Tag Archives: Cop

From Cop to Writer – Different But the Same

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One of the things an applicant for the Los Angeles Police Department has to do in the hiring process is to be interviewed.  In my day, there were two police sergeants and a civilian on each interview board, and part of their duty was to determine if a person ‘had the right mindset’ to be an LAPD officer.
I know that one of the first questions I was asked was: Why do you want to be a police officer?  My reply, in part, was about wanting to help people. Not surprisingly, ‘helping people’ is a very common thread in applicant replies to the question, about why a person wants to become a cop.
With my new career of writing stories, if I’d been asked why I wanted to write, my reply would have been: I want to entertain people while giving them a glimpse into the world of the LAPD.
Little did I know that my writing career would achieve the same result as my police career.  Through my writing I’ve touched someone. I’ve helped someone.
I got this letter from a young woman and I was so impacted by her story and her words I asked her if I could share them with you.  She agreed.
The lesson to writers: If you think what you write can’t or doesn’t make a difference…think again.
This is the actual letter by the young woman I’ll call, Miss H…
Reading is by far not my specialty. I’m about three grade levels under my own on reading skills. Sure I can read your average every day children’s book but anything over 100 pages puts my heart in shock. In other words, I don’t read much.  
When I bought my Barnes & Noble Nook Color, I for sure thought, “I just wasted a perfectly good 240 bucks!” 
See this is where I was wrong. I ran across your book, A Dozen Deadly Roses, one day while sitting on my couch listening to the bickering and arguing of my dysfunctional family.  
At first I just skimmed over it then I took a second look. I decided to buy the book and open a page or two to see if it was worth reading. My journey through your book began slow, to slow. Then something caught my eye, Jade.  
Shockingly, we have much in common; a remarkable, strong willed mother, filling her duties as a cop in everyday life. It was everything I dreamt of being.  
I felt a strong connection with her and Donnie. My father is an alcoholic, I knew exactly what Jade was going through.  
Although Jade became a new idol in my world, I felt myself many times screaming at her, “why won’t you tell Mac that he’s the father, why?!” Then I realized it was for the better. It opened my eyes to that you shouldn’t always do the expected but rather do what’s best in that situation for you and others involved.
I also love the fact that you use to be an actual LAPD cop. When I read that about you, my heart skipped a beat. I felt like I had even more of a connection with your book because for once a fiction book wasn’t so fiction anymore. Your book had more life in it; it wasn’t “just a book” anymore. I loved that.  
My desire to be a cop has been a dream of mine for a long time. However, my mom and others like to crush that dream. Jade gave me a lot of courage in reading this book. She showed me that I need to be brave and stand up in what I dream and love. Jade also gave me the strength in my heart that seemed so broken from others. She made a light shine in me like no one has ever done before.  
Reading your book has changed my life.  
I was doubting my future before I read your book; here I had planned my whole high school diploma based on wanting to be a cop, and then it was just gone, like it wasn’t even worth any of the time I gave it. 
I felt lost, like a loser in a big ocean of popular people. 
Jade’s character made me open my eyes and realize that it’s my life and I can do anything I want to do if I believe I can.  
I thank you, Kathy Bennett, for not only changing my mind but showing me a new way of life. 
I will read your book again and enjoy every page turning chase it gives me. I assure you that you book was so worth every minute I put in it.
Kathy here – Needless to say I wrote back to Miss H and we’ve corresponded a few times. I found that when I wrote back to Miss H I’d put on my  ‘police officer’ hat and tried to offer advice, encouragement and compassion.  And you know what?  I was glad to wear that hat again.
Miss H feels I’ve changed her life with my book. Little does she know how much she’s changed mine.
Until next time, 
KMA367

Taking Off the Uniform – A Year Later

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I’m writing this article on February 22nd.  It’s a beautiful Southern California day with temperatures expected to hit the low eighties.  I can tell you that February 22, 2011, was also a beautiful day.  The sun was shining and there was a light breeze in the air.

Now you’re probably wondering if I’m a living almanac.  I’m not.  On this date last year, it was a Tuesday and my last day of working for the LAPD.  My co-workers threw me a fabulous BBQ.  My retirement wasn’t official until February 26th, but that BBQ was my last day at Devonshire Station.  Oh, I snuck back in and did my last Basic Car meeting on Wednesday, but I was in plain clothes and it was more of a party than a meeting.

If I had to describe my retirement in one word, I’d say: hectic.

