911 Hang-Out

I did 5 hours of training for new Fort Wayne Police Dept. Chaplains today. We talked about being safe while riding with an officer, responding to a crisis and making a death notification.

I told stories. But they were not very happy stories. At one point, as I told about responding to the scene where an SUV turned over and the driver was partially ejected, one of our youngest Chaplains leaned back in his chair, threw up his hands and said, “Whoa.”

But law enforcement Chaplaincy is not all trouble and heartache.

I was riding with officer Mike Perisak in Haltom City, Texas several years ago. Officers there and in Fort Wayne respond to every 911 call. Even when people dial 911 and just hang-up.

We responded to a 911 hang-up and a young man answered the door. Mike asked, “What’s going on?” The young man said nothing. Mike said, “We’re coming in.” The young man said, “No, you’re not,” and started to close the door.

Mike pushed against the door and entered the apartment. Yes, that would have been illegal, but Mike saw roaches. Not bugs, but the ends of marijuana cigarettes on a coffee table. Enough to give him cause to enter the residence.

Here is the back story: Four young men were hanging-out smoking a little weed. The resident stepped into the bathroom. One of his friends decided to leave, but before he did, he dialed 911 and hung-up.

His host was given a ticket that cost him over $100 in fines for possession of paraphernalia.

With friends like that …