SURPRISE!!!
... v.t., to fall or come upon unawares; to capture by unexpected attack; to strike with
astonishment;
n., act of coming upon unawares; astonishment; unexpected event, piece of news,
gift, etc.
Surprise is often part of my life because of the nature of my primary mission...
that of Police Chaplain/Clergyman/Police Officer/Chaplain Director. Most of the
surprises I receive are enjoyable and I will dwell on those in the body of this
message.
First I will dwell upon unpleasant surprises that happened to others and not to me.
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PoliceOne.com, 05/21/05
P1 Special Report:
Officer's Fight For Life Yields 9 Crucial Survival Lessons
by PoliceOne Senior Contributor Chuck Remsberg
The 25-year-old gangbanger was a significant player in the life of Chicago P.D. Officer Candace Milovich-Fitzsimmons for less than two minutes. In that flicker of time she says he changed her approach to policing forever. He wanted to kill her, she believes, but instead he was the one who died ... Full Story (Secure - Login Required) (THIS IS A MUST READ. PLEASE GO TO THE SITE AND GAIN
THIS VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE... DRS.)
PoliceOne Safety Tip:
Don't Fall Prey to a Planned Attack (Secure - Login Required)
Submitted by Officer Mark Marchesi Parkside, PA PD When the subject drops an item,
such as his license or vehicle registration, I've seen some officers bend down and
pick the item up, leaving themselves open for attack by the subject. Don't allow
yourself to fall victim to a planed attack ... Full Story (go to website)
OFFICER DOWN
In Memoriam: Reserve Officer Joseph Pozell - 05/19/2005
Joseph Pozell - [Washington, District of Columbia]
South Caroline Patrolman Hit and Killed by Robbery Suspect - 05/18/2005
Jonathan W. Parker - [Sumter County, South Carolina]
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WATERBORNE@aol.com, Ret. Chief Bronson, USN and
Captain Mike Williams, Sector 3 Patrol Division Commander,
Chattanooga Police Department
South Carolina: Trooper dies as suspect rams car. http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/11664277.htm
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CALIBREPRESS, NEWSLINE, #750
Why We Are Cops
By Raimondo DeCunto
Street Survival Instructor
After the opening video of the Street Survival Seminar and the introduction of the first instructor,
seminar attendees are asked, "With a show of hands, how many have 20 plus years?" There is
always a small percentage that raises their hands. The instructor compliments the veteran law
enforcement officers -- the hardened warriors -- and the class applauds.
Then comes the next question, "How many rookies in the group?" Usually, there is a slight
pause while friends and partners pressure some to raise their hands as others are proud to
speak up, "I'm a rookie and damn glad to be here!" Once the rookies are located, they are
asked to stand as their peers acknowledge them, knowing inside as they watch the rookies,
"I remember that day."
The rookies are asked one by one, "Why did you become a cop?" The answer is unanimous,
it's textbook, "I want to help people." The entire class of law enforcement officers laughs at the
textbook answer, but is it? (GO TO WEBSITE FOR REST OF THE STORY)
Officers' brutal murders prove there's no such thing as a 'routine' traffic
stop
Routine.
The word should be added to law enforcement's list of unacceptable words and expressions,
right up there with those of the commonly-used but unsanctioned four-letter variety.
There's nothing routine about police work and the word certainly has no place in the vocabulary
of police public information officers or administrators who routinely feed stories to the media.
Street officers know there's nothing routine about a traffic stop, and the mainstream press should
be ashamed of itself for using the R-word to describe the final police action taken by two of
America's Finest last week. And the police officials who used the word to describe the ultimate
sacrifice of these officers should sign up today to attend the next Calibre Press Street Survival
Seminar.
Andy Taylor, a deputy sheriff in Llano County, Texas, was about to be married. His wedding day
was just weeks away and he was excited about starting a new life and raising a family in the same
small town where he was born and raised. Taylor had been on the job three years and was living
with his grandparents, taking care of them when he wasn't on duty at the sheriff's office or on call
with the fire department where he served as a volunteer firefighter.
