Routine Patrol

ROUTINE PATROL Traffic was light and moved at a brisk pace as the trio stood on the shoulder, well out of the way of the parked vehicles while Andy followed-up by getting additional information from the woman. Consequently, everyone’s guard was down when a black car with darkly tinted windows blew past, and a single gunshot rang out. Hit, the concussive force of the close shot knocked Andy off his feet. The woman screamed, Adele’s hand flew to her chest, and Officer Thomson lay on his back, unmoving. “Call 9-1-1,” Adele ordered the woman. “Tell them what happened, that we have an officer down. We need paramedics here right away!” Kneeling beside Andy, she put her fingers to the side of his neck. There was a pulse, and where there was a pulse, there was life. “Oh dear,” Adele whispered when she saw that he wasn’t breathing. But she was brought back to reality when she heard sirens in the distance. “Please God, get them here quickly. Guide their hands and be their knowledge. Lord, I don’t care if you literally kick this boy in the ribs just make him breathe!” Adele fervently suggested as her prayer became more adamant. Adele decided she would do what she could to help Officer Thomson start breathing again. She unbuttoned his shirt, then unfastened the velcro straps of his armored vest. Then putting both hands to his shoulders, she shook him but good. Just then Andy’s mouth opened, and he gulped in a huge, ragged breath, just as the fire truck braked to a stop. “I just don’t want him to die,” she lamented, and nearly beside herself, she paced about the area, wringing her hands. “I just don’t want him to die.” “Ma’am,” the medic tried to assure her. “He’s not going to die; he’s going to be just fine. Based on what you’ve told us…and our triage, he just got the wind knocked out of him.” “Really?” Adele asked, as a spark of hope crept into her eyes. “Yes. Getting hit in the chest and then landing on his back…both worked against him and sent his diaphragm into spasm. In short, he got the wind knocked out of him. Sometimes it takes a while for the diaphragm to start working again. The brain is telling him to breathe, in fact its yelling at him to breathe, but the diaphragm is refusing to comply. There are stomach muscles that play second base, and they’ll kick in to help get the diaphragm working again. Sometimes it takes a minute or two, but then everything syncs up and starts working,” the medic patiently explained. “Will he be alright?” “He will be just fine. He got hit in the front, and thrown onto his back, it was a real double whammy. I’m sure they’ll want to check him out at Samaritan General, but no worries. It’s not an emergency.” “Praise the Lord,” Adele sighed, casting her gaze skyward. * * * A week later, Mrs. Adele Halsey, carrying a shopping bag, entered the lobby at SCSD. Andy, Dan, Lt. Ruger, accompanied by Davis, and Cooper had all just come down the hall, passing through the lobby, on their way to the cafeteria. Hence, they all ran into one another. “Officer Thomson,” Mrs. Halsey called out, waving to him. Recognizing his recent ride-along, Andy and his colleagues gathered around the older woman. “It’s good to see you again, Mrs. Halsey,” Andy greeted with a cordial hug. “You too, young man.” “How can we help you today?” “I have something for you,” she replied, as she opened the shopping bag and removed an engraved placard, handing it to Officer Thomson. Andy accepted the offered gift, but as he read the inscription, a concerned frown crept over his face. “Mrs. Halsey, I don’t understand.” “Read it,” she quietly ordered, and though he felt uncomfortable, Andy felt he should comply with her wishes. Awarded this day Aug. 15, 1998 to Officer Baldwin J. Halsey for outstanding performance in the duty of his job. Bravery, above and beyond, in the true spirit of SCSD. “Mrs. Halsey…” Andy began but was quietly interrupted. “I want you to have it. More so, my husband would want you to have it. It was awarded posthumously, so he never saw it. “I watched you work the other day, all day. Though we didn’t encounter the same situation that took his life, and for that I am grateful…I watched you approach any number of people, and under varying circumstances. You fully realized that at any time it could go wrong, very wrong. “At the end of the day, when you did not have to take that call, you did. It’s in your heart to do so, and I understand that. Because of that you ended up in the hospital for a day or so, and you just reminded me so much of Baldwin and the man that he was. He gave his all, and I have not one doubt in my mind that you would do the same, if it ever came to that, and I pray that it never does. Blessings are no good unless they keep rolling on down the line. “So today, I award you with this placard may it remind you every day of exemplary conduct, and the willingness and desire of your heart to do your job to the best of your ability all the days that God gives you.” “I don’t know what to say,” Andy murmured, shaking his head in wonderment. His heart was truly touched as he handed the placard to Dan to hold for just a moment. “Thank you,” Andy said, even though his voice broke. Putting his arms over the petite woman, he held her in a comforting embrace. Slowly, she put her arms around his waist, and rested her head against the strength of his chest, and for a brief moment she held her husband close to her once again.