Every once-in-awhile I am struck by the gravity of Blue's line of work. I stumble through my thoughts wondering how on earth I have found the inner strength or peace of mind to deal with this change, with this life, on a daily basis.
I was driving to work (yes, I got a part-time job) yesterday while Blue was at home sleeping and it hit me. My husband is no longer my own. My children's father is no longer their own. We share him. His heart is fully mine yet, given the opportunity, he will put himself into harms way over and over again to help those in need. I would hope that most people would be the same whether they wear a uniform or not. There are amazing stories of civilians stepping-up and coming to the aid of the deserving and undeserving alike. You never know when you will be called upon to intervene. The difference, and the reality that often gets to me, is that, for Blue, this is every day. Every. Day.
The occupational hazards of Blue's job are being spat on, kicked, punched, stabbed, shot at....
This is our life now. We kiss him and say our "I love yous" as he's leaving for work and I pray that he has a good shift but when he gets in to work and puts on that uniform you never know what will happen. He has a duty to serve and protect and he will see that through even if it means he could be hurt.
I suppose I'm wading through all of this right now because he was at a call the other day where shots had been fired. I didn't think much about it at the time...until I was driving to work. It hit me all-of-a-sudden that this is our reality now.
Crazy.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Fraud
Posted by: Blue
Two days ago, I was temporarily assigned (TA'd) to the downtown division for the night. I took a false alarm commercial hold-up alarm and then we were assigned to a disturbance at a nearby restaurant.
We arrived on scene to find a beligerent male who had tried to pay for his meal with a credit card. The transaction was declined and the male became agitated when the manager asked him if he remembered his PIN.
Long story short, this guy had stolen a credit card from his newly deceased roommate and decided to go out for a night on the town.
Identity theft and idetity fraud are a little tricky to write-up, but my task was made even more difficult as the accused kept pestering us to use the bathroom every few minutes.
After the third time in the bathroom in less than 20 minutes, he had the audacity to ask me what was taking so long and why he wasn't on his way to Provincial Remand yet. I told him that if he could hold his bowels for more than 4 minutes at a time, I might be able to finish briefing my Sgt. and get on with my reports.
The accused looked me square in the eye and said "It's that damn 'Paki' food. It gave me diarrhea. I'm never going back there."
I told him that he was most assuredly less than welcome anyway, as he had stolen his meal that night and then made an ass of himself first with the staff and then with my partner and I. I then proceeded to explain to him that the family restaurant which he had ingratiatingly attempted to defraud with a credit card belonging to the estate of a recently deceased friend and cancer patient was in fact East Indian in race, and it would behove a gentleman in his position to keep a civil tongue in his head as I was getting tired of potty-training at the moment.
He told me that he was glad I was doing my job so well and that it was just what God wanted me to do. He said that he had it all planned out, because he had been evicted of late by the "landlady from hell" and he was looking forward to staying in the "Remand Hotel".
I told him that I was glad that he was excited to go to jail, but that it was the taxpayers of the Province sending him there due to his crimes, not God.
Some people just don't get it.
Two days ago, I was temporarily assigned (TA'd) to the downtown division for the night. I took a false alarm commercial hold-up alarm and then we were assigned to a disturbance at a nearby restaurant.
We arrived on scene to find a beligerent male who had tried to pay for his meal with a credit card. The transaction was declined and the male became agitated when the manager asked him if he remembered his PIN.
Long story short, this guy had stolen a credit card from his newly deceased roommate and decided to go out for a night on the town.
Identity theft and idetity fraud are a little tricky to write-up, but my task was made even more difficult as the accused kept pestering us to use the bathroom every few minutes.
After the third time in the bathroom in less than 20 minutes, he had the audacity to ask me what was taking so long and why he wasn't on his way to Provincial Remand yet. I told him that if he could hold his bowels for more than 4 minutes at a time, I might be able to finish briefing my Sgt. and get on with my reports.
The accused looked me square in the eye and said "It's that damn 'Paki' food. It gave me diarrhea. I'm never going back there."
I told him that he was most assuredly less than welcome anyway, as he had stolen his meal that night and then made an ass of himself first with the staff and then with my partner and I. I then proceeded to explain to him that the family restaurant which he had ingratiatingly attempted to defraud with a credit card belonging to the estate of a recently deceased friend and cancer patient was in fact East Indian in race, and it would behove a gentleman in his position to keep a civil tongue in his head as I was getting tired of potty-training at the moment.
He told me that he was glad I was doing my job so well and that it was just what God wanted me to do. He said that he had it all planned out, because he had been evicted of late by the "landlady from hell" and he was looking forward to staying in the "Remand Hotel".
I told him that I was glad that he was excited to go to jail, but that it was the taxpayers of the Province sending him there due to his crimes, not God.
