Breath of Fresh Air

Life has its strange ways of showing you that it is never predictable.

The past can be seen in many ways, a documentary of what happened in your life, or it can be seen as a glimpse into what your future can hold. So you ask, how can my past show me what my future can hold? I'm a strong believer in "Everything happens for a reason" and "Good deeds are never forgotten".

I've spent my whole life living the concept of, help others who need it and are less fortunate. I've done this with no expectation to be reimbursed,  honored, or thanked. This brings me to my concept of how the past can show you what your future can hold.

I've helped people in the past, been there for them in times of need, lend a shoulder to cry on, and listened when someone needed to vent. I've had those people I've been there for, come back 10 plus years later and say thank you and honor me in their own ways.

I'm a giver and a helper, I do it to make others happy and feel better. This is why Law Enforcement chose me. My uniform is my cape and in the eyes of the people in need I can be their hero.

I have many stories to back this concept and feeling. They are personal and warms my heart. I won't post them or write about them. They are between me and my loved ones. These events give me hope and offer a breath of fresh air in my life and the lives of my loved ones.

Head on Swivel

So, last night two Vallejo Police Officers were enjoying some down time at Starbucks and a POS opened the main door, pointed a assault rifle with a drum style magazine at them and tried to fire. Weapon jammed! POS turns and runs! These men enjoying themselves didn't run away, they gave chase, catching up to POS, who again tried to manipulate his jammed rifle and fire on the officers. The officers neutralized the threat, finding another loaded handgun and that the POS was wearing body armor. They didn't back down, they didn't run and hide, they placed their lives in danger, twice within minutes, to make sure everyone else was safe!

It pisses me off that just because one wears a badge and a uniform , that makes them a target. These officers were having coffee on a rainy evening. Minding their own business. Now, Police Officers are in danger just drinking coffee! They now have to keep their head on a constant swivel, not matter where they are! I for one hope this POS rots, I don't wish he die, that would be too easy of a way out!

Everyone Has An Opinion

I have to overcome my bias once in awhile , yes hard to believe I am bias! When it comes to Law Enforcement, I'll side with them 110% before anything else.  It's the way I was raised, trained, and previous work experience that makes me bias.

Today I had a pretty heated debate, if that's what you wanna call it, with an employee. He made the statements that all law enforcement are bad and that the higher ups in the criminal justice system need to be held accountable for their subordinates actions. When I ask who he meant were "all bad"  he stated the uniformed police officer on the street, all they do is shoot people to solve issues. I explained that there are bad apples within law enforcement, but that doesn't make them all bad. He also stated that an officer should assume by putting on the uniform that they are making themselves a target and should expect to have guns pointed at them. I lost it, I jumped his statement and said that police put on a uniform, knowing that they could not go home that night because they deal with horrible incidents and the worst of people. That's why they get called. They chose to wear and perform a job that places their lives in danger, to protect others, like him. I asked him if he called 911 for something and needed a cop, would he want them to be there and help, or chose to sit back, think about how the call for service could impact his their lives and delay helping him? He said, of course, he'd want them to come right away.

I asked if he and I could do a mock traffic stop, kinda role play, he said sure. I informed him that I was stopping him at 3am, on a dark road, out on a country road. The reason for the stop was a broken tail light. I told him I identified myself as a police officer, my patrol car indicating law enforcement with all the flashing lights. I informed him of the mechanical issue upon reaching his window. His first statement to me was, "write me ticket so I can get it fixed, because the next thing you're gonna wanna do is search my car." I asked him if that's what'd he actually say to a police officer on a traffic stop. He told me that's what always happens. 

I explained to him that his demeanor and initial contact with me sets the mood on how I would react and proceed with the rest of the interaction. He stated to me, walking up to my window with your hand on your gun, sets the mood. I asked why he thinks I would have my hand on my gun? He tells me, "because I'm black and you're white and a cop." I played along with his version of this stop, OK, I have my hand resting on my gun upon initial contact, is it maybe because it's 3am, I just finished my last call where a guy threw his girlfriend from a moving car and his car matches, or is it because the last few traffic stops that were given in briefing were scenarios where cops were killed for doing their job?

He explains to me that comes across as a defensive approach and places him on edge. I explain, again to him, that stopping a car at 3am, in the dark, not knowing who or what the driver has in their mind, places me on edge and damn right I am going to be on the defensive. I point out to him, DEFENSIVE, he made the notation and observation that I am on the defensive. I have to be, who in their right mind wants to be pulled over and given a ticket or possibly go to jail?

