“Watchman, What of the Night” by Elder Boyd K. Packer

Honoring Those Who Uphold the Rule of Law

Utah Peace officer Association Fallen Officer Memorial

Utah State Capitol Rotunda

President Boyd K. Packer

President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

6 May 2004

“Watchman, What of the Night”

            The title for an address is the last thing written.  This one time, however, it came first: “Watchman, what of the night?” taken from the writing of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament.

            In the early days watchmen announced the hour of the day, sometimes adding, “All is well.”  Once, with the day far spent, came the cry, “Watchman, what of the night? … what of the night?”  (Isaiah 21:11).

            Can you imagine the dusk settling over the state of Utah – followed, as it always is, by darkness over counties, town, and homes – without peace officers present?  Imagine darkness falling without police, sheriffs, troopers, marshals, deputies, dispatchers, security officers.  Be very thankful we only imagine this.

            We meet to honor those peace officers who have given their lives to protect us.

            Utah has a foundation upon which public safety and law enforcement were built.  The first settlers carried with them a declaration of belief about peace and protection.  It was written in Kirtland, Ohio, in 1835.  It was carried with them when they were driven from Missouri and Nauvoo and then across the plains into this valley.

            This document, was written nearly 170 years ago, became Utah’s pattern of government for law and public safety.

            I will quote from this little-known declaration and interpret it in a few places to remind us of our responsibility to support the men and women who watch over us both day and night.

            Each paragraph begins “We believe.”

            “We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society: (Doctrine and Covenants 134:1).

            Notice the words good and laws and safety.

            “We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:2).

            Did you note protection of life and property? That is what our peace officer do.

            “We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:3; emphasis added).

            I repeat, “…Should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people.  Every citizen has a responsibility.  Who would dare disparage our peace officers or tarnish their image?

            “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such government; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as . . . are best calculated to secure the public interest.” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:5; emphasis added).

            Notice the word protected is used twice, with laws and to secure public interest.

            “We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates. …” (And we should add here: “peace officer, detectives, patrolmen, chiefs, constables, investigators, traffic officers, vice officers.”  All of them are to be “honored in (their) station.”)

            To continue quoting: “…(They) being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men show respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony would be supplanted by anarchy and terror.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:6).    

            Theodore Roosevelt said; “No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we require him to obey it.  Obedience to the law is demanded as a right; not asked as a favor.”  (Congressional Record, December 7 1903).

            Again from this declaration;  “We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft and the breach of the general peace, in all respect, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility  all men should step forward and use the ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:8; emphasis added).

            That means you and me and everybody else.

            “We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons.”  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:11).    

            Those beliefs, written nearly 170 years ago, were and are the foundation of our government and public safety.

            We expect a lot from our peace officers.  They are to protect us by force of arms, if necessary.  We expect them, as well, to save lives, act as paramedics, stop bleeding or start breathing, deliver babies, be counselors, settle domestic disputes, move obstacles from roadways, find lost children, rescue hikers and skiers, be calm and wise and be brave, even inspired beyond normal human expectations.

            All of these things are expected as well, of our firefighters, who are frequently in danger.

            Our officers are sent out to associate with the worst, the very dredges, the brutal, the demented, and the dangerous in our society.

            When there is an accident or injury, we depend on them to help.

            If we leave our peace offices or our firefighters with less than the best in transportation, communication, and equipment, we endanger ourselves.  Our police officers must be well equipped.

            I once served on a city council with the responsibility for budgeting.  I learned that there are many agencies clamoring for their part, always a greater part, of the budget.  There is never quite enough to go around.

            If we do not provide our public safety officers adequate support and training facilities, jails to hold offenders, and everything else necessary for the, the costs will cycle back to us in the destruction of life and property and in the loss of jails and rehabilitation of offenders.  Then all of the social ills increase rapidly.  We need judges who will treat fairly our officers and will respect them.

            Do not forget the sacrifice of their families.  Our officers must provide food, clothing, shelter, and education for their families.  They deserve comforts and conveniences for their own homes.  They deserve adequate salaries, generous benefits, and a retirement worthy of what they gave during their service.

            If you as a public official are thinking about cutting the budget for public safety, be very very careful indeed.

            Two experiences and lessons I have learned:

            Some years ago I receive a call from a highway patrolman whose first question was, “Do you own a green station wagon?”  I did.  He said, “There has been an accident, and your son wants to talk to you.”

            My first question to my son was, “Are you hurt?”

            He said, “Not seriously.”

            I am not sure I asked about damage to the car.  I think I did not.  I said, “We’ll be there as soon as possible.”  I then said, “Let me talk to the patrolman.  I want to thank him.”

            I thanked him for the care he was giving to our son.  To my surprise, he thanked me and said, “The first thing your son said to me was “I want to talk to my dad.”  The officer added,  “You don’t find much of that.  Ours is not always an easy job – often thankless.”  There was a lesson for me in that.

            Another lesson:  Some years ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil, we were returning late from a social in a very heavy traffic.  As we went around a traffic circle, a truck came from the right and crashed into the back door of our car.  We were quite shaken up.  The car was inoperative.  I was a bit dazed.

            I noticed a car stop, and six very rough-looking men ran toward us.  I thought, “We are going to be wrecked and robbed in the same night!”  But that did not happen.

            One of them stopped traffic, and the others, by brute force, moved our car out of the traffic lane to safety.  These though-looking men then jumped in their car, waved, and drove away.  They did not look like members of the “Sao Paulo Support Your Sheriff Society.” But they exemplified what all of us should do.

