Cold Case In Ellyson

When I decided to leave police work and get my master’s in English, I never dreamed I would have to read so much. Of course, most all of the books we studied were the classics written by authors such as Shakespeare, Plato, Steinbeck, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Hemingway, Melville, just to name a few. I fell in […]

…a group of teenagers walked up the hill and right into the middle of our “takedown” complete with our drawn (but unloaded) firearms. In the instant they reached us, the teens screamed and ran full speed back down the hill. We never had a chance to explain what was going on. It was a scene […]

To work as a police officer, you have to go to the police academy first. My program was nearly nine months of nightly training in a variety of disciplines including legal, first responder, physical training, tactical training, firearms and other areas germaine to police work including driving…Our instructors were tough and smart, and the students, […]

I’ve pulled in behind him at a gas station, and asked him for his driver’s license and insurance. I walk slowly back to my police car, stalling for time. After a few moments, I return to his car to tell him I’m going to give him this cheesy ticket and return to my car to […]

You forget, just sometimes, that there’s a gun strapped to your side when your working the streets. You remember, immediately, when there’s a threat to your life. I was working one day when the sheriff’s department sent out a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a particular car with a certain plate. The department had […]

There’s a misconception out there that all cops eat donuts, are overweight and out of shape. In my particular department, 90 percent of the officers were in shape and cared about their health and appearance. But for me, especially as a 5′ 4″ 120 pound woman, I wanted my fellow officers to know that I […]

I don’t know how football players do it…of course, I’ve never played the sport, but donning those pads on their shoulders and thighs, and wearing the helmet must make running fast a little more challenging. That’s what I learned the first time I ran after a suspect wearing my gun belt. The gun belt isn’t […]

Okay, not exactly. But she did spy on people by using approved methods like the ever-present, ever-on scanner. Why she originally got one I’ll never know. But she loved listening to the police and emergency personnel over the airways to find out where the action was. That’s how she found out my Dad was about […]

Our local paper recently reported on an arrest of one of its own for domestic violence. But police officers should know better, you’re thinking. You’re right, of course. We expect them to abide by the same laws that they are required to enforce. But like all humans, we make mistakes, sometimes huge ones. Take Tiger […]

I visited Brewton, Alabama earlier this week to introduce myself to their newspaper staff. Just like you would expect, I was greeted with Southern hospitality. Even though my family from there has long-since died or moved away, they were interested in hearing my legacy of law enforcement that began with my grandfather who served as […]