ATLANTA (July 28, 2021)—Global nonprofit Point 27 recently honored fallen Childress County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy Tom Larry Hoobler, who died from a fatal heart attack July 17 while working a highway traffic incident after directing traffic in the heat at the Childress Old Settlers Reunion.
To honor Hoobler, Point 27 sent gifts of scripture-inscribed Thin Blue Line Shields of Strength dog-tag necklaces to the Childress County Sheriff’s Office for deputies serving closely with him, and scripture-inscribed Folded Flag Necklaces for Hoobler’s family members.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Point 27 is headed by retired U.S. Army Col. David Dodd.
“It is tragic that this deputy and his family sacrificed so much,” Dodd said.
In late 2018, Point 27 began honoring every fallen officer, their agencies and families. This year, Point 27 has honored each of the 175 fallen officers who died in the line of duty this year in this country, including the 27 fallen Texas law enforcement officers.
“Since 2018, the numbers and nature of reported line-of-duty deaths have made alarming turns. Not only have the line-of-duty deaths increased dramatically, especially last year and this year with the border crisis and the number of COVID-19 officer deaths; but the radical turn in some communities against law enforcement has magnified the need for encouraging law enforcement officers and their families, who are risking and facing so much,” Dodd said.
“In these days when so many are publicly criticizing and questioning law enforcement, we are resolutely dedicated to sharing God’s Word with them and their families to encourage them and to show appreciation for their sacrifice and service. We want them to know we value them, God loves them, and they are never alone” Dodd said.
Dodd commanded a battalion of the first troops deployed to Afghanistan following 9/11. 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 Thin Blue Line 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 and four deployments in the military. After his military retirement, he founded Point 27 in 2014 to share the scripture-inscribed dog tags, that encouraged him and his troops, with members of the military and veterans.
Since, at the request of the law enforcement community, 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.
