ATLANTA, Georgia (January 26, 2022)—Global nonprofit Point 27 recently honored fallen Brackenridge Borough, Pennsylvania’s Police Chief Justin McIntire, shot and killed January 2, during a foot pursuit of a wanted subject.
McIntire was the first officer killed in the line of duty in 2023, reported by the national Officer Down Memorial Page website.
To honor McIntire: Point 27 sent gifts of scripture-inscribed Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength dog-tag necklaces to the Brackenridge Borough Police Department for Chief McIntire’s staff, and a scripture-inscribed Folded Flag Pendant Keepsake Necklace for his family.
Based in Atlanta, Point 27 is headed by US Army (Ret.) Col. David Dodd. “It is tragic that this officer and his family sacrificed so much,” Dodd said. “We salute his courageous and selfless commitment to service and sacrifice.”
This month, Point 27 has honored the two other officers, killed in the line of duty in 2023: one California Deputy Sheriff killed by gunfire January 13, and one Louisiana Police Officer who died January 12, of complications from COVID 19 he was exposed to in the line of duty.
In late 2018, Point 27 began honoring every fallen law enforcement officer, their agencies and families.
“Since 2018, the radical turn in some communities against law enforcement has magnified the need for encouraging law enforcement officers and their families, who are risking and facing so much,” Dodd said.
“In these days when so many are publicly criticizing and questioning law enforcement, we are resolutely dedicated to sharing God’s Word with them and their families to encourage them and to show appreciation for their sacrifice and service. We want them to know we value them, God loves them, and they are never alone” Dodd said.
The face of the Thin Blue Line Shield of Strength shows an engraved silver American flag face designed with one flag stripe of blue. The back of the dog tag is inscribed with Matthew 5:9,” Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” The design and scripture were chosen by law enforcement officers.
The Folded Flag Pendant necklaces are engraved with John 15:13; “Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
POINT 27 SCOPE OF OUTREACH
In 2016 – at the request of the law enforcement community, Point 27’s outreach expanded to include gifts of the Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength for law enforcement officers.
Since its founding in 2014, Point 27 reports gifting more than 762,935 scripture-inscribed Shields of Strength to members of the military, first responders and law enforcement officers; bereaved families of fallen first responders and Gold Star Families of fallen military members.
In 2022, Point 27 reports outreach to more than 37,000: including 31,935 first responders and families of fallen first responders, 3,935 members of the military and Gold Star Families, and 1,435 at-risk youth, women and girls living in or rescued from human trafficking.
ABOUT US (RET.) COL. DAVID DODD
Dodd commanded a battalion of the first troops deployed to Afghanistan following 911. He wore a Shield of Strength dog tag inscribed with Joshua 1:9 next to his government-issued dog tag; and equipped each of the soldiers in his command with a Shield of Strength before they deployed.
Dodd served 27 years and four deployments in the military. After his military retirement, he founded Point 27, in 2014, to share the scripture-inscribed dog tags that encouraged him and his troops, with members of the military and veterans.
