Letter From the Editor - November/December 2024

As this final issue of OFFICER Magazine this year is being released just shy of two weeks before Christmas, one might expect the Letter From the Editor to be all about the season, holidays, family, being away from your family on holidays, etc. It might sound silly (or ironic?) but you might even expect some advice on where to spend the quiet hours, if you work in a jurisdiction when holidays ARE actually quiet, like the local firehouse. (Yes, those firefighters can cook, and they will feed you, but you’ll have to put up with some jokes about who is the real hero to earn that plate of food.)

Yes, I want you to think about all that. I want you to consider the past year and what’s changed, or hasn’t, and how you’ll spend which off hours with whom Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I celebrate Christian holidays and apologize to all those I unintentionally leave out by not mentioning your holidays… but I feel like all the same outlooks apply. The sacrifices we all make to keep our communities safe and peaceful during any holiday is a gift we give that often isn’t acknowledged. Acknowledge it for yourself and find the time/place to celebrate when you can. That said, when the call for service goes out, don’t be mentally relaxed or slack off on your officer survival management skills. Stay alert. Stay alive.

Now let’s talk about another type of season: the seasons of your career.  Since I fully retired just over two years ago, I discovered something completely unexpected: I miss it. No, I don’t miss working the holidays (although my local firehouse was always a great place to get an overflowing plate of deliciousness on any given holiday). No, I didn’t like being away from my family, most especially on Christmas morning, when I was going to miss seeing the light in my children’s eyes as they delightfully tore open packages and dumped out the stockings Santa had filled. But I do miss being a public servant. I miss driving around on Christmas afternoon, waving at parents as they built snowmen with their kids, or holding a ladder for someone as they hung up some new (or late) decorations. I miss meeting with my brother and sister officers/deputies as we chatted, maybe exchanged a small gift or two, told stories about our families and what we’d be doing when we got off shift. I miss the feeling of the occasional Christmas miracle when something unexpected but very wanted happened.

Think about that no matter where you are in your career. Every rank works holidays. Road cops, supervisors, command staff… we all have done it. We all have complained about it. We all will someday miss it. Enjoy this holiday as much as you can, even if you do have to work. Make the most of it. Trust me when I tell you… you’re gonna miss this.