The Difference - A Reader's Response

Let me start by saying you all had some interesting and valid points of view. Thank you for not only taking the time to read the post and commenting, but thinking about what your opinions were and the basis for them. There were a number of comments on The Difference, but one stood out to me. As luck would have it, it came in the form of an email, so I was able to co-opt it (with his permission, of course) and reproduce it here.

It reminded me of the kind of conversation either HM and I or my Dad and I would have over beers whilst giving each other a hard time. Without further brou and/or ha-ha, and with appropriate thanks to Pete, I give you his response...

I would expect Mr. Average to entertain thoughts of entering or possibly actually entering the house that is on fire. The house with gun shots gets a "did I really hear that look" with an increase in walking speed as he exits the immediate vicinity. I think it's all about perception of personal risk. We "play" with fire almost every day and don't harbor a deep fear of death from it. Maybe a burn now and then but not a lasting or life threatening injury.

With guns it's different. As time goes by less and less people handle firearms. This lack of knowledge and ownership increases the perception of risk and thus the walk by.

Now on to my family...staring me as the fire dweeb and my brother as the grizzled veteran cop.

Me: Fire? Help? It's a two story ordinary construction single family dwelling with smoke showing from side D. Life safety issues are paramount. Engine and Truck are not on scene. Seek ingress and perform primary survey for victims. Save damsel in distress. Make attempt to put out fire while calling for help. Receive, aw shucks medals and awards. Remain loved by community.

Brother: Fire? Help? Shit! Where's my idiot brother? Probably sleeping in his Lazy Boy chair. Mame, can you come out here so I can talk to you? Keep your hands where I can see them.

Brother: Bang! Help! Unusual weapon discharge? That was the sound of a Sig Sauer 1911-45-SSS with an eight round magazine. Probably hasn't been cleaned in a while.Young female inside a home at 1313 Mockingbird Lane sounding distressed while speaking in a loud voice "help?" All while simultaneously reaching for his concealed weapon, making sure others are safe, getting in his low run stance, moving toward the house, and using his senses to obtain intell on the location of the shooter and the vic. Ends stand off immediately and brings woman out to EMS for care.

Me: Bang! Help! Shit! Where's my idiot brother? I'll bet no one is taking pot shots at the donut shop. Run toward house and hide in bushes. See person with gun leaving. Save damsel in distress. Make attempt to call for help. Receive, aw shucks medals and awards. Remain loved by community.

Epilogue: Brother receives a "paper" in his personnel file indicating that even though he used his concealed weapon in self defense he had not re-certified on it within 365 days and was therefore not authorized to carry it. If it happens again he will get three days. The call happened in a neighborhood watch area and the citizens are asking the mayor to convene a hearing on off duty police officers indiscriminately entering homes without reason. Woman is now suing the city because she did not want to be saved. However Brother's Sargent mentions that the shooter is wanted on ten different warrants in six states and has previously shot a cop. Brother and entire shift go out after work for "stress reduction."

Well at least we both still have jobs. We hope you do too, and any problems with the police side of the story chalk up to me because I tried to think like him!

Thanks again (and a special nod to Pete) for taking time out of your collective days to interact with me (and by extension) each other. This was one of my more favorite posts!

The Difference

See if you can tell me what the difference is...

Your average, everyday person was walking down the street. Up ahead, the person sees smoke coming from a home. As the person gets closer, they can hear a woman screaming, "Help!" For the sake of argument, let's assume the person doesn't have a cell phone. What do you think that average person would do?

A few blocks over, another average, everyday person was walking down the street. As they got closer to a particular house, they heard gunshots and a woman screaming, "Help!" Again, no cell phone. What would that average person do?

Do you think the average person walking by the home on fire would run to help or run away? Do you think the average person that heard the gunshots would run to help or run away?

I'm curious to hear your responses...

Inkless Sin

Ever find yourself doing your job when you realize something was amiss? Yeah, me too.

MC: Do you know why I stopped you?
FSE (Future Staples Employee): Speeding?
MC: Yeah...do you have your license, registration and insurance today?
FSE: Here you go.

Here's where the "amiss" part comes in. I walked back to the bike to begin scratching out the ticket. I got about halfway through when I noticed something odd. Seems the ink was getting lighter and lighter. As any good Motor knows, you should always carry an extra pen, right?

Hello?

Right?

Yeah, I didn't have an extra pen. Then, a spark of genius!

MC: Ma'am, would you happen to have a pen?
FSE: Uh...sure.
MC: Thank you.

I proceeded to finish out the cite and returned to the car.

MC: Okay, I just need your signature on the yellow highlighted portion. And here's your pen back.

