Author Archives

Dr. Scott Silverii

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

K-9 Interview | Readers’ Questions Answered #2

  ALEXANDER SIMPSON: I’ve heard that some officers have to pay for their dogs out of their own pocket. Is that true?   LT. EDDIE RODRIGUE: Yes it’s true. I have worked several of my own K-9’s. I donated my present K-9 Vic, so I would be allowed to work him.   Our department now buys green dogs for the other handlers and I complete the initial training to save the department the price of a fully trained dog. Our department pays $5,500.00 []

K-9 Interview | Readers’ Questions Answered #1

  K-9 QUESTION SHERRY TROOP “I saw recently on TV that dogs trained to sniff bombs in Afghanistan are now being used for the same job in Washington D.C. (The dog featured is 4years old). Is it difficult for both the dog & it’s handler to separate from each after working as partners for so long? I would think they would bond closely. Which gender is best suited?”   LT. E RODRIGUE “I find it very hard to separate once you have a []

Police K-9 Interview | Part 2

  Many thanks to Lieutenant Eddie Rodrigue, III for taking his time to answer questions about K-9 Handlers and their partners. Join []

Police K-9 Interview | Part 1

  Many thanks to Lieutenant Eddie Rodrigue, III for taking his time to answer questions about K-9 Handlers and their partners. Join Chief Scott Silverii for more from Eddie Rodrigue. Thanks again Eddie. Lets start with an introduction? I’m currently a Lieutenant for the Thibodaux Police Department. I supervise the K-9 Unit and Problem Oriented Policing Unit. I’m also assigned to the Lafourche Parish Interagency Crises Management Unit (SWAT). I’m currently a National Certifying Official for the National Narcotics Detection Dog Association []

Our HOT CAR Message went viral | Just don’t do it

The Thibodaux Police Department challenges each officer to create innovative social media messaging that relates to our citizens and demonstrates our willingness to extend ourselves to serve the city. This selfless demonstration by Public Information Officer Detective David Melancon illustrates our vision of service. Way to Geaux

God bless America | Happy Independence Day

The basis for a right relationship

In my years of ministry, I have been with numerous people as they left this life to enter into eternity. None have called for their accountant or their bankbooks. They only call for their family members, friends, and their God. At the end of life we all realize the only thing that really matters is our relationships. Ultimately, the most important is the relationship we have with our God. God created a special garden He called Eden, and placed the first man []

TPD To Participate In Third Global Police Tweet-A-Thon

Join us at @ThibodauxPolice on #poltwt

Be an Oak

It was around 1981-1982 that I decided to quit my job and pursue the full-time ministry of an Evangelist. I had been taught by my Pastor that you never make major changes without prayer and fasting. I had a wife and two children at this time (my youngest was not yet born), and making this decision was serious because it would affect their lives greatly. I had to know it was God directing me.   I took a few days off from []

Not a Police Tactic

I was once asked if this picture showed a tactic for launching officers into a crowd. I shook my head then smiled – “No” was all I said. But wouldn’t it be cool?

Teammates

  Looking forward to this summer’s Big Fun Day for Thibodaux Jr Police and families.

Who is Calling the Shots?

The greatest battleground in your life is between your ears. Scripture clearly states that as a man thinks, so is he. The Apostle Paul wrote that the way to transform your life and find God’s perfect will is to transform your thinking to God’s way. (Romans 12:1-2) Our right choices allow His Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and make us a child of God. This is what scripture calls “born again”. It is clear that the battle between Good and Evil []

Remembering D-Day | The Greatest Generation

DAYTON, Ohio (Army News Service, June 2, 2014) — Veteran paratrooper Jim “Pee Wee” Martin, who jumped into Normandy on D-Day, is returning to coastal France to mark the 70th anniversary of the invasion that changed the course of World War II. Martin, who spoke in an interview ahead of the anniversary, remembers looking out in the night sky before making the historic jump. “When we made our initial jump into France, there were a few cirrus clouds up above, just enough []

Always Training

  Officers regularly endure mental, physical and emotional challenges to better prepare us to serve you.

Top Cop Blogs | we made the list

The How to Become a Police Officer website included Bright Blue Line in their annual Top 30 Police Blogs ranking of all law enforcement sites. Pass it along and invite someone to follow the positive policing experience. Thanks, Scott

An Honor

  Last season, NSU Coach Seth Thibodeaux invited me to speak with his team. It was an honor to meet so many true champions and community servants. Congrats on the historic season Coach.

Do you have what it takes?

Adrian Rogers told the story of a man who was going to be made CEO of a major company. The Board of Directors talked about it, and it was decided. In the company cafeteria one day, the existing CEO was behind this man in line. Unbeknownst to the man, the CEO saw him take a pat of butter that cost about 3 cents, then put a slice of bread over the butter so that no one would see it.   The CEO []

Policing with compassion

Policing with Compassion: Renee Mitchell at TEDxOxbridge My friend, Sergeant Renee Mitchell, one of the great new innovators in re-inventing policing, shares her experience and the need to do it better. To show compassion and humanity while serving others. Great job Renee  

Bike Patrol wishes you an awesome summer vacation

Have fun but always be safe.

