Chief for a Day
Criminal Justice Training Commission
Burien, Washington
May 11, 2006

Good morning.  

It is quite an honor to be here with the 15 remarkable children who will be sworn in as chief for a day.  I would also like to welcome your families and the many law enforcement officers and public officials whom are here with us.  

I commend the Criminal Justice Training Commission and the many organizations that have made this day possible. Your presence is testimony to your dedication and commitment to make this truly a great day for the special young people we honor, and to the great state of Washington.

You children arrived here today by motorcade, which tells me again that you are very important people. Law enforcement is an important job, so today you are given a very important job to do.

(Continued)

Lt. Governor Owen with 4-year-old Cy Schneider, left, who was named honorary chief of the Bothell Police Department for a day and his twin brother, Ren, who became the deputy chief. Chiefs for a Day Lt. Governor Brad Owen presented the keynote address May 11 at the "Chief for a Day" event at the Criminal Justice Training Commission in Burien. The event bestowed honorary "chief" status to 15 young children who are suffering life-threatening illnesses. It was sponsored by area police and sheriff departments, hospitals, service organizations, businesses and the Washington State Patrol. Read or hear (mp3 file) the lieutenant governor's speech. Caleb Kooi, 6, gets congratulations for being the chief of the Tieton Police Deparment.   Owen shakes hands with Tyler Luedtke, 4, who was honorary chief of the State Patrol.

How many of you watch cops and robbers shows on television? When you see TV shows about law enforcement you often see the crime being committed, the police detectives do their work and the criminals get caught and even prosecuted, all in just an hour.   

Okay, it’s really much less than an hour when you subtract all of the commercials, but you get what I mean. 

The real world of law enforcement is rarely that neat and tidy.  Our police and sheriffs departments work long hours to keep the peace and to chase down the bad guys. Sometimes they catch them, sometimes they don’t.

The clues rarely present themselves as neatly as they unfold in television.  Many of the people they deal with every day are rude or violent. 

Being a police officer is a tough job and being the chief can be an even tougher job. 

To be chief you must be a leader. You must be able to command respect from your rank and file and from the public alike. You must deal with complex problems and complex situations. 

You must be a person of high character. You must be fair. You must be a fast learner. You must be able to change your mind when presented with new and solid evidence. 

More than anything, chiefs and everyone else in law enforcement must be seen in the community as both friends and protectors.  

We all want to think of our people in uniform as the good guys, the ones we know we can count on in any emergency as well as to make sure the laws we have are obeyed. 

The children here today who are chief for a day were all selected because you are capable of many good things.  

One of the most amazing young ladies I ever met in my career was a lovely young lady named Sheely Mauck.   

She was stricken with polio at seven months old and so she never walked and was in a wheelchair yet she swam on her school swim team, took karate and moved up three belts, worked at the senior center helping the elderly, worked on environmental projects and made care packages for the victims of the tragic shootings at Columbine.  She was selected as the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the year. 

You have been hit with some tough stuff, but I have every confidence you will overcome whatever is before you and do us all proud both today and in your years ahead.

Someone once said what a wonderful world this would be if we all did as well today as we expect to do tomorrow.  Make today, and every day, your tomorrow and you will be the ones who lead us into the future. 

I am proud of you and I’m sure your families are proud of you. You inspire us all. Congratulations on being chiefs for a day!  Thank you.