CHALLENGE

When people are faced with any kind of challenge, they have choices...
Run...
Faint...
Make excuses...
Expect that someone will come rescue us...
Some even think we can give up...  But give up to what?...  or...
We, any person, can face the challenge head on and do the best we can with what we have where we are and leave the rest to God or whom ever else is responsible.

Whether I need something...  Want something...  I calculate it's cost... 
Not it's selling price but what it will cost me to get it and keep it.  Sometimes it is not the cost of attaining something...  The controlling factor is what does it cost to own it, keep it...  Live with it...  Or the cost to have it control me.

When faced with a challenge, I calculate the problem and possible solutions.  If I am not sufficient to accomplish the desired results alone...  Then what are my options?...  What tools are available?...  Can I improvise and use something at hand that will assist in accomplishing the desired results?  Necessity is the mother of invention...  And, I add, it is also the mother of learning!!!  If there is a problem, there is always a solution...  What can I do to find it if I do not already know it?  Think!...  Experiment!...  Evaluate the effort to see what else might help.

When a man and woman fall in love, seldom do they count the future cost.  Compelling, overpowering physical and emotional attraction can take control and become bliss or torture...  Ecstasy or depression...  What does it truly cost to love something or someone?

When love overtook me I was planning a very different life.  When love became the power in my emotions and thinking I evaluated the future in terms of what will it be like if I continue my plans?...  What will it be like if I throw away my plans and forsake it all for the love of this woman?...  Love for the woman won out and I forsook all other opportunities I had planned for and began to search for new opportunities that would allow me to keep the love and the woman and be able to take care of her and the family that I knew would come from and with the love I had for her.  I had a very short time to convince her I was the right man for her...  But I already knew she was the right woman for me!  I had a very few months to re-plan for a workable future.  I convinced her...  It all came together...   And we had 44 beautiful years of life and love together before she died.  I never regretted the decision to love her and build upon our relationship.

When we married I began a life of pursuing engineering as a profession and became very successful in it...  Until something different began to gnaw at my heart...  A different profession...  I was falling in love again but this time it was a different case...  Old memories, old movies, old books...  the stories of the past overtook my emotions, determination and sensibilities...  It was a profession and not a person...  It was an idea that would not dim, nor would it go away...  My wife hated the idea and was frightened of it...  She wanted nothing to do with it.  We had two children and I was doing well at my current profession in engineering,

Why, she wanted to know, did I want to change to something so dangerous? 

It was like the moment I knew I was in love with her...  Nothing else would ever satisfy that part of my life but her.  The idea of being a Trooper had so overtaken me that nothing else in this life would satisfy me as a way to earn a living and live the life before me.  I made calls...  I asked questions...  I obtained an application...  I lined up references...  I did everything I could do to gain this opportunity.  She was still frightened.  I visited a locally working Conditionally Appointed Trooper in field training and talked with him.  I talked with the local Headquarters Lieutenant (He eventually became Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, retired in 1984, and died just this week).  All of the contact that I had with them only reinforced the resolve that I had to try for the appointment as a Conditionally Appointed Trooper...  (this title was applied to the newly hired applicant as he went through field training and basic training before graduation and assignment.  In those days the field training came first to see if the applicant was worth the cost of Basic School training.)

I became a man obsessed with convincing my beautiful wife that it was not so dangerous and that I really must make the effort.  I was most definitely sure it was my destiny to be a Trooper.  She finally relented...  After screaming. " NO!" the first time I mentioned it, the NO'S! became "NO...  No...  no...  Well, maybe...  Are you sure you won't be killed?..."  To, "OK, if that is what you really want!"  I applied in March, tested in April, hired in June, reported to duty July 15, served 30 days in the field and reported to the training Academy August 15, 1962...  Graduated in December 1962...  Spent two years on the worst duty station in the State and transferred to one of the best duty stations in Salem, Virginia in December, 1964.

Between March and June I had major difficulties to overcome that experts said was impossible...  But I did not believe them and sought for answers and solutions.  Answers that others said were impossible were discovered...  Solutions were created...  Results were achieved and I received the appointment that experts said was not possible.  That began my career that has lasted until this very day and I am still active doing what I can do and leaving the rest to God and others.  That was 48 years ago and I did not get killed nor even injured but my beautiful wife has been gone from this life for eight years now.

