News

Actions

Below 100 initiative aims to decrease line of duty deaths

Posted at 6:14 PM, Aug 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-16 19:22:25-04

Below 100 is a nationwide initiative to save the lives of those in law enforcement. 

The goal is to bring the number of line of duty deaths below 100, a number that hasn't been seen since 1943.

Detective Kim Henderson with the Hewitt Police Department shared that message with her brothers and sisters in blue at McLennan Community College today.

"We have a lot that we have to look out for including guns, crashes and things on our mind constantly," Henderson said.

This is the second Below 100 initiative that's been taught at MCC.

"From my own experience, being a retired police chief and 33 years in law enforcement, I recognize what's happening in the world today and we need to have some training to just give them a reminder of what to do," said Dennis Stapleton, coordinator of the Law Enforcement Academy at MCC.

Henderson said officers can better protect themselves by following a few simple steps laid out by the initiative.

"There are five tenets that they teach," Henderson said. "One is wearing your belt or wear your safety belt, which is something everyone should do. Wear your vest, watch your speed, WIN, which stands for what's important now living in the moment and complacency kills."

The law enforcement community is tight-knit and when one officer falls they all feel pain.

Just last year, Texas lost two DPS troopers just a few weeks apart.

On Nov. 4, Trooper Thomas Nipper was killed during a traffic stop after a pickup truck struck his car.

On Thanksgiving, Trooper Damon Allen was also killed during a traffic stop after he was shot in the head.

"Law enforcement is a family," Henderson said. "I consider my coworkers my brothers and my sisters and that is like losing a family member. It hits us all very hard." 

Henderson hopes that by sharing her message with the community, she can help to protect those who vow to protect and serve. 

"Go back to your department and see what changes you can make to reinforce the things you learned here today," Henderson said.

Officers from Hewitt, Lacy Lakeview and Robinson showed up for the class at MCC. To find out when the next class is, click here

Copyright 2018 KXXV. All rights reserved.