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AND I WANNA GIVE SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT I'VE WORKED VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT'S METRO BOARD OF DIRECTOR, CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, ALEX MUELLER, AND OUR VICE CHAIR, REVEREND PRESTON, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO BRING UP MAYOR WHITMEYER TO HELP US WELCOME AND HONOR OUR OFFICERS.
THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY AND WE'RE ALL BUSY AND COULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AS MAYOR, I COULD BE AT A HUNDRED LOCATIONS, BUT THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE AND THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO BE BECAUSE PUBLIC SERVICE IS A CALLING.
AND AS I LOOK ACROSS THIS ROOM, NOT ONLY OUR NEW OFFICERS, BUT TOM, YOUR TEAM, THE BOARD, I COULD START NAMING BOARD MEMBERS AND THEIR EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
SO ANYWAY, IT'S AN EXCITING DAY.
I WILL LEAVE HERE A BETTER MAYOR THAN THE ONE THAT GOT HERE BECAUSE OF THE ENERGY AND THE COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND CERTAINLY PUBLIC SAFETY THAT'S DISPLAYED TODAY.
SO I SEE TODAY AS SPECIAL BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA PAUSE AND NOT ONLY HONOR THESE NEW HIRES, BUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE OF THOSE VETERAN OFFICERS THAT ARE HERE.
UH, WE'VE GOT A TOUGH MISSION AND THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD, HUGE STEP FORWARD.
BUT REALLY NOW IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO USE THE FULL FORCE, FULL-TIME OFFICERS OF METRO TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE HAVE A SAFE TRANSIT LINE, THAT WE'VE HEARD THEIR CONCERNS.
WE WANT TO INCREASE RIDERSHIP, WE WANT TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
THAT'S A STRONG STATEMENT IN YOUR DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE GOES MANY YEARS BACK.
SO, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.
IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I RAN.
AND ALSO QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES FOR ALL HOUSTONIANS AND RESIDENTS OF HARRIS COUNTY.
SO TODAY IT'S ON DISPLAY THAT WE'RE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.
I WAS AT THE LAST HIRING AND CEREMONY, RECOGNIZING THE OFFICERS, AND TODAY A GREAT SELECTION TO PUT US AT FULL FORCE.
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FUTURE'S IN OUR HANDS.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO, TO TELL YOU A QUICK STORY BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE UPON THESE OFFICERS AND THE METRO LEADERSHIP.
IT'S BOARD EVERYONE THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE.
I HEARD PRESIDENT OBAMA AT THE LBJ LIBRARY.
OBAMA WAS THE SPEAKER TALKING ABOUT THE LBJ LIBRARY.
AND WHO HAD HONORED AND RECOGNIZED WAS PRESIDENT JOHNSON, WHO BECAME PRESIDENT AFTER THE KENNEDY TRAGEDY.
AND JOHNSON HAD BEEN A SOUTHERN US SENATOR, MAJORITY LEADER.
HE REPRESENTED A SEGREGATED STATE.
BUT 1963, AFTER HE BECAME PRESIDENT, HE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.
KENNEDY, PRESIDENT KENNEDY AND MARTIN LUTHER KING HAVE WORKED OUT A BOLD INITIATIVE THAT TRANSFORMED AND WOULD TRANSFORM OUR COUNTRY.
AND CERTAINLY WE'VE COME A LONG WAYS AND WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO.
BUT PRESIDENT JOHNSON, IN TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT PROPOSAL,
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HIS ADVISOR SAID, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'LL NEVER GET REELECTED.THINK ABOUT THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.
AND I I MENTION THIS BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN IN CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND THESE OFFICERS AND EACH ONE THAT OF YOU THAT CAN HEAR MY VOICE, PRESIDENT JOHNSON LOOKED UP TO HIS ADVISORS WHO WERE SAYING, IF YOU SIGN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, YOU WON'T GET REELECTED.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON SAID, WHY BE PRESIDENT IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO BOLD THINGS AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE? MADE A HUGE IMPRESSION ON ME.
SO I WOULD CHALLENGE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, WHETHER IT'S A METRO LEADERSHIP CHIEF 10, YOU'RE DOING AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
OUR BOARD, THESE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THANK YOU.
LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHILE WE HAD THE TIME IN OUR CURRENT POSITIONS.
WE NOW HAVE I SWORN IN BY CHIEF TON, ALL OFFICERS TO BE SWORN IN.
