One Week And Counting

One Week BABY!!

In March of 2002, that’s right I remember the actual date, I was working Delta shift under Lt. Father Time as the South Sergeant with Sergeant Bald Bull in the north. Around midnight I was called to booking by Officer Pappi due to his arrestee becoming belligerent. I responded to the booking room and found Lt. Time, Officer Pappi, and several other officers around Pappi’s arrestee.

Apparently Officer Pappi’s arrest was all jacked up on Mountain Dew, or an equivalent beverage, and had taken exception to being arrested. After some discussion we were able to lead the suspect into the holding cell and secure the door. Almost immediately upon the slam of the door closing the arrestee began slamming his forehead into the cement holding cell wall. From my recollection he was a recently separated from the Marines and I immediately gained respect for his unsolicited attack on an innocent cement wall, that’s right Sgt. Chanel he made the men’s department of the Navy proud.

After a few REALLY good hits against the wall I told the subject that if he continued to harm himself, by this time he was bleeding from his forehead and I do believe that I heard the cement wall crying for help, I would have no choice but to tase him. For all of the tough guys out there holding cells are all cement with metal cots and bars so there was no way that I was going to enter the cell or allow any of my officers to do so. The suspect continued to batter the wall unprovoked with his head and I truly believe that I saw the wall lose consciousness.

After a sickening melon thunking sound of a head hitting a cement wall I tased the arrestee. By this time Officer Pappi already had the cell key so that we could secure the suspect and as the medics had already been called and asked to wait outside the holding area until the subject was subdued. Lt. Time waited at the end of the booking room corridor while Officer Pappi stood behind me during this time. After the initial 5 second burst of the taser the suspect ceased slamming his head against the wall, but remained highly agitated.

Officer Pappi opened the cell door and the suspect started to become loud and belligerent again. Luckily he had dropped to the ground and was intoxicated enough to be easily subdued. He began to swear at Officer Pappi and I and become angrier and louder. Pappi and I were on our knees beside the suspect to try to ascertain the extent of the injuries to his head when the effects of the taser had obviously worn off. The suspect began to scream his displeasure with his arrest and asked that we explain our actions, the direct translation was something like, “YOU MO#&$’6 FU$&3$!!”

I really did not want to tase this man again so I did my best to calm him by saying, “RELAX!!! The tazer is voice activated!! Don’t yell or it will go off again”. Thankfully he calmed down and began to whisper to myself and Officer Pappi, “You mo%&#$^ fu47562!! You are both so fu%&*#($ d3!@!” We were finally able to secure the scene and get Fire and EMS in to treat this gentleman. This was 10 years ago and we didn’t have all the energy drinks then we do now so PLEASE take this as a warning you Rock Star RedBull drinkers!

Once the scene was secure, the prisoner treated, and order restored a report had to be made. Lt. Time was already in the booking room, but when we discussed the report he stated that IA would have to be called since he was the commanding officer and would also have to be treated as a witness. So as the story goes IA was called in and the investigation began. Lt. Time was called to give his statement to which he stated that he was at the end of the corridor and could not confirm my actions or that of the suspect, a witness who witnessed NOTHING. Unfortunately the suspect stated that he had been tased unnecessarily while following all lawful commands.

After speaking to other witnesses, including dispatch, who recorded all holding cell activity, it was made very clear that the suspect had been stopped from doing any further harm to himself or others by the action of myself and Officer Pappi.

Once IA had FINALLY obtained video documentation and statements Sgt. Bald Bull and Officer Shrek pulled me into the Sergeants office and told me “You know he sold you out right?” I looked at them quizzically and asked what they were talking about. Sgt. Bull repeated his statement while Shrek nodded. I again asked “What the F…. are you talking about?” Sgt. Bull told me that Lt. Time had been promoted to Administrative Services Captain effective the next morning and that he was planning on taking his early day that night, translation is that he was due to go off duty at 0200. The short version is that if Lt. Time were a witness rather than the reporting entity of an RCF he would be assured to leave in time. He claimed to be a witness, that saw nothing, and them called IA to take his non-statement.

Being the level headed person I am I immediately walked to the watch commander’s office to discuss this with him. I found Lt. Time typing out the watch commander’s report and preparing to leave. Taking into consideration the decision making skills I had learned over the years I immediately pulled my taser, removed the cartridge and placed it to Lt. Time’s skull. I really don’t want to exaggerate so it was right at the base of the skull and neck. Lt. Time asked “What are you doing?” to which I responded “I’, gonna tase you”. I do remember only tasing him right at the base of the neck and skull to insure no permanent damage. He let out a scream and feeling refreshed I walked out to see Officer Shrek and Sgt. Bull laughing. Officer Shrek said something to the effect of “Pay up!! I told you he would do something stupid.”

The irony of this story is that I was transferred to Administrative Services under Captain Time! The real irony is that I tortured Father Time from the moment I was assigned UNDER him and he treated me with nothing but respect. Sgt. Bull and I truly complemented each other as he was always the voice of reason, with his stupid rubber bands, and I ALWAYS had a great idea. My past couple stories were about Charlie shift and my friendships, but Lt. Time, Sgt. Bull and all of Delta Shift were just as special.

It has been forever since Father Time, Shrek, and Bull and I have gotten together, and I REALLY hope it isn’t for me tasing him, but I miss them all.