Guests - Betsy Smith, Leah Southwell, Michael & Bonnie Quinn

Oct 12

Public Safety, Political Accountability and the Final Weeks Before Election Day

With three weeks remaining before the election, Kathleen Winn warned that Americans are confronting more than a political disagreement. The issues on the ballot, she argued, reach into public safety, the rule of law, constitutional freedoms and the institutions that make communities livable.

Her immediate concern was a series of violent incidents, including a devastating family shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, and another shooting in Tucson that left nine people wounded.

Winn described reports that eight victims, including two young children and a woman who was eight months pregnant, were killed in the Pennsylvania attack. The suspected gunman also died, bringing the reported death toll to nine. According to the account Winn discussed, most of those killed were related.

The loss was staggering, but Winn emphasized that the consequences extend beyond the immediate victims. Families, neighbors, police officers, paramedics and other first responders carry the trauma long after the scene is cleared.

"When you diminish your law enforcement," Winn said, "you create an unsafe community."

She criticized political movements that oppose criminal prosecution or seek to reduce the authority of police and immigration-enforcement officers. Laws, she argued, cannot become optional depending on which political group supports the person accused of breaking them.

"We have a set of laws and rules, and they should apply to everybody. No one should get out of being held accountable."

Winn also connected public safety to the approaching Arizona election. Voters will be deciding not only who holds office but which policies shape their neighborhoods, schools, budgets and law-enforcement agencies.

Her appeal was to study the ballot carefully, understand the consequences and remember that protecting children and other vulnerable people should remain one of government's highest responsibilities.

Betsy Brantner-Smith: Another Police Killing Raises Questions About Criminal Justice

Betsy Brantner-Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, joined Winn with another troubling account from Pennsylvania.

Smith described a Philadelphia-area incident in which officers responding to a disturbance call were allegedly ambushed by gunfire.

She identified one of the officers as 40-year-old Shane Sieber, a 10-year police veteran, and said he had been shot three times. Another officer, she said, was struck 12 times.

Smith identified the suspect as 35-year-old Eric Lewis and said he had a criminal history dating to 2012.

According to Smith, the suspect had also worked for the City of Philadelphia.

Her strongest criticism centered on the suspect's reported criminal history and why he was not already incarcerated.

"He should have been in prison," Smith said.

She blamed Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's approach to prosecution for allowing dangerous offenders to remain in the community. That was Smith's assessment of the circumstances, rather than a conclusion independently established about the suspect's prior cases.

Smith also alleged that the suspect had expressed a desire to target white police officers. She said she hoped prosecutors would examine whether the killing warranted treatment as a racially motivated hate crime in addition to murder.

But the human consequences mattered more than the legal terminology.

Smith said the slain officer left behind two young children, ages seven and three.

For Winn and Smith, the tragedy illustrated what happens when political arguments about policing become disconnected from the families whose loved ones serve in uniform.

Smith Says the Anti-ICE Movement Is Part of a Broader Attack on Law Enforcement

Smith argued that opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be understood in the context of the earlier movement to defund police departments.

The slogans have changed, she said, but she believes the underlying ideological objective remains similar.

"They learned in 2022 and 2024 that saying defund the police was a terrible idea," Smith argued.

Now, she said, activists call for abolishing or defunding ICE.

"They don't mean ICE, Kathleen. They mean all of law enforcement."

That sweeping characterization was Smith's political interpretation of the movement, but it framed her concern about increasing hostility toward officers performing legally authorized duties.

Winn agreed that public officials should not encourage contempt for law enforcement while simultaneously expecting police to protect their communities.

Both criticized elected leaders who oppose federal enforcement initiatives while presiding over cities struggling with violent crime.

Smith pointed to federal public-safety operations promoted by the Trump administration and criticized local leaders, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, whom she believes have resisted federal assistance for political reasons.

She suggested that Tucson might eventually require additional outside assistance if local violence continues.

The fundamental disagreement, in Smith's view, is whether politicians are willing to prioritize practical public safety over ideological objections to the agencies providing it.

Tucson's Political Messaging Versus Its Violent-Crime Problem

Smith then turned to Tucson Mayor Regina Romero.

She criticized the mayor for releasing a message recognizing National Coming Out Day while, according to Smith, failing to sufficiently address violence affecting LGBTQ residents and the wider community.

Smith pointed specifically to the killing of two gay men outside a gay bar.

Her argument was not that recognizing LGBTQ residents is inherently objectionable. It was that symbolic recognition means little if people do not feel safe.

"We want you to be safe and healthy, you know, in the city of Tucson and beyond," Smith said.

She accused Romero of political pandering while failing to adequately address the conditions threatening the very residents she claims to support.

Winn connected the murders to Supervisor District 5 and criticized Supervisor Andres Cano, whom she described as an appointed official now facing voters.

Both women questioned whether local leadership has become more attentive to political messaging than the practical responsibilities of government.

Smith also criticized the compensation awarded to Tucson's city manager and other senior local officials, arguing that high salaries should come with measurable performance.

"Do you feel like you're getting your money's worth?" she asked.