PLEASE STAND, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I STATE YOUR NAME, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR ALL AFFIRM.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES, EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF POLICE OFFICER, OF OFFICE OF POLICE OFFICER OFFICER FOR METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
AND WILL AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.
AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
SO HELP ME GOD, CONGRATULATIONS.
YOU MAY BE SEATED, YOU MAY BE SEATED, MAY BE SEATED NOW.
I'M GONNA CALL YOU UP ONE BY ONE FOR THE PENNY.
HE WILL BE PINNED BY THE CHIEF.
IT'S NOT THE, WE DO GET BIGGER STRAWS.
NOW THAT'S APPROPRIATE ANYMORE.
HE WILL BE PINNED BY THE CHIEF.
HE WILL BE PINNED BY THE CHIEF.
JASON PRYOR WILL BE PINNED BY THE CHIEF.
HOW YOU DOING? CONGRATULATIONS SHARP.
TYLER WOODSON WILL BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER.
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CONGRATULATIONS MA'AM.IS THAT GOOD? AND JUST PUT THE STRAWS UP HERE.
JONATHAN MOTU WILL BE PINNED BY CHIEF.
MARK MEDA BE PINNED BY HIS MOTHER.
HOW YOU DOING? CONGRATULATIONS.
LEROY THOMAS WILL BE PINNED BY HIS FATHER.
HOW WOULD YOU GET BETTER ICE THAN I DO?
LEROY HAS TWO BROTHERS THAT'S ALREADY HERE AS POLICE OFFICERS.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, EL C DURAN.
SHE'LL BE PINNED BY THE CHIEF.
I ACTUALLY, UH, SERGEANT DURAN.
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I TELL YOU WHAT I THOUGHT I GOT BAD EYES.I'M JUST GONNA MAKE SOME FINAL REMARKS.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE CLOSING REMARKS FROM CHIEF TIM.
WELL, AS YOU GET OLDER, YOUR MEMORY IS NOT AS WELL ANYMORE.
AND UH, AND ALSO YOUR SIGHT IS GONE.
BUT I MAKE SURE MY FONT IS LIKE, UH, 20 FONT SO I CAN, I CAN READ ALL OF THEM.
THERE WERE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS EARLIER, AT LEAST BY MY TEAM.
SAY, HEY, UH, CHIEF, UH, FAMILY WANTS TO KNOW, UH, ARE WE PROVIDING LUNCH? SO THAT'S WHY WE PICKED ONE O'CLOCK.
SO WE'RE NOT TO PROVIDE LUNCH BECAUSE, UH,
AND, UH, I'M, UH, KIND OF BROKE
BUT I DEFINITELY WANNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO RECOGNIZE SOME VIPS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND DELIVER WHAT YOU MEAN BECAUSE OF YOUR EMPHASIS.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
CHIP BROCK AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I KNOW Y'ALL TELL ME, CHIEF, GO THERE, DO YOUR JOB.
WE'LL TRY TO GIVE YOU WHAT WE CAN, BUT I'M GONNA HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE OF THAT.
I WILL HOLD ALL OF Y'ALL ACCOUNTABLE.
SHERIFF, IT'S NICE TO HAVE A FRIEND THAT, UH, THE PHONE CALL WAS A LITTLE LATE, BUT, UH, YOU'RE HERE.
BUT, UH, TO THE FAMILIES, THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
THE MPD IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND ALSO TO THE FAMILY, THE MPD FAMILY.
WE AS A TEAM THAT MAKE THIS HAPPEN AND FAMILIES THAT YOU'RE BACK TO JUST PIN THOSE BADGE.
THIS IS A TREMENDOUS, TREMENDOUS, UH, YOU KNOW, ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AND IT'S A, A PRETTY HISTORIC MOMENT THAT WE ACTUALLY ALL NEED TO CHERISH.
CAN I PLEASE ASK ALL THOSE THAT SERVE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES PUBLIC SAFETY, RETIRE OUR CURRENT SERVING, INCLUDING MILITARY POLICE OFFICER.
SHERIFF, I KNOW THAT'S YOU TOO, SHERIFF
IF YOU HAVE SERVED IN A MILITARY HOLD THAT DON'T REMAIN STANDING.
IF YOU HAVE SERVED IN A MILITARY AND ALSO SERVED IN A PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSION, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING.
I KNOW SHERIFF'S A LITTLE SHY RIGHT THERE, BUT I KNOW HE SERVED BOTH RIGHT.
BUT, UH, I KNOW THERE'S A FEW OF Y'ALL OVER HERE.
THE REASON WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT IS PLEASE BE SEATED.
