Deputy Mark Ridley
“I’ve been in law enforcement for just over 18 years and I’ve been a member of DLEA, for almost all of that. I’ve always thought that the best benefit, and for me the only benefit, of membership to DLEA was the legal representation. I mean, let’s face it, we are in a very litigious profession. Simply said, it’s good to have a backup. Recently I was reminded/shown that we have at our disposal an even better benefit. One that you can make use of to hopefully keep you out of trouble. Keep you in a better state of mind and being: Under The Shield. In our line of work, and for that fact all first responders line of work, “preventative maintenance” is very important. Sometimes we don’t realize how important it is until it’s getting close to being very late. We all know what can happen if you drive your vehicle without taking proper care of it. The same thing is true for us.
As I’ve recently discovered, this is more than a back up. It might even be more than preventative maintenance. For some, Under The Shield could be a life raft. I would strongly recommend using Under The Shield as one part of your “preventative maintenance” plan for yourself. If you are afforded this benefit from whatever organization you belong to, or your employer, you should use it. Think of it as a check up of sorts.
You never know what could be bugging you and you may not be able to see it till you sit down with someone like Susan Simons. And to assuage any worries, this is an entirely anonymous service. No notes. No written anything. Nothing to keep you from “dumping the garbage can.” Stop in for a maintenance check up. It’ll keep you more prepared to better handle everything from work to family to your own self.
Do it for you.”
Deputy Mark Ridley
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
President
Deputy Law Enforcement Association