Page 17 - FOP BlueNote 2017 May June Issue East FINAL
P. 17
The Forgotten Ones
By Greg Brown – State Sergeant at Arms
Too often I read articles is able to return to full off the road. I located the veteran and a good cop, I
about our brothers and sis- was very active outside of
ters giving their lives in duty, then it may make the unoccupied vehicle in my work. I really enjoyed
the performance of their playing sports and it al-
duties and it still saddens local news and he or she front of a residence and most killed me that I was
me every time I see it. We not going to be able to do
show our respect by wear- will be celebrated as they before I knew it the sus- those things. The most
ing the black mourning devastating thought was
band over the badge and return to the job. How- pect ran out of the house never being able to run
we honor them with a po- with my kids again or play
lice officer’s funeral ever, there is another and started shooting in my with them in the sameway
where hundreds come I always had.
from miles around to pay group of officers who fall direction. Although I was
their respects to the fam- When it became clear
ily, to the department and into the category I call wearing my vest a bullet that I would never return
to the fallen officer. Dur- to the streets, I began
ing National Police Week, “The Forgotten Ones.” entered below it and shat- talking with my captain
held annually in May in about the future. I wanted
Washington, the names of I call them that because tered the base of my spine. to work in our Detective
those heroes are forever Division for a while until
memorialized in granite, that is the category that I I was told I was not going I knew for sure I would
becoming a permanent never work as an officer
part of the law enforce- fall into, and I know from to make it and if I did I again. I was not ready to
ment history. Any police give up. I will never
officer giving his or her personal experience what would never walk again, forget the words she said
life in the line of duty is and how she said them.
the bravest thing anyone it is like to feel “forgot- but ten days later I walked
can do. They leave behind When I asked the cap-
wives, husbands, partners, ten.” Too often these of- out of the hospital. Before tain about working in the
children and parents and Detective Division, she
they make that sacrifice ficers have given years, I go any further I must give said "there is nothing they
without thinking twice. have for you that you can
even decades, to their re- my wife Shannon all the do, the only thing we have
But what happens to all for you is retirement.” I
those other officers we spective police depart- credit in the world. She thought to myself, “I gave
read about who are cata- ten years of my life to this
strophically injured in the ments, their communities, was an absolute rockwhen department and this city
line of duty but who sur- and that is all she can say
vive? We often hear about and their government I was shot. At the time we to me?” People who knew
the gunfight or ambush me would know that I
they were in, the terrible agencies but are forced to had a 4 year old and a two would not take that very
crash they survived, the well. I have always stood
heart attack they suffered medically retire after an month old, and she was up for the younger officers
and then that is all we hear. and if I thought something
If the officer recovers and injury. It is not something able to keep everything was not right, I was not
any of us likes to think going while I was in the Continued on P. 19
about, but look through hospital. When they say
my eyes for a few minutes behind every good cop is
and let me show you how an even better wife, hus-
it feels to be forced out of band or partner, believe it!
the profession we all love Over the next 6 months
so much and what you can I went to physical therapy
do to still be a part of this and endured multiple ex-
great profession. tensive surgeries to fix my
On Sept. 9, 2005 my nerves but nothing seemed
life and my career changed to help. As a result I was
forever. I will be brief but left with “drop foot” and
if you would like to read would need the assistance
the entire story get the of a brace for the rest of
book True Blue II by Lt. my life. The doctor said I
Randy Sutton (ret.) and was not going to be ableto
turn to the chapter titled run again and the strength
“Another Beautiful Day.” in my back was basically
I was on duty and an- gone. That was devastat-
swered a call about a man ing news for me to hear.
with a gun running people Besides being a ten year
www.ncfop.org 17
