Guest Post: SD- Failing Floyd: A Life Lesson

Sitting in my just-washed Crown Victoria, I print the final touches on a bland burglary report.

A dim-colored interior light, a necessity when working the overnight shift, illuminates my agency’s form.

DISPATCHER: Car 21.  Can you break away from your current location?

ME: 21. 10-4. Go ahead.

DISPATCHER: Thanks, I need you on this one…

(The dispatcher then depresses a key to sound a loud high-pitched beep over all radio airways to denote a hot call.)

DISPATCHER: Attention all cars. Attention all cars, robbery in progress at 1654 Old Trail at Jerry’s Fast Stop. 1654 Old Trail. Caller states that the clerk is fighting with a partially-masked man inside the store.

("Not Floyd," I think to myself.)

ME: 21, Direct and en route.

DISPATCHER: I don’t have anyone else in service—but, I’ll find someone to go with you 21.

I activate the emergency lights and siren and my vehicle roars in the direction of Floyd's shop.

Good old Floyd. The hardest working fellow I know.

Floyd works the overnight shift at the convenience mart 6 days per week. When his shift ends at 7 am, he drives to his regular 8-5 job at the city’s water department.

It is no wonder that I have never seen him clear-eyed and without a large mug of coffee within arms’ reach.

Floyd is widowed, but I never knew much about his wife. My sergeant first introduced me to him—he and the Sgt. grew up together.

Floyd works two jobs to help pay for the daily care that his elderly mother’s poor health required.  She had moved into his home a while back.

Despite Floyd’s weathered appearance, he is always in a good humor. He chats with his regulars, never shirks the cleaning needs of the store that 3rd shifters get stuck with, and loves when police stop by.

I remember him telling me: "Slam, anything you want in here, you let me know and I’ll take care of it. The boss backs me on this."

Despite being young back then, I realized that this is the sort of thing that an officer gets in trouble over, and I never wanted anything but the use of the mart’s clean restroom.

Later I learned that he did "take care" of whatever his police friends wanted—as in he secretly paid for the item after they left the store.

I was shocked, despite his tedious financial situation, when he even got me a Christmas present.

Me? I am just some guy in uniform that he saw a few nights per week.

In any event, Floyd needed help now, and as I arrived on scene, I observe the clerk alone, and squatting down on one knee in the parking lot.

I jump out of my car and run over to him. His breathing is labored.

"The (insert expletive) guy went that way, see his car? It is an early model 4 door white Olds. He didn’t get a thing. Male white with a pony tail."

"There he goes now."

Sure enough, I turn and see a White Olds with the state’s license plate bearing one registration sticker disappear over the crest of a hill.

"Go get ‘em Slam," Floyd yells. 

With no back-up around, and Floyd seemingly shaken but okay, I hop into my unit, and press the accelerator.

In a moment, I crest the same hill as the suspect and have a good field of vision despite it being so early in the morning, but I don't see anything.

Did he stay on the main road that leads to the Interstate or turn right into a series of apartments and duplexes?

With only a moment to choose, I broadcast a description of the suspect’s vehicle and cut into the residential area, a section that generated lots of police activity, hoping to see the guy hiding.

I find nothing.

No white Oldsmobile. No white pony-tailed driver. Not even another vehicle moving.

I think back to the license plate with one sticker.

Argh… One sticker… One sticker means he was likely not a local.

Local residents, for the most part, had to pay for an emissions test—a process that resulted in two stickers.

An out-of-towner, with the one sticker, would then more likely be racing for the Interstate, and not a residential street.

Faced with a quick decision, I had not made the best choice.

I returned to talk to Floyd who was being evaluated by paramedics and insisting that he was fine.

I felt horrible. I had let the hardest working guy I knew down. The sergeant’s boyhood friend.

I had a shot to "go get’em" and failed. "Failing Floyd" stuck with me for some time.

----------------------------------------

Whatever your profession, you’ll certainly make an occasional bad decision.

The question then becomes: how well can you learn from these instances and make more prudent choices in the future so that you meet the needs of folks who depend on you (like Floyd did me)?

How well are you prepared to make an educated guess?

My inability to process the sticker clue in time and in turn failing Floyd was a difficult lesson, but I believe the situation made me a better officer and person in the end.

Comments

[Sister Copinherhair]

Well, Slam, everyone makes those mistakes...in any profession. But we are human. And we do the best that we can.

[Roy in Nipomo]

Sorry to say it, but it is a bit like the fox who didn't catch the rabbit. When asked why, the fox said, "I was only running for my lunch; he was running for his life."

