"Tickets for Tots"

About eight years ago, the Azle Police Department participated in a wonderful program called "Tickets for Tots" to help underprivileged children in the community (and the cops too) have a great and wonderful Christmas. The program was very simple: Cops would be working traffic detail, you come by speeding, cop stops you and you get a citation or a warning. If you got a warning, the cop would also hand out a "Tickets for Tots" form asking for a toy donation. The toy was not in lieu of a citation because the officers had already made up his / her mind to issue a warning. The toy was voluntary and was totally up to the "violator" to participant or not to participant. Our first year, we were overwhelmed with the program's success. Hundreds of toys came in and we were able to help many, many families that first year. The second year was even better and the cops really got into it also...they saw the need in the community and they saw this program as a positive for so many deserving children within our little town. Then, Christmas of 2002 the program got cut...we were told it was silly and that it was illegal. We were told that the Azle Police Department would have no dealings whatsoever with such a program. Well, I'm not stupid, we had had an attorney review and our judge, who just happens to be a "big civil liberties" guy had signed off on it and gave thier blessings. However, someone else did not give it the blessing that it so deserved. Many kids have gone without over the years because this program got cut, but what not is mentioned is the hearts of the officers and dispatchers got cut too. I remember one year we had a present wrapping party. Everybody got together in the council chambers and wrapped the presents...we were there forever...all night long sometimes. The feeling of comradery, the feeling of community, civil service , and civic pride came alive in that room and so many times I lhave longed for that feeling again. But it never came, after July 15, 2002, it never came again for the Azle Police Department. Chief Steven Kay Myers squashed this and so many other programs because of his personal beliefs, thoughts, feelings, whatever. Nonetheless, this program went by the wayside, or wait...did it?????. That's right...that is "our" little program started in Azle about 8 years ago. This story by Bud Kennedy is both pleasing and heart wrenching to read. So much goodness came from the program, so much effort, desire and heart from our community and our officers...all gone...under the lack of leadership of one man....sad...sad...sad... I say good luck to Samsom Park and Chief White...I do think its a little funny that Samsom Park Police Department has a more forward thinking Chief of Police than the City of Azle, a city about three times larger, has had in a very long time.

HERE COMES THE SUN....SUN, SUN, SUN, HERE IT COMES....

I'm on day shift now...I start in the morning. We are going to 12-hour shifts starting in the morning. I will be working 2 days on, 2 days off, 3 days on, 3 days off...meaning every other weekend I get off.

It also means that instead of working 10 days in a 14 day pay period, I will only be working 7 days. That gives me 7 days off in a pay period instead of only 4. Good times....

I liked midnight shift, but I am ready to go to days when it is light outside. I still have a hard time navigating around in some of the neighborhoods. This will give me some good time to learn the city streets more before I have to go back to nights. I don't think that shift change will be until June.

So wish me well, got to go clean my sunglasses....

I got a Winnie the Pooh thingy...

Jayden playing with his Winnie the Pooh toy...

Jayden says "Hi"

While sitting on his grandpa's lap, Jayden just wanted to waive to everyone and tell everyone hello and have a safe and Happy New Year.

Here he is with his "Petie", when his grandpa was about his age, he had a Petie and he was my bestest friend.

My wonderful daughters.

Nap time!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I wish each and everyone a blessed and wonderful Chirstmas Day.

Greg

Live from Keeter !!!, it's Saturday Night !!!!

