BEHIND

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SLETTER
THE BADGE NEW
For our members, friends, family, and the entire MN Law Enforcement Community!
Volume 2, Issue 1
Quarterly Newsletter

Wives Behind the Badge,

Inc. is dedicated to
providing resources and
emotional support to law
enforcement families.

Inside this issue:

Supply Drive Photos

MN LEO Events

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By Sherri Shanley, Auxiliary Assistant Director
When we lose a member
of our blue family to a line
of duty death, a great
sense of loss effects so
many. The officers
family, friends,
department, community,
and more. The loss
is...Senseless. Tragic.
Horrific. A million
thoughts echo through
my mind when I think
about this past summer...

Meet the Staff

Candlelight Vigil

Mourning Losses

Directors Corner

Officer Patrick leaves behind three beautiful

ladies. His wife, Michelle, and daughters Erin and
Amy. Our hearts continue to ache for their loss.

#stepoutinblue

Whats Happening

Contact Us

As is customary in our organization, we reached

out and were able to watch our great Minnesota
Law Enforcement Family come together, as we
have in the past. Not only LEOs but entire
communities throughout the state came on
board with us to support the Patrick Family and
the Mendota Heights Police Department.

The Minnesota law enforcement community

faced a tragic LODD on July 30, 2014. Officer
Scott Patrick was taken from us that tragic day
while on a traffic stop in West St. Paul.

Scott Patrick was well respected and liked in his

community, having made a difference in many
peoples lives. We chose to honor him at the
suggestion of one of auxiliary volunteers, Kristi
Hanson, to host a school supply drive that not
only benefited his school age daughters, but also
the community he served.
Everything came together quickly. We called
District 197 and told them our plans to donate
supplies to the girls and to students in need in
their district. They were beyond thrilled, as they
happened to be in need of supplies for a
particular group of students. Minnesota Auxiliary
volunteers came together and organized dropsite locations.

Newsletter is published on a quarterly

basis. Contributions may be sent to
Editor, Sherri Shanley
minnesota.assistdirector@
wivesbehindthebadge.org

Winter Quarter 2014

Thank you to our official, statewide drop sites:

Cold Spring PD, Lake City PD, St. Louis Park PD,
Maplewood PD, Woodbury PD, Northfield PD,
Faribault PD, Kenyon PD, Rice County Sheriff's
Office, Silver Lake PD, Cops & Kids Event at

Yarusso's, and The

Dance Center in West
St. Paul.
We also want to extend special thanks to Mendota
Elementary, West St. Paul Royalty Program/Kym
Alley, ISD 197 Administration, Henry Sibley
Administration, Micro Center in St. Louis Park, and
Blue Cross Blue Shield (for providing space for us to
sort all the school supplies). The Minneapolis PD
also played an integral part in helping us achieve our
goal to provide a new laptop for the Patrick's eldest
daughter, Erin.
We were able to collect nearly 650 items. A large
basket of school supplies was assembled for the
Patrick girls to use for their school year. The
remainder was donated to School District 197.
Check out the drop-off by watching this story that
aired 9/16/14 by KSTP during our drop off. http://
kstp.com/news/stories/S3563337.shtml?cat=1
Wed like to extend a special thank you and
recognize Backing the Blue Line for calling on our
organization and allowing us to assist with handing
out the always beautiful blue roses at the funeral
services. It was an honor to work with your awesome group of volunteers.
Later in the fall, Melanie, Kristi and I were able to
meet with Michelle for breakfast at Scotts favorite
restaurant, the Capital View Caf on Smith Avenue
in St. Paul. We reminisced and remembered with
her, and presented the badge replica necklaces
which we customarily have made when we lose a
hero. We also gave quilts for Michelle and daughters
on behalf of WBTBs H.A.L.O.S. Program (Helping
Aid Lost Officers Survivors).

Countless organizations came through in

the Patricks time of need. We are
honored to live in a state with such strong
ties within the LEO community.
(See additional photos, page 2.)

Page 2

MN Auxiliary - Wives Behind the Badge NEWSLETTER

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Faribault & Cold Spring. Visit our
facebook page for details. See pg 3

www.facebook.com/MNWBTB for all

the latest event postings!!

