“I saw a guy coming out the back door carrying a television. I said, ‘How are you today, sir?’ He said, ‘Just fine. I’m taking my TV to get fixed.’ I wasn’t wearing a uniform, but I did have my badge. I walked the guy to the back door, and I saw it was kicked in. That’s when he broke and ran.

“I chased after him. I had my cowboy boots on, and it was kind of muddy. But I managed to catch up to him. I grabbed him by the shoulders. He jerked around and knocked me over. Then he jumped on top of me. He was trying to grab my weapon. One of the neighbors saw what was happening. He came running, and he hit the guy in the head with an iron pipe.

“The guy rolled off me and took off again. As he reached the van, a lady came out of the house and jumped in the front seat. It was his wife. I had already called for backup, and he was coming down the road. When the burglar pulled out, they hit right on. The guy I was chasing had a hurt leg, so he couldn’t get away. He was locked up for burglary and assaulting a police officer.

“Well, about 25 years later, after I left the department and was working security for Baytown schools, I got a call from the same dispatcher on duty the day of that burglary. She said, ‘You’ll never guess who came to see you today.’ She gave me his name, and I said, ‘You’re kidding me?’

“It was the same guy. He had just gotten out of jail, and he asked if I was around. She told him I had gone to Massachusetts, and that I was working for the highway patrol up there. It was quick thinking on her part. He was a big old boy. So for a long time after that, I kept looking over my shoulder.”

— Larry Stratmann

After serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, Larry had a long career in police and security work. In 2010, he retired as assistant security chief for Goose Creek CISD.

Related:

• Navy veteran reflects on Vietnam War service

• Navy veteran calls himself ‘walking miracle’

The post Fishing trip turns into burglary stop appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“A lot of stuff happened back in Arizona, so I came here to get a fresh start.

“My girlfriend and I were together for two years. Then things happened, we faded, and we broke up. But we continued staying together as best friends. It was pretty weird at first. Then we got into the routine of it.

“The hardest part was probably her moving on. She began dating someone else while we were living together. But I got used to it, and now we’re all good.

“A lot of other stuff happened, too. My grandma died. Some dogs killed my cats. So with all that I was like, you know, let’s just start fresh. My sister and her boyfriend were moving here. They invited me. So I packed my bags, and here I am.

“Right now I work at a grocery store. But eventually, I want to join the police department. I’ve always wanted to do that. I’ve always had a passion for taking criminals off the street. My dad did a lot of stuff to my mom when I was real young, like verbal and physical abuse. I know there are tons of guys out there like that, so I’d like to do something to help stop it.

“I tried out in Phoenix a couple years ago, but I couldn’t pass the physical test. They had you do push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, and run a lap in a certain amount of time. The hardest part was the push-ups. I was supposed to do 21, but I got to 20 and couldn’t do the last one. It was pretty frustrating.

“I know I was a little out of shape, so I’m doing something about it. I go to the gym and come here to get my workout in. I eat right and drink lots of water. And I have a New Year’s resolution to not drink soda. I’m determined to get into the police academy. Whatever it takes.”

— Trevon Robinson

The post Fresh start includes trying to become police officer appeared first on The Baytown Project.

After rescuing, training and donating a Labrador retriever to the family of a fallen police officer in Michigan in December, Danny McWilliams is ready to take the next step with his organization, The Thin Blue Line Dog Project.

“The 501(c)3 paperwork has begun. Board members have been selected to assist with the project so that it’s not a one-man show. The goal is to help fallen officers’ families by placing a trained companion dog with them. These dogs will go through extensive training at EasTex K9 or a board-selected trainer. I also have been in contact with a psychologist who is willing to work with the program. This will allow us to better understand the needs of the families we want to help.”

The post Project supports families of fallen police officers appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I always had a dream of becoming a police officer. Not sure why really. Maybe it had to do with (‘CHiPS’ TV show characters) Ponch and Jon or something.

“I think February will be 15 years for me with Baytown Police Department. Right now I’m assigned to a traffic unit on patrol, but I was involved with the K-9 division for years. I had a sergeant who asked if I wanted to decoy. You know, get in the suit and have a dog bite you. Nobody really wants to do that, or at least not for very long. But it got me into it and I stuck with it. It was very interesting to me, especially the psychological aspect of why dogs act the way they do.

“After I got out of the K-9 unit, I kind of missed the dogs. So I did a little market research on family pets, and I ended up starting my boarding and training business. These days I get up super early to work the dogs, then I get cleaned up and head in to work (with the police department).

“I’ve always kind of had an entrepreneurial mindset. I liked the idea of owning my own business one day. I guess this is kind of the start of my retirement gig when that day comes.”

The post Police officer keeps busy as dog trainer appeared first on The Baytown Project.

Related:

• Dog trainer helps fallen officers’ families
• Project supports families of fallen police officers
• Police officer keeps busy as dog trainer

The post Labrador Retriever will be young girl’s buddy appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“After I started my training business I thought that if dogs can help soldiers deal with all the traumatic things they see and experience, maybe they also can help the child of a fallen police officer. So I decided to start The Thin Blue Line Dog Project.

“My goal was to find a rescue dog, like a Labrador Retriever or similar breed, train it and then donate it to the surviving family. I found Preston at an animal shelter north of Houston. They said he was surrendered by his family because he was chewing up socks. He’s a great dog. After about eight months of training with me, he’s ready to go.