Ah, the early signs of my once palpitating heart beginning to slow and grow thick with black sludge. Enough to bring a tear to the eye. If only they hadn't dried up as well. *Sigh*

The Warning and the Barn Door

I'm often asked what the funniest/weirdest/dumbest excuse is offered to me when I'm conducting a traffic stop. This one ranks right up there in the funny column.

MC: Do you know why I stopped you?
Farmer Jed (you should be able to figure out why by the end of this story): It might be because I wasn't wearing my seat belt.
MC: Yeah. It's not the end of the world, though.
Farmer Jed: You mind if I explain why?
MC (always looking for my fodder): Knock yourself out.
Farmer Jed: See, I just left the gym and I'm on my way to work. I realized about halfway there that my, uh, zipper wasn't up.
MC: I notice you're wearing a zippered sweatshirt. Would that be the zipper to which you were referring?
Farmer Jed: No, sir.
MC: Jed, we talking 'bout the barn door here?
Farmer Jed (with not a little bit of embarrassment): That'd be the one. I took my seat belt off briefly to, well, zip up. I didn't want to show up at work with my zipper down.
MC: Jed, I gotta tell you. No pun intended, but you've gotta have stones to admit that to a cop. Do me a favor and next time, just pull over to handle that particular predicament, alright?
Farmer Jed (with a smile): You got it.

So, there you go. I gotta give Jed credit...that's a fairly embarrassing thing to bring up, but he did. And, he got me to laugh on top of it. A double whammy, indeed.

Well played, Jed. Well played.

A Very Special Introduction to a New Blog

Although it's a new blog, the blogger is a near five year vet of blogging. I'm proud to introduce you all to the woman that has made all my dreams come true...the Wife. Ever wonder how someone could put up with such a black-hearted blaggard? Ever wonder what life is like for me when I doff the boots and britches? All your questions (and more, I'm sure) will be answered at the Wife's new blog, Beyond the Boots and Britches.

I've been instructed to inform you that she's not sure how often she will update. Of course, I said that as well two and a half years ago. The Wife is a very busy woman, though. I certainly don't want her to feel obligated to add yet another activity to her (in my opinion) very full plate.

This woman does it all, folks. She takes care of our beautiful girls. She co-ops at the eldest's pre-school in addition to being on the board of same. There is always a warm meal for dinner. Our home is a comfortable, inviting, clean place. I tell you all that to tell you this...I'd rather strap on a kevlar vest and take my chances. God bless her.

Please join me in welcoming her! Leave her an encouraging hello and I'll thank you indeed. She joins the league of oft-overlooked and under-appreciated support that keeps LEOs like me thriving!

The Crossover - FSTs and the News

Happy and I talk about some Police/EMS related news items including the man shot while holding a garden nozzle, FSTs, and an EMT that survived a head-on collision in an ambulance. We also answer a few more viewer questions...and introduce a new way to get your questions to us.

Wanna be on the show? You can ring us with your questions at 313-451-HMMC! It's ready and waiting to record your quandaries 24/7!

Thanks for listening!

Shocked Face?!? Really?!?

I wish I could tell you just how often it is that people simply don't pay attention to Motors. Defensive driving? Oh, no...offensive driving (take that however you want) is the answer. If I'm not paying attention to everything around me, I'm going to end up roadkill.

Case in point...

On the way back from court the other day (one of my favorite times to stop someone, by the way), I'm getting on the freeway. I have a green turn arrow. This would lead one, and correctly as it happens, to believe that oncoming traffic has the red. One might also assume that the person with the red light would see all the traffic making a turn in front of them. Sure, they want to jump on the 'ol highway just as badly as the rest of us. As the fates would have it, though, wait they must.

I was about halfway through my turn when a driver looked right at me and then turned in front of me. Okay, not the first time that has happened to me and certainly not the last. Of course, I pulled her over. She was apologetic as the day is long...until I came back with the cite.

MC: Okay, ma'am. I need you to sign the highlighted yellow portion, please.

PCL: (Peripherally Challenged Lady): You're giving me a ticket?!?

MC: Ma'am, you nearly hit me.

PCL: I said I was sorry.

MC: And while I appreciate that, I'm still going to issue you a citation today.

PCL then went on to sign the cite. She glared at me for what felt like the entire time. As if it was my fault. I keep forgetting the hypnotic Jedi-like skills I possess. Obviously, I forgot that I entered her psyche from the other side of the intersection and planted a suggestion that she cut me off, causing me to brake very quickly, just so I could use the training and my super-speed agility quotient.

I'm always forgetting that power.

What really caught my attention was the look on her face. She totally blamed me for giving her a ticket. I felt like saying, "Lady! You nearly hit a police officer. How you even remotely think this could enter the vicinity of my responsibility is so far beyond me, it defies comprehension!" Instead, I thanked her and asked her to drive safely.

Mostly because I we were headed in the same direction and I didn't want further issues.