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Letter from Joe Friday
Hi Colin.
The nature of the cop biz forces so many stories out of your head, I’ve truly forgotten more than I remember.
As a back story, I grew up in a small town in Southern California near San Diego. Through high school, I had close to zero “fella exposure”. My first taste came when I got hired by a local law enforcement agency. My job was running around serving eviction notices to fellas. Trial by fire for sure.
I was hired by a PD in 1993 while I was still 21. To say I was naive is the understatement of the century. Now that you have the back story, I’ll tell you a couple of my most memorable experiences.
It was summer in the early 90’s. I had just graduated the academy and was now in training on graveyards. My very first call as a rookie 22 year old patrolman:
“… (robbery) in progress at the 7-Eleven. (It was the one on J street). Suspects are four BMAs (black male adults) with shotguns. I hauled ass to the call like a rookie does. When I got there, I met with the clerk, a 65-70 year old man. He was bleeding profusely from the top of his head. He told us he had been robbed by four fellas who then konked him over the head.
I will never forget the video tape. Crystal clear. Four parolee sized fellas in matching purple sweat suits (not kidding). They all had full-size hunting shotguns. Now, remember, I have zero real life experience. I watched as the clerk emptied the till of about $150 (that’s about all they ever get). I’ll never forget the old man with his hands in the air with four shotguns pointed at him.
He complies and gives them the money. After taking the money, one of the fellas reaches over and hits him over the head with the barrel of the gun. I remember saying to myself, “why did they hit him after they got the money?” I’ll never forget that one. Little did I know that hitting the clerk after getting the money was an exclusively fella-behavior. I remember later that year, the same crew hit the La Quinta hotel. Pregnant lady gave up the money. Konked over the head. Standard.
Another one that changed me forever: I’m probably 24 or so. An elderly WWII gentleman called 911. A “hot prowl” burglary (burglary when the people are home) had just occurred. I go to the call and met with this frail elderly man while the paramedics tended to his wife. I’ll never forget what he said to me.
He said, “well, I woke up and came into the kitchen to get milk and cookies like I do when I can’t sleep. I saw candle wax all over the floor so I knew something was wrong. (The fella lit a candle in the house to see where he was going). I went to check on my wife (they slept in different rooms as many elderly couples do).
He interrupted the fella raping his elderly wife. As a 24 year old “boy” I remember having to ask this sobbing, elderly woman in the presence of her veteran husband, “ma’am, do you know if the suspect ejaculated?”
I was never so blown away by complete savagery. Completely defenseless people. Savagely attacked. I simply cannot and will never understand how someone can even think of that crime, let alone carry it out. True story. Has stayed with me for over 20 years.
Ok, one more quick one. I remember I was on patrol on daywatch. I stopped a fella in a car in the ‘hood. I was leaning into the car watching his hands and getting his information. After about 45-60 seconds, I swear to god I looked up and no fewer than 20-25 fellas, all 20-30 years old, had gathered in the lawn in front of the apartment complex to watch what I was doing.
I remember looking at them and going, “holy sh*t. They must all have the same day off!” That’s been a family joke for many years. It was a true trial by fire.
I’ll send more soon.
Joe Friday