For taxpayers concerned about crime, homelessness and public infrastructure, she suggested the answer may be no.

Homelessness and the Loss of Public Spaces

Smith described a recent drive along Speedway Boulevard near the University of Arizona.

She and her husband passed a renovated public park that included a dog area and other improvements.

Instead of seeing the park functioning as the family-friendly space she expected, Smith said she encountered a large homeless presence.

The experience reinforced her concern that Tucson is investing in public facilities without adequately addressing the conditions that determine whether residents feel comfortable using them.

She questioned whether she would take her grandchildren to that park.

Smith also discussed homeless people who keep dogs, noting that a dog can thrive with an unhoused owner when it receives proper food, companionship and care. She urged animal lovers to assess the animal's condition rather than assuming every dog accompanying a homeless person is being neglected.

Her broader concern was the effect of visible homelessness, drug use and public disorder on neighborhood confidence.

Winn recalled arriving in Tucson as a 17-year-old and never worrying about her safety around the University of Arizona.

She said that expectation has changed dramatically.

The Tucson she remembers offered young people an environment in which they could pursue education and independence without constantly evaluating personal danger.

Today, Winn and Smith argued, residents have become accustomed to conditions that previous generations would have considered unacceptable.

Fourth Avenue Businesses Should Not Have to Solve Crime Themselves

The conversation returned to Fourth Avenue, where business owners have expressed frustration over declining customer traffic, homelessness, crime and unsafe conditions.

Smith recalled concerns raised by restaurant owners, including Chef Maria Mazon of Boca Tacos.

According to Smith, businesses that sought help from Mayor Romero were encouraged to organize their own efforts to address the corridor's problems.

For Smith, that response reverses the responsibilities of government.

Business owners already pay taxes and fees.

They hire employees.

They maintain properties.

They provide services and attract customers.

Their job should not include replacing the police department or creating a private public-safety system because city government has failed to maintain order.

"What am I paying my taxes for?" Smith asked.

Winn agreed that Tucson's business community has been burdened by policies and leadership decisions that make operating a business more difficult.

A city cannot expect economic vitality while failing to maintain the conditions that allow customers and employees to feel safe.

Smith Questions the Security Available to Elected Officials

Smith highlighted another disparity.

She said Mayor Romero benefits from police protection at official functions while ordinary residents must navigate unsafe public areas without comparable security.

Smith also noted the security procedures at public government meetings.

Visitors may be required to pass through metal detectors, and people legally carrying firearms must comply with restrictions that can require weapons to be secured during meetings.

Smith said sheriff's deputies have handled those procedures professionally during her visits.

Her complaint was not with the deputies.

It was with the difference between the protected environments occupied by public officials and the everyday conditions experienced by taxpayers.

Winn and Smith argued that elected leaders should be especially attentive to public safety precisely because their own positions can insulate them from the conditions other residents face.

Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day and the Battle Over Historical Memory

The discussion shifted to the holiday being observed on October 12.

Winn, who identifies proudly with her Italian heritage, objected to efforts to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Smith framed the controversy as part of a broader conflict over American historical identity.

She discussed the growing use of Indigenous Peoples' Day in states and cities and contrasted that with President Trump's public recognition of Columbus Day.

Different jurisdictions, she noted, observe the day differently. Some use Columbus Day, some recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day or Native American Day, and others recognize both.

Smith viewed that variation as an example of state and local authority.

But she strongly defended retaining Columbus Day as a federal observance.

Her defense emphasized Columbus as an explorer and the role Christianity played in European contact with the Americas. She rejected interpretations that portray his legacy exclusively through colonial exploitation.

Those historical interpretations remain contested, but for Smith and Winn the larger issue was whether Americans are being encouraged to evaluate their history in its full context or dismiss foundational figures altogether.

Winn said history matters because a country that refuses to understand its past becomes less capable of protecting its future.

Land Acknowledgments and the Contradictions of Local Government

Smith tied the Columbus Day debate to Pima County's practice of beginning public meetings with land acknowledgments.

She criticized the county for recognizing historical displacement while continuing to conduct government business on the very land being acknowledged.

Her argument was deliberately provocative.

If officials believe the land is illegitimately occupied, she asked, why do they not propose transferring it?

Smith said such questions expose what she views as a gap between symbolism and governing responsibility.

The criticism reflected a recurring theme throughout her conversation: elected officials should be judged by actions and results rather than statements designed to signal political virtue.

The Tohono O'odham Nation and the Border Wall

Smith also discussed controversy surrounding border-barrier construction near the Tohono O'odham Nation.

She criticized objections involving environmental concerns, including a cottonwood tree, and argued that federal border-security responsibilities cannot simply be set aside because the work is politically unpopular.

Smith maintained that areas along the border have long been exploited by smugglers and criminal organizations.

She alleged that certain individuals have cooperated with cartels and criticized what she considers insufficient cooperation between local authorities and federal enforcement agencies.

Those allegations were Smith's assertions; they do not establish misconduct by the Tohono O'odham Nation or its members generally.

The underlying dispute involves competing concerns about federal authority, tribal sovereignty, environmental protection and border enforcement.

