From the recording Man Behind the Badge

A true story.  A dedicated police officer suffers through the tragic loss of his youngest son through suicide.  The traumatic impact of this act results in killing the lawman in him as he embarks on a desperate attempt to turn around the lives of other lost youths.

Lyrics

He was rough and ready, the toughest on his beat,
But he was kind and steady, when he needed to be sweet.
His heart was full of memories of the life he chose to lead,
The hardest crimes he dealt with, the victims he had freed.
 
CHORUS: 
THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE
STOOD FEARLESS, BRAVE AND TALL,
HE FOUGHT FOR LAW AND ORDER,
HE TRIED TO GIVE HIS ALL.
 
 He thought of home and kids he'd raised, and mem'ries stopped right there,
All had gone well except the last, and he paused, began to stare,
What had gone wrong, he tried his best, to help his youngest son,
But the gang, the streets, the drugs, the gun, these enemies had won.
 
Maybe he came down too hard, could be the reason why
The youngest son of his own free will had made the choice to die.
He walked a little further, perhaps he'd lost his touch,
He'd tried his best and still he lost the son he'd loved so much.
 
REPEAT CHORUS
 
A shot rang out and he quickly jerked back to the present crime,
He drew his gun and aimed it at the runner just in time
To stop the boy, -- Could it be? -- looked so much like his son,
With trembling hands and shaky breath, he put away his gun.
 
Said "Let me share a story that's near and dear to me,
While there's still time to save yourself, maybe you can see."
He begged and poured his heart out to the lad, just like his son.
Another shot was fired!  THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE was done!
 
THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE
FELL DOWN TO HIS KNEES,
REACHED FOR THE BOY AND WITH ONE LAST BREATH,
SAID "CHANGE YOUR WAYS SON PLEASE"
 
THE MAN BEHIND THE BADGE
STOOD FEARLESS, BRAVE AND TALL,
HE FOUGHT FOR LAW AND ORDER,
THIS TIME HE GAVE HIS ALL.