After surviving five gunfights that should have killed him, decorated Lieutenant Randy Sutton faced his most devastating battle - against his own police department.

In Part 1, we heard Randy cheat death repeatedly during his legendary career. Part 2 reveals how a stroke on duty exposed the shocking truth about how police departments really treat their heroes. At 2:30 AM on the Las Vegas Strip, Randy's medical emergency should have been the moment his department rallied around their most decorated veteran. Instead, it became the moment they revealed their true nature.

"This isn't personal, it's just business," his sheriff told him while denying medical benefits. The department spent taxpayer money in court, hoping Randy would die before winning his legal battle. This betrayal wasn't unique - it was systemic. Wounded officers across America began reaching out to Randy, sharing identical stories of abandonment.

Randy's response transformed American law enforcement forever. From his hospital bed, he built Wounded Blue into the largest support network for injured officers in the nation. The organization now operates a 24/7 crisis hotline (833-TWB-TALK) and has helped over 15,000 abandoned officers reclaim their lives, careers, and dignity.

"They were hoping that I would die in the meantime. If you think that your own department wishes you would die, it's devastating." - Lt. Randy Sutton

Randy survived bullets meant to kill him, only to discover the real enemy was wearing the same uniform. His response proves that when departments abandon heroes, heroes create something better.

Get help: TheWoundedBlue.org | Support law enforcement: CitizensBehindtheBadge.org

• The reality of post-shooting trauma and "administrative leave"
• Randy's on-duty stroke at 2:30 AM on Las Vegas Strip
• Department's shocking response: "This isn't personal, it's just business"
• Legal battle where department hoped Randy would die
• How wounded officers found Randy through media visibility
• The birth of Wounded Blue and its mission
• 24/7 crisis hotline: 833-TWB-TALK
• Impact: 15,000+ officers helped nationwide

"They were hoping that I would die in the meantime. If you think that your own department wishes you would die, it's devastating." - Lt. Randy Sutton

• Wounded Blue: TheWoundedBlue.org
• 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 833-TWB-TALK
• Citizens Behind the Badge: CitizensBehindtheBadge.org
• National Law Enforcement Survival Summit: September 22-25

Contact Randy directly: randy@thewoundedblue.org

Previous Episode: Randy's survival of 5 officer-involved shootings and his decorated 34-year career.

Lieutenant Randy Sutton survived five officer-involved shootings during his 34-year career - a statistical impossibility that would change the trajectory of American law enforcement forever.

This decorated Las Vegas Metro Police veteran represents the 27% of officers who actually fire their weapon in the line of duty, but his story goes far beyond statistics. From leaving small-town Princeton for Vegas action to going gun barrel-to-gun barrel with an active shooter, Randy's career reads like fiction - except every bullet, every decision, every survival was devastatingly real.

His most harrowing gunfight reveals the brutal truth about police work: when his weapon jammed mid-battle and the suspect kept firing, Randy learned what it feels like to face death with nowhere to run. The aftermath required 43 rounds to stop one suspect - a reality that destroys Hollywood myths about "one shot stops."

• Randy's transition from small-town Princeton to Las Vegas Metro Police
• The statistical reality: only 27% of officers ever fire their weapon
• Gun barrel-to-gun barrel survival story with active shooter
• Why 43 rounds were needed to stop one suspect
• How today's anti-police climate would destroy yesterday's heroes
• The "journey of why" - Randy's belief he survived for a purpose

"If that happened today, and I'm screaming 'die, motherf***** die' as I'm pumping bullets into a guy, where am I gonna be? I'm gonna be crucified." - Lt. Randy Sutton

• Wounded Blue: TheWoundedBlue.org
• 24/7 Crisis Hotline: 833-TWB-TALK
• Citizens Behind the Badge: CitizensBehindtheBadge.org
• National Law Enforcement Survival Summit: September 22-25
• Contact Randy directly: randy@thewoundedblue.org

Next Episode: How Randy's own department abandoned him after a stroke, leading to the creation of Wounded Blue and help for 15,000 officers.

But here's what makes Randy's story prophetic: his justified actions that night, including words spoken in combat stress, would "crucify" any officer in today's anti-police climate. His survival story isn't just about the past - it's a warning about how far we've fallen in supporting those who protect us.

"If that happened today, and I'm screaming 'die, motherf***** die' as I'm pumping bullets into a guy, where am I gonna be? I'm gonna be crucified." - Lt. Randy Sutton

This is Part 1 of Randy's incredible journey. Part 2 reveals how his own department's betrayal led him to save 15,000 officers nationwide.

Support law enforcement at CitizensBehindtheBadge.org

Jan Scruggs didn't just build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial – he saved the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and created a sacred space where we honor every police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.

