Global nonprofit Point 27 honored fallen Knox County Warrants Officer Tony Keiser, who died January 18 from complications of COVID-19, contracted in the line of duty.

US Army Ret Col David Dodd; image submitted

Point 27, headed by US Army (Ret.) Col. David Dodd, honored Keiser sending Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength scripture-inscribed dog tags to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office for those officers who served closely with him. Point 27 also sent to the department Folded Flag Pendant Necklaces to give to family members of the fallen officer.

Since 2018, Point 27 has honored every fallen law enforcement officer, their agencies and families.

 

 

Keeping up with the escalated number of line-of-duty deaths has proven a struggle for global nonprofit, Point 27 -- based in Atlanta, a city and state where the public outcry against law enforcement continues to ring out.

“Since 2018, the numbers and nature of reported line-of-duty deaths have made alarming turns. Not only have the line-of-duty increased dramatically, but the radical turn in some communities against law enforcement have magnified the need for encouraging law enforcement officers and their families, who are risking so much,” Dodd said. “Officer deaths from COVID-19 have escalated the counts in 2020 and this year.”

“In these days when so many are publicly criticizing law enforcement, we are steadfast in sharing God’s Word with them and their families and showing appreciation for their sacrifice and service. We value them,” Dodd said. “I don’t want to imagine where we would be without them.”

 

 

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 equipped each of the soldiers in his command with a Shield of Strength before they deployed. Dodd says he hopes the scripture on the Shields of Strength encourages these officers and the families of the fallen, who are making and have made tremendous sacrifice for their communities.

The face of the Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength shows an engraved silver American flag face designed with one flag stripe of blue. The back of the dog tags 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.”

 

 

Dodd served 27 years in the military. After his military retirement, he founded Point 27, in 2014, to share the scripture-inscribed dog tags, which encouraged him and his troops, with members of the military and veterans. Since -- the outreach has expanded to include the Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength for law enforcement officers.

Point 27 has distributed hundreds of thousands of Shields of Strength including high-volume gifts in partnership with the national organizations: Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS), Tragedy Assistance Program for [military] Survivors (TAPS), Patriot Guard Riders, Carry The Load and the Gary Sinise Foundation.

To date, Teiser is the first Tennessee fallen officer of 2021 and the 22 officer in the nation to die from COVID-19 exposure while on duty, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.