AS WE KICKED OFF OUR CEREMONY, WE STARTED WITH THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.
I WISH I COULD SING LIKE YOU, BUT UH, UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF SKILLSET.
AND WE, UH, CONTINUE WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THOSE THAT YOU SERVE.
TWICE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSION AND MILITARY, YOU DEFEND OUR LIBERTY AND ENSURE WE HAVE JUSTICE FOR SOCIETY.
I, UH, I SERVED IN A PROFESSION FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS REMARKS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT YOU, I NEED YOU TO DO TO FULFILL OUR MISSION, TO TAKE CARE OF THE PUBLIC.
I WAS AT HP FOR 25 YEARS AND I WENT TO, WHEN I BECAME ASSISTANT CHIEF, I WENT TO NOT MOST OF ALL THE ACADEMY CLASSES.
I ALWAYS ASK THEM, WHY DO YOU JOIN THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME? AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT STORIES AND DIFFERENT VARIATION OF STORY, BUT A COMMON DENOMINATOR ALWAYS REMAIN UNCHANGED.
IT'S ALWAYS, I WANNA HELP PEOPLE.
I WANNA MAKE MY FAMILY PROUD TODAY, ALL 11 OF Y'ALL, Y'ALL GONNA HAVE THIS MOMENT.
BUT WITH THAT, YOU ALSO GET A LOT OF AUTHORITY.
THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY PROFESSION ON THIS PLANET IN OUR NATION.
ALLOW YOU TO GIVE YOU AUTHORITY TO, TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S FREEDOM, BUT TO DO THE BAD THING AND TO A LARGE DEGREE, TO TAKE LIVES, WE HAVE TO PRESERVE LIVES OF OTHERS AND SAFEGUARD THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FALL, YOU HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF AUTHORITY IS GONNA COME WITH A LOT OF ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
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NOT ONE OF THE MOST, BUT THE MOST HONORABLE PROFESSION.I'D LIKE TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER BACK TO, UH, PEOPLE KNOW A LOT OF HISTORY, BUT THE MOVIES REALLY FOCUS ONTO A PARTICULAR GROUP.
THE COLOR 300, THE SPARTANS ORDERS OF SPARTAN MOST PRIDED INSTRUMENT IS THE SHOW SHIELD.
THINK ABOUT IT, 300, 300 WARRIORS DEFENDING A MILLION ARMY INVADING SPARTAN WITH 300.
AND THEY'RE OLD SAYING, WITH YOUR SHIELD OR ON IT, BASICALLY GO DEFEND IT.
COME BACK WITH YOUR SHIELD OR YOU'LL BE LAYING ON YOUR SHIELD.
THE SHIELD OVER TIME HAS MORPHED INTO SOMETHING CALLED TODAY'S, PERHAPS A BADGE OR A SHIELD.
THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE WEARING RIGHT NOW.
SO THIS IS HOW HONORABLE THIS PROFESSION IS.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WHEN PEOPLE CALL YOU, THAT IS GONNA BE THE MOST DESPERATE MOMENTS IN THEIR LIVES AND YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND.
AND WHAT YOU DO AT THAT MOMENT AND AT THAT MOMENT IS GONNA SET THE TONE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
NOW, HOW CAN I, AS CHIEF, THIS IS A 24 OPERATION, 24 7, HOW CAN I AS A CHIEF TO ENSURE THAT YOU GONNA GO OUT TO FULFILL THE MISSION AND DO THE RIGHT THING? PERHAPS I HAVE TO BE THERE, HOVER YOU OVER YOU ALL THE TIME.
BUT I NEED, I NEED TO SLEEP SOMETIME TOO, RIGHT? DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'RE GONNA RADIO SOMETIME IF WE PUT IT ANNOYING, BUT I NEED SOME SLEEP SOMETIME TOO.
BUT THIS IS HOW I GONNA DO IT.
THERE ARE SEVEN PRINCIPLE YOU NEED TO REMEMBER.
MY REMARKS ARE IMPORTANT TO ALL OF Y'ALL.
WHY SEVEN? WELL, PERHAPS SEVEN IS A LUCKY NUMBER, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT YOU REMEMBER SEVEN IS MOST LIKELY.
REMEMBER AFTER, AFTER THAT YOU PROBABLY FORGET SOME OF THEM.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO FORGET THIS.
ALWAYS, NOT MOST OF THE TIME, ALWAYS LIVE YOUR CORE VALUES IN THE MILITARY.