One of the main reasons I retired was because my mother had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.  I spent most of March taking Mom to various doctors for various issues.  I’ve been driving over 70 miles three times a week to spend time with her.  

I also needed to catch up on my own periodic doctor appointments.  Some of those doctor visits were in relation to the back injury I’d suffered in an on-duty traffic collision. 

In addition, I began to get phone calls from friends who all wanted to have lunch, since I had ‘nothing but time on my hands.’ I didn’t want to burst their bubble about what retirement is all about, so I went.

I’d already made my decision to self-publish my debut novel and was working with a cover designer to get the cover ready. I also took an online class to learn how to make a book trailer (much like a movie trailer) for my book.  I also tried to learn how to format my manuscript for e-reading devices (Kindle, Nook, etc.)  I joined two other writing groups and started reading up on how to promote my book and myself.

June was a huge month for me.  I launched my book on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.  My second career had begun!  But it wasn’t just the book launch that made the month special.  I also had been approved for an epidural shot to help ease the pain in my back.  I had that procedure done in mid-June.

The month of July was a blur to me.  I spent as long hours at my computer self-promoting my book by requesting reviews from book reviewers and book bloggers.  I attended the Public Safety Writer’s Association yearly conference in Las Vegas as a speaker.  The only problem was, that I’d arrived a few days early and, by the time the conference rolled around I was seriously ill and had to go home.  What a way to make a good impression.  Thankfully, to my knowledge, no one else got sick. 

In August, my book ‘took off’ on the Barnes and Noble website and I was in their Top 100 of all their books being sold.  It wasn’t long and I hit the Top 100 at Amazon as well.  This was another month of heavy book promotion.  You have no idea how many book-related websites there are on the Internet!

However, August was also a sad month too.  Over the few months I’d been stopping in three times a week to care for Mom, I’d come to realize that Mom’s condition was way more advanced than either my sister or I realized.  We came to the conclusion Mom would have to go into an assisted living facility. 

The arrangements were made to get Mom moved and comfortable in her new place.  I spent the first two days with her to help her get oriented and continue to visit her three times a week. None-the-less, it was one of the hardest decisions my sister and I had ever made.

In September, I taught an online writing class.  It was also time for Mom’s scheduled visits to her doctors and I was still seeing a group of doctors regarding my back.  Oh, and have I said that during this whole time I was revising my second book, A Deadly Blessing?

October found me teaching another on-line writing class and taking Saturday’s to go cheer at my granddaughter’s soccer games.  I was still revising my next book and began working with new website designers to give my website a facelift.

I was still spending about six hours a day self-promoting my book in November.  I guess I should clarify here that when I say self-promoting, I was also reading the tons of articles to keep abreast of the vast changes in the writing scene.  I also ‘ran away’ for a few days to a hotel where I could lay out the 300+ pages of my revised book and see how it all was flowing.

I don’t really need to say anything about December.  It was the holiday season, filled with more events, obligations and merriment than usual.

The first of this year has been spent revising and editing A Deadly Blessing and I’m keeping my fingers crossed it comes out in March. The manuscript is in the hands of beta readers right now.

But what about my former life?  My life as a cop.  What about that?  It doesn’t happen often, (mostly because I dot have time to think about it), But sometimes I ache to be driving the black and white and wearing my uniform and badge. I’ll see LAPD officers on a traffic stop, but now, instead of being their back-up, I’m a typical rubbernecker.  Driving to where my mom lives for a visit, I’ll see the LAPD helicopter racing to a call somewhere or orbiting over a ‘hot’ call.  I want so badly to know what’s going on and to be ‘in’ on the action. 

I wanted to find a way to cope with those feelings.  So, when I see police activity that tugs at my memories, I try to think of possible circumstances of the incident that I can turn into a scene in a future book.  Admittedly, it doesn’t always cure the melancholy, but it leads to some really interesting pages on my computer.

Until next time,

 

KMA367       

 

Playing With Fire

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We can always count on Hollywood for igniting interesting headlines that race across the country.  And for the past few days, Tinsel Town has been in the spotlight once again.

 

No, it wasn’t a shocking divorce that took the limelight…well, unless you count Katy Perry and Russell Brand – but who was really surprised by that split?  No, it wasn’t Katy and the comic’s split, and it wasn’t a new sex tape revealed, or a young up-and-comer busted for DUI or drugs. 