• Saturday night in Keeter, Texas...it is not such a happening place.
• I learned today that my department is considering going to 12 hours shifts, 12 hours = mixed emotions.
• This blog thing is really nice...I said I wanted some "We say Merry Christmas bumper stickers" and poof, I got some bumper stickers in the mail...(thanks for the hookup to my most Bad A brother in law)
• I want a new 4-door Jeep.
• My wife has officially went to "Def con 70" on her baking. We now have more cookies than I believe I have ever seen.
• I am finally getting my wide screen TV tomorrow...I can't wait..Santa Clause is sooooo cool.
• I worked evening shift today, 2PM = 70 degrees, 10PM = 40 degrees...what the heck is going on?
• Both my cats (Christine's cats)are retarded...plain and simple...it is just the way it is.
• When I got home tonight, my wife had hot potato soup ready for me...good soup, better wife.
• I want a new 4 door Jeep.
• I went to my buddies 40th suprise birthday party last night, good times, better Margritas.
• Speaking of margritas, I had four jsut to make sure that they were good ones...yep...they were good ones.
• I'm not a big sports guy...can' talk sports, can't really get into the sports scene...however...I know without a doubt that the Dallas Cowboys suck.
• I have always wanted to watch "LOST" however, it is one of those shows that you really need to get into from the start. I started watching it several years ago (pre DVR era) and missed some episodes so I just quit watching...now ABC.COM has all episodes on line...I'm at Season 1, episode 12, good times.
• I listen to "Coast to Coast AM radio" during the night shift...all my shift buddies do to. And when something cool is being discussed, we talk about it on our MDTs (mobile computers). We where all looking forward to Thursday night's show (it was going to be ghost talk caught on audio tape) but the people had technical difficulties and had to cancel, we turned to another radio station as a united front to show our disapproval.
• Went and saw "The day the earth stood still" it was okay, but the original is still better.
• I want a new 4 door Jeep.
• I used the "Big Easy" for the first time, worked like a champ.
• I saw Carolers tonight driving though a very exclusive neighborhood on a real buckboard wagon with hay bails being drawn by two large beautiful horses. I stopped and listened to them as they stopped at a couple of houses. It now feels like Christmas to me.
• The blessings continue...thanks

My Monday Morning Ramblings

• As I sit here and type, I have a cat kneading my neck...
• Next year, I am going to wrap the pipes before it gets cold and windy. I just came in from outside, it is 30 degrees with winds 15 to 20 mph, the wind chill is 20 degrees.
• My wife is in the Christmas cooking mood right now, I'm going to put on some weight, I just know it.
• There was a shooting in Fair Park Dallas over the weekend. A fifteen year old boy got shot. It was at "Kwanzaafest". Nothing says happy holidays like all the gangsta boyz shooting in tha hood during Kwanzaa...ya know wha Im say N?
• Ex Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk is "up for selection" by the Obama administration as the new Secretary of Education. Dallas ISD was just named worst ISD in the State of Texas. Dallas ISD students that will not graduate and/or just plain drop out is now over 50%. Not that the Mayor has anything to do with the local ISD, I just thought it would be funny to say that the "new" Secretary of Education once was the mayor of Dallas who by the way has the worst school district in Texas.
• William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright and Rod Blogojevich, boy, our new President has some great friends.
• I listen to Coast to Coast radio show during the night shift, I love hearing about Bigfoot and Ghost and Aliens.
• I went to Azle City Hall today, man what a drain down that was.
• I took Megan out for her birthday this week, I enjoyed our time so much. She is such a beautiful young lady, and I love her so much. I thank God everyday, that she made it through her teen years.
• I got to see my handsome, kick "A" grandson this week also, he is such a big boy.
• I just moved the cat away from my neck, she came right back and it know kneading my temple and hair.
• Its my weekend...and Christine and I are going to spend some quality time together Wednesday morning...she is leaving for the holidays and it is the last time we will get to spend time together before she leaves this weekend. We are going to go see a movie and go some place nice to eat.
• My blessings continue, and for that, I am most greatful.

Take care, blog soon...