Smith placed her emphasis firmly on federal responsibility to prevent human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Winn agreed that organized crime exploits enforcement gaps and argued that officials should be willing to confront those threats regardless of political controversy.

Leah Southwell: A Personal Journey Through Chile's Political Transformation

Leah Southwell, a business development officer with the John Birch Society, brought an international perspective to the discussion.

Southwell spent 10 years living in Holland and another seven in Chile.

Her decision to move to Chile began with a homeschooling philosophy.

She wanted her children to gain international experience before completing their education.

The family arrangement was simple: her children could decide when they were ready, but she would choose the destination.

When they reached 18 and 20, she chose Chile.

Southwell said she had spent several years monitoring international economic-freedom rankings published by organizations such as Cato and Heritage.

During that period, she saw Chile improving in the rankings while the United States declined.

Chile appeared to be an increasingly attractive place to live, work and build a business.

The family arrived in 2012.

Southwell described that period as the high point of Chile's modern economic success.

What happened afterward fundamentally changed her view of how quickly a prosperous society can become politically unstable.

Salvador Allende and Chile's Socialist Experiment

To explain the Chile she encountered, Southwell began with the country's 1970 presidential election.

Salvador Allende won a three-way contest and began implementing socialist economic policies.

Southwell described the nationalization of the copper industry, the redistribution of farmland and measures affecting private property.

She argued that these policies undermined incentives and damaged productive sectors of the economy.

In her account, the government attempted to make ownership more equal without adequately considering whether new owners had the resources or expertise necessary to maintain production.

She said agricultural output declined and the country faced severe shortages.

For Southwell, the lesson is that economic equality imposed through government control can destroy the productive arrangements that made prosperity possible in the first place.

She presented Allende's presidency as a warning against allowing political promises of fairness to override property rights and economic reality.

The 1973 Coup and the Cost of Political Upheaval

Southwell then addressed Chile's 1973 military coup.

She described Congress's opposition to Allende, the military intervention and Augusto Pinochet's rise to power.

She acknowledged that the conflict was bloody.

Thousands were killed, she said, and many more disappeared during the period of political repression.

"A battle like this is never bloodless," Southwell said.

"I'm not justifying how it went down."

Her account emphasized that supporters of Pinochet later credited him with preventing Chile from becoming another communist state and with introducing market-oriented reforms.

That assessment remains controversial because Pinochet's rule also involved systematic human-rights abuses and authoritarian repression.

Southwell nevertheless focused on the economic changes that followed the coup.

She cited a dramatic reduction in poverty, describing a transition from roughly 70 percent to 7 percent over the broader period of market reforms and subsequent development.

The figures were part of her presentation of Chile's history, but her underlying argument was broader than any one statistic.

Markets, she said, can generate prosperity when government allows businesses to operate and individuals to retain the rewards of their work.

Chile Became an Economic Success Story

Southwell described Chile during the early 2010s as a thriving country attracting international investment and entrepreneurship.

Businesses were expanding.

Foreigners were arriving.

The country had become known for relative economic freedom and opportunity.

For someone looking to give her children an international experience in a dynamic economy, it seemed an ideal choice.

Then came 2019.

Southwell said the transformation was so abrupt that she initially struggled to comprehend what she was witnessing.

A society she considered increasingly prosperous descended into widespread civil unrest.

That experience became the foundation of the message she now shares across the United States.

A Four-Cent Subway Fare Increase Becomes a National Crisis

Southwell said the immediate trigger for Chile's 2019 unrest was a relatively small increase in Santiago's subway fare.

She described it as approximately four cents.

Santiago, with a metropolitan population of millions, depends heavily on public transportation.

Southwell did not own a car and relied on the subway herself.

When protesters began attacking stations, disrupting service and damaging public infrastructure, the effect spread quickly through daily life.

Bus systems were damaged.

Traffic lights were destroyed.

Major roads were obstructed.

Military curfews followed.

Southwell said businesses were damaged and churches burned.

She estimated that more than 200 churches were destroyed during the broader period of unrest.

For her, the scale of destruction made the original fare dispute an inadequate explanation.

"You don't light your country on fire over a four-cent increase in the subway system," she said.

Southwell came to believe the protests reflected deeper ideological forces rather than a narrow transportation complaint.

Young People Need a Positive Purpose

Southwell recalled seeing large numbers of young men participating in the unrest.

She believed many were roughly between the ages of 15 and 25.

When people asked whether the protesters were being paid or directed, she said she did not believe financial incentives explained everyone involved.

Instead, she saw young men looking for purpose.

"We either give them a cause, a positive cause, or they're going to take the negative cause," she said.

Southwell argued that society has a responsibility to help young people find meaningful work, service, responsibility and community.

Otherwise, movements promising excitement, belonging and a clear enemy can become attractive.

Winn connected that concern to Charlie Kirk's political outreach to younger Americans.

In her view, Kirk represented an effort to give young people a positive identity grounded in faith, family and freedom.

Southwell agreed that those values must be actively taught rather than assumed.

A free society cannot survive indefinitely if each new generation receives its political education primarily from movements committed to tearing down existing institutions.

