If you missed it, I am making some big life announcement(s) this week. I am sorry that I am doing it all so slowly, I just didn’t want to publicly announce anything until the actual day that it is happening. So even though we have known about this date well in advance, it is only today that I feel comfortable sharing online 🙂
Well, let’s just dive right in:
Today is Theo’s last day as a police officer. As of today, he has turned in his badge and his gun, and has officially resigned. He still has to go to work today, tomorrow and Sunday (his last Sunday of work!!!), but it’s all officially signed off today.
After 9 months of the police academy, 8.5 years as a street officer, experience on the Hostage Negotiation Team, the Crisis Intervention Team, and being certified as a Field Training Officer…he has resigned.
I was never the wife was who all into the “police wife” stuff. We didn’t fly a thin blue line flag or wrap ourselves entirely into the identity of Theo being a police officer. On the other hand…there are certain jobs that work their way into the very core of a family, and being a police officer is one of them. It’s not the kind of job that is “just a job”. It’s the kind of job that sticks with a person, that comes home with a person, that affects an entire family and can become very ingrained in them. We’ve spend 10 years as a law enforcement family, and it hasn’t always been easy. It’s made us stronger, more cynical, more aware of our need for a Savior. It’s taken holidays and almost all of the weekends. It’s taken special occasions, and given special occasions, too. I’ve gone to more birthday parties and holiday dinners and church services alone then we have as a family. It’s build a brotherhood for Theo, and a sisterhood for me.
This part of our “life plot twist” is the hardest part for me. Walking away from a law enforcement career brings a lot of feelings. Theo is ready to be done with being a police officer. Dealing with trauma on a daily basis, seeing crime and mistreatment of human beings, dealing with hatred and vitriol…it all takes a toll. Since 2020, being a police officer has been even more challenging than usual, and the city that Theo works in leans fairly liberal and has made it very obvious that they do not support their officers. It’s a hard job.
While we are excited to step away from all the hard, it is also bittersweet, because being a law enforcement officer is a good job- and one that is needed and necessary in our society. Theo was a good officer. He was good at handling brokenness and trauma, he was good at taking charge of a hostile situation in a calm way. He was good at mediating and listening to both sides of the story. He was good at observing things and he was good at helping people who just needed some help. He was also really good at foot chases (he has a reputation). I am incredibly PROUD of Theo for doing one of the hardest jobs- and doing it with excellence. I feel sad that he is leaving this career because I know that he was a huge asset to the police force. He is the kind of officer that we want to have around, protecting our cities and helping our citizens.
Honestly, being a police wife has been a huge factor in making me who I am right now, and I feel a little bit unmoored not having that same identity anymore. I have always been incredibly proud of Theo for his role in law enforcement, and it will be so strange to not identify as a police wife anymore.
It will be different for me as I get used to having a husband who works a “normal job”. This is the only life I’ve known since we got married and starting raising our children, so while I am mostly excited, I also feel a bit of trepidation over all of the changes that are coming our way.
On a practical note- stepping away from the career of law enforcement means that he will be more safe. Every day I won’t be worrying about if he is being hurt or wounded, or even killed. It means that he will get to work with people who (mostly) appreciate him, instead of being cussed at on a daily basis. It also means that he is walking away from a decent paycheck, a retirement fund, and health insurance for our whole family.
As we close this chapter (it honestly feels like a whole book, not just a chapter), we are excited about the plans moving forward. It was not something that we ever predicted, expected or even dreamed about, but God has led us to a very exciting new opportunity for Theo.
I will come back on Monday to complete this three part series with an update on what new job Theo is stepping into!
Oh wow, that’s cool that he’s leaving law enforcement. I mean, it’s cool for you guys and his safety and him working more of a traditional type job (if that’s what he’s going to be doing…). I’m grateful for LEO but I would not want to do it or have a loved one do it. It seems dangerous and not worth being questioned for decisions that have to be made oftentimes quickly and tensely. I hope this next chapter in your family’s life is fulfilling and meaningful 🙂
Theo, thank you so much for your service. I will miss trying to see if it is you in a cruiser in the neighborhood. Our kids used to get excited when they would see you on tv.
Suzanne, change is always hard. But so much easier when you’re doing it together. May God bless your family in this new adventure.
Bittersweet indeed. Excited for y’all to step out in faith (again) in a new and different way!
Congratulations and thank you for your service! As someone who is married to a veteran, I can tell you that while things might feel a little weird right now, it is pretty nice on the other side. Good luck to all of you and I can’t wait to hear what’s next 🙂
I feel like the city is losing a good officer! But I’m also excited about what’s ahead. It seems to be a common thing in life that we hold two emotions at the same time… Happiness for what’s ahead, sadness for what’s ahead. Then there will be new routines, new ways of doing life. Change can be good, but it’s also hard!
That was supposed to be sadness for what’s behind!