I understand his point of view, especially with today's view about cops and race. Everyone wants to make it out to be that the cops are stopping blacks because of just that, they are black. When it isn't about that at all, as I pointed out in the beginning of this, his stop was for a mechanical issue with his car. Nothing on his car pointed to him being of any race or religion, but with today's media hype and extreme overboard on race and cops, that's what is the first thing that comes to ones mind. 

So when cops kill a black man because he was armed, high as a kite, or just attacked someone, everyone makes it out to be a hate crime, but when a cop is killed for enforcing and keeping the peace, the masses state, "That's their job". I DISAGREE

Hate crime
noun
noun: hate crime; plural noun: hate crimes
a crime motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, typically one involving violence.

Old Habits Never Die

So, my job is pretty easy, stressful at times, but overall...EASY! I work uniformed armed security for a company based out of San Diego. I work multiple different sites and environments, everything from retail, housing, and executive protection. I get paid decent and I really don't have an immediate supervisor.

The other day, I'm working the retail gig and in walks a lady asking for help. Apparently a dispute and argument between family members occurred in their vehicle and reportedly a 19yr old pushed a 9yr old a few times. I request another security company to respond, as the initial incident occurred on their property/jurisdiction. I take the initial lead as I was contacted first and start an investigation. Long story short, I end up questioning the 19yr old and while doing so, unknown to me, I'm visually searching him, his car, and immediate surroundings. I ask a lot of questions, designed to gather Intel. I wasn't aware I did any of this. I was told by another security officer who was backing me up that he was watching everything I was doing and taking mental notes.

I guess my past training and experience will never leave me, I still use all my skills I was given and honed, it is like second nature to me.

End of story is, no one was hurt, no one was assaulted as per first reported and no one went to jail.

Why Rush In?

So there was body camera footage of an OIS (Officer Involved Shooting) that occurred November 3, 2015, where a 6 year old child was killed. This occurred in Marksville La, where a vehicle pursuit ended and a Deputy is seen in the video exiting his patrol car and running up towards the driver's side of the suspect vehicle. The deputy then opens fire on the vehicle. It appears that the driver had at least his left hand out the driver's side window before shots are fired. It is not known why the Deputy opened fire. In the passenger side of the suspect vehicle is the driver's 6 year old son. The investigation reports that the child suffered 5 gun shots and was killed. The driver was also shot and survived. The two officers involved in the shooting were arrested and are pending trial on 2nd degree murder and attempted 2nd degree murder. A link to the body camera footage is posted below.

From my training and experience, officers are trained not to immediately approach a vehicle upon stopping vehicle that was involved in a pursuit. You just don't know what's going on! Is the vehicle going to start moving again, different direction, will the subject bail and run, are they armed, is there a hostage or innocent person inside? Time is always on the police side, why rush in? This is a horrific and senseless loss of life, 6 years old, never to see 7....

Who I am...

So, this is my first entry of this new blog. It's been a long time since I've written anything. So bare with me! Lets get started with this and answer the title of this entry, Who I Am....

My name is Nate, will be turning the BIG 40 in four months, not to sure how I feel about it. It's a mile stone for sure, for everyone who turns 40! I am a amateur photographer/photo journalist. I was turned onto this hobby by a very good friend of mine back when I was trying to find something to occupy free time and seeking an outlet to my stresses. I've grown to love this hobby and it's way of life. I've learned a lot about the in's and out's of the field and it has opened my eyes to society and the way people are. I base my photography around emergency services, heavier on the Law Enforcement side. Being former Law Enforcement helps a great deal. I know where, when, and most of the time how and what is going to happen next. I am very pro Law Enforcement, I will side on blue before any other, but I have learned to be objective and non-bias when taking photos and gathering info.

I've learned from my past career and choices I made, that one must be careful with what they say, do, and express. Be that in person or online. I've made mistakes. I've been reprimanded for those mistakes. I've learned and moved on from them. I consider myself seasoned and educated. Not "educated" in the schooling sense, but in the "life experience" sense.

This BLOG will be my personal thoughts, emotions, opinions, and statements. I will post and write about my experiences, adventures, and feelings on a wide variety of subjects. I will offend people, that's just the nature of expressing ones own opinions and thoughts. I will not apologize for that, as this will be how I feel. This will be the warning to all who read this, if you don't like what is written, expressed, viewed, or said....then don't read or follow this BLOG. I am not bound by any written or verbal agreement limiting me to what I can and cannot say. I believe 100% in the First Amendment, along with a bunch more....Second, Fourth, Fifth....

I hope to write and post weekly, maybe a couple times a week, depending on my moods and happenings. I invite anyone who reads this to email or post questions, statements, or comments. But, upon stating this, I am granted the right to censor and edit said statements and/or comments. IT'S MY BLOG.

I hope this will be entertaining for those who read it and for me writing it! If there is something you would like to know or ask....ASK!