Chief's Becker's Email - Presidents Day

It is good to be back in the saddle as it were. That is not to say that I did not enjoy my brief retirement, in fact, I was sort of getting used to it. The really great thing about it is that when that day does arrive, I not only can retire and get into the lifestyle, but that I can do so without my wife wanting to kill me, which is an important thing.

She always tells me that people either love me or they hate me, there is no middle of the road. Fortunately she has always been on the loving side of the fence and so I was concerned that my unwavering presence into her world might end up being more than she could handle. I sure did not want her to jump over to the hating side.

What I found is that it is all about communication. Men and women do speak differently, perhaps it is that Women from Venus or Men from Mars or wherever we are from, but we do communicate differently. Understanding that difference really makes all of the other pieces fit in.

For example, this summer I was sweating profusely and covered with black oil as I carried out the annual task of blacktopping our driveway. In the middle of doing so, my wife walked up on me and out of the corner of my eye I could see her looking over the blacktopping job that my neighbor had just completed. He did a double coat, which ticks me off because it raises the bar makes it hard on the rest of us.

As she looked at our neighbors driveway, she opined "Joe's driveway looks nice, he did it twice". To the uneducated, that might not mean much, but I knew what she was really saying was that I should apply a second coat just as Joe had.

Well, during my retirement test I learned a few other things that I shall remember and take with me when I really do retire.

For instance---- When she asks? = She really means

• How high did you turn up the heat? = It is too hot in here
  
• What time do you want to leave? = I want to go now
  
• Do you have shoes on? = Take out the garbage
  
• Are you going upstairs? = Take the clean laundry up to the bedroom

It is all about understanding how we communicate, that is the trick! Thank God for such a wonderful and loving wife, I made it through the retirement test run and she still loves me!

PRESIDENTS DAY - Where was this story all of these years?

I came upon this story some time ago and I was amazed that I had not heard of it before. I have Googled it to death and to the best of my ability, I believe it to be true. I came upon it while reading a management book by James Merritt. In one of the chapters he is addressing the fact that we cannot do much about our heritage, but we can do something about our legacy. To emphasize that point he takes us back in time and introduces us to Edwin Booth, at one time considered by many to be the greatest actor of his time. Booth's brother and father, both names Junius, were also reportedly in the acting business.

Well, all was going great for Edwin until one day in April 1865 when his brother, John Wilkes Booth, decided to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. That single act drove Edwin into seclusion and like me into retirement, but his turned out to be permanent. He knew that from that point forward whenever anyone heard the name of Booth, they would think of John Wilkes Booth, which tainted the family name forever and brought a screeching halt to his career.

Now for the interesting part---- During a busy event in a Jersey City, New Jersey train station, Edwin was awaiting the arrival of the train when a young man lost his footing and fell near an incoming train. Edwin reached down, grabbed him by his collar and pulled him up, literally saving his life. A week or so later, Edwin Booth would receive a letter of appreciation from Ulysses Grant's Chief of Staff thanking him for saving the life of Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of one Abraham Lincoln. Can you believe that ? Why I am now just learning of this story, did you know about this?

I have checked and checked to verify this story, to include visiting this site http://www.historynet.com/edwin-booth-saved-robert-todd-lincolns-life.htm

Chief Troy Williams - Portage Police Department

I met with Chief Williams the other day and he expressed an interest in sending out his version of the Chief's Email. I wish to support him in that endeavor and so I am alerting you that Chief Williams is inviting you to join in and subscribe to his email alerts. If you wish to join, feel free to contact Chief Williams at twill@portage-in.com

I do anticipate that future emails will be delivered via the hotmail account, but I am experiencing some issues with mass emails. The daily limit they impose may force me to use another account, so watch out for future emails that may arrive other than from hotmail. They will have my name in the header/subject line.

Take care for now and remember, if it does not seem right, it probably is not right. Call the police and let them figure it out, that is what we get paid to do.

Be Safe

Mark J. Becker
Chief of Police
East Chicago Police Department
East Chicago, Indiana