Raindogblue

Doesn't Want to Be a Victim

 

Chicago Mike has long retired and has been working as a clerk at the front desk.

Last night, at the end of shift,  he asks, "Hey RD, are you busy?"

I'm finishing up a DUII, "Nah, what up?"

As I walk up, his head turns to man prone on the reception bench. 

"This guy just came in. He says he's been stabbed."

I look at the man. His black shirt is soaked in blood. The beach wood bench is starting to be smeared with blood.

I click my mic, "8 David 3."

The dispatcher repeats my call sign.

"8 David 3, the precinct has a walk-in stabbing victim. Send a night car and code three medical."

Chicago Mike hands me a pair of gloves as I head out into the lobby and the desk's scissors.

I begin cutting his shirt off. He's been stabbed twice in the chest, once in the shoulder, and twice in the hand.

EmDee and Piton arrive and try to interview the victim. 

He gives me his name and date of birth, but will only say he was stabbed in the dark. He didn't see a thing. 

The man only wants medical attention. He doesn't want to be a victim. 

 

 

West Afternoons Staffing: 5/22-5/29

From May 22nd to May 29th, West's Afternoon shift was 55 percent of minimum capacity before OT. With OT, we’re at 70 percent. That means on average we are running 30 percent below minimums.

 

 

Wave

 

 

 

 

Steam

 

 

 

 

Robbing Peter. Paying Paul.

 

One the reasons patrol is short on staffing is that the traffic officers folded back into patrol are now back in their in Division, working on traffic enforcement, DUIIs, and fatal collisions.

 

 

To Date

 

In the pond, to date, there have been 40 homicides, 173 people injured by gunfire, and a total of 563 shootings.

 

 

Now Bookable

 

Per jail, law enforcement can now book for:

any A, B,  and C felonies,

Class C person misdemeanors (Menacing, Assault in the 4th Degree and Strangulation),

Reckless Burning,

Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree,

Unlawful Possession of a Firearm,

Carrying a Concealed Weapon,

Pointing a Firearm at Another,

Negligently Wounding Another,

Unlawfully Purchasing a Firearm,

DUII,

Reckless Driving.

 

 

The Math

 

 

So I was doing the math. For West Afternoons, without overtime, the shift is at 68.5% capacity of minimums for the week of 5/15 to 5/21. With overtime, the shift is at 83 % capacity.  17 percent of shift hours are unfilled.

 

 

By June

 

On 11th, I’m taking to Joe. His back is question mark. Shirtless, I can see a noose tattooed around his neck. Ever other inch on his arms is a scarred, dime sized pit: an abscess long healed. He has two unhealed on his left arm. Joe is skeletal thin. A scrum would break his arm. Unmedicated, he is in a spiraling mental health crisis. The world is his delusion. His meth addiction exacerbates his antics exponentially.

I put him on a hold tonight.

Today, he’s already been booked and release on a VRO. Jail recog’d him without bail. The hospital might keep him a few hours longer. Due to his behavior, he’s being evicted from his housing. By June, he’ll be another transient screaming on the street.

 

 

Basic Cooperation

 

Sir, I see you wind shield has been smashed in and I understand the suspect is around the corner,  but if you refuse to give me your basic information, I cannot write a police report, let alone make an arrest so you can press charges.