05/14/2025
This week is National Police Week. A pause in time for our nation when law enforcement and other first responders stop to remember those who have died in the line of duty and those who are serving every day in the line of duty.
I have witnessed in my years of law enforcement service and now every day still serving, amazing people who are willing to give all for someone they have never met or know. Women and Men who purposely place themselves as shields in harms way to potentially die or be hurt for another person.
I have watched Women and Men who also live for others and make the right choices leading by example and changing lives not through arrest but through positive influence.
I work with you now and watch you investigate the worst of incidents where death and destruction are everywhere and then you go through the emotions of informing families their loved ones are gone forever.
You are servants of others who give up a normal lifestyle for a lifestyle of absolute sacrifice and scrutiny. You have to serve others because it is in your heart but you are dealt consequences of lawsuits, humiliation, divorce, isolation, health issues, mental problems, trauma that never goes away, loss of friends and a tilted sense of trust and humor that only people like us understand.
Witnessing the worst of humanity many times over while making life changing split second decisions that have lasting impacts on you and our communities. You do this for a modest salary and a retirement pension of about 50% of your top pay with no health benefits from most agencies. You only hope you can retire healthy enough to work a new job and make your ends meet coupled with your modest pension. We don't care though because we serve for the meaning not the money.
These are heroic decisions by public servants who stand at the ready and get blasted over and over again by politics and opinions but they stay unshakeable and resilient always focusing on serving the public with no reservation.
Do we make mistakes through it all? Of course..but at our core is a unexplainable desire to push through it all and an understanding and acceptance of the peril or problems that can happen at any moment.
This is why we take just a smidge of time to honor those who served others and are serving others. We simply want to do what is right and protect life, property and principles and be the olympians of our communities in compassion and character as best as we can.
My fellow brothers and sisters, I see you and I know what you feel and we all stand with you and love you and have your back when what is right is done or defended. We are not the military or some faction of us versus the public.
We are Neighbors, Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons, Daughters, Friends and Colleagues. We are a collective body of shared values, principles and goals all striving to simply guard our families and fellow citizens from evil acts and establish order and helping others no matter what. That is what we are as the police family.
My companies and I love you and honor you this week.
I am offering to all active and retired credentialed law enforcers a 50% discount at all of my stores, dry cleaning stores, drive in movie theater, restaurants, car washes and businesses. May 11 through May 17, 2025.
Thank you for all you do for Beaufort and Jasper Counties..places that are filled with great people who support you and us and want to make sure you are remembered and thanked as a living hero.....keep doing right🙂
Sincerely,
Jake Higgins
Owner
Higgins Family Brands