FOR INSTANCE, I WAS AN ARMY SOLDIER.
THERE ARE SEVEN, LOYALTY, DUTY, RESPECT, SELFLESS SERVICE, HONOR, INTEGRITY, AND PERSONAL COURAGE.
HPD, WHILE I WAS HPD OFFICER, HONOR, INTEGRITY AND RESPECT, MPD, PROFESSIONALISM, HONESTY, AND DEDICATION.
ALL OF THOSE KIND OF BLENDING TOGETHER, THEY ALL SIMILAR AND TO A LARGE DEGREE COMPARABLE IN A LOT OF WAYS.
EVERY SINGLE ORGANIZATION HAVE CORE VALUES.
FOR THE POLICE PROFESSION, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU HAVE A LOT OF AUTHORITY.
YOU HAVE TO LIVE BY THOSE CORE VALUE TO HAVE TO DELIVER THOSE RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY ARE THE ETHICAL FRAMEWORK THAT BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE EVERY SINGLE DAY.
NUMBER TWO, IT'S NOTHING FANCY.
I LEARNED THAT WHEN I WAS A LITTLE CHILD RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS.
TREAT OTHER PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANNA BE TREATED DUE TO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU.
MOST OF THE PROBLEM, IF NOT ALL THE PROBLEMS WOULD NOT EVEN EXIST IF YOU JUST FOLLOWED THIS SIMPLE GOLDEN RULE.
NUMBER THREE, THIS IS THE TOUGH PART.
THIS IS THE HIGHEST, HIGHEST ASK AND THE BIGGEST ASK.
ESPECIALLY NO ONE IS WATCHING BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE POINT YOU CAME WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
WHEN IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO, YOU WOULD LEAVE WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
BUT YOUR CHARACTER IS BASICALLY THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY OWN AND OTHER WILL MEASURE YOU BY IT.
SO ALWAYS DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS, MAKE SURE YOU DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE WHY? YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO IT ONCE.
WE SERVICE OVER 1300 SQUARE MILES, FOUR COUNTIES, 9,000 PLUS SHELTERS, BUS SHELTERS.
THAT IS, I GO ON AND ON WITH FACILITIES AND OUR NUMBERS ARE JUST IN THE HUNDRED.
SO IF YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
YOU ONLY HAVE TO DO IT ONCE TO MAKE IT MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE EFFICIENT STANDARD IN LIFE.
THERE'S ONLY REALLY ONE STANDARD FOR NOW AS A METRO PD OFFICER, THERE'S ONLY ONE STANDARD.
I'LL HOLD YOU TO THOSE STANDARD BECAUSE THEY'RE GOVERNED BY THE CONSTITUTION, THE LAWS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY OUR POLICY BECAUSE THE CHAIR AND THE DIRECTOR JUST SAY, CHIEF 10, I'LL SUPPORT YOU WITH WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE CAN.
BUT I'M HOLD YOU TO THAT STANDARD.
I WILL HOLD YOU TO AS SUCH, I DO REALIZE MISTAKES SOMETIME HAPPENS BECAUSE WE'RE HUMAN, BUT THAT MISTAKES BETTER.
BE HONEST IN HEARTS AND IN MIND.
SEIZE THAT INITIATIVE AND YOU OPPORTUNITY TO POLICING, I JUST MENTIONED, IS ONE OF THE MOST HONORABLE PROFESSION.
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GET THE OPPORTUNITY.LESS THAN 1% OF THE POPULATION.
SO WHEN YOU GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SEIZE THAT MOMENT.
GO OUT THERE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER THE FIRST CONTACT WILL HAVE A DEFINING MOMENT FOR SOMEONE'S LIVES.
TRUST ME, I KNOW FROM MY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE.
SO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS ISSUES, PROBLEMS, ROLL YOUR SLEEVES AND JUST GET IT DONE.
BUT IT HAS TO BE LEGAL, MORAL AND ETHICAL.
LAST PIECE, I WILL DEPART WITH THIS COMMUNICATION.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TALK AND COMMUNICATE.
99.9 9 9 9 9 9 TO THE 100 DECIMAL.
THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TALK.
BE PROFESSIONAL, COMMUNICATE HONEST INDEED AND IN INTENT.
SO COMMUNICATION IS CRITICAL TO YOUR SUCCESS.
NOW, DO REALIZE I ASK A LOT FROM YOU, BUT WITHOUT ANY DURESS, COERCION, YOU'RE WILLING TO RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND DEDUCT AND HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE ON THIS ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND THIS HONORABLE PROFESSION.