Nightly from November 25, 2014

through January 1, 2015 - St. Paul
Police Foundation Holiday Lights in
the Park at St. Pauls Phalen Park.
Saturday January 3rd, 2015: WBTB
MN Auxiliary & Backing the Blue
Line co-host A Blue Light Shining
Through the Darkness: Standing
Together to Support Law Enforcement - MN Law Enforcement
Memorial, St. Paul. 5pm to 7pm.
Vigil to show support for law
enforcement. No signs or real
candles allowed. We will have
options and/or bring your cell phone
w/candle app. Please wear blue.
Satellite events will be held in

Friday, January 16th through Sun.

January 18th, 2015 - Serving our
Troops & Hockey Day MN. SPPD will
play SP Fire on Friday night.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/40
90c4ba8ad2daa8-hockey
Saturday, January 17th, 2015: Law
Enforcement United Team MN
Arctic Shuffle 5K
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/arctic
-shuffle-5k-tickets-13050663887
Saturday, Feb. 7th, 2015 - Law
Enforcement United Slide to
Remember: info coming.
May 14th, 2015: Thank a Police
Officer Day

Friday, May 15th, 2015 - Peace

Officer Memorial Day
7:30pm Candlelight Vigil at Law
Enforcement Memorial in St. Paul

Saturday, May 16th, 2015: MN Law

Enforcement Appreciation Night at
Minnesota Twins game

June 2015 (date TBA) - Officer

Gerald Vick Golf Tournament: info
coming.

June 2015 (date TBA) - St. Paul

Police Foundation Golf Invitational.
Highland Golf Course, St. Paul.

August 2015 (date TBA) - Shawn

Silvera Memorial Run
Long Lake Park, New Brighton, MN
www.shawnsilvera.org/run

Volume 2, Issue 1

Page 3

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We'd like to introduce you to our state staff!
By joining Wives Behind the Badge, not only
can you volunteer with WBTB in Minnesota,
but you also have opportunities to showcase
your talents in one of our program areas - at
the state or national level! Not a volunteer?
Already set up as one, but want to do more?
Send us a message!
Minnesota.auxiliary@wivesbehindthebadge.org
Minnesota.assistdirector@wivesbehindthebadge.org
volunteer@wivesbehindthebadge.org

http://www.wivesbehindthebadge.
org/how-you-can-help/volunteer/

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Location: MN Law Enforcement Memorial in St. Paul

Page 4

MN Auxiliary - Wives Behind the Badge NEWSLETTER

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Our country has lost 114 law enforcement officers as of Dec. 26, 2014. When it happens to one of ours, we all feel it. Our
hearts and thoughts are forever with the families, children, departments, friends, loved ones, and communities of
the following officers:

