Never Forgotten. Never Alone: Randy Sutton’s Fight for Law Enforcement Families
When Lieutenant Randy Sutton first put on the badge in 1976, policing looked a lot different. Officers could do their jobs without the constant scrutiny of a body camera or the looming fear of public backlash. They were respected. Supported. And even though the job was always dangerous, the culture surrounding officers, both inside and outside the department, wasn’t laced with suspicion and hostility.
Fast forward to today, and that landscape has shifted dramatically. And for law enforcement families, the weight of that shift is deeply personal.
Law Enforcement Mental Health and the Pressure to Be Perfect
“Every cop knows the saying: It’s better to be tried by twelve than carried by six.”
The tension between doing your job and staying alive has always existed, but it’s more intense than ever. Officers are now forced to navigate split-second decisions while worrying if a camera clip, public opinion, or political pressure will end their career, or worse, their life.
That pressure doesn’t stay at work. It spills into law enforcement marriages and family life, where spouses are left wondering if their loved one will be supported by the system if something goes wrong.
The mental health toll on officers and their families is undeniable. Between the fear, the lack of institutional support, and the culture of perfection, it’s no wonder law enforcement mental health has become a crisis. Families are silently asking: “Will someone be there for us if something happens?” Randy Sutton decided to make sure the answer is yes.
The Wounded Blue: When Departments Turn Their Backs
Randy founded The Wounded Blue after suffering a career-ending stroke in his patrol car. Instead of being supported by his department, he was discarded. No benefits. No medical coverage. Just a cold, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” That betrayal would have crushed many, but Randy turned it into purpose.
The Wounded Blue is now The National Assistance and Support Organization for Injured and Disabled Officers. In just five years, it has helped over 15,000 officers and their families. They provide peer support, connect officers with critical services, and fight the culture of abandonment that too many face after an injury, whether physical or emotional.
Their mission says it all: “Never Forgotten. Never Alone.”
Departments may overlook the injured, but The Wounded Blue does not. They created the Order of the Blue Heart Award to honor those who were physically or emotionally injured in the line of duty. Officers who have been forgotten by their agencies are now seen, acknowledged, and respected. Families are no longer left to navigate the aftermath in silence.
Survival Summit: Changing Lives, One Officer at a Time
Randy also founded the annual National Law Enforcement Survival Summit, a three-day conference packed with education, peer support, and life-saving resources. This isn’t your typical training. It’s raw, real, and filled with stories and tools officers and their spouses actually need, covering law enforcement mental health, addiction, injury recovery, finances, relationships, and transitioning into retirement.
A Legacy on the Page: Randy’s Books
Writing has always been part of Randy’s way of processing the darkness of the job and helping others do the same. His books are gripping, heart-wrenching, and full of life. He never meant to be a writer, but after saving the life of a one-month-old baby girl who’d been shot in a drive-by, something shifted. He went home, poured a drink, and started writing her story on a yellow pad.
Years later, after the World Trade Center attacks took the lives of 72 officers, that story became the foundation for his first book, True Blue, a collection of real-life stories from officers around the country. All the royalties went to the widows and families of the fallen.
His best-known work, A Cop’s Life, dives deep into the emotional toll of the job. It’s raw, honest, and filled with stories that make other cops say, “I thought I was the only one.” That book alone has been a light for thousands of officers navigating the unspoken pain of their careers.
And now, Randy’s newest release, Rescuing 911: The Fight for America’s Safety, is available for pre-order. In it, he continues the mission of telling the hard truths about our first responders—and fighting for their support.
How You Can Help
If you’re in law enforcement, a family member, or just someone who cares, here’s how you can support this mission:
- Visit The Wounded Blue
- Donate or become part of the 100 Club
- Nominate an officer for the Order of the Blue Heart
- Attend the Survival Summit (spouse tickets are discounted!)
- Share this blog. Post it. Email it. Talk about it.
- To contact The Wounded Blue or access support, you can call 833-TWB-TALK. There’s always someone on the other end who gets it.
And don’t forget to subscribe to Randy’s podcast, A Cop’s Life, where he continues to spotlight stories of courage and resilience.
To those still serving: “Never lose sight of how important you are. Be proud of who you are. You are leaving a legacy every time you touch the life of another human being.”
Let’s make sure they know they’re not alone.
A Challenge for You
Ready to deepen your connection? Take the 14-day appreciation challenge! This free resource provides daily prompts designed to make gratitude a simple and meaningful habit. Download it at Code4Couples.com/appreciation.
To learn more about improving your relationship, check out my book, Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship, available wherever books are sold.
