Dave, I need to give you a heads-up.” It was Saturday, September 13, and I was on the horn with the Chief. He had my attention. I mean, when the Chief wants to give you a “heads-up,” the implication is that something is hurtling your way. I once read that more than a few meteorites hit the Earth every single day. I can relate — as an elected LEO labor representative, the bombardment is daily and ongoing. But when the Chief hints at something screaming through the cosmos, dashing your way, you know there’s a chance it could be the big one. Those poor dinosaurs.

“What you got, Chief?” Some quick mental math had confirmed that retirement wasn’t yet an option, so I braced for the impact. He told me it was looking like the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, who had been assassinated three days prior, was going to be held in our city … in eight days. The service was expected to draw a crowd that had the potential to fill both our city’s stadium and its arena, and President Trump was going to be in attendance. 

“Dave, we’re gonna have to go to Code Red — it’s gotta be all hands on deck for this.” Of course he was right. I mean, having hosted three Super Bowls in Glendale, the officers I represent know their way around a mega-event. But 150,000 people don’t show up for a Super Bowl, for which we spend eight days plus another 357 preparing. And we hadn’t even started to talk about the potential for civil unrest. Yep, it would be 12 on, 12 off for patrol — and everyone else would be coming in on their day off, a Sunday no less, to make it all happen. 

“Chief, you have my full support. Let me know what I can do to help.” Kirk’s assassination had really gotten to many of my members; several of them had reached out to me about it. Many police officers, I believe, look at the evil that would take a shot at Kirk for his beliefs and see the same type of hatred that has driven a fierce anti-police sentiment across this country. And now Glendale, Arizona, would be in the world’s spotlight. The vast majority of Americans support law enforcement, and they would be expecting us to provide a sense of safety and order for this event. So, without hesitation, I told our Chief that I was fully behind him and that I would do whatever I could to help manage morale and assist with the event. Our work was cut out for us, but we quickly came up with a few ideas.

Messaging

No police officer wants to be forced to work a 12-hour, standing shift on a day off. Everybody knows this. So, while I knew I would be dealing with some unhappiness, I did my best to keep the messaging positive. Proactively, I started speaking with my members about the event, explaining relevant MOU language and how management always has the right to mobilize resources with limited notice to cover these types of events. “Look,” I told more than a few of my members, “the president of the United States is showing up. You know we are all going to have to be there.” I thanked my members in advance for their sacrifices, reminding many of them that they were going to be involved in something historic. I don’t know how much the positivity helped, but at least my members knew where I stood. 

Optics 

Code Red means Code Red. Even for the labor guy. I committed to the Chief that I would be out there all day too. Our Chief asked if I would attach to him for the event, providing support in the Emergency Operations Center. He also suggested that we could spend some time together making rounds and personally thanking our officers for their sacrifices. I told the Chief I would be honored. So, the Chief and I spent the day together, dedicating a large part of the shift to just saying thank you. The Chief and the labor guy, both in Class A uniforms, shaking hands and telling our officers how much we appreciate them — we got a lot of sincere smiles. 

Token

Our LEO labor organization purchased challenge coins to commemorate the event and the sacrifices our officers made. While they weren’t ready in time to pass out on the day of the event, we handed them out when they arrived a few weeks later. We didn’t charge for them. We just wanted our members to have them. They were hugely popular. This truly was a historic event, and I think the coins will remind our officers in the years to come of the sacrifices they made and how they were there.

As it turns out, the service went off without a hitch. No rioting. No violence. Everyone was safe. My member officers really stepped up. I have never been prouder. And this reminds me that Charlie Kirk often quoted Isaiah 6:8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’”

You may or may not agree with Kirk’s views, but as a cop I hope this verse inspires and reminds you of important standards like service and duty. And how we are sent. And how we go, often with little or no notice, to do what needs to be done.