Kids

*Sigh* both of us are back at work now. I like having a normal schedule again but I miss my kid! Little LT is a heck of a cuddle-bug, and so am I. We're a good match that way, except when I want to actually get some chores done and try to set him down.

What is it about having a kid and being a cop? Seems like all of a sudden J is getting a lot of calls involving very young children, in situations that make normal parents VERY angry.

It's been hot lately. Really hot, unseasonably. And we've had very little rain in the Ohio valley. So over the weekend he's driving around on patrol and gets flagged down by a woman in a Lowe's parking lot. She tells him there are two children in a locked car, windows up. So he goes to investigate, discovering the children are young (2 and 4), and neither of them respond when he knocks on the window. It's about 85 degrees at this time of day, and so he returns to his car to get the tools necessary to unlock the car. If you've ever done this or had someone trying to jimmy the lock, you know it's not the easiest thing in the world, and pretty time consuming if you want to avoid damaging the car. After several unsuccessful attempts, he radios his lieutenant to get the OK to break the window. The 4 year old wakes up but can't unlock the door, so he tells her to cover her face and he breaks the window. As he's clearing the glass to reach in, the father comes running out of the store.

Now, in the time J has been there, it's been at least 5 minutes. Father swears he was only in the store for 30 seconds and the car was cool. You and I both know that a trip into Lowe's is never a 30 second adventure. We're not talking about running in to pay for gas. Then dad, a doctor, starts talking about how this is going to ruin his career. HELLO, how about ruining your children?? On a 75 degree, sunny day, the inside of a car can heat up to 125 degrees in less than 10 minutes. If you wouldn't sit in your car with the windows up and no A/C on a hot day, why would you do it to your child?

We find out later from the newspaper that this guy is not only a doctor, but a pediatrics specialist, no less. He is charged with two counts of child endangering, which is a misdemeanor and can carry up to six months in jail.

The very next day, J gets a call to a Kroger's (a grocery store). A mother was unloading her cart to pay, when her not-quite-3 year old wanders into the next aisle. She returns a few minutes later with her pants around her knees. Mother thinks child was playing around and asks her why she did that. Child replies that she didn't, the man did, and he touched her bottom. Now, even thinking about being in this woman's shoes makes me so angry I want to break something. This sort of thing bothered me even before I ever wanted a child of my own. Now I can 100% understand why someone would take matters into their own hands and pursue the pervert.

When J and other officers try to interview the girl, she doesn't speak to them. Eventually they did get some of a description from her, and the store surveillance tapes were being reviewed to see if he was on tape. It's really frightening to think this occurred in broad daylight, in a public location. Just unreal.

Normally J doesn't share cases with me if there is a sex crime or disturbing details. I'm a little too sensitive about those issues. But this was in the news, as was the incident with the kids being left in the car, so it was hard for him to hide.

The babe

As I'm sure you've probably figured out, the badge baby finally arrived. Our little lieutenant (hereafter known as LT) was born on May 2. I like to think it was the full moon, the barometer, spicy food, etc. And the fact that he was due on the 4th. Since it's been almost six weeks and I've forgotten how it really felt, I'll take this moment to brag...it was entirely natural. No drugs, no epidural.
LT weighed in at 8lb, 2.4oz. He was 21 inches long. We're doing really well! J has been off the entire time with me. He goes back to work this week, which I'm not thrilled about. The independently wealthy really have it made. I go back to work next week. Even less thrilled about that. I'd love to stay home and just be with my little cuddle monster full time. Ah well...such is life. Hope you've all been doing well!

Hubby's job

J is FINALLY back on the road again. And he's beside himself. I know I've said it before, but I was spoiled by him being off most evenings and weekends. And the OT money was awesome! But he's going to days, and with all the OT he's already accrued for the year he won't get forced on any more until it gets reset.

We're in the very last days of my pregnancy, hence the lack of updates. Also, we moved so it's been a little hectic. Everything's settled in the new house, and we're as ready as we can be for the baby. Obviously once he arrives (did I mention it's a boy?) I won't be updating much except an announcement. J is taking off a good chunk of time, so we're both looking forward to that. Still, it's exciting but nerve-wracking. I just hope we're mentally ready, as well.

Remember this story from several months back? Ironically that post got the most debate of any of my posts. Well finally the grievance was reviewed and it was getting almost to arbitration, but Ryan Saylor got his job back. Good. At least there was some justice in the situation.

Neo Nazi group's planned march - update

Cincinnati City Council passes ordinance in effort to affect march.

