Monday, April 01, 2013

A. Adam 12.

A

Adam 12 was a show I watched when I was younger.  (Yes, that dates me, hush...)  I grew up taught that police were "good guys".  We had a neighbor, I joke not, that was a policeman named John Law.  I loved reading books and watching shows about 'cops', serious, funny, bad cops, good cops, I devoured that genre.  Still do...

In high school, I had articles in the school paper, big surprise, that were based on information from a policeman.  Received a good grade for it, too.  Later, my parents went on a trip and let me stay by myself.  They also told a family friend, which seemed like a 6' 29" man.  He was a State Cop, and perhaps he could check on me?

I was happy for this...

I invited a friend over for dinner.  I was busy at the stove, and asked her to get the door for me.  He was standing in the doorway, and he glared at her, full uniform, with a very demanding "WHO ARE YOU?!?..."  My friend, with her usual response to the unusual, turned, called out to me, and said, "I don't know what you did, but you are in BIG trouble!"   I managed not to burn myself laughing, as I was needing to turn off the stove, and called for him to come in.

For about 5 minutes, tops, I even considered going into Law Enforcement.  I was in good shape, honest, law abiding...

Brave...  Well, no, not really.  And my temper.  Flash temper, probably not the best...  But I still liked the guys and gals I had met and talked to.

I later took a class through the County Sheriff's Office, called a Citizen's Academy.  I was hooked, I wanted to be a part, even if a tiny one.  I had been doing radio communications as a radio amateur, but I was hoping to actually be up close and personal.  I found out that they had volunteer positions for receptionists.  I jumped on it.

I have met several of the men and women of Law Enforcement in this area.  You know, truth can be much more interesting than fiction.  I have seen some of the 'guys' just as polite and gentlemanly as any Victorian gent.  One of the gal deputies is the fluffiest, pink wearingest girly girl I've seen in a while.  Conversely, I have heard jokes and stories that would make your hair curl.  And possibly straighten again...

I have seen some of the guys (most are guys, where I am stationed), go from working with someone reporting some benign thing, to some of the more evil aspects of humanities doings without an eye blink.  One deputy I have seen work with a woman that had been scammed, and gently explained that her psychic could probably could be interpreted in a different way.  A way that would mean she wouldn't have to send off the $$$ to 'win' something.  Never belittling  never poo pooing her, just a gentle nudge to get her to see that there could be a definite bad thing that she might be getting into.

Another deputy had to work with a woman well into Alzheimer's.  She was with her daughter, and between the two of them, were able to work out the crime that had been committed, who might have been the person(s) involved, and when he finished, received a big hug from the woman, as well as a quiet, smiling thanks from the daughter.

Notifications of a child's death, loose llamas, a man lost from his house, domestic violence, road stops, and just everyday mundane "stuff" they have to deal with.  I find them continually people that are good to know, and I hope my tiny input helps.

Even if one of the deputies has tried, more than once, to have me say "Hairy Arms Hotel" when I answer the phone...


(Adam 12)

18 comments:

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

What nice impressions and experiences you've had.
I watched Adam 12, too, and I loved Emergency... did
you catch that one?
This is timely. Lately I've been concerned that our own
area sheriffs are out of touch with children, and the children
with them... there doesn't seem to be the same culture fostered
about law enforcement being approachable-friendly members
of the community. It seems a shame.

Bevimus said...

Hey Cat!

Happy A day! Liked your post on the good that law enforcement does, though I didn't quite understand the Adam 12 tie-in?

Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for these brave men and women!

Love,
Bev
http://bev-thebevelededge.blogspot.com

Sally said...

I don't know the show, perhaps we didn't get in the UK. Great insight in to the working lives of people in authority.

messymimi said...

They are good people, aren't they?

One little six-year-old walked up to an officer at a mall and asked him if he was a policeman. He replied in the affirmative. Further questioning about whether he was really there to help people, and whether she could ask police for help also got affirmative answers. So, she stuck out her foot and said, "Help me tie my shoe!" He did, with a smile.

Unknown said...

I was in love with Kent McCord...also a dated Adam 12 groupie. I forgot all about that. Thanks for the blast from the past. Good luck with A to Z.

Cat said...

Oh, yes, that one may or may not cover "E"... I know our police, from the various agencies, try to have events with the children in the area, Shop with a Cop, Fish with a Cop (I've helped with both, you haven't lived until you've tried to bait a hook with a hyper 6 year old...) I think it just varies with the folks in charge.

Cat

Cat said...

My thought on the A to Z "theme" was rather general. A was Adam 12, a cop show. I wrote about cops. Therein is the tie. (I put the link on the bottom if someone was unfamiliar with the show.)

And thanks for the thoughts!

Cat

Cat said...

I put a link at the bottom with a general description, if you are at all interested, type in Adam 12 on YouTube, they have a few samples of the show.

Cat

Cat said...

Oh, I **LOVE** that story! And I know a lot of the guys I work with are very kid oriented, so they would be inclined to help with that, too! That tickles me!

Cat

Cat said...

Yes, there wasn't much not to like about either of them. A groupie? :) Thanks!

Cat

Andrea said...

I sometimes watched Adam 12, but really was just waiting around for Emergency to be on!

Kate OMara said...

One Adam Twelve... I can still hear the woman's voice over the radio. :) Excellent A!

Anonymous said...

Being an ex-FBI agent, I can appreciate posts like these:) Thank you for your insight! I love the title of your blog - I was raised on a ranch in NM and grew up around chickens and a menagerie of critters:)

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Cat said...

Heh. I like them both... KMG 365!

Cat

Cat said...

Yes, I was reading, she was an actual dispatch for the police... Thought that was cool.

Cat

Cat said...

(Double post)

Cat said...

I am happy you read it, then! :) You probably would feel right at home at our place, then, critters seem to be the majority of our 'stuff' here!

Cat