Since Sunday, our specialized teams—including SWAT, Aviation, and more—have been working around the clock alongside our law enforcement partners, fire service partners, and area hospitals in intense, immersive, real-life training scenarios. We hope and pray we never face situations like these—but hope is not a strategy. Preparation is. At all hours of the day and night, our teams have responded to simulated active shooters, hostage rescues, barricaded suspects, and other critical incidents. The exercises have been demanding, realistic, and intense. We included role-players that had simulated injuries, so the team had to triage and respond to mass casualties. During one hostage-rescue scenario, an operator suffered a serious injury while breaking through a window, severing part of his thumb. After undergoing surgery at the hospital, he asked if he could, and ultimately did, return to work. That is the level of determination, commitment, and professionalism these men and women bring to their mission. They train relentlessly so that, no matter what happens, they are ready to protect this community.

Sometimes two photographs can tell a story better than words ever could. The first time Sheriff Bouchard met this young lady, she was just 18 months old. Her father, a first responder, had died in the line of duty, leaving behind a little girl who would grow up knowing him mostly through the memories and stories shared by others. He still remembers that first meeting. As they sat together, she was hooked on the stars on his uniform—and promptly pulled them off. As you can see from the picture, he didn’t mind one bit. Years later, he had the privilege of seeing her again, this time as a remarkable young woman receiving a scholarship from our Michigan Fallen Heroes Memorial. Her mom recently gave us photographs from both of those moments, taken so many years apart. Seeing them side by side stopped him in his tracks. One of the promises we make when a first responder makes the ultimate sacrifice is that we will never forget—not only them, but the families they leave behind. Seeing this little girl grow into the young woman she is today is a beautiful reminder of why that promise matters. Her dad would be incredibly proud. And for the record, the sheriff thinks his stars are dull compared to her…..superstar!❤️