The post Dog trainer helps fallen officers’ families appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When I got out of the Marines, I was a federal cop in Hawaii and California. We worked on military installations as federal civilians. We did the policing on the bases so that the MPs could go deploy.

“But I ended up being a tattletale. I’m a rat. I ratted out other cops. But when people are corrupt, I don’t care who it is, if you’re a cop or a civilian. If you break the law, I’m going to tell on you. That’s my job, to report violations. Even if you’re the chief, then so be it.

“It happened in California. The chief and deputy chief were strong-arming military families while their husbands and wives were serving overseas. That’s not right. I just couldn’t keep quiet about that. I got there in October and I reported it in December.

“They did everything they could to force me out. They threatened me with this, threatened me with that. They tried to terminate me. I said, ‘Go ahead, terminate me. I’ll see you in court.’ I got my job back and they didn’t. The chief and deputy chief both got relieved.

“But it was the other officers who ended up forcing me out. There were a lot of places out there where someone could disappear, and that sort of thing. So I had to leave.

“Unfortunately, after that, nobody has wanted to touch me. When you’re a cop and you’re a tattletale, nobody wants any part of you. But I knew what would happen. I knew the minute I opened my mouth, that was the end of my career.”

— Robert Ortiz

Related:

• Marine’s plan to focus on his family falls apart
• Decision to act ‘was the end of my career’
• Tough to stay positive amid personal struggles

The post Jobs scarce after ‘ratting out’ corrupt cops appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“When I was sworn in, the chief of police at the time said, ‘This badge is going to get you a lot of women. But it only takes one woman to get the badge.’ And sure enough … I was amazed to find out how women are attracted to men in uniform. I wasn’t prepared for that. I got caught in a trap.

“This woman had come on to me strongly, and I was weak. Then my wife found out about it. I quit the police department because I thought it might help save our marriage. We lasted a few more years before getting divorced. One day my wife confessed to me that she didn’t think she could ever trust me again. That dug deep. If you don’t have trust, you really can’t have a marriage.

“It also put a strain on my relationship with my two boys for a long time, especially my oldest. We were estranged for four years after it happened. He blamed me for breaking up the family.

“He served in the Army and did three tours in Iraq. One time he was sitting on some kind of military vehicle when a bomb exploded right next to it. That’s when he realized that he could die over there with us still being split. So he finally sent me a letter, kind of a reconciliation. When he came back home we got together, and everything’s cool now.

“But I’ve been heartbroken ever since for losing my wife. I screwed it up. It’s the biggest regret of my life. I’m still single. She was the best woman in the world for me. I haven’t found anyone since who’s even come close.”

— Bill Turner

The post Former police officer learns lesson the hard way appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve never been arrested, but I was put in cuffs one time. I was by myself at a park that was closed, and I was just sitting in my car. I didn’t feel like I was being profiled, but the cops must have figured I was up to something. They must have thought I was waiting on something.

“It was scary for me because I didn’t know what was going to happen. They let me go. I didn’t get a ticket, a warning or anything. I just stayed honest and they let me go. I know that when you’re dealing with someone in a position of authority, you should follow their instructions and you’ll be all right. For the most part.

“I’ll be honest, what’s been on my mind a lot lately is what’s going on with unarmed civilians being killed and stuff like that. I’ve been watching it real close and trying to be careful myself. I know this doesn’t apply to all cops, but I think there needs to be some changes. It’s a multitude of things: better training, better psychiatric evaluations and background checks, and just a higher level of accountability.

“Serving in the military, I know what it’s like when you’re placed under stress. The ones who can’t cut the training are going to break. The ones who can cut it are going to make it through. To react to something on impulse just because you’re afraid, that’s not how soldiers are trained. Even when we’re afraid, we still have to do what we’re supposed to do.

“The way we train in the military is through repetition. You drill it into your brain. You develop muscle memory. That way, you react the way you’re supposed to and you do the job right. So even if you’re scared, you still know what to do.

“I realize cops get afraid and I know soldiers get afraid all the time. But the key is being able to do your job under that stress and do it effectively. That’s what needs to happen.”

— Dorion Nora

Related:

• Personal trainer is good at motivating people
• Soldier fights to protect the right to protest
• Kaepernick was ‘practicing his freedom of speech’

The post Police reacting effectively to stress is key appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I was a cop for years, and I always enjoyed doing stuff for kids. If some kid came up to me and told me that his bicycle was stolen, I’d go find him another one. That’s kind of how it all started.

“For 16 years now, I’ve been fixing up bikes that people donate and giving them to kids whose families can’t afford them. I gave away about 500 bikes last Christmas.

“I wear my red shirt and my Santa Claus hat, and I tell them, ‘My name is Fat Mac Claus. Santa’s at the North Pole making toys, but he’s got me here watching you. Have you been good?’

“I get one hell of a thrill out of it. Seeing the smiles on those kids’ faces, that’s what keeps me going.”

— Ken “Fat Mac” Williamson

Related:

• Despite health issues, ‘Fat Mac’ keeps on going

The post ‘Fat Mac’ ensures kids have bikes for Christmas appeared first on The Baytown Project.