Well that was quick! Part of the article says that groups that use 'fighting words' (that's kind of generalized) will have to pay for their own protection. I wonder how this will fly with state and national supreme courts? I am glad to hear that this group can't expect to spread hateful propaganda on taxpayer dollars, but I do wonder how they are protected by the first amendment? It's also stunning to me that a city council was able to band together so well and get an ordinance passed so quickly.
I do know my husband would not be happy at all to be assigned to protect a hate group. Especially given Cincinnati's past racial tension, I can't imagine that this march will end very well. Naturally, that's the reaction the group is looking for.

Thoughts?

Cincinnati racial problems

Neo Nazi group says it will march in OTR

*sigh*...OTR is Over The Rhine, a section of neighborhood in downtown Cincinnati that is notorious for high crime and high racial issues. It was the main site of the riots in 2001. Also, if you've ever been to Ellis Island, there's an old picture of a neighborhood that filled with German immigrants 100 years ago. That's Over The Rhine. Needless to say, there are no German immigrants or descendants living there now.

This Neo-Nazi group, already responsible for being the direct cause of riots in Toledo, is planning on marching through the neighborhood on April 20. They're demanding that police make the area safe for white people to demonstrate. They want to draw attention to the 'need' for black people to be 'exported' out of the country. Right. Geniuses. Like we need MORE racial problems in that area. If you ask me, the only thing they'll be demonstrating is the need for bigots to be weeded out of the gene pool.

Prison Comforts. There's no place like home?

So the other day we're sitting around with some friends, grilling out food. One friend is with Hamilton County S.O. but works at the jail. And J is still in court services, so naturally the conversation turns to prisoner transports and such. As it turns out, some of the inmates have figured out which correctional facilities they'd rather be at, based on the amenities. Some of the prisons have cable, and TVs in most of the cells. Other facilities have CD players in each cell. My argument is that they broke the law, why do they get extra comforts paid for by our tax dollars? This pisses me off, actually! I'm pretty liberal, especially for being a LEO wife, but hell no! They do not deserve comforts!
Our friend working at the jail didn't exactly argue that they deserved them, but he did bring up a good point. They are low-cost means of keeping prisoners subdued. I can see the point, but really, are prisoners more likely to riot or cause trouble if they don't have high-tech entertainment?
Thoughts?

SWAT standoff ends peacefully

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17829238/from/RS.4/ Well a SWAT standoff fairly close to my house ended peacefully yesterday. The suspect was firing rounds off into the air before charging into a house. When the standoff ended, it was discovered he was sleeping. Apparently holding your ground is exhausting!

No charges against officer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17500631/ The officer who accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian while on his way to a call will not face charges. I am pretty relieved by that result in this particular situation.

In other news, blogger forced me to change to beta. It better be good.

J is still in court services, but has an end in sight. Just before the baby is due, he should be back out on the road. Then he gets paternity leave, so we'll be settling into our new, bigger 'shoes' as parents. He's also put in to join the SWAT team for the county. They are, I believe, in the process of revamping the applications, requiring applicants to be physically fit by Ohio Police Officer Training standards. Which gives him a fair bit of a lead over some of the other applicants. He's excited. Hopefully he'll get to join, since I know that's been one of his career goals since before he even graduated the Academy.

Cruiser Dash Cam video

http://wcpo.com/news/2007/local/02/14/cruiser_cam.html I wish I could directly link to the video or upload it to this post but I'm not that savvy. Miraculously everybody involved in this accident was unharmed. Cincinnati got walloped by the storm that was wiping out half of the midwest, and it was pretty damn icy here.

Cops arrest woman having miscarriage

This came up on the baby forums I frequent these days, and naturally a bunch of mothers are outraged. But for the wrong reasons.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16584384.htm
A woman was spotted putting fake temp tags in her car, and when officers pulled her over she told them she was bleeding or miscarrying, after they questioned her about the tags. She repeatedly tells them she's bleeding. Officers discover she has no ID, suspended license, multiple warrants, and arrest her. The following morning she is taken to the hospital, where she "delivers" a baby (at 3 or 4 months gestation) that dies.
I feel it necessary to point out here that she did not deliver a pre-term baby, by medical terminology. This is a miscarriage, plain and simple. Yes, it's tragic. But probably wasn't preventable. Nobody can say for sure.

So my repeat readers will know, feisty little Bunny has to jump in and point out the fallacies of the cop-hater logic (illogic), and point out the obvious sensationalism of the story 'spin'. Thought you guys would like to read the story as well. Debate away, and I will probably respond to your arguments on this one.