STORIES BEHIND THE SHIELD

Inspirational Stories to Hopefully Create a Smile

THE NIGHT OF THE SUPER RAT

It was approximately 6 hours into the tour. It had been really busy on that particular night. My partner and I had already answered 17 calls for service. There were only two units on the street at that time. Some were out because of mechanical problems, administrative or processing an arrest. Needless to say, we were very busy.

We received a radio communication from dispatch that a woman had called 911 to report a Super Rat attacking her three children. Dispatch stated that the woman caller will be waiting for us at the corner of the location. My partner and I rushed to get there. Something mandatory (unofficially) when anything is endangering or involves children. As we rush to the scene, I realize that I may have to deal with a rat.

I CAN'T STAND RATS!

Unfortunately, I will not be able to shoot it in any situation I can think of. My partner sees the look on my face knowing I hate rats. He smiles jokingly at me while I am seriously into thought about how I will approach this rat situation.

Three and a half minutes after receiving the call we arrived at the location. A woman is standing on the corner waving frantically to get our attention. I remember thinking "How big is this freakin rat?" As we exit our RMP the woman approaches us with fear on her face. She is telling us that a giant rat is threatening her children in a loud but serious tone. As we approached the building, I started to adjust my gun belt and at that moment my partner poked me in the arm, which did startle me for a second, and said "Mace doesn't work on rats." Of course, that didn't make me feel any better or braver.

I noticed three children standing on the couch as we entered the apt. They were approximately 3,4,5 years of age. I asked them, "Where is it?" They yelled "In the bathroom, " right to my left. I noticed the lighting was not good in the apartment. Which made it difficult to see. The bathroom light was out. I told my partner to turn on the light and claimed seniority. Yes, we did laugh at that.

As my partner stepped into the bathroom to pull the string for the light, I saw the head of that animal peering from the shower curtain in the bathtub. It had a redhead. Yes, that's right, a redheaded rat. I inched up to the tub slowly hitting the curtain with my nightstick in an attempt to make it disappear and looked over the edge of the tub to see that the little redheaded rat also had no tail.

My partner didn't believe it was a rat and decided to pick it up. And when he did... IT WAS A GERBIL. The kids brought a red gerbil home from school and didn't tell mom. And yes, it did escape from the cage.

We laughed to the car. Notified Dispatch that the Super rat took off its cape and turned into a gerbil. The radio crackled with laughter.

Shield # 11956

brown and white hamster on brown dried leaves

FROM SUPER RAT TO 2 IN THE CHAMBER

After a long night of providing service to the community, my partner and I were starving. We decided on some fish and chips. It was a good feeling to be able to relax and get a breath. We had been running around all night. First, it was a lady complaining about her neighbors' kids. She was a real "Karen". Then it was a husband and wife dispute. That freakin Super Rat job was a good healthy laugh. We were hungry.

We decided to eat in the RMP ( Radio Mobile Patrol), which was custom when very few units were on the street. We sat on 138th and Broadway. This way we could see 360 degrees if anyone approached the vehicle. My partner and I dug in. The smell had my stomach growling. I was prepared to enjoy my fried scallop and fries.

Wouldn't you know, after being several bites into this delicious feast, that distinct sound from the radio, indicating something very serious has just happened, beeped inside the RMP.

"Oboy", which was our sector call, "Oboy" I responded.

Oboy, be advised that "O Adam" is not available. We have a male shot on the roof of a building on the corner of 134 and Amsterdam Ave. Unknown suspects, (I don't remember the address.)

Please advise. Oboy, 10-4 en route. Since O Adam was out of service we had to cover their sector.

My partner and I looked at each other and sighed, part of the job right? The feast we so long fully waited for was not to be. In the garbage bin, it went. Reminded me of 1Adam12. smh lol.

We arrived at the scene in no time. The block went from Amsterdam Ave to Broadway. A single row of apartment buildings, all connecting on the south side. There were people in the front of the building pointing up. As we exited the vehicle, I heard someone say, "the roof". We ran up several flights of stairs, I don't remember how many. When my partner and I reached the roof landing several people were attending to a male, who appeared to have been shot in the stomach. Which way did they go?, I asked. He pointed west towards Broadway. He stated they went across the roofs.

My partner and I looked toward where we were about to go. It's approximately 2245 hrs and dark. The paramedics showed up on the roof. We started to search roof by roof. Guns drawn. Not knowing if we would run into them hiding somewhere on the roofs. Or, if someone else was on the roof committing a crime. We were in a heavy-crime area. Drugs, shootings, robberies, you name it. After several minutes of searching, with negative results, we ended up on the roof of the last building next to Broadway.

As I looked around the roof of the last building, I walked to the south side rear and observed an individual on the roof of the building opposite me on 133rd st. He was facing south towards the front of the building he was on. He was just a silhouette from my vantage point. He was carrying something long and skinny. I told my partner to radio for another sector to go to that roof and detain that individual.

We were not on the same roof. We could not get to the individual from where we were. There was a 50-yard ally between us and him.

I yelled, "HEY YOU, THIS IS THE POLICE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". I could see the silhouette freeze. Then, bending straight down at the knees placing whatever he was holding on the floor. "COME HERE", I yelled. Mind you, I could not get to him. He could have run into the building and I would have known nothing. No description or anything concrete.

To my surprise, the guy started walking toward us. He walked to the edge of the roof. I started asking questions about why he is on the roof and what he was doing. I tried to keep him talking till the other units arrived.

While I'm talking to this person I can see the other units approaching the front of the building. Seconds after that, I hear Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop. I get on the radio. Oboy Central, shots fired, shots fired.

The units that entered the building were attacked by a Doberman and a Rockweiler. This was a drug building with most of the apartments abandoned. The dogs were shot. The units continued to the roof. When they arrived on the roof, I directed them to where I saw the person bend down and place a long skinny object on the floor.

