Point 27 honors fallen Oklahoma Deputy Taylor and Lt. Lanning

Point 27

ATLANTA – Point 27, a global nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia, point27.org recently honored two fallen Oklahoma law enforcement officers by sending gifts of Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength dog tags engraved with Mathew 5:8: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God,” to their agencies.

The dog tags were sent to Bryan County Sheriff’s Office to honor fallen Deputy Sheriff Jarid Taylor, killed in an auto crash January 14; and to the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office to honor fallen Lt. Shirley Lanning; who died in an auto crash February 14.

For the families of the fallen, Point 27, directed by US Army (Ret.) Col. David Dodd, also sent gifts of Folded Flag Pendant Necklaces inscribed with John 15:15, “Greater love has no one than this:  to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

“We are forever grateful for these brave men and women in law enforcement,” Dodd said. “We are presenting Thin Blue Line Dog Tags to the deputies. who served closest with the fallen Oklahoma officers, to thank them for their putting their lives on the line to protect their communities. The dog tag is engraved with a Bible verse and serves as a physical reminder that God is with them day and night as they patrol and protect the streets of their communities. We want them to know we appreciate and value them.

“For the families of the fallen officers, we pray the scripture on the Folded Flag Pendant Necklaces reminds them that we will never forget their loved ones.”

Since its founding, Point 27 has awarded gifts of several hundred thousand Shields of Strength to members of the military, veterans and law enforcement officers, including high volume gifts in partnership with the national organizations:  Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Tragedy Assistance Program for [military] Survivors (TAPS) and The Gary Sinise Foundation.

In 2019, Oklahoma reported two fallen officers killed in the line of duty; and in 2018, reported four fallen, officers. With the help of a growing number of outreach coordinators in states across the country, Point 27 has honored every fallen law enforcement officer (line-of-duty deaths) reported in the past two years in the US, their agencies and their families with gifts of Shields of Strength. Point 27 plans to continue that practice in 2020, with the ultimate goal to equip every law enforcement officer in the country with a gift of the Thin Blue Line Shield of Strength:  111,000 officers equipped; representing about 10 percent of the estimated one million law enforcement officers serving in this country.

Dodd commanded a battalion of the first troops deployed to Afghanistan following 911.  He wore a Shield of Strength inscribed with Joshua 1:9 next to his government-issued dog tags, and he equipped each of the soldiers in his command with a Joshua 1:9 dog tag before they deployed. He founded Point 27, after retiring from 27 years of military service, he said, “to encourage members of the military, veterans and families of the fallen with Shields of Strength inscribed with the scriptures which encouraged him and the troops in his command.”

In 2013, law enforcement officers requested Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength and specified the scripture they wanted on the dog tags.