Retirement for Sgt. Ed Jones means more time for track and field
By Loretta McCarty

Sgt. Ed Jones, 58, closed a chapter of his life this October when he announced his retirement. After serving 29 and one half years with Austin's finest, he has turned the page to begin a new chapter, to pursue his passion for track and field.

"I retired to retire," said Jones when asked if he plans to start another career. "I need some time of my own. I have been an amateur athlete most of my life and have participated and traveled a lot with track and field events and want to continue with that."

Jones competes with the Master Track and Field Association, which is a branch of the U.S. Track and Field. As well as competing, he will also try his hand at officiating. He said his "hobby" keeps him healthy: he runs three times a week, lifts weights, and follows a day-to-day schedule with various other exercises. And it allows him to travel.

"Ed would never tell anyone, because he doesn't like to brag on himself, but he's run races all over the United States and has a lot of medals," said Sgt. Randy Sharp, who has known Jones for nearly 10 years. "Last November his picture was in Sports Illustrated, after he set an American long jump record in the 55- 59 age group."

In fact, he jumped 6.12 meters at the USA Masters Championships in Orono, Maine. The previous mark, 6.10 meters, had stood since 1981, according to the magazine article.

Sharp said that Jones is a likable guy everyone wanted to be around and was missed when he wasn't there.
"Ed always worked the night shift. He inspired his people to go out and catch the crooks, and would say that all the bad guys are out late at night," said Sharp. "His shift accomplished a lot, and he is a good guy. I'm not bragging about him; it's a fact."

Jones typically arrived at the station early to get all of his paperwork together, and then showed up for the daily briefing. His goal was to stay ahead of the game.

"I always tried to give 110 percent for whomever I worked," he said. "I wanted to do my best and give my best. I want people to look at my performance."

Asst. Chief Cathy Ellison said she met Jones in the late '70s when he was one of her training officers and a mentor. She still considers him a good friend.

"Ed walked the talk and you always knew where he stood. He worked along with his officers and set an example. When he said it, he meant it," she said. "Ed wore his uniform with pride and did his job the same way."

As a youth, Jones never considering becoming a policeman but was recruited by a high school friend. He has enjoyed his years despite the politics. And despite the danger, such as the day he calls the worst of his career when Leland Anderson, an officer on his shift, was shot and killed in the line of duty.

"Sometimes we, (police officers) fall into a routine and forget that it can be dangerous at any time," he said. "I told those who worked under me that they have to be aware at all times. They can learn the easy way or the hard way. I told them to follow their training and to figure out the best procedure, so as not to put themselves in jeopardy."
Jones tells the story about one of the best days of his career. He received a burglary in progress call. While covering the back door of the home one of the two burglars came running out. The sergeant said he chased him four blocks and caught him, crediting his training in track, running and jumping.

In addition to emphasizing safety techniques Jones promoted people skills.

"I am a friendly person and can get along with anyone," he said. "Way back when, I used to get out of my car and talk to people on their front porch to get to know them. This helped me with a lot of citizens. It is important to know your area. They can assist you when you need help," said Jones. "A lot of young people coming out of school don't know how to deal with people. It is important to listen."

"Ed takes the time to listen, really listen to what people have to say," said Ellison. "He is compassionate and caring. He couldn't have been a policeman as long as he was if he wasn't."

Jones said he will miss the force and working the streets, where no two days were ever alike. He said he liked the streets and never wanted to be trapped in an office.

Now that he's retired, he can still work the streets, but will be running after gold, not bad guys.

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New Retiree, Sr. Officer Edward Robertson will become a Federal Marshall
By Loretta McCarty

After 25-years on the force Sr. Officer Edward Robertson, 48, is retiring. He will become a Federal Marshall four days a week transporting and guarding prisoners. He will also help care for his wife Merry of 24 years, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

"I will enjoy having him around the house to talk to," his wife said. "There are things I can no longer do myself and I am grateful he will be here to help me."

For the past five years Robertson was the District Representative for Districts 3 and 5 in the Southeast Area command. He worked as a neighborhood center officer in the Booker T. Washington Housing Area on the east side of Austin. With the goal of bringing gang activity under control, he worked with the narcotics, gang and new street response units.

Det. William Blackman, who worked with Robertson said, "Ed has done a lot of things at Booker T, helping people out and getting them things they needed. He is a nice guy."