Deputy Sheriff David "Bubba" Johnson Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, TN | Agent Carlos Rivera-Vega Puerto Rico Police Department, PR | Detective
Sergeant Tom Smith Bay Area Rapid Transit Police Department, CA | Police Officer Kristian Willhight Burns Flat Police Department, OK | Undersheriff Brian Beck
Washita County Sheriff's Office, OK | Sergeant David Baldwin Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, CO | Animal Control Officer Eddie Maurice Hamer Hardeman
County Sheriff's Office, TN | Sergeant Cory Wride Utah County Sheriff's Office, UT | Deputy Sheriff Percy Lee House, III Greensville County Sheriff's Office, VA |
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Scott Pine Orange County Sheriff's Office, FL | Correctional Officer Amanda Baker Scotts Bluff County Detention Center, NE | Officer
Brian Law California Highway Patrol, CA | Officer Juan Gonzalez California Highway Patrol, CA | Hobbs Phoenix Police Department, AZ | Police Officer III Nicholas
Choung Lee Los Angeles Police Department, CA | Agent Joaqun Correa-Ortega Puerto Rico Police Department, PR | Officer Jason Crisp United States Department
of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, US | Police Officer Marc Uland Kelley Trinity University Police Department, TX | Chief Deputy
Sheriff Pete Richardson Lafayette County Sheriff's Office, AR | Police Officer James Morrissy Oak Forest Police Department, IL | Deputy Sheriff Ricky Del
Fiorentino Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, CA | Police Officer Robert German Windermere Police Department, FL | Master-at-Arms Mark Mayo United States
Navy Security Forces, US | Officer Mark H. Larson Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, FL | Police Officer Alexander Thalmann New Bern Police Department, NC |
Police Officer David W. Smith Johnson City Police Department, NY | Police Officer Gregg Maloney Plymouth Police Department, MA | Deputy Sheriff Ernest T.
Franklin Barren County Sheriff's Office, KY | Police Officer Dennis Guerra New York City Police Department, NY | Police Officer II Chris Cortijo Los Angeles Police
Department, CA | Agent Marielis Morales-Santiago Puerto Rico Police Department, PR | Deputy Sheriff Michael J. Seversen Polk County Sheriff's Office, WI | Deputy Sheriff William Heath Kelley Covington County Sheriff's Office, AL |Deputy Sheriff Bryan Marshall Berger Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, VA |Trooper
Gabriel Rich Alaska State Troopers, AK | Sergeant Patrick Scott Johnson Alaska State Troopers, AK | Police Officer II Roberto C. Sanchez Los Angeles Police
Department, CA | Trooper Chelsea Richard Florida Highway Patrol, FL | Police Officer Noel Lee Hawk Eatonton Police Department, GA | Master Sergeant John
Collum Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, MS | Police Officer Michael Alexander Petrina Metro Nashville Police Department, TN | Detective
Charles Dinwiddie Killeen Police Department, TX | Patrolman Stephen Arkell Brentwood Police Department, NH | Deputy Sheriff Steven LaCruz "Cruz" Thomas
Franklin County Sheriff's Office, GA | Correctional Officer Chad Charles Michigan Department of Corrections, MI | Police Officer Jair Cabrera Salt River Police
Department, TR | Border Patrol Agent Alexander Giannini United States Border Patrol, US | Trooper Christopher Skinner New York State Police, NY | Special
Deputy Marshal Frank McKnight United States Marshals Service, US | Police Officer Brian Jones Norfolk Police Department, VA | Sergeant Paul Buckles Potter
County Sheriff's Office, TX | Police Officer Kevin Dorian Jordan Griffin Police Department, GA | Sergeant Daryl Giles Philadelphia School Police Department, PA |
Police Officer Igor Soldo Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV | Police Officer Alyn Beck Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV | Police Officer
Scott Hewell Stockton Police Department, CA | Chief of Police Lee Dixon Little River-Academy Police Department, TX | Deputy Sheriff Allen Bares, Jr. Vermilion
Parish Sheriff's Office, LA | Deputy Sheriff Jacob Daniel Calvin Tipton County Sheriff's Office, IN | Officer Perry W. Renn Indianapolis Metropolitan Police
Department, IN | Patrolman Jeffrey Brady Westerfield Gary Police Department, IN | Detective Melvin SantiagoJersey City Police Department, NJ | Police Officer
Christopher Goodell Waldwick Police Department, NJ | Police Officer Scott Patrick Mendota Heights Police Department, MN | Sheriff Mark A. Hecker Butler