I watched as the officer approached the spot and pick up the object. As he got closer I could see it was a rifle. Later I learned it was a Remington 30-06 BDL with 2 rounds in the chamber.

I am so glad he didn't open up on us. With a 4-inch 38cal, there was no way to engage this person and be accurate. All he had to do was enter the building via the roof access and be gone.

Ultimately, he was identified as one of the shooters. Good Collar!

EAR

The Best Feeling Ever

Just another job, well done!

It was a cloudy gloomy day. Kind of chilly but not too bad. We had been driving around since 0800 hours waiting for calls to service. The radio was kinda quiet, That's something I wouldn't say out loud because I wouldn't want to jinx us. Then it happened...

"0 Boy "came over the radio. That was our sector call name. "0 Boy", I responded.

O Boy, be advised, that we have a baby who is not breathing at this time. She gave the address. Automatically the lights went on and the siren blew. I was driving at the time and I could only think of my little one. My partner was holding on tight, as I worked our way thru traffic to the location as soon as possible without getting into an accident. At which time we would be no help to anyone.

Getting there quickly was the goal. The tires screeched as we stopped in front of the location. We bolted out of the RMP into the building, following the screams and cries of a mother. She was frantic. I asked, "Where is the baby?" scanning the room till we saw the crib. My partner picked up the child, who looked blue. This was after having to physically move the mother.

My partner and I ran down the stairs, 3 flights, with the baby in his arms. He started CPR. I was communicating with dispatch. Letting everyone know what hospital I was going to and my route.

"Central, heading northbound on Riverside to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital." At that time I could hear other units transmitting that they will block streets for a clear path to the hospital. That's what we did for kids, cops, and the seriously injured.

Having that straight run allowed us to get to the hospital fast. As we pulled into the bay, the doctors were waiting. My partner handed the baby to the doctor and we watch as they headed into the ER.

My partner and I looked at each other, took a deep breath, and headed back to patrol.

The next day at roll call, the Sgt. called my partner and me and told us someone was at the desk to see us. We went to the desk and saw the baby's mother from the day before. She had come to thank us for saving her baby,

The tears of joy still flow many years later.

baby girl wearing grey dress and white socks

Grandmothers are the Best

THE DAY NANA SAVES HER GRANDBABY

We had been in Florida for a couple of days for a week's vacation. The kids were staying with grandma. They loved her so much as we all did.

Nana was a Senior Lab technician for a major medical facility. She was loved by her colleagues and peers in the field. I remember as a small boy visiting her job and meeting her colleagues who highly respected her.

My wife(at the time) and I was out to eat one afternoon when I received a call from Nana. She wanted to tell us that our younger sons' temperature had risen and caused him to stop breathing. We were on the next flight back home.

What happened was, they were watching TV and my son was in her lap. She looked down at him and noticed that he had stopped breathing. He was turning blue. She explained that she started CPR while calling 911. When the medics arrived he was breathing but stopped again. She started CPR again in the ambulance.

By the time they arrived at the Hospital(Jacobi), he was breathing again. They monitored him, cleared him, and sent him home.

Apparently, he had an ear infection that caused his temperature to rise rapidly which in turn caused him to stop breathing. He was 3. He is now 33.

My Nana saved my son. Her great-grandson. Because she knew CPR. It Worked.

We miss you, Nana

Lee County Certs, Inc. American Heart Association Certifications

brown horse on gray concrete road during daytime

OK CORRALED IN THE BRONX

It was my regular day off and I was heading back home in my little gray Hyundai. There was a truck stopped at the red light in front of me. All of a sudden I see a horse galloping from a one-way street. It had no rider but was saddled. I noticed the saddle blanket, which had that distinctive color of blue and gold. It was a police horse.

Seconds later I see a rider, in plain clothes, following this horse with no rider. Is this training? I thought. The horse ran in the middle of the street along the double yellow lines. He was approaching another intersection with a red light. Just as he hit the intersection, the light turned green. A truck at the light was attempting to make a left-hand turn at the same time the horse was passing almost hitting it. I knew then that this is a runaway horse.

After dodging being hit by the truck, the horse continued on the road. He was heading for a major intersection, Westchester Square and East Tremont Ave. I sped up to the officer in plain clothes, identified myself, and asked what to do. He said," Stop Him". Really? How? I thought to myself.

This horse was not stupid. He did not run into the traffic at this intersection. He ran on the sidewalk and all I see is people diving out the way. It looked like a Charlie Chaplin movie.

After passing the intersection the horse ran back into the street. Running against oncoming traffic. Thankfully he wasn't hit. As I chased him in my vehicle, I got alongside him. I rolled down my window and said"Whoa". Immediately I looked in the mirror at myself and said," You dummy. That horse is not gonna stop cause you said whoa. I had to laugh at myself.

He had turned down another street, running alongside some parked cars. That was my chance. I sped up and cut him off so he couldn't continue running. This horse stopped, backed up, and continued running. He siked me out. Three times.

The fourth time was the charm. I was able to cut him off, jump out of the car and grab the reins. Cool. Right? He made me pay because as soon as I grabbed the reins he stepped on my foot. I screamed in shock and pain. I began punching the horse telling him to get off my foot. It was like punching a concrete wall, all muscle. This horse was a Percheron which comes from France, known for its muscular build. He finally got off my foot.

Eventually, a few minutes later, the other rider caught up to me and the horse. He thanked me like he was going to get in trouble if I didn't stop that horse. It was hilarious.

A truck had backfired and spooked the horse. The horse failed.

STRESSED? OVERWHELMED?

Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a well-balanced diet. And talk to someone. You don't have to go thru it alone. Despite all that's happening there are people that care. Reach Out.