He became the first certified fatality because his was the first body to be recovered and then be taken to the medical examiner.
The medical examiner ruled that Father Judge died of "blunt force trauma to the head."
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IN MY OPINION
I have always tried my best to avoid talking about politics and/or politicians when doing this newsletter. This newsletter is about the law enforcement profession and the fine men and women who are part of it.
However, when someone, especially an experienced politician, who should know better, openly lies and/or slanders this profession that I love and admire, then I believe I need to speak up.
On August 9th, Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic 2020 Presidential hopeful, posted this untruthful and totally irresponsible tweet:
"5 years ago Michael Brown was murdered by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Michael was unarmed yet he was shot 6 times. I stand with activists and organizers who continue the fight for justice for Michael. We must confront systemic racism and police violence head on."
I have to admit, when I first heard of this tweet I was very mad, and disappointed, too. I was mad because Michael Brown was
not
murdered. He was shot and killed because he had resisted arrest, which included him trying to take Officer Darren Wilson's gun. The first time Brown was shot was when he struggled with the officer for control of the gun, while the officer was still seated in his patrol car. Many individuals in the neighborhood saw this altercation and testified that Michael Brown was the aggressor.
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Perhaps the biggest lie and/or false narrative that resulted from this tragic event in Ferguson was the untrue story that Brown had his hands up and was trying to surrender when he was shot by Officer Wilson. Sorry, but
this never happened!
This made-up version was proven false by the many different eye witnesses that saw what really happened AND by the physical evidence, too. Brown was fatally shot when he continued to resist arrest AND he charged at Officer Wilson in a threatening manner, which put the officer in fear for his life.
Officer Wilson's actions were thoroughly reviewed by both a Grand Jury and by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ report is 86 pages long, but it clearly states that Officer Wilson did not act either criminally, or improperly. In the report it states,
"
Given that Wilson’s account is corroborated by physical evidence and that his perception of a threat posed by Brown is corroborated by other eyewitnesses, to include aspects of the testimony of Witness 101, there is no credible evidence that Wilson willfully shot Brown as he was attempting to surrender or was otherwise not posing a threat."
So, Officer Wilson definitely did
not
murder the subject Brown and shame on Elizabeth Warren, and others (like Kamala Harris) who still claim that he did. I wonder if these individuals have even bothered to read the detailed and informative DOJ report. I doubt it!
I said that I was disappointed, too. I'm disappointed that someone like Elizabeth Warren, who is in a position of power, would be so lacking in common sense and sound decision-making. By this tweet she showed (me) that she does not back the law enforcement profession and I shudder to think what kind of Commander-in-Chief she would make, if she were to be elected President. In my opinion, her lack of good judgment alone should disqualify her from holding this high office.
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Police Suicides Continue
To Outnumber
Line-Of-Duty Deaths
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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.
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In my book I discuss suicide and the law enforcement profession.
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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.
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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.
I previously listed some good resources that first responders might find to be very helpful. I've had a few individuals ask me to list them again, so here they are:
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.).
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Safe Call Now
Safe Call Now is a 24-hour crisis referral service for those in public safety and their family members.
or call
206-459-3020
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First Responder Support Network
FRSN provides educational treatment programs for first responders and their families.
or call
415-721-9789
Serve & Protect
Serve & Protect helps connect public safety professionals with trauma services.
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.
CopLine
CopLine is a 24/7 service that will connect you to a peer support counselor.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Gary P. Jones, Captain [retired] | Jones313@aol.com | www.badge149.com
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