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A GIFT OF WORDS

Lane & Patty Judson's daughter Crystal was fatally shot by the husband she was divorcing - Tacoma Washington's Police Chief David Brame - one day after city officials publicly announced that her claims of abuse and threats would not be investigated. It was a very public murder-suicide, executed in a shopping center parking lot with their 2 young children running to them. Chief Brame died that day but Crystal lingered. All of us here in Tacoma held our breath praying for what couldn't be. She had taken a contact headshot with a police-issue glock. Her family stayed with her in the hospital for that week before she died, and it was during that time Lane was given the time to whisper to his daughter...

Much has been accomplished - together with others - from ordinary citizens to U.S. Congress members. Local policies changed, a new Washington State law was created, and federal money was appropriated.

But much is left yet to do as well.

The goal is set high, and many changes must come.

(Larger photo here)

Lane says:

All law enforcement agencies across the nation must adopt specific policy to handle officer-involved domestic violence, victims must have support & a way to safely report when they're afraid, officers who commit severe or repeated offenses must be held accountable, and law enforcement family members must be able to reach out for preventative support without it being used against them.

Accountability in an organization depends on those in charge. Lane is an old Navy Chief,
so knows;

"Leadership starts

at the top."