On May 12th, his hometown closed down to attend his funeral at the junior high school. Hundreds
of people filled the gymnasium and spilled out into the street to pay tribute to a hero whose final act
was to pull over a car on a rural, blacktop road just before midnight on May 8th.
(GO TO WEBSITE FOR THE REST OF THE STORY)
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WASHINGTONPOST.COM, 05/16/05
Looking for Battle, Marines Find That Foes Have Fled
Hunt for Foreign Insurgents Proves Frustrating but Deadly
05/21/05
DHS Arrests 60 Illegals in Sensitive Jobs
By John Mintz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, May 21, 2005; Page A03
The Department of Homeland Security yesterday arrested 60 illegal immigrants
who worked at 12 critical infrastructure sites in six states, including seven
petrochemical refineries, three electric power plants and a pipeline facility.
There is no evidence that any of the workers -- who come from Mexico, Honduras
and Guatemala -- have any terrorist ties, said officials with the DHS Immigration
and Customs Enforcement agency.
But officials said there is reason to be concerned about their presence at those
sites nonetheless. (GO TO WEBSITE FOR REST OF THE STORY)
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VIRGINIAN-PILOT, NORFOLK, VA, 05/21/05
IRAQ, WEEK MAY 14-20
U.S. TROOPS KILLED - 16
U.S. TROOPS WOUNDED - 166
U.S. TROOPS KILLED SINCE 03/03 - 1630
U.S. TROOPS WOUNDED SINCE 03/03 -12, 516
Fathers, sons relate over common war ground
Returning soldiers bond with dads who served in Vietnam
By Elizabeth Dunbar, Associated Press
Minneapolis - When John Krook came home from Iraq, he had to contend with a
struggling marriage at the same time he was haunted by memories of people
dying in a war zone.
To make it through, Krook turned to his father, Allen, who had gone through the
same thing more than 35 years ago after serving in Army Intelligence in Vietnam.
many soldiers returning home from Iraq are finding common ground with their
fathers who served in Vietnam, say veterans officials and psychologists who work
with returning soldiers. That shared experience is helping them adjust to life after the
war. (SEE WEBSITE OR NEWSPAPER FOR AN EXTENSIVE STORY)
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NOW IN RELATION TO SURPRISE...
Surprise... an unexpected event. Most Peace Keepers who die in the line of duty
are come upon by... or they come upon... an unexpected event (or person) and in
either case not prepared for that event or have NO time to prepare. Officers have
been killed sitting in their cars... approaching the address of a call... approached
from behind by an unseen assailant... by the victim of a domestic assault while
officers are trying to bring the one who did the assault under control and are not
watching the victim... and other less prevalent scenarios.
Soldiers are killed by danger they did not recognize or which caught them
unawares. Enemies are like the original deceiver... they are very deceitful. This
past week's news reported that one person who was a bomber in Iraq was
dressed as a Police Lieutenant... some are women in native clothes... some are
children who have been convinced to do these horrible acts... even an ambulance
was recently used a mobile bomb. Evil is always deceitful, trying to hide behind or
within something that looks like truth or is benign... not appearing to be dangerous.
These, and many, many more, are the bad surprises facing our Peace Keepers
every moment of every day... somewhere in a battle zone... or in homeland
security. Pray faithfully for those who are in the profession of peace keeping that
they have all resources necessary to be successful and survive to return home.
Because Peace Keepers are in a military or para-military chain of command we
also receive surprises from the ranks above us that are not understandable and
take us unawares... but with which we must cope as best we are able. Some of
these will be pleasant (and most of us have learned that these are rare)...
far more will require more effort than usual... some will even be very unpleasant,
stressful and difficult to handle and assimilate... BUT AS PEACE KEEPERS WE
HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES TO DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT
WE HAVE WHERE WE ARE AND LEAVING THE REST TO WHOMEVER IS
RESPONSIBLE!
