Having been logged 11 calls for service would seem, to the lay person, busy for a day shift but not really. It's actually nice when they are spaced out throughout the shift and makes the day go by a lot faster than not having any calls at all. Some calls I was the backing unit and was disregarded before I marked on location so I guess those calls do not count.
One of my calls was for an auto accident on a bridge that we share jurisdiction with another agency. We have about 30% of the bridge and obviously the other jurisdiction has the other 70% (I'm pretty good at math). So the call comes out that the other jurisdictions officer is out with both vehicles and is waiting for us to get there since it's "on us". Well I get there and they are off the bridge in our jurisdiction and there is no officer in sight, no big deal, I guess he had some crime to fight.
I get out of my car and give them my usual greeting and ask if there are any injuries at which time they both say "no". Ok so far so good right? I ask them where exactly did the accident happen and they tell me on the middle of the bridge. Now me being a math wiz (see earlier comment) I can safely deduce that the accident happened in the other jurisdiction because middle is 50% and if we have 30% then it is a good chance the the middle will fall into the 70%. I guess one officer from another jurisdiction did not feel like doing some paperwork today. Onward.......
The accident is non-reportable, which is that it doesn't meet the criteria that the Commonwealth established so that the accident is not reported to them. Doesn't mean the accident didn't happen its just that the Commonwealth will not be notified and it will not go against anyone's driving record....get it? Good.
I fill out the paperwork and 10 minutes after I arrived all parties are sent on their merry way. Stuff like this happens a lot on the border of our jurisdictions. First officer on location usually pawns it off on the other jurisdiction and then splits like he/she is being chased by the Texas Rangers for horse theft.
Second accident is a reportable. A simple rear-ender. As like most rear-enders the driver of the striking vehicle took their eyes off the road for a split second and then BOOM! Paperwork completed and back in service.
Next call was a domestic. Now in the Commonwealth a domestic has certain criteria that must be met in order for it to fall under the domestic violence laws. The combatants have to be either married or have a child in common, live under the same roof and some other stuff that I won't bore you with. Well these two were just plain old boyfriend and girlfriend who let a verbal argument get into a semi physical discussion. Female basically tells me that she and the boyfriend got into a verbal argument over some money that she claims the BF owes here. She goes on to say that all she wants is her daughters (not his child) disability paperwork that is in the bathroom and she will go on her way. I then go and talk to the BF and explain that all she wants is the paperwork and he lets me in I go to the bathroom and there is no paperwork in there, just toilet paper. So I go back out and tell her that there is no paperwork in the bathroom and that he does not have the $900.00 dollars that he owes her. Well that wasn't what she wanted to hear. She then tells me that he beat her up, choked her and let his dog bite her and she wants him arrested. I say ok let me see your injuries and she shows me her arms which are a little red around the wrist area but no bite marks, no bleeding and no signs of anything around her neck. I get her information and tell her to hold on a bit.
I talk to the BF and he tells me a slightly different story except for the dog part. Oh by the way the dog is a Rottweiler and has a head bigger that the moon but friendly as can be, at least to me. He says that they were arguing and the GF started to get loud and came towards him. Now the dog being a good companion protected his master and went after the GF who proceeded to kick the dog causing the BF to grab her and throw her off the dog. He goes on to say that she then grabs a knife and starts to go toward him and he grabs the knife and they struggle for a minute at which time she hits him several times before grabbing her things and leaves. She then calls us. I get his information for my report and tell him to wait.
I go back to the GF and ask her about the knife and she says "Oh I forgot about that, yea I grabbed it but never went near him" I gave her a report number and advised her that she has a year to take out a warrant for simple assault on him and that he is going to be advised of the same thing against her. Will they follow through with it? Probably not, but at least I made a new friend today.....the Rotweiler!!!!
There are always three sides to each and every story and its our job to try and figure it all out.
Throw in a few burglar alarms and my day is complete.
Did I make a difference today? Yes I did, that dog is a better animal because it has a new friend.
10-7 EOT
You should have locked her up for kicking the dog!
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