Raindogblue

Refusal

 

At jail, the nurse refused

my custody. The pinch was three

months pregnant and had yet

to see a doctor.

 

Instead of booking her,

I had to write a cite,

call an ambulance

to the sally port,

and send the woman away.

 

 

Second Shelter Stop

 

 

I’m back at the shelter.

It’s closing for the night.

All day guests need to leave.

 

Lanna's got to go. She’s willing,

but her power chair is busted.

One wheel won’t turn.

They weigh six hundred pounds.

Lanna’s another three and

can’t walk on her own.

 

I grab a chair and help her sit.

Then, I push the power-chair

across the floor and up the switch

back disability ramp outside.

 

A staff member watches the power-chair

as I help Lanna into a wheeled, office chair.

 

This is a ride you cannot pay for at Disneyland,

I say as I roll the chair across the floor.

 

As I swing her into the switch backs, I say,

People pay extra for Gs on the turns.

 

She laughs.

 

I place her eight feet from the front door.

 

Staff gives her a blanket

and tells her to talk

to the director in the morning.

 

 

 

No Beds and No Space

 

 

It’s 1630. Mary’s an hour out of the mental hospital,

looking for an emergency shelter bed.

All standard spaces are full for the night

 

I have some sway at the Salvation Army shelter.

 

Mary’s not banned, but they have no beds.

Both their police mats are occupied.

 

I tell her to wait while I check the other place.

 

That shelter is full, too.

 

I apologize and hand her my card.

 

Check in at the Salvation Army

shelter tomorrow morning.

Ask for advocate. If there’s no beds,

call 211, and see if they can place you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attempting to Locate

 

 

There’s a Vehicle Stolen call holding

at the 3rd Avenue Cafe.

 

The vehicle is plated in Germany.

There are passports inside. Tomorrow,

the owner is due to fly internationally.

 

I check. The vehicle hasn’t been towed.

 

The owner insists she parked

\in the flat lot across the street.

 

She doesn’t have the reg.

I don’t have access to Germany DMV.

 

Vanagans are rarely stolen.

Give me fifteens minutes.

While you try to find paperwork,

 I’ll look for your car.

 

I find it in five.

It’s in a flat lot a block

and half up the street.

 

The woman says she is

so happy she could hug me.

 

 

 

12's

 

A week of 12's became a night and this morning's court became a disregard. 

 

Both are blessings. 

 

 

The Crack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mandatory

 

On my weekend,

I was called by my Sgt,

to let me now this week,

due to an officer involved,

is mandatory 12's. 

 

 

Reason #2

 

It"s been busy. 

Some days, call from 10 AM.

When I logon, 30 calls can be holding.

I never catch up. I don't eat. 

I logoff late and go home. 

 

 

Posting

 

I haven't been posting.

The Department came out with a new social media policy.

Anything potentially negative is punishable.

 So, I paused.

Why am I posting now?

The 9th Circuit made a ruling allowing a little leeway.