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.