Latest motivational stroy
You old guys know my stories from MH. This week I Put another one down as a response to one of the guys losing motivation while trying to go to school, workout and other things.
Posted 22 February 2006 03:29 PM
I don't remember the date, but I do remember it was 1993. It was cold. I don't mean a little chili. I mean I had on a turtle neck, vest, uniform, sweater and a quilted jacket. The radio had been quiet which I enjoyed for the first time that night. It was about 3 am. I pulled into the second level of the parking deck at New Hanover Regional to study for a final I had that next morning at 8. There was the occasional chatter going about from car to car, guys getting dinner and checking tags. Typical middle of the night BS. I was about 3 pages deep into my Sociology notes when the shrill alert tone sounded. It pierced the patrol car and echoed through the parking deck since my window was cracked. "Any unit in the area - highway patrol calling 10-33 (help) on a traffic stop, Hwy 17 and 132- Any and all units responding please advise." I was rounding the bottom level and approaching the automated arm before she even finished her sentence. I squealed out onto the street headed toward Hwy 17 with the Sociology book still on my lap, but no longer open to the right page. Damn Finals! My blue lights and siren kicked on in unison as I crossed the 3 digit mark on the speedometer. As I approached the call location I realized very quickly that there were no blue lights in site, this is a bad sign. Off the side of the road up ahead was one vehicle, the trooper's. I frantically radioed in that I was arrival and needed all suspect info and for them to alert the trooper. Jumping from my vehicle in the dark night the dispatcher began to give out the make and model of the vehicle and occupant information. As I approached the troopers car, carefully for not knowing what I was going to find, I could hear his alert tone off in the distance. I moved my mag light towards sound of the alert and found him face up in a ditch on the side of the road. He was alive and breathing but had been beaten pretty bad. Behind me I heard another car approaching. As the officer got out I instructed him to stay put until medic arrived and I jumped in my vehicle. Not knowing which way they went or what I might acomplish I sped off. The description of the suspects somehow gave me the impression they were headed for the beach. So off I went, again in the 3 digit range. Within 2 minutes of my quest I came up behind a slow moving Honda with no tail lights. (Ah, that must be why he tried to stop them). I activated all my spot lights and lit the vehicle up like a Christmas tree. The rear seated passenger turned to face me and when he pulled his hand up onto the back of the seat it held a revolver. Calling out my location and 10-33 for the stop I accelerated. I pushed the front end of my new 93 Crown Vic up into the back of the Accord and very quickly found it rising off the ground. The rear of the vehicle then appeared on my hood as the vehicle's front tires caught on the pavement and flipped. I then lost control of my cruiser and veered off into a parking lot striking a telephone pole so hard it snapped like a twig. My hood destroyed, my windshield smashed and maybe even my pants a little wet. I ran from the vehicle towards the suspect vehicle. They were all 3 out and on their feet ready to fight. I dropped to one knee aimed my service weapon at them and evidently said something that made them realize I was willing to kill them if I had too. They complied and went face down on the pavement. I felt a trickle of blood come across my forehead and wiped it away just as the next cop arrived and begain to place handcuffs on the suspects. I ran back to his vehicle and jumped in as other patrol officers arrived. I had to get back to the scene. I arrived just in time to see MY ROOMMATE being put on a stretcher. I got out to approach him and the medics but instead collapsed. I couldn't walk and I couldn't understand it except my leg felt like it was on fire. The medics loaded me up too and treated me for a broken ankle from the accident. We both recovered just fine and went back to work within a few weeks.
I took the final a week late and did just fine.
I could have stayed with him in that ditch. I could have and should have waited for back up before taking out the suspects.I could have done alot of things different. But what I could never have done is live with myself if I didn't do everything within my power. I had the training and will to take on that situation with no regrets. Regrets I would have had if I had chosen a different path. No one can motivate you. That comes from within. But what we can do is listen to your stories as time passes. You have to decide if they will be worth hearing!
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