Hello K.P.O.A. members.

As I was driving all over for the Thanksgiving Holiday it was made abundantly clear we are no longer in the summer season. The trees are bare, the leaves are on the ground (and in our garages), and that bitter north wind is blowing down our collars. It only means a few things… It is hunting season, the Holidays are upon us, and it’s time for chili with a cinnamon roll! 

I truly hope you and yours had a blessed Thanksgiving and I hope you took time to reflect on what matters in this life. All too often we get caught up in the day-to-day hustle. This time of year, officers are picking up all the overtime they can, trying to budget those OT hours to get a few more items knocked off the Christmas list, and then trying to shore up any financial shortcomings before the year ends. It can be so stressful, and it takes away from the joy.

In the shifting of the seasons, we often find it easy to fall into a depressive state. It’s colder, the dark creeps in a little earlier, and it seems like all we do is work. A lot of times we can fight this feeling by staying positive and staying active. Go hangout with friends at the bowling alley or hit up the most recent movie. Hit the gym a little harder or invest a little more time in your hobbies. The key is to stay active and stay positive. If you find yourself falling into some kind of feeling, reach out. Call your friends or family. I promise you; you are not alone!

I want to encourage all of you to slow down for a moment this year. Take in what it really means to have a family and someone to love. To be honest, I couldn’t tell you what the last Christmas gift I received was. What I can tell you is the family and I had a great time playing board games, eating snacks, and just getting back to the basics. Those are the memories we cherish. Make memories the priority of this holiday season, not gifts, and I think everyone may be just a little better for it.

While we are preparing for the Holidays, let’s not forget the families of our fallen this season. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. They are loved and dearly missed. Let us also give thanks to God for the survival of our brothers in Osage County and the Highway Patrol. We continue to pray for a speedy and healthy recovery.

Love ya’ll,

Chief Braden Moore