ASK A COP REPLY

READER WROTE:
1.Do all officers wear body armour?
     Is is really that uncomfortable?
     What does it feel like wearing one?

2.  How often in his life time as a police officer does he get to use
his duty gun?
     What do you carry on your duty belt?
     Do you really need it all?
     Isn't it kind of heavy?

LAWMAN'S REPLY:
OK, DEEP BREATH!  :) No, absolutely, bad, hopefully never, a bunch of stuff, yep, and yep.  Just kidding.  Most all officers, or at least the smart ones, wear body armour.  The vest is very uncomfortable, but eventually you get use to it somewhat.  I still stink a little towards the end of the day during the summers.  It feels to me like I am wearing heavy clothing that is a little too warm.

The question about officers using their duty guns is a little vague.  I will touch a little on each area. If you mean how often does he shoot, generally for us every six months at the range we have to qualify.  Beyond that it is up to the officer how often he shoots for practice (for our department).  Smaller departments may only qualify once per year.

If that question means how many times do police officers have to shoot someone, the answer would be hopefully never.  Most officers go through their entire career without having to take another life.  So far I have been fortunate in that regard and have never had to shoot someone.   I pray that I never do as do all officers I know.

Some of the items I carry on my duty belt include handcuffs, pepperspray, flashlight, rubber gloves, replacement magazines (loaded with ammo), my side arm, ASP baton,  and of couse my radio.  I have used all my equipment that I carry in some fashion and yes, I need it all.  It does weigh you down, especially during a foot pursuit.  But
the advantages my equipment on my utility belt give far outweigh the advantages of a lighter load by not carrying the equipment.

Thanks, and til tommorrow...

November 4, 1998

Hola a todos (Hello all!).  In between the streets and school I have Spanish on the brain.   Some of the officers call me to translate Spanish frequently, so I am getting it from all directions now.  I don't mind, it helps me learn more Spanish.

I was Acting Sergeant today again, and being that this was the first day back since the end of the month (October) I had all kinds of paperwork to do.  Monthly statistics have to be compiled among our squad and put into the form of a document to the Captain.  He reviews them and gives us more busy work.

Thought I would share a couple thoughts on juggling my private life with that of work.  Sometimes it gets difficult.  Holidays are important to my wife for example but often conflict with my work schedule.  Our anniversay is coming up soon and I was scheduled to work Midnight shift then.  I was lucky this time and got a few days off for us to go on a little vacation together.   I need it!  This year I am also scheduled to work Christmas and New Years Day in January.  It is a sacrifice all officers make and reflects their commitment to their job.  While most are at home with their families, officers are dealing with drunks or worse.  I am not complaining, I knew sacrifices would have to be made like that when I first got into Law Enforcement and my wife is very supportive.  The job has offered me many rewards to compensate as well, such as new friends (both citizens and officers alike).

Another thing I have had to work around is school.  The department has been very accomidating and has allowed me to take vacation time when school conflicts with my work schedule.  I have another year and a half to go before I get a Computer Information Systems degree (computer programming).  Then I will not work any more overtime or go to any more Colleges  (I have a Criminal Justice degree now).

Robberies also increase this time of the year.  Not sure why, but it has always been the case.  More on that another day.  For now I will see you tomorrow friend.  Email has slowed a little, hits to the web page have increased.  I am always interested in hearing from my readers with comments, suggestions, or questions (which I always answer).

Til tomorrow...

November 5, 1998

Thought I could get away from the station for awhile since our Sergeant was back today.  I thought wrong.  Ended up  with little time on the streets and a lot of time doing paperwork for our sergeant.  He doesn't know how to run a computer to do memos so I kinda get volunteered for anything on our squad that requires a memo.  There are a lot of memos that are written in our department.  Memos for everything to why a 'give a kid a bear' stuffed animal wasn't in the trunk of the patrol vehicle during inspections to actions taken to citizen complaints.  Paperwork is a big part of an officers job, perhaps more so on a bigger department such as mine.  There is also forms for about everything you can think of.  It is amazing sometimes.  The waste baskets around the PD are nearly always full of discarded memos, notices, and all kinds of other paperwork.

