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)