FORTE Foundation for Officers Recovering from Traumatic Events

06/30/2017

Happy July 4th to everyone! I'm so grateful for our freedoms and for the brave men and women who fought for us to enjoy our freedom! Stay safe! In God we trust! Sincerely, Janie Smith

02/20/2017

RIP. International Alliance certified personal trainer, Dr. Bobby Smith, passed away in Oct., 2016. Bobby is also a PhD in psychology and a Louisiana Sate Police Officer. Bobby was in charge of the State Police peer counseling program and Bobby promoted health, nutrition, and mental wellness in the State Police Department. Please say a prayer for this nice gentleman!

10/03/2016

Read the Obituary and view the Guest Book, leave condolences or send flowers. | Funeral services celebrating the life of Bobby E. Smith, PhD will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2016, at Calvary Baptist Church, 511 Jackson Street, Alexandria, Louisiana 71303, with

10/03/2016

08/02/2016

Enough of the Pinoccios Have you ever told a lie? If you answered no, that is a lie. We all know the story concerning Pinocchio: A wooden puppet that was turned into a living being caused by a wish.

11/04/2015

My assistant, Chris McClelland has a 13 year old daughter, Alaina McClelland. She wrote a paper for the Washington Parish Fair contest. She won First Place! I would like to share it with you:

Blue Lives Matter

In this world today, many social groups are saying their lives matter. I agree, their lives do matter. What about policemen? Do THEY matter? It seems like some people are picking and choosing which lives matter, and this should not be. ALL lives matter.
My dad is a state policeman. It’s a very dangerous job, especially in today’s time. Police are being killed around the world way too often. Yes, they pull you over. Yes, they lay down the law. But these things are no reason to kill them.
Policemen are heroes. They keep people safe. They put their lives on the line to have a better America. The more that are shot, the fewer people that are safe. The fewer people that are safe, the more people that are killed. When it comes down to it, cop killers are killers of many. If police officers keep getting killed, no young kids will want to be policemen. That means that there will be no next generation when the current generation passes on.
A total of one hundred and twenty six policemen were killed in 2014 (Google.com). The most deaths occurred in Texas and Louisiana. Each time a beloved policeman is killed, their department and community have an honorary flag raising ceremony. Two fire trucks hook the flag onto the ladders of the truck. They then raise it over the road with spotlights shining on it.
Before my dad leaves for work, he tells me, “I love you and I’ll see you when I come home.” I try not to think about this, but what if he doesn’t come home? It would leave my brother and me without a father. It would leave my mother without a spouse. I wonder if the people that kill them consider this. They most likely don’t; they are too selfish to ask themselves that. The question that would leave them speechless is this: what’s the point in it? Are you really heartless enough to kill a person that doesn’t deserve to be killed? That’s it: there isn’t a reason for it. So why do it? Instead , I ask you to please support our men and women in blue, because their lives matter too.

Alaina McClelland

Congratulations Alaina, you did great!

Bobby

09/09/2015

Hey Friends, as most of you are aware we have been working extremely hard raising awareness and support for our police and firefighters across the state dealing with the pressures of their jobs. I am pleased to announce we have put together an outstanding executive board for the Forte foundation. The board is made up of police, firefighters, and business leaders. All of the executive board members have a tremendous passion for raising awareness and the funds necessary to make the Badges Coffee Conversation and Counseling Center a reality.

PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!
The Forte foundation will be hosting its first fundraising golf tournament in Baton Rouge. The date is Monday, June the 13th at the GreyStone Country Club in Denham Springs. It is my goal to have atleast forty, 4 person teams. The tournament is open for everyone. Trooper Ronnie Sauce will be coordinating the golf tournament with assistance from other police and firefighter personnel. Stay tuned, we will continue to keep you up to date on the progress of this upcoming event. SPREAD THE WORD to all of your friends, let's make this a huge success.

Keep the vision,
Bobby.

09/01/2015

Bobby was interviewed about Police Stress by Zach Beard with Shreveport Times. Here is the article.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/2015/08/31/police-offer-counseling-officers-shaken-tragedy/71444372/

With three police agent killings this month, some officers struggle with trauma.

08/27/2015

WHEN WILL OUR VOICES BE HEARD?

Yesterday, I posted a picture and a well-written post in reference to the reality that we face as police officers in our country.

I've had enough...of the Al Sharpton's of the world who continue to lambaste the brave men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to protect and serve.

I have to at least appreciate Al Sharpton's passion, although misdirected.

When will we have a Law Enforcement Advocate with the same amount of passion who will speak on our behalf?

I wonder why the National Sheriffs Association and the International Association of Chief's of Police will not produce a consolidated national voice through Public Service Announcements.

How many more police officers' funerals must we attend to get someone with a national voice to speak for us?

We continue to hear politicians at ALL levels of government preach "Justice" for the criminals. But, what about "Justice" for us?

As I travel across the country, I have spoken to close to a million police officers. I have yet to meet a single cop who says "I can't wait to go to work tomorrow so I can kill someone." How absurd of anyone to believe that we think that way!

Behind the badge that all of us wear...is a human being. We have hurts, pains, losses, and victories in our lives just like anyone else.

And, at the end of our shift, just like every other occupation in this country.... we just want to go home to our families.

This year, we have had seven police officers in our state killed by violent offenders. Where is the public's outrage???? I'm sorry, I only hear crickets chirping? Nothing!!!

Enough is enough!

We are waiting to hear your voices....

"The only thing evil men need to triumph is for good men to do nothing" Edmond Burke

08/20/2015

What a great meeting today of police and fire officials who gathered to talk about "Badges" a future counseling center in Baton Rouge for emergency responders. The brainchild of Bobby and Janie Smith of The Forte Foundation, Badges will be the first of its kind in Louisiana to help our heroes deal with traumatic events. The summit was hosted by Chief Jerry Tarlton at The St. George Fire Department. There was great idea sharing, fellowship and excitement about the concept. Trooper Bobby Smith was shot in the face by an assailant in 1986 and was blinded for life. He has dedicated his life to "helping the helpers" deal with tough times. Stay tuned for more information how you can help.

08/07/2015

This past week, I was speaking at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA. Captain Frank Besson of the Louisiana State Police invited me to join him and 15 other Troopers from across the country for dinner. The crab cakes were great! As I have mentioned before, this is one of my favorite venues to speak because it represents Law Enforcement leaders from across the world.

Thanks guys for the camaraderie, fun, and allowing me to join your ranks.

They were from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Utah. Wow! What a mixture of fine Law Enforcement Leaders!

Bobby Smith