Five Things

FIVE THINGS LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES CAN DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 1. Crime is rarely random; patrols shouldn’t be either. Focusing on small geographic locations and times when crimes occur and targeting specific, high-impact repeat offenders can decrease crime. 2. Quality is more important than speed. In most cases, thorough investigations, problem solving and careful forensic evidence collection contribute more to arresting suspects than shaving a few seconds off of initial response times. 3. DNA works for property crimes, too. Collecting and using DNA evidence []

Thank You

    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends [John 15:13]

Get out of the boat

They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. Matthew 4:22 Something about the comfort and safety of the boat makes it hard to leave! After Noah had floated in the ark for months, God caused the floodwaters to recede and directed Noah and his family to leave their haven of refuge. Surely Noah wondered what it would be like outside the ark. Peter, too, knew the safety of the boat. But one day Jesus challenged him to leave the known []

Police Week 2014; Honoring Captain Keith Paul Chiasson

Captain Keith Paul Chiasson is my Brother, and I miss you Captain Keith Paul Chiasson Thibodaux Police Department, Louisiana End of Watch: Monday, March 10, 2008 Bio & Incident Details Age: 51 Tour: 31 years Cause: Gunfire Incident Date: 2/19/1980 Weapon: Handgun Captain Keith Chiasson succumbed  to gunshot wounds sustained in 1980. He was shot several times after  responding to a complaint at a local night club. He died as a result of the  wounds on March 10, 2008. Captain Chiasson had []

Police Week 2014; Honoring Chaney Champagne

Detective Chaney Champagne was my Brother and I miss you. Detective Chaney Joseph Champagne Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department,  Louisiana End of Watch: Thursday, July 31, 2003 Bio & Incident Details Age: 45 Tour: 22 years Badge # 732 Cause: Automobile accident Incident Date: 7/31/2003 Detective Chaney Champagne and  Sergeant Kurt Harrelson were killed when their patrol car collided with a truck  on State Highway 308. At approximately 1530 hours, Detective Champagne  and Sergeant Harrelson were responding to a call reporting an elderly woman had  []

Police Week 2014; Honoring Martha Ann Woods-Shareef

 Sheriff’s Deputy Martha Ann Woods-Shareef was my Sister and I miss you. Deputy Sheriff Martha Ann Woods-Shareef Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department,  Louisiana End of Watch: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Bio & Incident Details Age: 53 Tour: 15 years Cause: Vehicular assault Incident Date: 8/20/2008 Weapon: Automobile Suspect: Apprehended Deputy Martha Woods-Shareef  succumbed to injuries sustained when she was run over by a vehicle while  investigating a burglary on Highway 20. She had responded to a local convenience  store at 2:30 am after an alarm []

Police Week 2014; Honoring Kurt “Woody” Harrelson

Detective Sergeant “Woody” Harrelson was my Brother and I miss you.       Sergeant Kurt E. Harrelson Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Department,  Louisiana End of Watch: Thursday, July 31, 2003  Bio & Incident Details Age: 31 Tour: 10 years Cause: Automobile accident Incident Date: 7/31/2003 Sergeant Kurt Harrelson and  Detective Chaney Champagne were killed when their patrol car collided with a  truck on State Highway 308. At approximately 1530 hours, Sergeant  Harrelson and Detective Champagne were responding to a call reporting an elderly  woman had driven her car into a canal and the car []

Police Week 2014; Honoring Octavio Rafael “Ox” Gonzalez

Captain Octavio Rafael  Gonzalez was my Brother and I miss you. Captain Octavio Rafael Gonzalez St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s  Office, Louisiana End of Watch: Friday, June 16, 2006 Bio & Incident Details Age: 40 Tour: 13 years Cause: Gunfire Incident Date: 6/16/2006 Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Suspect: Sentenced to life Captain Octavio Gonzalez was shot  and killed while participating in a manhunt for two suspects who had shot and  wounded another deputy minutes earlier. The wounded deputy and his  partner []

It is Well | Mother’s Day

It is Well | Mother’s Day Last week I was blessed with a wonderful sermon about the Shumanite woman from 2 Kings 4:8-37. Her sacrifice, silent suffering, and faith reminded me of my mother – as I’m sure her character is similar to your moms’ also. Elisha asked about her child, and having just lost the young boy, she answered, “It is well, it is well.” Not that she wasn’t hurting, but her spirit, which transcended human understanding, was at peace despite []

Swat or Not | Got what it takes?

Nine ways to increase your chances of making SWAT by: Lt. Dan Marcou 1.) You Must Possesses Excellent Work Ethic Most SWAT teams are part-time jobs. This means their members maintain full-time positions elsewhere on their departments and join their SWAT team whenever it is called into action. When this is the case, it is imperative that members of the team be reliable, exemplary workers in both venues.A team member who is a supervisory problem in their daily assignment will reflect badly []

Community Policing is Compassionate Policing

 

City on a Hill | Day of Prayer

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; – Matthew 5:14 It was a humbling presence to pray for our law enforcement and military on Thibodaux’s courthouse steps. The representation of spiritual leaders, prayer warriors and praise partners gathered to pray for our nation, state and city illustrates that God is Not Dead – He’s roaring like a LION in the City of Thibodaux – Our city on a hill.  