I did get to work a strong arm robbery while I was on the streets.  I didn't handle the call and my main activity was to look for the bad guy. Unfortunately I couldn't find him.  They are usually long gone by the time you get to the scene.  In between the time the call for help is placed and dispatched is usually a couple minutes, and then we have to respond.  Even if we are in the area and it only takes another three minutes, a total of five minutes is more than enough for the bad guy to get away.  Sometimes we get lucky though.

Tired, off to bed.  Nite til tomorrow..

November 6, 1998

I took today off.  I need a break now and then.   I got a lot of homework done for school.

It is a good chance to talk about another officer that was killed during a routine call.  This particular officer was one I would say hi to in the halls in passing, but didn't know him that well.  He was one who would always be there to help when needed, and also left a family behind.  He was killed by construction equipment driven by some punks who thought it would be cool to joy ride on the equipment.  This was one of the first black bands I had to wear and, like other officers who have experienced the loss of a member on his/her department, have vivid memories of the night he was killed.

When you loose a fellow officer, especially in a violent manner, it hits home.  You know it could have been you, and it could be you tomorrow.  You try not to think about it and be cautious on the job, but the bottom line is that it could happen one day.  Another officers death brings that reality uncomfortably close to home.

At the same time, if I were to be killed, I would die doing something that I truely love.  I am part of a family, a family of blue.  I know every day when I work that if I need help any officer would not hesitate to put himself/herself in danger to come to my aid, and they know I would do the same for them.  The job has meant an instant ticket to a circle of friends who share the same values that I do.

I will miss the officers who have died, and dedicate this diary to their memory.

Til tomorrow....

November 7, 1998

Finally got to spend an entire shift on the streets and not have to push paper in the office.  It felt great to get back out there!  It took me about thirty minutes or so after the shift began to find my first customer.  He was a young man (age 19) that I saw leaving a drug infested area in a 1991 Honda.  I initiated a traffic stop on him when he crossed over into my lane of travel and park 'left side to curb' (drivers side next to the curb, can't do that here).  In the end he had no license and had a few quarter bags of marijuana.  I arrested him and took him for a bond hearing where he was released (he wasn't required to post bond).  I don't expect him to show up for court, especially since he gave me another state's ID card.  That gets a little frustrating when the judicial officials that give the bond hearing let the bad guys walk.  I learned a long time ago not to expect everyone that needs to be put in jail actually land in jail.  I look at it like I do my part, the rest is up to the courts.

In the courts many more are released who should have some type of punishment.  One judge I call the 'walking judge.'  This particular judge is known for finding people not guilty or a small slap on the hand for serious crimes.  This judge, who I will call Marjorie, finds people not guilty even when they plead guilty.  Marjorie was voted out of office the last election only to return as a regular visiting judge.  That, to me, is silly!  Voters went to the election poles and said we don't want Marjorie to be a judge here, but because of loopholes Marjorie still sits on the bench.  I would like to send all the people who have come to her court room and left without punishment to her house.  All my efforts are down the drain when she sits on the bench.

I also participated in a stationary license check today.  I had one try to avoid the license check by turning around and driving the other way.  I caught him but only gave him a traffic citation.  His license was suspended.  With no other crimes I thought the magistrates would release him anyway, so I gave him a ticket and didn't arrest him.  He was suspended for Driving While Impaired and had been drinking, but wasn't drunk.

I am off til Wednesday.  I still have a couple thoughts on my mind I would like to share so I may make further entries into the diary in between now and then.

Keep the email coming!

November 8, 1998

One of the thoughts I mentioned yesterday I thought I would write about was how officers interact with other officers.  For the most part we all get along great.  There are rare instances in which, like any other work place, that officers don't get along.  I am having problems with such an  instance now.  The officer works on our squad and for some reason resents me.  I think part of the problem may be that we both have our own ideas of law enforcement.  I enjoy getting into things through vehicle stops, and he likes chasing people on foot.  He hates answering calls and seems to blame me somehow when he is dispatched to a call.  It created a few problems when I was put in charge of the squad.  I handled the problem by ignoring his actions which probably wasn't the best way.  For example, when I called for a squad meeting to hand out some information the squad members needed, he started making phone calls during the meeting.  If I were a Sergeant I probably would have handled him very different. But as things are I was only 'Acting' sergeant.