County Sheriff's Office, NE | Lieutenant Patrick Libertone Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA | Deputy Sheriff Joseph James Dunn Cascade County
Sheriff's Office, MT | Chief of Police Michael Pimentel Elmendorf Police Department, TX | Agent Geniel Amaro-Fantauzzi Puerto Rico Police Department, PR |
Constable Cleve Johnson Titus County Constable's Office - Precinct 2, TX | Police Officer Daryl Pierson Rochester Police Department, NY | Patrolman II Nickolaus E.
Schultz Merrillville Police Department, IN | Corporal Jason E. Harwood Topeka Police Department, KS | Deputy Sheriff Joseph Matuskovic Charleston County
Sheriff's Office, SC | Border Patrol Agent Tyler R. Robledo United States Border Patrol, US | Corporal Bryon Keith Dickson, II Pennsylvania State Police, PA | Deputy
Sheriff Michael Norris Monroe County Sheriff's Office, GA | Police Officer Reinaldo Arocha, Jr. Newark Police Department, NJ | Senior Deputy Jessica Laura Hollis
Travis County Sheriff's Office, TX | Police Officer Michael Williams New York City Police Department, NY | Police Officer Jordan Corder Covina Police Department,
CA | Trooper David Kedra Pennsylvania State Police, PA | Sergeant Michael Joe Naylor Midland County Sheriff's Office, TX | Police Officer Eddie Johnson, Jr. Alton
Police Department, MO | Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA | Investigator Michael David Davis, Jr. Placer County Sheriff's
Department, CA | Detective Kagan Dindar Clarksville Police Department, TN | Deputy Sheriff John Timothy Williamson Butler County Sheriff's Office, AL | Officer
Anthony Haase Rio Rancho Police Department, NM | Patrolman Robert Blajszczak Summerville Police Department, SC | Sergeant Jeffrey W. Garrett Dothan Police
Department, AL | Deputy Sheriff Eugene Kostiuchenko Ventura County Sheriff's Office, CA | Deputy Sheriff Jesse Valdez, IIIHarris County Sheriff's Office, TX |
Police Officer Shaun Richard Diamond Pomona Police Department, CA | Police Officer David Payne Chandler Police Department, AZ | Constable Robert Parker
White El Paso County Constable's Office - Precinct 1, TX | Deputy Sheriff Matthew Chism Cedar County Sheriff's Office, MO | Deputy Sheriff Darrell Perritt Maury
County Sheriff's Department, TN | Investigator Holmes Smith Clarendon County Sheriff's Department, SC | Police Officer Ronald A. Leisure United States
Department of Veterans Affairs Police Services, US | Police Officer Justin Winebrenner Akron Police Department, OH | Sergeant Jeffrey Wayne Greene Union
County Sheriff's Office, NC | Sergeant Alejandro "Alex" Martinez Willacy County Sheriff's Office, TX | Deputy Sheriff Christopher Smith Leon County Sheriff's
Office, FL | Deputy Sheriff James "Bart" Hart Elmore County Sheriff's Office, AL | Agent Edwin O. Roman-Acevedo San Juan Police Department, PR | Police Officer
Ernest Montoya Navajo Division of Public Safety, TR | Deputy Sheriff Grant William Whitaker Ingham County Sheriff's Office, MI | Police Officer Richard Anthony
Champion Perryopolis Borough Police Department, PA | Deputy Sheriff John Robert Street George County Sheriff's Office, MS | Police Officer Rafael Ramos New
York City Police Department, NY | Police Officer Wenjian Liu New York City Police Department, NY | Police Officer Charles Kondek Tarpon Springs Police Department, FL | Patrolman First Class Jamel Clagett Charles County Sheriff's Office, MD | K9 Remi Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago - Detroit Branch Police, MI | K9
Gorky Davie County Sheriff's Office, NC | K9 Jager Petersburg Police Department, VA | K9 Rocco Pittsburgh Police Department, PA | K9 Maros Forest Service Law
Enforcement and Investigations, US | K9 Mick Portland Police Bureau, OR | K9 Ike Worcester County Sheriff's Office, MD | K9 Tanja Walker County Sheriff's Office,
GA | K9 Tracker Alabama Department of Corrections, AL | K9 Nyx Mills Police Department, WY | K9 Major Orange Police Department, CT | K9 Kela Duplin County
Sheriff's Office, NC | K9 Kye Oklahoma City Police Department, OK | K9 Simmie East St. Louis Police Department, IL | K9 Petra Colorado Springs Police
Department, CO | K9 Brunie Kansas City Police Department, MO | K9 Beny Montville Police Department, OH | K9 Baron St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, FL | K9
Sara
Iowa
Motor
Vehicle
Enforcement,
IA
|
K9
Robbie
Wyoming
Highway
Patrol,
WY

