A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

by Officer Bill Rhetts

(former LAPD 09-15-86 through 04-04-97) recently retired as an Officer with another (CA) Police Department.

This testimony was not intended to offend anyone. It is to share with you how the Lord has sustained me through many officer involved shootings, and other tragedies. From the Hollenbeck Division riots, to the LA riots. There has been many books published, and movies produced, depicting stories from U.S. armed forces war veterans; as well as police veterans. May the Lord Jesus receive the praise and glory, for the protection of our Nation, and it's communities; through it's military and metropolitan soldiers.

A shooting, is a terrible event to have to experience; The police officer whom is forced to shoot another suffers tremendously; physiologically, emotionally, mentally, physically and even spiritually. I also continue to pray for those that I have been forced to harm, and pray to never be placed into that terrible situation ever, ever again.

It was November 1991. I was on patrol in the city of Los Angeles when I noticed a group of five gang members acting suspiciously in a church parking lot. It was noontime and many people were outdoors. Within the next few seconds I found myself in a battle for my life.

As a child, I was raised in a good home. As a family we went to church regularly. However, my belief in God was limited to the basic fact of His existence.

In 1986, my wife and I separated, and eventually she divorced me.. This brought me to the realization that I was not the man I should be. That same year I attended a nondenominational Christian church (a bible teaching church) for the very first time. The word of God was taught in a way that I was finally able to understand it. Soon after I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life.

Although I continued to go to church, I also continued doing a lot of things that I had done before accepting the Lord. I wanted to be able to say I was a Christian, but, at the same time I was unwilling to give up my sin. I still wanted to party, get drunk, and do whatever seemed fun at the time. In other words, the word repentance wasn't yet a regular part of my vocabulary.

I did exactly what Jesus warned about in Mark chapter 4. In that passage (the parable of the sower) Jesus said that some people would receive the word of God, and begin to follow the Lord. But because they were not grounded on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, they would soon fall away.

Jesus warned about receiving the word incorrectly. He said, "And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop" (Mark 4:7). In verses 18 and 19 Jesus said, "Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."

I dated several women, hoping to find a helpmate-someone who would be a suitable companion for me. My relationships were very shallow and temporary. When things began to go wrong, I would flee from the relationship. If I didn't flee, then they would flee.

I couldn't blame the devil for my sins, because I chose to sin. The devil tempted me and my friends influenced me, but I still made those wrong choices myself. The Bibles says, "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 6:23). I knew the payment (wages) for my sin was soon to be-death.

Due to my compromising and hypocritical lifestyle, I soon fell right back from where I had come-the world.

In time, I changed assignments at the Los Angeles Police Department and became a Vice investigator. I worked every kind of vice you could imagine.

While working vice, I was actually being paid to drink on duty. After work, I went out with my friends. I eventually reached the point where I no longer wanted anything to do with the bar scene. I have no doubt the Lord put me in this vice assignment.

I remember one day, as April 15th was approaching, I was preparing my taxes. As I viewed my VISA credit card accounts, I was struck with the realization that there was nothing to write off. It was all alcohol related! What a waste of time and money!

After about five years of being in a "backslidden" state, I began to feel the Lord tugging at my heart. Thank God the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins! Sometimes, after committing sins, I would cry from the guilt. It wasn't even fun anymore. The Lord showed me what I looked like inside, and I didn't like what I saw.

I didn't have strength to repent, but the Lord by His grace, gave me the strength I needed. I'm ever so mindful of the words of Christ when He said, "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Paul echoed those words in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Jesus said we are to be in the world, but not of the world. The Bible says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).

I have had many near death experiences, and have had to make the terrible decision of using deadly force many times. I have had to shoot men with my shot-gun, primary handgun and with my back-up gun. But none would get my attention like the one in this church parking lot.

When I confronted the gang members, I was immediately met with a hail of gunfire. It wasn't the kind of shooting that lasts two or three seconds and then it's over. This shooting lasted about 30 to 40 seconds. This gun battle included laying down suppression fire in a defensive manner; offensive shooting on the move; walking and running, and skip shooting underneath cars.

After running out of rounds I had to reload another magazine into my pistol. During this time my front sights were trained on my enemy, but my mind began to focus on the Lord Jesus. I called out to the Lord-asking Him to help me. After firing several more shots, I fatally wounded my assailant.

As the deceased lie on the ground, I noticed a pool of blood. Within a few minutes his own blood had surrounded him. What immediately came to my mind was the precious blood of Jesus. I began to mourn over the sins I had committed during my back-slidden period. I became convicted because of my relationship with Jesus. I was in willful disobedience against Him. I realized that every time I sinned, I was stabbing Jesus in the back. It's one thing to sin, but after having claimed to have a relationship with Him, it was terrible.

I can't pat myself on the back for my tactics. It wasn't me who did well. It was the grace of God that saved me. I should have been dead, but the Lord was shielding me with His armor. My enemy got as close as eight feet away from my position-all the while shooting at me. Several vehicles had gun shot holes in them. One vehicle had every window shot out, and bullet holes in every door, through and through.

Later I learned that these gang bangers were planning on killing members of a rival gang who had recently accepted the Lord, and were inside the church attending a discipleship class. It's awesome to see how the Lord provides protection for His children. Only God knows what innocent blood might have been shed in the church if it weren't for that so called "sixth sense" we police officers have. I now know that this "sixth sense" is God's Holy Spirit speaking to our conscience, and directing our steps and actions.

The average handgun round travels at a speed of fifteen hundred feet per second. It is evident that my name was not written on any of those bullets that night. As I look back at that event in my life, I realize that the Lord had a plan for me that day-to live! This was God's wake up call for me. Shortly after this incident I recommitted my life to the Lord Jesus Christ. I can now say with assurance that my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life.

I still sin, and I still fall short of the glory of God,. The Bible says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). The only difference now is that I'm a blood-washed sinner. I am forgiven. The very next verse in that passage says, "If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I have come to know a God of forgiveness through the person of Jesus Christ.

Once a man or woman becomes a born again Christian, the Lord takes residence in their heart, and then begins to change them.

The first thing the Lord changed in me was my X-rated mouth. He then cleaned up my R-rated mouth. The Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a born again Christian we receive a new birth, a newness of ourselves.

My desire now is to stay close to the Lord Jesus, obey His Word, stay in fellowship with other believers, share my faith, and to do my best not to compromise my walk with Him. I want to encourage those reading this to attend a Bible-teaching church weekly, and to stand tall for the Lord. Remember daily to put on the "whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:13), just as you do your uniform and related equipment. As the saying goes, "Don't leave home without it."

As many of you know, it is difficult to find committed believers in the work place. The mind thought of many is-"It's just not cool to be a Christian." As I was growing in my faith, I often felt like an alien among my own brothers and sisters in law enforcement. At times it was difficult, but God was able to help me remain steadfast in my walk with Him. He'll help you too. I encourage you to stay in church, stay in fellowship, stay in God's word, and NEVER GIVE UP on your faith in Jesus.

God Bless You,

Officer Bill Rhetts
President
Inland Police Officers Coalition

http://www.ipocministries.org

Note: This testimony is available on cassette. For a copy contact the Harvest Christian Fellowship resource center at (909) 785-4254. Ask for tape number [sof#165.] I am not affiliated with the Harvest, although I do concur with their doctrine, and statement of faith.

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This page was last updated on 11 June 2001

A new millennium, yes. A new Jesus, no. For Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.