Tag Archives: Los Angeles

Things Are Just Ducky!

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So, last Thursday I had kind of a stressful day.

My husband was scheduled for a medical procedure where he would have to be put under complete sedation. Amongst other things, this test was to be sure he didn’t have anything ‘bad’ going on inside his body. I tried not to show it, but I was seriously worried.

Thankfully, the procedure went well and all appears to be under control. However, he did need some prescription medicine. So, after I got him home and resting in bed, I headed off to the grocery store to get his prescription filled and do a little grocery shopping. After picking up some meat, ice cream, cottage cheese, wine and milk, I headed home.

Forgive me while I go into details about the scene I’m going to describe. One of the main roads in my neighborhood is a four-lane street with a raised center divider. There are also left turn lanes at the intersections. This roadway is fairly busy and people drive way faster than they should. On each side of the road there is vegetation of grass, plants and shrubs. The center divider also has flowers, trees, and plants. It’s a lovely neighborhood.

I’m driving home from the market and see some road-kill in the street. I don’t look too closely, because it always breaks my heart to see the dead animals. I come to a signal-controlled intersection. The intersection is a ‘T’ configuration with the top part of the ‘T’ being on the four-lane road, and the ‘support’ section of the ‘T’ being a side street.
I’m in the number #1 (left) lane of the street. There is one car in front of me, and one car in the lane next to me. There is no one directly next to me. We are all stopped at a red light.

The light changes and the car in front of me surges ahead. Suddenly, a gaggle of ducklings veers from beneath that car and heads toward the car in the #2 lane that is now beginning to accelerate forward. I’m thinking I’m going to witness a duckling massacre, but the little guys were fast and got out of the way of that car in the nick of time by running back my way. I put on my hazard lights and put my car in park and start to get out of my car. Which sends the little guys back into the #2 lane.

I look in my rear-view mirror and I see a car fast approaching in the #2 lane. I did what any normal human being would do…I pulled my car across both lanes of traffic, which had the desired effect of slowing down and stopping all the approaching traffic. It would have been better if I’d been in a police car though. Anyway…

I’ve got traffic stopped in two of the lanes of traffic and I’m in the middle of this intersection trying to shoo the ducklings out of the traffic lanes. Another lady is on the sidewalk encouraging me, but she has a young daughter with her and I don’t think she wanted to have her daughter in the street.

I have to say, I haven’t lost my command presence since I’ve been retired. I had all four lanes of traffic at a stop, plus one poor woman on the side street. A lone duckling had gotten under her car and I kept telling her not to move. Thankfully, she was okay with that. Surprisingly, not one car honked or moved – even when the light changed.

Finally I got the ducklings up on the sidewalk, but not before I’d lost two who’d slid into the storm drain. Meanwhile, about seven other people had stopped to help – one of them being a woman who worked in an animal hospital. She had a crate where we began placing the ducklings after we caught them.

Meanwhile, I’m thinking of my husband – who needs his meds and worry that my ice cream is melting. I tell the crew I have to go, but I’ll be back.

I go home, my husband is on the phone, I throw his meds to him, and tell him I’ll be back. I get my groceries and throw the perishables in the freezer and fridge.

On my way back to the scene, I stop at the nearby fire station and begin banging on the door. No one came. Luckily a rescue ambulance returns to the station. I explain to the paramedics what’s going on and that we’ve got two ducklings in the storm drain. To my relief they seem eager to help out.

The paramedics get to the scene and make short work of opening the storm drain. One of the men lowers himself into the hole and after a few minutes comes up with one of the ducklings. Unfortunately, the other duckling was afraid and ran down an off-shoot of the storm drain.

In total, I think we rescued eight ducklings. Sadly, the ‘road kill’ was the mother duck and one duckling.

One of my fellow rescuers was going to take the ducklings to a wildlife animal refuge where the ducklings would be raised by hand until they were ready to be set free.

When I got home, I apologized to my husband and explained where I’d been. When I got to the point in the story about getting out of my car, stopping traffic, and duck wrangling, he clapped his hands and said, “Good for you! You did the right thing.”

I still worry about the duckling that ran down the storm drain. In fact, I’ve been back several times to see if I could see him/her. Yes, I’ve got a soft heart…but don’t tell anyone!

KMA 367

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

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



Los Angeles Traffic – They’re Calling It: Obamageddon

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Los Angeles is known world-wide for its traffic problems.  We recently got through the complete closure of the 405 freeway so an overpass could be torn down.  The media called that closure Carmageddon and that story was broadcast around the world.  It was anticipated there would be complete gridlock in the City of Los Angeles if drivers didn’t stay away from the 405 Freeway.  Surprisingly, the citizens of Los Angeles heeded the warning and Carmageddon was averted.

But maybe that’s because Angelenos remembered another traffic snafu last year, when the President of the United States came to town for fund-raising events.  Without much fanfare, the roadways were shut down on the west side of Los Angeles and people were literally stuck for HOURS on the road in total gridlock.  Drivers were mad and they had good reason to be.

