But what I never expected is for him to be threatened with a lifetime prison sentence for doing his job and taking convicted drug dealers off the street.

Now, I have no choice but to ask complete strangers for help in keeping my husband out of prison for a crime he’s completely innocent of.

Please let me explain.

It all started on the evening of March 28th, 2019.

My husband Chance – and his partner Officer Gregory Gentry – were assigned to the Street Narcotics Unit of the Austin Police Department.

That day, they were tasked with conducting a special narcotic operation in a dangerous part of town where there was a high level of violent crime. In fact, there was a shooting in the same small apartment complex just the night before.

As Chance and his partner approached the apartment courtyard to arrest two well-known drug dealers, they knew that they had to move quickly and effectively to avoid being hurt or killed.

When they got into the apartment courtyard, one of the suspects immediately submitted to arrest and was taken into custody.

But the other suspect – a man named Paul Mannie – didn’t go down easily. Chance repeatedly yelled at Mannie to put his hands up and get on the ground – but Mannie ignored all his orders. After a struggle, Mannie was forced on the ground so that he could be handcuffed.

Then, as Chance tried to put Mannie in handcuffs, Mannie got one of his hands free and reached toward his front waistline.

As an eight-year veteran of the Austin Police Department, my husband had been in plenty of these kinds of situations before.

So when Mannie reached his hand underneath his body, Chance and the other officers were worried that he was reaching for a weapon.

The officers had no choice but use advanced physical force to neutralize the threat. And after nearly a minute long altercation, Chance finally got Mannie in handcuffs.

When Chance got home later that night and told me the story, all I could do was thank God that he made it home safely.

I’ve seen so many tragic headlines in the news lately about officers getting killed – and I was just thankful that Chance wasn’t one of them.

But what I didn’t know at the time was that the worst was yet to come.

Chance and Greg’s actions were cleared by the Austin Police Department’s Executive Management, the Internal Affairs Division, the Criminal Special Investigations Unit, the Force Review Board, the independent Office of Police Oversight, and the-then District Attorney.

However, two years later, after a new “progressive” activist District Attorney was elected, Chance and Greg were charged with aggravated assault - a felony that is punishable by life in prison.

My husband did nothing wrong. He followed his training and protocols and successfully took down two convicted drug dealers.

And if he’s wrongfully convicted, he’ll miss our wedding anniversaries, our children’s birthdays, and our home will be left without the father and husband we love.

I’d do anything to help Chance. But our family just doesn’t have the kind of money it takes to stand up to a prosecutor who is determined to put an innocent police officer behind bars.

That’s why it felt like a God-send when Jason Johnson from the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund called us to offer their help.

Not only did the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund decide to help my husband get the legal defense he deserves – they’re also trying to raise money to pay for the best attorneys and expert witnesses.

And that’s why I’m reaching out to you today.

As a non-profit organization, they depend entirely on the generosity of folks like you to defend officers like Chance.

So, I have to ask you one of the toughest questions I’ve ever asked anyone.

Will you help my husband avoid being wrongfully convicted by making a tax-deductible contribution of $25, $35, $50 or more to the LELDF today?

Chance and I had just started dating when he started the academy. And I was so proud to be dating a future police officer.

But after he graduated, I started to become nervous when he would leave for work.

If your loved ones have ever served in law enforcement, you probably know the feeling.

While I understand that any day can be the last for anyone, the thought is always in the back of my mind when I kiss him goodbye before each shift.

Being an officer or being their immediate family is truly a sacrifice. My husband has missed countless special occasions and holidays to serve and protect his community.

But now, I’m worried that he’ll miss our children’s entire childhoods if he’s wrongfully convicted and put behind bars.

So if you are able, would you please consider sending a gift of $25, $35, $50 or more to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund to help Chance?

Chance and I – and our two kids – can only rely on the good nature and generosity of kind neighbors like you.

So thank you for reading my letter.

And thank you – in advance – on behalf of the families of wrongly-accused police officers being helped by LELDF.

Sincerely,

Kim Bretches

Please support the LELDF today!