FAQ – Who are you?

I’ve decided to update my blog with details and some of the questions I’ve been asked.

Q. Why are you contacting me?
A. I have found your email address on a police or city/county website, or it was given to my my another police or fire department.

Q. What is your goal?
A. It’s my personal goal that no law enforcement officer in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or Hawaii will ever come to a holiday and not know that that are appreciated and honored by someone. I want them to know that someone cares that they are out there.

Additionally, I try to cover Fire departments in Ohio.

You can see what departments I currently have by clicking here.

Q. What are you doing?
A. I perform 3 functions:

1. Send holiday greetings to get forwarded or posted for the police officers to see. The regular emails are only sent for Police Week, July 4, September 11, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
2. In the event of injury, I would know who to contact and either send my get well wishes, or make a hospital visit.
3. Should an officer give the supreme sacrifice, I would have a contact that I could inquire about visitation and give the family and the department my condolences when possible.

Q. What is your attachment to Ohio and Kentucky?
A. I currently live in Ohio. I was raised in Kentucky and most of my family still live there.

Q. Is this SPAM? What do you do with the email addresses? Is this coming from an automated system?

A. This is not SPAM. I keep the addresses on an Excel spreadsheet that is password protected. When I send out a message, I open up my Outlook, type the message, and get the email addresses from that sheet. Under no circumstance have I or will I give any information out to anyone that I receive.

Q. What do you need?
A. I need one Point of contact in each police department. I do not need individual email addresses. I want to respect each officers privacy as much as possible. You can see what departments I currently have by clicking here.

Q. A member of my department is in the hospital. Would you visit them?
A. I will try my best to visit any hospitalized hero I know about. All I need is a the hospital and room number. If you have talk to a family member to get permission, that would be good also. I don’t want to intrude if the family wants private time or does not want to receive visitors.

Q. A member of my department was killed in the Line of Duty. Would you go to the funeral or viewing?
A. It would be an honor to pay my respects to a hero killed in the Line of Duty. Sometimes due to work/family schedules it may not be possible. Contact me with the details and I’ll do my best to make it.

Q. A member of my department passed away from non-duty injuries. Would you go to the funeral or viewing?
A. It would be an honor to pay my final respects to any hero. Sometimes due to work/family schedules it may not be possible. Contact me with the details and I’ll do my best to make it.

Q. What started this?
A. This began while I was thinking on the events of 9/11 in 2008. One of the last “moment of silence” was for the fire fighter that was the last survivor removed. I realized that we should be extremely grateful for our law enforcement and fire crews. When I called my local department (Huber Heights, OH) on 9/11 and asked if they could let the officers know my appreciation for them and I was informed that they had not had that request in over 14 years. So that’s where it started.

Q. How long have you been doing this?
A. I have been doing this in Southwestern Ohio since Thanksgiving 2008.

Q. How can my department get added?
A. If you received an email from me, just reply to confirm what email address you want me to use. If you have not, email me: doctormikecrain(replace this with the “at sign”)gmail.com.

Q. I’m part of a fire department that is outside your radius. Could you still add us?
A. Absolutely. Fire Departments are larger in quantity and a little harder to reach, that is why I set the limit. It is a time restraint for me to do large quantities of research. Just contact me (see above).

Q. I’m from a fire/police department in another state. Could you still add us?
A. Absolutely. Due to time constraints and information availability I can’t try to contact each PD/FD in the US. Just email me at doctormikecrain(replace this with the “at sign”)gmail.com and I’ll add you.

Q. Can any one reply to the holiday emails?
A. Yes. Any one can reply. Any reply to me is strictly confidential. I gladly read and respond to each email I get from officers and fire fighters.

Q. I received an email from you about a Line of Duty death. Where do you get your information?
A. I received a notification from the Officer Down page. I looked up your department’s web page and sent an email to the listed contact.

Q. Are you/have you been a police officer or fire fighter?
A. No.

Q. Do you have officers/fire fighters in your family?
A. My cousin is a volunteer firefighter in Menifee County, KY, and a third cousin works for the Sheriff’s department.

Q. I’m in Indiana (or another state). Why was I contacted?
A. I covered a small area of Eastern Indiana that was within the 75 mile radius of my house. Also I have accidentally contacted departments in other states when I was looking for smaller towns (I contacted Centerville , UT instead of Centerville, IN). I visited Hawaii in 2002 on my honeymoon, so I have contacted those departments.

Q. Who are you?
A. My name is Dr. Michael A. Crain. I was awarded my Doctorate of Ministry (D.Min.) in 2008. I was born and raised in Mariba (Menifee County) Kentucky. After graduating High School in 1994, I joined the United States Air Force. I served four years and got out in 1999. I’ve been a resident of Ohio ever since. I’ve lived in Moraine, Dayton, and now Huber Heights. I am married with four children. I work at PNC Mortgage in Miamisburg, OH.

Q. Are you on a social networking site?
A. Yes. I’m on Facebook, PoliceLink, FireLink and LinkedIn.

Q. Are you available for ride alongs or meetings?
A. As time and distance permits I will do either. I have 40 ride-alongs under my belt. and have had great experiences on ride alongs with various departments in my area.

Q. How can I help?
A. Spread the word to other police and fire departments that I do not have contacts for. You can see what departments I currently have by clicking here.

Q. Why do you care about us?
A. This is a tough question to answer with a short answer. I think that everyone should. I think you should never have to pay for a meal in uniform. I think that complaints should be far out-numbered by the praise you receive. So 9/11/2008 I just wanted to say thanks. After I contacted my local police department to express appreciation, I found that appreciation for first responders isn’t shown very often. I’ve found that the more I give, the more I want to give. Local efforts became state-wide efforts, then included Kentucky and parts of Indiana. As I ride with officers, or read various articles, my desire to support you becomes greater. Then after Citizen’s Police Academy session at the Huber Heights Police Division where Law Enforcement suicide was mentioned, I wanted to do even more. When I hear about struggles that departments hare having with the community, I want to stand there beside you. I celebrate when you celebrate, hurt when you hurt, grieve when you grieve.

I care because a moment in time, God placed one thought inside my heart, and that has changed my life completely. The conversations I have, the people I meet, and the emails I’ve receive continue to inspire me far more than I ever imagined.

I care because you do.