So, flash forward to a few months ago when the president visited the L.A. area again.  This time, there was a plan in place.  Instead of closing down miles and miles of streets, the president took a helicopter, as much as he could, so the hundreds of thousands of commuters who travel our streets daily wouldn’t be as inconvenienced.  For the most part, that plan worked.  The event was covered heavily by the media, but it was almost a ‘non-event’.

But that leads me to today.  Once again, at five o’clock in the evening – RUSH HOUR – the president is coming to town for fund-raising purposes.  And for some reason it has been decided to close down the streets in L.A… again.  In fact, some of the streets were closed ten hours prior to the president’s arrival.

At least one school is letting students out at noon so parents can come get their children.  Some businesses aren’t even opening for business.  Many employees I’ve seen interviewed are going home early or not even going to work at all.

And here’s what I don’t understand.  I’ve lived and worked in Los Angeles all my life.  I don’t EVER remember this much disruption when other presidents would visit our fair city.  Why is that?  What’s changed?  And why must these events be planned for workdays during rush hour?  Why not coordinate the fund-raising events for the weekend when workday traffic isn’t a factor?

Now, it’s entirely possible the president WILL take a helicopter to his various venues and the street closures are options so anyone who may want to harm the president isn’t sure what mode of transportation he’ll be taking.  I get that, but then why close off the streets so early?

Either way…the president may be collecting funds for his campaign, but he may be burning his bridges (pun intended) with the voters – and drivers – of Los Angeles.

Until next time,

KMA367

I’m Ashamed – Let me tell you why

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I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and have enjoyed the benefits to living in a large city that much of the world admires, and yes, sometimes envies.  It’s a standard joke during the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day that, after the world sees the gorgeous weather we experience in the middle of winter, the population in Southern California rises.   While weather is a big part of the appeal of the City of Angeles, it’s not the only draw.  There aren’t too many places where you can get up and surf in the morning and go snow-skiing in the afternoon.  There’s just so much to do in the Los Angeles area…including to going to a Dodger’s game.


Many people went to opening day at Dodger Stadium.  I wasn’t there and really, I hadn’t paid too much attention to the fact other than to acknowledge it was opening day and the Dodgers were playing the Giants.
It was the next day I heard the news about the Giant’s fan from San Francisco, Bryan Stow.  I could tell from the news reports; this visitor to our city had gotten a brutal beating by a couple of thugs who’d also attended the Dodger game – apparently all because he was wearing clothing indicating he was a Giants fan.


In reading an account of the incident from the point of view of Bryan Stow’s friend, Corey Maciel, who was with Bryan at the time of the beating, the Giant fans had an initial skirmish with the attackers, but ignored that incident and continued walking to their car.  A second attack from the suspects had Bryan on the ground unconscious.  No matter how you spin this, the situation is ugly.  These adults were at a baseball game – America’s favorite pastime.


The media covered the story heavily and has done so, when warranted, since the attack.  Bryan, up until last week was in a drug induced coma.  Now he’s ‘just’ in a coma.  There have been small signs of improvement that have spawned hope Bryan will awaken from his loss of consciousness.  In fact, he’s going to be transported home to San Francisco today to a hospital closer to his home.  This is good news.  But…


The Bryan’s recovery is not a guaranteed outcome.  In fact, I heard a radio interview from one of his doctors who stated he (the doctor) has been very up front with Bryan’s family about his prognosis.  And from the sound of it, the doctor felt improvement would be a tough and uphill battle.


This incident is a black mark on the city of Los Angeles.  Oh, there have been other, maybe even bigger, events that have sullied the reputation of this city.  But…in the case of the two hoodlums who committed this crime, they have made other people unwillingly a part of this ugly story.  You see, there are reports the suspects got away in a vehicle being driven by a female.  In addition there was also a ten year-old boy in the vehicle as well.  Can you imagine the turmoil that child is going through keeping such a big secret?  But those two additional folks aren’t the only ones involved.


And this is why I’m ashamed.


I’m sure there were other people who observed the altercation between the parties involved.  Maybe they didn’t see the whole fight.  Maybe they saw the aftermath.  There are probably people who whipped out their cell phones and captured video of all or part of the incident.   To those people I say, ‘You need to talk to the police.  You may not even realize you have a key piece of information to aid in the investigation.’


Maybe someone sat behind some guys who kind of resemble the faces in the composite sketches.  Maybe someone at the game took photos of their friends or family, but also captured a couple of guys in the background who fit the description of the suspects.


There are people in Los Angeles, right now, who can probably identify the suspects – and/or provide vital information to the police – and yet they aren’t stepping forward.  There is a $100,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.  And the fact those people, for whatever reason, aren’t coming forward is inexcusable…and makes me ashamed.

If you have information, you can contact Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS

(1-800-222-8477).


Until next time,


KMA367