Welcom Back!

Just found out a blogger hath returned!

Kilo India Tango (a.k.a Kit) has returned to the fold. And she's 5.0, too!

Welcome back and be safe, Kit.

Like a Boss!

Visited a good friend before shift yesterday. You'd have thought I was a long lost relative the way he greeted me. Before I could blink, he had me wrapped in a bear hug.

Humbling to say the least.

I think I have more reason to be proud of him than vice versa (US Navy Vet, Cancer Survivor, Father of 2, Husband, Successful Business Owner).

We met back in 2009 when I went through the SEAL PT Bootcamp in Memorial Park. He was that instructor that everyone enjoyed to hate. He kept us moving hard, but always mentally engaged. When he found out my desire to become a police officer, he did what he could to help me improve physically. And when he caught me slacking...I felt like I did when my dad read a bad report card. He never yelled or screamed like some PT instructors would. He just had a way of making me feel lower than pond scum. It worked. I busted ass harder when he was around. Still do.

Anyway, back to this bear hug thing....

We keep up through texts and facebook almost daily. He's been busy with a new business venture, and I've been busting ass at the new department. I promised I would drop by and show off the uniform and badge for him and his wife.

It was like my dad on my wedding day...coach after a homerun...my parents meeting their grandchild for the first time. You could see the pride on his face; feel it in his handshake. Even after he suggested at one point I move on to something else (after the eleventy-umpteenth decline letter), he knew I wasn't going to quit.

This was a shining moment for both of us. The culmination of almost three years hard work and labor.

I am proud to call him my friend. He is a friend in the truest sense of the word. I don't want to disappoint.

Thank you "DT" for all your help. And especially your friendship.

A Peace Officer's Bucket List

We've all heard the term 'bucket list.' Everyone knows what it is for. Well, I understand that Peace Officers have one, too.

Ours is somewhat different. We have the list of things we'd like to see in our careers (i.e. find the lost little child, stop a violent crime in progress, etc.), and we have a list of things we don't want to see, but have to anyway as part of the job (murder, suicide, fatality wrecks). Then there's the unquantifiable stuff that we check off as we come across it. You know, practical jokes by colleagues, weird calls for service, stuff that makes you shake your head and wonder (A migraine salute LawDog would call it).

I think I had my first one on that last list tonight. Mobile patrol with my FTO. We were checking the parking lots at our satellite building a block over from the main part of our campus. Check the first half of the lot, tell a silly joke, chuckle, look for the boogey man in the dark shadows. All clear. Head over to the back of the building and immediately, from the street, see a 'citizen' in a suspicious posture by his vehicle. Passenger side, door open. First impression was he was blowing ballast. Didn't see the requisite puddle at his feet. He gives us an 'eyeball f***' look and we swing around again, both saying: "This turd is up to no good."

On the second lap, we make contact. Spotlight on, he takes more notice. My FTO addresses him with a pleasant, "Good evening, sir! Is everything allright?" Mr. Sneaky immediately states, "I'm waiting for my sister." whilst pointing at the building with one hand and hitching up his sagging drawers with the other. We ask him to step back so we can peek into the car and verify that he's alone. He moved just enough for a female head to poke out and say: "Evening Officers!" and pop right back in.

Yes. That's right. Our sneaky friend was attending to some 'business' in the parking lot.

Since we weren't called to the scene by a concerned citizen, nor did we witness any lewd act, we had nothing to go on. FTO sternly advised he *ahem* finish waiting for his sister *snicker* in the car, and then leave poste haste *gigglesnort*. As we pull out (yes, I see the pun), I look back to see our friend express his gratitude for not getting jammed up with a very passionate kiss on his lady friend's lips. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Some things that have been seen, cannot be unseen. This is one of them.

Wonder Twin Powers...

Activate!!

Form of....a blimp!

I'm gonna keep getting fatter and fatter if I don't get out of this FTO phase and station soon. Geez, Louise!!

I'll say this, the barrio got some real nice eats if you know where to look, and your FTO knows the neighborhood.

You know you're eating real good when the Chinese place you stop at only has a menu in Spanish and Cantonese. The pictures on the walls were for the benefit of us white guys in the group (just point and grunt, the owner knows what you want!).

And I've discovered a new way to shop. Screw eBay! I'm going to the pawn shop. Can you say Sako .270 with Leupold scope in very good condition? Only 5 bills you say?! Extra cash discount, too!!! Unbelievable. Where can I find these deals? Just about any pawn shop in the barrio.

I'm finding the badge and uniform are great shields to have when I get out of my comfort zone. Kinda like a security blanket. I'm gonna have to work harder at just getting out there and doing more on my own. It is nice, however, to 'test the waters' so to speak and be a part of a community I never cared to experience until now.

Too bad, so sad...

Buy you a cookie?

To the crack-house proprietor in our beat last night: I'm well and truly sorry business was so slow for you. My training partner and I worked very hard to drum up business for you. Every time we drove by, though, there were no customers to be found. What gives? We even went so far as to tell some of our friends about you. I'm sure you'll like them. They love crack. They love it so much, they'll do anything to get some. They even have a dog that likes crack. Can you believe it? A dog that likes crack. That's like a cigarette smoking monkey or something.

Anywhoo, hope sales pick up for you. If not, you might wanna rethink your marketing strategy.

