Holy cow, but this is a packed issue! Welcome to the Christmas season (as you receive this issue) and our OFFICER issue that’s chock-full of information on so many topics I have difficulty figuring out where to start. Let’s start with this: The entirety of the OFFICER Media Group team hopes that you have had a healthy and safe holiday season thus far, and that the rest of it into the New Year remains safe and full of joy. It brings us, as a team, joy to share so much information with you about so many successes folks in our industry have seen this year.
Let’s start out with two programs we brought back this year. In our last issue, we brought you information about our Innovation Awards and our Valor Awards. We will be running both of those programs again in 2026, so start planning for your nominations now!
In this issue, you’ll find two of my favorite topics covered: Our Station Design Awards and our annual Christmas Wish List. Now, I have to admit, when the Law Enforcement Station Design Awards concept was first brought to me, I was hesitant to embrace it. How many new stations were being built? How much can be said about physical structure? How little I knew, but I have certainly learned. Thanks to the efforts of our Managing Editor Paul Peluso, we’ve seen a banner year for design submissions and the awards don’t just cover new construction but also expansions, refurbishments and more. I never knew how much went into a new (or upgraded) station design, so I’m learning next to all of you, our readers. It’s a very educational section, so be sure to check it out.
As to the Christmas Wish List, yes… it’s a wish list. I’d be delighted to find any of the products that “made the cut” under my tree (or all of them would be even better). For the law enforcement professional in your life, there are gift ideas for both on- and off-duty.
Something I’ve always known but, for whatever reason, never really thought much about, is how many officers were more than one uniform. There seem to be plenty of officers who are prior military so they’ve already worn more than one uniform, but how many of them, in their off-duty time, also serve as volunteers in another public safety capacity? Whether it’s firefighting, emergency medicine, search and rescue or other, the drive to serve is strong and we seem to find a way to do it beyond our profession. As we go into the “final lap” of this holiday season, I wanted to take the opportunity to recognize and thank those who serve above and beyond. Their sacrifices are often greater than get acknowledged and their families sacrifice as well. So THANK YOU to the family and friend support systems as well.
Have a happy, safe and joyous holiday season full of friends and family.
