The Uniform and Family

I knew it was going to be an emotional experience, but I wasn’t prepared for how touching the stories were going to be. The general media likes using words like “victim” and “survivor” a lot. They’re easy words to convey context and push the writing along. What these words typically don’t convey the community of people connected to that person: the husbands, wives, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, friends, and so many more. Working on my article for this issue inspired me to share my connection to the law enforcement community.

My aunt was an officer for the Milwaukee (Wis.) Police Department. She retired before I was old enough to understand what that meant. Afterward, she accepted a position to train police forces in the Middle East. This was just before I began working with this magazine. She’s home now, safe—and to my memory, the most eventful story (or at least the only one she wished to share) was that of when her cabin exploded. Her water heater ruptured. She wasn’t injured, but it made the concept of anything can happen at anytime so much more “real.” Later, I was fortunate enough to attend a Candlelight Vigil for Police Week. Walking the walls was, for the lack of a better word, intense. I thought of my aunt, the families surrounding me, what this event meant to everyone there. The memorial walls are a simple oval, but I became lost—my feet stuck in a chaotic fog. People to my left. People to my right. Even more behind. My grandfather’s brother’s name etched in the wall in front. I didn’t know this man as he passed when I was young. I researched his story; he was also an officer for the Milwaukee PD. A rubbing of his name now sits in my desk. The situation of finding him has been carved in my mind.

As reverent as that is, I happily hold these memories of my connections to the law enforcement community. I’m proud of my aunt and glad to have found my great uncle. Thank you for allowing me to share with you.

Two new hires

Please join me in welcoming Hilary Romig as our new Editor and Tom Burr as Publisher of Officer Media Group.

Hilary started freelancing for numerous publications in law enforcement since 2014, with her debut in LET with “Air Support: Handling Crisis” in May 2016 (Officer.com/12188048). She currently works as a Crime Scene Investigator for the Ruidoso (N.M.) PD. She will be keeping her position as CSI and furthering her career there while on staff.

Tom Burr comes to us with vast amount of sales and business development experience from well-known consumer magazine brands from MNI Media Networks Inc. as a Regional Sales Manager of Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Golf, Car and Driver, and more. Prior to that, he was a Vice President of Sales within Athlon Outdoor Publications for 20+ years for publications such as Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, Personal Home Defense, and many others. We’re thrilled to have his leadership guide Officer Media Group to an exciting future.

Welcome to the team, Hilary and Tom!