He was involved in a shooting a while back.  Since that time he lets very few people into his world.  You have to be part of 'the click' in order to be accepted by him.  I am troubled by working with someone who goes out of their way to make your day difficult.  I am not sure how to handle it given my position in the police department.  He says some rude remark to me every day now. Even so I have no doubt that he would be there if I needed assistance on the streets, and he knows the same of me.

For now I will probably keep on ignoring his comments.  Nothing is permanent around the department.  Officers get transferred and eventually one of us will be transferred.

Thanks for listening, stay tuned!

November 10,1998

Today was a little more paperwork and a little time on the streets.  It was kind of slow.  I only wrote one ticket and didn't have any calls today.  On tact shift it goes like that sometimes.

Also today we had a briefing for an operation we are starting tomorrow.  We are going to hit a few places tomorrow with another agency here.  It should be fun!  The operation they say will last about four or five hours, then I am intent on doing NO MORE paperwork and going out to play.  My head hurts from all the unexpected on top of the normal paperwork.

My web page has really grown, and as you can see from the hit counter people are actually interested in what things are like from an officers point of view.  I want to thank the visitors for coming here.  This page has been fun for me and a source of stress relief.  As long as people keep coming, I will keep on writing.  I have one request of you though, Email.  I would like your comments and suggestions to help improve this site.  For example, is there any part of law enforcement that you would like to see addressed on this site?  The email has about stopped, and I am not sure why.  Anyway, I find it easier, and more interesting, if questions are asked to which I can answer and address here on this page.
 
 

The email link is at the bottom of this page, drop me a line....

November 11, 1998

This shift was fascinating.  The operation I spoke of yesterday consisted of sending juveniles into establishments that sold alcohol.  It was amazing how many juveniles were able to buy alcohol even though they were well underage.  One store clerk who sold one of the juveniles some beer even said, "I don't need to see ID" when the juvenile pulled out a drivers license (incidentally even the license didn't belong to the juvenile).  The people who sold the minors the alcohol were given citations for selling alcohol to underage persons.  They were also given a notice that the establishment would be given further discipline outside the courts. That includes the possibility of the business being closed down.

Transfers are hot and heavy now.  Remember a couple days ago when I mentioned the other officer I was having some problems with?  He got transferred! :)~    I have to admit, I was happy to hear that.  It solves the problem for both of us, or at least patches it up.  I was hesitant to write about our conflict.  I felt it may give readers an idea that police are bickering fools who can't solve their own problems.  Reality is though we both handled it the best we could, and in the end things worked out.  The idea that police are immune from conflicts with co-workers (other police) is an unrealistic point of view that many in society have.  Though fewer and farther between, they do exist from time to time.

One reader asked if police were educated about the constitution, referring to the rights of others.  Yes, we do study the constitution in rookie school, and are constantly reminded that violations of constitutional rights could get us sued or worse.  I am well versed in such constitutional issues as what is reasonable as far as searches and seizures, civil rights, etc.  I am careful to stay with in the confines of the constitution as do all the officerrs I know.

Thanks for the question reader.  :)

Til tomorrow....

November 12, 1998

This shift was fascinating.  The operation I spoke of yesterday consisted of sending juveniles into establishments
that sold alcohol.  It was amazing how many juveniles were able to buy alcohol even though they were well
underage.  One store clerk who sold one of the juveniles some beer even said, "I don't need to see ID" when the
juvenile pulled out a drivers license (incidentally even the license didn't belong to the juvenile).  The people who
sold the minors the alcohol were given citations for selling alcohol to underage persons.  They were also given a
notice that the establishment would be given further discipline outside the courts. That includes the possibility of
the business being closed down.

Transfers are hot and heavy now.  Remember a couple days ago when I mentioned the other officer I was having
some problems with?  He got transferred! :)~    I have to admit, I was happy to hear that.  It solves the problem for
both of us, or at least patches it up.  I was hesitant to write about our conflict.  I felt it may give readers an idea
that police are bickering fools who can't solve their own problems.  Reality is though we both handled it the best
we could, and in the end things worked out.  The idea that police are immune from conflicts with co-workers
(other police) is an unrealistic point of view that many in society have.  Though fewer and farther between, they do
exist from time to time.

