Author Archives

Dr. Scott Silverii

Christ follower, husband, dad, author and retired chief of police discovering the amazing side of a servant's life.

FITx50 \ week 31

March 6, 2015

FITx50 \ week 31 Folks, this is the very last episode of FITx50. I’ll be blessed with the distinction next Wednesday, March 11th. I’ve loved your support through these posts. Most encourage by saying it’s only a number, and if that’s the case it’s 18262.1 days. It’s 438,291 hours. It’s 26,280,000 minutes. Then while calculating the number of seconds, my handheld showed this – 1.5768e+9 – Did I just discover a hidden mathematical computation? Despite the math, on March 11th it comes […]

Why are police funerals good for the profession?

February 28, 2015

Last month I visited the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. I stood over the granite wall with the carvings of more than 20,000 names of officers killed for no other reason than reporting for duty. I knelt at panel 38-E:25 and ran my fingers over his name – Octavio Rafael Gonzales. The feigned smile exchanged the grief I’ve carried over the years for a public show of respect. On the very next panel, number 36-E: 27 – Timothy Bergeron elicited […]

FITx50 \ week 30

February 27, 2015

FITx50 \ week 30 This week Liliana Hart​ curiously said, “In two weeks you’ll be 50.” Silent, I waited for the punch line or the life’s lesson – nothing. She followed with, “Just saying.” It was the first time I realized just how close I was to the half-century celebration. No panic, just realization. Quickly I flashed over the initial goals I’d set as the idea of FITx50 became what I thought was a great idea. I always enjoyed the saying, “If […]

FITx50 \ week 29:

February 20, 2015

  Someone commented this week during a Mardi Gras parade that they enjoyed keeping up with my Friday FITx50 posts. They thought it was funny that I veered away from physical fitness and began focusing on other aspects of being fit. I have to admit, it wasn’t anything purposeful. Looking back I saw where the transition began, and I think that was the point “fitness” truly began to mean more to me than physical accomplishments. I do look forward to turning 50 […]

Mardi Gras 2015 – In the books

February 17, 2015

In these last 5 years of working Mardi Gras as the Chief of Police, I’ve experienced many changes. I’ve also seen that the most important things remain constant. 1. The people in the City of Thibodaux are amazing & know how to celebrate safely. 2. The staff at the Thibodaux Police Department are committed to community policing. 3. The members of the various Mardi Gras krewes cherish cultural value & Cajun tradition. 4. Max and I still look forward to our annual […]

FITx50 \ week 26

January 30, 2015

FITx50 \ week 26 What do BL and I have in common? Other than an almost 50 year spread, we both love cheesecake. This was his first time tasting it. My sister had the great idea of sharing mine with the tyke. End result – kid gets new treat and great uncle eats less cheesecake. Win – Win if you’re the one year old. Kidding of course. This week has been fantastic as I returned to a regular schedule at Momentum Gym […]

TPD Celebrated 3rd Annual Blue Summit

January 15, 2015

“We are a shining example to the nation that you can combine compassion and policing to achieve great things.” Those are the words heard by Thibodaux Police Department personnel as Thibodaux Chief of Police Scott Silverii spoke at Blue Summit, the agency’s annual departmental meeting. The entire department gathers once a year to share a meal, receive awards, and hear from Mayor Eschete and Chief Silverii, who recap the previous year and share a vision for the next. “We’re going to continue […]

FITx50 \ week 23

January 9, 2015

Happy 2015. It’s been a great week for inching a bit closer to my goals for blasting the 50 year mark. Momentum Gym has been incredible as always and it’s great to exercise among a community who also share similar goals. I’ve not had a pinch of cake, ice cream or pizza this week either. Guess what? I’m in no need of a coroner’s hold either!!! Have an awesomely lived weekend and here’s to getting fit. Best of success Tami Mills-Merrill & […]

