Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit (translation below)

As we keep hearing the details of the death of the Oakland officers, I find myself getting back to basics regarding what our fraternity is about. Every time you hear of tragedy, or even have it happens in your back yard, it reminds us of why our fraternity exists in the first place.

In November of 2000, I sat down to watch a bit of TV one late weekday morning. I turned on the tube and immediately saw Mike Siitari at a press conference. Mike was - and still is - the Chief of Edina PD. I immediately turned up the volume. A bank robbery suspect shot two Edina officers, one critically. The Edina cops did their job and sent the robber to his final destination. I started making phone calls. The State Lodge stepped in - we offered cash and assistance.

The final result was a huge fund raiser for Mike Blood and his family...Mike was the one critically injured, and Lake Minnetonka Lodge #6 and the Edina Independent Police Association raised well over $100,000. That's what we are about.

Everyone also realizes (even though we don't like to think about it) that if any of us meets the same fate as our brothers in Oakland, the fraternity will be here for the family. It's the least that we can do, and this is our ultimate responsibility. Virtus junxit mors non separabit (What virtue has joined, death can not separate).