Volume 2, Issue 1

Page 5

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By Melanie Snyder, Auxiliary
Director
As 2014 is coming to close, Im spending
some time reflecting on the past year. I
am feeling emotions that as a law
enforcement wife, I dont recall feeling
so intensely before.
I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness
for the families whose mom, dad,
brother, sister, son, daughter, and the
list goes on, wont return home.
Families that will never feel the relief of
hearing the garage door open after a
shift, the rip of Velcro as a vest is
removed, a snap of a belt as a holster is
taken off, the keys, phones, and radio
being set on the counter, or catching
the glimmer of a shield and name plate
that will not be worn again.
My heart aches for these families, my
thoughts are consumed by what they
must be feeling and thinking, learning
to live without their loved one. When a
LEO is lost it is felt by all of us, whether
or not we knew the person. We hug our
loved ones a little tighter and hold on a

little longer.
2015 is fast approaching. With the new
year, I hope for a renewed outlook for our
blue family; one that is filled with joy and
less sadness; more tolerance and peace. A
outlook where citizens view our LEOs as
protectors, not the enemy.
In the coming year I wish you love and
happiness. I am proud to wear the shadow
of my husbands badge on my heart and I
stand united with all law enforcement
families.

-Melanie
By Sherri Shanley, Assistant Director
Its hard to put into words what so many
of us want to say right now. A friend I
recently made doubted her ability to
make a difference in the law enforcement
world and how the public views LEOs. I
will tell you some pieces of what I told her.
Your work is NOT meaningless. In the
wake of chaos and darkness, we need to
look for opportunity. As much as it sucks
and we can't make sense of it, that is now

our job. You are a beacon of light in that

darkness.
(I went on to explain more about how
WBTB has been able to help people in
hard times, even if a little bit at a time).
My point is this. One at a time. One
person at a time. That is what I had to
learn. Over the four years I have been
doing this, that is what I have come to
realize. Little by little, person after person
that we reach, we grow, we change things
for the better, we move forward. That is
all it takes to change the world. If (you
have) positively impacted ONE person's
view on law enforcement, then you should
give yourself a pat on the back. It might
not be exactly the goal you were out to
meet, but it is better than nothing.
In the New Year, I encourage ALL of our
volunteers and supporters to BE that
beacon of light! A journey of a million
miles begins with a single step. Take that
step. Youll be surprised where itll lead.

-Sherri

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If you have any great pictures, video or news stories from December 19ths "Step Out In Blue" day, please send them our way and
we will get them to the correct area. They will be complied into a special video! Once a month,
staring in January, WBTB is
doing a MONTHLY
#stepoutinblue campaign.
Watch our facebook for
details and days!

#stepoutinblue
#WBTB
#bluehonor
#unitedwestand

Check out ALL of

our programs!
*Educational Scholarships
*Support Forums
*Families Behind the Badge
*Blue Line Kids
*H.A.L.O.S. program, and
*State Auxiliaries
Wives Behind the Badge,
Inc.
PO BOX 3126
Quartz Hill, CA 93586
Telephone: (661) 202-8604
Fax: (559) 408-5570

The Minnesota Wives Behind

the Badge

Auxiliary Chapter
is dedicated to providing resource
s and emotional support to
Minnesota law enforcement fam
ilies.
Mission | Wives Behind the Bad
ge, Inc. was formed for charita
ble
purposes to provide much needed
resources, support and essenti
al
benefits to law enforcement wive
s, families, and significant others,
which include fiancs and life par
tners, as well as directly to law
enforcement officers and their
departments and the community
as
a whole.
Company Overview | We are an
all-volunteer national non-pro
fit
corporation with 501(c)(3) status.
Our membership is made up of
our board of directors, support
staff, online forums members,
committee members, and volunte
ers from throughout the United
States and the world.
Our programs are 100% funded
through grants, special fundrai
sers,
and donations from our suppor
ters and partners. The majority
of
our funding goes directly back
into programs that enrich and
improve the lives of the law enf
orcement families we support.

www.wivesbehindthebadge.org
info@wivesbehindthebadge.org
www.facebook.com/wivesbehindthebadge
Wives Behind the Badge, Inc. Minnesota Auxiliary
Melanie Snyder, Director 651-325-1126
minnesota.auxiliary@wivesbehindthebadge.org
www.facebook.com/MNWBTB

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Have your gotten your registration in for the Inaugural
Wives Behind the Badge Conference and Retreat? Dec.
31st is the last day to pre-register! This fantastic event will
be held July 17 through the 19th, 2015 at The Resort at
Glade Springs in Daniels, West Virginia. Please visit
www.wivesbehindthebadge.org to register and for info.

COMING SOON! Stay tuned to our social

media pages and our website to for details on
how to order your copy of this limited edition
of Youve Been Served:Badge-Worthy
Recipes Cookbook, brought to you by Wives
Behind the Badge volunteers nationwide.