            If we have no police force, or if they are not well trained and equipped or not sustained or respected, we will live in constant fear for ourselves, our families, and our property.

            To appreciate what these men and women do, in your mind suspend them so they cannot operate.  You will soon gain a respect for them.  No society can prosper, or even survive, without law enforcement – police and firefighters.

            Today we honor Rodney Badger – pioneer and deputy sheriff of Salt Lake County.  He had been a captain in the Nauvoo Legion and was the first Utah law officer to lose his life in the line of duty.

            In 1853 he was sent by Brigham Young to aid immigrants fording the Weber River – an ice-cold, raging torrent.  A California family tried to cross in a light wagon but were swept away.  Deputy Badger managed to save four of the children and mother before he disappeared from sight.  He was 30 years old and left his wife and five young children.

            Today the name of Deputy Jeremiah K. Johnson of Emery County is added to the roll of honor.  He was returning to check out after a 12-hour patrol in the town of Green River.  His car crossed the median and was stuck by a semi-trailer truck.  He, too, was 30 years old and left behind a wife and three young children.

            It is in our interest that we honor them and honor their families.

            From the first peace officer who died in the line of duty 151 years ago, to the last name we add to the roll of honor today, there have been 112 officers who have lost their lives. That is a remarkable record and a tribute to the ability and dedication of our peace officers.  We do not want to lose a single one of them but the price for peace and safety must be paid.  We honor their families who carry this burden.

            The danger they face is not the whole of it.  There is the search and rescue, sometimes reward with unspeakable joy and sometimes with grief and disappointment.  The terrible, sometimes revolting things they must deal with at crimes scenes or at the scenes of accidents are not easy to get out of their minds.  There is the blood and grief and the pain and tragedy, sometimes involving little children.  They spare us from all of that.

            Now back to where we began to the question. “Watchman, what of the night?  … what of the night?”  (Isaiah 21:11).

            I speak now of another kind of darkness that settles about us, a darkness not caused by the rotation of the earth but one that is invisible to the eye.  Evidences of it can found in every newspaper, every day.  It is the darkness that comes into the minds of men and fosters complicity, wickedness, and crime – sometimes unspeakable and brutal.

            That statement of belief we read requires that every man and every woman who serves us should be “honored in their station”  (Doctrine and Covenants 134:6) and should be adequately trained and equipped and supported.  When they are as they should be, the darkness of either kind will hold little danger for our homes and our families.

            I close with an alert – a warning.  That invisible kind of darkness settles every more heavily.  The word terror, not used much in the past, is now an unwelcome presence.

            We cannot leave our peace officers unrewarded or weakened or disregarded or dishonored.  They and their families deserve our support and encouragement and respect and our appreciation.  I invoke the blessings of the Lord upon them in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Thoughts on Syrian Refugees, Good & Evil, and Why We Do What We Do...

Watch this video before reading the rest of this post:


It seems like every week there is some new controversial issue sweeping around the world.  People are ripping each-others throats out in social media and continually bickering back and forth.  In the latest controversy regarding allowing Syrian refugees into the United States, I am somewhat hesitant to welcome them with open arms.

I follow a blog called The Havok Journal and posted the following quote to Facebook a few days ago:

"I don’t want them here because I am tired of watching the people of the ‘religion of peace’ run to countries they ostensibly hate when they need help because they refuse to stand up for themselves."

That pretty much summed up my initial reaction and thoughts to the entire issue.  I had seen the above video a few years ago and found it very touching.  In the midst of this refugee controversy I went back and watched it again today.

I have a hard time watching this video and then saying that I don't want this girl and her family to come to America.  In fact, I can't say that at all.

I realized that my biggest issue surrounding Syrian refugees isn't the refugees, but my lack of trust and faith in the leadership of America.  I believe Obama is a sham and a disgrace to America - and I cannot trust him or his administration to determine if the people they are letting in are coming in the name of peace or jihad.

This led me to think a little deeper.  Refugees are the "what" and we are all wondering "what" we should do with them and "what" we can do to help them.  But what we should be asking ourselves is "why".  Why are there refugees in the first place?

These people are refugees because there is a group of people in the Middle East who are slaughtering everyone that does not believe they way they do and attempting to create a country based upon those beliefs.  They are evil and they are "why" refugees exist.  They are the people who would shoot your 12 year old daughter in the back because you don't go to the same church that they do.  I have a daughter around the same age as this girl and watching this video tugs at my heart and makes me want to do a little shooting myself...

So why don't we focus on the "why" and deal with the "why"?  I'm not so idealistic and naive as to believe the world can be entirely rid of evil, but why should we tolerate it?  The common and simple answer to that question is that America should not become the world police.  People should stand up for themselves and deal with evil in their own country.  We shouldn't send our young men and women over there to risk their lives.  I feel this way a lot of the time, but I'm finding this belief is beginning to change.

I could ask the same question.  Why should I police the county where I work?  I'm fully capable of defending my home and family.  I was an urban combat instructor in the military.  If someone breaks into my home, they won't survive the experience.  So why should I risk my life for people I don't even know and for people who don't even like me or what I represent?

I will bring home about $31,000 this year for what I do.  After surviving one near death experience after another, I sometime question my sanity.  OK, so the county pays me a little bit, but do you really think that's why I do it?

