Realize that the traumas you see and experience will change you. I was unprepared for all the pain and trauma that I saw and had I been better prepared, perhaps it would not have affected me so deeply.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Randy Sutton.
Randy Sutton is a 34-year Law Enforcement veteran and nationally known media commentator on Law Enforcement issues. Randy is the Founder of ‘The Wounded Blue,”” the National Assistance and Support Organization for Injured and Disabled Law Enforcement Officers. He served 10 years with the Princeton, New Jersey Police Department and 24 years with the Las Vegas, NV Metropolitan Police Department, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. He is recognized as one of the most highly decorated officers in the LVMPD history, having awards for Valor, Community Service, Exemplary Service, and multiple Lifesaving awards.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Fate, higher power, God, or whatever we want to call that which controls our destiny played the major role in creating the trajectory of my founding the organization “The Wounded Blue “. “The Wounded Blue” is an organization that plays an integral role in helping police officers who are injured or disabled in the line of duty. This would not have been my path had I not suffered a stroke while on patrol as a police Lieutenant for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. The stroke I suffered ended my career and almost ended my life. At the time, I thought this was the most catastrophic event they could happen to me. But through this personal tragedy, I came to understand the plight of injured and disabled officer that gave me the inspiration to begin the organization. Now, five years later, we’ve helped more than 13,000 law-enforcement officers.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
I think the most interesting experience that I’ve had since launching “The Wounded Blue” would be discovering how many incredible and caring people there are in America. The amount of compassion, empathy and incredible selfless people that have embraced our cause has been nothing short of inspirational.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I began the creation and founding of our organization, I knew absolutely nothing about the charity business and believe me, it is a business. I literally floundered around, trying to find my way. The mistakes that I made along this journey are too many to count. I wish I could say that I had stopped making mistakes, but the reality is I continue to learn and grow with the mission. I think the most important mistake that I made was being too trustful of the motivations of others. That has led to some serious disappointments.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
“The Wounded Blue” is making significant social impact in the law-enforcement community. The reality is that my organization should not need to exist. Perhaps the ultimate success will be when we no longer need to. I don’t think I’ll see that in my lifetime. The reality of how police officers are treated once they are injured or disabled, is far different than what most believe. That is one of my biggest challenges, to bring truth to the plight of these men and women. It’s a very difficult concept to grasp, that an officer can be shot in the head, disabled and be literally thrown away like garbage by the agency and city that they sacrificed so much for. Perhaps the biggest social impact that our organization has is being “truth tellers” and bringing this injustice to light.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
We have touched the lives of so many injured or disabled police officers that it’s hard to focus on just one, but recently it came to my attention that an officer who had served with a small department in Texas, and had been crushed by a tractor trailer leading to devastating injuries, including the loss of his leg, was one of those “thrown away.” This will be difficult for people to grasp, but after being so severely injured, including a traumatic brain injury, and the amputation of his leg, this officer was literally fired with no medical benefits or pension. We got involved when it came to our attention that his prosthetic leg was so worn out, that he was literally walking around on a bloody stump. Because of the abandonment, he was not given a replacement. ‘The Wounded Blue” provided a prosthetic leg valued at more than $100,000. When we discovered that he had two special needs children, we teamed with the Gary Sinise Foundatiion and rebuilt his home to make it more accessible for him and his children.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
There is a myriad of things that society and political leadership can do to alleviate some of the pain associated with those who become disabled or severely injured in the line of duty as a police officer. One is to value the service of these men and women and stop the incredible amounts of criticism and outright lies being told about their service. A large majority of these men and women serve selflessly for very little money and do so because they believe that they are changing and saving lives. The media and political leadership who have chosen to demoralize, degrade and dehumanize our law-enforcement officers have had a devastating effect on these men and women. It is time to recognize them for who they truly are — common people doing uncommon work and facing danger every single day.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
I define leadership as the ability to inspire others to fight for a common cause, goal or concept. Often management is mistaken for leadership when in fact, leadership is inspirational, while management is institutional. True leaders have the innate ability to bring people together and achieve.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1 . I think that, as far as my law enforcement career, and then my subsequent leadership role in “The Wounded Blue,” I would say that I wish someone had told me that the greatest asset that you can have is your compassion and empathy. One of the best police leaders that I ever met, was a sergeant named Tom Michaud in Princeton, NJ. He once told me something that stuck with me the rest of my career. He asked me if I knew the difference between being a good cop and a great cop. When I said, I didn’t know, he got a smile on his face and said, “the difference between being a good cop and a great cop is one word, compassion.”
2 . As an officer you may love your agency, but they will never love you back. Many law enforcement officers become so invested in their identity, and in the agency that they become severely depressed when they realize they are just an asset that can be discarded.
3 . I would say the greatest leadership aspect you learn may be from the worst leaders that you encounter. I learned more about how to be a police leader from those that I had negative experiences from, as I learned what not to do.
4 . I wish I had been told that law enforcement worked much more in the “gray area” than in the “black and white”. I came on to the job very young and saw things in only two-dimensional forms. I learned that you had to be flexible in your thinking and your thought processes because not everything is as it seems, nor are people.
5 . Realize that the traumas you see and experience will change you. I was unprepared for all the pain and trauma that I saw and had I been better prepared, perhaps it would not have affected me so deeply.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
I believe that “The Wounded Blue” has begun a movement — a movement of compassion and empathy for those that have sacrificed so much for their communities and their country. “The Wounded Blue” has brought to light the many injustices that routinely take place when dealing with those who become injured or disabled in the line of duty. This work will be never ending, However, that is why the term “movement” is so powerful. To bring about institutional change, as well as inspirational change is incredibly challenging, and yet is essential for a movement to succeed.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
There is a quote that I believe has guided me throughout my life, ” You cannot create your destiny, but you can choose your legacy”. I am a huge believer that when we believe in the concept of our legacy, we will lead better lives and touch many more people in positive ways. It is that path which leads to our destiny.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
If I had the ability to meet someone that I admire, and would love to have a beer with, it would be Mike Rowe. I have followed his career for many years and believe him to be a truly inspirational human being. He has done so much for others in his body of work, and at the same time, appears to have an amazing sense of humor, which is one of the things I admire most about some people. I have had the opportunity to meet many celebrities and politicians and rarely am I impressed.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
People can follow my work by going to our website thewoundedblue.org and follow our social media on Facebook “The Wounded Blue” or my Instagram @Ltrandysutton. If people would like to become involved with the organization as a donor, sponsor or business partner, please contact me directly .at Randy@thewoundedblue.org
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Randy Sutton of The Wounded Blue Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.