TO THE READER

I am not a victim.

Throughout my career I made many mistakes and fell into many pitfalls because of my own pride and ignorance. There were many battles I shouldn’t have fought, and many battles I should have.

There were times I stayed silent when I should have spoke, and many times when my voice brought consequences you’ll now read about. But with every choice, as you’ll see, there is a consequence good or bad. This is a good thing in the end, even when bad things happen. This is how I believe  we learn. Looking back, I truly can’t believe I made it seven years in Law Enforcement. That alone was a miracle for a reason.

I also did things that have resulted in helping several internal police policies change in Salt Lake City, along with two laws change on the books in Utah. So with this said, I wouldn’t change a thing. It was worth it. Because there needed to be change in some of these areas.

With the pressures from political police administrations and the public, the American Police Officer is sandwiched between. And the Thin Blue Line is truly getting thinner each day. We need cops. We need good cops. And we need those good cops to become the next leaders, or the relationship between the police and the public will only get worse. It’s the only way. Yes, the system is broken in many areas, but does that mean we give up and watch it happen in front of us?

One of my messages  in the book is how to overcome adversity in the darkest hours. If we let it,  that opposition will teach, sharpen and refine each one of us. Opposition is what can make us rock solid in our convictions.

For years I had some lingering poison in my veins for what happened to me and my family, I have played the victim game, and I still catch a trace of it here and there within, but today, overall I am so grateful for what happened.

I’m thankful to my old Chief of Police for taking my badge and my gun. I’m thankful for some of my Sergeants that sat silent, and for my Lieutenant who looked away when I stared at him for help. I know that sounds crazy, but I am.

The opposition helped force me to stay on my knees in prayer a whole lot longer than normal. The opposition helped me find God on a deeper level. The opposition helped me have no other option than to find a lot better version of myself. The opposition helped me find confidence in myself, and ironically, has allowed me to use my voice even more for what I believe.

And for the few who were with us, we will be friends forever and I’ll never forget you. Thank you.

I hope my stories will inspire you to listen to your conscience and act, especially when you don’t want to act. To face your fears. To not be afraid to use your voice and influence wherever you may be. Whatever that belief is. Because it matters. Your voice and passions do matter. It’s why the Founders of our country did what they did, for you to speak and be a positive force for good.

And last, I hope this will ultimately help bring people together through our inevitable disagreements on sometimes polarizing  topics. It is possible to love and disagree all at the same time; it’s vital we do it. It means we aren’t lying to each other. That’s honest love.

Sincerely,

Eric Moutsos

Please feel free to share any individual chapter or any link  you like on social media to  help spread my messages around. Thanks again.

Acknowledgements –

Besides God at the helm, I want to thank amazing and beautiful wife Stacey. She is my everything. My 4 incredible children who keep me moving every day, Ava, Devery, Chris and Rachel. Sherri Moutsos (Mom) Nick Moutsos (Dad), In-laws, Ed and Bobbie Carroll. My siblings, Casey and Brad Pace, Dustin and Mindy Moutsos, Ashley and Tyler Bell and their families. Bret Rawson, Evander Holyfield, Brian and Nicole Goeckeritz, D.E, Kathy Smith, Stephanie Clayburn, Joe Kerry, Paul Mero, Laurie and Stan Swim, Mike Erickson, Jack Phillips, David Christensen, Kim Coleman, Howard Stephenson, Connor Boyack, Stephen Mongie, Scott and Barbara Morath, Evan Bush, Eric Marsing, Cody Gray, Michael Barber, Mick Fredericks, Rod Arquette, Adam Nicolaysen, Chris Nielsen, Tyler Austin, Bill Manzanares, Ammon Mauga, Bob Eldard, Andy Jackson, Mark Schuman, Jeremy Forman, Jeff Flamm, Anthony Lane, Greg Hartley, Robert and Trish, Peggy Tidwell, Spencer Robinson, Ian Adams, Nate Nelson, Jeremy Jones.

A special thanks to Brian Goeckeritz for helping me shape, write, and articulate this book in ways I could have never been able to on my own. And for his sweet wife, Nicole, for the countless hours Brian was away from you to help me.

Thank you Bret Rawson (Legal) Stephanie Clayburn (Editor) Abraham Corona (Book cover graphics) Randy Anglesey (Photos for cover from Studio Defy) and Mike A. (Webpage).