Last night we got a 911 call.  A drunk man was in a fight with his girlfriend.  She had been able to lock him out of the house and he was outside banging on the door.  We were told that he usually has a gun on him.  It was another recipe for disaster.

I arrived first and the suspect had fled the scene in his vehicle. He was later located and taken to jail.  But my point in telling this story is why would I risk my life responding to such a potentially dangerous situation.  I didn't know the woman.  She was no family or friend of mine.  So why should I deal with her problems?  Why can't she stand up and protect herself?

The reason I do what I do is because I have the ability and capacity to do it and it's the right thing to do.  It usually has very little to do with the people involved.  In fact, many times the people we risk our lives to protect hate cops.  How's that for irony?  We do it because it's the right thing to do.  We do it because evil is evil - even when it's perpetrated upon people that hate you or should be able to do something about it themselves.

America should stand up to evil, anywhere in the world, because we have the ability and capacity to do it and because it's the right thing to do.  The fight will never be over.  It will be a continual game of "Whack a Mole", but every time evil lifts its nasty head, someone should be there to smack it back down and "if not me, then who".  If not American, then who?

There is good and evil in this world.  And while we talk about serving and protecting and how "greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends" it's not always that idealistic.  It's usually just the right thing to do and I have the ability to do it.

If someone goes into your kids school and starts shooting them, you'd expect me and those like me, to go in there and stop (kill) the evil person doing it.  Can you imagine the outrage if we showed up, evacuated as many of the kids out of the building and then just said, "well, those are dangerous people in there and we have them contained to that building.  Let's just find a new school for the kids that we were able to evacuate and there's just not much we can do for the kids still trapped inside - we can't go around saving every one."

We can't save everyone, but we need to focus on why this problem exists and deal with it the best we can.  Maybe the purpose of America is to be the world police and do everything we can to stand against evil where ever it exists.  Often the people that hate cops end up seeing that we're not so bad when we show up and help them.  Our service to them changes the way they feel about us.  Maybe the way to help people in the Middle East stop hating America is to help them stand up to the evil that is murdering and torturing their loved ones.  We have an all volunteer military.  If that kind of work isn't for you, then don't worry about it.  They people who sign up to do it understand why they are doing it.  Because it's the right thing to do and they have the ability to do something about it.

The Book of Mormon teaches, "Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God." (Alma 61:14)

The world is simply not big enough anymore for people that slaughter anyone who doesn't believe the way they do.  There are no "COEXIST" bumper stickers in the Middle East (only on peoples' cars in the West who are protected by someone else!)  You either believe the way they do or they cut your head off.  How do you "COEXIST" with people like that?

There is no simple answer.  Let's bring in the refugees and help their children learn to love America so they won't walk into shopping malls and movie theaters with suicide vests.  Maybe it will work... but let's do something about WHY they - and we - are having this problem in the first place.

Just a few thoughts on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints policy towards gay marriage and children

Firstly, entering into a gay marriage is open defiance and rebellion against God.  God has established His law of chastity which states that sexual relations only occur between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded.  Any sexual relations other than between one man and one woman who are married to eachother is a violation of God's law.  The Church takes disciplinary action on any member who violates the law of chastity in any way.  Entering into a gay marriage is openly flaunting a serious violation of God's law of chastity and shows open rebellion against God and the laws of His kindgom.

Entering into a polygamous marriage is open rebellion and defiance against God as well and the same policy is applied to both situations.

None of us are perfect so how is this different from anyone who strives against some sin but falls short? 

There is a difference between imperfect efforts to overcome sin and weakness and deciding to live in your sin - and then telling God and the rest of us that we must accept your sinful nature.

All of us struggle with some type of sin - often a few of them.  God does not expect us to be perfect in this life, but He does expect us to do all that we can to rise above our sinful natures.  "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23)

God sent his Son to redeem mankind; not to leave or accept us in our lost and fallen state.  God has said, "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31) and "Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever." (1 Nephi 10:21)

Christ has power lift us up and pull us out of our sins. He says to us, "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." (Moroni 10:32)

Entering into gay marriage is demanding that God, and the rest of us, accept you in your sinful nature.  That is not denying yourselves of all ungodliness, that is demanding God accept sin and denying Christ's redemptive power.  That is open defiance and rebellion against God.

Many people today have come to define love as "accepting me the way I am and letting me do whatever I want".  That is not God's love.  God's love is perfect, yet He cast one third of His children out of heaven for rebellion.  Rebellion against God is dangerous ground.  And God's definition of love is a little different.  He said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)  So using your worldly definition of "love" to argue against this policy smacks of hypocracy.  If you love God, then keep His commandments... like His law of chastity.

Secondly, if you actually believe the Gospel and Doctrine of Christ, then you know that after reaching the age of accountability (8 years old) we are responsible for our own sins.  That means we are then responsible to strive to overcome them through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  If you don't believe that then none of this matters and I don't know why you care if the rest of us do believe it.

It's not possible for children who are raised in a home, that is in open rebellion against God, to be taught the fullness of truth and righteousness.  Actions speak louder than words; so no matter how much truth is preached in that home, the sermon of the parents' actions instills a much more powerful set of values and beliefs into a child.  This is true of any home.  So how could a home, that is in open rebellion against God, prepare a child to make and keep sacred, binding covenants with God?

