Are We There Yet?

As I sat discussing the sad state of affairs lately with a friend of mine, he sarcastically lamented, “Sometimes the threat of civil war floats into my head like a balloon at a carnival and I think ‘Let the games begin.’” Now, before you get all up in arms and start organizing sit-ins at your local Starbucks, calm down. His thought was loaded with sarcasm, but telling none the less. When you actually sit back […]

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Member Highlight: Retired Miami Police Sergeant Genevieve Jones

While it is common for a police officer to give more than 30 years of their life to this profession, it is not common for them to surpass the 40 year mark. Brothers Before Others Member and retired Miami Police Sergeant Genevieve Jones did just that, essentially splitting her time between the Miami Police Department and the Denver Medical Examiner’s Office, where she served as an investigator. She described her experiences in Denver as, essentially, […]

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“Sorry” Seems to be the Hardest Word

I’m not going to bore you with yet another Jussie Smollett ‘Liar, Liar’ story. Now seeing his completely fabricated and dramatized interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts should make your blood boil, but maybe not for the reason you think it should. During what will probably go down as his greatest performance, considering “Empire” was already planning on writing him off their show, Jussie recalled a conversation between him and one of his friends: […]

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“Hooleo”, The Law Enforcement Owl

Started in 1995 by Canadian third grade teacher Dale Hubert, the ‘Flat Stanley Project’ was intended to make connections between school children from all over the world. The concept was inspired by the book series, “Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures”, chronicling the worldwide travels of the mythical character Stanley Lambchop. The concept was simple. In the book series, Stanley travels the world in envelopes. As part of the project, the students would design their own ‘Flat […]

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Brothers Before Others Honors NYPD Detective Brian Simonsen

While the National Flower Fund has been the cornerstone of BBO’s work, another aspect of what the group does involves visits to Departments/Precincts/Commands following the loss of one of their own. Like everything else that BBO does, the visits are very personal. BBO’s Founder/President Michael Burke has always stressed that we are a “Face to Face” charity. Since 2014, in conjunction with sending floral arrangements to line of duty death services, BBO members have traveled […]

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AOC – The Face and the Voice of the Millennial Dilemma

Approximately 2 weeks into my law enforcement career, I walked into a heated exchange between three bosses, all of varying ranks. The Sergeant, who was the most animated and heated, was screaming at a senior Lieutenant about another Lieutenant who he clearly deemed useless and promoted because of, basically, any reason other than merit. The Sergeant clearly viewed this Lieutenant as a potential safety issue, even going so far as to ensure that he will cost the department […]

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The Benevolent Bombers – What the New York Yankees and Brothers Before Others Had in Common

Even the most casual baseball fan knows the name ‘Steinbrenner’, most often associated with the legendary George Steinbrenner. Mr Steinbrenner, often referred to simply as “The Boss”, owned the New York Yankees from 1973 until his passing in 2010. During that time, Mr Steinbrenner took an $8.8 Million  Dollar investment and turned it into a franchise that is now worth roughly $4 Billion. No one could debate two things: The Boss’ love for his Yankees […]

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Honoring Our Fallen – The Reason Behind the Pageantry

For anyone who has ever attended a law enforcement funeral, it is impossible to leave without a profound sense of humility, gratitude and fraternity. Many civilians, especially those experiencing one for the first time, even as an ‘outsider’ with no relation to the fallen, often get caught up in the emotion. This is not an accident. More importantly, it is a crucial part of the healing process for the family left behind. One of the […]

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Mirror, Mirror…..

Not so long ago, police officers were being hired right out of high school, to the tune of salaries in the $13,000.00 a year range. Men and women, many who spent three times that amount on education alone, mocked them for their career choice: “You mean to tell me you’re gonna work around the clock…weekends….holidays????”. Years later, after unions fought war after war after war, the private sector watched in awe as police salaries, pensions […]

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‘Behind the Uniforms’ – Philadelphia Police Officer/BBO Partner Jesse Hartnett

When Kyle Reyes and the ‘Whiskey Patriots’ started their interview series known as ‘Behind the Uniforms’, their goal was to highlight untold stories from law enforcement officers, first responders and members of the United States military. Kyle invites these individuals out to what is the most glorious whiskey wall you have ever encountered, pours them a glass and lets them recount their story. Besides the obvious benefit of exposing the world to true tales of […]

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