10 Life Lessons from a Navy SEAL

Naval Admiral William H. McRaven’s commencement speech at UT. It’s amazing and lessons I hope to always remember. PLEASE ENJOY The University’s slogan is, “What starts here changes the world.” I have to admit—I kinda like it. “What starts here changes the world.” Tonight there are almost 8,000 students graduating from UT. That great paragon of analytical rigor, Ask.Com says that the average American will meet 10,000 people in their lifetime. That’s a lot of folks. But, if every one of you []

Thibodaux Fireman’s Fair | May 1 – 4, 2014

Firemen – Because cops need heroes too.

Firemen | Because Cops Need Heros Too

In honor of the 2014 Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department’s world-famous “Fireman’s Fair,” I want to take this weekend to say THANK YOU! What do you get when mix Red and Blue? In Thibodaux, Louisiana you get a great group of committed public servants working together to protect the lives and properties of our citizens and visitors. This week is yours TVFD! The History The town of Thibodaux purchased equipment on April 3, 1843, consisting of 150 feet of hose and a dozen []

Filtering Out the Negatives

Wouldn’t you like to have a filter inn your brain that filters what’s important and what’s not? Well, you do. It’s called the “Reticular Activation System” or RAS.  It’s the part of your brain that automatically filters out what is not important to you, and brings your attention to the things that are. We all have it. A Mother will tell you that they can pick out their own child’s voice among the noise of many children. Dad can be snoring so loud []

R.I.P. Captain Ronnie Dyson (Terrebonne Parish SO)

A wonderful family man, friend and public servant. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/houmatoday/obituary.aspx?n=ronny-dyson&pid=170738502

Different Ideas for Developing Future Leaders

By the16percent on April 3, 2014 Even though the recent recession postponed retirement for many Baby Boomers, it didn’t eliminate it; and now many of them are exiting the workforce stage left. Because of this reality, many innovative organizations in both the private and public sectors are developing creative ways to develop effective leaders. Here’s a quick look at three unique approaches that could help prepare your team for the future: Leader-Lend Toyota has modeled this with great success. They created a diverse team of []

Be an Oak

It was around 1981-1982 that I decided to quit my job and pursue the full-time ministry of an Evangelist. I had been taught by my Pastor that you never make major changes without prayer and fasting. I had a wife and two children at this time (my youngest was not yet born), and making this decision was serious because it would affect their lives greatly. I had to know it was God directing me.   I took a few days off from []

Preparing a Place

It is such a joy when someone saves a place for us. We walk into a crowded room wondering how we’re going to find a seat, and someone across the way waves us over; pointing to a chair they’ve held especially for us. For a moment we feel a sense of relief, a taste of being on the inside. Now consider Jesus’ words in John 14:2—”I am going . . . to prepare a place for you.” Christ promises that He is []

Wonder Why?

Why don’t you ever see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”? Why is “abbreviated” such a long word? Why is it that doctors call what they do “practice”? Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker? Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes? You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t they make the whole plane out of that stuff?! Why []

What to Bury

If you want to live a life that matters and has the Peace of God in it, learn to know what to bury and what to remember. This Poem I often read at funerals says much about what is important. A time has come when my life on earth has ceased. I ask you my family and friends, remember these special things: Bury my body, but don’t bury my beliefs. Bury my heart, but don’t bury my love. Bury my eyes, but []

8 Acts Of Chivalry To Bring Back

8 Acts Of Chivalry To Bring Back James Michael Sama / February 1, 2014 The more women I talk to, the more I realize that the gentleman is a rare breed. The mission of the New Chivalry Movement is to bring men (and women) together who strive to be the best versions of themselves and love and respect those around them. As the gentleman has become less prominent, so have the respectful acts that define him. Here are 8 acts of chivalry we often overlook and should []

The Christian Police Officer

By: Officer Johnathon Fontenot Thibodaux Police Department (LA)  I am a Christian, but I am also a Police Officer. The challenges of being a Christian or a Police Officer are in and of themselves diverse, but being both at the same time has proved to be more challenging than I could have ever imagined. My journey with God began in the summer of 2009. My life was completely transformed, and God gave me an intense desire to know more about him. So, []

The Farmer and the Atheist

An atheist neighbor came over to speak to the old farmer as he worked in his garden. He told the farmer, “I don’t believe in your God and if he did exist he wouldn’t be that smart. See that little vine with that great big watermelon on it, and that great big oak branch with that little bitty acorn on it? Good sense says the watermelon should be on the big branch and the acorn on the little vine.”   About that []

Rating Success Differently

Cop Culture: Why Good Cops Go Bad ranked in 3 of Amazon’s top categories. I am truly grateful. More importantly, I’ve received calls and e-mails from people asking about the work. They share that reading the book is like watching what their spouse or family member is going through on the job. I always assure them to read through to the recommendations!! If it helps one cop, one family or one community, it is a measured success. That’s rating success differently. Stay Blue, []