Allowing such a child to enter into the covenant of baptism, and other such covenants, would be condemning that child.  The Book of Mormon gives precedent for this exact situation.  The children of Laman and Lemuel, Lehi's grandchildren, were growing up in homes that were in open rebellion and defiance towards God.  Lehi knew that such a home was not capable to teaching the true gospel.  Lehi left this blessing upon all of the children in those homes:

"For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.
But behold, my sons and my daughters, I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.
Wherefore, if ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents." (2 Nephi 4-6)

Basically, Lehi was saying, "because your parents are in open rebellion against God, I am blessing you that God will not hold you accountable and responsible."  This is showing compassion and love to the children.

Thirdly, why would any parent, who is in a gay marriage, want their children baptised into this church?  Why would you want your children to join an organization that you are in open rebellion against?  The answer is fairly simple.  There is a grassroots movement to alter the law of the Church to accept homosexuality.  People are trying to change the Church from the bottom up as though this was some political party or civic club.  If you really believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then you believe that Jesus Christ Himself stands and the top of it.  If you really believe that, then why are you trying to change Him and His laws?  If you don't believe that, then why do you want anything to do with it - and why would you want your kids in it?

These people want to change God and they would use their children to turn the Church into a political circus in doing so.  If you really want to talk about loving children, then lets have it out.  These people want to use their children to change the Church from the inside out.  What other reason could they possibly have for wanting their children to be in an organization that they themselves are openly defying and attempting to alter.  That would be like me wanting Al Qaeda or ISIS to let my kids join!  This policy prevents children from being used to alter and bend the Church to the sinful views of their parents.

Lastly, this all comes down to one simple issue.  This policy, and this church, either comes from God or a few old, white, men in Salt Lake City.  That's all there really is to this.  It either comes from God or from men.  It's only one of two ways.  If this church is not led by Jesus Christ Himself then why be part of it?  If this church has no revelatory conduit to the living God, then it's just a sham and we'd all do well to get out of it.  But if it is led by Jesus Christ, the living Savior of the World, then we should all do whatever it takes to be found living within His teachings and in solid membership in His kingdom. 

And there is one simple way, to come to know this one simple issue for yourself - pray.  Do as James and Moroni direct, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..." (James 1:5-6) "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:4-5)

In closing let me state that I know God the Father and Jesus Christ are living and eternal beings.  I know, through the power and manifestation of the Holy Ghost, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is actually led and directed by Jesus Christ.  None of us are perfect, yet we can be perfected in and through the power of His atonement and rise above our sinful natures as we are obedient to His commandments and live according to His teachings.

A Dash of Craziness - The Recipe for a Good Cop

I was at a law enforcement leadership training last week where we discussed recruiting and retaining good people in law enforcement.  I thought a lot about what it takes to do this job.

There are all the things people often talk about; Courage, Compassion, Loyalty, and on and on.

Then there are a few other things like intelligence.  Cops have to be able to make a decision in less one second that will take lawyers years to comprehend and answer.  Lots of people think cops are knuckle dragging brutes, but you have to think fast and then be able to write down why you did what you did.  Of course this can be tested and can aid in picking the right person for the job.

But being a good cop requires just a bit of craziness.  This is what makes it hard to find the right people for this job.  Too much craziness is a problem and too little craziness is also a problem.  How do you measure and then determine the proper amount of craziness in order to be a good cop?

So maybe you take 1 Cup of Courage with 3/4 Cup of Compassion.  Throw in a Tablespoon of Loyalty, a 1/2 Cup of Intelligence, and a Teaspoon of not needing to sleep... and then just a dash of craziness.

But that "dash" is the part we just can't figure out.  Without enough craziness they won't do the job (because no sane, rational person would do what we do for what we get paid!).  With too much craziness they would get killed faster than you can replace them.  

Guess we'll just have to settle for that "dash" of craziness and hope it turns out right!

Thoughts on Violence

A young lady in my ward is writing a paper on the issues surrounding law enforcement and asked if she could interview me.  She had some very insightful questions and I think we had a good conversation.  Speaking with her gave me an opportunity to organize a few thoughts that I want to put down here as well.

One of the things we discussed is how people with cell phones and other media devices capture officers using violence and what affect this has on society.  To some people it may seem like cops have become violent thugs and are always beating people up and shooting people.  I don't believe this is true.

Most people living in America today have never experienced a violent encounter with another person.  The most dangerous thing most Americans have ever experienced is a car accident - and while that is frightening, the other driver most likely was not trying to kill them.  It was just an accident, or the result of negligence, but the other driver was not actively trying to hurt or kill them.  

Americans have become so completely removed from violence, that they have no context to frame it within when they see it on youtube or the nightly news.  It just appears "wrong" to them.  It seems that many Americans simply cannot conceive of a need for violence.  Corporate boardrooms have developed lingo for dealing with confrontations and "elephants in the room" and everyone talks over their differences.  Schools teach violence is never the answer and expel anyone for fighting - no matter the reason.

Fewer and fewer children are involved in aggressive sports and we don't keep score anymore so we don't have to deal with winners and losers.  America, for the most part, is so incredibly peaceful that any form of violence is simply inconceivable.  

People are quick to recite, "violence is never the answer".  THAT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG!  There are situations where violence is the only answer.  People forget that America was founded by fighting a long and devastating war for independence.  Our freedom was won, and preserved, through the proper use of violence.  But, by and large, we have created a society that believes violence is never the answer.  

So when people see videos of cops shooting and fighting with people, they get up on their high-horse and say "violence is never the answer.  Why can't you just sit down with that poor, misguided, justice involved person, and talk about the elephant in the room?"  They simply have no framework to comprehend what they are seeing.  They understand and believe in the concepts of law and order, but they want it to happen without anyone getting hurt. 