When Craig Floyd was struggling to build a memorial for fallen law enforcement officers, he turned to the one man who had successfully built a national memorial in Washington, D.C. Jan Scruggs, the Vietnam veteran behind the iconic Vietnam Veterans Memorial, became the first full-time employee of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and guided the project through bureaucratic obstacles that could have killed it.

In this powerful episode, Scruggs reveals how he convinced Floyd that building the memorial required full-time dedication, introduced him to the right architect, and helped secure a prestigious location. The result? A memorial featuring guardian lions that symbolizes police and community unity, where over 24,000 fallen officers' names are engraved forever.

• 6:35 - The lunch meeting that changed everything
• 16:22 - Why Jan chose to help law enforcement
• 18:21 - Fighting for the Ellipse location
• 20:35 - The importance of including officers' names
• 27:34 - Reflecting on the memorial's lasting impact

"If anybody was the right person for the job, this was for you," Scruggs told Floyd, recognizing the passion needed to honor fallen officers.

Today, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial stands as proof that when communities support their police, extraordinary things happen. Join hundreds of thousands of Americans supporting law enforcement at CitizensBehindtheBadge.org.

#PoliceMemorial #LawEnforcementHeroes #NationalPoliceWeek #FallenOfficers #SupportPolice #HeroesBehindtheBadge #BackTheBlue

In this special episode, we turn the tables on Heroes Behind the Badge founder Craig Floyd, making him the guest instead of the host. Join Dennis Collins and Bill Erfurth as they explore the remarkable 34-year journey of the man who built America's National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum from the ground up.

Craig Floyd - Founding CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (1984-2018), Founder and President of Citizens Behind the Badge, recipient of the John Ashcroft Distinguished Service Award

The Beginning (1980s)

• Working as legislative assistant to Congressman Mario Biaggi, NYC's most decorated police officer
• How a simple congressional project became a lifetime mission
• The pivotal meeting with survivor Vivian Ney that changed everything

Building the Memorial (1984-1991)

• Starting with just $44,000 raised in two years when millions were needed
• Nearly losing congressional authorization after struggling with fundraising
• Learning from Vietnam Memorial creator Jan Scruggs about full-time commitment
• The 1991 dedication ceremony with 25,000 attendees

Creating Police Week Traditions

• Origins of the candlelight vigil in 1989 with Susie Sawyer
• Growth from 125 people at first ceremony to 40,000 today
• The Police Unity Tour and its $40 million in donations
• Supporting 6,000 survivors annually through grief counseling and ceremonies

The Museum Challenge (1998-2018)

• 20-year journey to raise over $100 million
• Multiple moments of near-failure and last-minute saves
• Motorola Solutions' $18 million donation breakthrough
• Bill Bratton calling it "the house that Craig Floyd built"

Personal Memories & Impact

• The Griffiths brothers becoming Boston police officers after their brother's line-of-duty death
• Martha Wood dancing with a young survivor at the memorial
• The memorial growing from 12,561 names to nearly 25,000 today

Modern Mission (2020-Present)

• Launching Citizens Behind the Badge during the "defund the police" movement
• Continuing advocacy work in retirement
• Receiving the John Ashcroft Distinguished Service Award in 2025

"If a letter of condolence would mean that much to a survivor, what would a national monument mean?" - Craig Floyd on meeting Vivian Ney

"I got to meet thousands of officers. I got to meet the survivors of the fallen, got to know their families really well, got to know their loved one who died really well, even though I'd never met them." - Craig Floyd

"It took a village to make the memorial, the museum and everything else we did happen." - Craig Floyd

• Visit CitizensBehindtheBadge.org to sign the Declaration of Support
• Subscribe to Heroes Behind the Badge podcast
• Donate to Citizens Behind the Badge advocacy efforts
• Attend Police Week ceremonies in Washington, DC (May 12-15 annually)

In this powerful episode of Heroes Behind the Badge, we tell the extraordinary survival story of Utah State Park Ranger Brody Young. While patrolling alone on a November night in 2010, Ranger Young approached a vehicle at a remote trailhead outside Moab, Utah. What began as a routine check ended with Young being ambushed and shot 9 times at point-blank range.

Despite catastrophic injuries to his heart, lung, spine, and internal organs, Young refused to give up. Using his tactical training, he returned fire with his non-dominant hand, performed a one-handed reload, and eventually reached his radio to call for help.

Young shares the critical decisions and actions that saved his life, including:

• The moment he chose to fight rather than give up
• How specific training allowed him to shoot through his patrol vehicle
• The technique he used to control his breathing while bleeding out
• His remarkable journey from death's door to returning to duty

Now serving as a Lieutenant, Young discusses his book "Nine Miracles" and offers vital lessons for other officers about survival mindset, tactical preparation, and the importance of physical and mental wellness in law enforcement.