Honor Law Enforcement’s Legacy

January 4, 2015

What is the 10-Code project? This is a first-ever collection of current & retired law enforcement officers who also happen to be published authors. Each donated their time and talent by creating original fictional stories based on a line of duty death. 10-Code is working with the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund to donate all proceeds to the Memorial. Every copy that you purchase goes toward honoring the legacy of officers killed in the line of duty. Please pass this along […]

The Eulogy: 2014

December 31, 2014

The Eulogy: 2014 Over the last few days I’ve witnessed so many who’ve cursed or eulogized the last year; yes 2014. Instead of rejoicing in the 365 days of life God allowed them, they dismiss the gifts of grace in hopes of happenstance instantly or magically changing their circumstances. What makes a person believe that the tick of a second-hand tock is going to erase the hardships, the failures, the could-have-beens, the should-have-beens and the never-have-beens? Good things happen, bad things happen, […]

FITx50 \ week 21

December 26, 2014

FITx50 \ week 21 was spent on another adventure out West. While the endless walking involved in what is Las Vegas was exhausting, I’m not sure it counts as exercise. Not when buffets, pizzas, fancy foods and snacks bookend each journey. Encouraging was the wisdom to avoid the slots, and keeping up a frantic pace. Between solving the CSI exhibit’s mystery and helicoptering / boating / hiking the Grand Canyon, I held up pretty good. Christmas was also wonderful to return home […]

To my civilian friends: I’m sorry

December 21, 2014

To my civilian friends: I’m sorry.  I’m sorry you have to worry about my brother & sister law enforcement officers and me.  I’m sorry the murder of two more of this nation’s finest has you scared and fearful for the future.  I’m sorry that your friends, family, or spouse has to return to duty without the national support for the singular profession authorized to protect & serve you.  I’m sorry that others whose agendas benefit from the desecration of the American symbol […]

Crucibles of Leadership (part 4)

December 9, 2014

The Essentials of Leadership In our interviews, we heard many other stories of crucible experiences. Take Jack Coleman, 78-year-old former president of Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He told us of one day, during the Vietnam War, when he heard that a group of students was planning to pull down the American flag and burn it—and that former members of the school’s football team were going to make sure the students didn’t succeed. Seemingly out of nowhere, Coleman had the idea to preempt […]

FITx50 \ week 19

December 5, 2014

FITx50 \ week 19 This is my favorite Christmas picture for several reasons. For purposes of this post, the expressions illustrate the yin and yang of fitness and dieting. Santa’s look is how I feel after I blow my diet. The sly grinning kiddo is how I feel once I’ve logged in the exercise and managed to avoid the sweets. I also think its funny because the photographer failed to notice the “horned” candles behind Santa’s head. This week, I can say my […]

Crucibles of Leadership (part 3)

December 2, 2014

Geeks and Geezers We didn’t set out to learn about crucibles. Our research for this article and for our new book, Geeks and Geezers, was actually designed to uncover the ways that era influences a leader’s motivation and aspirations. We interviewed 43 of today’s top leaders in business and the public sector, limiting our subjects to people born in or before 1925, or in or after 1970. To our delight, we learned a lot about how age and era affect leadership style. Our […]

Ferguson & Public Engagement | What are they good for?

November 29, 2014

What’s the best time to plant a tree? – 30 years ago. What’s the next best time to plant a tree? – Today In general, law enforcement has made for horrible horticulturalists. We’ve not tilled the soil of community engagement as a practice. Now we wonder why no one understands us. When an incident like Ferguson erupts, the pundits hurry to fend off allegations from a civilian population incessantly asking for answers. I’ve had so many tell how they’ve unfriended people on […]

FITx50 \ week 18

November 28, 2014

You thinking what I’m thinking? Breakfast? No, but it was delicious yesterday. Delicious but not over indulged. I made it through this holiday by eating great food, with family and friends. Before i got a bit full, guess what? I stopped. Planning ahead, i also anticipated the desserts, so I made an effort to up the exercise leading up to T-Day. And….I plan on enjoying a great community post-holiday session of crossfit Friday morning. So what was the lesson this week? Not […]

“If Not Us, Who?”

