Rockin' & Rollin'

[Jimd]

It hit the fan today.

Joe (yeah, the crazy one) and I were subdueing a rowdy inmate today. Joe had trouble getting the left wrist cuffed, so I grabbed the guy in an escort hold, and we were still having a tough time.



I managed to get my radio out and call for assistance. Then I hit the panic button on the radio, which sends out a distress call. The turnout was wild and enthusiastic.



Just as about 25 officers were getting there, we started all-out brawling with this Rectum. Fists were flying, and I grabbed the guy's left arm just as he was about to land one on Joe's head. Not happenin'.



It was Joe, the Rectum, and me....when a wall of huge CO's ran into us all at full-speed. I saw two GARGANTUAN dudes coming down on top of me, in addition to all the "normal" sized guys. :eek: I managed to twist away enough where every one of them didn't land on me. They did, however, land on my left leg, well over half a ton of very zealous, brawling dudes. Ouch. I'm getting too old for that.



So I rolled out when I couldn't get a shot in. Got to my feet, and felt okay as the brawl continued. Hey, what the ****, I'm not out of action, so I dodged around to the other side, where I dove in and grabbed the Rectum's wrist, and began to apply a lock that was very likely going to lead to his shoulder being ripped from it's socket. Just then, my pal, Gary, and two other COs grabbed me from behind and said, "Chill, man, it ain't worth losing your job. You got a wife and kids, man."



Thank you Gary and whomever else drug me away as I tried to get loose and de-limb the Rectum. Good dudes. I wasn't hitting the Rectum, so everything was on the up-and-up, but thanks anyway for thinking of me.



Leg hurts. Also have a stomach virus, which has me puking and crapping right now, VERY much stomach distress.



Part of my report read, "...I then grabbed Inmate XXX's left arm, applying an escort hold, and attempted to assist Officer [Joe] in cuffing said inmate. We experienced difficulties at this time...." They got a kick out of that.



Ugh, more puking. This **** virus is not fun at all!!!! Stomach hurts more than leg. More later, when I'm recovered.

[DAYWALKER]

Hey JimD,

Prayers sent your way brother.

Man, I like the sound of backup arriving, but NOT that feeling when they just literally JUMP into the fray...and I have said it a million times: Concrete hurts!

The dudes who pulled you back and and said what they did...*right on*!!! It IS extremely hard however to do things "legally" while these "Rectums" have NO rules to follow, ain't it?

Take care and stay hydrated bro. God bless 360IJN :cool:

[Stuart Ackerman]

Part of my report read, "...I then grabbed Inmate XXX's left arm, applying an escort hold, and attempted to assist Officer [Joe] in cuffing said inmate. We experienced difficulties at this time...." They got a kick out of that.


You should have added.." It was at this point that things BEGAN to go wrong"....

I do not envy you CO's one single little tiny bit.....

[Jimd]

What a day today. Worse than yesterday.

Went to to work, and first thing this morning, two enemy lieutenants called me in for a hearing. Wrote me up for "unprofessional use of the radio". They singled me out, because dozens of our staff play games on the radios and telephones, but I was the one who caught the crap (being a favorite whipping boy).

I told them, "I didn't even have to come in to work today, I could have called off and it would have been a free day because I'm injured. But here I came to work even though I was hurt, and you're putting me through this silly bullshit!"

We got into it, hot and heavy. I wound up cussing both Lt.s out royally and told them to stick the whole thing up their ***. Big thanks for helping a fellow officer out yesterday and getting myself hurt in the process.

So back to my post I go. Standing there all morning got my leg hurting even worse, so I called the Operations Center and told them I needed a relief so I could get medical attention. Their response: "We don't have any extra officers to relieve you right now, you just have to put up with it until we get someone." Glad to know I'm high on the priority list.

Eventually, I arrived at the hospital, where the doc spent at least 20 seconds examining my leg. "It's bruised", she explained. "I'll write you out a note for today."
Perplexed, I asked, "Just for today??"

She replied, "Yeah. We can't have you getting paid a lot of money, sitting home doing nothing. That would be milking the system."

I tried to explain that I work with bad people, and have to be fully able to fight them if they get badder, and that a bum leg is not good for this. "Well, you're company will decide if they need you or not, or what to do with you."

Patience draining away, I said, "Lady, they're going to throw my *** right back in there with the inmates, 'cause they don't care if I live or die."

"Well, that's up to them" was all she'd repeat.

I got back to the prison before the end of my shift, and guess where my *** went straight to....back into Gladiator School with the inmates.

These people have my full loathing and contempt.

[Jimd]

Most recent development:
I was at a party today and my pal, (fellow CO, Joe) told me that the Lt. who reprimanded me yesterday put in some very bad paperwork about the fight with the inmate on Thursday.

Seems the Lt. put in writing that I was kicking the inmate during the incident. What makes it interesting is that it never happened. Now, I have several witnesses who will back that up with written statements of their own.

But what makes it REALLY nice is that.....the whole thing's on videotape!! GOTCHA, lyin' Lieutenant!!

Even if I had kicked the inmate, I'd be covered, because our defensive tactics (I'm an instructor) has what's called "Active Countermeasures", which is strikes against the inmate (kicks, punches, elbows, knees).

This jackass of a lieutenant is really pissing me off beyond all recognition. As it is, I'm going to press the issue that he lied on official documents, and at least have him fired or disciplined, and hopefully prosecuted.

