Brenda
Mom, Thanks for always believing in me! I love you so much! My Mom & My Friend! Love Jennifer Zwickl
To Barbara Bankett, a beautiful Godly mother! Love, Tracy
Jess W.—A library + long walks/great talks + Karen Kingsbury’s amazing books = a friendship given by God.—Angela
JA—Greg, gone too soon!
To Rita—you were always her best birthday gift! —Lauren
Kylie + Caroline—Be Still & Know. Love You, Momma
Baukina Van Meekeren Miss your humour & hugs, Mom!
REAL-LIFE POLICE OFFICERS
Typically I use this section to recognize my top fans, the reader friends who follow me on social media and are first to open my newsletters each week. But this time I thought to highlight all the real-life Jack Ryder types, the ones who work long hours for little pay, sacrificing their lives to protect you and me.
I put out a call for readers to honor the police officers and first responders in their lives, and the outpouring was overwhelming. Not just in the number of readers who submitted the names of their family members and friends. But in what else they said in those heart-rending emails. “No one has wanted to honor my police officer wife in a very long time,” one man wrote. “I am writing this with tears in my eyes.” Many others wrote similar letters.
So… friends, take a minute and read this list.
I’d like to add to it several others. First, during the writing of this book, FBI agents Daniel Alfin and Laura Schwartzenberger were killed and three other agents were wounded in a raid on a Florida trafficker’s house. I’d like to honor them. I’d also like to recognize the six police officers who worked against a ticking massive bomb to save the lives of hundreds of residents in downtown Nashville on Christmas Day, 2020. And finally, I recognize these officers: my cousin Eddie; my husband’s cousins John and Charlie; Aaron, who has always been like a son to us; and our friends John and Charlie—all officers who devoted many, many years to serving their communities.
Friends, pray for the men and women honored here. Pray for the families of those whose watch ended far too soon. And the next time you see a police officer or first responder, buy them a coffee. Hand them a You Were Seen Card… or just thank them.
And may God bless and protect those who serve.
A.T. Lee—LEO—1 year
Aaron Bommersbach—LEO —5 years
Aaron Compton—LEO—20 years
Aaron Klauss, Dep.—LEO—4 years
Aaron Knoerzer—LEO
Abby Lewis—First Responder —3 months
Abigail Whitehill—First Responder —6 years
AC Harmon Martin Roberts—LEO —18 years
Adam Bickler—LEO—1 year
Adam Cash—LEO—9 years
Adam Farnsler—LEO—6 years
Adam Flanigan—First Responder —6 years
Adam Host, Sgt.—LEO
Adam Hounshell—First Responder—27 years
Adam Kardel, DS—LEO—7 years
Adam Yates—LEO—23 years
Adrian Kuschnereit—LEO—13 years
Adrianna Caraballo—LEO—1 year
Al Byrum—First Responder —38 years
Alan Blomquist—LEO—32 yesrs
Alane Larison—First Responder —35 years
Alex Farnsler—LEO—3 years
Alex Spears—LEO—2 years
Alexus Jones—LEO—15 years
Alfred Chambers—LEO —7 years
Allen Farley—LEO—37 years
Allen Hightower—First Responder—24 years
Allen Pearson, Det.—LEO, 8 years—End of Watch 4/8/09
Amaury Quinones—LEO —6 years
Amber Riedel—First Responder —14 years
Amos Johnson—First Responder —21 years
Andrea Warfel, Mstr. Cpl.—LEO —15 years
Andrew Cox—First Responder —6 years
Andrew Farnsler—LEO—5 years
Andrew Horton—LEO—15 years
Andrew J. Gillette, Cpl.—LEO, 10 years—End of Watch 2/25/20
Andrew Krnjeu—LEO—15 years
Andrew Lynn—LEO—2 years
Andrew M.—LEO—9.5 years
Andrew Morse—LEO, K9—20 years
Andrew Rollin Baughman—First Responder—12 years
Andrew Voight—Volunteer Firefighter—5 years
Andy Daigneau—First Responder—28 years
Andy Erlandson—LEO—19 years
Angel De Anda—LEO—1 year
Angela Neufeld—First Responder—16 years
Anita Winn—First Responder —25 years
Anthony Callicutt—LEO —10 years
Anthony Connell—First Responder, 24 years—LEO, 23 years
Anthony Minnis—LEO—43 years
Anthony Petito—First Responder —5 years
Anthony Pressnell—LEO —32 years
Anthony Rodriguez—LEO —18 years
Arlin Lee Jackson—First Responder—17 years
Ashley Googe—First Responder —9 years
Ashley N. Payne—First Responder
Ashlyn Mortell—First Responder —19 years
Austin Blomquist—LEO—4 years
Austin Coallier—LEO—3 years
Austin S. Diekevers—LEO—4 years
Bailey C. Martin, Jr.—First Responder—18 years
Barett Duren—LEO—8 years
Barry Bond—LEO—16 years
Becky Sargeant—LEO—25 years
Ben C.—LEO—5 years
Ben Farrell—LEO—4 years
Ben Neitzel—LEO—32 years
Ben Perkins—LEO—26 years
Benjamin Hinson—First Responder—18 years
Benjamin Johnson—LEO—6 years
Benjamin McRary—LEO—1 year
Benjamin Spurgeon—LEO —8.5 years
Benjamin Weaver—LEO—5 years
Benjamin West—LEO—11 years
Bill Brown—LEO—25 years
Bill Elfo, Sheriff—LEO—20+ years
Bill Hammack—LEO—34 years
Bill Hoedebeck—LEO—28 years
Bill Walker—LEO—20 years
Billy Banta—First Responder —10 years
Billy Winn—First Responder —24 years
Blaine Thomason—First Responder—19 years
Blake Davis—LEO—1 year
Blake Escobar—LEO—2 years
Blake Gammill—LEO, 7 years—End of Watch 2/24/05
Blake Riley—LEO—3 years
Bobby Hallman, ASD—LEO
Bobby Long—LEO—8 years
Bobby Moree—LEO—24 years
Brad Counce—LEO—24 years
Brad Gailey, DS—LEO—12 years
Brad Hart—First Responder —25 years
Brandon Boykin—First Responder —8 years
Brandon Deas—LEO
Brandon Flamm—LEO—9 years
Brandon Gray—First Responder —16 years
Brandon Gueiss—LEO
Brandon Kuschnereit—LEO —9 years
Brandon Thomasy, Cpl.—LEO —5 years
Brandon Watson—LEO—1 year
Brant Halfin—LEO—3 years
Brendan Byrum—First Responder —1 year
Brendan Warren—First Responder —5 years
Brennan Gandy—LEO—5 years
Brent Ball—LEO, K9—6 years
Brent D. Smith, Cpl.—LEO —16 years
Brent McConnell—First Responder—14 years
Brent Moening, Lt.—LEO—13 years
Brent Phelps, Chf.—LEO—24 years
Brett Cockrum—First Responder —3 years
Brett Ver Velde—LEO—27 years
Brett Watkins—LEO—4 years
Brian Barnett—LEO, Volunteer Fire Fighter—14.5 years
Brian Barrick—LEO—16 years
Brian C. Young—LEO, 29 years—First Responder, 30 years
Brian D. O’Callaghan—LEO —33 years
Brian David Shaw—LEO, 3 years—End of Watch 11-17-17
Brian Ferguson—LEO—15 years
Brian Goodson—LEO—17 years
Brian Haddix—LEO—14 years
Brian Larison—LEO—17 years
Brian Milton—First Responder