Ep. 47 Kent (WA) Police Department’s Sgt. Eric Tung, known to many of you through his Blue Grit Wellness platform, joins me today to look back on his 16 years in law enforcement, and to look toward the future not just for him and his department, but for all law enforcement with what I call “relentless optimism.”

First, we take a look back at Eric's career which started in 2007, just two years before the 2009 ambush murders of Seattle PD Officer Timothy Brenton and of the Lakewood Four, as they are known. We discuss our shared experience of that difficult time and what was to me, the surprising connection between the Lakewood officers and Kent PD. We also reflect on the Line of Duty Death of one of Eric’s closest friends, Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno whose E.O.W. was five years ago this month. 

Eric also was in two critical incidents with his K9 Officer Kato, both times nearly losing Kato and his own life. As Designated Departmental Team Leader for Regional Valley Civil Disturbance Unit, Eric responded with this team to provide mutual aid to Seattle PD in response to years of annual May Day protests and ultimately to the 2020 riots. 

Eric used his passion for health and fitness to develop the Kent Police Department’s Wellness and Peer Support programs and as I mentioned, his own platform Blue Grit Wellness. He creates his own content online, writes articles for Police One and hosts his own podcast Blue Grit Radio. He currently is the Department’s Recruiting and Hiring Unit Supervisor.  

I ask what drew him to law enforcement. His “why” has evolved over the years, but he reflects on several reasons including the influence of a strained, and later repaired, relationship with his dad. Now a father himself, he discusses being in a dangerous profession when you have a two-year-old at home, yet knowing there is a two-year-old out there who needs you, as I learn, quite literally.

While we talk about the big incidents, the hard and heavy moments, we end with that “relentless optimism,” reflecting on how sometimes it’s in those small moments when you know as an LEO you have made a difference.  Thanks, Eric!

You can find Eric on his website:

https://www.bluegritwellness.com/

On Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok @bluegritwellness. On LinkedIn as Eric Tung. His podcast Blue Grit Radio is available on all podcast platforms.

Eric has several articles on Police One. Here is the article I referenced:

https://www.police1.com/rookie/articles/a-word-to-the-rookies-stay-humble-stay-hungry-1zsfEMTwoRREV3j1/

Eric mentions the Blue Bridge Alliance which provides local law enforcement agencies with resources to render aid during interactions with community members in need. For more info:

https://bluebridgealliance.org/

As noted, this month marks the five-year anniversary of the Line of Duty Death of Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno. 

Officer Moreno, we thank for your service.

E.O.W. Sunday, July 22, 2018

https://www.odmp.org/officer/23727-police-officer-diego-moreno

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©Abby Ellsworth. All interviews, editing, production done by Abby Ellsworth. Music courtesy of freesound.org