[ghostrider]

Jim, I'm sorry to hear of you difficulities at work. You do us all a service and deserve better. I'll pray for you.

Something I thought of though. Video tapes often seem to disappear when they are most needed. Is there a way to insure you have a copy before you take action?

[224477]

Jimd,

take care my friend and hold this F... on :cool:
Better days will come, just hold on.
Positive energy sent.
Regards,
J.

[Jimd]

Jim, I'm sorry to hear of you difficulities at work. You do us all a service and deserve better. I'll pray for you.

Something I thought of though. Video tapes often seem to disappear when they are most needed. Is there a way to insure you have a copy before you take action?

Ghostrider and everyone else....thanks for the prayers, they're appreciated more than you know!

A way to ensure the video stays safe? Absolutely not. They won't let any of us have copies of tapes. And yes, you're right that they often seem to "disappear".

One great thing: I have probably over a dozen witnesses (could probably even scare up a few convicts, too) that flatly will state that I never struck the man, and that our actions were by the numbers.

It's just beyond my comprehension that the lieutenant concocted this story and then put it on paper!!

The man is luckier than he knows, because I need my job. If not, his hospital stay would be very lengthy. However, I'm not going to go that route.

As it is, the Lt. and I are going to have a bit of quality time together some time in the near future. I'm going to air a few things out to dry with him, and help him see the angle I'm coming from. I believe in good communications.

[The Deacon]

Jim, I pray for you thru all this. Do try your hardest to keep what is most important clearly in mind, your family, and don't allow these idiots to provoke you into doing anything that may give you a moment's satisfaction, but at a cost far beyond its worth. Keep in mind and take satisfaction from the fact that, unlike some of those above you, you are a competent professional.

[dialex]

Jimd and Daywalker, you two have an... interesting life (as an old chinese curse sais). What amazes me most is not the conditions you're working (which are awfull), but the lack of solidarity between you and your superiors. I was thinking you are in the same boat...

[Jimd]

Jim, I pray for you thru all this...Keep in mind and take satisfaction from the fact that, unlike some of those above you, you are a competent professional.

Thank you, Paul, your words help keep things in perspective and encourage me. I appreciate it.

[Jimd]

Jimd and Daywalker, you two have an... interesting life (as an old chinese curse sais). What amazes me most is not the conditions you're working (which are awfull), but the lack of solidarity between you and your superiors. I was thinking you are in the same boat...

It's not that we have a "lack of solidarity"...rather, it's a blatant "us against them, they are the enemy" situation. It's black and white. They are the enemy, there are no bones about it, and I don't like the majority of them.

They often do not lead from the front, or by example, which are two prime principles of Leadership. Sometimes, as in this case, they lie about our actions.

If the fight would not have been on videotape, I possibly would be suspended without pay right now. And prison staff can and have gone to prison themselves for brutalizing inmates. It is not a small matter by any stretch.

What this man did was threaten my family's security and my freedom, and the only thing that saved me was the fact that I had about twenty witnesses (though this would be less important than the lieutenant's report), and the camera film. I do not take what he did lightly.

Management (the suits and white shirts) are the enemy. First, foremost, and always. Just imagine...all this in a deadly environment where people sometimes get killed or seriously injured. Great, ain't it? What the **** was I thinking when I got into this career?!?!

[Gerard Breuker]

What the **** was I thinking when I got into this career?

Jimd,
Although I have the highest respect for what you are doing I must admit that I haven't got a clue. I also fail to understand your reason to continue this career under the circumstances you described as I would like to believe a man of your qualities must have other options available to him.

[Jimd]

Jimd,
Although I have the highest respect for what you are doing I must admit that I haven't got a clue. I also fail to understand your reason to continue this career under the circumstances you described as I would like to believe a man of your qualities must have other options available to him.

In a perfect world, I'd have the world at my fingertips. However, in reality, my options are limited.

I have close to fifteen years in my department, so if I leave now, I'll lose a tremendous amount of my retirement. Law enforcement is what my educational background is based upon. Sure, maybe I could go back to college (spend a lot of money and it would take several years) to change my education, but either way, I'd be stuck in my current job for quite a while.

I tried getting other law enforcement jobs in the past, but I wasn't qualified for most. And these days, I really have no desire to jump into another law enforcement career.

Hopefully, my art caereer will take off, but I've not had a lot of luck selling my artwork thus far. Unfortunately, telling people I'm an artist will not pay the bills.

My options at this time are rather limited.

[Gerard Breuker]

Thanks for your answer Jimd.
I didn't think about retirement as that is somewhat differently arranged in the Netherlands. Basically what you've already paid for remains yours.
I hope your artwork will sell better in the future but art is pretty unpredictable. Let's hope if someone wins the lottery it's you and not that Lt.

[Ed Meinel]

Hopefully, my art caereer will take off, but I've not had a lot of luck selling my artwork thus far. Unfortunately, telling people I'm an artist will not pay the bills.

Jimd, have you talked to successful artists about how they got started? The art community is very supportive, so they might have some good advice for you. E-mail me if you would like to discuss it some more.

[Jimd]

After being tackled on video by over a dozen officers (the inmate was in there, too, somewhere), getting kicked God knows how many times, etc. etc....

The jerkoffs denied my worker's comp. claim!

I opened the letter Friday, read that, and had to shake my head as I chuckled. What else would I expect from the state?