Today's presenter, Former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Larry Ray Hardin (right in photo), started his presentation with a look at Zoom saying, “Who is that grey-haired guy up there?” His mama told him years ago that she looked into the mirror seeing her age lines and thought, “Wow how did that happen?” Life happens so fast! He and his wife are 67 and now he is retired DEA — “Don’t Expect Anything!” Rotarians chuckled.
Being a kid in Kentucky’s western Appalachians did not prepare him for the evil he saw while he worked for the DEA. He worked on the farm and was taught to say, “Yes, Sir” and “Yes, Ma’am.” He has used an outhouse, killed his own hog, and dug up his own well water. He lived out in the country mountain hollers. His dad taught him that a man’s word and handshake were as good as a signed contract.
Former Agent Hardin presented Path of the Devil, a book about his work in the DEA with two private eyes. He writes with facts — not B.S. — about his War on Drugs experiences working in Mexico with the Federales. Corruption is a way of life down there. Even in the USA, he had friends die by corruption as a bad cops addicted to Methamphetamine. His addicted friend, who was a trained Marine, brutally killed a lieutenant and an another sergeant. During his visit to a Spain military base, he found a beautiful place but it had corruption. The Afghans refugees tore his heart. As a DEA agent, he wasn’t allowed help the refugees so he had to leave Spain. Criminal Justice politics has so many layers. Nothing is sacred even with our own politicians. He has experienced evil and has seen Hell. He felt like his spirit burning with fire.
As he showed respect for our nation’s flag, he closed his presentation with a reminder. We are the greatest country in the world, and no one can take us over from the outside. We need to keep watch because they can take us from within our own borders. Fortunately, not all Criminal Justice personnel are corrupted in our country.