Thank you for your words of encouragement Raymond, keep up the good work and tell your son congratulations and BE SAFE!
"I was not sure what email to send this to but I wanted to send an email of encouragement. My son, Ryan Kozlowski, has been recently hired on by Whitewater PD and I can say with all confidence that this would not have been the path if not for the work that the Milwaukee PD did in my life at 17 years old. So please if you could direct this to whomever might need some encouragement."
"I was arrested in 1997 for a felony charge of intent to deliver drugs. I was wrapped up with the wrong crowd. An Officer, Officer Debraska, was the officer who led the charge and was responsible for questioning me. At some point during the questioning, he saw me, a lost kid, and he spoke to me. He spoke to me and no longer did I simply see an officer of the law, but a wise man who was speaking with care and concern over decisions I was making in my life and he earned my respect in that moment. Best case scenario my life decisions were leading me to prison for the rest of my life and worst case death. Ultimately I was sent away to a rehab program in St Croix (bootcamp) and my life changed. At 19 years old, my life took a drastic turn. I made a decision to make different choices and stuck with it to the point where I now have an 18 year old son joining the police force. Can you believe that? Also, Officer Debraska was at my wedding and I got to hug him….it was a great moment!! He is forever in my heart."
"So the encouragement I have to offer is please do not give up. The impact that you have on people you may not entirely see in the moment, but I am telling you that the Milwaukee PD is forever in my story as a positive influence in my life. Every officer I dealt with, even in my thuggish rebellion, I saw integrity and professionalism and people who actually cared about what it was they were doing. At that time, I never would have admitted it because I was still rebellious, but it was a strong seed sewn into me. I saw it! There are so many more that have similar stories and perhaps they do not verbalize it so please…do not give up. This is a calling."
"Thank you so much for all that you do!"
- Raymond Kozłowski