First of all, to all the people listening, I apologize.

I lost my voice two days ago, so that's why I sound like I do.

But hopefully we won't have to listen too much to my voice.

We'll be able to listen to you tell your story today, which is a gut-wrenching story.

For people that don't know who you are, why don't you go ahead and give yourself an introduction

and explain your background and where you came from and all that stuff.

Yes. First and foremost, I want to thank you for this opportunity, Danny.

You know, you and so many other people have allowed me to come on and speak about the tragedy

and the triumphs that my family and I have gone through.

My name is Raymond Hicks.

Of course, I grew up in Gift of Florida.

I was born in Vero Beach, but I grew up in Giff of Florida as well as Fort Lauderdale.

And I decided at a young age, you know, that I wanted to go into law enforcement if I didn't

play professional football.

So, of course, I had an opportunity to work out with the Miami Dolphins in 1990.

I left the Sheriff Department in 1990, pursued a football career with the Dolphins.

It was unsuccessful.

Eventually, I went into law enforcement.

And here I am, you know, speaking about the different things, the triumphs and the tragedies that me and my wife and kids have experienced.

What made you want to go into law enforcement?

Because I remember when I was about eight or nine years of age, you know, the cops used to come to my home when they were stabbing, cutting, my mother was shot, my dad went to prison, and I decided, you know, that at that point, you know, because they put me aside from the tragedy that was going on. And they was like, here, come here, let me talk to you. And when they put me

away from the scene where my mom and dad just finished plunging knives into each other

...