Raindogblue

Rust

 

 

 

 

 

Hooky

 

Wednesday, I dreamed out loud to my wife about taking today, my Friday off. Our exchange daughter has a home volleyball game I would like to attend and on the actual Friday, I need to be up by 0700 to take my cat to the vet. I don't like functioning on three and half hours of sleep. And finally, it's my anniversary this weekend. I want to be fresh for the date instead of exhausted, on edge, and grumpy, my usual norm. 

At work, I checked the roster and saw instead of hiring three on OT to make minimums, we were two over. I called the sergeant. He looked at the schedule and gave me the day. I called my wife and gave her the good news. I rarely take any days other than my scheduled blocks off.  She was delighted.

Then, the sergeant called me back and said I could not have the day. DQ already requested it. I would be first alternate and I should call at 1500 to see if any sickies called in. 

I sighed and said I had already understood, but I had already called my wife and she would be disappointed. 

DQ was car to car with me. She apologized profusely. I said there is nothing to be sorry about. 

The sergeant called back and had pleaded my case to the LT. I had the day.

 

 

Reconfiguration

 

After 12 years of shrinking police force that has cut and paired down service despite a growing city and metro area and an increased call demand, the brass has realized there is noting more to cut. One of the ACs, a good man, has sat down, crunched numbers, and has tried to quantify levels of police response. Radio's SOP for a Priority one call is to send two officers. He found the average number of officers needed for that level of call is five. Then, he looked at call volume and response. West and East Precinct officers spend over 42 percent of their day not being able to respond to calls as fast as they come in.  As a result, calls hold, sometimes for hours, including priority calls. He wants to shift from a 3 shift configuration to a four.  A small mini shift of four officers will work from 1100 to 2100 hours. His numbers show this adjustment will relieve the backlog and reduce the amount of time where calls wait.

The AC took ownership of the endeavor. Succeed or fail, it is his idea. It is leadership we seldom see.

The problem is we tried this solution few years ago when we had more officers. The shift failed and it went away.

 

 

Chain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bugs, Crank, and Worms Crawling

 

The radio call said subject suffering from parasites in his testicles.

The subject told me a worm was crawling up his belly trying to kill him.

 

As he tied clothes around his waist trying to stop the imaginary advance,

he refused to get into the ambulance he demanded.

After 30 minutes of trying, we left him there tweaking in the night. 

 

 

West

 

 

 

 

 

Modesty

 

 

Off Second, knocking on a door

of a Welfare Check, the drunk

woman in apartment shouts,

“Hang on a sec! Let me get shirt!

My tits are hanging out!”

Conquistador and I thanked her

when she opened the door dressed.

 

 

Sidewalk

 

 

 

 

Fire Pit

 

 

 

 

 

The Falls