Cheers!

It's been...

Three weeks since I started working for the new PD. Two as a commissioned Texas Peace Officer.

Some things I've learned:

• I will be picking up gutter spanglish faster than I thought working in the barrio with a Hispanic FTO
• Running in full battle rattle is a helluva lot harder than running in a weight vest. Try it and you'll see
• Don't listen to the guy at the uniform store when he tells you that your jacket has to be larger than normal to fit over your vest and other gear. LIAR!
• I don't even have to jack with anybody. Just driving around in a marked unit and watching people's reactions is enough enjoyment for a shift.
• Getting eye-f**ked by the turd leaving the crack-house in my beat doesn't bother me. Him coming back for more crack does.
• Working a protection detail for a D.C. diplo-creature is not harder than an 8 hour marketing event. Just ask my wife.
• I may be tired outta my gourd, but this is the most fun I've had on the job in a long-arsed time!

I should also mention this...

While waiting for your custom fitted body armor to come in, don't borrow the largest size one that reeks of CK One cologne. Instead, go for the next size smaller that reeks of body odor. At least Lysol and Febreze will kill that funk. Two weeks in and I still come home smelling like Jersey Shore.

Badged!!!!

Today's the day I've been waiting for for nearly three years. Finally sworn in as a Texas Peace Officer.

I'm so giddy with delight and relief, you have no idea. There's still a few weeks of field training to do, but if the past couple of days in the office were any indication, I should have no problems. I've met with some of the command staff, chief, our office manager and a couple investigators. Great people with positive attitudes. I'm really looking forward to Monday. Even better, the campus (I'm a college cop) is right by the house. Several people have told me my new FTO is a real squared away and dialed in type. I should gain a lot of knowledge from him.

Now starts a new clock. I get to count down the days until I finish my field training. From there, I'll go solo on night patrol.

I'm just gonna sit here and bask in the moment...while wearing my sam brown, with my badge pinned to my t-shirt....eating doritos. Yeah, I'm a real party animal.

Stay safe, folks. I'll be watching.

Merry Christmas!

Should've posted this yesterday, but family obligations always take precedent.

Merry Christmas!

Blogmeat

Squeeee! Like a little schoolgirl. Got to meet Ambulance Driver this past weekend. Am a real big fan of his blog and snark. Thought it was über cool that we finally got to meet face to face. Even though it was a short meet, we were able to swap a few stories and share a chuckle or two. Lil Windage even got a chance to meet a real live ambulance driver. She was so excited to know that Mr. AD gets to drive around with the woo-woos on.

Next time, there will be guns, beer and more stories. Who knows, we may even embarrass Swede by wearing kilts out in public.

When it rains....

It sure does pour.

So, I had the interview with the chief yesterday. During the meeting, my phone rang. Found out after I left that another campus PD called for an interview. I'm a popular dude this week. Scheduled that interview for later this morning. While getting that squared away, phone beeps an incoming email. Wouldn't ya know it! Sent a background packet for a private security firm in town. These guys are top notch and only have one client (neighborhood association) in town. Talk around town is this would be an ideal security firm to work in while trying to get my foot in the door with a police agency.

I'll know more by Friday. Chief said he'll make his decision then. I left on a positive there. He said several times through the meeting that he 'liked what I brought to the table,' and a couple other buzz worthy phrases. The only negative I caught from him (and it could go either way) was towards the end when he advised if I didn't make this cut, reapply and let him know when I did that. I took it as a very strong indicator that I'm one of his top picks for this job.

Just a couple more days and I'll know if I get the offer. If it goes through (and I'm praying it does...you should pray, too!), then I will start on the 15th of January. Just in time to celebrate my birthday and maybe get in a three gun match.

Good Sign

I think it's a good sign when the chief of police you just interviewed with tells you that you are a strong candidate.

He said this to me several times throughout the interview. I take that as a big positive for me. I should know more by Friday. In the meantime, I have an interview with another college campus PD tomorrow morning. They actually called me during the interview. Tested with them this past weekend, and get a call today. Sounds like they want to put someone in the position by New Year's as well. Hope they get my background knocked out before Christmas break. I hate waiting.

Meeting in the AM

Have a meeting in the morning with the chief of one of the college PDs I applied to. Some friends in the know have told me this is a very good sign, and that a meeting with the chief is akin to getting the job already.

Prayers would be nice.

I'll keep you posted.

Still Around

Still around, just haven't done shit on Blogger.

Just tested for a slot at a local college in town. Sixty candidates for 2 positions on the department. Saw quite a few older officers looking to get away from HPD. Bunch of young'uns looking for an 'easy' assignment with a fat paycheck. And I saw some turds from my first academy class that shouldn't be testing.

I'm not worried. I usually test pretty well. Just need to wait by the phone for a couple of days to see if I make the cut, or if someone else is better than me at written tests.

Been waiting for several weeks for an answer from a department west of here. Not holding breath for that one, but I like the area and know a couple of the cops there. Would be a nice place to work. In background for another college in downtown. Hope that comes up good.

We shall see.

And I've been applying like crazy to other jobs outside of law enforcement that interest me.

Prayers would help.

Done

Received word from the downtown PD yesterday. No go.

I have one more app pending and the I'm done. I have faced too much rejection these past two years to continue further.

Time to go back into the private sector and provide for my family.