And a good cop, according to his last partner, Earl White.

"I've known him for a long time. He is an easy going, nice person who is willing to help out. I will miss working with him and talking to him," White said.

Like many retirees from that era, Robertson has fond memories of the early days when everyone new each other.

"There was only one police station then and it was more fun because we all knew one another, but Austin has become a big city and you can't stop progress," he said.
Robertson, who was born and raised in East Austin, didn't aspire to become a policeman. He joined the army out of high school and was stationed at Fort Hood as part of the infantry, just missing being shipped to Vietnam.

He said his friend Mike Carter, who lived in the same neighborhood as he, became a policeman and talked him into it. He said he has had a wonderful career and would do it all over again.

When asked about any awards he had received over the years, Robertson said he had gotten a few, but he hadn't kept track. He said most awards were in the form of a handshake.

Robertson remembers one award that can't be hung on a wall. Nearly 16 years ago, Robertson was called to a disturbance during a thunderstorm. There he saw a local troublemaker hitting his mother, which infuriated the 6-foot-4 inch, 300 pound Robertson. He tangled with the man, arrested him, and marched him to jail. Several months later, he encountered the man again.

"He thanked me for beating him up," Robertson said. "He told me he had straightened up because of it."

If, he said, he was ever asked to give advice to a young cadet he would tell them to stop and listen to the people you are dealing with. Go with the target procedures and take it easy. He said not to let little things bother you.

He thinks the biggest misconception the public may have about police is that they are different. Robertson said they are no different than anyone else. They have the same worries, and the same financial problems as anyone else.

The Robertsons hope to do some traveling when time permits, and because they both love to fish, they plan to drop their poles in the water whenever they can.

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Commander Juan Gonzalez retires to be a stay-at-home-dad

Homeland Defense Division Commander Joe Putman Retires

By Loretta McCarty For 31 years Commander Joe Putman, 52, served the citizens of Austin from patrolman to commander. And when he retires October 30th, it will be without regret. Being a policeman is all he ever wanted to be. "I'd do it all again, absolutely, without hesitation," he said. "I've had my share of highs and lows, but it's been a great life experience. If it were easy, you would never know the good times from the bad." Although he enjoyed his career, police work takes its toll. He plans to take a deep breath before he decides what's next and plans to work around the home he had built a few years ago in Point Venture, Lago Vista. "I haven't had much time to enjoy my home, but now I can," he said. "I figure right off I'll have roughly 10 to 12 hours or more a week to enjoy, just by cutting out the commute to Austin." The one thing he will not miss is the pressure of the job. For the past few years Putman headed the Homeland Defense Division. After 9/11 he was responsible for developing and setting up - from scratch - the protocols and procedures in case of terrorist attacks. "I don't know many people who could have done as good a job," said Lt. Corky Marshall, who works in the Special Mission Section of the Homeland Defense Division. "I've known Joe for 20 years but only worked with him since 2001. When he took over the Homeland Defense Division, there were no guidelines or markers. Joe had to find, develop and teach training, in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and get the equipment to do it with. At the same time he was over the bomb squad and the Intelligence Unit. He is extremely focused." Commander Cecilia Hart, who has known Putman for nearly 20 years, and has an office down the hall said, "He's had a tough assignment." Hart said, "He has had to anticipate and foresee catastrophes, and set up procedures and protocol for the police department. And to develop response procedures with all of the other emergency entities, which include the fire department, EMS, and other law enforcement agencies, both state and federal. Everyone has to play a part and they can't get in each others way." Putman said prior to 9/11 there was a need for improvement among the public safety agencies in Austin. They were all doing their own thing, but now he is proud of the current working relationship they have. "New York worked together and if they hadn't, they would have risked failure in a big way," said Putman. Known for his levelheaded approach to problems and as someone who doesn't over react, Putman gained the respect of his colleagues. They say he is a hard worker, extremely fair, open-minded and always tries to do what is best for the department and Austin. "Joe is conscientious and respectful and doesn't let things fall through the cracks," said fellow Commander Rick Hinkle. "I've noticed that when he speaks in meetings and gives an opinion, a hush comes over the room. We know we can look to him for the right decision. We are going to miss him not only from the standpoint of leadership but for his experience." Putman said that he would like to be remembered as someone who did it his way. When he realized he was going to make law enforcement a career he also knew that he didn't want to get "too high, or stay too low". His ambition led him to the rank of commander and ultimately to the most challenging assignment of his career. "I ended up in a division with a whole lot of good people, and Homeland Defense was my best assignment," said Putman. "I loved being involved with it." "Joe worked under me when I was a sergeant," said fellow retiree Howard Hall. "I told him that one day he would be a leader. It was the way he handled himself that set him apart. He did his job and when he took a position he was strong and steadfast. I enjoyed working with him. He was fair and respectful." Despite his own long career and devotion to law enforcement, Putman, who is divorced, said he didn't encourage his two sons, Joe, 27 and Josh, 22 to consider the same for themselves. Joe earned a degree in architecture at Texas Tech and Josh, a student at Texas State University, is still undecided. "The proudest day of my life was when Joe was born, and the second was when Josh was born," Putman said. "Being a police officer is a difficult and dangerous job. I made my choice and they needed to make theirs, but I didn't want them to be cops. As a dad, I feel responsible for them." His philosophy throughout his career Putman said, was to do his job the best he could, to show up for work everyday, and to treat everyone fairly. And he said he did everything asked of him. His advice to new recruits is to realize they have chosen a difficult but rewarding career, and then to hang on tight because "it is going to be a hell of a ride." back to top