Join hosts Dennis Collins, Craig Floyd, and Bill Erfurth as they explore this incredible story of resilience, forgiveness, and the unbreakable spirit of those who wear the badge.

The Police Unity Tour began with just 18 riders in 1997. Today, it's grown to over 2,000 officers biking 300 miles to honor fallen law enforcement heroes, raising more than $40 million for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

In this powerful episode, founder and retired Police Chief Pat Montuore shares the inspiring story behind this remarkable movement. From its humble beginnings to becoming an international phenomenon, the Police Unity Tour represents the true spirit of the law enforcement brotherhood.

• [00:02:40] How the Police Unity Tour began in 1997
• [00:15:30] The emotional connection riders make with survivors
• [00:24:17] The bracelet tradition honoring fallen officers
• [00:27:27] How the tour expanded internationally
• [00:32:27] Pat's life-changing heart attack during the Israel tour
• [00:36:55] Communities lining the route in support

Pat reveals how each rider carries a bracelet bearing a fallen officer's name, connecting with their families and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. He also shares his own near-death experience during the Israel Police Unity Tour and how it transformed his perspective on life and service.

Along the journey, communities line the route with American flags and signs of support, demonstrating the deep connection between law enforcement and the citizens they serve. As Pat explains, "We're not against anything. All we're for is making sure we remember our fallen, and we let our citizens know that we serve them with honor."

"It's not just about riding that bicycle. It's about educating not only the communities and states we go through, but educating everybody on that bicycle about their own agency who suffered and sacrificed themselves for them and their community."

Learn more at PoliceUnityTour.com and find ways to support law enforcement at CitizensBehindTheBadge.org.

Heroes Behind the Badge is proudly presented by Citizens Behind the Badge, the leading voice of the American people in support of law enforcement.

Law enforcement careers demand sacrifice that extends far beyond a single moment of heroism. In this compelling conclusion to our interview with Tim McCarthy, the Secret Service agent who took a bullet for President Reagan, we explore his remarkable 50-year career spanning federal protection and local policing.

After recovering from his near-fatal shooting, McCarthy served 22 years with the Secret Service before becoming police chief in Orland, Illinois for 26 years. His unique perspective bridges two worlds of law enforcement and offers critical insights into the challenges facing officers today. From inadequate resources in federal protection to the devastating impact of the "defund and defame" movement on recruitment, McCarthy speaks with the authority of someone who's led from the front lines.

• 3:34 - McCarthy discusses Secret Service staffing challenges and agent burnout
• 9:45 - His powerful insights on PTSD in law enforcement and Clint Hill's struggles
• 12:54 - How the defunding movement collapsed police recruitment from 400 to just 50 applicants
• 15:20 - His creation of a 30-jurisdiction task force with a 70% homicide clearance rate
• 18:28 - "If you like helping people, it's the greatest job in the world. I did 50 years of it, and I wouldn't mind doing 50 more."

Support the men and women who protect our communities every day. Visit citizensbehindbadge.org to join our mission of restoring respect and resources to law enforcement professionals nationwide.

#HeroesBehindTheBadge #SecretService #PolicingChallenges #LawEnforcementLeadership #BackTheBlue

When bullets rang out at the Washington Hilton on March 30, 1981, Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy made the split-second decision that defines the ultimate sacrifice in law enforcement – turning his body into a shield for President Reagan during an assassination attempt.

In this powerful Heroes Behind the Badge interview, McCarthy recounts his 50-year law enforcement career, including the moment he took a bullet to protect President Reagan from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. Despite suffering a serious chest wound, McCarthy returned to presidential protection duties just three months later, demonstrating the remarkable resilience that defines America's finest.

"I did what I did based upon training, not anything else," McCarthy humbly explains. His story exemplifies the courage and commitment of law enforcement professionals nationwide who stand ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

• 2:15 - The coin flip that put McCarthy on duty during the assassination attempt
• 9:42 - McCarthy's detailed account of the shooting and his protective response
• 14:25 - President Reagan's hospital room meeting with McCarthy: "What did this guy have against the Irish?"
• 21:58 - How security protocols changed after the assassination attempt
• 27:36 - McCarthy's expert analysis of recent Trump assassination attempts

Support the men and women who protect us every day. Visit citizensbehindbadge.org to learn more about our mission to counter misinformation and support law enforcement.

#HeroesBehindTheBadge #SecretService #LawEnforcementHeroes #PresidentialProtection #BackTheBlue