 

Hollywood is in the news for something more sinister and dangerous. There is a person or persons running around the streets of Hollywood and West Hollywood lighting cars on fire; cars that are usually parked in carports underneath apartment buildings.  Fortunately, as I write this blog no serious injuries have been sustained by the citizens or firefighters.  But the potential for injury or death has certainly been there.

Let me back up a little bit.  Last Thursday night, one person was arrested and charged with arson relating to three fires set in Hollywood.  That was the lead story for the news on Friday morning.  It was an interesting story and got major play on the local TV stations. The LAPD called a tactical alert, which means that officers on duty must stay after their regular shift-change, AND that the only radio calls that will be handled are high priority calls.  So, if you’ve got a group of kids blasting music in a car in front of your house, the police won’t be responding. 

 

Even with a suspect in custody, the police deployed extra officers to the Hollywood area.  There was a joint effort between the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office,(who cover West Hollywood), LAPD, and the LA County and LAFD.   

 

But overnight on Friday, there were another twenty-one fires set.  Some in the Hollywood area, but some were set in the San Fernando Valley. The MO was pretty similar for the fires…torch a car parked in a carport with the result being several cars destroyed along with damage to the building.

 

Saturday night netted more arson fires.  The authorities are saying the total for the spree is now up to 39 fires intentionally set.

 

Not unexpectedly, the ‘brass’ of the police and fire agencies have been updating the public and offering advice.  ‘Report any suspicious activity.  Turn on your lights in the carport areas.  Be alert.’  Our camera-hound mayor voiced his concern at a press conference as did a city councilman and county supervisor.  The story made national news.

 

So the question has to be:  Are these fires being set by one person?  An ‘arson crew’?  A bunch of copy-cat arsonists? 

 

I’m wondering why, when the police had a suspect in custody, they felt compelled to deploy officers back to the same area the next night.  We’re they anticipating there might be copy-cat or further fires…or did they have other information?  (I’m guessing they figured with all the media attention they could have problems the next night too.)

 

Either way, there is still someone out there on the streets ‘playing with matches.’  They haven’t gotten caught yet, but I can tell you every cop that’s working the street really  wants to be the one to nab the bad guy/s.  And once the pyromaniac/s are caught, their 15 seconds of fame will fade…faster than Kim K’s wedding vows.

 

**UPDATE**  When I got up this morning, I learned the police had detained ‘a person of interest.’  Reports are, that the police found an incendiary device in the man’s vehicle.  But like one arson victim stated, “Who knows if this was the only guy?” 

Until next time,

KMA367

LAPD and Occupy L.A. – One Size Does NOT Fit All

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So, it’s been a few days since the City of Los Angeles decided to take back the park outside of City Hall from the Occupy L.A. protesters. 

As a former LAPD officer, watching on TV as the operation unfolded, I must say it’s essential to commend the LAPD for the well thought out plan that appeared to be executed with the utmost of precision. The world was watching (as usual) to see how the LAPD was going to handle the Occupy LA situation.  The media commented over and over again how the city and the LAPD didn’t want a repeat of the May Day ‘incident.’  And to that end, the procedure was a huge success.  However…

It’s important to remember that these protesters were very well behaved and not a typical large crowd that law enforcement usually encounters.  Additionally, the city and the LAPD had bent over backwards to cater to the group…ignoring the fact people were blatantly smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol in public, violating the Health and Safety codes, to say nothing of the intentional damage (vandalism) caused to the grass, irrigation systems etc.  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa along with a couple of L.A. City Councilmen even passed out rain ponchos to the protesters in the early days.

While I’m glad the whole thing turned out peacefully – what kind of a price did the citizens of Los Angeles pay – I mean literally.  I’ve heard the number $400,000.00.  I don’t think that amount would cover the resources used at the event.  In fact, at least one City Councilman, Mitch Englander, doesn’t think so either, and had motioned for a report of all of the costs the City of Los Angeles incurred  because of the Occupy L.A. protest encampment.

But it’s not just the monetary aspect of the protester removal that I’m worried about.  Yes, the LAPD set a standard that some other police agencies weren’t able to achieve.  But what concerns me is that now the general public will expect a similar result for all types of crowd control issues.  But crowd control isn’t ‘one size fits all.’

Whether society likes it or not, police work is, at times, out of necessity an uncompromising entity.  Law enforcement officers are paid to enforce the laws and protect the well-being and peace of the community.  Sometimes that job is not fun and often it isn’t very pretty. 

