Here We Go.......

Wonderful PD has a full time opening, for police dispatcher. It is actually my same slot that was cut during a city budget crunch a while back. If I get my old job back, I'll even have the same badge. Oh how I miss the little nick on the bottom part of the state seal. I am totally excited. My husband and I talked, and now would be a good time for me to attempt to go back to work full time. So, without further ado, I thought I would share with you the little essay I wrote in the box that was for listing any additional experience that would make me a good candidate:

(Note: Man, I wish I had spell check on that application, I just realized I made like 4 really lame spelling errors)

I would like to take this space to tell you why I would be a great fit for this position. If I am hired, I will save the city of Wonderful a great deal of time and money. As I am currently employed by your city, doing the job for which I am applying, my backgrounds, training, and general hiring process, would be very abbreviated. Not only do I have almost six years of dispatch experience, much of it is with Wonderful. I would need minimal refreshers on policies and procedures, and have already passed Wonderful PD's extensive backgrounds, thus saving money, and by not having to train someone new, which takes on average 3 months, I could save Wonderful PD a good deal of time. I feel I am a great potential asset for Wonderful, as I am very familiar with the officers; I know them by their voice. This greatly increases officer safety, which is a dispatcher's number one priority. If one of the officers keys the mic requesting code 3 cover, but does not use his/her call sign, I am almost sure to recognize him/her. It would take a new dispatcher months to learn acquire this skill.

I did not voluntarily leave Wonderful PD, my postion was cut. Wonderful PD was wonderful to me when that happened; helping me get the lateral position at Evil PD.However, no other agency can compare to Wonderful Police. I have remained loyal and committed in my per diem position, and have waited for the time where I could once again apply for the full time position.

So, keep your fingers and toes crossed, and prayers! Lots and lots of prayers!!!!!

A 5150 EXCLUSIVE!!!!!!!!

You won't see these pictures anywhere else! I have a friend who is a Police Officer out in Oakland. He took these pictures from the freeway inter-change that collapsed. Don't know if the word got out in your neck of the woods but here in CA this was big news. A gas tanker, took a turn too fast and lost control. It exploded and collapsed part of the freeway. This is a MAJOR commuter nightmare out here, to this day, as this is the main route to get to the Bay Bridge which leads to San Francisco. The driver of the tanker suffered burns on his hands but was otherwise unharmed. No other people/vehicles were involved.

Picture one-Standing on one half of the freeway ramp looking across

Picture two-Standing on the edge of one side looking down at the ruble below

Picture three-Standing at the accident site, looking up to where the freeway is no longer resting on that big pylon

Picture four-Standing where the tanker blew, looking up at the burn pattern and the missing overpass

Pretty cool pictures, huh?

California Police Officers Memorial. May 3, 2007

Sorry I didn't post this sooner. I tore a muscle in my lower back. I have been laid up for over a week. I wish I could tell you I did it in some exciting way, perhaps in the throes of some heroic feat, during a daring white water rafting trip or something equally dramatic, but in reality, I did it while picking up a 50 pound bag of dog food. Sad.

The Memorial was really nice. What a huge turn out! I cannot believe how many different departments sent officers, it was impressive. I would guess over a thousand easy. I have added a few pictures and also another one of Ah-nold. The whole event was amazing. However, due to the fact that we knew one of the fallen, it was emotionally draining. I do have one negative thing to report about the memorial service and that is the choice of songs. When you are already missing your loved one hearing a song that has lyrics like, "I wear my grief like a heavy coat" and "I'll never see your smile again" and "I wonder what you would have named your babies" seem a little inappropriate. By the time they were done, I felt like jumping off a bridge. But that is a secular memorial for you. On Wednesday I went to a funeral for a Marine that was killed in action by a roadside bomb and it was a Christian service. The songs were uplifting, memories were shared and you left with a sense of hope. I prefer that way of remembering someone who dies. I digress. At the memorial it was soooooo sad to see some of the families. There was one family with 3 daughters ages 10-18 (East Palo Alto PD) and you can't help but think: none of them will be walked down the aisle at their weddings by their daddy. There was the young widow with a 7 month old (LA Sheriff, I think) and the one that really got me was the widow with the toddler boys with blond spiked hair just like my Little Man. The spouse of one of the SFPD officers murdered (they lost 2 this year) was there and it was so sad. She was spotless in her SFPD dress uniform; she was not just a cop's wife but a fellow officer as well. OK, I am going to leave this topic and move onto a new one. Wait til you see my next post. I can't wait for you to see the pics I got my hands on! Til later!

Some California Police Cars

GRRRRRRR......

For some reason I am having issues attempting to add all of my pictures from the CA police memorials. I decided to try this picture as a test, and it worked no problem. Bear with me I will continue to argue with blogger and my computer....

Arnie

You know what is funny? I was really close to our Governor, two times and you would never know it from these pictures. He seemed very nice and had good things to say. I didn't know his dad was a cop back in Austria, did you? One thing I have to admit about him though--he is really short.

For Those Who Have Fallen

Chris is in a caravan of Police cars from all over CA to Sacramento for this two day event. I am leaving very early, in a few minutes to meet him there. We will stay over and attend the next day as well. Our friend from the Marine Corps who became a CHP officer is one of the fallen. I will take lots of pictures for you guys and post them on Friday.