Hi, I'm Snazzy and I'm Trucker

Okay, my computer completely died. I couldn't retrieve my old screen name or Email. I cheated and reregistered under Snazzy1. I'm not sure if this will post so I'll see what happens. Just a quick thanks to all of you for such nice comments. Don't worry I have a real geek coming soon. Again thanks to all my loyal fans and the new faces that sprung up. We'll get thru this or my name isn't the Snaze.

 

Okay, I just can't go back now and mention all by name. So, Bull, Horses,Ducks,Crows,Hangman,Sid,Nygere,Attitude,and the rest. Lets go for it.

We last left off in 1980. I finally finished my associate degree in criminal justice. I was working full time as a rent a pig. The associate dean over the criminal justice section also taught the reserve school for the Sheriff's Department. Very unexpectedly he offered to sponsor me thru the school. Back then the only way to get State certified as a cop was to attend an approved course which was around 160 hours class room. A reserve was required about 40 hours. The problem was you had to be approved by a law enforcement agency to attend. I had almost given up trying. The course cost me about $ 100, the problem was being able to work full time. So, I made a deal with another security patrolman to work my Saturday and I worked his Sunday. Most of the reserve officers had full time jobs so we attended classes for 8 hours. It worked out okay.

The 5 Saturdays were fun filled. There was a mixture of want to be officers.
It was like being at the zoo. Most were old men wanting to prove they had what it took. Some were reliving past dreams. I was just so happy to be there it didn't matter. Anyway, we learned book stuff. Most I'd taken over the 2 years in college. We learned some judo and batton twirling, err ehh, batton (nightstick) defense moves. Never call it beating down a suspect. The worse part to learn were the juvenile laws. Most the politicians had gotten tough on crime. Poor teenagers couln't spit without being jailed. Also they had so many rights it just didn't pay to fool with them in my opnion. That was the best way to get sued and that's all the departments worried about. The time flew by and I got ceretificate as a Reserve Police Officer.

I was hot stuff at the security company. It was like being a made man in the mafia. Guys gathered around to hear my bull. Anyway something happend to burst my bubble. Of course. Just as I finished the school the Dean asked me if I knew anyonelse interested in attending. It turned out that he got half the enrollement money for teaching the class. He'd sponsored a goat if he had the $100. So, like a fool I posted a memo on the bulletonboard at the security company. Now, remember these guys were security guards. They hadn't been a military policeman and gotten a 2 year degree in law enforcement. Nothing against them, but hey. It took me like 5 years of hard work to get that far. But, the big hearted guy I am. Yep, I vouched for everyone of them that wanted to go. Some I really felt just weren't cut out to be security guards, muchless a cop, even a reserve cop. But, who was I to judge ? Also, I knew most of them would never get past the background checks or written exams. Plus, don't forget the physical agility test.

So. We ended up with a security company with more ceretified cops than Carter's pills. It did make it fun on the midnightshift. For some reason the cops started liking us around and the bad guys didn't laugh as much. Of course none of us were actually cops. But, if you give a half dozen security guards a piece of paper that says Reserve Police Officer. Katy bar the door.

Lets see if this post, Snazzy.

 

But what about the cop whose life you saved? He didn't intervene and save the day, or am I jumping ahead?

 

Snazy,
Welcome back I was thinking about asking the 11th mountian to go find you and make sure you were escorted so nothing happens to you again. Glad you found a way to post again, my days will be better now... I can't wait until the next chapter in the world of Snazy....

 

Thanks, Hangman. I didn't have time to welcome you here. Stay safe over there. Leannamarie, that Officer I helped was just a flat foot cop. He wasn't maybe 6 months out of the academy. I'm sure he'd made me chief if it were up to him. One of my life's hardest lessons is to realize that a ton of good is out weighed by an ounce of bad. Some of ya'll reading this might have a totally different view of me as Live Goes On or as Scarecrow put it Life Isn't Always Snazzy. I'm trying to relate things as they actually happend. That's the hardest part. So stay tuned for some tears and laughs. Also, someone check on Baack. Haven't noticed Baack or Twocycle around. They may of had enough of me already.

It's late so goodnight. I'll be back tomorrow computer willing. Snazzy.

 

Good night Snaz, see you tomorrow

 

Woohoo! The Snazz has returned! I was worried -- checked both my milk carton and the post office "Wanted" posters yesterday and drew blanks both places. Ya' just never know with our Snazzy! LOL

Good to see you, pal. Lordy, but we missed you!

