Oct 14, 2006

Past Injuries.... Part III

     I used to be on the bike squad.  It was a great assignment; you got to wear shorts, lots of fresh air, and my calves were rock hard.  You’d think that with all of the cardio, I would have lost lots of weight, but I actually ballooned like a pro baseball player’s bicep on steroids.  The problem is that one of our assignments involved checking in at the stop-and-robs (mini-marts) throughout the shift.  Man, did those BBQ burritos, chicken fingers, chili dogs and jo-jos taste good; not only that, you could buy three for a dollar. 

     Another responsibility involved patrolling an area along the railroad tracks where all of the bums, winos, and street people hung out.  I resist the PC title of “homeless” for these people, because that whole attitude suggests that society is somehow to blame for their lot in life, and that they are, in whole, unable to do anything to improve their lot in life.  The truth is that the vast majority of these people are alcoholics, some are drug users, and a few are mental health patients.  Our area, like many others throughout the US, offers several services for these people.  However, most of these services just make life on the street easier; they are not designed to actually encourage people to earn a better life.  Which is compassion; giving a wino free food so that he can spend all his welfare money on cheap booze, or actually holding him accountable for his choices, encouraging him to stop a self-destructive lifestyle and others to not join him? 

     Sorry… waxing political.  One time Officer Tom and I were biking up to a local drinking spot, and I peeked around a corner.  I saw a regular, Jose, receiving a, er… well, a “Lewinsky” from someone who I could not see.  I called Tom over (this kind of event needs witnesses in order to make a better story in the muster room) and said, “Some gal is (servicing) Jose!”  Tom looked and said back, “That’s no gal, that’s Alfred!”  I took another look and sure enough, it was another regular, Alfred. 

     We called them both out and asked what happened; Alfred said that he was doing what he had to do in order to get enough money for a 40 ounce bottle of beer.  Jose already had some beer, but had on him $1.67, which together with what money Alfred already had, would have bought him his own bottle.  So we charged them both with Prostitution and reached for the open bottle of beer that Jose had in order to pour it out (Drinking in Public is also a crime). Jose, who had no more money for beer, grabbed the bottle and started to run away.  I gave chase and took Jose down, while driving my bare knee into the ground.  The problem is, that winos are not the cleanest people in the world, and there areas are not downy soft, but rather filled with broken glass, feces and urine.  Several large, filthy pieces of glass were driven into my knee. 

     Once at the hospital ER, I was (ironically) next to an 8 year-old girl who had fallen from her bicycle.  She was dealing with her injury much better than I was mine.  The doctor came in and said that they just had to “clean” the wound.  This required picking out all of the glass, then removing all of the dirty, abraded flesh.  This was accomplished with a scrubber, a stainless steel toothbrush and a sadistic nurse.  After a fresh tetanus shot I was cleared to go home.  I could not bicycle for a while, or for that matter bend my knee until the skin grew back. 

     I sure hope that Jose and Alfred found a job, at least one that pays better that $1.67. 

                         Nice socks, right?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

he he. Funny story, he he, LMAO HELLOOOOOO LEGS!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA. Whoo, wow, thanks for the laugh!

Anonymous said...

This is all so sad...the homeless...I agree that they'e given up but since I have had the opportunity to speak to a few....I realize had my childhood been like theirs...I would be a basket case....I know many survive the horrendous but I would not.....Its so sad to hear what one would do just to get a beer....I imagine having to deal with the homeless regularly isnt easy....They're people without hope and I can only have compassion....For some...to give money only perpectuates their giving up...and for others...its stirs them off the streets..giving can do both...but since I dont have a crystal ball to know whom I should and shouldnt...I just give anyways....I appreciate your candor but I couldnt have arrested the homeless oral job for a beer...but then..maybe a sober trip to jail might have changed him...I dont know...I know you must abide by the law...I think if I was a cop I would break many rules...lol....

~Raven
http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeTheWorld/

Anonymous said...

Great entry as always.  Nice legs, too.

