This past Monday my department executed a long planned and well thought out city wide operation. The purpose of this operation was to conduct unannounced visits to the residences of Parolee's and Probationers in our city. When a person is released from Prison on Parole they are subject to a search of their person and property, i.e. their house, cars, and personal property. Person's given probation are also sometimes subject to the same types of searches.

My Police Department's Special Response Team (Which I am a part of) conducted five high risk entries into some of the Parolee's/Probationers on our list of planned houses to visit. During a search of a Probationer's house we found a fairly large amount of Methamphetamine. The Probationer who is an avowed Nazi Low Rider Gang Member went to County Jail. His girlfriend also went to jail with him as well.

The best part of the entire operation for me was conducting a Probation search on a house I personally chose. I had done some background work on the woman who is on Probation and resides at the house I chose for the Probation search. "Linda" lives at this house in question with her parents. She is 30 yrs. old and an ex-cranker.

I went to the front door of her house at approximately 0900 HRS. I expected to find her in bed. Sure enough, while in her bed she poked her head out of her bedroom window which faces the front door of the house. I motioned for her to come to the front door. After Linda got to the front door I told her I was at her house to conduct a Probation search. Linda cooperated and let me inside the house. I asked Linda who else was in the house. She told me her mother was asleep in her bedroom. She also told me her boyfriend was asleep in her bedroom.

Inside the Linda's bedroom I found a loaded Hypodermic needle containing liquid Methamphetamine. Linda's boyfriend (On Parole for stealing cars) claimed ownership of the loaded Hypodermic needle. Off to County Jail he went. In Linda's room myself and my coworkers found some documents printed out from the Internet containing a differently named person's personal information. We then checked Linda's computer and found evidence of her making counterfeit driver's licenses to commit Identity Theft. So, off to County Jail she went.

Operation Alpha generated six arrests of Parolees, Probationers, and one outstanding warrant arrest. It was through our proactive police work that we were able to be successful.

Until next time,

"Eddie"

First, I would like to thank all the readers who have been kind enough to read my blog and respond positively. I readily accept positive feedback, constructive criticism or even an intelligent opposing viewpoint. What I do find sad are the people out there who read blogs and respond in a hateful manner. To those idiots I say get a life.

I have been on vacation the last couple of work weeks. I would however like to discuss a topic of recent discussion, Firearms. My job as a Police Officer is obviously inherently dangerous. I knew what kind of career I was getting myself into the moment I entered the Police Academy. All you have to do is look at the number of Police Officer's killed in the line of duty each year. It is sad and sobering to see the statistics. I have already been to one funeral earlier this year for a Police Officer killed in the line of duty by a firearm. I know that my life can just as easily be ended by someone I come across as part of my "routine" duties as a police officer.

When I say "routine" I am using sarcasm. There is absolutely nothing routine about my job. The diversity of my job is what I enjoy the most. It can also be the most dangerous aspect of my job. For the most part, I never no what may be waiting for me on a traffic stop or a call for service.

To give you an example, about 3 weeks ago I was working my "normal" graveyard shift. It was about 2:30 am and I was stopped at an exit in a church parking lot. I saw an older model silver American made sedan pass by me. I saw the driver wasn't wearing his seat belt. The reason I could see he wasn't wearing his seat belt was because he drove past my headlights which lit up the interior of his car. I followed the driver of the silver sedan and made a traffic stop a short distance away.

As I exited my patrol car I saw the driver immediately throw his arms out the window in a surrendering gesture. The driver doing that sounded alarm bells and raised a red flag. It put me in a heightened state of alertness. Such a disarming gesture is normally done by a driver who is giving up because you already have your gun pointed at them or they are voluntarily surrendering because of what they have in their vehicle. i.e. a gun, drugs, or stolen property.

Well, I decided to try to catch the driver off guard by approaching his vehicle from the passenger side. I always have my hand positioned on my gun in case I have to draw it quickly. I began talking to the driver and asked him why he had his arms out the window. The driver told me he was on Parole and had a flare gun underneath his seat. The mere mention of a gun, whether it is truly a flare gun or an Uzi gives cause for concern. I told the driver not to make any sudden movements. While continuing to talk to the driver I recognized him from previous contacts I've had with him. I then waited for my cover officer to arrive. We then took the driver out of the car and searched him due to his Parole status. After placing him in the back of my patrol car I did indeed find a orange flare gun underneath the driver's seat. The flare gun was locked and cocked, meaning the hammer was all the way back in the ready to fire position. The flare gun was loaded with a live incendiary flare round. The orange flare gun was the type of flare gun you would normally find on any small boat or large ship. A flare gun is commonly used for distress signaling purposes. However, if the flare gun were shot at me at point blank range it could kill me.

I arrested the driver for being in possession of a loaded concealed weapon and being in possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle. He was sent out to County Jail. His Parole status was also revoked, meaning he will more than likely return to prison.

The above incident illustrates the unknown dangers I face. The person I arrested very likely could have used the orange flare gun in an attempt to shoot me. There is an overabundance of normal firearms out on the streets. For this very reason, I always have to be ready to draw and fire my pistol.

I have one goal at the end of every shift I work. That goal is to live to see another day and to be able to go home. To those out there who think I am ill advised for drawing my firearm at any potentially dangerous suspect (i.e., a 15 yr. old car thief) I say this: Why don't you walk a mile in my shoes before you pass judgment.