One reader asked if police were educated about the constitution, referring to the rights of others.  Yes, we do study
the constitution in rookie school, and are constantly reminded that violations of constitutional rights could get us
sued or worse.  I am well versed in such constitutional issues as what is reasonable as far as searches and seizures,
civil rights, etc.  I am careful to stay with in the confines of the constitution as do all the officerrs I know.

Thanks for the question reader.  :)

Til tomorrow....

November 13, 1998

We did the operation again today.  14 out of 22 stores we hit sold to the 17 year old juvenile.  One of the store
owners was a little aggitiated to say the least.  He denied selling any alcohol to a minor, even when we told him
the minor was part of the operation and we sent him in.  He still denied it when I told him me and three other
police officers were watching as the minor went into his store and bought the alcohol.  He renamed me "bastard."
I had to decline the offer of a new name and told him I like my name just fine.  :)  Inside I was thinking that I wish
I could say what I really wanted to say, but of course I didn't.

Later after the operation another fine young man decided to rename me motherf.....  I really didn't want that name
either and had to tell him 'no thanks, I will keep the name I currently have.'   Afterwards, he declined my offer of a
free ride to, and accomadations to the  'gray bar hotel (jail)' for the new name he gave me.

I am being goofy, but you get the point.  In law enforcement people often don't like you because you are a police
officer.  You listen to it, but don't lose any sleep over name calling.  I accept it as part of the job and go on.  That
doesn't preclude me from letting one wear my jewelery (handcuffs) if  they get to far with the name calling bit.  The
bottom line and what made this young fella so upset is that we have put him in jail  a few times and he doesn't like
us to be around.  I am human and do remember.  If I run into him  again, he is a little more likely to get a ticket.
My feeling is that if they don't like police, fine.  If you don't like police and voice it in that fashion and in a public
forum with colorful names for the officer, NOT fine.  In this case I could have arrested him but didn't.  I felt that a
stern warning did the trick, in many cases it doen't.  If I were to catch him doing a criminal act again I would
think that he has had a break by me not arresting him for tonight.  Jail is the answer then.

Well, tune back in tonight.

Thanks for the email!  Keep it coming.

November 14, 1998

Had a little fun tonight with another officer.  He and I targeted a drug location where sellers and buyers were
plentiful.  He, who I shall call Joe, went bush crawling to watch the dealers from a hidden location while I staged
in the area nearby and out of sight.  Our objective was to arrest a buyer or two.  It took about 10 minutes before
Joe witnessed a hand to hand transaction between a suspected dealer and suspected buyer.  Joe gave me a
description of the buyer (who left on foot) and I swung into action.  I stopped the buyer about three blocks from the
drug corner (out of sight of the drug corner).  Instantly I could see he wasn't happy to see me.  After telling him we
saw him do a hand to hand transaction I asked him, "where's the dope?"  The buyer replied, "It was only
marijuana" and handed me a dime bag of marijuana.  I arrested him and found what I really was after, the
cocaine.  The buyer ended up talking to us and from that information and what Joe witnessed, we were able to
arrest the seller and put him in jail.  The seller was REALLY   unhappy to see us. We seized his money, gave him a
couple Felony papers, and threw his butt in jail!  Good grief I love this job (I am mentally stable, trust me....)!!

I told the buyer that I had compassion for the buyers, and none for the sellers.  I subscribe to that theory because I
have seen how hard it is for people to quit using crack cocaine.  Many are not able to quit.  It used to be powder
cocaine, sometimes referred to as a recreational drug.  From what I understand powder cocaine was a drug that a
person could quit if he wanted to.  Crack cocaine is much more powerful and, in my opinion, makes some good
people do bad things.  The dealers however usually are not users.  They make a conscious decision to engage in the
sales of illegal narcotics.  For that reason I don't make many deals with them and show them no mercy when it
comes to what I charge them with.  Basically I charge them with everything I can.

I know I can't change the world, but I can make it a little safer, at least for a night.

Other activities tonight included a prowler call, a Driving While Impaired  case, and a couple shots fired calls.  I
am off until Wednesday but plan to make entries in between now and then.