G

The Day After Hump Day Thoughts

• I finally had to turn the heater on in the well house today...winter has arrived!
• Is it a good thing when your wife wants a gun for Christmas?
• The January schedule at work finally came out, I'll be going to day shift January 2, 2009.
• My middle daughter turns 20 Saturday. Thank God she made it through her teenage years.
• I have candles at my house, lots and lots of candles.
• There was a party last night that involved some underage drinking. When I ask the home owner why she was allowing this to go on, she stated that due to her house being so big, she could not keep up with who and what everyone in the house was doing...good grief.
• Just to let you know, at 3:45am, it is cold.
• I have received over 10 calls since I have been "cut loose", and I have not had to look at my map book yet.
• I can drink Racetrac hot chocolate all night long...I likes me some Racetrac hot chocolate.
• We have stats to keep up with at HVPD. You need to average 5 this and 5 thats and 5 thoses , each shift, and so on, with only two days worked this month, I'm above average so far, I got 7 thats last night.
• The cats and I are on the same sleeping schedule right now, it is really going to throw them off when I switch to days.
• I went to Wal Mart today, it is the first time I've been in a store since the "holiday season" is in full swing...two words...damn it.
• I wonder if the Rosetta Stone language software is worth the money.
• Christine and I went to Highland Village's Village Glows festival Tuesday night, what a nice time we had and the 35 foot Christmas tree is beautiful on the square.
• I want a Bill O'Reilly bumper sticker that says " I say Merry Christmas".
• I like the new show "Secret Millionaire".
• Happy Birthday to Jethro "Max Baer Jr" of the Beverly Hillbillies.
• We have a night vision monocular to use on midnight shift, I watched satellites in space last night, way cool. I thought at first it was an UFO and then I was able to "identify" it. At least I think I did.
• I like Beyonce's new song about "It you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it" , I am now learning the choreography, so I can break out at the Christmas party.
• You know you've slept good and hard when you wake up and you don't even know where you are, what time it is or what day it is. That happens sometimes to me even when I have had nothing to drink.
• It is official, Red, Hot and Blues, is the best BBQ ever...
• You just got through reading random thoughts from a very blessed man...

Till next time,

G

I am finally "CUT LOOSE"

Well, I made it, final phase, cut loose, E.O.T., on my own, cut loose...I passed training. Tonight will be my first night in Highland Village on my own. My own car (Unit 422), my own streets, turn when I want, go here or there when I want...I get to have my bag in the front seat with me, finally. Being cut loose has both its positives and negatives. The positives are some of the things listed above, like, I get to do what I want, go where I want, wherever I want...the Independence of being your own person and making your own decisions. However, the down side to all of that is you loose your "security blanket" your FTO (filed training officer). I have had three of the best FTOs I believe I could have ever had. Not only were they my trainers, but now they are my partners and friends. So it is with mixed emotions I venture out on my own tonight...I'll find my way...it is still just so new and exciting for me. A few things that should be mentioned about the HVPD FTO program that I must pass along to all those who read this here blog....

• If your FTO just got coffee, be very careful how you drive.
• If your FTO just got coffee, don't make him laugh so hard the coffee comes out of his nose...I have been informed that that really burns.
• Don't "lock out" the FTO's windows...it makes them feel like they are "not in charge".
• Don't review your FTO's reports and point out their mistakes...it hurts their sensitive self esteem and macho image.
• Don't hide your FTO's thumb drive....man, that really gets them going.
• Don't hog the MDC (vehicles computer)...you must share.
• When you turn on your 3 million candle power spot light, make sure it is not facing your FTO's eyes.
• When you and your FTO go for a midnight cruse on the golf cart, don't run his side through the sprinklers....because while you are laughing, they are not.
• Don't stand in front of the complainant, while your FTO is behind the complainant making faces...and laugh...you'll be called names.
• Don't ever lay your vehicle keys down around your FTO...they wont be there when you need them.
• When you are through with the computer, make sure you sign out...if you don't your FTO might send an email to the Captain and Chief using your sign on name. The email might be very sweet and caring.
• "Work in circles"
• Listen to every word and take all their advise, because through it all, their number one concern is your success.

To each of my FTO's...thanks from the bottom of my heart. I will do my very best to not let you down.

G