LAPD Wife

There's nothing routine about some traffic stops

Had to point out this post from Mrs. Fuzz over at the blog "A Police Wife" about her husband's first night going solo. The only times Officer Jake is solo is when he's in court, so it's hard for me to imagine the worries that a wife might have. I at least have the knowledge that someone is there to back Jake up if he needs  help ... although the stories I've heard about some of the dumbass partners he's had in the past aren't always the greatest.

Anyway, it's a good read...check it out: HF's First Night Solo

I had a difficult time sleeping on Saturday night. I don't know if it's because I was feeling a little anxious about HF being alone and safe, or if it was the fact that he kept calling me whenever he had any action!

HF learned that there is nothing "routine" about a traffic stop. .... read the rest HERE.

Crime Scene Cake

I saw this recipe for "Raspberry Crime Scene Cake" from the LA Times Food Section and just had to share. The name of the cake notwithstanding, I think it sounds pretty tasty and am planning on trying it out. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. Hopefully my kitchen won't turn into a crime scene. Here's the note from the food editor:

Note: Maybe I've seen one too many crime drama. The first time I garnished this cake with the lurid red of raspberry puree, all I could think about was demonic laughter, followed by a fade to a police detective saying, "This has to be the work of that same slasher, chief."

The recipe can be found HERE.

Others Say Thank You to Chief Bratton

There were two nice editorials about Chief Bratton in the LA Times and LA Daily News today:

Daily News: Thanks, Chief

LA Times: William Bratton, A Top Cop

The LAPD Blog has a letter from Chief Bratton to the Department HERE.

Chief Bratton Resigns

  Today Chief of Police Bratton announced his resignation from the LAPD, effective Oct 31. Officer Jake called me early in the morning - giving me the news that was flying around the station on the oh-so-speedy rank-and-file grapevine. While one of the versions had Bratton leaving to head up Scotland Yard, an idea that had been tossed about in the media over recent months, the true reason, according to Chief Bratton in his news conference today, is to work with a private security firm and to help countries with emerging democracies.

Chief Bratton has been a dominant force in the department since he came here 7 years ago. He restored morale, which had been at an all-time low during my husband's 20-year career, and made many positive changes, welcomed by rank-and-file and by the public that the LAPD serves. While not everything he did was met with hails and cheers from both sides, his overall effect on the department and the city was positive.

I remember attending a meeting of the LAPD Wives association a couple of years ago in which Chief Bratton and his wife attended. There we were, part of a brand-new organization dedicated to helping the wives of police officers survive and thrive in their marriages, all 30 or so of us. Yet Chief Bratton and his wife took the time to speak to us about police life and marriage and how they personally have dealt with problems that sounded very familiar to us. He also assured us of the new or improved safety measured the department is always working on to bolster the support  and protection our husbands have  while on the job and the ways the department is looking to not only support the officers, but also their families. He walked in the room a celebrity, but quickly turned into just another guy on the force while talking to us and brought with him a sense of quiet strength, inner calm and contemplation that assured his audience. Here was a Chief I felt was looking out for my husband.

Now, the big question remains .... who will take his place? He's not leaving until Oct. 31 and there will undoubtably be a nationwide, highly publicized search. Whatever happens, I wish Chief Bratton and his wife well. And hope that whoever fills his shoes see, learns from and utilizes the lessons learned from the successes seen during Bratton's 7 years as LAPD Chief.  

Other coverage:

WitnessLA: Bill Bratton resigns as Chief
Police Protective League Response
LAObserved: More Questions than Answers on Bratton
Jack Dunphy: Farewell to the Chief

A Bee Story

I'm back from vacation and just getting caught up. I fully planned on posting from the road, but got stumped when we found out the beach house we rented didn't have wifi. Or cell connection. Was a little disconcerting at first to be so disconnected,  but after I relaxed a little about it, turned out to be really nice. I'll put up more about vacation soon.... am still downloading pics, but figured I'd share a family hiking story from a few days ago.

 

We went on a family hike in the mountains this weekend. It's 2 miles almost straight up and then 2 back down. Several times during the hike we were accosted by bees buzzing around our heads. I would pompously lecture the children about how if we don't bother them, they won't bother us. All the while making fun of Jake as he would jump, dance and swat to get away from them. I'm not afraid of bees, really, and don't remember being stung since I was a kid. 

 

Anyway, we're almost at the bottom and I'm telling the kids how "see, there was nothing to worry about with the bees," when - WHOOSH! - a bee flew straight up inside the my shorts and proceeded to sting me on the inner thigh. My reaction was instinctual and I slapped at the pain... so the bee just moved over a couple inches and stung me again. Now I'm the one jumping, dancing and swatting at my legs, while Jake comes around the bend behind us and has no idea what just happened. So he's laughing, thinking he's caught me not following my own advice. I'm trying not to swear like a pirate in front of the kids and quickly moving from shock and anger to just being in so much pain that I want to start crying. And there is still a half a mile to go to get home.

 

While I was jumping, swatting and swearing, the bee flew out of my shorts and into the bushes nearby, so I have no idea what kind it was. All I know is that I'm in some serious pain here and have to get home. Because of the placement of the sting, each step just aggravates it, but I have no choice but to suck  it up and head home. Jake headed on with our son, and was waiting for me with an icepack and a leaf off one of my aloe plants. Now it's three days later and I'm still hurting. The stings have turned into a hard welt the size of my fist, surrounded by a larger area of red, painful welt that covers almost my entire thigh. My girlfriend, who so handily happens to be an ER doc, tells me that it looks like an allergic reaction and I must be allergic to bees. Go figure, I had no idea. The placement of the sting makes it hard to sit and/or walk and I look like a total doofus walking around with an ice pack between my legs all the time.

 

Oh well, at least I work from home! ; )