So, while the city leaders and the LAPD can bask in a job well done, I say to everyone:  Don’t expect that every protest and police action will be handled with so many resources, with such a strategic plan, and with the officers ‘wearing kid gloves,’ because the true nature of police work is not usually so refined or gracious…and often people’s lives depend upon that fact.

 Until next time,

 KMA367

 

 

 

 

Kathy Bennett Reports On: Domestic Violence

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One of the most common types of calls police officers respond to is domestic violence.  I can’t tell you how many times a woman with obvious physical injuries will proclaim her love for her abuser and how he did mean to hurt her…or worse yet, she’ll deny her abuser caused the injuries.


October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and I guarantee that you know someone who is being abused – you just may not know it.

Let’s start with what domestic violence is.


Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over          another person with whom an intimate relationship is or has been shared through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. Domestic violence happens when one person believes that they are entitled to control another.


Domestic violence may include not only the intimate partner relationships of spousal, live-in partners and dating relationships, but can also include familial, elder and child abuse in a violent home. Abuse generally falls into one or more of the following categories: physical battering, sexual assault and emotional or psychological abuse, and generally escalates over a period of time.

Here are some of the indicators of domestic violence.


Victims of abuse may experience punched walls, control of finances, lying, using children to manipulate a parent’s emotions, intimidation, isolation from family and friends, fear, shame, criticism, cuts, crying and afraid children, broken bones, confusion, forced sexual contact, manipulation, sexist comments, yelling, rages, craziness, harassment, neglect, shoving, screaming, jealousy and possessiveness, loss of self esteem, coercion, slammed doors, abandonment, silent treatment, rape, destruction of personal property, unwanted touching, name calling, strangling, ripping, slapping, biting, kicking, bruises, punching, stalking, scrapes, depression, sabotaging attendance at job or school, brainwashing, violence to pets, pinching, deprivation of physical and economic resources, public humiliation, broken promises, prevention of seeking medical and dental care, ridicule, restraining, self-medication, forced tickling, threats to harm family and friends, threats to take away the children, threats to harm animals, threats of being kicked out, threats of weapons, threats of being killed.


That’s quite a list isn’t it?  And abusers usually use a number of these tactics to gain control of their victims…and they tend to pick the ones that they know will bring the biggest fear and distress as well.


Here’s the number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1 (800) 799-7233 and they can direct you to help in your area.  If you’d rather look at their site online, here’s the link http://www.thehotline.org/.  However, computers CAN be monitored, so if you suspect your abuser could be tracking your internet activity, find a way to call.


Domestic violence is serious business.  If you’re a victim, I know it’s scary and it’s not easy to admit you’re a victim, but get help.  You’ll be glad you did.


Until next time,


KMA367

Kathy Bennett Reports on: A Recent Foot Pursuit

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The other day I did something completely out of character.  I did something spontaneous.  Here’s the set up…

With only minutes to spare until I was late to my hair appointment, (and I HATE being late anywhere) I was driving down my street and was approaching the corner.  Then I saw a pit bull dog running with abandon down the sidewalk on the street in front of me.  A few seconds later I saw a man who obviously ISN’T a runner chasing the dog…and the man was falling behind.

I made the turn and saw the dog further down the block sniffing around some bushes and ‘marking the territory’.  I drove down to the man and asked him if it was his dog.  He said yes, so I continued down the road.  I pulled along side the dog, got out of my car and made my approach.  I got within two steps of the dog and he took off again.  I called out to the man, who was now breathing heavily and walking, and asked him the dog’s name.  He said he wasn’t sure.  Huh?

The dog was at a full run now continuing down the hill toward a major thoroughfare.  I returned to my car drove down the hill, past the dog and got out to wait for the dog to reach me.  The man had picked up speed and was talking on the phone, running down the hill after the dog, yelling at me the dog’s name was Cheyenne.

I wondered if I should even be messing in this situation having previously seen the damage a raging dog can do.  And rightly or wrongly, this was the most notorious breed of dog out there.  AND…I was going to be late for my hair appointment!

The dog approached – his eyes wild with the excitement of running loose.  I bent down and held out my hand as the dog bounded closer.  “Cheyenne, come here boy,” I called in my most enticing ‘doggie’ voice.  To my surprise the dog ran right up and came to a stop in front of me.  I slipped my fingers around his collar and the wayward dog was in custody!

The man came huffing and puffing up about a minute or so later.  “Thank you, thank you!  It’s my boss’s dog and I’m taking care of him this weekend and somehow he got out.”  I wondered how you could volunteer to take care of a dog for a weekend and not know the dog’s name.