In the course of my career I noted the most useful place to be was to gain all the experience and training that I could and then become an Instructor.  My first years were extremely active...  Much experience was gained...  Much training was received.  After my course was altered by finding the connection with God, my Commander-In-Chief, I was brought here to live in the very place I had said all of my life I never wanted to live...  And shortly I will have been here 42 years, learning to live by Grace and determination and serving the citizens and visitors to this city.  Grace, opportunity and trust were extended to me and I saw many marvelous incidents transpire while I lived an adventure like those written in books of times past.  Among other things I did, I became a Certified Police Instructor and instructed many in law enforcement and the military.  I also became a Discipleship Instructor in the Church and have instructed many in that endeavor as well.

I am glad I did not believe the experts then...  I often did not believe them in incidents as I traveled this Journey...  And there are times that I still do not believe them now.  It is incredible what I would have missed if I had listened to all of the professional advice and not followed my heart and it's leadings.  Some call that being hardheaded...  Some call it stubborn...  Some call it stupid...  I, and the Bible, call it Perseverance...  Doing what you know to do no matter what anyone else is, or is not, doing...  Doing what you know to do even if you have to do it alone...  Doing what you know you must do even if everyone else says you are wrong.

In the history of our nation there has been a long line, a many membered group, of people with the same attitude of purpose....  Persevere...  Don't give up!!!...  If this were not so, we would still be under the rule of the Monarchy of the Royal Family of England.   Many times we had to blindly feel our way along as we explored where the path we followed would lead us and others.  Many men and families were sacrificed in the process of building this nation.  Not all of their actions were good, proper and legal.  Sometimes the trial and error method was faulty and brought conflict and defeat for a time...  But Dreamers with Perseverance knew there was a better way available if they would seek it and not give up just because it was costly and hard...  They found the way, formed the Nation and handed it down to us.

Now it is at a time of determination and crossroads again.  Some one took me to task and discussion for giving so much importance to the existence of the Peace Keepers...
But I know from experience what life here would be like if there were no Peace Keepers to deter as much unlawful activities as possible with the resources available to us.  Each place I have worked since 1962 has had a number of people occupying it who were dedicated to unlawfulness and antisocial behavior.  If it were not for young zealous Peace Keepers like I was then, and many of you are today, the violence and thievery would have been unbelievable...  And sometimes I lived just down the road from them and they would catch me at home and off duty and create situations to entice me to come after them while they played cat-and-mouse with my efforts...  I soon learned more and better ways to catch them and hinder their abilities to create the law breaking and enticements.

Sometimes it involved large families... (On one station I charged or arrested every member of a large family except the mother and I just had not been able to catch her driving.)...  Sometimes it was just individuals...  They lived by a different attitude than most citizens, a crooked, perverse attitude of doing as they pleased, lawful or not made no difference to them.  Once you learned their attitude and their ways they were predictable.  You knew where to catch them...  You knew when to catch them...  I even had to have a pow-wow with one family who lived close to my residence.  Once we had the face to face discussion in my front yard we got along well until I was transferred from the area.  They found I was tough, would not back down and was fair in my treatment of people if they would let me be fair. 

The people determine how they will be treated.  Cooperate and it goes well...  Resist and it gets progressively tougher until we resolve the problem...  That means it costs them something to get to the resolution.   When they discovered I would treat them fairly even when they were wrong and assist them in need when they were not wrong, they developed a different attitude, less adversarial and more cooperative.  I also learned that many people have to be given a verbally stated choice...  Easy or hard, you decide...  Mercy or justice, you decide.  Most intelligent people choose to cooperate.  The ones who do not choose to cooperate learn the hard way...  Or they keep getting lessons until they learn or are gone from here.

Each of us has the opportunity to make choices.  In every day and every situation, we have the opportunity to make choices.  We have sworn to protect and serve...  To preserve the Peace and Safety...  And to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies whomsoever, foreign or domestic...  (from outside and inside the country)...  We already made that choice...  That course is set! 

Also we can choose how we are going to conduct ourselves in relation to duty and other people.  Someone was astonished at my care and concern for the welfare of the lawbreaker once his lawbreaking was stopped and he was in custody.  I took that oath and it applies to all people I deal with after they cease their lawbreaking.  Until they follow instructions and cease their lawbreaking, the Peace Keeper is granted the power to use the amount of force necessary to stop the law breaking and restore the peace.  Peace and safety is our goal...  Sometimes we must use force to achieve that goal...  But we are authorized to use only that amount of force necessary to restore peace and safety...  And we are not authorized to use one modicum more than is necessary...  Not even the tiniest amount more than is necessary...

