Stand True 4 Blue bridges gap between youth, law enforcement

In October 2015, Albuquerque Police Department officer Daniel Webster was shot and killed during a traffic stop in a northeast Albuquerque Walgreens parking lot.

After Webster’s death, Valerie Jameson, a Rio Rancho native, began working to turn that tragedy into a beacon of hope for both young people and law enforcement.

Jameson, then a middle school teacher at Hope Christian in Albuquerque, founded Stand True 4 Blue with a mission to support police and foster positive interactions between youth and police officers.

Jameson’s vision was simple.

"I wanted my students to do something meaningful to support APD," Jameson said. “I had a lot of kids and students whose parents were in APD, and so it was scary for them.”

Jameson worked to help alleviate those fears and show solidarity. What began as a series of service-based projects — like assembling snack boxes and creating posters for Webster's funeral — quickly evolved into a larger community initiative.

The organization, which achieved 501(c)(3) status a year after its inception, now boasts a variety of programs aimed at enhancing police-youth relations.

One of its standout projects is the "Finding the You in Unity" activity book, designed to introduce young readers to police officers through engaging stories and interactive content. Jameson said that the book has been well-received, with local community centers and schools integrating it into their programs.

Another core initiative is "Thankful Thursday," where weekly emails of encouragement are sent to police departments across New Mexico and 27 other states, accompanied by letters from the community and small tokens of appreciation. The organization also supports on-duty officers through its cruiser bag program, providing snack-filled bags with notes of encouragement.

"Our goal is to build personal connections and change perceptions," Jameson said. "We want kids to have their own experiences with officers so they don’t generalize negatively based on what they hear in the media."

Stand True 4 Blue has been impactful. Jameson shared a story from a community center event where initial apprehensions from both children and officers turned into friendships and mutual understanding.

“When we first went in, all the kids were lined up in chairs, you know, terrified. The police were a little uneasy, because it was brand new,” Jameson said. “But by the end, the officers had their cruisers open, the kids were wearing their vests. They were laughing and smiling. They had built friendships, and it was great.”

ST4B has earned the support of local police and community leaders. Rio Rancho Police Department Chief Stewart Steele and Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull have both been supporters of the program, which has built bridges between officers and the community. Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block has also worked to support ST4B and has sponsored its annual Salute to Heroes Softball Classic fundraiser.

Jameson remains committed to expanding the organization’s reach. She encourages community members to get involved through volunteering, writing letters or making financial contributions.

"We need people who are passionate about supporting our police," Jameson said. "There’s so much negativity out there, but the majority of people are pro-police. They just need a way to show it."

With a firm belief in the importance of positive reinforcement, Jameson and her team continue to work tirelessly.

“Our first responders deal with so much,” Jameson said. “They go through everyone’s worst day, over and over throughout their career. We need to remind them that they are valued and appreciated. We have to lock arms with them; they're people, too. And I think a lot of people forget that they're humans and that they have a family, and that they go through the same struggles everybody else does.”

As "Stand True 4 Blue" approaches its ninth anniversary, Jameson remains hopeful about the future.

"We’ve built something lasting," Jameson said. "And as long as there’s a need, we’ll be here."

For more information on how to support or get involved with Stand True 4 Blue, visit standtrue4blue.com.

“We want to be a sustaining support system for officers so they know that we're just doing life with them, we don't only show up when a bad thing happens. We are there for them all the time,” Jameson said.