This is the root a lot of the problem surrounding law enforcement today.  Everyone is walking around with a film studio in their pocket and recording everything that happens.  People are seeing it more and more, but they don't understand what they are seeing because they are absolutely clueless when it comes to dealing with violent people.

Sometimes Violence Is the Answer

There are some situations that can only be resolved through the proper use of violence.  When a person goes into a mall, movie theater, or school and starts shooting people, the only thing that will make that person stop is violence.  Another person has to confront the shooter and stop him through the proper use of violence - which usually involves shooting him multiple times until he can no longer function.  That is not a bad thing, it's a good thing.

When some drunk, drugged, or crazy person is endangering everyone on the road, running from law enforcement and we ram them off the road, that's simply the proper use of violence.  When they get out of their car and we have to fight with them because they refuse to go into custody, that is the proper use of violence.  No talking about elephants in the room or counseling sessions will bring those situations to an end.

Some People Only Understand Violence

There are some people in society who only understand violence.  They only respect that which they fear.  We call them terrorists, criminals, and bullies.  They do whatever they want, to whom ever they want, until they are physically stopped.  They only understand the use of force.  If you come into a courtroom, you will find these people (for the most part) being very cordial and respectful talking to the judge.  You might look at them and think, "they're not so bad".  But don't be fooled.  They simply know that the odds are stacked against them.  They know the judge can give an order and they lose their freedom.  But they're not afraid of the judge.  That judges just talks.  They are afraid of the cops in that courtroom with guns, tasers and fists who will enforce the orders of that judge.

Even on the streets we typically don't have too many problems with these people (once we show up on-scene) because they know we will take away their freedom, hurt them or kill them if they press the issue with us.  They only understand force and who can bring down the greater amount of force at any given time.  If they perceive a weakness in the cops, this is when they will attack.  They have to understand that we will kill them, and then for the most part, they are fairly simple to deal with.

Violence As a Last Resort

For the most part, law enforcement is reactive.  We are reacting to other peoples' use of violence and force.  It's not lawful for us to take somebody down because they "might" hurt someone.  We have to wait until they have already done something or until we get hard evidence that shows they are going to hurt someone.  We also react to their level of violence.  If some drunk guy is outside his girlfriend's house yelling threats, we can't just roll up and shoot him.  

Violence is our last resort, but it's one that we willingly use when needed.  Violence is a last resort, but we're good at it... and that simply freaks some people out because they just can't comprehend the proper use of violence.  

Peace is achieved by violence.  Peace is maintained through violence or the threat of violence.  Sometimes, violence is the answer, but fewer and fewer people seem to be able to see that.  I believe this situation is one of the root causes of the "anti-law enforcement" furor sweeping the nation today. Most Americans simply have no context for understanding the proper use of violence.  

Unfortunately I don't know what will change that.  Fewer and fewer people have served in the military.  Fewer and fewer people are getting into law enforcement.  Fewer and fewer children are learning that it's OK to fight for a good cause.  I'm afraid the only thing that will change this trend is for more and more people to experience personal violence in their lives - and then maybe they will start to see there is a proper use of violence and appreciate the people who are good at it.

"But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." - Romans 13:4

Head to Head with a Drunk Driver

"When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”  - Joseph Smith

Halloween has surpassed New Years Eve for the number of drunks on the road.  It's always seemed to me that Halloween was mainly for kids, but now adults have turned it into a night to go out and be stupid.  (Maybe it's always been that way and I was just too out of touch to notice)  The roads all across northern Utah were filled with drunks last night - in fact the first DUI in our county on Halloween was at 10:30am.

Just after midnight we got a call of a car driving the wrong way on the freeway.  It was in a neighboring county when it was first called in.  Another Deputy and I headed west to the county line to intercept it if it came into our county.  Dispatch kept updating us as to it's location and Highway Patrol Troopers came out of the city and headed our way.

I was expecting to hear of a head-on collision any second as we raced westward at over 100mph.  As I approached an interstate overpass, and headed up the small rise, I felt the most peaceful, clear thought come into my mind.... "the last update over the radio placed the car 5 miles ahead of you.  At your rate of closure that car will be a few seconds ahead of you.  You need to start thinking about that"

We raced up and over the bridge with a curve a few hundred yards ahead.  I started searching ahead of me for the car.  Because of the curve, it was difficult to tell if oncoming traffic was in the appropriate lane.  A cable barrier separates the westbound and eastbound lanes.  A couple seconds later my headlights illuminated enough of the cable barrier to see that one set of headlights was on my side of the barrier.

The car came around the curve straight at me.  We were head to head - and it showed no sign of slowing.  I locked up my breaks and swerved to the right just as the oncoming car flashed by and continued east in the westbound lanes.  The other Deputy was a couple seconds behind be and he ditched to the right to avoid hitting me.

We both did a u-turn and quickly caught up to the vehicle.  I made a radio call updating dispatch to our location and pursuit of the car.  I looked down at my speed and it was exactly 100mph and the car showed no sign of stopping.  A couple more seconds passed and the car began to slow and pull over to the right - but still slightly in the travel lane of oncoming traffic.  The other Deputy and I jumped out of our vehicles, guns out, and approached the car.  The female driver was extremely intoxicated and thought she was in Wyoming.  After taking the keys out of her car, I moved down to warn on-coming traffic to move over.  The Troopers arrived and handled the DUI investigation and then took her to jail.