NOW I WANT TO SHARE SOME GOOD SURPRISES...
An older brother arrives home unexpectedly from Iraq on the very day his younger
brother celebrates his eighteenth birthday... happened here this week...
GOOD SURPRISE.
A close friend, Peace Keeper, of a woman whose brother has just died, arrives
home unexpectedly on the very day of the brother's death and is there to support
her through the difficult time before he returns to Afghanistan... GOOD SURPRISE.
Rain and/or cold weather for the season, two Fridays in a row... (NO I do not
usually pray for this). This kind of weather allows me to stay home and not have to
work walking beats. The need for our presence is not there and we (chaplains)
are excused from duty... GOOD SURPRISE.
As a way to combat stress and do something in my life that is totally unrelated to
my profession, I repair and restore toy trains. Many times I have been stumped
by some defect that defied reason and mechanical and electrical principles. In
these instances I have prayed for help and inspiration... and over the span of many
years I can truthfully said that only one waits to be resolved and it is still sitting on my
work bench awaiting revelation and inspiration... This also works in relation to a lot
of other things in my life when I have a need to know something which I do not
know by intelligence or sense knowledge... GOOD SURPRISES.
A fellow chaplain who went on special duty that I can no longer fill returned with a
gift for me. He had been wearing a special bar on his uniform and I had asked
about it's source. When he returned from the special duty he brought one of these
bars memorializing the Police Unity Tour to me as a gift... GOOD SURPRISE.
The Sergeant who heads the Unity Tour here had also made a gift to me of a pin
with the U.S. flag and the Unity Tour flag both represented... GOOD SURPRISE.
Some parishioners want to buy a pair of duty boots for me for my birthday...
GOOD SURPRISE.
Just a few weeks ago the Chaplain Program received special recognition and a
plaque from the Crime Prevention Steering Committee for our contribution to the
deterring of crime in our city... GOOD SURPRISE.
On June 1, at a Department Ceremony, I will be awarded a Medal of Merit for my
service in the Virginia Beach Police Chaplain Program and the Virginia Beach
Auxiliary Police for the past 28 1/2 years... VERY GOOD SURPRISE.
I had the very good fortune several years ago to purchase a weapon that was
no longer useful to the unit which owned it. A while back I saw a tactical weapon
that a friend, Frank Borelli, illustrated in one of his weapons reviews. I asked
about the sources of the items on the weapon and followed up with another
friend who collects weapons. The second friend agreed to repair and rebuild the
old weapon into a copy of the one Frank had reviewed. It was delivered this past
Thursday... It far exceeded my expectations... the results were astounding...
AND THE FRIEND WHO REBUILT IT FOR ME DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR HIS
LABOR THAT WENT INTO THE WORK... AND OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A LABOR
OF LOVE FOR BOTH THE WEAPON AND FOR ME...
VERY, VERY GOOD SURPRISE!!!
Recently several of my parishioners got together to do some baking... late in the
evening they called to say they were on the way to deliver freshly baked cookies
to me and I talked with the child who was so excited about bringing them to me
on the cel phone while they were on the way. These people surprise me
occasionally with delivering a complete meal to my home when they know I am
especially busy. Some other parishioners occasionally take me out for one of my
favorite meals after church... An adopted daughter calls frequently to take me to
dinner just to get me away from everything. Another person gives a very good
useful car to my disabled, terminally ill daughter because hers broke and she really
needed another more useful, dependable, easier to drive car and I could not afford
to buy her one... MORE VERY, VERY GOOD SURPRISES!!!
To top it all off... this morning one of my students knocked on my door... early
because my schedule is so unpredictable... and handed to me a plate of
cheese danish for me and my pets for a breakfast treat... ANOTHER VERY,
VERY GOOD SURPRISE!
