Blue View by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)

Founded in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American Law Enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial’s walls are filled with the names of law enforcement heroes who, while not always household names, played important roles in U.S. history nonetheless.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes is joined by Bill Alexander, who recently became the CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. As a results-driven, former law enforcement professional, Bill joins the organization with nearly 30 years of overall experience, starting with the United States Air Force as a Security Police Officer at Andrews Air Force Base.

Bill began the next phase of his career when he joined the Prince George’s County Police Department in August 1997. He later became the Commander of the Training and Education Division, where he oversaw a forward-thinking, community policing-based police academy responsible for training new recruits and existing sworn and civilian personnel.

Law enforcement officers across America are looking to elected officials to step up and Back The Blue.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes is joined by Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Senator Tillis has been a champion for local, State, and Federal law enforcement and has been a national leader in advancing legislation to ensure they have the tools, resources, and support they need to protect the public and stay safe while in the line of duty.

He has partnered with the FOP on several bills important to law enforcement; everything from Cybercrime metrics, reauthorization of the COPS Hiring Program, Scenario-Based Training, and legislation, initially developed by the FOP, on increasing the availability of trauma kits.

Notably, he was a key leader of two legislative efforts of critical importance to law enforcement—the Public Safety Officer Support Act (PSOSA) and the Protect and Serve Act.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes is joined by National FOP Chaplain, Rick Snyder, as well as Shannon Nordyke and Crystal Mai Purdy-Newland for an in-depth, conversation about why it is so important to plan.

The Dignity Memorial Public Servants Program offers no-cost tributes for career and volunteer law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency services personnel who fall in the line of duty. In addition to providing funeral, cremation and burial services, the Public Servants Program also provides extended counseling services to the grieving family.

Rick Snyder serves as the Chaplain for the National FOP. He is also the President of the Indianapolis FOP, serving over 3,000 active and retired members from 10 different law enforcement agencies in Central Indiana. Rick is also the cohost of the Remnant Reveal podcast, created by Dr. Chris Holland and Rick to help officers and their families find Biblically based solutions to the challenges they face daily.

Crystal Mai Purdy-Newland has worked in the funeral service industry for close to 20 years, and is currently the location manager of Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home. Although her career is in funeral service, Crystal’s passions involve multiple and varying levels of service and outreach. Crystal has a personal passion to educate the veteran community on funeral benefits; what they are, and mainly, what they are not. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Fallen Badge Foundation, a non-profit organization comprised of professionals who are trained to respond to a law enforcement line of duty death, carry out proper and dignified funeral services, while offering care and support for affected communities, families, and agencies.

Shannon Nordyke is a Licensed Funeral Director in Nevada and has worked in the funeral industry for 17 years, she grew up in a small town in Iowa before she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada. She has worked in all positions in Funeral Service but has found her passion is being able to serve families when they have had a loss and help families to prepare for the future. She is currently the Mortuary Manager at Palm Eastern Mortuary in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shannon is the liaison for our local First Responders and Active Duty Personnel at our local Military Bases. Shannon has worked relentlessly to make Palm Mortuary be the best choice for First Responders in the area and has the honor to serve each family when their loved passes away in the Line of Duty.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the nation's State, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies through information and grant resources.

The work of the COPS Office is vital to State and local law enforcement agencies and, by extension, to the safety of our communities. The COPS Office is the cornerstone of our national policing strategy—community-oriented policing. The hiring program, its work on collaborative reform, and efforts to improve officer safety and wellness is critical, especially at this time.

On this episode of the Blue View Podcast, National President Patrick Yoes sits down with Hugh Clements, the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) to discuss the current state of policing, the resources the COPS Office provides, as well as the partnership the two organizations have.

Hugh has extensive experience in virtually every aspect of policing and law enforcement, a career which began in 1985 with the Providence Police Department as a patrol officer and culminated with him becoming the agency’s chief in 2012. Hugh was also a long-time member of the FOP’s National Board of Trustees. He is a decorated officer and is a nationally recognized expert and speaker on law enforcement trends.

Fairness is a concept that our society treasures and something that we, as law enforcement officers, value highly. 

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down Representatives Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail A. Spanberger (D-VA) to discuss the negative impact the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) are having on America's public employees. 

The WEP and GPO provisions do not eliminate a windfall for workers. It is a loss of the benefits they earned and are denied because they also served the public and have a pension from that work. That’s not right and it’s not fair. Passing the ‘Social Security Fairness Act’ would make a real difference in the lives of our nation’s retired public servants.

In an era where technology and public safety intersect, we find ourselves at a crossroads of unprecedented challenges and transformative opportunities. Axon is one of those companies that stands as a beacon of innovation and progress. With a comprehensive suite of public safety solutions, Axon is at the forefront of bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve. 

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Rick Smith, the CEO of Axon, to explore the captivating intersection of technology and public safety. Smith's journey is truly inspiring, driven by personal experiences and a vision for a safer world. With over two decades of experience, Axon has become a leader in innovative solutions that are reshaping how we approach public safety.

This dialogue takes us back to the roots of Axon, unveiling Smith's motivations for founding TASER International and Axon. Yoes and Smith explore the evolution of Axon's mission since its inception in 1993 and delve into the pivotal technologies and innovations developed by Axon to elevate public safety. Axon has set an ambitious goal to reduce gun-related deaths involving both law enforcement and the public by 50% in the next decade. They dissect the strategies and partnerships that Axon employs to realize this significant objective.

