​Patrick Rice.

​Chief Executive Officer

A note from our CEO:
I am the founder of The Blue Family Tree.  I started in law enforcement in 1998 in Colorado.  As a law enforcement veteran, I carry a great passion for the job, and the people who choose to perform it.  We are a rare breed.  About a half of one percent of the people in our great nation are willing and able to take on the job that we do.  When you stop to consider that, We are a very unique family of people with unique lifestyles and needs.  While others may be able to peer in from outside and understand our lives, I think we all can agree that until you have lived here, there is no real comprehension of what we do and why we do it.  I’m sure many of you have heard and seen what I have experienced too often.  A grieving widow.  A sobbing child.  Taps.  That final radio call that rips at your heart and no matter how tough you are, makes your eyes wet.  And after all the pomp and circumstance is complete, and we slowly walk back to our sea of patrol cars, we see officers embrace a family and say things like, “Whatever you need, just call.”  But the calls never happen, and the family eventually feels very distanced from their blue family.  Let us not forget that our families are a special breed as well.

We have created a way for us to keep these people in our family forever just as we have promised to do.  
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We have also created a program to reach out to law enforcement and community members and reduce the senseless loss of police lives.  Our goal is to see law enforcement support the things that mean the most to law enforcement.

Thank you for visiting these pages.  Thank you for your contributions.  They mean the world to those who receive them, and we can continue to be there for our FAMILY.
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​Thom Seagren

President

​Thom is married to Shari Seagren and is the father of four children. For more than 20 years, Thom has been the owner and President of The Christian Connector, Inc., an advertising firm which has worked with over 100 Christian colleges. Thom also serves as Co-Founder and President of Children With Hope, a Christian organization with a children’s home, that cares for orphaned children in Eldoret, Kenya.

​Jake Wertz

Vice President

​Jake Wertz is from western Colorado. He attended Mesa State College and Colorado Northwest Community College.  Jake served as a deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s office, and currently works for Mesa County Traffic Department.  Jake volunteers his time not just with The Blue Family Tree, but he is also the chairman of the Grand Valley Ducks Unlimited Chapter.  When he is not working or volunteering, Jake enjoys hunting and fishing with his family. 

Christopher Austen

Treasurer

​Chris is a Lieutenant with the New York State University Police at Cortland. He started his law enforcement career in Vermont before coming back home to New York. He and his wife, Krysta, have four children and are active in many LEO organizations. In his free time Chris teaches New York State Hunter Education and enjoys spending time in the outdoors.  

Past Board Members
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Jennifer Stepleton

Jen lives in Montana with her husband and BLM ranger Frank.  Mrs Stepleton was an intricate part of the birth of The Blue Family Tree, and our organization holds a debt of gratitude for her commitment.   Mrs Stepleton served as Secretary from 2017 to 2022.



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Todd Sorenson

Todd Sorenson is a Captain with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in Grand Junction, CO.  Captain Sorenson was an intricate part of the birth of The Blue Family Tree, and our organization holds a debt of gratitude for his commitment.   Captain Sorenson served as the Vice President from 2017 to 2019.

Jesse Nunn

Jesse is a sergeant with the Colorado State Patrol. Sergeant Nunn was an intricate part of the birth of The Blue Family Tree, and our organization holds a debt of gratitude for his commitment.  Sergeant Nunn served as the treasurer from 2017 to 2019.
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