Thanks for listening.  Hasta Luego Amigos!

November 17, 1998

Yesterday I had to go to Grand Jury on an old Cocaine case.  The fella that I arrested for Possession of Cocaine had a long record, and will probably go to prison for a little while if he is convicted.  I have always said that I have some compassion for the users.  People try crack once and they stand a very real chance of getting hooked on the stuff.  In the end the crack cocaine makes some otherwise good people do bad things.  It is the dealers that I want most to see in prison.  The dealers usually aren't users, they for the most part are living off of other peoples miseries.  There are many dealers who are selling crack cocaine to support their habit, but they are always small time dealers that sell just enough to support their habit and little else, or at least that is what I have seen thus far in Law Enforcement.

I also wanted to touch a little on the rotating shifts in Law Enforcement in this entry.  The rotating shifts when I first got into Law Enforcement was nothing more than a minor irritation to me.  The excitement of the job overshadowed the fact that some days I would spend all day in court and still have to work midnight shift that night.  As I get older (NOT old, just getting older  :)  ) my mindset is changing.  The rotating shifts for me are becoming more than a minor irritation.  Now it seems that I can never sleep 8 hours straight.  My body doesn't know what shift its on, and by the time my body does get a clue it is time to go on to the next shift.  Many of the officers don't mind the rapid rotation shift our department subscribes to, I mind.   Our shift changes once per week, going from midnight, to day shift, and then to evening shift.  It wouldn't be so bad if we were on one shift for a month.  That would give me a chance to get used to a shift before having to go on to the next one.

Gotta go for now.  Keep the email coming, and thanks for listening.

November 18, 1998

Today has been a little rough.  My father had a stroke and is currently in the hospital in stable condition.  I spent the night at the hospital with my sister and mother.  The doctors are saying that my fathers blood is to thick, even after blood thinning medication.  They  gave him some more medication to thin out his blood hoping that will do the trick.  Because of the recent event, I am taking tomorrow off to help mom and therefore an entry may or may not be made tomorrow.  Pray for dad and check back, there will be an entry on 11-20-98.

On a different note, I need a favor from my readers who are familiar with web site promotions.  The more readers to this site the happier I am.  If you find some time, please email me some ideas on how to further promote my web site.  Thanks...

November 20, 1998

It was a fascinating but troubling shift tonight.  It began with a stationary license check in one of our drug areas.  Kind of put a damper on drug sales for the night.  Kind of enjoyed that.

I did a little bush crawling tonight to watch some drug dealers and had a little luck, but was disturbed more than usual of events that transpired as a result of my surveillance.  I kept seeing this tan station wagon driving around but didn't give it much thought.  I thought to myself that the station wagon was probably dealing, but at the time I wasn't near my patrol car (I was in the bushes literally watching) and didn't think I would get a chance to stop the vehicle.  My attention was mainly on the drug corner and the dealers that were standing there.

As it turned out I eventually went back to my patrol car and as I began to drive away I saw the tan station wagon again.  It was stationary in the roadway and I also noticed that the driver was talking to a pedestrian.  When the driver of the tan station wagon saw me, the pedestrian got into the car and the station wagon began driving off.  I went ahead and stopped the station wagon and found the occupants to be a husband, wife, and three children (the oldest of which was 8).  I arrested the driver for driving while impaired and then began finding cocaine in the tan station wagon.  The parents had been driving around all night, picking up customers to sell crack to, and then dropping them back off.  I ended up arresting the mother (she also had cocaine on her to) and putting both parents in jail.  I can't imagine me even drinking in front of my children let alone driving drunk and selling crack in front of them.  With that kind of role model the kids don't have a chance in life.  I think they will grow up seeing their parents go to jail and think that kind of behavior displayed by thier parents is normal and acceptable.

People have changed since I was a kid.  It used to be the strongest drug in the schools was marijuana.  The dope heads were looked down upon by most then and parents still cared.  Today I see children out with the parents at 2:00 a.m. such as the case I had tonight.  It also used to be fights were done with fists preceded by four letter insulting words.  Today children are shooting each other, dealing crack, and beating up parents over nothing.   I wonder sometimes what the future holds for society, and how the face of Law Enforcement will be in, say, 20 years or so from now.   I see it getting worse in the future, much worse, before getting better.

