Midland Police Awards Ceremony

Last week the Midland Police Department held its annual awards ceremony, and dozens of honors were bestowed on the officers who earned recognition last year.

It's worth your best

The keynote speaker was Lt. Kenny Ray of Company E of the Texas Rangers. No need for anyone else -- one riot, one ranger. Mr. Ray gave an inspiring speech to the police officers and guests as he told how he was motivated to become a highway patrolman as a kid. His older friend and mentor advised the young Kenny Ray that the profession was "Worth your best."

Mr. Ray's plan was to meet the minimum requirement for the job, then apply. But the mentor advised him to get a college degree first, so he did. After graduating from A&M, Mr. Ray worked as a county extension agent. But that childhood dream kept gnawing at him. So he became the highway patrolman he always wanted to be, and ultimately, he became a Texas Ranger.

He told the offices at the awards ceremony that whenever they got tired of working, or whenever they started feeling burned out, remember the honor that goes with the job, and remember that it is worth their best.

Now that's valor

One of the award recipients was officer Joey Garcia who earned the Chief's Medal of Valor. So what does a person have to do to earn one of these? Well, here's how Mr. Garcia earned his.

It was a hot summer night, and the alcohol was flowing at the night club where Officer Garcia worked an off duty security job. One of the bar customers got a snoot full and started acting just a little bit too belligerent toward the other guests. Officer Garcia called a cab and the sent guy home where, apparently, he stewed in his humiliation and worked up a head of steam. He came back to the bar spoiling for a fight.

Officer Garcia tried to defuse the situation, but the guy pulled a knife and struck Garcia on the head with the butt end. Mr. Garcia pulled his baton but lost it in the struggle. So here comes the brawler with the baton in one hand and the knife in another.

Well, you know the old saying, "don't bring a knife to a gun fight." Officer Garcia dispatched the attacker with two shots from his handgun. The guy died. And last week Officer got the medal of valor.

Comments

[Jeff]

George, thanks for posting this. It's just not possible to send enough 'attaboys' (and girls!) their way.

[Geo]

Jeff, you should go next year.

[Robert]

Much better than getting the medal awarded posthumorously.

[Geo]

Did you mean posthumously? Yes, it is better than getting one posthumously, although in Midland the statistics would make that a rarity.