Post by TEJ1956 on Nov 14, 2003 14:33:58 GMT -5
Hello to all,
Just a bit of advice to anyone who reads this web site, I have been registered here for almost 2 years, I have been a patrol officer on my own for almost 12 months now. I can tell you the job is rewarding to the 10th degree. Yesterday, responding to a call of a missing child was stressful but the look on the mothers face when we found her 8 year old son was worth all the hassles you get. But to get to the point, I responded to a back up call on Monday, by a rookie on my shift ( I say that tongue in cheek only being on the road for a short time myself but he is only out of FTO about 2 months.). Well at the scene he has a DUI offender that he is going to arrest. Well to make a long story short, the gentleman was a self mutilator and had hidden broken beer bottle glass in his hands. Instead of turning around he started to cut both arms with the glass. My partner and I jumped forward, my thinking was to stop him from hurting himself, and well the fight was on. However, two on one isn’t fair, but who cares right? We got control of him, planted him on the hood of his car and started to cuff him. Well the rookie, drops his cuffs, I grab mine, and not to nicely cuff his right arm, but he won’t give me his left arm, well a few pain compliance techniques later, he gives me his arm and is cuffed. Well of course we relaxed just a bit, somehow I think on the hood, the guy got his nose smashed and blood was pouring out of it. Well, we called for an ambulance to check him and just kept him on the hood. Well, and this is my advice to you, get your shots, all of them, Hep B etc. This fine outstanding citizen, levers his body off the hood, and spits directly into my face. The rookie stopped my head long rush to retaliate and then I regained myself and calmly put him back on the hood. Well that was the longest ambulance response ever I think. He continued to yell and kick in an attempt to get me to retaliate. We finally got him checked, the ambulance crew cleaned my face (I wear glasses thank God) and we transported him. Later in court, (under the 10 day rule he has to go to trial quickly) he wanted to apologize and shake hands. I told him I would but that wouldn’t change the charges of assault and resisting. He had no ID so we didn’t know he was recently released from a mental institution and had a history of DUI, criminal impersonation, and resisting. In hind sight, it was dark, at night, we should have had the scene lighted were we were going to arrest him, we had two patrol cars there, and we maybe should have backed away and sprayed him. I guess getting all the blood tests and worrying about AIDS and Hep B and C will pass. I am still waiting for his blood tests. He will be in jail for 273 days but out in 180 if he works. Finally I know this is long, but I think knowledge is power and if this letter helps one future officer it was worth it. Remember get your shots and Officer Safety is paramount.
Officer Johnson Clarksville, TN PD 263C
Just a bit of advice to anyone who reads this web site, I have been registered here for almost 2 years, I have been a patrol officer on my own for almost 12 months now. I can tell you the job is rewarding to the 10th degree. Yesterday, responding to a call of a missing child was stressful but the look on the mothers face when we found her 8 year old son was worth all the hassles you get. But to get to the point, I responded to a back up call on Monday, by a rookie on my shift ( I say that tongue in cheek only being on the road for a short time myself but he is only out of FTO about 2 months.). Well at the scene he has a DUI offender that he is going to arrest. Well to make a long story short, the gentleman was a self mutilator and had hidden broken beer bottle glass in his hands. Instead of turning around he started to cut both arms with the glass. My partner and I jumped forward, my thinking was to stop him from hurting himself, and well the fight was on. However, two on one isn’t fair, but who cares right? We got control of him, planted him on the hood of his car and started to cuff him. Well the rookie, drops his cuffs, I grab mine, and not to nicely cuff his right arm, but he won’t give me his left arm, well a few pain compliance techniques later, he gives me his arm and is cuffed. Well of course we relaxed just a bit, somehow I think on the hood, the guy got his nose smashed and blood was pouring out of it. Well, we called for an ambulance to check him and just kept him on the hood. Well, and this is my advice to you, get your shots, all of them, Hep B etc. This fine outstanding citizen, levers his body off the hood, and spits directly into my face. The rookie stopped my head long rush to retaliate and then I regained myself and calmly put him back on the hood. Well that was the longest ambulance response ever I think. He continued to yell and kick in an attempt to get me to retaliate. We finally got him checked, the ambulance crew cleaned my face (I wear glasses thank God) and we transported him. Later in court, (under the 10 day rule he has to go to trial quickly) he wanted to apologize and shake hands. I told him I would but that wouldn’t change the charges of assault and resisting. He had no ID so we didn’t know he was recently released from a mental institution and had a history of DUI, criminal impersonation, and resisting. In hind sight, it was dark, at night, we should have had the scene lighted were we were going to arrest him, we had two patrol cars there, and we maybe should have backed away and sprayed him. I guess getting all the blood tests and worrying about AIDS and Hep B and C will pass. I am still waiting for his blood tests. He will be in jail for 273 days but out in 180 if he works. Finally I know this is long, but I think knowledge is power and if this letter helps one future officer it was worth it. Remember get your shots and Officer Safety is paramount.
Officer Johnson Clarksville, TN PD 263C