Some people just don't get it.
Monday, November 14, 2011
When He's Gone
Day shifts are nice because Blue is home in the evenings.
Night shifts are also nice because Blue is home (and awake) for part of the evenings.
Evening shifts are hard because Blue is only awake in the early afternoon...which can end-up being awkward. Don't get me wrong, when I'm also home at the same time it's nice to sit and have a cup of coffee with him or make him a big breakfast. I just find that when he's gone for the evening I have a hard time caring about things. Dinner? Meh. Bathtime? Meh. Storytime? Meh. Staying awake past 9? Meh.
Tonight it was thrown-together baked spaghetti and X-men cartoons. The kids loved it. I felt like a horrible parent.
I think that I need to try a bit harder to stick to a routine when Blue is on evening shift or else we are going to end-up eating cereal in front of the t.v. for a week straight.
Night shifts are also nice because Blue is home (and awake) for part of the evenings.
Evening shifts are hard because Blue is only awake in the early afternoon...which can end-up being awkward. Don't get me wrong, when I'm also home at the same time it's nice to sit and have a cup of coffee with him or make him a big breakfast. I just find that when he's gone for the evening I have a hard time caring about things. Dinner? Meh. Bathtime? Meh. Storytime? Meh. Staying awake past 9? Meh.
Tonight it was thrown-together baked spaghetti and X-men cartoons. The kids loved it. I felt like a horrible parent.
I think that I need to try a bit harder to stick to a routine when Blue is on evening shift or else we are going to end-up eating cereal in front of the t.v. for a week straight.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Lest We Forget
Posted by: Blue
For my American readers who may not know, today is Rememberance Day in Canada. On 11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m., the guns of WWI were finally silenced after a peace treaty was signed by the countries involved.
Today, we remember our veterans and those who fought and died for our freedom. In honour of the countless men and women who we owe everything to: a poem.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Written by Lt. Col. John McRae; a Canadian soldier on the front lines in Ypres, Belgium on May 3, 1915 during WWI.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 KJV
There is nothing more to say but "Thank God for our veterans".
For my American readers who may not know, today is Rememberance Day in Canada. On 11/11/1918 at 11:00 a.m., the guns of WWI were finally silenced after a peace treaty was signed by the countries involved.
Today, we remember our veterans and those who fought and died for our freedom. In honour of the countless men and women who we owe everything to: a poem.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks still bravely singing fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead: Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved: and now we lie
In Flanders fields!
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields
Written by Lt. Col. John McRae; a Canadian soldier on the front lines in Ypres, Belgium on May 3, 1915 during WWI.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 KJV
There is nothing more to say but "Thank God for our veterans".
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Day Shift: Tour # 5
Posted by: Blue
My partner was back today. I started by jumping. By noon there was no sight of lunch, so I quickly stopped at a coffee shop to meet my wife, brother and kids for a java.
The two female Filipino servers argued over which one would serve me at their register. I had walked up to the one closest to me at the counter when I heard the further one yell over "Hey, send him here! You always get the officers!"
The first girl laughed and sent me over. I smiled at the second one. It was nice to be somewhere that people wanted to see you.
Half an hour later, I was in a heated argument with a cab driver, trying to explain in an escalating volume and tone that he did in fact have the responsibility to meet with police as requested when people had been complaining about his dangerous driving, all the while competing with his interjections and disregard for what I had been calmly trying to tell him in the first place.
By the end of the cab driver story, I had met a very pleasant elderly couple, called the cab company to submit a complaint for them, and had a dripping wet, Police cell phone with a broken screen returned to the police station by the above mentioned cabbie (long story).
Best part of my day was seeing my family for 5 minutes. Everything else today just seemed to be stupid and frustrating. I came home today very happy though. The 5 minutes trumped the other 9 hours and 55 minutes.
Now it's time for days off.
My partner was back today. I started by jumping. By noon there was no sight of lunch, so I quickly stopped at a coffee shop to meet my wife, brother and kids for a java.
The two female Filipino servers argued over which one would serve me at their register. I had walked up to the one closest to me at the counter when I heard the further one yell over "Hey, send him here! You always get the officers!"
The first girl laughed and sent me over. I smiled at the second one. It was nice to be somewhere that people wanted to see you.
Half an hour later, I was in a heated argument with a cab driver, trying to explain in an escalating volume and tone that he did in fact have the responsibility to meet with police as requested when people had been complaining about his dangerous driving, all the while competing with his interjections and disregard for what I had been calmly trying to tell him in the first place.
By the end of the cab driver story, I had met a very pleasant elderly couple, called the cab company to submit a complaint for them, and had a dripping wet, Police cell phone with a broken screen returned to the police station by the above mentioned cabbie (long story).
