Happy Second Birthday WTA!

[Karen Bartuch]

As I sit here on the eve of the second birthday of the WTA, mulling over the last two years, I feel a tad emotional (if you know me, this is truly uncharacteristic). I believe it is emotion stemming from an unbridled passion for what the WTA and organizations like it, as well as all law enforcement and military, have done, are doing and will continue to do.

 

Every American can understand the magnitude of Navy Seal Team Six neutralizing the United States’ number one target, UBL, in May 2011. As law enforcement, we run similar operations in that we hunt, capture or kill those murderers, rapists, drug dealers and gangbangers that terrorize our citizens and our communities. Like Seal Team Six we do it because we love it despite that it’s extremely dangerous and too often, fatal. Yet we do it each day and even when not on duty.

 

I became a police officer because I wanted to do something that had meaning. I started the WTA for a plethora of reasons but I didn’t know that it would lead me down an entirely unexpected path where I would discover even more meaning in the law enforcement profession and that the WTA would take on more than just its original mission of providing training. As expected, we have met our fair share of resistance and immature mockery but the overwhelming support of people around the globe instantly crushes that. Here is a small sample of the many positive e-mails I have received over the last two years:

“I wanted to extend my congratulations to you for the creation of the Women’s Tactical Association.  Rock on Ladies! 

I am a retired lieutenant from the Miami-Dade Police Department, Miami, Fl., and served as one of the Special Response Team Commanders from 1994-2001.  Wish there had been a WTA back then.  

Good Luck to you all and stay safe.”

 

“I have just finished the article on WTA in this month’s Law and Order magazine. I am very pleased and excited to hear that this organization exists. It is sorely needed! I have attended several SWAT courses and am very interested in supporting women’s participation in SWAT. 

I am also a nationally ranked power lifter and have provided strength training instruction to many men and women, both law enforcement officers and athletes. 

I would love to become involved in supporting the work WTA is doing. Please let me know if you would like to talk further.

Watch Commander
Sacramento PD”

 

“I recently read about the Women's Tactical Association.  I retired last year but I am so glad that such a group was formed.  I would like to support the association.
Thank you for starting this.”

 

Seal Team Six is a shining example of dedicated professionals that excel at their craft. It is my pleasure to be among all of you that have shown your dedication to your own professional development by taking vacation time to attend SWAT School or using your overtime check on ammunition or spending the weekend away from your family in order to brush up on your shooting skills. I promise you those sacrifices are not for nothing. You don’t want to find yourself in a critical incident wishing you had practiced emergency reloads or went running more because then it is too late.

 

I would like to thank all of the members of the WTA; this is your organization and what you make it. I would also like to thank all of our supporters; you know who you are. It has been a helluva ride and I look forward to what the future holds. 

 

Happy Birthday WTA! 

 

~ Karen