Oak Farms Salutes the APD - Officer James Boujemaa

Austin Police Officer James Boujemaa (pronounced BOO-ja-ma) brings an international perspective to police service. The son of a Tunisian father and American mother, Boujemaa was born in the North African city of Tunis, Tunisia, and moved to the U.S. at the age of 3. He attended kindergarten through 6th grade in Kansas City, Missouri, but his father's career in the oil and gas business soon exposed him to a variety of countries and cultures throughout the world, including the Middle East and Africa. After returning to Tunisia, visa requirements necessitated that his family leave that country for a period of time every three months. "We pretty

much were able to visit every country in Western Europe," he says. In addition to schools in the U.S., Boujemaa attended the American School in Tunis and boarding school in England, where he met his future wife, Mairi. After high school Boujemaa earned a bachelor's degree in political science at the University of Missouri, then came to Austin for a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Texas. Boujemaa has been able to share his knowledge of language and culture with fellow officers. Following the September 11 attacks, the APD Training Academy asked Boujemaa to teach a series of in-service classes on cultural diversity related to Islam. As a cadet instructor at the Training Academy, Boujemaa holds to the philosophy of leading by example. "I'm always with them while they're training, especially physical training," he says. As a law enforcement officer with knowledge of so many perspectives on the world, he sees the importance of consideration when serving the public: "I've learned to listen well," he says, "and try to see their point of view." "Officer Boujemaa is a great informal leader amongst a very highly motivated staff here at the Academy," says Lt. Jeffry Adickes. "He really exemplifies our new motto for cadet training, 'We build the finest police officers in the nation.'" Officer James Boujemaa " Native of Tunis, Tunisia " Joined APD, 1994 " Patrol, Northwest, 1994-1997 " Patrol, Central East, 1997-1998 " DWI Enforcement Team, 1998-2001 " Cadet Instructor, APD Training Academy, 2001-present " Fitness Ribbon, 1996 " Safe Driving Bar, 1997 " Meritorious Unit Citation, DWI Team, 1999 " TCLEOSE Master Instructor, 2000 " Crowd Management Team Campaign Ribbon, 2000 " Academic Achievement Ribbon, 2001 " Bachelor's degree, political science, University of Missouri " Master's degree, Middle Eastern studies, University of Texas at Austin back to top

Detective Mark Smith Retires
By Loretta McCarty

The day Detective Mark Smith, 48, retired from the Austin Police Department he left his office carrying a congratulatory bouquet of Mylar blue and gold balloons sent to him by his wife, and stepped outside into a crowd of reporters. He imagined for a moment that the assembled media was there to interview him about his life on the force and his plans for the future. But he knew