I told the man “no problem”, and hurried to my car where, luckily, I had some wet wipes…the dog had slobbered all over my leg.  Leaving the man and his house guest to make their way back up the hill, I ‘drove with purpose’ to my appointment.

But as I drove, I realized it wasn’t that I was being spontaneous.  I was doing what comes naturally to me.  I was helping someone in trouble – which is what I did for twenty-one years as a cop.  You know what ‘they’ say:  You can take the girl out of the uniform…but you can’t take the job out of the girl.

Are you spontaneous?  What’s the most spontaneous thing you’ve done?

Until next time,

KMA367

Kathy Bennett Reports: Cop TV Shows

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I became an LAPD cop for one reason.  I watched Jack Webb portraying Joe Friday in the television show, Dragnet.  Webb’s monotone monologues about the evils going on in the City of Los Angeles and his declaration of: “That’s when I go to work, and I carry a badge,” let me know that before the half-hour was over somebody would be going to jail.

Each week I watched Joe Friday and his partner, Bill Gannon round up burglars,   robbers and rowdy kids.  But for me, the best part of the show was when the      suspect would give Friday some attitude, and he’d come out with his verbal guns  blazing.  You knew when Joe got to lecturing the bad guy in his machine-gun-  style speech the crook was going to be standing in the ‘line-up of shame’ at the    end of the show.  You remember; that’s when the announcer came on in a voice-  over and told the viewer that the bad guy was sentenced to 4 years for Petty  Theft or some other minor crime.

Side note:  Those kinds of sentences aren’t handed out anymore – if they were, maybe we wouldn’t be paying such high prices in stores to make up for all the shoplifting that goes on. (Sorry, couldn’t resist my soapbox)


Anyway, I liked how Joe Friday and his partner let people know why their crimes hurt society, put those people away so they couldn’t continue their wrong-doing , and made the city safer…all in a half-hour.


 So Joe Friday and Dragnet is why I became a cop.  But that’s a cop show from a long time ago.   Today’s cop shows are faster paced and certainly show the violence officers and detectives can face on the streets.


 Do you like the older police stories: The Andy Griffith Show, Highway Patrol, Police Story, The FBI, Starsky and Hutch, etc.?

Or…do you prefer the newer shows:  Law and Order, CSI, Southland, The Closer, Castle, et al?

Until next time…

KMA 367



Cops Who Gave Their All

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Over the weekend, two undercover LAPD officers were shot as they happened upon a gang shooting in progress.  Both officers received injuries and one of them was shot in the face and may have permanent damage to one of his eyes.  Thankfully, they will both live.  At the time I write this blog, two suspects are in custody, and the search is on for the two suspects outstanding.

It was just a little over a month ago (August 29th) that I wrote a blog entitled, ‘When Did It Become Open Season on Cops’.  In that blog I talked about the increase in attacks against police officers.

Saturday night, it just so happened I saw a Twitter post that caught my eye.  You know they say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Take a look at this link.  It demonstrates so much better what I was trying to say on August 29th.  Please share this post.  We all hear the news when an officer is killed in the line of duty, but this link puts the whole thing in proper perspective.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150348623600244.591896.181135410243

Until next time,

KMA367

Did You Notice?

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I’m doing a first on my blog today.  I’m re-running a previously published blog post.


I AM going to add a little to the beginning here, by asking a question.


Were any of you nervous yesterday…the tenth anniversary of 9-11?  I was, but then I’m aware of the potential for terrorist attack everyday.   More on that in a second.


I was concerned that with all the attention on the fact there was credible information there would be a car-bomb attack in the New York and/or Washington D.C. area, that people elsewhere throughout the country would let down their guard.  But I know that wasn’t the case here in the Los Angeles area because of a small thing I observed.  As I traveled extensively on the freeways of Los Angeles, I noticed there were  Metro tow trucks scooping up stranded and abandoned vehicles as fast as they could.  Those tow drives usually work Monday through Friday during rush hour to keep traffic moving.  Over the weekend they were, in their own way, fighting potential terrorism.  I’m sure their mission was part of a much bigger plan that I wasn’t privy to, but by seeing that small sign of planning, I knew our leaders were as ready as they could be for the worst.


But that brings me to my previously posted blog.  I mentioned that I’m cognizant of, and vigilant for, the potential of a terrorist attack. Are you?   If not, please read my blog I first posted last year in November.  There ARE people here in this country plotting to kill Americans on the soil of the United States.  We DO become complacent.  That is what the terrorist forces of evil want from us.  Don’t give it to them.  Please read on.


iWatch – Do You Watch?

