To: All fellow Law Enforcement brothers and sisters

     The Madisonville Police Department and all of its officers and staff would like to take the time to thank you for the support that you gave us over the past week, while we dealt with the passing of Detective Captain, Steven ”GOOSE” Spradlin. His passing was a major blow to our department. Not only did we lose a top notch detective but we lost a best friend.

     In times like these we often stop and look back at our careers and where we came from to where we are now. As I look back over the past twenty years, and I think about all of our brothers and sisters that we have lost either in the line of duty or to illness and I try to make some kind of sense out of it I can't help but think about something I saw today when I took that dreaded walk into Steven’s office. As I went in, on his desk were pictures of his wife Leandra, his son Thomas and his daughter Leah. On his bulletin board I saw the normal things, a picture of his nephew Reed Corbett, Police department patches from all over the United States, and in the corner were two obituaries of fallen law enforcement brothers Deputy Jason Scott and Deputy Billy Jones. As I stood and looked at Steven’s personal and professional space I found that it was hard to distinguish between the two. It was so obvious how much Steven loved his family and how much he loved his law enforcement brothers and sisters and I think that it was a powerful testimonial to Steven and the law enforcement brotherhood and family.

      When I started writing this thank you letter I asked myself, what would Steven want to say to you all and I honestly believe he would want to tell us all, myself included, Don’t get caught up in the immaterial things such as politics, press time, or petty power trips, and remember where you came from and where you are now, and respect the law enforcement brotherhood and family, thank you and I love you guys.

Sincerely,

Chief Gregg Breeden

Your Law Enforcement Brother