Venezuelan Refugees Recognized a Familiar Pattern

One of Southwell's most revealing experiences involved Venezuelan friends living in Chile.

Many had fled Venezuela's economic and political collapse.

When Chile's unrest began, Southwell asked them whether they understood what was happening.

Their answer surprised her.

They told her they recognized the pattern because they had participated in similar protests in Venezuela.

Some had supported Hugo Chávez and demands for a new constitution, believing those reforms would make their society fairer.

Only later did they conclude that the movement they supported had helped create the conditions they were fleeing.

Southwell asked what they were doing to warn Chileans.

Her friends said they were trying.

But the warnings were being dismissed.

The Chileans reportedly told Venezuelans that Chile was different and could never suffer the same fate.

That sounded painfully familiar.

According to Southwell, Venezuelans had once dismissed warnings from Cubans in almost exactly the same way.

And now, when she tells Americans what she witnessed in Chile, she frequently hears another variation of the same answer.

"We're not South America. We would never let that happen."

For Southwell, the danger is assuming national identity alone makes a country immune to political mistakes.

Southwell Sees a Recurring Pattern of Revolutionary Politics

Southwell argues that political history reveals patterns.

Economic dissatisfaction grows.

Young people are mobilized.

Public institutions become targets.

Protesters demand the resignation of political leaders.

Then they call for constitutional change.

She sees similarities between the movements she witnessed in Chile and those she believes are operating in other countries.

Her argument is not that every protest has identical motivations or outcomes.

It is that citizens should learn to recognize when legitimate grievances become part of a movement seeking to destroy the existing constitutional order.

Southwell said Venezuelan and other immigrant friends helped her identify what she came to regard as a recognizable pattern of communist revolution.

"History is very important," she said, "but I think the biggest lesson out of history is the understanding of patterns."

She believes the John Birch Society's long-standing warnings about centralization of power come from studying those patterns rather than simply reacting to current events.

The Universities and the Long-Term Battle Over Ideas

Southwell argued that political movements can continue influencing a society long after they lose formal control of government.

She claimed that after Pinochet left power, communist activists returned to Chile and entered educational institutions.

She sees universities as especially important because they shape the worldview of future political leaders.

Winn agreed that education is one of the most consequential battlegrounds in America.

She spoke about raising children with conservative values, providing them with excellent educational opportunities and then discovering that higher education exposed them to political ideas sharply different from those of their parents.

For both women, that is why education cannot be separated from constitutional government.

The beliefs of today's students eventually become the policies of tomorrow's elected officials.

Southwell believes that parents, educators and civic organizations need to teach not just political conclusions but the historical consequences of different governing systems.

Why Demands for a New Constitution Alarmed Southwell

Southwell said one of the most disturbing features of Chile's protests was the demand for a new constitution.

Many protesters argued that the existing constitutional framework was responsible for the country's problems.

She began asking them a simple question.

Which provisions of the constitution caused the problems they wanted fixed?

According to Southwell, many could not answer.

She concluded that the movement was attempting to replace a governing foundation without establishing precisely what was wrong with it or what would take its place.

Her concern was not that constitutions should never be amended.

It was that constitutional replacement became a slogan detached from informed analysis.

Southwell sees a similar danger whenever Americans discuss rewriting or abandoning constitutional protections without understanding the existing framework.

"You Have to Burn It Down Before You Can Rebuild It"

Southwell described a personal confrontation during the Santiago unrest.

Protesters were assembling near a major building only blocks from her home.

The structure housed a grocery store she relied upon.

When she heard threats against the building, she decided to confront the protesters directly.

She approached a prominent agitator and demanded to know why they were destroying their own country.

His explanation stayed with her.

"You've got to burn it down before you can rebuild it."

Southwell rejected that philosophy.

She argued that destroying functioning institutions is not a prerequisite for improving them.

The promise of rebuilding becomes especially dangerous when a movement cannot explain what will replace the institutions it seeks to eliminate.

Winn connected that revolutionary language to political rhetoric in the United States.

Both women warned against normalizing appeals to destruction, chaos or political violence as substitutes for constitutional reform.

School Choice and the Meaning of Educational Freedom

The conversation moved from Chile to Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.

Winn praised the ESA system for giving parents more control over their children's education.

She cited growth from roughly 10,000 participating families to more than 120,000 as evidence that families are responding to the availability of alternatives.

She criticized Democratic efforts to restrict or eliminate the program.

Her argument was rooted in the principle that educational funding should follow children rather than preserve institutions regardless of performance.

Southwell, herself a homeschooling parent, agreed that families need freedom to make decisions based on their children's circumstances.

The larger question, in their view, is whether education remains accountable to families or becomes a tool for enforcing a particular political ideology.

Southwell Says Americans Must Defend the Constitutional Structure They Already Have

Southwell concluded with a defense of the United States Constitution.

She did not argue that it was perfect.

She acknowledged that constitutional provisions are frequently contested and their interpretations can change.

But she said the American constitutional framework remains one of the most successful systems of government ever developed.