November 27, 2014

“If Not Us, Who?” My heart weighs heavy in this week before the important decisions contemplated by a civilian grand jury in another state. After nearly 25 years of serving my community and country, I see the potential for an occupationalrevolution. The potential for substantially significant cultural change. While most revolutions are spurned through violence, this cannot be one of them. Soon, events born in violence will again effect this country. Not just for today, but years to come. Regardless what you […]

Us versus Them | A Ferguson Outcome

November 25, 2014

Us versus Them: Sunday I shared the burden on my spirit in anticipation of the grand jury decision, “If Not Us, Who?” (https://www.facebook.com/CopsWritingCrime) It wasn’t about an outcome. It was that our nation rallied on either side of the issue based not on facts and evidence, but on historical perspective. Truth is, there’s more than one narrative to American history. Just before turning off the news, I received a private message. Simply, it read – We Won! In clarity, I saw this […]

Crucibles of Leadership (part 2)

November 25, 2014

Learning From Difference A crucible is, by definition, a transformative experience through which an individual comes to a new or an altered sense of identity. It is perhaps not surprising then that one of the most common types of crucibles we documented involves the experience of prejudice. Being a victim of prejudice is particularly traumatic because it forces an individual to confront a distorted picture of him- or herself, and it often unleashes profound feelings of anger, bewilderment, and even withdrawal. For […]

FITx50 / week 17

November 21, 2014

FITx50 / week 17 and this has been my approach of late. After last week’s post-travel and fancy food eating festival I returned to the crossfit gym. I was greeted by the realization that at closer to 50 than I was weeks ago, shape, like the space station, is something just waiting to drop. Some crazy workout call Down Sally Up – yeah, that’s what I said – I got the down part pretty good. Okay, mostly I’m kidding but this little […]

Crucibles of Leadership (part 1)

November 18, 2014

What makes a leader As lifelong students of leadership, we are fascinated with the notion of what makes a leader. Why is it that certain people seem to naturally inspire confidence, loyalty, and hard work, while others (who may have just as much vision and smarts) stumble, again and again? It’s a timeless question, and there’s no simple answer. But we have come to believe it has something to do with the different ways that people deal with adversity. Indeed, our recent […]

FITx50 \ week 16

November 14, 2014

Week 16? What happened to weeks 14 & 15? Well, that’s what I want to know. It’s crazy how trips to south Florida and the Carolinas can easily take you off your game plan. Seriously, I’m like a bald tire spinning in marsh grass. I had to reintroduce myself to my friends at Momentum Crossfit, my Trek Madone 6.9 won’t even look at me and ice cream and I have been joyously reunited. How? That’s my struggle. Weeks to months of sustained […]

FITx50 \ week 13

October 17, 2014

Did I Do That? The Warrior Dash is in the books, and I’m super energized with motivation and memories. While it wasn’t the most physically challenging thing I’ve accomplished, it was one of the most enjoyable. Why? It was a short-term health / fitness goal associated with a cause greater than losing a pound or two and flexing some rusted muscle. I’ve already set another goal to get me through the holiday season. So I encourage you to do the same. Don’t be that […]

Leading or leaning?

October 16, 2014

Think of those immediately surrounding you in supervisory positions. Now filter out your natural biases, jealousies or negative comments. Just look around. How did they get to where they are? Okay, now you’re free to flood the responses with whatever your perception is of how they arrived at that level. Some of your suspicions are probably true. This article isn’t as much for those being led, as those doing the leading. Ask yourselves how’d you get where you are? Was it because you […]

FITx50 \ week 12 – SPECIAL EDITION

October 13, 2014

Warrior Dash DASHED Fitness Benchmark #1 has been met. This weekend was the Warrior Dash in St. Francisville, La. Our team of Cops-n-Kilts sponsored by Liliana Hart’s Warriors started strong and finished even gutsier. There was unexpected difficult terrain, injuries and dehydration within the unit, but no one left the others. I’m still in awe of the effort of each. No matter how tough, everyone knew we were doing this for the true Warriors committed to kicking the crap out of cancer. […]

Are you pregnant?