Tonight I work Driving While Impaired task force.  I will be working with another agency doing stationary license checks.

My father went home from the hospital.  The prayers worked :) .  He still has a bit of recovering to do.  Thanks to all who offered support through email and prayers.  Tune back in tonight, and thanks for droppin by....

November 21, 1998

One of the first things I did today was assist the Fire Department on a house fire.  Mainly they call us to direct traffic around the fire scene and for crowd control as well.  Like most police officers I am curious and don't mind going.  It's sad to see a family loose thier home, but a house fully engulfed in flames draws not only spectators but a few police as well to witness the event.  Don't mis-interpet; we are not there to be a cheering section.  We do have a job but are drawn to events such as a house fire.  The down side to a call like that is the amount of time we spend at the scene.  Long after the fire is put out we are still there directing traffic around the fire scene.

I also participated in a Driving While Impaired task force.  We did  a stationary driving while impaired checkpoint targeting drunk drivers.  A few drunk drivers were arrested, but not as many as I thought we would find.  We had more officers than we needed at the checkpoint and I didn't get one.  Mabe next time.

I am coming to the end of this tact shift.  Only one more day of it left.   Then I go on vacation for a week.  During that time I will be making entries into my Diary, but the entries will primarily deal with different thoughts concerning law enforcement such as what I am thinking when I find myself outnumbered and in a bad situation.  (Pretty much training kicks in and I do what I have to in order to protect myself).  Then I go back onto primary shift were it is call to call time again.  I have enjoyed the this tact shift.  My squad has worked hard before the tact shift and we all kind of took a laid back approach to tact shift.

Until tomorrow.....

November 22, 1998

I learned a little bit more about the fire that happened yesterday (mentioned in the entry for 11-21-98).  Apparently the fire department located two dead bodies inside the house.  The cause of death is unknown at this point (or at least to the police department).  I was kind of surprised.  I waited around at the fire scene until the flames were put out before leaving the fire scene.  I am guessing, but I doubt if it would have been a homicide.  Never can tell though, an autopsy and further examination of the fire scene will answer those questions.  I will keep all my readers up to date if I hear anything else.

I also went watching the same drug location I watched  a couple days ago.  I noticed the drug business was alive and well there.  I wasn't able to make any arrests there.   Things have slowed a little there as far as the number of people coming to buy, and they have changed thier habits (the dealers) making it a little harder to catch them.  They are now going inside a store to actually do the transaction.  It makes it especially difficult to distinguish crack heads who just want to buy a rock or two and the honest customers.  I would love to send in an informant to make a buy and arrest the dealer that way, if only I had the time.

I am going to enjoy my family during the time I have off.  Officers need time away from the job and area.  Things I see and the routines of the job have a tendancy to create a little stress.  Getting away will help me regroup.

In my personal life I am preparing to sell our house.  My wife and I want to move into a bigger house (the one we are in now is 1350 square feet).  We have long since outgrown this house, and as hard as we both have worked we deserve a bigger house.

Bye for now.......

November 24, 1998

ASK A COP

"Do civilians play a part in assisting police in their work in the states? For example
we have two initiatives here that seem to work well. One is the Victim
Support Network which I mentioned previously: we attend everything from
homicides and Domestic Violence to Burglaries and Fatal Car accidents to
suicides, body identification and Court support and give advice and
support that the police don't have time to do. The service goes down
really well with victims who usually appreciate the assistance from a
sane minded person in their time of trauma....Is there anything like that in your
area? "

LAWMANS REPLY

We do have programs here similar to the ones described above.  They are separate organizations except our domesitic violence unit and not part of the police department.  Our Domestic violence unit follows up on all domestic violence call, usually the next day.  We offer the victims arrangements to stay in a battered womans shelter if the suspect doesn't go to jail.  Then the Domestic violence unit follows up assisting the victim in any other way possible.

The rest of the victim assistance type programs are civilian organizations.  One of the programs is the Rape response unit.  They respond to all rape calls.  They are a very important group I think.  They lessen the trauma to the victim through conseling immidiately after the crime.  They, like all the other victim assistance type groups, recieve training and are very good at what they do.

