Every Badge Out There

I’ve been to several Police Memorials during my years with the Columbia Police Department, but none stands out like the one in 2006. It was the first time I ever heard “Every Badge Out There”. I know when writing the song, Patrolman Jeremy Alsup, wasn’t writing it based on my family, but he might as well been. While listening to him play the song live, I remember looking across the auditorium and making eye contact with my father and both us being teary eyed. Each time I’ve listened to it since, thousands of lifelong memories flow through my head: Most are memories that only a child of a law enforcement officer would cherish. My dad was “Shop with a COP” before there was a “Shop with a COP”. While growing up, dad would get donated toys that needed parts replaced or fixed. After countless hours of working on them, he would load up the old truck and we would drive all over Columbia giving them to underprivileged children at Christmas. As an elementary aged child, I watched a domestic violence situation take place down the road from where I grew up. I remember seeing patrol officers surrounding the house. I saw my father rush into the back door of the house where the armed person was barricaded inside with a family member. Shortly thereafter, my dad exited the house with the individual under arrest. I remember having to take vacations out of state so situations could die down at home because someone had allegedly put death threats out on my dad for busting certain people or knowing too much about certain people’s illegal activities. My father worked 40 to 80 hours a week while I attended Jr. High & high school, but from what I remember he was never too busy or too tired to ever missed one single sport or school activity of mine. Those are just a few of the childhood memories that come back every time I listen to “Every Badge Out There” There isn’t a day that goes by that someone at work is not asking me about Frank Duncan or providing a story of him. Some don’t even realize they’re telling these stories to his son. Thanks for allowing me to share a few cherished memories that this song brings to me. "Every Badge Out There" words & music by Jeremy Alsup ©2006 Jeremy Alsup