the readied microphones and cameras were really there for the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Austin that day. Smith said he was amused by the timing of his departure and had a last laugh as he set off for his farm in Elgin for what may be the shortest retirement on record. The following Monday he began a new chapter of his career working at the Travis County District Attorney's office in the Motor Fraud Tax Fraud Unit. With both his daughter and son currently enrolled at Texas A&M he couldn't afford to retire. "I regret not graduating from college myself and want to give them the opportunity to have a good start, so I needed a second career," Smith said. He began as a police aide learning the inner workings of the department. For the next seven years he was a patrolman. He worked on Sixth Street for nine months where he said he broke up more fights in those months than in the entire seven years he worked patrolling the streets. In 1983 he became a liaison between the APD and the DA's office. He was promoted in 1984 and worked Theft. He finished his career in the DA's office. The worst day of Smith's career came just three years after joining, in 1978 when fellow officer, Ralph Ablanedo was shot dead by David Lee Powell. Powell is still on death row for the killing, which occurred during a routine traffic stop. "I didn't know Ablanedo that well, but it was the first officer I ever knew that died, and I felt bad about it," Smith said. He said he was always aware of the dangers of the job and although he didn't dwell on them, was happy when he became a sergeant investigator. Landing the position enabled him to get off the street and into an eight-to-five job where he could be home with his family. "Mark was not into promoting up, he wanted to be around to help with the kids," said Wendy Smith, his wife of 20 years. "He was there for Little League games, attended our daughter's FFA banquets, and helped both of them learn how to drive." Smith felt he found his niche when he worked at the DA's office for the third time as an investigator in the White Collar Crime Unit. The job of putting together evidence against white collar criminals fit his personality, he said, at least what he imagines it to be. "I'm the kind of person who wants to do the right thing. By that I mean whatever you put a value on - helping others," he said. "I think if I had one piece of advice for those coming up in the department, it would be to realize that they are not necessarily going to change the world but that if they are true to their own values, they will be successful." "When I think of Mark the words ethics and integrity stand out," said Assistant District Attorney Ruth-Ellen Gura. "You could play poker over the phone with him and trust him to tell you what was played." Smith comes across as a quiet guy who doesn't give up much about himself unless he's asked point blank. His parents have no qualms about touting his virtues. "Our son is 'top notch' and we can say it because we are his parents," said Jerry Smith, a retired Methodist minister and his homemaker wife, Betty. They agreed that as a young boy Smith was quiet, thoughtful of others, and always thought things through before acting on them. They remember he rarely volunteered information on his own. One day they found out from one of his friends that he had landed the lead in a high school production of "Carnival". "We didn't even know he could sing, and here he had the lead role," said his mother. "He never even mentioned that he had tried out for the play!" His father recalls the time his son, still a rookie, arrested a prominent politician. He said his son followed a car down the street that was going over curbs. After stopping the vehicle he realized it was the former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. Not intimidated, Smith took him downtown and booked him on a DWI. Bullock later wrote a letter to the chief of police commending Smith. He said he had been treated politely, and that he was impressed with Smith, whom he said made the right decision by taking him off the road. "If you are a crook and he is on your case you are in trouble," said Lt. Jack Hines, who Smith mentored when they worked in the forgery unit. "He will kill you with kindness. He's an awesome guy. His only downfall is that every Thursday he likes to get the Philly cheese steak special." Even though Smith is officially retired from the police department, this new retiree has already settled into his Travis County District Attorney's office. He continues his daily commute into Austin from his 50-acre farm in Elgin. Smith began buying pieces of the farm named "Goshen" about 25-years ago from his parents and grandparents, who owned it. Smith and his wife built a house on the land 10 years ago. His grandmother, who Smith said might have had the biggest influence on his life, lived on the property until her death in 2002. Like him, it is a quiet locale. Smith, a baseball fanatic, has already covered two walls of his new office with baseball pictures. In "retirement" he plans to attend as many Round Rock Express games as possible, with anyone willing to go with him and to keep up with his favorite team the Astros. When he was in high school, Smith read a lot of Joseph Wanbaugh's police tales, which influenced his decision to make law enforcement a career. He liked the way they were written and it seemed the way to go. He still feels it was the way to go and has no regrets about the last 28 and one half years. back to top