Explaining my experience here seems to make it seem like it all occurred in a slow, methodical way.  It did not.  This whole thing happened in a matter of seconds.

I believe God warned me and "pure intelligence" flowed into my mind.  He gave me a few seconds of knowing the danger was just over the hill - even though I had not seen it yet - to prepare myself.  Those few seconds of warning made all the difference.

Additional note:  My purpose in writing this post, and all the others in this blog, is not to make myself out to be some spiritual giant or make it seem like I'm some perfect person.  I AM NOT - not even close.  My list of faults is so long I can't even see the end of it.  Yet, even with all those faults, God still knows who I am and looks out for me.  And if He does it for me, then He does it for you.  This is my way of publically acknowledging Him and what He does for me.  It's all Him, it's not me.

The Times that Try Men's Souls

On December 23, 1776, Thomas Paine wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph..."

At that time, America was at war to establish itself as the first nation governed by the rule of law.  Not the whims of a king or tyrant, but government codified by law of the people, by the people and for the people.  

We are now in the beginning of a war to determine if we will remain a nation governed by law or collapse into anarchy.  There are elements within our society seeking to undermine our freedom, our Constitution, and our way of life.  

When ISIS jihadists call for attacks upon American law enforcement and military - and it happens - you have to wonder.  When the Black Panthers say they will creep up and kill cops - and it happens - you have to wonder... but at what point do we stop wondering if we have a problem and take action?

That point is now.  These are the times that try men's souls.  This is not the time to quit or give up.  This is the time to speak up and stand up.  This is the time to support the rule of law and those who defend it.

I've read of police cadets dropping out of their academies and quitting because of the violence spreading across the Nation.  "Good riddance", I say.  "We can't afford cowards and quitters in this time of crisis."  Cause when I go to work every night, I don't know if I'll be coming back when the sun comes up.  I need to know that the people out there with me have got my back cause when the fight happens, I plan on being right in the middle of it. 

This is not the time to be discouraged or down-hearted.  These are the times that whisper, "You cannot withstand this storm", but the warriors whisper back, "I am the storm." 

There's a storm coming.  See, I believe most people in America are good, solid, citizens who believe in freedom and the rule of law.  I believe that if we stand together, we will create a storm that will overshadow and drive out the evil in our land.  We just need enough of us to wake up to the fact we are at war.  Our military and law enforcement personnel are being targeted and assassinated on the streets of our nation.  These are the times that try men's souls, but we will not quit... we will not back down... and we are never out of the fight.

I'm reminded of another dark time in American history - The Battle of the Bulge.  (Ironically, this story comes from the night of December 23, 1944, exactly 168 years to the day after Thomas Paine's trying times)

"Late on the night of December 23rd, 1944, Sergeant John Banister of the 14th Cavalry Group found himself meandering through the village of Provedroux, southwest of Vielsalm. He'd been separated from his unit during the wild retreat of the first days and joined up with Task Force Jones, defending the southern side of the Fortified Goose Egg. Now they were in retreat again. The Germans were closing in on the village from three sides. American vehicles were pulling out, and Banister was once again separated from his new unit, with no ride out.

A tank destroyer rolled by; somebody waved him aboard and Banister eagerly climbed on. They roared out of the burning town.  An hour later they reached the main highway running west from Vielsalm. There they found a lone soldier digging a foxhole. Armed with bazooka and rifle, unshaven and filthy, he went about his business with a stoic nonchalance. They pulled up to him and stopped. 

He didn't seem to care about the refugees. "If yer lookin for a safe place," he said, "just pull that vehicle behind me. I'm the 82nd Airborne. This is as far as the bastards are going."

The men on the tank destroyer hesitated. After the constant retreats of the last week, they didn't have
much fight left in them. But the paratrooper's determination was infectious. "You heard the man," declared Lt. Rogers. "Let's set up for business!" Twenty minutes later, two truckloads of GIs joined their little roadblock. All through the night, men trickled in, and their defenses grew stronger.""

These are the times that try men's souls, so if you're looking for a safe place, the stand behind me because this is as far as the bastards are coming.

While You Were Sleeping

"I was born for the storm and a calm does not suit me." - Andrew Jackson 

WARNING... this might just be a meaningless rant!

Just Another Day

Friday morning the world woke up to another day.  It was just another day as people went about their normal routines.  But while you were sleeping, it had been anything but normal.  

After about 3 hours of sleep, I was sitting in an Arby's in North Ogden having lunch with one of my daughters.  I sat with my back to the wall, scanning the people inside the restaurant and each new face that entered.  I watched people come and go through the drive-thru lane.  I remembered a scene from the movie "American Sniper" when Chris Kyle was angry because there was a war going on and no one seemed to notice or care.  I felt the same way.

Earlier that morning, shortly before 3am, while people slept safely in their beds, the silence was pierced by a frantic call over my radio, "Weber, SHOTS FIRED... Sgt Kotters been hit... Don't know where the suspect is.  I need a perimeter... Get medical"  It was a tone of voice I'd never heard before and it was chilling.

I know Sgt Kotter.  He taught my radar class at the police academy.  He lives in my little town.  One time on his way home, I had a car pulled over late at night along the freeway and he stopped just to make sure I was OK.  Now he had been shot.  

I was about 20 miles away from where this was happening... and it was about 15 miles outside of my county.  But I have a fast car, loaded with guns, ammo and body armor.

I was the only one on duty in the 600 square mile county where I work.  Would I get in trouble if I went to help?  What if something happened here and I was down there....

