On display from September 28, 2024, through August 30, 2025, at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C., “Officers as Artists: The Creative Expression of Those Who Serve” exhibits works by 50 active and retired U.S. law enforcement officers. Here, three of them share insights into their work and the role art can play in officers’ lives.

What was your reaction when you learned your work had been chosen for the “Officers as Artists” exhibit?

Deputy Chad Bingham, K-9 handler: Surprise and excitement. I never thought I’d have my artwork in a museum.

Retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Officer Lisa Flahive: I was just thrilled. Even though this exhibit is not specifically about line-of-duty deaths, to me it always was about my big brother Scott. In fact, I think it was a good excuse to finally pull together images I’ve had in my brain for years, but could never figure out how to paint.

I was one month to the day away from graduating from Las Vegas Metro’s Police Academy when Scott was shot and killed in my hometown of Grand Haven. I decided to continue on in law enforcement but my life was never the same.

To me, this isn’t just another show; I feel like it’s completing a journey I’ve traveled for almost 30 years. I’m so thrilled that this painting will hang in the museum that honors Scott. I get to bring my mom back to Washington for the opening, and we’ll walk across the street to see Scott’s name on the wall again.

Delaware State Police Corporal David Huynh: I was genuinely surprised, deeply honored and excited. It’s a privilege to represent the Delaware State Police and showcase the spirit of our small state on a national stage like the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Can you tell us a little about your piece that is being exhibited, how you created it and what it means to you?

CB: This past year I attended Police Week for one of our K-9s that was killed in the line of duty. We visited the museum and I saw a sign that they were accepting submissions for the exhibit.

This painting is of K-9 Paul — we worked together for eight years. Paul was assigned to the SWAT team. Dogs are pack animals; the SWAT team was his “pack” and he loved being a part of that “pack.” On his last SWAT operation, I took a picture of him sitting next to me. All he wanted to do was run with his pack one last time. Looking at him reminds me of the good times we had together. I knew him almost his whole life, when he was in his prime and when it was finally time for him to retire, and that’s something special only a K-9 handler can understand.

I work with coffee as the base for all my K-9 paintings. Then I add ink and watercolors to finish it up.

LF: I titled this piece Duty Honor Courage for my big brother Scott. For years I’ve been trying to round up the complex emotions of grief and put them into paint because I think it can be very healing. I think this piece brings together things that I saw and experienced as a surviving sibling, as an officer and as a co-worker, and combines that into a powerful statement. There are so many people affected by a line-of-duty death. I wanted to take the perspective of the co-workers in this piece and capture some of their pain as they process a line-of-duty death and search for meaning.

This piece is very different from my other work. Usually I paint with watercolor on paper and that’s how I started trying to paint this scene. But the color wasn’t as bold as I would’ve liked, so I started over — this time with ink on a clear acrylic panel. 

I’ve been trying here and there over the last seven years to work with ink this way but it’s really difficult. In order to have a smooth glossy surface facing the viewer, I essentially had to paint it backwards on the back. Looking through the pane from the front, things like the salute and the badges needed to be facing the right way.

To me, the really maddening thing was that once the ink dries, any ink added to it pushes and moves in somewhat uncontrollable ways. That’s tough when doing figurative work, but it can have a really cool effect. For example, I put down some of the darkest blacks and the dripped the bright red and bright blue to make the lights and reflections in this piece. There’s more alcohol in the blue and red and it pushed the black away in those spots.

DH: This photograph holds deep personal significance for me. Just a month before capturing this moment, my academy classmate and I were injured in the line of duty as Delaware state troopers when our patrol vehicles were struck during an investigation on a bridge. That incident left a lasting mark on both our lives and our families. The image of my daughter joyfully splashing in puddles after a rainstorm serves as a reminder of life’s fleeting, precious moments. It symbolizes resilience, innocence and the importance of cherishing every moment with my family. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this special moment through my photograph and reflect on the blessings we often overlook.

What do you hope visitors take away from seeing your work and that of other law enforcement artists in this show?

CB: Well, hopefully that we’re human. I know guys who are amazing woodworkers, guys who build guitars by hand and mechanics who fix cars up for people in need. I hope this exhibit shows all those incredibly talented artists who also wear a badge.

LF: I hope that visitors to the show gain some insight into what officers go through, and that they deepen their appreciation for the brave men and women who choose to serve.

I also hope that officers who are hurting, especially those who are carrying huge burdens with them every day from a line-of-duty death, can feel like they’re understood and appreciated. They’re not alone. I hope this inspires those officers find a way to talk about their experiences, or write about them, or even paint about them!

DH: My hope is that this photograph inspires viewers, regardless of their background, to pause and reflect on the everyday blessings we often take for granted. I don’t see myself as an artist, but rather a visual storyteller, sharing unique perspectives that help unite us. I hope this image serves as a reminder that my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, like everyone else, are human. We share in the same joys, fears, pains and loves as the communities we serve. Previous generations have paved the roads for us; we are simply doing our part to elevate future generations — whether it’s in our daily duties or through creative expression.

For more information about the exhibition, read the article “Officers as Artists” from the October issue of American Police Beat.