October 6, 2014

Are you pregnant? I thought what a crazy question to ask a man. Are you pregnant with greatness? Oh, not that kinda pregnant. With greatness? I never thought about it. How many of us are actually pregnant with greatness? Unfortunately, we fear change. Therefore, we do anything we can to avoid giving birth to this potential. An odd analogy? Not really. Change is often accompanied by uncomfort, if even for a brief season. The transition into motherhood requires many changes leading up […]

FITx50 \ week 11

October 3, 2014

Gotta get up to get down That’s this week’s theme. I’ve been faithfully training for my first fitness benchmark – October 11th’s Warrior Dash. Crossfit 5x/week along with running and cycling. Cut carbs WAY down and feasted on protein throughout the days. On target to work close with our Cops-N-Kilts team. Then, I hear the kiddo make that late night sound every parent dreads – the Yulp. Yes, stomach virus. Of course, doctor dad attends into the morning and next day with lugging […]

FITx50 | week 10

September 26, 2014

Fight Like a Girl Thinking through this week’s update, I took this picture of Lori Cortez at work. We often kid at the office and were working on a fund-raiser by selling the bracelets she’s modeling. BTW they read MAN ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK and SAVE 2nd BASE. Then she said, “It’s already been a year.” as she turned her head away. I knew what she meant. It wasn’t spoken but her eyes glistened with the significance of her diagnosis just a […]

Thumbs Up to positive policing

September 24, 2014

Officers choose their morale. Everyone has a personal life, just make sure you check it at the Squad Room door. The public we serve deserves our best.

FITx50 | Wk 9

September 19, 2014

Monkey See. Monkey Do Seems after nine weeks the theme of Cops-n-Kilts has turned into Kids-n-Kilts. The kiddo not only loves his Boston Strong shirt, but sporting his sport wrap. He also loves going to crossfit to exercise after the big kids (adults) do. One of the major benefit of reclaiming a healthy lifestyle is your Silent Witness. While we ache and creek and moan and stretch – others see the effort, the commitment, the progress. Now as an 18-year-old – I […]

Incredible Virtues

September 13, 2014

On September 12, 2001, we collectively vowed as a nation to take into account all that happened the previous day. “We will never forget,” read signs from coast to coast. FDNY and NYPD ball caps sold in record numbers. Thirteen years later I want to make good on that promise. May we remember the companionship lost, the laughs now restricted to our memories, and the human touch that was severed on one of the darkest days in American history. While we solemnly […]

FITx50 | wk 8

September 12, 2014

I’m a romance novel cover model – Really? Those writer’s conferences can get pretty wild, but you know fiction is crazier than reality. Hu? Speaking of conferences and fitness, I spent last weekend in North Carolina to present classes to amazing authors at the Writer’s Police Academy. It was a wonderful event as always. Even tough the pace was hectic and non-stop smoozing  – I did find time to exercise. As far as eating right, well not so much. But no worries […]

Always Faithful | America’s Night Before

September 10, 2014

Police Dispatchers – Telling cops where to go for generations

September 10, 2014

True life lines, radio operators are the vital link between the public and police.

