Raindogblue

Stopped

Tonight, crossing a street,
clearing a wreck,
a black motorist anchored it
in the middle of the street
next to me.

"Officer!"

He has has my full attention.

His eyes widen.

He smiles,

"Do you have stickers?"

Of course.

He rolls down 

all the windows

and introduces

his children to me.

Last Night

Tonight was last night at South.
I turned in my paper,
emptied my locker,
and moved my gear to West.

Darkness Deepened

The day diminished.

Dusk dwelled.

The darkness deepened.

It was a good night,
a quiet night.
I had two blue sheets 
in the sergeant's in-box.

I blacked out and sat
at an empty intersection
when a car blew through the stop.

I hit the overheads,
threw the prowler in gear.

The car did not stop.
It went faster.

I hit the sirens:
stepped on the gas.

It blew through the next stop, 
turned right and right again.

The radio was busy.
I was in pursuit. 

The car anchored it.
Driver's door opened.

I blocked in the car, 
PIT bumper to driver's side
passenger door 
as the bad guy bailed out.
I scrambled out to intercept him.

Pants pissed, shorts soiled, 
he decided he wanted to talk.
I let him
after he was cuffed and stuffed.

  

Disturbance

"7David6"

7David6.

"Disturbance at Kal's Park."

I roll in dark to a chorus of curses.

From the left, "FUCK YOU, YOU MOTHER FUCKIN' BITCHES!" 

From the right, "I'LL FUCK YOU, YOU FUCKIN' BITCHES!"

I set both sides down.

"They started it!"

In a poop throwing contest, the best you can hope for is a handful of shit. Am I right?

Both groups laugh, nod, and separate into the night.

Blue Light, Yellow Light

Indication

Dialing in steering,

or decelerating,

prior to signaling

does not provide 

the required forewarning

of an intention to turn.

Red Reflection

Parade Duty

The city, is once again,

short of officers for parade duty. 

Fifteen officers short. Few volunteer. 

It's OT, but for officers on my shift

it means ending shift at 0200 hours,

returning for roll call at 0530 hours, 

being on the parade line at 0730 hours,

and relived at 1330 hours 

only to be back at work 1600.

The result is exhausted, 

cranky cops representing the city.

It's not worth the OT.

The Spoils of Patrol

Tonight, at dusk,

in Kal's Park,

less than ten feet away,

I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk

sip from the pool

under the spigot

in the picnic area.  

Patrol has few spoils.

The best are unexpected

and free.

Red Light, Blue Light