NEWS RELEASE                                             

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2008
Contact: Michele Nicholson
Public Information Officer
  (850) 651-7420

DEPUTY'S PERSONAL STORY PUBLISHED NATIONALLY

     An Okaloosa County Sheriff's Deputy put one of his most painful, personal memories from the job on paper, and the story is now being published as part of a collection of true life police stories, written by the officers themselves. Deputy Pat Jenkins retells the story that impacted him so greatly in the new book "True Blue, to Protect and Serve", now available in bookstores and on-line.

     The stories were compiled by Las Vegas Police Officer Randy Sutton. He  is dedicating the book to the thousands of officers killed in the line of duty whose names are engraved on the Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C.  In fact, all proceeds from book sales made through the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund web site, (www.nleomf.com) its catalog, and retail store will go towards building the country's first National Law Enforcement Museum. Just go to the web site, then to "Gift Shop" and click on the book's cover.

     Deputy Jenkins has been with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office for fifteen years and currently works in Court Security. He says he wrote the very personal story for an English Composition Class at Okaloosa-Walton College but initially wasn't sure he wanted to share it. It conveys his experience trying to comfort and save the victim of a head-on collision, and then his anguish of having to notify the next-of-kin when she dies. Jenkins concludes you can never find the "right words" in such a heart-breaking situation.

     National Police Week is May 11th through the 18th.

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