Yoes and Smith discuss how technology is helping bridge the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Rick highlights the role of body-worn camera technology in Axon's mission to improve public safety and how the company prioritizes transparency and accountability in its products and services.

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Axon's Role in Public Safety: Axon is a company at the forefront of bridging the gap between law enforcement and the communities they serve. They provide a comprehensive suite of public safety solutions and are dedicated to improving public safety through technology. Axon, originally known as TASER International, has evolved significantly since its inception in 1993. The company's mission has expanded beyond tasers to encompass a wide range of technologies and innovations aimed at enhancing public safety.

MOONSHOT - Axon's Ambitious Goal to Reduce Gun-Related Deaths: Axon has set a challenging goal to reduce gun-related deaths involving both law enforcement and the public by 50% in the next decade. This goal is a part of their commitment to making a significant impact on public safety.

Importance of Technology in Public Safety: Technology plays a vital role in improving the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The discussion highlights the significance of technology, especially body-worn camera technology, in this context. Axon prioritizes transparency and accountability in its products and services. This commitment ensures that law enforcement agencies and the public have access to accurate and reliable information to enhance trust and accountability. The podcast anticipates the increased use of drones and robots in law enforcement to improve officer safety and de-escalate high-risk situations. This represents a significant shift in how law enforcement responds to critical incidents.

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00:00 – Intro

00:42 – About Rick Smith

06:00 – The Evolution of Law Enforcement and the Impact of Technology

13:35 – From Tasers to Bodycams

23:25 – Axon’s Virtual Training

25:55 – Axon's Ambitious Goal: MOONSHOT

33:18 – The Future of Policing

39:55 – Final Thoughts

While the stresses are relentless, cops are supposed to be “tough.” The perceived stigma surrounding mental health problems keeps many officers from seeking the help they need. As we face a rash of law enforcement suicides, it is time that we recognize the psychological toll of wearing the badge and honor the sacrifices of those officers who take their own lives.

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with Dr. Serena Liebengood, a physician and suicide survivor, to discuss the critical issue of police officer wellness and mental health. Dr. Liebengood shares her personal story of losing her husband, Howie, a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Capitol Police, to suicide. The conversation delves into the systemic stressors that law enforcement officers face and the urgent need for comprehensive wellness programs.

Dr. Liebengood brings her unique perspective as a physician and a public health expert to shed light on the complex issue of officer wellness. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on organizational stress as a significant factor affecting officers’ mental health. The episode also explores the Public Safety Officer Support Act and its implications for the future of law enforcement wellness programs.

This episode is not just an eye-opener but a call to action for agencies, policymakers, and the public to recognize and address the mental health crisis among law enforcement officers. Tune in to understand the depth of the problem and what can be done to create a safer, healthier environment for those who protect and serve.

Community engagement is a guiding principle that seeks to develop strong ties and relationships in a community between law enforcement and the people they have sworn to protect.

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes welcomes back Reverend Markel Hutchins to discuss the transformative initiative, National Faith & Blue Weekend. A long-time activist, Reverend Hutchins is a human and civil rights leader, professional speaker, and a friend to the FOP. He has led numerous movements on behalf of humanitarian causes over the course of a two-decade career. Reverend Hutchins has earned a reputation as an advocate for fairness and equality and is one of the senior leaders behind the Faith & Blue initiative.

In a candid, unscripted conversation, Reverend Markel Hutchins and National FOP President Patrick Yoes explore the power of community and the role of faith-based organizations in fostering unity and collaboration. With the dates set for October 6th through October 9th, this year's Faith & Blue Weekend aims to be the largest and most impactful yet.

Reverend Hutchins shares his insights on the current state of law enforcement and community relations, emphasizing the importance of dialogue over division. He also highlights the successes of previous Faith & Blue Weekends, which have seen thousands of activities across all 50 states, fostering safer, stronger, and more unified communities.

Whether you're a law enforcement officer, a community member, or someone who believes in the power of unity, this episode is a must-listen. Learn how you can be a part of this incredible initiative and why it's crucial for the betterment of our society.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

For more information or to find an event near you, visit ➡️  Faith & Blue Official Website Toolkit for Faith & Blue Weekend 

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with the National FOP's General Counsel, Larry James to discuss the myths and the facts about qualified immunity. 

Larry James has been at the heart of the Columbus business, legal, civic and political scene for the last 30 years. He is a respected litigator, as well as an advisor to local and national leaders. In recognition of his many achievements, the law firm changed its name from Crabbe, Brown, Jones, Potts & Schmidt to Crabbe, Brown & James in January 2001.

The FOP has always been committed to improving our profession, the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement and employee representation. In recent years, the law enforcement profession has been facing a real crisis in our ability to recruit and retain officers with the abilities, character and integrity to do a very difficult and increasingly dangerous job.

There are many professions that are facing similar difficulties, but many of the challenges of retaining veteran officers and hiring quality candidates are unique to law enforcement. Our profession has become more dangerous, and benefits — like good salaries, pensions and health care coverage after retirement — are no longer as attractive or competitive to the new generation

On this episode of the Blue View, National FOP President Patrick Yoes sits down with National FOP Sergeant At Arms, Keith Turney to discuss the real challenges our profession is facing and how the FOP is leading the way in finding solutions.