"Nobody's ever showed me a better system than the form of government that we have right now," she said.

Her emphasis was on federalism and limited government.

The federal government, she argued, was given specific enumerated powers.

The states and the people retained the remaining powers.

Southwell believes Americans have gradually allowed federal authority to expand beyond that original arrangement.

The answer, she said, is to hold elected officials to the oath they take to uphold the Constitution.

"We need to hold our elected officials accountable."

Southwell was in Tucson to present her account of Chile's political transformation through an event sponsored by the local John Birch Society chapter.

The free presentation was scheduled for October 12 at 5546 East Fourth Street, with donations welcomed.

Her goal was to give attendees practical ways to discuss socialism, communism, constitutional limits and the recurring patterns she believes can threaten free societies.

For Winn, the timing could not have been more important.

Election Day was approaching.

Voters were receiving ballots.

And the debate over freedom, education, public safety and government power was becoming increasingly immediate.

Michael and Bonnie Quinn: Rockin' for Heroes Turns Grief Into Gratitude

The final major discussion moved away from elections and political conflict to a community tradition built around service, sacrifice and gratitude.

Michael and Bonnie Quinn are the founders of Rockin' for Heroes, a Southern Arizona nonprofit that honors first responders, military personnel, veterans and Gold Star families.

Their sixth annual free concert is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at James D. Kriegh Park in Oro Valley, near Canyon del Oro High School.

Bonnie described the event as "a public expression of gratitude" to people who serve their communities and country.

The annual gathering combines a major classic-rock performance with recognition ceremonies, nonprofit fundraising, family activities and opportunities for the public to meet representatives of law enforcement, emergency services and military organizations.

But the concert began with something far more personal.

It began with the Quinns losing their son.

Their Son's Illness Changed the Way They Saw First Responders

Bonnie explained that their son was diagnosed with a serious illness at age 16.

He experienced approximately eight years of remission before the disease returned.

He died at 29.

During the final year of his life, the family depended heavily on emergency medical services.

First responders came to their home almost weekly.

It happened during the COVID period, when emergency personnel were already working under extraordinary pressure.

Yet Bonnie said the responders consistently treated the family with kindness, professionalism and compassion.

"They were always so reliable and professional," she said.

The responders helped their son.

But they also helped his parents.

When a family is living through a medical crisis, a calm and capable professional can bring a sense of security into a situation that otherwise feels completely out of control.

Bonnie said the responders were also present on the day her son died.

That left a lasting impression.

Winn Shares Her Own Experience Caring for Her Mother

Winn understood the Quinns' gratitude in a newly personal way.

Her mother died September 16, only weeks before the conversation.

She had been approaching her 89th birthday.

Winn cared for her mother in her home for approximately three and a half years, following the death of her father nearly 14 years earlier.

As her mother's health declined, emergency medical personnel became an increasingly important part of their lives.

Winn said the paramedics repeatedly treated her mother with extraordinary compassion.

They also provided comfort to Winn herself.

"When those people take care of them, they kind of take care of us too," she said.

Caregiving, Winn explained, changes a person's life.

The responsibilities are constant.

The emotional demands are enormous.

And when a loved one approaches death, there is often very little anyone can do beyond making the person comfortable and surrounding them with care.

The Quinns understood exactly what she meant.

Bonnie said people who have never relied on first responders in a family crisis may not fully appreciate the comfort those professionals provide.

The First Concert Was Supposed to Be the Only Concert

After their son's death, the Quinns attended grief counseling and gradually began looking for a meaningful way to thank the emergency personnel who had helped them.

A tray of cookies or a pizza lunch did not seem sufficient.

Mike said a series of circumstances brought musicians and community supporters into their lives.

Eventually, the couple organized a free outdoor concert.

Approximately 750 people attended.

The Catalina Mountains provided the backdrop.

The event gave the Quinns an opportunity to publicly express their gratitude.

Then they assumed they were finished.

"We said our thank you," Mike recalled. "We were done. That was it."

They had no intention of creating an annual event.

But the community responded.

Six years later, Rockin' for Heroes has grown into a major regional gathering and an organization supporting first responders, veterans and military families throughout the year.

Winn called that transformation extraordinary.

An act of gratitude born from grief had become a continuing source of help for other families.

The Sixth Annual Concert Will Feature Lexington Lab Band

The 2026 concert will feature Lexington Lab Band, a nationally recognized classic-rock cover band.

Mike and Bonnie said the group is returning with an expanded lineup of 17 musicians, including a full horn section and multiple vocalists.

The music emphasizes classic-rock favorites from the 1970s and 1980s.

Winn, who grew up loving that era, said the band's ability to recreate familiar songs is one of the event's attractions.

The concert is free.

Attendees should bring lawn chairs for open seating.

The gates open at 3:30 p.m.

The event includes food trucks, a beer-and-wine tent, a 50/50 drawing, auctions, merchandise and other opportunities to support the nonprofit.

There will also be family-oriented activities and displays from police departments, fire agencies and other public-service organizations.

The Quinns expect approximately 3,000 people to attend.