JUST A REMINDER, NEXT WEEK, ACTUALLY TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, IT'S GONNA BE A NATIONAL POLICE WEEKS, RIGHT? WE ALL GO TO CELEBRATE TO DC TO MEMORIALIZE.
AND REMEMBER, THOSE HAVE MADE THE OPTIMAL SACRIFICE.
THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE TO LIVE THOSE VALUE BECAUSE THERE ARE OVER 240,000 NAMES ON THE DC MEMORIAL HOUSTON PD ALONE.
THEY HAVE OVER A HUNDRED TWENTY ONE TWENTY ONE TO BE EXACT.
DO NOT COMPROMISE YOURSELF IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM TO NUMBER ONE, DESECRATE AND DISCREDIT.
THOSE HAVE SERVED AND MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I HAVE BEEN TO THIS LINE OF DOG LINE OF DUTY HONORS.
WHEN I STOOD IN FRONT OF A FAMILY, SOME YOUNG KIDS COULD BARELY COMPREHEND THAT THEY JUST LOST THEIR PARENTS.
WE HAVE TO PRESENT THEM THE FLAG TO REMIND THEM HOW HONORABLE THE PARENTS ARE.
PLEASE DO NOT DISCREDIT THE KIDS' MEMORY OF THE PARENTS BECAUSE OUR REFLECTION IS WHAT WE REFLECT OVERALL.
NOT JUST YOURSELF, BUT THE OVERALL REFLECTION AS A WHOLE, AS A POLICE PROFESSION.
WE'LL ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO, UM, FOR THE FAMILIES, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE NEXT COMING MONTHS, POP PERHAPS A FEW MONTHS.
IT'S GONNA BE A LOT ASKED OF THEM.
THE TRAINING, THE DIFFERENT SCHEDULE, DIFFERENT SHIFT.
SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH THEM.
AND UH, IF THEY DON'T TAKE CARE OF THE HOME FRONT, THERE MAY BE SOME ISSUES IN THE FOREFRONT, RIGHT? SO I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND AS THEIR GUIDE AND NAVIGATE THROUGH THE NEXT, UH, DIFFICULT MONTHS COMING IN THE HEAD.
WITH THAT SAID, AFTER THIS, WE DON'T HAVE LUNCH FOR Y'ALL, BUT MAKE SURE THEY BRING YOU OUT TO GO TO LUNCH.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WOULD LOVE TO TURN THIS OVER TO, UH, PASTOR PRESTON SO WE CAN TALK TO THE BIG GUY UPSTAIRS.
TO EACH OF YOU WHO ARE ASSEMBLED HERE TODAY, IT IS OF AN ASSUREDNESS THAT METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW FULLY STAFFED.
COME ON, LET'S GIVE A HAND FOR METRO.
WE'RE STANDING HERE ON THE THRESHOLD OF SERVICE FOR THESE OFFICERS AND WE'RE REMINDED THAT THE OATH THAT THE OFFICERS HAVE TAKEN IS NOT MERELY A COMMITMENT OF WORDS, BUT IT'S A COVENANT OF THE HEART.
IF YOU WILL JOIN IN WITH ME AS WE DO THE POLICE OFFICER'S PRAYER, SHALL WE BOW? LORD, I ASK FOR COURAGE, COURAGE TO FACE AND TO CONQUER MY OWN FEARS.
COURAGE TO TAKE ME WHERE OTHERS WILL NOT GO.
I ASK FOR STRENGTH, STRENGTH OF THE BODY TO PROTECT OTHERS AND STRENGTH OF THE SPIRIT TO LEAD OTHERS.
DEDICATION TO MY JOB, TO DO IT WELL.
DEDICATION TO MY COMMUNITY TO KEEP IT SAFE.
GIVE ME LORD CONCERN FOR OTHERS WHO TRUST ME AND COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO NEED ME.
AND PLEASE LORD, THROUGH IT ALL BE AT MY SIDE.
THIS IS THE POLICE OFFICER'S PRAYER.
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WE ARE.UM, YOU CAN TAKE AS MANY PHOTOS AS YOU WANT AS YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
UH, WE DO HAVE LIGHT REFRESHMENTS.
WE DON'T HAVE FOOD, BUT WE HAVE CAKE.
UH, GO OUT THE DOORS AND THE SECOND HALLWAY TO THE LEFT.
AND IT'S IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM.
ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WILL BE DONE IN FRONT OF THE BACKDROP.
PLEASE COME AND TAKE SOME PHOTOS.