I started driving towards the chaos I could hear coming through the radio.  My mind continued to question and then I decided I'd rather stand before the Sheriff and explain why I had left the county to help hunt down a cop shooter than live with myself having not gone.

I noticed my vehicle kept increasing speed as I flew down the freeway.  I had to consciously slow down a couple of times when I realized exactly how fast I was going.  The calls for help still came across the radio.

I made it to the bottom of the canyon and heard the officers on-scene announce the suspect was dead.  I pulled into the median between the freeways and just sat there.  I saw the ambulance, with Sgt Kotter inside, heading north towards the hospital with a patrol vehicle in close pursuit.

Later I would learn that Sgt Kotter had been shot simply because he was a cop.  He hadn't pulled the suspect over.  He wasn't taking the suspect to jail.  A main road was closed for construction and he was there for traffic control.  A car pulled up to him and he got out to tell the guy to turn around.  As Sgt Kotter turned around to walk back to his own vehicle, the dirtbag shot him multiple times in the back.  Sgt Kotter pulled his own weapon and returned fire.  That's awesome!  Sgt Kotter survived... that's even more awesome.

Later in the day I would learn that a Sheriff's Deputy in Texas had not survived a similar incident.  He was just getting gas and a guy walked up behind him and shot him... and after the Deputy fell to the ground, the guy shot him again to ensure his death.

Am I afraid?

A lot of people have asked me over the years if I'm afraid to do this job.  No, I'm not afraid.  If I was, do you think I could go out every night and do it again and again.  I'm not afraid of death.  My faith tells me what to expect and I believe it.  I believe my spirit cannot die.  I believe I will receive a glorified, resurrected body because of Jesus Christ.  I believe death is only a temporary separation from my family and loved ones.  No, I am not afraid.

I've come to see that I'm different than most people.  No better... and hopefully no worse, but I don't experience fear like most people.  In fact it seems to focus me and I just do what needs to be done.  There is just that moment.  No past.  No future.  Just the present.  The real me just takes over.  The real me that most people never meet because I keep him hidden away so they aren't afraid of him.  But in times of crisis, I've learned to let him out and it feels so liberating.

 Later I will think of all the things that could have happened or might have happened, but in the moment the real me is unleashed.

But I do have my fears.... I am afraid of not being there when someone needs me.  I am afraid of not getting there fast enough to make a difference.

Why do we do it?

As the sun went down last night, and most people went to bed, I was going back to work.  I spent some time talking with a couple of the guys who had been on the scene the night before.  The conversation made its way around to "why do we do this".  We talked about our children and wives.  We talked about long hours and low pay.  We questioned everything.

Today I was talking to a friend who is a cop in the county next to me.  He told me, "I know that my life means nothing to society.  They really don't care if we die."

I don't know why we do it.  I'm not really sure why I do it but I can't seem to do anything else.  I tried, but can't seem to get out of it.  I left the military and tried for years to be a regular guy.  I have created two successful businesses... and then ran them into the dirt (for a number of reasons) but mainly because it just became so boring after the start-up phase.  This is the only thing I can do... and now my wife works and I have a part-time job and still can't pay the bills.  My cars are all breaking down and my kids just went back to school wearing the same clothes as last year.

I don't know why we do it.  There are slick slogans and things we tell ourselves, but I don't know if we really believe them.  Why am I the way I am?  

The Warrior's Curse

Sometimes I've wondered if I'm cursed.  Did I commit some grave sin in the pre-mortal world? 

Steven Pressfield wrote, "We are warriors. Our trade stands a handbreadth from that of the murderer and the assassin. Perhaps in another lifetime, you and I have committed grave crimes. This life now may be our purgatory. How do I absolve myself of those transgressions, which I cannot even remember? By sacrificing my ego, my greed, my fear, my hesitation, and my selfishness on the 'altar of strife'.

How do I perform this rite? By striding into harm’s way for no cause, no dream, no crusade, but only for the striding itself and for the comrades at my side."

I do it just for the sake of doing it.  I do it rather anyone cares or not.  I don't know if it matters or if I make any difference, I just do it because it's who I am.  

While You Were Sleeping

I guess I want to believe that what we do makes a difference.  I want to believe it matters.  So if it does matter... if it does make a difference... before you go to sleep tonight, please say a prayer for the men and women who protect society and for their families who will sleep alone so people can awake to just another normal day.

Try Turning Back Time

I wasn't at this incident, but am telling the story as it was told to me....

One of our Deputies arrested a kid for racing another car on a winding, mountain road.  The other car pulled over to face the consequences, but this kid and fled - thinking he could get away.  Guess he thought his fast car might be able to outrun our radios.  Didn't work for him and the neighboring county caught him and held him.

When our Deputy arrived to where they had stopped him, the kid (I call him a kid because I'm getting old, but he was old enough to be on probation) was a belligerent idiot - which earned him a set of handcuffs and a one-way ticket to jail.  As our Deputy was putting him into the back of his patrol car, the kid changed his attitude and asked, "Is there anything I can do not to go to jail?"  To which the Deputy replied (and I admire his wit), "Guess you could figure out a way to turn back time" and slammed the door shut!  

I'm always telling people - as they blame me for all their problems - that I am just a consequence.  I am a consequence of their actions.  Just like this kid, he was simply facing the consequences of his actions and the door of justice had just slammed shut on him.

