So someone that recently contacted me about this blog is a law enforcement officer who has had many run ins with Domestic Violence. I thought it would be interesting to have stories from a different perspective on here as well. Thank you for sharing your story with me, and for your service.
The very first DV I went to was in a town house, it took us less than 2 minutes from the time the call dropped for us to get on scene. It was a jock that I had gone to school with, someone that was very looked up to, his high school sweetheart sat on the couch with her head down, crying.. I was new so I didn't say much cause I was learning... The guys from school had hit his girlfriend so hard that her right eye was completely swollen shut, much like a boxers eye would be after the 3rd round. She couldn't see out of it, when we pried it open to take pictures all of the blood vessels were blown..... I knew the girl (in passing) from school but didn't even recognize her at all.
What would some one do to get beat so bad.... Get caught cheating?? No, they were watching a movie, he asked (told I'm sure) for some popcorn.. She burnt the popcorn.. Serious ??? This jock that a lot of people looked up to beat her for burning popcorn.... Sad.
Of course she later recanted her story and said she walked into a door and wouldn't show up for court..
May 21st 1995, I had just gone through a divorce.. Oh well crap happens..
I was at work when a priority call came over the radio, DV with a handgun involved. Male was beating the female.
My partner arrived first and I was about 45 seconds behind him, he aired that the suspect had fled in a vehicle and took the gun with him.
I started taking pictures of her and the scene when I heard over the radio that the suspect vehicle had been located... I ran to my car and drove as quickly as I could... And caught up with the other officer and the suspect.
The suspect went one way around the business with the marked patrol car following, and me going the other way around the building in my car... Of course we all met up, Roger* and I were front bumper to front bumper.... Yes he had the gun in his hand and he was pissed... He was slamming his hands on the steering wheel.... Pointing the gun at himself... briefly at me then back to himself... He was yelling & screaming and his car was shaking form his movement.... He was pissed!!!
Rage took over him and he began putting his car in drive, trying to push mine away, then to reverse... Crash into the patrol car behind him.... Then drive.. Crash !! Into my patrol car..... I jumped into my car and floored the gas pinning his car between ours, and the rage built !!!!
By now Roger* was so pissed, I was trying to talk calmly to him but her was still holding the gun... The same gun he had used to smash his girlfriend in the mouth with, knocking out her front teeth..
I talked to Roger for 30 minute trying to get him to drop the gun...... Just drop the FU**KING gun Roger*... He didn't.....
Roger* decided to start walking away form me and towards a crowd that had gathered.... Great, now what is this man full of rage going to do??? I had to do something...
I ran in front of Roger* to start blocking his path, making up my mind I was about to do something that was going to change every ones life....
Roger* turned his head and looked right at me..... I was yelling as loud as I could now !!!! ROGER* !!!! DROP THE GUN !!!!! DROP THE F***KING GUN !!!!!! He continued to look at me while saying "F***K YOU !!!!" full of anger as he started to lower his gun to shoot me..... I fired three times.... All shots hit their mark and he dropped to the pavement... Roger never got another chance to say sorry to anyone...
I had my life pretty much torn apart, Maybe I could have done something different... Maybe I should have said something different... Maybe , maybe , maybe... No, I really didn't have a choice. Roger had several choices that day, many of them changed a lot of peoples life's forever..
I still have the nightmares 15 years later, I still struggle to find peace with what I had to do... I continue to do my job as best I can, as fair as I can because if I don't who will step up and do what's right.
Most people don't like cops until they need one.. I just don't like them in my mirror.
*Name changed
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