Rockin' for Heroes Honors Four Groups

Bonnie explained that the organization's mission encompasses four groups: first responders, active-duty military personnel, veterans and Gold Star families.

Those groups give Rockin' for Heroes its broader purpose.

The concert is not simply a fundraiser or entertainment event.

It is an opportunity for members of the public to recognize people whose work often involves considerable risk, sacrifice and family hardship.

Winn said the celebration provides something that is increasingly rare in a politically divided culture.

A day when people can gather around gratitude rather than disagreement.

The Quinns want attendees to leave with a deeper appreciation of the individuals who serve.

They also want children to see those professions as honorable career possibilities.

The Jacob Dittinger Memorial EMT Scholarship Creates a Lasting Legacy

One of Rockin' for Heroes' most important accomplishments is the Jacob Dittinger Memorial EMT Scholarship at Pima Community College.

Dittinger was an emergency medical technician killed in the line of duty in 2021.

Bonnie said the scholarship is now fully endowed.

It will fund three EMT scholarships every year in perpetuity.

That permanent funding matters because it transforms a tribute into an ongoing investment in future emergency medical professionals.

Each year, new students can receive financial help to prepare for careers serving the community.

For the Quinns, the scholarship embodies the organization's mission.

Honor someone who died serving.

Then help others continue the work.

Edwin Gallego Brings the Scholarship Full Circle

Bonnie shared the story of scholarship recipient Edwin Gallego.

After receiving the Jacob Dittinger Memorial Scholarship, Gallego continued his training and pursued a career in firefighting.

He eventually joined Golder Ranch Fire District.

That detail was especially meaningful to the Quinn family.

Golder Ranch personnel were among the responders who cared for their son during his final illness.

Bonnie said Jacob Dittinger's mother, Corrine, developed a personal connection with Gallego and attended the ceremony where he received his firefighter badge.

The event brought together people connected by service, loss and opportunity.

A scholarship honoring a fallen EMT helped prepare a new firefighter.

That firefighter joined the organization that had served the Quinn family.

"It's wonderful to know that we may very well see him around Oro Valley serving the community," Bonnie said.

Thea Cromwell's Career Change Began With a Tragedy

The first recipient of the Dittinger scholarship, Thea Cromwell, has an equally powerful story.

Cromwell was working in a downtown bakery when she heard a serious traffic collision outside.

Tucson Police Officer Adam Buckner had crashed while responding to an emergency call.

Cromwell rushed to the scene.

She could not provide medical treatment, but she stayed beside Buckner and held his hand until paramedics arrived.

Bonnie said Cromwell was the last person with the officer while he was conscious.

The experience changed her life.

Cromwell, a 39-year-old single mother, had previously found herself in situations where she wanted to help injured people but lacked the training.

This time, she decided to do something about it.

She began pursuing emergency medicine and ultimately received the first Jacob Dittinger Memorial EMT Scholarship.

She also pursued further training through the fire academy.

A Memorial Ceremony Unites Three Families

Bonnie said Cromwell developed a relationship with Officer Buckner's mother, who encouraged her to pursue her new career.

At a subsequent Rockin' for Heroes event, the organization honored Buckner's family with a personalized Honor and Sacrifice flag.

Buckner's family joined the ceremony.

Cromwell stood beside them.

Jacob Dittinger's mother was also present.

The moment connected the family of a fallen police officer, the mother of a fallen EMT and a woman whose experience with one tragedy inspired her to serve others.

Bonnie recalled another painful detail.

Jacob's father had died of cancer only days before the ceremony.

Despite that fresh loss, the family attended.

The result was an emotional recognition of service and the way one person's sacrifice can inspire another person's future.

For Winn, the story demonstrated why Rockin' for Heroes matters far beyond a single concert.

The organization's work creates relationships that continue long after the public ceremony ends.

The University of Arizona Veteran Student Fund Helps Close Financial Gaps

The Quinns also described a veteran student scholarship program at the University of Arizona.

The fund is designed to help veterans and eligible Gold Star family members whose GI Bill benefits do not cover every expense associated with returning to school.

Bonnie said the $50,000 endowment was approximately halfway funded and that the organization expected it to become fully endowed before the end of the calendar year.

The goal is to provide continuing assistance indefinitely.

Tuition assistance does not always cover transportation, housing, supplies and other practical expenses that can determine whether someone finishes a degree.

A relatively small grant can make the difference between continuing school and dropping out.

Winn emphasized that these scholarships are not handouts.

They are assistance to people who have already committed themselves or their families to public service.

The Law Enforcement Support Fund Helps Officers Advance Their Careers

Rockin' for Heroes has also created a Law Enforcement Support Fund.

Mike explained that the fund helps officers pay for additional education, training and qualifications that may not be covered by their employing agencies.

A police sergeant pursuing promotion to captain, for example, may need courses or certifications that create expenses beyond the department's training budget.

The fund can help bridge that gap.

Mike said six officers received scholarships through the program this year: three from the Tucson Police Department, two from Marana Police and one from Oro Valley Police.

The objective is to strengthen local law-enforcement agencies by helping current officers continue their professional development.

