October 20, 2011

To our Brothers and Sisters,

This message marks the deployment of SOTA's new website and the half-way point to the 2012 Annual Conference. We are in full swing to getting details, speakers, break-outs and the best vendors in line for YOUR conference. To that end, I am asking each of you to consider teaching / instructing a course for your fellow attendees. The truth is that you don't have to be a big name trainer or have been in multiple shoot-outs to share your knowledge with others! There are operators, TL's and Team commanders right now in our organization who have great ideas that should be shared. WE NEED YOU. We are especially looking for some hands-on courses in tactics and live-fire range. If you or one of your team members has a good course, please go to the "Conferences and Training" button on our homepage, then under the "Instructor Proposal" link and submit your course. The host facility this year has amazing space for all of our training and we want to make the best of it.

We will of course have the de-briefs that you want to see, including a speaker from Sacramento, CA who will provide insight into the 56 hour standoff that took place in June of 2010. Look to the site for updated details we have them available!

I ask that each of you take a minute before your next shift to honor the memory of our fallen hero's this year. The first part of 2011 saw a double-digit increase in LOD deaths. While these tragic deaths are for a variety of reasons, the truth is that there is a state-side war against those in uniform. I fear that we may be entering a time of violence against LE that hasn't been seen since the 70's and previous. As Special Operators, we owe it to ourselves and our teams to prepare as never before. Remember also that it is the street cops who face the greatest dangers first. They will be the initial responders to the active killers and suicide bombers. TRAIN THEM as you do yourselves! The truth is that all cops need to be trained as SWAT cops when it comes to tactics and attitude. Do your part to see that they all go home.

Looking to the future of SOTA we are developing training in the area of firearms, tactics and team concepts that will offer low-cost high quality courses for our members. Keep watching the site for more information. Should you have any ideas on making SOTA and our community better, get in touch with any of the Board members. This is YOUR organization. Period.

Lastly, don't forget to take quiet pride in what you do. There's no greater calling than that of a Police Officer. No matter the city, assignment, rank or volume of call-outs, you are a Police Officer. What you do matters and we thank you!

Sincerely,

Liam Duggan

LDuggan@sotamidwest.org / 952-212-8081