Cops

We have a drunk in our workplace and today, that drunk was causing a problem. The kid's a drunk. Not an alcoholic, a drunk. (Alcoholics have to attend those damn meetings!)

Just after I broke for lunch, our drunk came in babbling something over and over again. I don't recall what it was that he was babbling. I tuned it out as I had done so many times before. Habit, you know. People came, people went. My lunch disappeared while I was reading an article about Dallas' bicycle coordinator. At some point, I became aware that there was a discussion brewing between our drunk and another kid about the Allen Police Department.

Part of the discussion revolved around how unfair these kids felt that our Police Department was to other people of their age group and how they felt about being "picked on". Our drunk then decided to announce to the room that "all cops should be shot".

And he kept repeating his announcement.

Not once, not twice, but three times he was asked not to repeat his announcement by another of my co-workers and that co-worker was roundly ignored. That co-worker finally had enough, told the drunk off, dropped the F-bomb and stormed out.

After that worker left, it was revealed that that worker's father is a policeman. Not only were the drunk's comments rudely disrespectful in general, but apparently he was aware of the other employee's father's occupation. He had made his comment personal. He was strictly out of line and deserved to be sacked right then and there.

When I came home from work and cruised the news on the internet, the comments from earlier in the day became even more inappropriate. Apparently four policemen were killed in an ambush in a Parkland, Washington coffee shop at some point in the day.

I've known more than a few cops in my time. "Ray", who lived four doors down from us in suburban Cleveland was a young cop with a small neighborhood following. He and his partner were on patrol one night in the rough part of Cleveland when a bullet came crashing through the windshield, killing Ray's partner. I'm not sure whether or not he returned to work, being too young to fully understand what might have gone through Ray's mind at the time. Hadn't thought of Ray for over 40 years... closer to 45, I guess. There were more than a few policemen who went to Ohio University-Chillicothe's law enforcement technology program, and more than a few with whom I had as friends. I remember being pulled over into parking lots at least a couple of times by these cops... just taking a moment or two out of their days on patrol to politeley harass me and exchange a joke or two. There was "Marvin", who more often than not would wave back at me when I waved back at him while he was on a traffic stop. "Doug", who followed in his father's footsteps as a respected member of the local city police. And there was "Mike", a Sheriff's deputy who became crippled by an accidental fall in his own home. Mike at last check is still a deputy, as a dispatcher.

One of the radio stations I worked for had a side door facing the Pike County Sheriff's department. There was a period of time when I had to "bend" the speed limit along a section of the Appalachian Highway in order to make it to work in Waverly, Ohio after a day's worth of classes in Athens. One evening, one of the deputies from the Pike County Sheriff's office came over, smiled at me and said "We clocked you at 85 on your way in this afternoon. Better watch yourself, the State Patrol plans to be in the area next week..." Both of us had a good laugh, I got the message and slowed down, and one policeman proved that gentle persuasion can usually beat strong-arm tactics.

I have every respect for those who keep the rule of law. They're just like us in many ways, but vulnerable in ways that most of us don't realize... and when one is hurt or killed, we are all hurt in one way or another.

An inconsiderant drunk mouthed off this afternoon. His remarks were unkind at the least, hateful at worst. To a degree I am a bit ashamed for not paying attention to what was going on around me and addressing that worm in a way that he needed to be addressed. He was later called on the carpet in the store manager's office... hopefully given what-for. If that young man is still working next weekend, he has been shown much more mercy than he deserves.

Be Seeing You!