An Emergency Support Fund Is Taking Shape

The Quinns also discussed plans to expand the organization's ability to respond to personal emergencies.

The need became clear when the organization learned about a police officer who had to take significant time away from work because of his wife's medical situation.

Rockin' for Heroes was able to provide support.

That experience led its board to consider a broader emergency reserve that would be available to all four groups the organization serves.

Mike said the goal is to establish enough funding after the concert to support emergency grants for qualifying recipients.

He described a simple grant application process intended to deliver assistance without imposing additional financial burdens on recipients.

The organization wants the support to be practical and timely.

Emergencies do not arrive according to scholarship schedules.

A medical crisis, family loss or unexpected financial hardship can affect anyone.

For the Quinns, an emergency fund is a natural extension of the same mission that inspired Rockin' for Heroes in the first place.

Honoring the Fallen Through Personalized Flags

The organization works with Honor and Remember to present personalized memorial flags to the families of fallen service members and first responders.

Honor and Remember flags recognize fallen military personnel and their Gold Star families.

Honor and Sacrifice flags provide a similar tribute for first responders.

Mike said Rockin' for Heroes has helped numerous Southern Arizona families receive those memorials.

The presentations often take place during public ceremonies, but the organization also works privately with families throughout the year.

Mike summarized the philosophy in a simple statement.

"Our work goes on long after the music ends."

The goal is not to produce one emotional afternoon and disappear.

It is to maintain relationships with the families and communities connected to public service.

Maggie Day's Legacy Reaches From Arizona to Alaska

Mike described one recent memorial presentation involving Maggie Day.

Day began her career in emergency medical services and eventually became a paramedic.

She pursued her dream of becoming a flight paramedic and went to work with an air-medical organization serving remote communities in Alaska.

Mike said she was based in Juneau and helped provide medical transportation to people living far from conventional healthcare facilities.

She was killed when her aircraft crashed in a remote area.

According to the Quinns, neither the plane nor her remains were recovered.

Rockin' for Heroes presented Day's parents with a personalized memorial flag.

For a family that never received the ordinary closure of recovering a loved one's remains, the flag carried particular meaning.

It offered a tangible expression of remembrance.

Mike called it an honor and privilege to recognize people who dedicate their lives to serving others.

Rockin' for Heroes Will Recognize Three Distinguished Honorees

The 2026 event will include the organization's annual hero awards.

Mike said the honorees represent different dimensions of public service, including an individual killed in service, a longtime law-enforcement leader and a groundbreaking military commander.

Cody Treach: Remembering a Fallen Firefighter

Rockin' for Heroes will recognize Cody Treach, a Rural Metro firefighter who died during a training incident.

The tribute will honor both his service and his family.

Mike emphasized that the organization's fallen-hero recognition is intended to preserve the memory of people whose commitment to serving others came at the ultimate cost.

Chad Kasmar: Recognizing Three Decades of Tucson Police Service

The organization will also honor retired Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar.

Mike said Kasmar will be recognized for approximately 30 years of service to Tucson.

Unlike the fallen-hero recognition, this award celebrates a career completed and the sustained contribution of a law-enforcement professional who remains part of the community.

Winn said honoring people during their lifetimes is just as important as remembering those who died in service.

A successful career in public safety deserves recognition.

Vice Admiral Nora W. Tyson: A Trailblazer in the U.S. Navy

The third honoree is retired Vice Admiral Nora W. Tyson.

Mike described Tyson as the first woman to command both a carrier strike group and an operational fleet in the United States Navy.

Her responsibilities ultimately included approximately 60,000 sailors.

Now living quietly in the Oro Valley area, Tyson initially resisted the idea of public recognition.

According to Mike, she appreciated Rockin' for Heroes and wanted to support it but did not believe she needed another award.

A friend then asked her to think about the young women who might attend.

What would it mean for them to hear her story?

Tyson changed her mind.

"Okay, I'll do it," she said.

For Winn, that decision revealed something important about genuine leadership.

Tyson was not seeking applause.

She agreed because telling her story might inspire someone else.

That is precisely the kind of example the Quinns want young people to encounter.

Honor, Support and Inspire: The Three-Part Mission

Mike eventually distilled the organization's work into three words.

"Honor, support, inspire."

The concert honors the people who serve.

Scholarships, grants and memorial programs support them throughout the year.

And the public celebration is designed to inspire young people to consider careers in emergency medicine, policing, firefighting and military service.

Mike said children attending the event can interact with police officers, firefighters and other public servants.

Agencies including Tucson Police, Oro Valley Police and regional fire departments will have booths where families can meet personnel and learn about their work.

There will also be family activities, including Smooch the miniature donkey.

The goal is to create a positive experience around service professions that too often receive attention only during emergencies or political controversy.

Winn said the need is particularly urgent because public-safety agencies continue struggling to recruit enough qualified people.

Not every successful career requires a four-year college degree.

Technical training, emergency medical education and public-service academies offer meaningful alternatives.

For young people with the right temperament and desire to serve, those careers can provide both purpose and opportunity.

Nearly All of the Money Goes Back to the Mission

Mike said Rockin' for Heroes operates with extraordinarily low administrative costs.