 

Well, this is my second try at posting this. Computers!!! I really, really hope it doesn't post twice.
Welcome back. I strongly doubt that anybody, Baack included, is tired of hearing this story. Although I don't know how truckers who are actually driving manage to keep up with it. I could never get to the internet that often on the road.
You seem to be very good at building suspense and keeping us hanging.
I can't wait for the trucking part, when you seem so committed to being a policeman in the current parts.
So did you buy a new computer or what?
Looking forward to the next...

 

Poor Ducks if this is her highlight of the day? Goodness. Nyegere, I agree with you. Dang old puters could drive a person nuts. I'm still using the 1997 Gateway p/c with windows 98. I downloaded off my Yahoo beta home page to update my browser. The file was corrupt. Turns out it isn't compatable with 98 and I need 2000 windows. So, here I am on world wide net driving a 1940 Ford flathead in the Indy 500. Beep, beep.


Financially my wife and I were doing okay in 1980. That's compared to being on welfare in 1978. I remember actually walking to the corner mini mart and selling coke bottles to buy spaghetti sauce. That was embarrsing but a man does whatever it takes to provide for his family. I can't remember a night where anyone under my roof went to sleep hungry. I'm not bragging. Well, maybe I am if you think having a roof over your head and food to eat is something to brag about. My x-wife has to be given credit too. She worked ever chance she had. Our kids were given what they needed and most of what they wanted. I never understood why many parents want their kids to see hard times. Especially the depression years generation. Geez, I think some of them, if their house had burnt down they'd set fire to kids house. Just to show them how terrible that is.

Grandma died. Enough said. Well, other than the world was minus a fine lady who had the biggest heart there ever was. She never saw me in wear a police uniform. I had worked at the security company a little over a year. Of course some of that time I was still attending the junior college. I managed to actually make a difference. Since we were roving patrol units I stumbled into several crimes in progress. Never an armed robbery but one of guards did. He acted very professional. As he pulled up to a 7-11 at 3 am an armed bandit with cash in hand fled the store. The guard radioed the Fort Worth Police, gave the suspect's description, and perserved the crime scene. Not a bad days work in my book. I caught about a dozen felons. Most were passed out in their vehicles behind our client's businesses. I'd just radio the cops and assist them make arrest. I caught a motorcycle thief once that actually shook my hand. He said he was more afraid of the security cops than the Police. In his opinion we were more likely to shoot. I solved a muder case kind of.

It was a hot summer's night. One of our security clients had a large sporting goods store. It was located in an area that had suffered from the economic downside of our times. The owner had large plate glass windows in the front. Several times the windows were smashed and the suspects made off with the goods. The owner was not a happy camper. We had the alarm system at our office and even with a 5 minute response time never caught anyone. The owner out of desperation had installed unbreakable plexiglass. That glass would flex on impact but not break. Anyway, our dispatcher radioed a signal 7 (silent alarm) at the location. I made the scene as quick as I could. I checked the store and no entry had been gained. I did see a large cinder block ( large building brick) laying on the ground. It had appeared the would be smash and grab suspect attempted but failed to break the glass. I was concerned about leaving the brick in the parkinglot for the next burglar. The owner arrived about 30 minutes later. We entered the store where he reset the alarm and satisfied himself no theft had occurred. The owner and I shot the breeze for awhile. Since no burglary had occurred the police weren't called.

I cleared the scene and drove the area. It was close to the office and I was looking forward to getting off. As I turned down one of the dark side streets I noticed that Fort Worth finest were working a crime scene. A half dozen squad cars were parked and the officers were huddled around like pee-wee footballers. Being the nosey guy I am, I parked and walzted over. Yep, a real live or make that dead body. The cops invited me to view the deceased. It was a young teenager with his forehead smashed in. The cops thought they had a virgin. Of course not. I had dealt with death several times in the past. Most were accident victims or suicides. I glanced down and at once knew what had happend. The cops were awaiting the homicide detectives. I shook my head, " This isn't a homicide ! " The cops laughed at me, " Your right, it's the worse case of suicide we've ever seen !" After more laughter I walked to my trunk and raised the lid. The cop's eyes followed my every move. I lifted the brick out, "Here's your murder weapon !"

The cops stood in awe. The homicide detective showed up as I explained my theory. The young man had lifted the brick above his head and with all his might thrown it. The plexiglass flexed and returned the brick. The poor kid stunned had managed to walk back to where his stolen car was parked. He never made it inside the car but collapsed. Futher investigation revealed small droplittes of a blood trail all the way back to the store. Case solved.

Let's break, your Snazzy.