Buggs' Media Network

The police project started with Mark Aragon and I. We wanted to take pictures of the squads of the Albuquerque Police Department to instill pride and a sense of belonging. We were hoping to have the department assist with the cost. We made a pitch to the Chief to do the pictures and provide a print to every officer, but our concept was never approved. We decided to do them for free, at no cost to the officers. We thought it would be nice for officers to have a picture of every bid, to keep for the memories for years to come. Also, I was always told by retired officers that they wished they had taken pictures when the left the department. So we also took a picture of some of the officer on their retirement. These photographs become a tradition. A tradition of recognition to community service. To us this was more than just a picture, it was a photograph with so much meaning, in so many levels. One that hit at the core of the heart. It was officers retiring. They had served their community and they should be proud. In the pictures, the officers are seen walking away from their police unit, symbolic in a way that they are stepping away from a calling to police service, an honorable job that they should be very proud of. At the same time, they are walking in a direction we do not see in the picture, it reflects a direction of uncertainty, but full of hope, new opportunities and a promising future. Their police duty is done, they have served their community to the best of their ability. Carry on.