| "Get a Key holder, and arrange a meet", the Chief said to Nikie. "Affirmative", she answered. But she knew that Linda was already talking to the key holder and arranging a meet. Once the meet had taken place, and everyone seemed to be in their correct position, Nikie's radio became deathly silent. What little communication there was between the officers, was done on the MEPS frequency. The two women could only listen, prepare for what was to come, and pray! Slowly the minutes ticked by. The two women knew all the police codes, so they knew what was going on. When three officers entered the building from the front, Nikie could hear her heart beating loudly in her own ears. She saw Linda clench her hands into fists. Time was moving so slowly that it seemed to not be moving at all. Then ..... it was over! Four subjects had surrendered quickly, when they thought they might be shot. Two paramedics rushed to Steve's side. But there was nothing they could do for him. Nikie heard it, recorded it in the log book, and kept on working. The radios were busy now. Mark had been pinned down by gunfire, half way between the building and where the other officers were stationed. He had been wounded, but had told no one. His partner was his only concern. Only after the paramedics had reached Steve, did Mark say he had been shot. His wound was serious, but he would recover from it. For the next two hours the radios were busy, the phones were busy, and the office started to fill up. The department chaplain was the first to arrive. Then three part time officers. Linda had called them, when she knew the status on Steve and Mark. When the Chief radioed Nikie and told her to call the notification team, she told him they would be en route. Then she nodded to the officers standing on the other side of her desk. They put down their coffee cups, and headed out the door. Nikie did not envy them their job. Mark's wife was expecting their first child soon. Steve had a wife and two small children. Word travels fast between department personal. Soon the office was filled with personal from all three departments. Yet it was remarkably quiet. The police, fire, and ambulance departments always worked together. When something happened to one, no matter what department they worked in, ALL of them were affected. Finally two dispatchers came in. They came up to Nikie and Linda. Joan said to Nikie, "We can take over for a while. You girls should get something to eat and some rest." Nikie said, "Yes, thanks." Linda just nodded, but Nikie could see the relief in her eyes. Nikie quickly filled in the two dispatchers. Then Nikie and Linda headed for the break room. There was no one in the break room when they got there. They walked in, and Linda shut the door behind them. When on duty, all personal from these departments worked as if they were just little extensions of one large unit. Each doing what must be done, when it must be done, for the good of the entire unit. But when they went off duty, they were individuals again. Each person could then handle stress in their own way. Linda sat in a chair and started to cry. Nikie poured herself a cup of coffee, but then was unable to pick it up to drink it. Her hands had started to shake, and she knew she would spill it. Out loud Nikie said, "This was a bad winter storm. I hope I never see another one like it!" That was several years ago. As the weatherman on tv said, "one to three inches of snow tonight", Nikie turned the tv off. There had not been a winter storm as bad as the one she had just remembered. But Nikie knew it was a winter storm she would never forget. |
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| music: Sad |