Anonymous said...

lol forget the socks...nice bike!!  It took this Scot a couple of secs to click onto the "Lewinsky" lol...but the penny finally dropped !!  love the way you can speak your mind up to a point ..our pcs would be out of a job or at least disciplined for the comment re the wino's etc ...even though it is right!!!  Great read as always.  Eve

Anonymous said...

Forget the socks........it's the abbreviated "Reno 911" shorts that have me going.......lol!   Great stories!

Anonymous said...

You look much better with the arm splint!  Stay off the bike and keep writing, I enjoy reading your stories.  Unfortunatly, I have developed a rather cynical view of law enforcement; too much "Law and Order" and having a son in jail has given me a run for my money, a run out of money.  Anyway, it's nice to read your blog, thanks for taking the time to share.  You ARE human and funny too.  Lose the socks and your probably perfect, lol.

Anonymous said...

Liked this story. This entry reminded me when I visited DC once, all the bums had the park benches so you could not sit down. The only place there was not bums was in front of the white house because of photographers. I asked a beat cop about the bums......I had bever seen anything like it. He told me that they even have a bus that comes around with medicine, food and blankets for the bums..I gues If I was a bum, I would want to live there..Bam

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Dave! No weight problem there. The shorts date you, no doubt, but I remember those years. In person, I have never seen a policeman on a bike. Were you single or married then? Bea

Anonymous said...

nice legs in the nice socks!
Becky

Anonymous said...

Dave, Great story, Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I have been reading down through your journal.  Hey, you are a very entertaining writer.  I like true crime stuff, so I would buy it, if your material was in book form.  I always thought I would have made a great detective even though my family does not agree.  It is my contention that nobody is suspicious enough, which is why crime so often goes undetected. How women can live with serial killers and be telling the truth when they say they thought he ws a great guy, I will never know.  I hope you keep on writing.  Gerry  I may be 75, but my goal is never to be the victim of a crime.  
http://journals.aol.com/gehi6/daughters-of-the-shadow-men/  

Anonymous said...

Nice legs Dave!!!! LOL.. Sounds like you have a few battle scars!!!! http://journals.aol.com/shayshaydc/Golfaholic
Sharon:)

Anonymous said...

Pardon me, for commenting twice, but I was so impressed with your journal I compared it to a published book I had just been reading, written by a police officer involved in the case of a serial killer, in my entry, "Journals and Published Books."  I have also posted some sketches today drawn by Doc of some of your favorite criminals (the homeless) you might enjoy.
  Gerry

Anonymous said...

I prefer the term "Hobo." It conjures up images of Ernest Borgnine characters peeing on the legs of their friends while stealing their wallets. We use the Rookies to roust our vagrants. They need the practice and we'd rather have the bums in their cars than ours.

Have you ever rented "Napolean Dynamite"? I think he had a bike like that one.

Anonymous said...

I live in the area of Atlanta where I see them everywhere.  There's even a Jpse who lives in my building which made me sorta smile.  Cute legs. lol
NELISHIA
http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/WISHINGANDHOPING/

Anonymous said...

So this guy really has an occupation OMG!!!!  That's awful (funny) that that shit actually happens.....bet that little girl had a cute story to tell on you!

Anonymous said...

OUCH on cleaning the wound. I know that hurts!!  Nice legs BTW!  
Pam

Anonymous said...

Good Lord those socks are something to be ashamed about. Actually, the system fails those indviduals in life soooo much earlier before they get into that situation! Our education system, parents they had, corporate America which gives huge salaries to the top while firing the low level guy who worked for 30 yrs & gets no retirement, veterans ETC!!! And this is the problem we do not deal with those problems earlier & then it leads to this & we try to just deal with the end result & wonder why it doesn't work. Just put a band-aid on the wound rather than prevent the wound in the first place. This is why I'm so big with my students on coping with the stressors in the first place rather than the migraine that results from it!

Anonymous said...

ok The uniform a little geeky lol...i agree with you on the homeless thing
Donna In TEXAS