To All members of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office:
After becoming officially sworn in as your new Sheriff I would like to thank each of you for your support and kindness that I have felt from you. The Weber County Sheriff’s Office is a wonderful organization and each of you play an important role in making us “The Best in the West” as Sheriff Slater has said so often
Thank you for your attendance at the General Meetings and for your efforts to improve our office as we continue to provide for the safety & security of Weber County residents. Thank you for your commitment to fulfill your duties and responsibilities - to achieve an “Attitude of Gratitude”, support the office and administration, and treat others as you would want to be treated. I look forward to meeting with each of you individually. I appreciate your patience, as it will take several months to get through these interviews.
I would like to share some of my thoughts:
The military and civilian public safety have a lot in common. They are very different in some ways but so similar in most others. In the end, they each ultimately find fulfillment and personal satisfaction in service to others, tangibly making a difference and loving the adrenaline-charged action. We discover later in life that some of that adrenaline-charged action has a price we pay and we carry this with us for the rest of our lives; but we know that we are doing the right things for the right reasons. Even if mistakes are made, it does not change the fact that we are engaged in meaningful service to God and Country. These experiences are life changing events for us, but more importantly, positive life changing events for those we serve and lives we save. We choose to make a difference in others’ lives by sacrificing a piece of ours.
Always know that God, in whatever form you picture him, recognizes our sacrifice and service, understands our imperfections, and blesses us. When we are in the service of others, we are in his service. We will make mistakes because we are imperfect, but I truly believe that God knows us better than we know ourselves, so we need to let him carry our burdens and focus on improving each day. That is really all we need to do - to keep getting up after we fall down and to stay the course!
Some years ago, I attempted to get involved in one of Utah's death penalty firing squads. I had others ask "How could you do that?" I don't take it lightly, but the death penalty is not just legally required, it is morally sound - just as a soldier taking a life on the battle field, or a police officer taking a life to protect himself or others, or a citizen taking a life to protect his own or another, it is okay because God is okay with it!
The great thing about the Christmas season is that while we should remember our brothers in arms and our brothers in all walks of life all year long, we don't as we get distracted with the challenges and realities of life. So, I like the idea that Christmas is a reminder that comes at least once a year and jerks us out of our selfish pattern we get caught up in and helps us to re-focus on what really matters in life (proper priorities). I need it and I like that it helps all of us to re-focus on what we need to spend more time on: our family, military, veterans, the fallen, law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS, et. al. These all are at the top for me while others would list many different needs that warrant our appreciation, attention, and support. If I continued I could identify important needs all day long. It is good that everyone gets some additional attention during the Holidays, since we can't individually support everyone. You and I would likely agree that safety and security as a Nation and community will always be the foremost priority, because everything else we care about hinges on achieving that first. Others don't get that, but they still contribute in ways which benefit society as a whole. That's a good thing, as you and I can't do it all. :)
Again, thank you for your support. Thank you for your efforts and Thank you for being members of the Weber County Sheriff’s Office!
Terry
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