If you must use a weapon to stop the lawbreaking and you are trained to shoot until the lawbreaking or the threat to peace and safety stops...  It is kind of hard to stop the bullets that have been discharged as he falls...  But we are expected to stop as soon as we recognize that the threat is over.  I remember the training in Hogan's Alley...  Barricaded Subjects...  Life size silhouettes...  Seeking cover and defending self or someone held as hostage...  Innocent people...   And lawbreakers shooting guns...  Our training was to teach us to see which was which and conduct ourselves accordingly...  Because I chose this profession in life, it was necessary that I receive this kind of training...  I had to know and experience the difference so as to know what I was doing...  TRAINING MAKES THE PEACE KEEPER!!!    LACK OF TRAINING BREAKS THE PEACE KEEPER!!!  Knowledge comes from training.  Attitude comes from knowledge and training and attitude is a choice...  We choose how we are going to respond to training and imparted knowledge.  Right attitude preserves you...  Wrong attitude will kill you!  It is our obligation to know the difference and make proper adjustments as we learn.

I am convinced from much experience that there would be no life as we know it today if it were not for people like you who have been the Peace Keepers of the past, of the present and will be in the future.  My Commander-In-Chief and I do deeply appreciate that you have made the choice to serve the peace and safety of the Nation and it's citizens.  We both are Eternally Grateful!  We ask the following of you...

"BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!"  ALWAYS be alert, watchful, suspicious and wary.  Take the very best care of you as you care for and about others. See to the strength and well being of your spirit as well as all the rest of you.  Your spirit must be strong for you to be successful.

Call or write if I may be of any service... Or if you just want to encourage me... Feedback encourages all who write... It helps to know we are reaching someone who reads the message.

My daughter, Donna, was forced to be discharged from the hospital by the insurance company.  The treatment is not yet over and my guess is about 3 to 4 more weeks are needed.  It was working so well but they were relentless and she came home last evening, Friday.  She is on a Wound Vac and I had to do a major repair on its seal today.  It appears that the person who applied it was just not able to analyze and achieve good results.  It is working fine now and we are doing as well as can be expected.  She is very weak from 6 weeks in bed, so I have much to do to see to her needs.  I am glad that I am still a large and strong man when it comes to physically handling someone like my daughter.  Strength and knowing how to use it is a marvelous set of tools.  Thanks for the care, concern and prayers.  The next surgery and wound sponge application is scheduled for Tuesday in the OR.  If progress is maintained we do this until it closes.  If progress is not maintained she goes back into the hospital.  Even in these adverse circumstances, the puppies and I are glad to have her home and she is most happy to be here.

As it has always been... So it still is!!!

"VICTORIOUS WARRIORS WIN FIRST...
AND THEN GO TO WAR,
WHILE DEFEATED WARRIORS GO TO WAR FIRST...
AND THEN SEEK TO WIN."  Sun tzu

Training and practice are everything!
Without them, the best results are not obtained!

ONLY LIVE PEACE KEEPERS SEE THE VICTORY!!!
THEY SEE IT ONLY BECAUSE OTHERS HAVE MADE THEIR ETERNAL
PAYMENTS OF SWEAT, BLOOD, TEARS AND LIFE FOR THAT VICTORY!

WITH THE DEEPEST OF APPRECIATION AND RESPECT...
BE BLESSED (A CONDITION TO BE ENVIED)...
BE SUCCESSFUL... BE SAFE...
[My injunction to be safe means doing all you know to do as you do your job... it means
doing the best you can with what you have where you are using all your faculties to get
the job done well and with good results conquering evil and keeping or restoring peace...
it does not mean to avoid duty and honor... it does not mean to cower or allow anything
to hinder you in the process of duty according to rules, law and ethics...  it means that if
the demand takes your earthly life you destroy as much evil as possible in the process. 
That is my definition of being safe... doing the best you can and leaving the rest to God
or whomever else is responsible... being best employed for the sake and protection of all
the things and people that we hold dear.]

I represent, write for... and give the credit to:
God the Father (my Commander-in-Chief),
Jesus Christ the Son (the Eternal Captain of my life) and
the Holy Spirit of God (my Eternal Teacher, Keeper and Guide).
In Christ I live... with Him and for you I serve...
And I rejoice that you are there whether you are Christian or not...
For God, Country and the Peace Keeper...
D. R. (Don) Staton, Chaplain to Peace Keepers,
Surviving Peace Keeper,
Virginia State Police Alumni,
RETIRED Police Officer Virginia Beach Police Dept.,
Senior Chaplain and Administrative Chaplain VBPD,
DCJS Certified Police Instructor,
Community Service Officer (Traffic Safety) VBPD
Blackwater Alumni
757-431-2190, chpln1@verizon.net
3709 Beacon Lane, Virginia Beach, VA 23452
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