TRAGEDY IN LAS VEGAS ( CONT ’ D )
Two ladies arrived at our command post site and delivered care packages containing sandwiches , snacks , fruit and bottles of water . These were put together by members of their church . They wanted to do something to help and they have , yet they thank us for allowing them to help .
Today I was told some happy news . A dog was found and reunited with his owner . The owner is one of the survivors of the mayhem . The dog is a therapy dog . They became separated during the slaughter .
Sergeant Bernie Moss of the Corpus Christi police department once wrote a story , You ’ re Not A Cop Until You Taste Them . It ’ s about a time early in his career and being told by an old timer you ’ re not a cop until you taste them , and then saying nothing more . One day Bernie handled a horrific event one night and while changing clothes in the locker room he was crying . The old timer came over and put his hand on Bernie ’ s shoulder and said , “ Now you ’ ve tasted them .”
Tears have a special taste all their own and also have a cathartic effect . I have tasted my tears during this tragic time , but in my case they aren ’ t tears of sadness or hurt . They are tears of gratitude for the wonderful people who are trying to help . They are tears for the work the first responders continue doing no matter how terrible . They are tears of thanks for allowing me to help and be part of Las Vegas ’ recovery . Eventually , this horrific event will be part of my past , not my present .
MORE GOOD BOOKS FOR AUTHORS
KEITH BETTINGER IS A RETIRED SUFFOLK COUNTY ( N . Y .) POLICE OFFICER . HE ’ S BEEN WRITING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLICATIONS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS AND HAS RECEIVED 19 AWARDS FOR HIS ARTICLES , STORIES , POEMS , AND BOOKS . HE HAS A MASTER ’ S DEGREE IN HUMAN RELATIONS WITH A MAJOR IN CLINICAL COUNSELING . DURING HIS CAREER HE RECEIVED THE DEPARTMENT ’ S BRAVERY MEDAL , SILVER SHIELD AWARD , MERITORIOUS POLICE SERVICE AWARD , SPECIAL SERVICE AWARD , PROFESSIONALIZATION AWARD , DEPARTMENT RECOGNITION AWARD , FIVE HEADQUARTERS COMMENDATIONS AND SIX PRECINCT COMMENDATIONS . HE ALSO WAS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND AN INSTRUCTOR ON POST SHOOTING TRAUMA AND CRITICAL INCIDENTS .
KEITH HAS WRITTEN THREE BOOKS , FIGHTING CRIME WITH “ SOME “ DAY AND LENNY , END OF WATCH AND MURDER IN MCHENRY . HE HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED STORIES TO THE FOLLOWING ANTHOLOGIES : I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE , COP TALES 2000 , CHARITY , TRUE BLUE , TO PROTECT AND SERVE , AND DAD ’ S BOW TIE . HE ALSO SHARES
J M , M C . K L V L .
WRITERS ’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
PAGE 7
FALL 2017