Freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope are all examples Sir Winston Churchill gave when he stated that “all great things are simple and many can be expressed in a single word.” Each of these words perfectly reflects our call to serve. Yet, what each of you does every day can hardly be defined as simple.

The 4,000 men and women who serve our department perform many diverse and challenging roles. Whether you are training, planning, investigating, negotiating, listening, teaching, supervising or leading, your work moves our department and our mission forward.

Continued success, however, is only achieved by holding ourselves to the highest standard. Our mission is meaningless if we don’t fulfill it responsibly and transparently, holding ourselves accountable to the community we serve.

It goes without saying that our department will continue to be scrutinized over the coming weeks. As the transcripts of the Special Grand Jury investigating the death of John Chamberlain are released Monday, we will be provided with many opportunities to reflect on our past, discuss the proactive measures we have undertaken, and candidly assess the strengths and weaknesses of our operation. Such self-reflection is never easy, but it is absolutely essential in order to maintain the confidence in and support for the services we provide.

In our 119-year history, through all the blood, sweat and tears, we have focused on the horizon with determination and the knowledge that we can learn from our past as we move confidently into the future.

I believe in the men and women of this great department and the freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope you personify each and every day.