True Blue Heroes

Awards Banquet a Success

There is a theme I have mentioned before: police are just not very good at acknowledging the heroic acts they do. They don’t commend each other very often, and certainly the public has little opportunity to hear about it. But heroic acts they do, and the opportunity for some police officers to be acknowledged finally came to the Tulsa Police Department last night.

It has been many years since something like an awards assembly was held for the officers of TPD. The last such annual occurrences faded away in the late eighties. In the following years, it just didn’t happen. Officers continued to receive various commendations, continued to be promoted, continued to be congratulated, but all on an internal basis. Some officers received national recognition for their work, yet their own squad mates never even knew of it.

Clearly, it was time for that to stop. I will not attempt here to list all the individuals in the Department and in the private sector who helped make the banquet happen last night. Suffice to say that hundreds of hours were spent in the planning and execution, and it was worth it.

Over 300 people gathered to honor Tulsa Police officers. The stories of their selfless acts were shared as Lori Fullbright so eloquently summarized them. There was the officer who drove an ambulance to the hospital when the medics were too busy saving a life in the back of it. There were officers who faced dangerous killers and exhibited incredible bravery as they ensured that the bad guys went to either prison or their graves. Grizzled street cops had moist eyes at the telling of tales of such bravery, kindness, and esprit de corps.

But finally, there was the standing ovation for a good officer, now Chief of Police, who, after over 35 years of service, is preparing to retire. The embattled Chief Dave Been no doubt knew that, once he became Chief, he risked having to leave the Department on a bitter note. There were no bitter notes. Every one who stood for him last night, perhaps for his final ovation before leaving the Department, knows one certain thing about Dave Been: he does and stands up for what he thinks is right, and he was right a lot of the time.

So many good stories, excellent speakers, the camaraderie and support of the good citizens of Tulsa, and great organization lead me to believe that this truly will be an "annual" event. For "true blue heroes" the standing ovations should keep on happening.

Officer Will Dalsing

If you wish to read about the specific awards given last night, please click here:

http://www.tulsapolice.org/awards/awards_2006/award_2006.html

Comments

[carol bush]

As member of the private sector I wanted to thank all the men and women who protect us every day. Even though I have the opportunity to work with various members of TPD on a daily basis, I underestimated the impact of the stories I heard last night at the awards banquet. I was very proud to be there and to be able to recognize all who have gone beyond the call of duty. Our community is very lucky to such a dedicated group of men and women serving us. I hope that next year more from the private sector will participate in the banquet and help celebrate our true blue heros!

Thank you to all who worked on this event to make it a special evening!

[Off Will Dalsing]

Carol you had a huge part in making it happen.
Thank You!

[Major Julie Harris]

What a wonderful event!

Good job everyone. You should all pat yourselves on the back. The evening was a success as evidenced by the large attendance and a crowd that did not want to go home after it was over.

You worked through all of the preliminary issues that will only go down in the memory books.

Again, my congratulations!

Julie

[Paul Tay]

No doubt you guys are already planning next year's encore with a musical act.

Tell Santa which act you guys want. And, it's a DONE deal as long as NO one gets busted for DUI after lunch on a BRIGHT and beautiful Friday NOON!

SAPD's Alamo Heat, fo' shure. NO way those compadres gonna DRINK and drive!