Sgt. Howard Hall Retires
By Loretta McCarty

	Sgt. Howard Hall is the longest tenured officer on the Austin police force with 36 and one-half years under his belt but he's no longer counting. He said he has been thinking "retirement" for a while and now with some nagging health problems it seems like the right time to hang it up. Hall joined the Austin Police Department in December of 1966, when the population of Austin was around 175,000, and manpower and tools were quite different. "We didn't have marked police cars back then or motorcycles, we drove plain Ford four-door sedans," he said. "We had a hand-held spotlight with a red lens that said police on it that we wedged between the dash and the windshield. We didn't even have sirens, which made for some hairy pursuits." He recalls a time in the '60s. When a fight broke out after a dance at the City Coliseum. The officers, summoned from all over the city, entered into the crowds of people carrying shotguns in a poised position. When their sergeant gave the
command to "rack them"(i.e. put the guns back in the patrol units), the officers thought he meant to pump them, which they did. He said the sound from all the shotguns "racking" at the same time, made such an intimidating noise the crowds scattered, clearing the parking lot instantly. Two Texas Highway patrolmen, Oscar Jones and Roy Hillard, influenced him to make law enforcement a career. After graduating from Burnet High School he took courses at both Sam Houston State and Central Texas College. Hall served six months of active duty with the Army National Guard Reserve and joined the Austin Police Department. Once he made his choice he announced to his parents that he was going to be a police officer. "I didn't ask permission. I was pretty independent and wanted to decide for myself what I was going to do with my life," Hall said. From the beginning Hall put in long, hard and stressful hours on the job. In 1989, with all the symptoms of a heart attack, he was rushed off to the emergency room. The doctors, suspecting an aneurysm, injected him with an IVP dye. An allergic reaction to the IVP sent him into full cardiac arrest, shutting down his entire system and leaving him clinically dead. Miraculously, the doctors were able to resuscitate him. Hall does not credit the experience with changing his perspective on life. He has always recognized life is fragile. After his recovery he returned to his unit. "I grew up poor and we all knew what it was like to work hard," said Hall. "I have six sisters and two brothers, my mother was a telephone operator and worked in a restaurant. My dad worked for the county after his trucking business failed." At the age of 10 Hall got his first job washing dishes, standing on crates to reach the sink. He feels this early employment helped build his character and teach him the value of a dollar. "Those were some of the happiest days of my life," Hall said. "We pulled together as a family then; we didn't have much, but material things don't bring happiness." Despite the early years when Hall said he had some doubts about his career choice, he persevered and rose through the ranks to become one of the most respected and thorough investigators on the force. He has received many honors including "Officer of the Year," presented to him by Ross Perot, for his work as a homicide investigator. "Howard is smart with good investigative techniques," said Sgt. Robert Pewitt, who worked with him on child abuse cases. "It was a high pressure job and many times we were overwhelmed with work, but you could always depend on Howard to look at every piece of evidence. I enjoyed working with him and respect the heck out of him." However, his devotion to his work sometimes created problems at home and his wife of 36-years said he wasn't always able to leave his work at the office. "Howard is a compassionate man and he worked long hours on criminal investigation cases that he couldn't help but bring home with him," said Sharon Howard, Professional Development Manager for IBM. "He could be difficult to live with at times and the long hours caused him to miss out on a lot of time with our only child." "I didn't see much of my dad until I was about 13," said Emilie Hall, who is now the Human Resource Manager for Lowe's. "There were times when I resented his absence, and was rebellious, but I know he sacrificed a lot. I am proud of my dad and he instilled in me the importance of education, honesty and a good work ethic."
	His wife feels that retirement will soften her husband and return him to the meek and mild traits that first attracted her. Now that the pressure is off and he has time to slow down she said she is encouraging him to ramble around the house, chill out and clear his head before he decides what he wants to do next. Asked what's next for him, Hall said he has not had time to think about it in depth, but that it will have
something to do with helping people. For those who worked with Hall over the years, that is not surprising. "One of the things I will remember most about Howard is his meticulous, directional fact finding. He would consider all of the options when conducting an investigation," said Sgt. Ken Cannaday, for whom Hall served as a mentor. "I never felt bad about calling him. If I showed an interest in something within his unit he would always share his knowledge and take the time to help me." Commander Joe Putnam said that Hall is one of a kind and someone you could always depend on. He said he never shied away from any assignment, and does not expect him to with his latest, to enjoy retirement. back to top

OFFICER OF THE YEAR: Officer John Coffey
By Loretta McCarty

There was no fanfare, media presence or formal announcement; just a handshake in the hallway for a humbled Officer John Coffey, who was told during a meeting break that he, had been chosen Officer of the Year.

"When Mike and Todd told me I was their choice, I was dumbfounded. I felt really proud," Coffey said. "This award is a great honor and the highlight of any officer's career."

