This magazine will be our last edition for 2022. I am sure all our readers will agree that it seems like 2022 has flown by. As we enter the holiday season, a time for family, friends, thankfulness and appreciation for all the gifts in our lives, I wanted to post an acceptance speech from Chris Pratt after winning an award for his role in a movie.

The speech was from 2018 at the MTV Movie & TV Awards. Pratt has starred in many movies, such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic Park. From my research, Pratt is also a huge supporter of law enforcement and very appreciative and grateful for the jobs our police officers do across the country. Chris’ own brother is a police officer and has been for around 18 years.

As we have observed from many in Hollywood, several award shows have taken the time to attack or speak ill of our profession. Pratt himself has even been attacked because of his support of his brother and the law enforcement community. This award acceptance speech touches so many different levels of every person walking this earth today, and with the holidays coming, I thought it was a good time to share it with our members. Pratt said: 

“This being the Generation Award, I’m … going to cut to the chase, and I’m going to speak to you, the next generation, OK? I accept the responsibility as your elder, so listen up. This is what I call ‘nine rules from Chris Pratt, Generation Award winner’:

1. Breathe. If you don’t, you’ll suffocate.
2. You have a soul. Be careful with it.
3. Don’t be a turd. If you’re strong, be a protector. And if you’re smart, be a humble influencer. Strength and intelligence can be weapons, and do not wield them against the weak. That makes you a bully. Be bigger than that.
4. When giving a dog medicine, put the medicine in a little piece of hamburger. They won’t even know they’re eating medicine.
5. It doesn’t matter what it is — earn it. A good deed. Reach out to someone in pain. Be of service. It feels good, and it’s good for your soul. 
6. God is real. God loves you. God wants the best for you. Believe that. I do.
7. If you have to poop at a party, but you’re embarrassed because you’re going to stink up the bathroom, just do what I do. Lock the door. Sit down. Get all the pee out first, OK? And then, once all the pee is done, poop. Flush. Boom. You minimize the amount of time that the poop is touching the air because if you poop first, it takes you longer to pee, and then you’re peeing on top of it, stirring it up. The poop particles create a cloud that goes out, and then everyone at the party will know that you pooped. Just — just trust me — it’s science.  
8. Learn to pray. It’s easy, and it’s so good for your soul.
9. And finally, nobody is perfect. People are going to tell you, ‘You’re perfect just the way you are.’ You’re not! You are imperfect. You always will be. But there is a powerful force that designed you that way. And if you’re willing to accept that, you will have grace. And grace is a gift. And like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody else’s blood. Do not forget it. Don’t take it for granted.

God bless you. Please get home safely.”

I hope you all can relate to this post in some way and are able to take something away from it. It is both humorous and sincere. Live your own life that way. Be dedicated but have fun. 

Life, like 2022, flies by fast. I have watched this agency grow for over 24 years, watched my marriage grow for almost 20 and watched my children grow for 18 years. Enjoy life, enjoy work and enjoy each other. Stay safe out there, and have a wonderful holiday season.

P.S. RIP, Snookie. You were always a solid man, a solid friend and a solid cop. You will be missed.