Another common group here is the Red Cross.  They respond to disaster calls, which here usually means fire calls where a family looses thier home to fire.  They are instrumental in getting the victims temporary shelter, clothes, and other items which are lost in fires.

Thanks to all who volunteer thier time to help a fellow human in need.  You are the heroes in life.

November 27, 1998

ASK A COP

As I understand it, there are different types of police agencies,
namely, Sheriff's department, State Troopers, State police departments, Federal
police, etc. What's the difference?

LAWMANS REPLY

The differences vary from state to state.  For example, state troopers in one state may answer calls while in another the troopers only work traffic.  Sheriff's departments handle calls in the county here, while state police or state bureau of investigation handle matters involving alledged police misconduct and major crimes that happen in smaller jurisdictions that are not equipped to handle a major crime.  The state police here also have a crime lab that analyzes evidence that require sophisticated technology.  The Federal police agencies handle crimes that cross state lines and bank robberies.  The US Marshalls run Federal Courts and also search for violent criminals that cross state lines primarily.

Another reader wrote to me asking, "How hard is it for you working on the holidays?"  I was lucky this Thanksgiving holiday and was off.  Holidays to me seem like another day except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  They are more important to my wife and for that reason I try to take some holidays off.  That doesn't always work out and is hard on my wife.  It bothers me when I have to work Christmas, such as I will this year (my schedule works out that way).  I asked for the week of Christmas off but was only able to get Christmas day off.  My wife and I have a 7 year old daughter.  It is especially hard for me to miss Christmas activities with her because of work.  My family has been supportive of me, both wife and daughter.   They seem to understand that it is the nature of Law Enforcement and that the career I have chosen makes me happy.

This job is not your normal 9 to 5 job.  Where most people look forward to a weekend, I don't.  Because of the rotating shifts that have required me to work weekends all these years, I look at my 'weekends' as days that come after the five days on duty, whether it fall on a Tuesday or a Saturday.  Shift work has had the same effect on how I percieve holidays over the years.  Where most look forward to the next holiday and have the day off, I don't.  Criminals never take a day off because of holidays, so Law Enforcement personnel have to work as well.

I am still stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner.  I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner first with my wife's family and then my parents.  They forgot to take the calories out of the food though, oh well....  :)

November 30, 1998

Tonight it was back to the grind.  The past few days have been a much needed break from the constant negative things I see at work.  Oddly enough I am glad the break is over and I was ready to get back to work.  The job kind of gets into your blood.  Even though we see people at thier worst usually, the job grows on you, always being curious about what's just around the next corner or what the next call has in store for you.

When I train new rookies I explain my thoughts about being an agressive officer and loving the job.  They seem to relate to the following analogy best:

    This job is much like fishing, you throw your line in and see what you catch.  Sometimes you get the big fish, more often you get the minnows.  When I look for trouble on the street, to me I am having fun fishing in a way.  Sometimes I get that big fish, drug dealers or worse, and sometimes I get the little fish, like driving without a license.

Not all officers subscibe to that theory, but most if not all rookies do.  The only difference is that I, after 11 years in the business, haven't been able to shake the rookie blood in me.  I love going out bush crawling hunting for drug dealers, or traveling the streets looking for drunk drivers as much today as I did 11 years ago.  I can't stand pulling door to door with another officer on a slow night and just sitting dormant.  Mabe someday my thinking will change, but not anytime soon.

I remember when I was in training.  My training coach told me 'wait a couple of years, you will slow down and become less interested' in agressive enforcement.  I kind of chuckle when I think back.  I haven't seen him in years, but he was definately wrong in that statement.

Anyway, the highlite of last night was a stolen vehicle.  Another officer found the vehicle and I happened to be closer than other officers were to him.  While in route both occupants of the vehicle ran.  We got the passenger in custody but the driver got away.  The passenger told me the nick name of the driver and from that I was able to get a first and last name.  We chased that fool all over the area on foot, but he managed to elude several police in the area.  Warrant for him will be drawn, so hopefully his freedom will be short lived.

 

Thanks for listening, until tonight....