But for John Coffey, a 16-year veteran of the police force, it was more than that. It was the ending point of a difficult chapter that began more than a year ago.

"The award is not just mine," Coffey said. "My family went through this with me and we celebrated the achievement together."

Austin Police Association (APA) President Mike Sheffield explains that to be considered for the award an officer must have gone above and beyond the call of duty and done something extraordinary for the good of all officers in the department.

"John saved someone's life and you can't get more extraordinary than that," Sheffield said. "Choosing Coffey was a no-brainer."

Sheffield and Todd Harrison, member of the board of directors for Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, (CLEAT) had the job of making the nomination and unbeknownst to each, they both chose Coffey. Neither was surprised, however.

"John made a hard decision in a split second. It was an act of bravery and the right decision that saved a life," said Harrison. "John has been a man throughout the investigations and media scrutiny for the past 14 months, has conducted himself professionally, and he's never complained."

Coffey's yearlong ordeal began the morning of June 11, 2002 when he responded to a 911 call at the Austin Housing Authority complex on Rosewood Avenue in East Austin. Coffey took up position at the back of the apartment building, when he saw Sophia King chasing Housing Manager, Diana Powell with an eight-inch butcher knife. Powell fell to the ground and King straddled her poised to lunge the knife. Coffey's shouted warnings failed to stop King. He fired a fatal shot that killed King, but saved Powell. The resulting media coverage tended to focus on the shooting death of King, a 23-year-old mother of two, underplaying the fact that Powell's life was spared.

"It was dynamic and it happened so fast," said Coffey. "I made a split-second decision and shot to control the threat; I did what I was trained to do," he said. "If there would have been anything else I could have done, I would have. I had no other option."

Coffey was put on a four-week administrative leave pending an investigation by the Internal Affairs department.

Coffey explained that after a critical incident a buddy officer is assigned. It is someone to be there for you, take you from the scene, tell you what to expect next, and keep you up-to-date. In his case Coffey said his wife Michelle was his buddy and best friend.

"John called me from his patrol car that morning after the shooting and I couldn't believe what he was telling me," said his wife Michelle. "My voice went from calm to shaky and I almost dropped the phone. Then I just bawled."

She said she pulled herself together knowing that her husband was going to need her support and left work to pick up their four daughters ages 9 to 16, from school. Once home they had a family meeting around the kitchen table where Coffey solemnly told them what had happened that morning.

"It was grown-up stuff and some of it registered with the girls and some didn't," said Michelle Coffey. "My oldest was concerned about the woman who had been killed and wanted to know what happened to her family."

Over the ensuing months Coffey said his lowest point was watching the toll it was taking on his family. His kids were harassed at school -- rocks were thrown at them. His tires were slashed, and the family received numerous death threats.

One night, weeks after the incident, Coffey said his 13-year-old was very quiet as they were sitting around the kitchen table. After repeated attempts to find out what was wrong she began to cry telling her parents that the kids in school were saying that, "her daddy killed black people."

"I put my arm around her and wondered why with all of my years of training and hard work, I didn't have an answer for her and I couldn't make things right," Coffey said. "I knew that the job was dangerous when I took it, but that's what I signed on for." My wife and kids didn't sign on for it and it wasn't fair or right that they had to suffer. "And without a doubt, they were suffering."

Seven investigative bodies including Internal Affairs, the Grand Jury, the Shooting Review Panel, the District Attorney's Office, and the Homicide Unit, all exonerated Coffey and yet the case is still under investigation. Currently the case is undergoing an independent investigation by a Dallas law firm after the Austin police monitor said there were still some "unanswered questions." Additionally, the NAACP's request for further investigation was sent on to the justice department, who has referred it to the FBI.

A lesser man may have been bitter, but Coffey 'stepped into the storm" and helped the APA work out the flaws in the meet and confer contracts when he was asked. He worked hard to help re-define the standard operating procedures when an officer is involved in a shooting.

"John stood by the APA and went toe-to-toe to protect officers' rights," said the APA President. "He was their champion. "John knew it wasn't just for him. He did it for everyone who comes after him so they don't have to go through what he did."

Cpl. George Jackoskie, who has known Coffey his whole career, feels Coffey's actions showed his character.

"He was willing to go through all of this. He could have gone fishing, but he stepped up to the plate," Jackoskie said.