According to his figures, approximately 98 cents of every dollar goes toward supporting the organization's mission, with roughly 2 percent used for administration.

The Quinns are retired.

Their organization relies heavily on volunteers rather than a large paid staff.

Mike said approximately 70 volunteers help stage the concert.

The nonprofit depends on business sponsors, private donors, grants and event-generated revenue to finance both the free concert and its year-round programs.

For Mike, the mission is straightforward.

"Rockin' for Heroes is summarized in two words: thank you."

The organization exists because ordinary gratitude was not enough to express what first responders had done for his family.

Now that gratitude is being converted into opportunities for others.

Community Sponsors Make the Concert Possible

Bonnie and Mike credited a wide network of Southern Arizona businesses and organizations with helping Rockin' for Heroes grow.

HSL has supported the organization since its early years.

T-Mobile, which previously provided volunteers, expanded its involvement as a sponsor this year.

The Quinns praised the company's support of veterans and first responders.

The Empower Coalition also provided a new grant, with Bonnie explaining that the organization has traditionally supported military-related nonprofits and is expanding its involvement with first-responder causes.

Finley Distributing donated beer that can be sold at the event, allowing the proceeds to support Rockin' for Heroes programs.

The Town of Oro Valley continues to support the concert.

Pima County Attractions and Tourism provided another grant, recognizing the event's growing appeal beyond Southern Arizona.

Bonnie said the concert is attracting attendees from approximately 15 states, with some visitors traveling to Oro Valley for the weekend.

That generates business for local hotels, restaurants and other establishments.

Additional supporters discussed included Hughes Federal Credit Union, Trico, Tucson Airport Authority, Lee's Financial Services, Pain Institute of Southern Arizona, Vantage West and Long Realty Cares Foundation.

Bonnie offered special appreciation for Long Realty Cares because the grant funding is supported by employee contributions.

For the Quinns, the wide variety of sponsors demonstrates that supporting public servants is not confined to one industry or one kind of business.

Local Students and National Musicians Share the Stage

The event's musical program also reflects that combination of local community and national appeal.

Alongside Lexington Lab Band, the Quinns are bringing back a mariachi ensemble from Pueblo High School.

Bonnie praised the students' musical ability, enthusiasm and particularly their rendition of the national anthem.

The concert has featured local performers in previous years, including the Mark Miller Band.

But the organizers also want to bring nationally recognized cover groups to Southern Arizona.

Bonnie explained that many classic-rock cover bands have developed substantial audiences through YouTube, creating opportunities for fans to hear outstanding live performances without the expense of touring legacy acts.

Lexington Lab Band's expanded 17-member lineup is expected to be a major attraction this year.

A Military Flyover Remains a Possibility

The Quinns said they had secured the necessary FAA airspace clearance for a potential flyover.

They were exploring options involving vintage military aircraft, including warbirds such as the P-51 Mustang.

However, no particular aircraft or participating organization had been confirmed.

Mike emphasized that airspace approval is an important step, but additional coordination is still required.

Winn joked that the Tucson Airport Authority might be a useful partner in arranging the surprise.

For now, the flyover remains a possibility rather than a confirmed feature.

The Community Can Support Rockin' for Heroes All Year

Rockin' for Heroes accepts donations through its website, Rockin4Heroes.org.

Bonnie and Mike emphasized that support does not have to come in large amounts.

Recurring monthly donations are especially valuable because they allow the organization to plan its scholarships and assistance programs throughout the year.

Mike suggested that even $20 a month can help.

Businesses can also sponsor the concert and gain visibility among an audience expected to exceed 3,000 attendees.

Donations help sustain the organization's growing portfolio of scholarships, memorial tributes and emergency assistance.

The goal is to make sure the work continues after the band packs up.

November 8 Will Be More Than a Concert

The sixth annual Rockin' for Heroes celebration takes place Sunday, November 8, 2026, at James D. Kriegh Park in Oro Valley.

Gates open at 3:30 p.m.

Admission is free, and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

Parking will be available around Canyon del Oro High School, with accessible parking and golf-cart assistance for those who need help reaching the event.

Food trucks, merchandise, auctions, a 50/50 drawing, a beer-and-wine tent and family activities will provide additional opportunities to contribute.

But the Quinns do not measure success solely by the crowd size.

A scholarship recipient who becomes a firefighter matters.

A veteran who completes a degree matters.

A police officer who receives help during a family emergency matters.

A grieving family receiving a personalized memorial flag matters.

And a child who meets a firefighter or paramedic and decides to pursue a career in public service may become part of the organization's legacy decades from now.

Winn said that is why she considers Rockin' for Heroes one of Southern Arizona's most meaningful community traditions.

The gathering celebrates people who serve while reminding the public of the sacrifices those individuals and their families make.

For the Quinns, it remains rooted in the memory of their son and the extraordinary kindness their family received during the hardest period of their lives.

What began as a deeply personal thank-you has grown into a continuing commitment to the people who respond when others need help most.

As Mike Quinn put it, the organization's purpose remains unchanged: