Raindogblue

24

 

Today, twenty-four years ago,  I was hired.

 

 

Meth

 

Per the department, Meth is 80 percent cheaper and 30 percent more potent than 20 years ago.

 

 

Warding

 

Off 21st, a transient had caked her hair and face with layers of dried lotion. In each of her nostrils, she had gum drop sized boogers. When I asked her why, she told me, "I'm warding off witchcraft."

 

 

Maths

 

 

At roll call,  the LT. said precinct has an authorized strength of 113 officers. I asked him what our actual numbers were. He responded, it depends on the maths. Counting the half dozen officers on leave and disability. West has around 107. 

 

 

 

Sgts.

 

20 Sergeants are being promoted today. Nine are assigned to West. 

 

 

Eight

 

The number of traffic fatalities for the year has now reached eight. 

The last two: 

A utility truck ran over a man sleeping on the sidewalk in the dark.

A bicyclist ran a light in the dark was hit by a truck.

 

 

Blender

 

Nights is out. Blender taps the radio. He's out with one.

There is a pause.

Dispatch asks if he wants cover?

"Code 2," he replies.

He's an old dog, older than me. His voice is curt and concerned. He wants cover now, but won't say it.

I toss my lunch to the prowler floor and spin out of the lot. I hit the light and siren and slide corners as I race up the bridge ramp to the east side.

On scene, Bender has a mope by the arm. The Night's sarge has the other side. The mope is big, 6'3", drunk, and swaying side to side as they hold him. It's the old  accordion dance.  

I rush up. 

Blender says, "He has a gun in sleeve!" He nods down to the arm he's holding. "Reach in and get it."

The drunk's wearing a winter jacket, I start to reach in and realize I can't tell where the barrel ends and the trigger starts.

I back out, pull my Benchmade seatbelt cutter and tell Blender, "Hold the arm, I'm cutting the sleeve."

One long incision reveals the Smith and Wesson aimed at the man's arm pit. I remove the revolver as other officers arrive and help take the man into custody. 

 

 

6th and Failing

 

The good employees of the Mega-Burgermart report a stabbing. 

On scene, in a booth, a transient is bent over. A large portion of his intestine sprouts from his abdomen and extends down. Fecal matter the consistency of a milk shake is seeping out. There's no blood. He's too drunk to talk ad been in the restaurant a half before the call. 

When Fire arrives, they recognize the man. Earlier in the day, he's pulled out his colostomy bag and was sent to the hospital.

He's done it again. 

 

 

 

Released

 

The City Attorney's Office let me know the tort case filed against me on 1/12/16 has been dismissed. 

 

 

Cookies

 

Last night, we pulled a man off the Red Line for playing with a knife on the train.

He asked, "Did you find my pack? I need my pack.. It has my coo-coo cookies in it. I need my coo-coo cookies!
I asked, What are your coo-coo cookies?

My meds, my psych med. They keep me from going coo-coo. They are my coo-coo cookies. I take one in the morning and one at night. 

I went back on to the train and found his pack. 

He gave the knife to Transit Police and jumped on the next train.