Coffey said quitting for him was never an option for two reasons: he didn't do anything wrong and he has never wanted to be anything other than a police officer.

"Even when he was a little boy playing cowboys and Indians, John was always the sheriff and his cousin was always the outlaw," said his mother Ursula, who still lives in North Russell, New York, Coffey's boyhood home. "We tried talking him out of going into law enforcement because we thought it was too dangerous, but he never wavered.

John grew up in a small town of less than 3,000 people in a Norman Rockwell-like setting near the Canadian border. His mother was a homemaker who cared for their family of three sons and a daughter, while his father Bernard, to whom he is still extremely close, held down two jobs.

"We were an ordinary family," said Coffey's dad. "John always gave a hundred percent in whatever he did and always made me a proud father."

Coffey attended New York State University out of high school and earned a degree in criminal justice. After completing an internship at the Austin Police Department he was hired on and spent six of his 16 years on the force teaching both combat tactics and survival skills, instilling the importance of training to his cadets.

"Coffey would voluntarily stay after the day had ended to help those of us who wanted to practice that weeks' defensive tactics," said Det. Jim Beck, who went through Coffey's training class in 1995.

Before each class he would have us repeat from a motivational speech he wrote that said being an officer was not just a job, but also a lifestyle and in order to live the lifestyle you had to have the heart and desire, and you've got to believe, Beck said.

"He exhibited that "heart and desire" when he signed on to work with the APA to help fix the flawed oversight process," Beck said.

Coffey said on his average day he may answer 10 calls ranging from domestic disputes, barking dogs and traffic stops, to disturbance calls with violence. He said that any one of these calls could escalate and become dangerous if the responder second-guesses.

"A police officer is in a unique position to make a difference," Coffey said. "When an officer steps out of the patrol car it's just you and your utility belt. You always have to stay focused and be aware of your surroundings because in a blink of an eye things can change. It's all about training and the right mind set."

Coffey said that one of the best things about being a police officer is that you can make a difference in someone's life and that the worst thing is that sometimes you can't.

"What you see is what you get with John, said his wife Michelle Coffey, who is ecstatic about her husband's recognition. He is no different at home than he is anywhere else. He is a good guy and so deserving of this award," she said.

Michelle Coffey calls herself the "ying" to her husband's "yang". She said he is the voice of reason and is always in control, while she is outspoken and admittedly has the 'temper of a tiger' when it comes to defending her family.

"When John was accused of being a racist, I couldn't believe it," she said. "John is not a racist and never has been as long as I've known him. It's never been a question in our home. Besides this never was a race issue: It was about him saving the life of a woman being attacked." "The fact that Sophia King was black and John is white has nothing to do with anything."

Michelle Coffey quickly reminds people that with the recent praise and positive attention heaped on her husband, he is not a saint. She candidly admits the two of them are no different than any other married couple and that they have trouble communicating at times.

"John is a man's man and we have a house full of women. Even his beloved hunting dog is a female, so we don't always consider each others needs," said his wife. "We actually got closer after all of this happened. He couldn't speak to the media and explain himself during the investigation but I could."

Michelle Coffey is a woman of action. When she could no longer answer adequately her daughters' questions about why it seemed their dad wasn't getting any support from Police Chief Stanley Knee, she made an appointment for them to meet with him in person.

"During the meeting I asked him to explain it to my girls." Chief Knee told them that the department had put out press releases explaining their dad's side, but that he couldn't tell the press what to print," Michelle Coffey said.

Their daughter Christa, then 12, said to the Chief that while she meant no disrespect, she wanted to know why he didn't just make the press release shorter and say that her dad did the right thing, that Knee supported him, and nothing else.

"We have always taught our children, to voice their own opinions because it is their world, too," Michelle Coffey said.

Coffey said he is not worried about the outcome of any further investigations, and said there could be a thousand investigations and it wouldn't matter, because it doesn't change the fact that he didn't do anything wrong. He is sincerely grateful for the support, kind words and heartfelt generosity he and his family have received from his fellow officers during their darkest days. Asked if there was any advice he would give to others in the same situation, Coffey points to the necessity to have strong personal commitment.

"You have to have the heart and desire and believe in what you are doing," Coffey said. "When you stand alone, you find out what you are made of."

For the last fourteen months, John Coffey has shown everyone what he is made of and why he earned the highest honor of an officer's career. back to top