Best part of my day was seeing my family for 5 minutes. Everything else today just seemed to be stupid and frustrating. I came home today very happy though. The 5 minutes trumped the other 9 hours and 55 minutes.
Now it's time for days off.
Day Shift: Tour # 4
Posted by: Blue
Yesterday, my partner took the day off to go to his son's hockey game. That meant our shift was short.
I drove down to the district South of us to pick-up a temporary partner. He offered to jump first. We got stuck taking care of the property from a string of vehicle break-ins.
We logged property all day long.
We caught the guy, so at least it was worth it.
Yesterday, my partner took the day off to go to his son's hockey game. That meant our shift was short.
I drove down to the district South of us to pick-up a temporary partner. He offered to jump first. We got stuck taking care of the property from a string of vehicle break-ins.
We logged property all day long.
We caught the guy, so at least it was worth it.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Day Shift: Tour # 3
This morning, my partner and I attended a Suspicious Circumstance call. Initial information was that there was an unknown male in front of the complainant's house "possibly stealing internet".
When we got there, the male was sleeping in the front seat of his black VW Jetta, no laptop in sight. I knocked on the window and prepared for the worst, trying to peer through the dark tinted windows. Even as the first call of the day, my partner would be typing an impaired driver until the end of the shift. They take forever to process.
The male woke up, and was startled and sleepy, but sober as a judge.
It would seem that the nighshift had already had a run-in with him, and towed his car for having invalid insurance.
It would also seem that they had it towed to a different address... but how did it get here now... with him inside of it...? Such a strange thing. It was almost as though he had another tow truck tow it two blocks over, away from his home... Unless... He wouldn't have driven it would he?! That would be illegal! Again! After the other crew gave him a break instead of impounding it; allowing him to tow it home! That scallywag! Knave! Rapscallion!
We tagged him again. And seized his plates. We would have impounded it, except that upon further investigation, we realized that the insurance on his actual car was fine. He just had the wrong plates on the vehicle; a ticketable offence, but not towable.
Our entire shift went to a course last week on vehicle inspections. We have the power to pull any vehicle to the side of the road and inspect it for safety purposes. It is generally possible to tow approximately 65% of the vehicles on our roadways for failing to meet the safety requirements necessary (according to our Vehicle Inspection Unit's statistics). Since the course, I have been itching for a chance to find some vehicles to practice on. I suggested to my partner that we try with a grin. He rolled his eyes and told me it was still early and dark and cold.
Maybe tomorrow, when I am in the jumper seat.
When we got there, the male was sleeping in the front seat of his black VW Jetta, no laptop in sight. I knocked on the window and prepared for the worst, trying to peer through the dark tinted windows. Even as the first call of the day, my partner would be typing an impaired driver until the end of the shift. They take forever to process.
The male woke up, and was startled and sleepy, but sober as a judge.
It would seem that the nighshift had already had a run-in with him, and towed his car for having invalid insurance.
It would also seem that they had it towed to a different address... but how did it get here now... with him inside of it...? Such a strange thing. It was almost as though he had another tow truck tow it two blocks over, away from his home... Unless... He wouldn't have driven it would he?! That would be illegal! Again! After the other crew gave him a break instead of impounding it; allowing him to tow it home! That scallywag! Knave! Rapscallion!
We tagged him again. And seized his plates. We would have impounded it, except that upon further investigation, we realized that the insurance on his actual car was fine. He just had the wrong plates on the vehicle; a ticketable offence, but not towable.
Our entire shift went to a course last week on vehicle inspections. We have the power to pull any vehicle to the side of the road and inspect it for safety purposes. It is generally possible to tow approximately 65% of the vehicles on our roadways for failing to meet the safety requirements necessary (according to our Vehicle Inspection Unit's statistics). Since the course, I have been itching for a chance to find some vehicles to practice on. I suggested to my partner that we try with a grin. He rolled his eyes and told me it was still early and dark and cold.
Maybe tomorrow, when I am in the jumper seat.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Day Shift: Tour # 2
Posted by: Blue
Today was traffic court. For my partner. He told me to find something better to do with my time than sit around waiting for him.
I took the car a few blocks over and met for breakfast with another half of a cruiser car, a school resource officer, and a guy out of a specialty unit in one of the districts to the South of us.
I like breakfast. It's my favourite meal to eat at a restaurant. But our household is on a tight budget with the new career and the new cut in pay that comes with it. I just had a water.
Now, just so you know I didn't do nothing all day, the rest of my day was filled with:
Tomorrow we will see how the weekend is going to start.
Today was traffic court. For my partner. He told me to find something better to do with my time than sit around waiting for him.
