Lieutenant Randy Sutton (Ret.)
Lieutenant Randy Sutton Ret.

When Lieutenant Randy Sutton (Ret.) began his law enforcement journey at 19, he had never expected how his story would unfold. More than 30 years later, he is a recognized figure in the community, with three literary works, a podcast, and TV appearances solidifying his reputation as the "voice of American law enforcement." His true purpose, however, lies not in authorship or acting; it is to improve the lives of injured and disabled officers. At the helm of The Wounded Blue, a nonprofit organization, he achieves that through support, education, assistance, and legislative advocacy, ensuring they never feel forgotten or alone.

Whether it is to shatter misconceptions—brutality, corruption, racism—or to support officers through the long-term effects of job-related trauma, The Wounded Blue raises awareness about the real impact and mission of law enforcement. For Sutton, this prolific mission is personal and rooted in his story, one he defines with two words: Legacy and Compassion.

"I realized that every interaction is an opportunity to leave something behind, to make the world a better place," Sutton shares. "Compassion helps you build a legacy you're proud of, not only in law enforcement. It's a universal truth, and that's how you leave a meaningful impact."

Sutton's journey to realizing that begins in Princeton, New Jersey. Growing up in a small community, he joined the local police department at 19—young, inexperienced, but eager. Though filled with challenges, he truly enjoyed the profession, climbing the ranks as a patrolman for six years, followed by four years as a detective.

At some point, small-town affairs weren't enough anymore, and Sutton started seeking more action. That pursuit led him to the one place where action is a given – Las Vegas. This 180° shift sent him back to square one, and the young cop had to go through the Police Academy and all the rookie stages once again. Reflecting on this decision, Sutton believes it was transformative, with pain, victories, and existential crises shaping his life's trajectory.

In 1989, he questioned his purpose, motivations, ambitions, and values for the first time. One night, he responded to a school shooting emergency, where an active shooter was threatening to kill students at a school dance. When Sutton arrived, two officers were already on site, and the shooter was walking towards a group of people. Knowing he couldn't let him get closer, Sutton called for him to stop, kicked him in the stomach, and, within seconds, stood muzzle-to-muzzle with the attacker. Not wearing his body armor and with a gun that jammed after two shots, he had never felt more vulnerable. Miraculously, none of the rounds fired by the shooter hit him, and Sutton was left uninjured. Amidst the chaos, Sutton cleared his weapon, and, together with his partner, they engaged the shooter, putting an end to the terror.

Surviving that encounter against all odds, Sutton devoted himself to introspection: Why did I survive? How did I get up? How am I not dead? Later, the answer became clear: He hadn't completed his mission yet, and that mission was to play a role in the lives of people he respects the most – American Law Enforcement Officers.

His TV experience propelled his efforts, as Sutton was able to inspire hundreds of thousands of people. As the most-featured officer on the TV show Cops, he often wondered: What is it about me that works on screen? "Whenever I asked someone that question, they pointed to my sense of humor," he recalls. "But it wasn't just that; it was also how I treated people – with respect and dignity. I know people who have joined the police because of my exposure on Cops and the film Casino, and that makes me incredibly happy."

Central to Sutton's legacy is his philosophy: "You cannot choose your destiny, but you can create your legacy." From a young rookie with a black-and-white mindset, ticketing and arresting anyone who bent the rules, he evolved into an officer driven by morals and personal values. What sparked this change was just one interaction with his former Sergeant, a natural leader Sutton had always looked up to. On a random morning while having breakfast at a diner, Sutton – who was sharing the stories of his latest delinquents and fines – was interrupted. "He told me I was a good cop, very hard-working and dedicated. I was beaming," Sutton reminisces. "He asked: 'Do you know the difference between a good cop and a great cop?' I didn't. With a smile on his face, he gave me the answer: 'It's one word: compassion.'"