Some time ago the Los Angeles Police Department started a program called iWatch.  Its purpose is to provide a way for the public in Los Angeles to report suspicious activity that may be related to terrorist activities.

In light of the recent events of packages containing explosives being mailed from Yemen to the United States, it’s imperative that, as a nation, everyone be diligent about watching for, and reporting, possible terrorist related activities.

Here are some tips for you to keep in mind.  While these suggestions were created for the iWatch program in L.A., they make perfect sense no matter where you live.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS
We rely on our senses every day of our lives.  If a behavior or activity makes you feel uncomfortable, report it.  Here are a couple of examples of suspicious activities reported by citizens that saved lives:

If it doesn’t LOOK right, report it. A video store clerk SAW anti-America material on a DVD he was asked to copy.  Police captured and arrested individuals planning a bomb attack.

If it doesn’t SMELL right, report it. A grandmother SMELLED bad odors from a neighboring apartment and noticed the empty apartment was frequented by various people.  Police discovered a poison gas factory.

If it doesn’t SOUND right, report it. Residents were concerned with a person’s threats of violence.  Police captured and arrested a group planning a subway attack.

IMPORTANT PLACES TO WATCH
You should be aware of your surroundings all the time, but here are some places to be especially vigilant.  Government buildings, religious facilities, amusement parks, sports/entertainment venues, high-rise buildings, parades, fairs and other mass-gathering locations, schools, hotels, theaters, shopping malls, bridges, and public transportation.

WHAT SHOULD I REPORT
Give as many details as you can.  Here are some of the things we’d like to know.  The time of day, where it happened, what you witnessed.  We’d also like a description of who was involved – male or female, how tall, build, hair color, skin color, and age.  Was there a car?  Provide a license plate number if you’re able to.  Have you seen this activity in your neighborhood before?

HOW DO I REPORT?

Nationally:

You can file an online report at https://tips.fbi.gov/
Call 911 for an emergency
In Southern California:

You can file an online report at the joint Regional Intelligence Center website at www.jric.org
Or you can call JRIC at (562) 345-1100
Call 911 for an emergency

In Los Angeles:

Report online at www.iWATCHLA.org
Call 1-877 – A –THREAT (1-877-284-7328)
Call 911 for an emergency

The prevention of terrorist activity is everyone’s business, so do your part because iWatch, and  you need to watch too!

Until next time,

KMA 367

Disabled Parking Placards

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Did you know that one in every ten California drivers is now legally registered to carry Disabled Parking Placards?  You know, those blue or red plastic ‘signs’ you hand from your rear view mirror when you park in a handicapped only parking space.  In the City of Los Angeles, there are SIX legal placards for every meter in the city.  Oh, and if you have one of those placards, you don’t have to pay when you park at a meter.  Hmmmm…do you think the city might be losing revenue from parking meters?

Maybe not so surprising is there are plenty of people fraudulently using those cute little placards.  One lady, who was fraudulently using her mother’s card, got angry at the DMV employee who confiscated the placard and told him she didn’t think it was ‘fair’ to take it away.

A male motorist spewed a tirade about meter readers even after admitting the disabled placard he was using wasn’t his.

Another lady had her mother’s placard confiscated when she (the daughter) obtained free parking at a meter while going into a gym to exercise.

The intent of those placards is to aid handicapped individuals with medical conditions.  As a caregiver for eighty-eight year-old mother, and previously for my brother who’d had a stroke and was partially paralyzed, I can’t tell you how many times we’d go to the market or other shopping center and not be able to park in a handicapped spot because all the handicapped parking places were full.  Then I’d see someone who had no visible impairment walk briskly to get in their vehicle parked in the handicapped parking space.

Now, before many of you get indignant and tell me LOTS of people have medical conditions that may not be visible to the casual observer, I know that and I understand that.  However, I also know from my prior experience as a police officer there are MANY MANY other people abusing the use of those cards designed to help the handicapped.

If you don’t legitimately need a disabled parking placard – count your blessings.  Consider the extra distance you walk to and from your car as part of your regular exercise program.

Until next time,

KMA 367

ONE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  To celebrate a very successful six months running and a very special birthday,  Back of the Book Reviews bring you September Extravaganza!  Join them as they celebrate with interviews, guest posts, daily giveaways and much more!  Here’s the link: http://backofthebookreviews.com/contests/september-extravaganza/