I took the car a few blocks over and met for breakfast with another half of a cruiser car, a school resource officer, and a guy out of a specialty unit in one of the districts to the South of us.
I like breakfast. It's my favourite meal to eat at a restaurant. But our household is on a tight budget with the new career and the new cut in pay that comes with it. I just had a water.
Now, just so you know I didn't do nothing all day, the rest of my day was filled with:
- Info on a Warrant: Probation Officer called it in. While enroute, the suspect left the dispatch location. Another unit picked him up. We showed up, with another unit and the supervisor. The unit who had found him had court in twenty minutes. I played "paper/rock/scissors" with the third unit to see who would process him on the warrant. They lost.
- Suicide Threat: Other end of the city. Mom called concerned about her daughter. Daughter was fine, just mad at mom because mom was threatening to stop paying her bills. We told her not to text her mom things like "maybe I'll just kill myself" just to get her mad. Then we called Child and Family Services from the car to notify them that this mother might just need a little bit of care as she seemed to be overwhelmed with her children as a single parent. When we returned to give her some resources and phone numbers, she slammed the door in our faces, telling us "not to bother her with that stuff".
- Wellbeing Check: Assigned as we were cruising by right after clearing the Suicide Threat. Suddenly cleared before arrival by dispatch, sent back across the city for a high priority Domestic Dispute. Cleared again by dispatch five minutes later and half-way there, put back on our Wellbeing Check. Arrived shortly thereafter, female complainant gone. Security guard on scene advised she had been "tripping out", running around naked. They kicked her out. She left on the bus. We checked all of her known hang-outs, no luck.
- Traffic Stop: On the way back to the station to type all of our paper. The driver passed a bus in the oncoming lane while it was picking up passengers, narrowly missing an SUV directly in front of our cruiser. I was going to tag her fiercely, but my partner convinced me to give her a warning because of her sterling driving record. I conceded, and just wagged my finger for a while before telling her to thank my partner for the break. She did. Sincerely.
- Report Writing: By the end of the day we both had a few reports to write, including a couple from yesterday. I finished 12 minutes after quitting time.
Tomorrow we will see how the weekend is going to start.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Day Shift: Tour # 1
Posted by: Blue
Today was a good day.
I checked my online pay stub. There's an extra $300.00 worth of overtime coming my way this pay period.
Our uniform supplies such as pants, shirts, and shoes operate on a points system. While in recruit class, there were points sitting on my account that I couldn't redeem until graduation. Now that I've been out for a few weeks, I decided to go shopping. There are currently twice as many points on my Stores Account as there were during academy. I took a chunk out of them today and picked-up:
- Four monogrammed mock-neck t-shirts for wearing under the duty shirt. These mean not wearing ties, even with our jackets on.
- A new pair of slash gloves for back-up.
- A plainclothes holster (more easily concealed while working in "civvies").
- A plainclothes badge (worn beside the gun while in plainclothes so that people in the grocery store don't hit the dirt when you're buying milk).
- A duty sweater for cold mornings.
The sweater is my favourite apprehension. It looks kinda like this:
(Image courtesy of: http://www.chiefsupply.com/4458-Liberty-Uniform-V-neck-Police-Sweater-Navy.aspx)
But without the ribbing, and with shoulder flashes.
I also checked my time bank, and found that I had an extra 10 hours credited to my overtime bank somehow during my transfers in and out of academy. I'm assured it's not a mistake. Pretty sweet to have an extra day off.
To top-off my day, I got home to my wife cooking chili. One of my favourites. I had 3 helpings.
Today was a good day.
I checked my online pay stub. There's an extra $300.00 worth of overtime coming my way this pay period.
Our uniform supplies such as pants, shirts, and shoes operate on a points system. While in recruit class, there were points sitting on my account that I couldn't redeem until graduation. Now that I've been out for a few weeks, I decided to go shopping. There are currently twice as many points on my Stores Account as there were during academy. I took a chunk out of them today and picked-up:
- Four monogrammed mock-neck t-shirts for wearing under the duty shirt. These mean not wearing ties, even with our jackets on.
- A new pair of slash gloves for back-up.
- A plainclothes holster (more easily concealed while working in "civvies").
- A plainclothes badge (worn beside the gun while in plainclothes so that people in the grocery store don't hit the dirt when you're buying milk).
- A duty sweater for cold mornings.
The sweater is my favourite apprehension. It looks kinda like this:
But without the ribbing, and with shoulder flashes.
I also checked my time bank, and found that I had an extra 10 hours credited to my overtime bank somehow during my transfers in and out of academy. I'm assured it's not a mistake. Pretty sweet to have an extra day off.
To top-off my day, I got home to my wife cooking chili. One of my favourites. I had 3 helpings.
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