We all do stupid things and make dumb mistakes.  Sometimes it's done in ignorance, but we usually we usually know when we're doing stupid things and breaking the law - whether of law of men, or God, or both.  

Thankfully, Jesus Christ has provided us the opportunity to repent, change, and do better.  If it wasn't for Christ, then we would do one stupid mistake and that would be it.  The doors of justice would slam shut and it would be too late.  No turning back time, no chance to change and do better in the future, just cold, hard, justice.

I am so thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, because He came and atoned for my sins, weaknesses and shortcomings.  He has given me more chances than I deserve and continues to help me even when I continue to do dumb things.  He is there for all of us.  None of us are better, or worse, than anyone else.  Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God".  All of us are cut off from the presence of God forever.  It only takes one sin, one mistake, one dumb thing and we're cut off forever.  But because of Jesus Christ, and our Father in Heaven's Plan of Salvation, we have the chance to change.  While we can't turn back time, through the atonement of Jesus Christ those sins and mistakes are taken from us.  The Lord tells us, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

A Legion of Angels at My Back

I haven't written in a long time... I'll try to catch up with.  It's been busy lately!

A couple weeks ago I had an experience that I've reflected on over and over.  We were dispatched to a call involving a guy who had recently been released from prison - and is well known to us.  He is an alcoholic, meth addict with a high potential for violence.  We knew that he was on a meth binge but had not been able to find him.  His mother called 911 and said he was out of control.  I was 1 mile away and the other Deputy was 12 miles away.

We were updated that he was now at a relative's house and causing trouble there.  It's best if a few of us can arrive on a scene like that at the same time.  The first one there will usually stop a few blocks short and wait for the others to arrive.  As I was getting close, I called for an update on the suspect's location and was told that he was out in the yard just yelling and hollering.  The relatives were inside their house with the door locked so I stopped and waited for the other units.

A few minutes later dispatch told me the suspect was now arguing with his mother out in the yard and the person giving the "play-by-play" was afraid that the suspect was going to hurt his mother.  I couldn't wait any longer... backup was still 5 miles away.

I turned onto their road and sped up towards the scene.  I remember a calm, peaceful, highly focused feeling come over me.  His mother had retreated to her house and I could see the suspect pacing back and forth across the road throwing his arms in the air.  The whole world seemed to melt away and it was just him and me.

He moved to the left side of the road, a fence at his back, and took an aggressive stance as I sped towards him.  I veered my car toward him and cut the wheels to the left to put the front of my car between us - I just wanted 2 seconds to get out of my car before the fight began.  This caused him to move (I think he thought I was going to run over him) into the middle of the road and gave me time to get out of the car.

As soon as I got out he started walking towards the front of my car as if to come at me.

I told him to stop right there, turn around and get down on his knees.... and to my surprise he did exactly that.  He stopped instantly, turned around, dropped down to his knees and put his hands on top of his head.  I was shocked and stunned.  I know I probably stood there with a surprised look on my face.  As I had driven up that road and saw the way he was acting I had already decided that I would hit him with the Taser (which is a one shot device) and if that didn't work then I would have shot him.  I fully expected him to be violent and attack me - but he didn't.  He did exactly what I told him to do.

I came out of my stupor when I heard a voice in my right ear say, "Handcuff him, handcuff him." I moved forward, got him into handcuffs, and searched him.  It was still just the two of us.  As I stood him up, the other Deputy and a Highway Patrol Trooper were just pulling up.  It was over.

Stuff to think about:

#1. When I told him to turn around and get on his knees, his response was immediate.  Two seconds before that, he had been doing "the fighting monkey dance" on the side of the road getting ready to fight me and all of a sudden he was down on his knees with his hands on his head.  What had happened?  I don't believe I was alone as I went up that road.  I believe a legion of angels went with me.  I don't know if he could see them, but he acted like he did.  He either saw them or felt their commanding presence because the change in his behavior was like nothing I'd ever seen before.

#2. Who's voice did I hear?  I was so surprised by his compliance that I stood there somewhat dumbfounded.  The whole thing is captured on my dash-cam and as soon as he drops down on his knees, there's a long pause.  That's when I heard the voice, specifically from behind me and to my right side telling me to get the handcuffs on.  I didn't see anyone else, but someone from the invisible world was there with me.

#3. Initially I thanked God for protecting me.  I do believe a legion of angels backed me up out there and I'm grateful for their help and to God for sending them.  But on further reflection, it has occurred to me that while they protected me from the suspect, their presence also protected him from  me.  I planned on trying the Taser, but if that didn't work (and they often don't) then it would have been a fight to the death - or serious harm.... and that's a fight I would have won.  I would have killed him.  It never came to that because he did exactly what I told him to do, but without the my unseen helpers, I don't believe he would have been so compliant.  

Through my law enforcement service, I've come to learn that God loves all of us the same.  He loves the violent, alcoholic, meth addict just as much as He loves me.  He didn't want either one of us getting hurt or killed.  It doesn't always turn out this way, but I'm always thankful for the times it ends well.

Conclusion:

Like I said before, I've reflected on this experience many times in the days since it happened.  I marvel at how perfectly happened.  Nothing could have been better.  Everyone who has heard about it, especially all the people who know they guy I arrested, can't believe it.  They can't believe that he was so compliant.  

It was perfect.... not because of me, but because of God.  I know that I'm never alone and I know that God will be with you as well - if you invite Him.  He doesn't force His way into our lives, but if we want Him there, He is there for us.  Thank you Father... and thanks to the angels who watch my back!