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THE DIARY
NOTE; ALL ENTRIES IN GREEN INDICATE AN ENTRY INTO THE DIARY ON DAYS THAT LAWMAN DID NOT WORK.
May 12, 1999
It's been busy since my last entry. I had a shooting case that I mentioned in previous entries. The victim identified the shooter from a photographic line up I had prepared and even named the suspect by his nickname. Well, when it went to court he all of a sudden developed amnesia! I was irritated to say the least. I had spent many hours on this case, only to find that the victim basically had a change of heart and didn't want to prosecute the fella who shot him.
Another case I am working on involves shooting into apartments, at people, and crack cocaine. A drug dealer was in his car cutting up a cookie of cocaine when another male subject approached him. The male subject produced a handgun and began shooting. The drug dealer in the car began shooting back. Kids were just getting off the school bus when the chaos broke. Luckily, no one was hit. Both suspects were bad shots.
The drug dealer was kind enough to leave his car and cocaine, making it easy to identify him. I drew warrants today and am looking for the one who left his car. The identity of the other suspect isn't known.
Our new Sergeant is getting on everyones nerves. He was promoted to Sergeant not long ago. His bossy and controlling demeanor is typical of many new Sergeants. They want to 'show the brass' they can handle things, and sometimes go overboard doing it. Most of the squad is asking for transfers.
Well, thats it for now. Thanks for listening, and don't forget to email me if you get time!
May 13, 1999
I am off today, and I am thankful. Dayshift has always been stressful on me. I think it's because two out of the three shifts (day, evening, and midnight) are night time shifts. My body expects night time hours, and dayshift doesn't agree with the other two shifts.
Midnight shift is next, and is my favorite.
I am finding the more I am in law enforcement on the streets, the more I am thinking about using the degree I am working towards to get out of the chaos. Think about it, in law enforcement you have rotating shifts, danger, and work holidays just to mention a few. In computer programming I would get about a 14k raise per year, bankers hours, holidays off, and more time with my family. I love law enforcement but I wonder sometimes if all the sacrifice is worth it.
For now, I will continue to serve. I love meeting and helping people. Law Enforcement has it's rewards, but the older I get the more I realize it has it's drawbacks. It's those drawbacks that will lead me away from the profession, not the money.
Thanks for listening!
May 21, 1999
So much going on right now. We are selling the home we are living in now and are buying a new one. That's on top of going to school full time, work, part time job, and family! I have reached new stress levels and find myself having to step back more often from tasks at hand. I am making it though, and will continue to write on this web site. It is a source of stress relief for me. I have also marveled that so many people log onto my web site to hear what I have to say. I want you to know I appreciate you listening. This page would have little meaning if there were no readers. :)
Anyway, I had my first major conflict with the new Sergeant. My sister is in the hospital because of a complicated pregancy. Doctors are going to induce labor this morning. I called Sgt at home as soon as I found out, and requested family sick time off. On the phone he said no problem, but he needed me to work half of the shift. I agreed and later went to work. When it came time for me to go home as agreed, he threw a fit and wasn't going to let me go home (I wanted to get two hours of sleep before spending the day at the hospital). I sent him a nasty car to car MDT message telling him I AM GOING. I then met with him in the field and told him I needed to go. He let me, but not before giving me grief. It's sad we aren't supported sometimes by not only our community, but Superior Officers who want to 'get the job done' at the expense of family.
I got an 'ask a cop' question via email that touched home with me. It deals with family, and how family handles me being in law enforcement. I am running short on time this morning and want to spend a little time answering the 'Ask A Cop' email. Please tune in over the next couple days. The content of the 'Ask A Cop' email contains questions that every person who is even thinking about getting into law enforcement should consider.
Thanks again for listening! Keep the email coming...and wish my sister the best today.
May 26, 1999
ASK A COP
READER WROTE:
Dear lawman,I have a question for you that has bugged me since I was a young man first dreaming of becoming a police officer.
When I was growing up I lived with my father who was also a police officer so I guess you could say that he played
an important role in my decision to become an officer. Though through my childhood he was seldom there to help
raise me due to his schedule and amount of time out of the day it took to be a cop. I too someday would like to have
children and be able to be a better father to my children. Also my wife will have a difficult time adjusting to the new
lifestlye of being a police offocer's spouse. Can you tell me how it is you shuffle work and family life and still be able
to achieve the demanding shcedule of being a cop? Is it taxing on your personal life and if so how do you deal with it.
I only ask you this because my father was divorced three times during his career and also his children were alienated.
I know that being a cp is not only tough on you but your family and there has to be a sense of togetherness in order
to remain sane and not divorced and wondering where your children have gone. So if you have any answers I would
greatley appreciate it.LAWMANS REPLY:
When you make the choice to become a Law Enforcement Officer, you must also know there are sacrifices to make. The ones you described in your 'Ask a Cop' email (above) are just a part of the sacrifices. You can't be a police officer and expect to have a "normal life." As much as I try, I still miss my daughters softball games sometimes, or miss picking her up when she falls down, or be there for my wife when she needs me. My suggestion: work hard on being a family man. That sounds a little to simple and perhaps storybook like, but it is important that you talk and make the most of EVERY moment with your family.The ideal situation is that you tell your wife BEFORE you get married about the downside to Law Enforcement. When my wife and I first met, she knew what I wanted to do for a career. It was easier for her to accept before we got married as opposed to being hoisted into a life of having a husband who works rotating shifts, gets hurt, etc.. She knew the pitfalls beforehand.
Divorce is high among Law Enforcement personnel. The reason is simple: rotating shifts, job related stress, and plain old not being there. That doesn't mean that a marriage is doomed to failure because you are in Law Enforcement, but it does mean that the odds are stacked against you. 70 percent of law enforcement marriages that don't work out, where the national average is 51 percent. It takes a strong woman to endure living with a police officer (I was lucky and found such a woman).
Still, there are no suggestions that I can make for your children. How do you tell an 8 year old (my daughter) you can't go to brownies with her because you have to work. It is tough, but if Law Enforcement is the career you have chosen, then you must accept the tribulations that go with the job. There is no way around it. Honestly, despite the rewards of Law Enforcement, I am not so sure anymore that I would encourage anyone to get into Law Enforcement.
I myself may leave Law Enforcement someday. As I get older my priorities are changing. Family life and money are becoming more important than they once were. I once thought I could do everything a father working bankers hours could do, and do it better. I was wrong, Law Enforcement and a "normal life" just aren't compatable ideas.
Good Luck, and let me know how things are working out...
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