That moment will forever be engraved in Sutton's mind as one of the most valuable lessons he has ever learned. With this new understanding, he found himself in another life-defining, traumatizing situation. On patrol, he came around the corner to an open shooting. A young family's car has been under fire, and their 1-month-old baby was shot in the face. Despite procedures requiring officers to wait for an ambulance, Sutton started saving this little infant's life. After resuscitating the baby, he avoided any brain damage and long-term effects. Today, this little girl is 24, and Sutton is her godfather.

That day was transformative, starting Sutton's writing journey. Without plans of publishing anything, he felt he needed to get this story on paper, locking it in the drawer for another three years, until 9/11 happened. The attack, the deadliest day in law enforcement history, made him feel helpless. Not knowing what to do or how to help, he returned to that story, realizing that every cop has a similar one. And it became his mission to write and share them all. After successfully launching four impactful books, Sutton is now working on his next one, titled Rescuing 911: The Fight for American Safety.

His newest literary work is a compelling exploration of justice, power, and society's most pressing issues surrounding the safety of today's law enforcement community and the people they serve. It sheds light on the human stories behind the badge. To understand what these are, one must learn the next significant moment in his life – Sutton's last day as a cop. As a Lieutenant, he was driving down Las Vegas Boulevard with a patrol officer he was trying to get to know better. Suddenly, he found himself talking slower, then gibberish, like his brain was slowing down. He knew he was having a stroke. Finding himself unable to talk or control his body, he crumpled to the pavement, helpless. Once again, he survived a near-death experience. The stroke nonetheless ended his career.

When he woke up in the hospital, he was told to prepare for his own mortality. "I was told I had a severe heart condition, and that was like a smack to the face," he says. Two weeks before that, Sutton felt the sorrow of loss when his mother died in his arms. "I felt so lonely – my mother, who lived with me, had died, I lost my job, and I lost my identity as a police officer. On top of that, the doctors told me I might die soon."

During this reflective time, Sutton had one question on his mind: What is my legacy? Soon after, very serendipitously, that question was answered when he saw Frank Shankwitz interviewed on TV. While listening to his story – a police officer who founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation – Sutton realized that these are the people he wanted to talk to, people who made a positive impact in other people's lives.

When Sutton connected with Shankwitz, the two agreed to meet in Prescott, Arizona, where the latter lived. "The day before, he phoned me, saying, 'I'm going to shave a bit of time off your drive. Let's meet in Seligman.' I said okay, hung up, and started looking for wherever this ghost town was," muses Sutton. Located somewhere along Route 66, the drive to Seligman was the realization of Sutton's childhood dreams. Cruising in his Corvette, he followed the iconic road with wind in his hair, not knowing what was about to happen.

It's worth mentioning that Sutton's father had always thought he was a great photographer. As Sutton admits, he wasn't, but he simply loved taking photos. There was one specific image Sutton remembers from his childhood: three storefronts in the middle of nowhere, photographed by his father 50 years before. As his Corvette pulled into the parking lot, Sutton looked around, and, across the street, he saw these same storefronts. Five decades later, he was standing in the same place his father once stood, about to walk into one of the most inspirational meetings of his life.

From the very first second, Sutton and Shankwitz connected, united by similar backgrounds and humor. Meeting the founder of Make-A-Wish gave him purpose, and Sutton's legacy – what he wanted to leave behind – became clear. Inspired to make a difference, he founded The Wounded Blue, dedicating himself to impacting the lives of injured, disabled, and traumatized law enforcement officers who chose to risk their lives for the safety of American citizens.

"My team is made of cops who have been shot, stabbed, beaten up, run over... you name it. Now, they continue to serve at The Wounded Blue, living the mission of Never Forgotten, Never Alone," reflects Sutton. "That's true heroism. Despite the pain and the challenges, they are channeling suffering into a catalyst of positive change. Because even the hardest of times can lead you to where you're meant to be." Sutton's journey is an illustration of creating one such lasting legacy.