I entered police work not as a young man. It was actually my third career in life. By then I was pretty damn confident that I knew what it was all about. Hell, I had the world by the butt on a downhill pull. I got pinned and they issued me my weapon — a Smith & Wesson six-shooter. We had both a red and a blue cherry on the light bar. I was invincible, or at least I thought so. I will never forget the cadence we often chanted on our marching and five-mile runs during the academy: “Don’t take no guff, don’t cut no slack. Hook and book and don’t look back!”

And so, I had one focus and not much got in the way of that. Arrest the bad guy was the order of the day.

Then one day, a wise ol’ salty veteran took me aside to offer some advice and insight. I won’t forget him — ever. He pointed out to me that my mission was golden, perhaps admirable. But, he said, you need to look to the future. We all retire, quit or simply move on to something else. He told me that I needed to be prepared for that eventuality. Map out a game plan. But most importantly, he said that I should not count on anyone else paving the way for me. He extended his hand to me and said he would be in my corner. I was on his team. He expressed confidence in my ability to scan the horizon, assess the situation and make some good choices. I told him I wanted to lead our police association. He nodded and said, “You will.”

He was a military veteran. A powerful individual, but a gentleman with a wonderful smile. His heart was huge. Everyone wanted to work for him on any shift he chose to supervise. He made work a fun place to be. I remember telling anyone who would listen that Sarge was the Chairman of my Board of Directors. God, I loved that man.

Last year I attended his funeral. Most anyone who knew him did so. Standing there during the service, it dawned on me. Perhaps an epiphany of sorts. I realized that when Sarge took me under his wing, I knew a whole lot less than I thought I did.

Maybe it’s that way with others in the business. As youngsters, we need, and look for, some sage advice from the guys and gals who have walked the beat before us.

It is in that vein that I want to share something I learned. You need to prepare now for the second half. Not necessarily the last chapters, but certainly those that come once you retire.

There’s nothing we can do about the high cost of health insurance policies. But you can choose which side of the horse to fall off on. We chose the “plan ahead” side.

So what can you do? What should you do? What will you do? Well, allow me to suggest that you consider, at a minimum, what many of us have chosen. A total of 60 associations and 6,000 members have put a plan in place to help ameliorate the high cost of post-retirement health insurance premiums. That plan is participation in the PORAC Retiree Medical Trust. Our plan works, and it works well.

Drop a dime on us, shoot an email our way and share some conversation with us at the upcoming annual Symposium. If you are unable to make it to Symposium, we will also be at the Conference of Members in Disneyland.

I was glad then, and certainly glad now, to have had someone to help get me headed in the right direction. The good Lord knows I needed the help, because “I didn’t know siccum.”

I would be more than happy to share with you the details of the RMT plan. I look forward to hearing from you.