Suspect may not be so lucky next time (and you know there will be a next time for him). You, on the other hand, had a "learning experience" and will be better prepared for your "next time."

[Ann T. Hathaway]

Dear SD,
You are so right that the split second doesn't give time to think it through. I do think that's a point we civilians don't always understand in regard to police work.

Still, Floyd did get much of what he desired. You were not just some guy in uniform to him, and you saw him as an individual who stood out in a different crowd.

He wanted to assist you, and he did--in a way unforeseen. He helped you cement some learning that was already started. In very many ways then, he got his wish. Not everyone would have given him so much. It is also a gift to accept a gift.

Out of disappointment, I see a lot of good and gain hope thereby.

Sincerely,
Ann T.

[Nikole Hahn]

Slam Dunk, excellent post. I love hearing about your law enforcement days. Both my Uncles are/were law enforcement. I have a high respect for the police.

[Angelia]

Excellent post, I was hanging on every sentence.

Floyd saw you show up and he saw you pursue. I have no doubt he appreciated your effort and quick response. In my opinion, that is what he will remember from that day.

I make mistakes in my job. One thing I always do it own up to them and not redirect the blame. No one is perfect, right?

[Lady Fi]

Excellent post. Dealt with maturity - I'm sure this experience had a positive effect on you.

[Kristin]

Gripping writing!

[Robynn's Ravings]

So glad Slam Dunk stopped by my blog and I got to read this. My neighbor is a cop and I have another friend who's a detective. I guess I think about the huge things getting to them but not about these seemingly "small" human interest stories wearing them down. We all fail at something and pretty frequently. Even if we don't know it. Sometimes, especially if we don't know it. Thanks Slam, and Rain Dog Blue.

[Luisa Doraz]

Thank you for sharing this story with us and making us feel that lessons need to be learner in life in order to grow. :)

[Reggie]

That was excellent writing. It had me hooked from the first word. I could feel the tension building up... And don't be so hard on yourself for making the wrong decision - thank God no one got hurt (because that's what I was fearing when I read the title). I'm sure the suspect did (will) get caught next time around. Please tell us more stories of your life as a police officer.

And I love the idea of someone being a guest blogger on another person's blog. What a brilliant way of making new friends!

[Theresa Milstein]

I'm sorry you felt bad for not getting the would-be robber. I'm glad Floyd was safe. You wrote this so well - I was on pins and needles to see if he'd wind up okay.

And we do need to make wrong choices to learn something in order to grow. Thanks for reminding me.

[Rachel]

It's hard when you make the wrong call and especially when it impacts another like Floyd. But it isn't just up to us to bring justice - God knows all.

But this is what the journey of this life entails - making mistakes, wrong choices, bad calls - and learning and growing through it all. It's messy. Far from perfect. But it is the path we all have to walk - though those paths look different. God has a plan and purpose for such a walk and I'm finding through our mess I see the might of His love and mercy. We would never know His love like we do if we were perfect.

Rachel

[Krista]

Aw Slam, everybody makes mistakes. I am confident that Floyd didn't feel let down. After all who came racing to his rescue?

Thing of it this way; what if Floyd had been badly injured? You were there in time that it's likely you would have been able to provide critical care while waiting for EMS!

Or... what if you had caught up with the car and given chase, and they had crashed into an innocent driver on the road?

It's easy to say "What if?" but much more challenging (and in the end, rewarding) to face up to it, and LEARN from a mistake.

Sounds like a win, to me. :o)

[Janna Qualman]

Touching, SD. And your format had me riding along next to you.

Here's to Floyd.

[Momma Fargo]

Great post. Slam, you are still awesome. We often make these mistakes and learn from them. Because you care is what made you a great cop. Thanks for sharing this story. Very insiteful and speaks for all of us. You are in fine company. We have all done things that with a split second made all the difference in catching the bad guy or not.

[JoDee Luna]

Your story kept me riveted. Excellent suspense and a worthy message!

[Slamdunk]

Thanks for the kind words all.

[Mrs. Fuzz]

Loved your story SD! Ditto pretty much to what everyone else said.

[PPG]

Great post, SD. All we can do is make decisions based on what we know at the time. If we knowingly ignore a piece of essential information, *that's* failure. Misjudging is another matter. Just my opinion - and, for Pete's sake, what do I know, honestly? Still, when you realized it, you shifted your decision. No, you didn't catch him but you made an honest effort. And, in the very end, making the effort does matter.