Community policing starts at the top – the Very top

September 3, 2014

Thibodaux Mayor Eschete and Bicycle Patrol

Mission Possible: TPD Accepts the ALS Ice Water Challenge

September 1, 2014

I’ve been challenged by numerous fantastically caring people over the last several weeks. We sat in a light-hearted brainstorming session this week to create a response video. Within 15 minutes the imaginative group of officers took a simple idea and ran with it. More pleasing to me as their Chief of Police was that everyone dropped their guard to join in. Even if it meant making fun of themselves. It was for a cause greater than anyone of us. In this era […]

FIT x 50 – wk 6

August 29, 2014

Ahhhhhh —Youth. I get a kick out of the officers willingness to show me how far I’ve yet to go for reaching my fitness goals. Although, surrounding yourself with positive, health focused peers provides the motivation and accountability elements that lead to a sustained life change. I’ve been athletic my entire life, but rarely combined exercise and diet. I’m trying, but not so much of late. Good intentions with a poor roadmap will still lead you down a dead-end. Still killing the […]

Blessed with new friends along the way

August 27, 2014

John Kerry has been a vital volunteer in promoting our Thibodaux Police Department’s social media strategy.

A Police Officer On Lessons From Ferguson

August 26, 2014

A veteran police officer says both the shooting of Michael Brown and the aftermath in Ferguson point to the need for conversation about police and community in the U.S. Jim Bueermann is president of the Police Foundation, a nonpartisan and nonprofit group that supports innovation and improvement in policing. Bueerman worked for the police department in Redlands, California, for 33 years, serving in every position, including as chief of police. Bueermann tells Here & Now’s Sacha Pfeiffer that policing is a joint activity […]

Encouraging

August 24, 2014

Are you speaking encouraging words? I love to be encouraged and I need encouragement. And I will be honest with you – I don’t like to be around discouraging people, but sometimes I have to. It comes with the territory. The fleas come with the dog. Discouragement opens the door for other sins and failures. II Corinthians 1:2-4 says, “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of […]

Fit by 50 / wk 5

August 22, 2014

Seems like someone is always celebrating a birthday at the Thibodaux Police Department. This week was my Administrative Assistant’s special day. She’s been every Chief of Police’s Admin for the last 38 yrs. Happy Birthday Kim Robicheaux. Lori Cortex, the super cool lady in green has a birthday this weekend – Happy b-day to you too. How does an office birthday party factor into a Fit by 50 post? You got it… Cake. Not just one deliciously moist slice, but two. I […]

Dr. Drew Interview

August 21, 2014

This was a difficult time for our city, but thankful for close community and respectful media coverage.      

K9 Swagger

August 20, 2014

K-9 handlers share a special bond with their partners. They even take them to the agency awards banquet.

Fit by 50 / wk 4

August 15, 2014

  Week 4. Really, week 4 already. That only leaves XX weeks until the Big 50. Whose counting anyway. A funny thing happened at crossfit this week. Actually several things happened, but I’ll keep hush on those. We worked to find our max weight in squats. That means how much weight can you lay across the back of your shoulders and scream while you bend down and back up. People take pride loading the bar with heavy plates until it bends. It’s all […]

It takes teamwork to land a baby gator

August 13, 2014

It’s not unusual to step up to your backyard pool for a dip, only to see the shadowy figure lurching along the bottom.

Fit by 50 / wk 3

August 8, 2014

A funny thing happened after my Week 2 post last week – people started sharing their goals and challenges. I’m stoked because I believe it’s better to achieve success as a community than alone. Let’s smash our health / fitness goals together. Another funny thing happened while at Momentum Gym. The instructor, Lauren Z challenged us to eat clean for 21 days. Things such as gluten are off-limits. Of course I sneered because I have no idea what gluten is. Then she […]

TBT – SWAT School (1990)

August 7, 2014

Always fun to shoot up stuff. Ever heard of a Nor’easter? We bayou boys learned real quick out in the plains of West Texas.

Well, ya see…

August 6, 2014

Fun with our city’s senior citizens – Community policing at every age.

Fit By 50 / wk 2

August 1, 2014

First off, big THANK YOU for the awesome response to last week’s inaugural posting of Fit by 50. People shared tips, victories, challenges, well wishes, but unfortunately–no one said – “No way, you look 35.” Well, maybe that one message just didn’t make it’s way to my inbox, so thanks to whoever you were. Week 2 is in the books, and I gotta say it was fantastic. Ever heard of a George Foreman grill? Where have I been the last 25 years? […]