Amid the dog days of summer, on a typically sweltering August night 2024, in the small, more often than not, sleepy community of 1850 residents in Runaway Bay, Texas an unfortunate series of events left well-respected, longtime police officer James Gates homeless and possessionless. Among those events, not least of which being, Officer Gates was the unintended victim of the suspected arson of his next door neighbour's home. This calamity rendered the home of Officer Gates completely gutted, thus uninhabitable for the foreseeable future. All of his personal possessions, within his home, were destroyed. Anyone losing their home, personal possessions as well as irreplaceable momentos would be undone by such a life altering experience. However, indicative of the character and caring nature of Officer Gates, his concern was, first and foremost, for his neighbour and their safety. Thankfully, his neighbour was unharmed by the fire.

Officer Gates is a well loved and greatly respected member of Runaway Bay. It's not his position as a police officer, Fire Chief of the Runaway Bay Volunteer Fire Department or even the fact that he is always there, ready to help with any and every charitable event dreamt up by anyone and everyone in Runaway Bay, that engenders the admiration of the majority of Runaway Bay and beyond. It is the way Officer Gates lives his life and never fails to show his love and concern for our small community that has earned him our wholesale admiration and respect. Officer Gates has been there to share some of the worst moments of many of my neighbour's lives. He has also been there to see to it that many more of my neighbours didn't have to experience the worst moment of anyone's life. It is Officer Gates' professionalism and compassion that makes any such encounter less daunting.

Due to the public accolades, I'm certain Officer Gates will get quite the good-natured ribbing, from his brother's in blue, but they're no slouches either. It is the handful of dedicated police officers in Runaway Bay who keep us safe and are responsible for some of us still being among the living. Runaway Bay is just small enough and far enough outside of civilization it takes an ambulance approximately 10-15 minutes and up to 30 minutes to arrive at an emergency. These logistics assure, most frequently, that a Runaway Bay police officer is the first to arrive at the side of someone in desperate need. Most everyone in Runaway Bay has the comfort of knowing they're within 4 minutes of one of our heros in blue.

It is for these reasons, I am honoured to ask anyone, who can provide financial assistance, to aid Officer Gates getting his life back on track, to donate whatever amount they feel comfortable giving. This is, unfortunately, another time all of us have the opportunity to step up and prove we sincerely "Back The Blue."

Whether or not you're able to make a donation, your prayers and kind thoughts for the safety and wellbeing of all law enforcement officers and first responders is greatly appreciated.