Numerous times, every day, I receive e-mail messages from caring friends, near...
and far away that are amusing, uplifting, informative and useful... THESE ARE
LOVING SURPRISES RECEIVED WITH GREAT JOY AND I DEEPLY
APPRECIATE THEM... MORE VERY, VERY GOOD SURPRISES!!!
Why did I share all this with you? It is to show how faithful friends and my
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF can be a source of care, concern, provision, knowledge,
peace, boosting energy, blessing and inspiration no matter the circumstances in
which we live and with which we are often overly occupied. Sometimes the source
is an inspired stranger. Sometimes the source is unexplainable from our point of
view. I share this as a way to encourage you to follow my injunction at the end of
each message for you to not avoid your spiritual welfare but to take the greatest
care of that part of you for you have great need of it to function well. I am simply
saying again, "DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, WHERE YOU
ARE... AND LEAVE THE REST TO GOD OR WHOMEVER ELSE IS
RESPONSIBLE." Make sure it is your best... AND HE WILL SEE TO THE REST
WHETHER HE DOES IT DIRECTLY OR GIVES SOMEONE ELSE THE
INSPIRATION AND BLESSING TO DO IT FOR YOU SO THAT THEY MAY
SHARE IN THE BLESSING ALSO.
"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!" BE ALERT... WATCHFUL... SUSPICIOUS... AND
WARY. DO NOT LET YOUR GUARD DOWN!!! TAKE THE BEST OF CARE OF
ALL THE FACETS AND FACULTIES THAT ARE YOURS AND YOU WILL BE
SUCCESSFUL... AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT NEGLECT THE SPIRITUAL
ASPECT OF YOU... YOU NEED THAT ONE AS MUCH OR MORE THAN YOU
NEED SOME OTHER THINGS IN ORDER TO LIVE.
One more thing... IF YOU ARE STRESSED OR OVERLOADED... FIND
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE TO TALK WITH... SOME ONE
WHO WILL LISTEN... SOMEONE WITH WHOM TO SHARE BURDENS,
QUESTIONS, FRUSTRATIONS, ETC. A YOUNG MAN CALLED ME
YESTERDAY WITH A LOAD OF FRUSTRATION AND DISCOURAGEMENT.
AT THE END OF THE CONVERSATION HE WAS ENCOURAGED AND
ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THINGS HE COULD DO THAT I SHARED WITH HIM...
AND ALL IT TOOK WAS A FEW MINUTES OF LISTENING AND SHARING.
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HEART BEHIND THE BADGE...
The heart behind the badge you sometimes cannot see,
Hidden beneath the surface, comfort to only me.
I am sworn to serve and protect but obstacles get in the way.
The heart behind the badge gives me courage to face the day.
Talking to an innocent child, chasing a criminal down the road,
The heart behind the badge carries stories that go untold.
The heart WILL ALWAYS BE the passion for the job at hand,
No matter how unpleasant the task, it is my COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF shining through me, He's the one who is in command.
Compassion to deal with victims, a strength to combat crime,
The heart behind the badge is there for me each time.
A spouse or significant other, a family to come home to...
The heart behind the badge, what does it mean to you?
(author unknown) (ALTERED BY DRS)
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41 DAYS AND COUNTING! I PARTICIPATED IN A DEPARTMENT RETIREMENT
CEREMONY LAST FRIDAY AND SAW SEVERAL DEAR FRIENDS RECEIVE
THEIR RETIREMENT CREDENTIALS... MORE AWARENESS THAT MINE IS ALL
TOO CLOSE.
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AS IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN... SO IT STILL IS...
"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN." Sun tzu
ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
Chaplain D. R. Staton (Don - C1) VBPD, VSP ALUMNI,
Officer, Instructor, Senior Chaplain, Director of Chaplains
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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Copyright: CHAPLAIN CORNER (DRS) 2005. All rights reserved. May not be
duplicated without permission, except to be forwarded with copyright and
all source information for any quotation intact.
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